NABCM 13

Chapter 13

“Ah, right.”
“……”
“…You.”

Seeing me blankly staring, Dullian’s face flushed red, as if thinking this isn’t how it’s supposed to go, and he shouted,

“You—you really heard me correctly, right? I’m not joking. I mean it. I won’t send a single coin!”
“Yeah.”
“You—what kind of person are you…?”

What, was he expecting me to fall into despair or something?

I had been foolishly deceived by a man.
So there’s no way I’d offer a dowry for a scam marriage like that.

Maybe this was the best reasoning he could come up with after returning home.
Honestly, this counted as one of the milder scenarios I’d imagined from my fake family’s blackmail strategies.

If they think they can sway me with just this, they’re dreaming.

Seeing how calm I remained, Dullian started to get flustered and raised his voice.

“Pudding! Think carefully! Do you even realize what it means to marry without a dowry?”
“……”
“Sure, the Duke might say he likes you now, but what happens when you show up with nothing but the clothes on your back? You think he’ll still feel the same?”

He spoke loudly enough to be heard outside, glancing repeatedly behind me—
as if hoping someone would pass on his words to the Duke.

Hah! So obvious.

I snorted at his transparent scheme.
It was so clear why he was bringing up this nonsense right in front of the Duke’s retainers.

He’s trying to humiliate me.

A bride who brings nothing to her husband’s household.
A girl even her own family scorns—an easy target for contempt.

He was sending a signal to the Duke’s retainers.
If she gets cast out and comes crawling back, we’ll just send her off to the Marquess right away.

Seeing their pathetic effort to devalue me made any remaining affection I had for these fake relatives completely vanish.

Seriously. Who do they think earned the wealth they’re now so stingy with?

Watching them display such shameless ingratitude made me recall what the ancestors always said: Never take in a black-haired beast.
Well, sure, their hair is silver, but still.

Dullian kept yapping, completely unaware that I was holding myself back from flipping the table.

“Okay, fine. Let’s say the Duke really is infatuated with your face and says it’s fine. …But what about a few years from now?”

By then, I won’t even be the Duke’s wife.

Most likely, I’ll be running the merchant guild again and traveling the continent.
While I was briefly picturing my future, Dullian put on his usual “thoughtful older brother” face and continued.

“Pudding, listen. As your older brother, I know how men think. All that talk about love—don’t believe it until after the bedroom—well, the main event.”
“……”
“No matter how satisfying a woman is, eventually they all get tired of her.”

Ugh.

His face alone was disgusting enough—now he had to add those words on top.

That’s it. Disgust level: MAXED OUT.

“And when that time comes, you’ll be all pitiful, writing me a letter—and how could I just sit by and—”

I cut him off coldly before he could spew more nonsense.

“You’ve been thinking about the wrong things.”
“What?”
“Because I won’t be writing you any letters. So wake up.”
“What! You think I said all this because I want a letter from you? I mean, not that I don’t want a letter, but—”

Apparently realizing he was still playing the “caring brother” role, Dullian scrambled to fix his words.

I ignored him and scanned the room for the item I’d asked the maid to bring.

Ah, there it is.

“Pudding, are you even listening?”

I let his increasingly irritated voice wash over me and poured water from the teapot.

Too bad it’s not cold water.

I moved my hands busily.
Into the clear water, I dropped some specially prepared tea leaves.

The water thickened quickly, resembling the murky texture of a slime dragged from a swamp.
I stirred it well, making sure the goopy brew steeped fully, when Dullian—impatient as ever—started picking a fight again.

“Seriously? Now’s the time for tea? Classic Pudding.”

The way he said “Pudding,” that sweet nickname, was laced with mockery.

“……”

My gaze toward him darkened.

He wasn’t like this from the start.

When I first became successful and came to the capital, he pretended to be the perfect older brother, willing to do anything for me.

When did that change?

When did their fake family act become this blatantly lazy and insincere?
Probably because I was easy.

Because I gave without question, thinking we were family.
And now they acted like receiving was their right.

Yeah. That part’s on me.

I smirked bitterly and stirred the tea with more vigor.

Maybe they came back looking for that obedient money cow from before.

Like I was something they left with me for safekeeping.
Time to fix my past mistakes like a responsible adult.

The tea was ready.

Clink.

I set down the silver spoon and picked up the teacup.

At that moment, the knight standing silently behind me leaned in to whisper,

“Milady, if you’d like me to remove the unwanted guest, just say the word.”

Ohh.

He definitely heard all the talk about dowries, but his face remained unreadable.
Still calm and respectful as ever—I gave a subtle nod.

The Duke’s household really trains their staff well.

“If it’s uncomfortable, I can summon His Grace for you.”
“No need.”

Smiling sweetly, I stopped swirling the teacup and turned to face Dullian.

The moment his eyes met my cold gaze, he flinched like a scolded dog and raised his voice.

“I—I said all this for you! Because I care!”

I’ve heard enough of your BS.

There’s no need to listen anymore.

Gripping the teacup tightly, I flicked my wrist—

Splash!

“Just so you know—AAAGH!!”

A perfect strike.

The thick tea splattered over Dullian’s head, drenching him completely.

Like a drowned rat, he panicked, shaking himself off.

Huh. I get now why they always throw water in dramas.

It’s incredibly satisfying.

Dullian clawed at his hair, which clung to his face like seaweed, and struggled to pull off his soaked clothes.

Honestly, people will think I splashed him with acid or something.

In my spotless conscience, I could swear the tea was harmless to humans.

It’s just regular tea. Well… maybe sticky and a bit smelly.

I’d specially chosen this blend for its extra viscosity—practically glue-like.
Now I could see the goopy strands clinging to his arms as he tried to peel it off.

La la la~

I hummed silently and gracefully set my teacup down.

After a long struggle, Dullian finally yanked off his shirt and shivered.

“You… you’re really insane!!”

Face pale with rage, he stomped toward me.

Clang!

But the knight stepped forward and drew his sword in a flash, pointing it at him.

The glint of the blade turned Dullian’s face ashen.

“Take another step and I’ll consider it a threat to the Lady.”
“Y-you!”

He didn’t dare cross the invisible line, just gritted his teeth and seethed.

Fearing the sword, he held in the tantrum he usually let loose and lowered his eyes.

Watching with amusement, I finally opened my mouth.

“Even if you’re my brother, how could you say such things about my fiancé?”
“What?”

I glanced sideways at Dullian’s stunned expression and struck a dramatic pose, one hand on my cheek.
I tilted my head, fluttered my lashes, even made my dry eyes glisten with a little irritation.

This is how you do a tragic heroine look, punk.

“Trying to use the dowry to threaten me… if it were just to insult me, fine.”

But I’ll make sure you pay for this.

“But insulting my fiancé’s love? I absolutely cannot tolerate that.”
“Love? Are you serious—”
“Why are you making it sound like I’m marrying for money?”

I’m marrying for medicine, actually.

“If you’re going to say such things, then don’t come back. I’d rather cut ties with my family than hurt the one I love!”

Perfect. That sounded exactly like a devoted fiancée standing up for her beloved.

“Milady! You care so deeply for our Lord…!”

Apparently my acting touched the wrong person—the knight’s voice was choked with emotion.

As for Dullian…

“Ha! Unbelievable! You dumped that sludge on me for him?!”

Yup. He’s fallen for it too—now he’s jumping like a fish out of water.

Unable to control himself, he shouted all the way out the door before being kicked out.

* * *

It feels like just yesterday that happened…

As I reminisced, I quickly closed my eyes when the maid approached.

“Thank you, milady. Just a bit more gently now.”
“……”
“Oh my! Even this light shade suits you perfectly.”

As I felt the makeup brush tickle gently at the corner of my eyes, I reflected on the past few days.

All the dresses, the banquet decorations… so many choices to make.

And it wasn’t just the engagement ceremony.
I also had to finish up all my work before leaving the capital.

I was incredibly busy—so much that time flew by in a blur.

Truly, it passed in the blink of an eye.

Yes. Before I knew it—

“Today, milady will be the most beautiful bride!”

The day of the engagement ceremony had arrived.