TMOWM~86

Chapter 86

Kartega looked back at the Catheron Manor with a wistful gaze. When he had entered, he hadn’t intended to leave alone.

“Countess?”

Nonsense.

People are born with their nature. To be born a maid and become a countess?

It had to be the work of Taivern. He must have known that Kartega would be watching Lani.

He was the only one who had noticed her. Was the Sword Master really that different?

In truth, Catheron was full of absurdities. Lani becoming a countess was one thing, but Hider, born from a maid, becoming the heir?

Since Kartega had been driven out, rumors were rampant that Hider would inherit Catheron.

“Crazy people.”

Kartega muttered coldly.

It is heaven that decides who rises and who falls.

“When he returns, I will make sure he knows his proper place.”

Hider hadn’t yet awakened as a Sword Master, while Kartega had—proof of his own qualifications.

Because he was worthy!

The only relief was that Lani knew her place.

Her submissive demeanor toward him—if she hadn’t been like that, he might have had to correct her behavior immediately.

What restrained him was the law.

It was Taivern’s madness that turned a maid into a countess, but the empire’s laws were governed by the Emperor.

He couldn’t just drag a countess protected by the Emperor and imperial law wherever he pleased.

Well… technically, he could.

But then what?

Kartega needed a marriage with a princess. Aites alone wouldn’t satisfy him. He needed more power.

To teach Hider his place and send the insane Taivern where he belonged.

Why did it have to be so complicated and difficult?

He needed more power, and he wanted more of everything.

“You can have whatever you want, Kartega.”

It was Kiera’s fault he had been wronged. If she said she would give it, she should have given it! Kartega spurred his horse forward rapidly.

The deadline set by Duke Herden and I was a month and a half. Taivern’s secretary, Stanley, had agreed to help me.

“An escape must be carried out secretly so that no one knows. Only the two of you here should be aware of my departure and destination.”

“I agree as well.”

Duke Herden nodded.

“Don’t you feel regret for everything you’ve done so far?”

“Not at all.”

What I regretted was leaving behind the people who had been with me. I had grown fond of them without even realizing it.

And this manor too.

Everything I had done wasn’t truly alone. I had only provided ideas—the actual work had been carried out by others.

Besides, it wasn’t even just my ideas.

I believed everything would continue smoothly even without me.

“Viscount Aros will handle it well. He is clever, after all. And there’s also Your Grace, the Duke.”

Since Kiera would never touch Catheron again, there was no risk of losing money or anything else.

Everything was going well, except for one problem: me.

I had no idea why Kartega had singled me out.

“Phew. People will feel hurt. They’ll worry a lot.”

“I’d feel hurt too.”

I thought of Dania, my friend who always said I was the best.

She had once been an untrustworthy ally, but now she was a friend.

I couldn’t imagine a day without her.

I had seen Hider every day, but I knew she would leave. I had assumed Dania would stay with me.

“If Dania cries a lot, just tell her I’m fine.”

I might have become a target for Kartega simply because I was close to her.

“There might be another way, Lani.”

“Leaving is the easiest and fastest option. Kartega will lose the object of his obsession.”

“Wouldn’t his interest fade after marriage?”

Stanley offered some hope.

“Do you really think so?”

Stanley shook his head immediately. That was exactly it. Even I could tell his eyes were sincere.

“Then finish the preparations. I can stay in that manor without problems, right?”

“The paperwork will be fully completed two years later, after you come of age, Lani. But you can use the manor immediately—it’s already empty.”

I nodded at Stanley’s explanation.

“Income from the mines and farms will continue to give you ten percent. Will that be enough?”

“Absolutely!”

How much money was already in my account? And it kept growing without me doing anything.

“…That won’t be enough, Lani. You’ll need people and other resources.”

Duke Herden nodded and pulled something from a drawer, handing it to me.

“This is my account. I’ve written down the password below. Use whatever you need.”

If I refused this too, it seemed they would give me something even bigger. I didn’t really need it, but I nodded.

“Thank you. When should I leave?”

“The sooner the better. How about a week from now, in the evening?”

A week.

It was sooner than I expected.

But it might be better to leave quickly, just as Herden said. What if Kartega came looking for me?

I didn’t want to see him.

Those terrifying eyes staring at me.

Those hands grabbing my hair.

He was not sane.

I nodded.

“All right, I’ll leave then.”

“I’ll prepare everything accordingly.”

And so, the escape plan was set faster than expected.

During the past week, Viscount Aros had succeeded in negotiating an unfair contract with Kiera.

They were able to recover part of the money unjustly taken from Count Jeck.

“Can we start preparing the dresses now?”

“Yes, Lady Kiera. I will make sure to do so. You were the one who paid the deposit, so others will understand.”

Viscount Aros smiled gently. Kiera glared at him through gritted teeth.

How much effort had she put in to gather funds secretly from creditors?

It seemed extreme just for dresses, but when thinking of the Empress and the Princess, it couldn’t be helped.

The Empress acted like she cared about appearances…

“If the Princess can have a dress made, shouldn’t I also wear one from the same place? Of course, it doesn’t have to be me.”

She revealed her true intention subtly. So Kiera had to reserve more dresses than expected, almost begrudgingly.

As a result, she had to watch money leave as a deposit. This wasn’t even a down payment—it was the price for receiving the dresses first. After receiving them, the full payment would have to be made.

“I should have taken over the Del trading company!”

Otherwise, at least the Quartz company. Late regrets were truly holding her back.

“Once the dresses arrive, I’ll contact you. Will the Empress and Princess come for fittings themselves?”

“I’ll make the appointment. I’ll contact you.”

“Yes, Lady Kiera.”

Viscount Aros saw her off with a bright face, pockets now heavy.

The money would go to Count Jeck and into the bank—building the Catheron estate’s wealth.

It was all thanks to Lani that they could recover even part of it.

Where did such a clever girl come from?

Thinking of Lani, Viscount Aros felt warmth in his heart. He decided to buy her favorite dessert and visit Catheron Manor that evening.

She would be happy to hear the news, right?

But when Viscount Aros arrived at Catheron, what he heard was not what he expected.

“Lani has disappeared, Viscount Aros. We’re searching, but there’s not even a trace.”

Waiting for him was the news that Lani had vanished without a trace.