🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter o1
Across from Mr. Smith’s desk—where he managed the wealth of nobles—sat a plush, grand chair meant for visiting aristocrats. I sat in that chair, calmly flipping through documents as I asked,
“So… this is the asset list and financial flow report for the Count Miller family?”
As I quietly turned the pages in front of me, Mr. Smith’s eyes widened. He glanced at Davin, who stood beside me, then answered in surprise,
“Y-Yes! That’s correct, Countess. What brings you here so suddenly? I-Is there some kind of problem?”
Noticing how startled he was by Davin—who stood alert with a hand on his sword, scanning the surroundings sharply—I smiled to reassure him.
“Oh no, I didn’t come because there’s an issue with your work. It’s just that something urgent came up for me…”
But my attempt to reassure him was shattered in an instant.
Crash!
Clang!
The sound of glass breaking rang out, followed by the sharp clash of metal. In a flash, Davin moved, shielding me and deflecting something with his sword. He turned my chair away from the window and said,
“Please use the chair as a shield and stay low for now.”
“Okay.”
As I naturally crouched behind the chair, Mr. Smith’s eyes trembled violently.
“W-What on earth…?”
“Ah… well, I’ve been dealing with some troublesome matters lately…”
I replied awkwardly.
“Mr. Smith, you should turn your chair as well and take cover. The attackers might not be targeting our Countess, but you instead.”
After inspecting the arrow that had flown through the window, Davin spoke in a cold, composed tone. Startled, Mr. Smith hurriedly turned his chair and crouched behind it like me.
While hiding beneath the chair, the financial manager asked me in a trembling voice from across the desk,
“C-Could it be… someone is after your life, Countess?”
“Ah… yes. Something like that.”
“W-Who could possibly…?”
Though he asked, shivering, I didn’t answer. Instead, I sat on the floor and calmly continued reading the documents. After reviewing a few things, I asked,
“So, if you subtract annual expenses from annual income, that’s the amount left over each year, right?”
Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to keep reading documents in this situation, because Mr. Smith answered a bit late,
“Y-Yes… that’s correct.”
“Wow, then that means there’s a big surplus every year?”
“Y-Yes… well, you’ve never been one to spend recklessly, Countess.”
Rich. She’s rich. Anise is rich!
My eyes sparkled as I read through the documents.
Still lying on the floor, I broke into a wide smile. Brushing my long pink hair back over my shoulder, I thought about the owner of this body I had possessed.
Anise Miller—the Emperor’s fiancée, a countess of the empire, and the young lady served by the protagonists of the original story.
I knew she was a countess, but I hadn’t imagined her wealth would be this immense. Looking at the list of properties and businesses that steadily generated income every month, I swallowed a cheer.
However, there were also many donations. Seeing the list of orphanages she supported and the daily costs of providing free meals in the slums, I froze.
‘I was planning to sell everything and run away…’
Now that I realized how many people depended on Anise’s support, I hesitated. What would happen to them if I liquidated everything and fled?
Part of me thought it had nothing to do with me—but another part wondered if I should at least give them time to prepare before their support suddenly disappeared.
‘Well… Davin and Rana were also people who owed Anise a great deal.’
The protagonists of the original story had received lifelong kindness from Anise. It seemed many others were financially supported by her as well.
“Um… excuse me, Mr. Smith?”
“Yes, Countess?”
Perhaps he had adjusted to the situation, because his voice sounded calmer now. I asked the question I’d been most curious about before coming here.
“You know the Miller estate where I live, right?”
“Y-Yes, of course.”
“If I were to put that estate on the market, how much could I get for it?”
“Pardon?!”
Mr. Smith’s voice shot up in shock.
“You don’t mean… you’re planning to sell it?”
“Yes, I am.”
The moment I confirmed my intention, he became unusually animated.
“No, Countess! It would be a terrible waste to sell it now! As you know, the estate has an enormous plot of land, and its location is perfect—close to both the imperial palace and the city center! On top of that, property prices in the capital are steadily rising. Everyone is desperate to buy real estate here—why would you want to sell?!”
“That’s because—”
Crash!
Clang!
“Ahhh!”
Another window shattered, and the sharp metallic sound of Davin deflecting another arrow rang out. Mr. Smith screamed, clearly not expecting a second attack.
Davin quickly dragged a long sofa toward me, shielding my body as he warned,
“Be careful. The attackers have moved positions.”
“…This is the situation I’m dealing with. I’m thinking of liquidating everything and leaving the capital for a while.”
“I-I see…”
Mr. Smith replied shakily, then fell silent. Meanwhile, I flipped through the documents, searching for assets that could be quickly liquidated. Besides the mansion I lived in, there were several other properties in the capital.
“Can the other houses in the capital be sold immediately?”
“A couple are vacant, but I believe others are currently occupied.”
“Are those occupied properties rented out?”
I asked instinctively, then quickly worried it might seem odd that I didn’t know. Fortunately, Mr. Smith didn’t question me. Apparently, it wasn’t unusual for nobles to forget details of their own assets.
“…I don’t recall the exact reason, but I believe you weren’t charging rent to those residents.”
I see. Then what can I sell right away?
Clink.
From beneath the desk, Mr. Smith reached up and pulled down a teacup. Still reading, I suddenly realized something and shouted,
“Ah! Mr. Smith, don’t drink that!”
“H-Huh?!”
Startled, he knocked the teacup over. A moment later, something sizzled as it melted.
“Aaah!”
I couldn’t see what had melted, but Mr. Smith leapt up from the floor. I apologized,
“I’m sorry for not mentioning it sooner. The attackers probably sneaked in and poisoned it.”
“….”
“…I’ll compensate you for all the damages today.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
He replied weakly, on the verge of tears.
After asking him to find out who was living in the rent-free properties and to list any assets that could be immediately sold, Mr. Smith diligently wrote down my requests while crouched on the floor. Then he asked,
“Th-Then next time, should I come to the Miller estate after handling everything?”
His tone clearly suggested he didn’t want to experience this chaos in his own office again. Just then, Davin—who had been silent—spoke urgently,
“…They’re coming!”
At that, I quickly gathered the documents into my arms.
Crash! Smash!
Clang! Clang!
Men dressed in black burst in through the windows, and Davin’s sword sliced through the air. Mr. Smith’s scream echoed through the office.
“AAAAAH!”
But the battle ended quickly. Davin subdued the attackers in a single strike, knocking them unconscious and binding their arms behind their backs. Then he said,
“Please call the authorities, Mr. Smith.”
“Y-Yes? Is it… over?”
With his face covered in tears and snot, Mr. Smith peeked over the desk.
“For now. Also, don’t touch the arrowheads with your bare hands—they’re poisoned.”
“Ah…”
Turning away from the dazed Mr. Smith, Davin asked me,
“Have you finished your discussion?”
“Yes, I’m done. Mr. Smith?”
“Y-Yes, Countess.”
Still looking miserable, he faced me.
“I’m truly sorry for frightening you today. But I don’t think it’s safe for you to visit my estate. Your life might really be in danger if you do… so I’ll come here next time instead. Please bill me for the repairs and any other costs.”
“Ah…”
He stared at me blankly. I gave him an apologetic smile, then turned to Davin.
“Is it safe now? Can we leave?”
“Yes. There are no more enemies nearby.”
At his words, I stood up from my crouched position. Davin helped steady me while taking the documents from my arms. As he organized them, I walked over to the mirror on the wall and fixed my disheveled hair.
Seeing my reflection, a small smile escaped me.
Soft pink hair flowed down to my waist, and my blue eyes sparkled like glass. I wasn’t overwhelmingly beautiful like the story’s protagonists, but I quite liked Anise’s cute and pretty appearance.
Everything about this possession was perfect.
The protagonists who adored me, abundant wealth, an appearance I liked, and a reputation admired by many.
There was only one problem—
Anise was destined to be assassinated soon.
