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Episode 5
I grinned when I saw Dolores’s jaw drop.
“With that amount of money, you could help a lot more children, single mothers, and widows. Doesn’t that sound tempting, Ms. Dolores?”
“How did you know that I help people??”
Before she could finish, the viscount cut her off.
“Have you no shame?!”
I turned toward him.
His face was bright red with anger.
“It seems the Marchioness has no social experience. In situations like this, you should talk with me first before bringing in a lawyer!”
“It’s not like you can’t speak without a lawyer present. Honestly.”
Wow.
Did he really think I’d fall for such a cheap trick?
I looked at him with open contempt.
“Actually, Viscount, you’re the one who doesn’t understand the situation.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Don’t overstep. Who said I wanted your advice?”
His face instantly flushed with humiliation.
Serves him right.
But instead of apologizing, he only looked more irritated.
Apparently, he really disliked me.
Meanwhile, I walked over to Mary, who was still sitting on the floor.
I held out my hand.
“Are you okay?”
“M-My lady…”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Relief, probably.
She was only seventeen.
Anyone would have been terrified.
A middle-aged man, old enough to be her father, had been screaming and throwing a tantrum at her.
I felt both sorry for her and proud of her.
“Even if you’re not okay, stand up for now. The floor is cold.”
I helped her up myself.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, my lady. If I had been more capable, you wouldn’t have had to see such an embarrassing sight.”
“Don’t say that. You did more than enough.”
Honestly, she reminded me of a young part-time worker getting harassed by a nightmare customer.
I gently patted her hand.
The viscount looked annoyed even by that.
BANG!
He slammed his cane against the floor.
“How long does the Arista household plan to leave a guest standing in the hallway? Are you saying a mere maid is more important than me, your creditor and guest?”
Ugh.
What a pain.
I sighed.
Then quietly whispered to Mary.
“You know another guest is coming soon, right? Prepare for them.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Then I looked back at the viscount.
Even without a mirror, I knew my expression had turned ice cold.
“Very well. Since you want to be treated like a creditor, let’s do this properly. Please come into the office.”
The viscount clicked his tongue and entered.
I gave Dolores a subtle signal.
She nodded.
Perfect. Witness secured.
The viscount stared at Dolores and me as though he could kill us with his glare.
Dolores closed the office door.
Only after confirming that she was seated diagonally across from the viscount did I sit down at the head seat.
“Now then. Tell me about this debt that supposedly exists without the mistress of the household knowing about it.”
Without wasting time, he pulled out an envelope.
“This is a promissory note for six billion gold.”
Six billion.
An absurd amount of money.
Even Dolores, who rarely showed emotion, looked shocked.
She was probably comparing it to the inheritance I had received:
3 billion in gold and cash
3 tons of gold bars
I accepted the document and handed it to Dolores.
“Please examine it.”
“Understood.”
She carefully inspected it despite the viscount’s threatening stare.
Soon, her eyes widened.
“My lady… the handwriting of the late marquis’s signature is different from what I know.”
Exactly.
The document was obviously forged.
In my previous life, I had been naive enough to fall for it.
The viscount shouted.
“Signatures can vary! Are you accusing me of forgery?!”
My turn.
“That’s certainly possible.”
“What?!”
“I’m not finished.”
I snorted.
“My late husband would have sold the ring off his finger before borrowing money from anyone.”
The viscount laughed mockingly.
“Looks like your relationship with the marquis was even worse than rumored.”
“Did you know one of his hobbies was gambling?”
“Watch your mouth! Gambling is a serious crime!
A victorious smile appeared on his face.
“Good. Then I don’t need to explain what he used my six billion gold for.”
Finally.
The reason I didn’t need to pay a single coin became clear.
The loan was fake.
The gambling claim was fake.
Everything was fake.
But the viscount still believed he had the upper hand.
“See? If you hadn’t insisted on having a lawyer present, you wouldn’t have to worry about this scandal spreading.”
Scandal.
The thing every noble feared.
And the weapon he thought would make me surrender.
He continued.
“If you apologize now, I’ll generously reduce the debt. Think carefully. You can’t possibly raise young Lord Bliss in poverty.”
Wow.
He said the exact nonsense that fooled me in my previous life.
My blood pressure shot through the roof.
“Don’t say my son’s name with that rotten mouth.”
“W-What?! Did you just speak casually to me?!”
“I sure did. What are you going to do about it?”
I pointed at him.
“You fraud. Stop pretending you care about my child.”
“How rude!”
My teeth clenched.
“Rude? You’re standing here threatening parents with their child while demanding money. And I’m the rude one?”
“Who are you calling a fraud?!”
“Did you transfer six billion gold into my husband’s account?”
He immediately panicked.
“W-What idiot transfers gambling money through a bank?!”
“So your only proof is this fake document?”
“You think that means I’ll give up my money?!”
“Yep! Because I’m about to make sure you do.”
“…How?”
At that moment.
Knock knock.
Mary knocked on the office door.
“My lady, the guests you were waiting for have arrived.”
“Send them in.”
The door opened.
Several unfamiliar men stood behind Mary.
The man I had contacted earlier that morning.
Right after spanking Bliss.
I had specifically requested that they arrive at this exact time.
I stood up and pointed at the viscount.
“Welcome, officers.”
The viscount frowned.
I smiled.
“This man is the gambler and extortionist I reported.”
I pointed at Dolores.
“The lawyer, Ms. Dolores, will testify regarding his crimes.”
Everything happened instantly.
The guards seized him.
“No! Let me go!”
The viscount glared at me.
“How did you know I was coming today?!”
I almost laughed.
“Calling it a trap is embarrassing, Viscount.”
His face twisted with rage.
“Why arrest only me?! Do you think I gambled alone?!”
I nearly laughed out loud.
What did he expect?
My husband was already dead.
Obviously, the living criminal was going to prison.
The viscount completely lost it.
Even in front of the guards, he continued threatening me.
“Marchioness! Are you really okay with everyone learning that the late Marquis Arista was a habitual gambler?!”
I laughed.
“And how exactly will you prove that?”
“What?”
“Who would testify? Anyone who claims my husband gambled would be admitting they were involved too.”
The viscount froze.
Checkmate.
“And even if people find out, so what?”
I shrugged.
“Does the Arista family’s reputation have any farther to fall?”
Honestly.
Everyone in the north already knew my husband was trash.
In my previous life, my biggest mistake was believing our reputation could still get worse.
Now I finally understood.
The retainers had always intended to kick Bliss and me out of the family no matter what.
But things were different this time.
After thoroughly defeating the viscount, I finally saw a future for myself.
A hopeful one.
“From today onward, my life isn’t going to be miserable anymore.”
