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Chapter – 43
The Count Selten snorted and glared sulkily at the candy in front of him.
In his mind, the words his mother had told him that morning came to mind.
“Today, you’ll hear the story about that illegitimate daughter.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Surely the late Duke won’t take kindly to that illegitimate child. You must act tactfully, on the late Duke’s side. Make a strong impression on the influential late Duke.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll try to catch the late Duke’s eye and push Anna as the candidate for Duchess.”
“Ah, my clever son! Yes. The future of our family and your younger sister depends on you!”
The Selten family had been one of those families that periodically submitted marriage proposals to the Duke.
However, their influence wasn’t strong, and so they had never been able to attract attention—
“I can’t let this opportunity pass.”
The appearance of the “illegitimate child,” which could spark a conflict between the current Duke and the late Duke’s opinion, was the perfect chance.
Instead of siding with the capricious Duke, Selten decided to side with the influential late Duke of Panteibe.
“Besides, it’s better for Anna if that illegitimate child doesn’t exist.”
If his young and beautiful sister became the Duchess of Panteibe, she wouldn’t have to take on raising an illegitimate child.
He discreetly glanced at Carlos’ face.
The elderly man with folded arms was staring fiercely at the candy in front of him.
“As expected, the illegitimate child is displeasing to him.”
Ahem.
“Is this little one really the Duke’s daughter?”
Selten’s words instantly froze the previously cheerful atmosphere.
“What is that guy saying now?”
“Did he lose his senses?”
The nobles around them kept glancing between the Duke and Selten, their faces paling.
A small crack had appeared in the Duke’s smile.
“What did you say?”
“I was just concerned. I thought maybe Your Grace might be deceived…”
“Ah, I see.”
Count Contiga tilted his head as if sighing softly.
“This little one is a fraud? Am I the fool deceived by this little scammer?”
“No, she’s not a fraud.”
“Oh? She’s not a fraud?”
Patting Melony’s head, the Duke retorted, and Selten gasped.
No matter how sharp his senses, he had realized the Duke was displeased.
“No, it’s not that…”
He stammered, glancing at Carlos, whose sharp eyes were fixed on him.
The Count silently prayed, “Please, save me!”
Could it be that his plea reached him?
“Enough with the introductions! Let’s get on with the remaining agenda! Are we planning to hold this meeting all day? Does no one plan to go home? Are we staying here overnight?!”
At the Duke’s booming voice, everyone hastily began shuffling through papers.
The Duke glanced sideways at the late Duke and shrugged before picking up his own documents.
“I’m… safe.”
Selten could finally exhale in relief.
His tense shoulders relaxed.
He could now be certain.
“Indeed, the late Duke doesn’t like that little one.”
Helping him without directly intervening was proof of that.
Then it was clear.
“Even if the Duke’s glare is intimidating, I’ll side with the late Duke.”
Seeing the Duke close his mouth at the late Duke’s words confirmed that the late Duke was truly the real power in Panteibe.
Fools.
They don’t even know who’s right.
Selten suppressed the twitching corner of his mouth as he went upstairs.
Squeak.
“The mood was good, but that man ruined everything.”
I pressed my lips together to stop them from sticking out.
I almost made eye contact with the man who had disrupted me, so I quickly averted my gaze.
I’m not scared.
Really, I’m not.
Meanwhile, the meeting was about to resume.
“Should I leave now?”
A serious meeting was underway, and a child like me could only get in the way.
I fidgeted with that thought—
“……?”
It seemed the Duke had no intention of letting me go.
As I tried to move from his lap, he patted my shoulder as if telling me to stay.
Huh?
“I’m just supposed to stay here?”
I tried moving again, and the same response came.
I didn’t know why, but I decided to just stay put.
“I guess I missed the chance to leave anyway.”
If I stayed quiet, I wouldn’t be a disturbance.
I sat up straight and eavesdropped on the conversation.
“How are the Montas trees? Any improvement?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Unfortunately, no. We gathered all the scholars with expertise in plants, but it was of no use.”
“Tsk. What a bother.”
Montas trees? I felt like I had heard of them before.
“Montas trees…”
Ah, that tree!
After thinking carefully, I recalled information about the Montas tree.
Montas trees were used in the landscaping of noble estates.
Beautiful trees that bore golden fruit.
They were rare, and difficult to grow to maturity, making mature trees extremely expensive.
“I saw in the intelligence reports that it was one of Panteibe’s main sources of income.”
I remembered that the trees had all withered due to a mysterious disease, causing a major blow to the Duke’s household.
Hence, Montas trees disappeared from history and could no longer be found.
Perhaps the Montas trees’ extinction happened around this time.
“It would be great if we could save them, but there seems to be no hope.”
“Spending money trying to save a hopeless tree is foolish.”
“Should we just give up then?”
As a cautious elder noble asked, the Duke pondered silently.
“Your Grace, then why not give me a chance?”
The man who had quarreled with me earlier—
“Count Selten, wasn’t it?”
Selten confidently raised his hand and interrupted.
“A chance? Do you know how to save the tree?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“…Huh?”
The Duke let out a dry laugh at his confident reply.
“Then what exactly is this chance you’re asking for, Count?”
“I’ve found a new tree to replace the Montas trees.”
He quickly handed the Duke a prepared report.
“Unen tree?”
“Yes. Uniquely, its leaves are yellow, shaped like an open fan.”
The Count continued confidently.
“It hasn’t been introduced to the Empire yet, but our family can import it. I believe this tree can become Panteibe’s new source of income.”
Murmurs erupted around the room.
“Perhaps it’s better to find another tree now.”
“Saving the Montas trees seems impossible…”
“With such a unique tree, there may be demand among nobles.”
“Ah, yes!”
I accidentally spoke up.
I quickly covered my mouth, but all eyes were already on me.
The servants who had been whispering,
Count Selten, who had been confidently holding his head high,
and even the late Duke with his arms firmly crossed—
“What’s wrong, Marshmallow?”
The Duke looked at me.
“W-Well…”
Why not?
“Because it’s probably going to fail?”
I couldn’t exactly say that.
I couldn’t reveal that I had returned to the past!
Then suddenly, a good idea popped into my head.
