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Chapter – 34
Emperor Zighart looked far more serious than usual. But as soon as I got off the carriage, it immediately drove off, leaving me no chance to ask him anything. Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, I finally turned and stepped back into the mercenary office.
The office looked slightly emptier than usual. It seemed that some incident had occurred, as many of the mercenaries who were usually on standby were noticeably fewer in number. Normally, two mercenaries would wait near the counter, but today there was only one.
I wanted to ask if anything had happened, but I was too exhausted even to muster the energy to do so. Leaving that scene behind, I headed straight to my room.
The Next Day
“Um… Lady Raviel.”
Someone knocked on my door.
It was usually Kan who came to see me, so the voice I heard just now felt unfamiliar. I stirred groggily.
“Who is it?”
“Oh, hello! I’m one of the staff…!”
“Ah, yes.”
“A guest has come to see you.”
“A guest?”
Could it be a new client? But then a thought struck me that it might be my father, and I hesitated.
“Oh! It doesn’t seem to be the father who caused a scene. He was a very dignified old gentleman. Probably not him.”
The young-looking staff member looked at me awkwardly.
“He’s been waiting since about an hour ago and hasn’t caused any trouble at all.”
“Alright. I’ll get ready and come down right away.”
Refusing to come down would only make things awkward for the staff. So I quickly washed up and headed to the first floor.
And there he was.
“…You’re here again.”
Unfortunately, it was Raviel’s father, Count Avalon. My face hardened the moment I saw him sitting at the table with a clear view of the stairs. At that moment, the staff member who had informed me of the guest looked apologetic.
Yes. How could anyone stop the Count? The office was nearly empty, after all.
And today, he’s dressed plainly on purpose. Doesn’t seem like he caused a scene either.
“Why? Not pleased to see me?”
“Not exactly pleased.”
“Hah. That’s what you call speaking!”
“So… why are you here today?”
“Marry!”
“Are you a doll?”
I said as I stood in front of him, and Count Avalon clicked his tongue.
“What? A doll?”
“You keep repeating what you say. I thought you were a doll that just repeats whatever is input. So I’ll say the same—I will not marry. I am not my father’s property. I’m not an object. There’s no reason for me to act according to what you want.”
“A woman must sacrifice herself for the family!”
“That era is over. I will live my own life.”
“Ungrateful girl, forgetting the kindness of being raised!”
“Don’t call me that. Using such words for someone of the same bloodline is lowly.”
“W-what?”
“And there’s no kindness in raising me. Everything I have comes from my stepmother. You said money spent on me was wasted, even denied me medical attention because I was supposedly going to die soon. That’s the ‘kindness of raising me’?”
I wasn’t wrong. From the moment I became Raviel, all of Raviel’s memories became mine. And in those memories, I saw Raviel’s life—a life that had never known happiness, dreaming only of living like an ordinary person.
Throughout all that time, Count Avalon, as her father, treated Raviel like a bug.
“In any case! You must sacrifice yourself for the family!”
“Sacrifice? Absolutely not. And you can’t force me to.”
“Are you really defiant now, huh? Oh? You call yourself a lawyer or something. Now that I know what foolish things you’ve been doing, I’ll just stop you! Divorce-specialized lawyer? Whoever you meet, I’ll interfere. In the end, you’ll be the one coming back saying, ‘Father, I was wrong!’”
I shrugged and raised the corner of my mouth.
“Well… that will never happen.”
“Talking back, huh?”
By then, the knights of the Stork Baronial family who had approached earlier were now right by my side.
“Do you think a few knights can change anything? Do you think I didn’t hire them because I have no money?”
“Yes, yes. So what now? Will you make a scene like last time?”
Count Avalon ground his teeth in frustration.
“Let’s see how long you can hold out like this.”
“Yes.”
“That… really. Ugh… Next time, I’ll pull out all your hair and break every limb so you’ll never ignore me again.”
More furious than ever, Count Avalon rose from his seat.
“Please, go back to your room, Father.”
I gave a perfectly polite bow toward him.
Count Avalon stormed out, and as soon as he left, the staff member who had guided me over approached.
“I’m really sorry… it was him. I really didn’t know…”
“It’s alright. That can happen.”
“No, really… truly…”
“If you’re sorry, want to have a cup of tea with me?”
Sitting in the seat where my father had just been, I gave an awkward smile.
“Alright. I’ll treat you.”
“You just got here. No need to push yourself. You can afford to buy your own.”
Why spend money here when I have plenty?
“Ah…”
At that moment:
“You look pretty exhausted. I’ll treat this beautiful lady to tea. Make it the best.”
The staff checked my reaction. I nodded to show it was okay, and he left. Meanwhile, the Stork Baronial knights, who had stayed by my side since my father’s arrival, still stood there with uneasy expressions.
“…Haven’t we met before?”
“I seem to be lodged in your memory.”
It was the middle-aged man who had flirted before. Did he have a steel plate on his face? I never expected him to come back as if nothing happened.
“…Why did you come?”
“Last time, I didn’t know who you were, but I heard you’re a divorce-specialized lawyer. Very attractive. Your face is attractive too. I like attractive people.”
I had no idea what to say to someone who only talks about themselves. Why was he approaching me? He hadn’t even invited me to sit, yet he plopped himself down in front of me.
Wrinkled and sunken, he looked at least ten years older than me. Ten years assuming his appearance is premature aging. He could easily pass for the same age as Count Avalon.
So instinctively, I couldn’t treat him kindly.
“Are you looking to get a divorce?”
“No. I haven’t even married yet. But to see your face, must I marry first?”
At his age, I would have assumed he was married.
“Ha ha…”
“Surprising, isn’t it? Someone with such appearance, someone so kind, still unmarried? It’s because I haven’t found the right match yet.”
Tea was brought. But since he said he would serve it, I couldn’t touch it. Moreover, he didn’t care about the tea at all, spewing self-praise instead.
“To be honest, I wanted to marry if the right match came along. But after missing my first love at twenty, no one has ever pleased me. Women only chase money. I want a smart woman, one who doesn’t covet my money.”
“…”
Why was I listening to this man? He’s unmarried, not even my client. Couldn’t I just leave?
“So, then…”
“If you need a lawyer, I can introduce another…”
“I don’t need a lawyer. I need you. So, what do you think? I look young enough, right?”
People who say that are usually older.
“How old are you?”
“How old? That’s a word for old people. I’m only forty-four.”
“…Ha ha.”
Raviel is twenty this year, and he’s forty-four. He really is around Count Avalon’s age.
“You don’t see it, do you?”
The man who had been speaking politely all along suddenly dropped the formality.
“I understand. I must look your age, don’t I?”
“…I suppose so.”
“Yes, Raviel.”
My name, naturally uttered by a forty-four-year-old man. It felt strange. In a bad way.
“So? I fell in love with you at first sight. I prefer women who work and earn money, rather than docile ones.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Huh? Why? Am I too old? Truth is, I’m still vigorous. Not lacking compared to young men. So don’t worry about that.”
What is he doing, suddenly? I gave him an uncomfortable look and shook my head.
“I still don’t want it. I have no intention of dating or spending time with anyone, so give up.”
How can his voice be so slick, like it’s been bathed in butter? Moreover, it was infuriating how he flirted without any self-awareness.
I immediately stood up from my seat.
