TDFL 21

~Chapter 21~

I went over the conversation I had just had.

Although nothing was said outright, I could feel the nuance that I had influenced the price of the painting.

‘If Count Green could speak the kingdom’s language, this would get troublesome.’

For now, I kept silent.

It meant I had played along as if I had been struck right at the core, just as Count Green wanted.

“I hear the Duke has been very busy lately. Should I assume it’s because of that?”

Fortunately, it seemed that they hadn’t caught the key points of the conversation—or perhaps they didn’t understand the kingdom’s language.

“Not with anyone else, but with the Second Prince. Miss Leonia, your skills must be acknowledged.”

Ah, so they didn’t understand. Then…

“I honestly have no idea what the Count is trying to say.”

“Oh my. Were you planning to deny it even though you were caught in the act?”

So they hadn’t heard the conversation between Aaron and me, but it seemed they were trying to make it look like I had an affair.

“Count Green? Why are you here?”

“And the Second Prince and Lady Bellaci are here as well,” he added.

Judging by the followers who appeared as if they had been waiting, it seemed this had been planned in advance.

“Yes, I wonder why the two of you are together, since you won’t speak a word,” Count Green said.

Everyone awkwardly smiled, but I could tell they were letting their imaginations run wild.

“Sorry, you guessed wrong,” Aaron interjected.

“It’s offensive to be treated like a scoundrel trying to steal someone else’s fiancé,” he added.

“Oh, my. If I misunderstood, I truly apologize,” Count Green said, bowing slightly while holding the dress.

On the surface, he was pretending to apologize, but this was clearly the point he cared about most.

“However, the auction isn’t over yet. I’m personally curious why the two of you left the auction hall together,” he said.

If I fumbled an explanation or said I couldn’t tell, this would spread through society.

“That’s…”

Aaron, realizing the situation, also fell silent.

If he admitted that he helped manipulate the painting’s price, it would be like confessing he had been deceived.

‘And invoking my connection with Louis to escape is tricky.’

Louis and Aaron are publicly considered rivals.

“Everyone knows that the Duke and the Second Prince are not on good terms. So there’s nothing you need to report to the Duke,” I said.

Just as I suspected, Count Green tried to block any escape route immediately.

“Enjoying a secret meeting to steal a rival’s fiancé sounds more plausible, doesn’t it?”

Aaron and I remained silent, and the Count’s arrogant smile grew wider.

It’s about time to sort this out.

“We were talking because we have a common acquaintance. We were waiting for him and just chatting.”

“A common acquaintance?”

The Count looked puzzled, and Aaron was shocked.

“…Are you seriously saying the Duke?”

If I revealed the friendship with Louis and Aaron, it might get us out of trouble, but it would create other problems in succession.

Not my concern.

“Here he comes.”

Hearing footsteps in the distance, everyone fixed their gaze.

“Leonia.”

The voice, elegant and commanding, resonated around us.

“Oh my, quite the unexpected company today,” said Alice, her pink hair tied neatly.

“Alice?”

“Why is Alice here all of a sudden…?”

Everyone was surprised, but Aaron quickly composed himself.

“Oh, you came?”

He added with a smirk, as if he had expected Alice to arrive.

“Although you’re busy, you came earlier than expected?”

Alice smiled gently, causing the young ladies nearby to squeal and blush. They seemed to have already forgotten they were Count Green’s followers.

“By whose request did you come, Alice?”

Not wanting to watch the scene any longer, Count Green asked.

“Did the Second Prince summon you, Alice?”

“No, I came of my own accord. The Second Prince was simply waiting to speak with his sister,” I quickly clarified.

This way, there was no need to coordinate further—Alice and Aaron would follow along naturally.

“If that’s the case… then we clearly misunderstood,” Count Green’s followers began to settle down.

“Yes, we were completely mistaken because we never expected such company,” one said.

Although the Count refused to admit that his actions had caused a misunderstanding, I knew better.

‘Should I just let this go… or…’

Alice stepped forward.

“Count Green, you certainly live comfortably, don’t you? I envy you.”

Because Alice spoke so softly and elegantly, it didn’t feel like sarcasm.

“…Are you criticizing me now?”

“Criticism? That’s an exaggeration. I’ve heard that last time you tried to corner Leonia with unverified rumors,” Alice said.

“Hah. Miss Leonia, is that so?”

The Count’s gaze flicked to me, likely wondering if I had told Alice.

“I have many acquaintances. Even without asking my younger sister, I know many things,” Alice added.

“So, what are you suggesting?”

“You should apologize. You almost ensnared innocent people twice. If that’s Count Green’s way, I won’t argue further,” she said smoothly.

Truly, the heroine.

Count Green ground his teeth at Alice’s words. Even so, at this point, it was wiser to apologize and end it.

“…Shouldn’t you have just avoided behavior that causes misunderstanding in the first place? Ah, I see that’s the Bellaci family way,” he muttered.

It seemed he chose to protect his pride.

Time for me to intervene.

“I didn’t expect the Green family to declare war on the Duke’s family first. Quite surprising,” I said.

“…Declare war?”

The Count looked stunned by my extreme word choice.

“Your remark implied doubt in the Duke’s judgment. If that’s not a declaration of war, what is?”

“That’s quite an exaggeration!”

An exaggeration, indeed. Despite all the attempts to corner me, he spoke well.

“Shall we hear from others? Who agrees with the Count?”

When I looked around, the Count’s followers began avoiding eye contact.

His words were too harsh, and they didn’t want trouble with the Duke’s family.

“…This is unfair!”

“Are you in a position to defend the Count, who nearly slandered me as a woman playing with another man while her fiancé is present?”

Count Green had nothing to say about that and remained silent. I calmly declared:

“From this moment onward, the Green family will no longer receive investments from the Duke’s family.”

The Count’s expression flickered briefly but quickly hardened again.

‘Good thing I reviewed the Duke family’s ledgers.’

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have understood the meaning behind that expression.

“…I see,” he said, bowing his head. Probably secretly relieved.

The Duke’s family had never invested in the Count’s business.

“Neither the Duke’s family nor the collateral branches,” I continued.

The Count raised his eyes reflexively at my statement. While the Duke’s main family had never invested, what about the collateral branches?

“Upon reviewing the ledgers, several collateral branches have invested in your business,” I explained.

It was worth reviewing not just the Duke’s records but also those of the collateral families.

“However, it’s best not to expect any further support.”

The Count’s business hadn’t produced notable results for a while, so the collateral families would likely welcome a reason to pull out.

“This is overstepping! Those families voluntarily invested in my business!”

“Truly voluntary?”

Count Green fell silent. Instead of angrily responding, he kept quiet, which confirmed my suspicion that he had pressured some families to invest.

“Several families reported that they were coerced into investing. The Count threatened them.”

No such reports existed, and even if they did, there would be no evidence to punish him. But the Count had already lost face.

“Ridiculous…”

Moreover, I had already shaken the Count in ways he hadn’t expected, so he had no choice but to believe me.

“I could take this to court, but I don’t want unnecessary noise before the wedding.”

“…What exactly do you want?”

“Simple,” I said with a smile, then stated my demands.