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~Chapter 1~
Across from Mr. Smith’s desk—the man responsible for managing the wealth of nobles—stood a grand, plush chair reserved for aristocratic visitors.
I sat in it with a peaceful expression, calmly flipping through the stack of documents before me as I asked,
“So… this is the full asset list and financial flow report for the Count Miller estate?”
As I turned the pages with composed interest, Mr. Smith’s eyes widened. He glanced nervously at Davin, who stood beside me, then answered in surprise.
“Y-Yes! That’s correct, Countess. But… what brings you here so suddenly? Is there… some kind of problem?”
Likely unnerved by Davin’s sharp, vigilant gaze and the hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Mr. Smith looked ready to collapse on the spot.
To reassure him, I smiled lightly.
“Oh, no—it’s not that I have any issue with your work. Actually, something rather urgent has come up…”
But my attempt to comfort him was instantly rendered meaningless.
Crash!
Clang!
The explosive sound of shattering glass rang through the office, followed by the sharp clash of metal.
In an instant, Davin moved.
He stepped in front of me, sword flashing as he deflected something flying through the broken window. Then he swiftly turned the chair I was sitting in away from the window, using its back as a shield.
“Please stay low behind the chair for now.”
“Okay.”
As I naturally ducked behind the chair as instructed, Mr. Smith’s eyes trembled violently.
“W-What on earth…?!”
“Ah… well, I’ve recently run into some troublesome circumstances…”
I answered awkwardly.
“Mr. Smith, you should turn your chair as well and take cover. There’s always a chance the attackers aren’t after our Countess, but you instead.”
While examining the arrow that had flown through the window, Davin spoke in a cool, rational tone.
Panicked, Mr. Smith hurriedly copied me, spinning his own chair around and crouching beneath it.
From beneath his desk, his trembling voice called out.
“I-Is someone trying to assassinate you, Countess?!”
“Ah… yes. More or less.”
“W-Who in the world…?”
Though he shakily asked, I didn’t answer.
Instead, while lying flat on the floor, I calmly resumed reading the documents.
Then I asked,
“So if we subtract annual expenses from annual income… this is how much money remains each year?”
Apparently, Mr. Smith had not expected me to continue reviewing financial reports while under attack.
“Y-Yes… that’s correct?”
“Wow. Then that means the estate runs at a huge profit every year?”
“Y-Yes…? You’ve never been one to spend recklessly, Countess.”
Rich.
Rich!
Anise was rich!
My eyes sparkled as I stared at the numbers.
I had known I’d possessed a countess, but I hadn’t realized the original owner of this body—Anise Miller, fiancée of the Emperor and the lady served by the protagonists of the novel—was this wealthy.
Real estate. Businesses. Monthly passive income.
I nearly screamed in delight.
But then…
I noticed the donations.
The orphanages she funded.
The daily meals provided to the slums.
The charitable support.
And I froze.
‘I was planning to liquidate everything and run away…’
But seeing just how many people depended on Anise’s wealth made me hesitate.
What would happen to them if I sold everything and disappeared?
It shouldn’t matter to me…
And yet…
Shouldn’t they at least have time to prepare before their livelihoods vanished?
‘Davin and Lana were also people deeply indebted to Anise…’
The protagonists of the original story had all received life-changing kindness from her.
And clearly, many others had too.
“Um… Mr. Smith?”
“Yes, Countess?”
By now, perhaps due to sheer survival instinct, his voice had become noticeably calmer.
I asked the question I had wanted answered most.
“You know the Miller estate where I currently live, right?”
“O-Of course.”
“If I put that mansion up for sale… how much could I get for it?”
“Pardon?!”
His voice shot up in horror.
“Surely… you’re not seriously considering selling that estate?!”
“Yes. I’m thinking about it.”
The moment I confirmed it, Mr. Smith suddenly became passionately animated.
“No, Countess! Absolutely not! Selling it now would be a terrible loss! As you know, the land itself is enormous, and its location is ideal—close to both the Imperial Palace and the city center! It’s prime golden property! Real estate prices in the capital are climbing every day! Everyone is desperate to buy property here, so why would you sell now?!”
“Well…”
Crash!
Clang!
“Aaah!”
Another window shattered.
Another arrow flew in.
Davin’s blade flashed again.
Mr. Smith shrieked.
This time, Davin dragged a long sofa behind my chair and positioned it protectively around me.
“Be careful. The attackers have repositioned.”
“…This is why. I’m considering liquidating everything and leaving the capital for a while.”
“I… see…”
Mr. Smith replied weakly.
While he processed this nightmare, I continued scanning through the paperwork.
Besides my primary residence, there were several other homes in the capital.
“Can the other estates in the city be sold immediately?”
“Two are vacant. The others are occupied.”
“Occupied…? Are they rented out?”
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
Oops.
Wouldn’t it be strange for the owner not to know?
Fortunately, Mr. Smith didn’t seem suspicious.
Apparently, wealthy nobles forgetting parts of their own property portfolios wasn’t uncommon.
“…I can’t recall the exact reason, but I believe you chose not to charge those residents rent.”
I see.
Then—
Clink.
From behind the desk, I heard Mr. Smith reach for his teacup.
My entire body stiffened.
“Ah! Mr. Smith, don’t drink that!”
“Wh-What?!”
Startled, he knocked the teacup over.
A sharp sizzling sound followed.
Ssssss—
“AAAH!”
I couldn’t see what had melted, but judging by his horrified scream, something definitely had.
I apologized awkwardly.
“Sorry. I should’ve warned you sooner. The attackers probably snuck in and poisoned it.”
“……”
“……I’ll compensate you for all damages today.”
“……Thank you.”
On the verge of tears, Mr. Smith obediently noted down my requests:
Investigate who lived in the rent-free properties.
Put immediately sellable assets on the market.
Then, in a trembling voice, he asked,
“S-So… once I’ve handled everything, shall I visit the Miller estate next time?”
His tone made it abundantly clear that he desperately did not want to experience this again in his own office.
Before I could answer—
“…The enemy is approaching.”
Davin’s urgent warning cut through the room.
I immediately gathered the documents into my arms.
Crash! Smash!
Clang! Clang!
Men in black burst through the windows.
Mr. Smith screamed like his soul had left his body.
“AAAAAAAAAH!”
And then—
It was over.
Swiftly.
Davin subdued every attacker in moments, knocking them unconscious and binding them.
Then, calmly:
“Please call the police, Mr. Smith.”
“Eh…? It’s over?”
Tear- and snot-covered, Mr. Smith slowly peeked over his desk.
“For now. Also, do not touch the arrowheads with your bare hands. They’re poisoned.”
“Ah…”
Still dazed, he sniffled pitifully.
Turning away from him, Davin asked me,
“Have you finished your business?”
“Yes, all done. Mr. Smith?”
“Y-Yes…”
I smiled apologetically.
“I’m truly sorry for the shock today. But visiting my estate directly is probably a bad idea… your life may genuinely be in danger. So I’ll come here again next time. Please bill me for repairs and damages.”
“……”
Still blank-faced, he simply stared.
“Can I get up now?”
“Yes. There are no more enemies nearby.”
Davin helped me to my feet and gathered my papers while I approached the office mirror to fix my disheveled appearance.
And when I saw my reflection—
I smiled.
Soft pink hair cascaded to my waist.
Bright blue eyes sparkled like polished glass.
I wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful like the protagonists…
But Anise was adorable.
Pretty.
Charming.
And I liked this face very much.
This transmigration—
It was perfect.
The original protagonists loved me.
I had immense wealth.
An appearance I adored.
Prestige. Reputation. Admiration.
Everything was flawless.
…Except for one tiny detail.
Anise—
Was destined to be assassinated very, very soon.
