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Chapter 38
Wanting to Make My Wife Cry
The banquet hall was filled with nobles from around Count Hetel’s territory.
They kept sneaking glances at Chancellor Orteca and us—particularly at me.
They must have been really curious.
I could clearly hear the men’s astonished whispers.
“So that’s why Duke Blanchet got married. Her looks, at least, are truly…”
“Turns out the Duke is a man after all. I thought he wasn’t interested in women…”
Even as we took our seats, the murmuring didn’t stop.
My head feels dizzy.
You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I still wasn’t used to feeling like a spectacle in front of so many nobles.
Johan, sitting beside me, held the hand I had placed on my lap.
“Should I rip all their mouths apart?”
“…What?”
“But since my wife is next to me, I’ll hold back.”
His strong fingers laced between mine and squeezed tightly.
“Still, my wife, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll take care of it all.”
“Take care of what?”
“You’re speaking formally again.”
“Well, it’s hard to break the habit overnight.”
Startled, I hurriedly made excuses. Johan rested his chin in one hand and gave me a sly smile.
“Then maybe I should punish you every time you speak formally.”
“…Why do you keep trying to punish me lately? Do you want to punish me, Johan?”
“Who knows.”
He squeezed my hand tighter, staring at me. That gaze made me flustered.
“I can’t help it. I just keep wanting to make my wife cry.”
“…”
“Your crying face is very exciting, you know.”
What a terrifying, villain-like way of thinking.
I pulled my hand out of his grip in protest.
“But if someone else makes you cry, I’d be very displeased.”
He looked at me fondly, then his crimson eyes gleamed dangerously as he whispered—
“So whatever it is, tell me. I can take care of it all.”
“Take care of what?”
“Anything. After all, there’s no one in this world who can stand against me.”
Johan’s voice sounded ominous, almost scheming.
He isn’t plotting something again… is he?
Deng— The bell struck 9 o’clock.
I quickly glanced toward the door. Betty peeked her head in, nodded once, and disappeared. It seemed the matter I had worried about was resolved.
Count and Countess Hetel rose to their feet.
Count Hetel raised his champagne glass boldly.
“Welcome, honored guests, to Hetel Castle!”
“We’re especially grateful to our distinguished guests for gracing this occasion.”
Countess Hetel followed her husband’s gesture, lifting her glass lightly.
“Then, to the Empire—”
The nobles lifted their glasses in response.
But just then, Countess Hetel’s smiling lips trembled, and a delicate tear slid down her cheek.
“Ah, this won’t do.”
Countess Hetel lowered her head politely to the guests.
“I apologize for ruining the mood. Let me continue the toast.”
“Marguerita, has something troubling happened?”
One lady close to her asked in concern.
“No… I can’t possibly say it in front of everyone.”
“My dear, it might be better if you did.”
Count Hetel soothed his wife.
“It could be easier to bring it up in front of everyone.”
Other nobles chimed in.
“Go ahead, Marguerita.”
“Yes, if it’s too much, you can rest first.”
At last, reluctantly, Countess Hetel opened her mouth.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard that our Hetel family has been struggling financially. You probably think it’s because of my husband’s failed business ventures.”
She dabbed her teary eyes with a white handkerchief.
“But the real reason is because someone has not repaid the money they owe us.”
“Someone who hasn’t repaid you?”
“That person is…”
Her gaze landed squarely on one spot.
Where Estelle sat.
Estelle blinked her navy-blue eyes in shock when their gazes met.
“Are you referring to me?”
“…Yes, Duchess Blanchet. Why have you not repaid Hetel’s debt?”
Estelle’s face stiffened in bewilderment.
Countess Hetel gave her a triumphant smile.
How dare you humiliate me?
Not only had this wicked woman drawn the Chancellor’s attention—something Hetel had desperately wanted—but she had also ruined her daughter’s marriage prospects.
“It may not seem like a large sum to you, but to us, it is enormous. We don’t even ask for interest—just the principal, please.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve never borrowed money from the Hetel family.”
The nobles nodded in agreement.
“Wasn’t Duchess Blanchet practically a recluse?”
Indeed, it was well-known that Estelle rarely left her estate.
How could the adopted daughter of Libertan have borrowed money? Meeting her at all would’ve been difficult.
A concerned lady tugged at Countess Hetel’s sleeve.
“Did the Duchess really borrow money? Without clear proof…”
“I understand your doubts. Thankfully, we have documents to prove it.”
Countess Hetel ordered a maid to fetch an envelope marked confidential from her study. The maid soon returned with it.
“I didn’t want to do this, but we’ll have to show everyone. Please look at the loan contract and the guarantee signature.”
The nobles gasped at the figure written.
“Good heavens, 100,000 gold?”
“You didn’t get repaid for 100,000 gold? That’s enough to buy a whole castle…”
It was an amount equivalent to several years’ income for an ordinary noble household.
Countess Hetel held the contract and guarantee high for all to see.
[Estelle Libertan.]
The room erupted in murmurs. Estelle’s pale face turned ghostly white, as if she would collapse.
“I swear it isn’t me.”
Yet she straightened gracefully and met Countess Hetel’s eyes.
“I’ve never signed such a document. And a guarantee would require…”
“If you hadn’t agreed, the contract magic would never have completed. But here it is—bound by contract magic. Whose signature is this, then?”
Countess Hetel tapped the name with her finger.
“If you doubt it, you can examine it yourself. Check if it’s your handwriting.”
She handed the paper to Estelle. Estelle inspected it closely, her navy eyes fixed on the signature line.
“It is my signature. But I never signed such terms…”
Countess Hetel smirked inwardly.
Perfectly successful!
She had risked exposing it in front of everyone, but it had paid off.
Now, either that annoying commoner will be cast aside, or the Duke will pay instead.
She lowered her gaze, feigning sorrow while suppressing the grin that threatened to surface.
No matter what magic tool is used, they won’t find evidence of tampering. The loan document is forged, but the signature is real.
No noble would suspect such a trap—until Baron Fenulla had appeared with his idea.
Countess Hetel recalled the night he came urgently, handing over an envelope.
“I saved this for an emergency. But I have a condition—you must secretly search the guests’ rooms under the authority of the host.”
Inside had been Estelle’s guarantee form.
Through contract magic, it was indeed valid. But only half-complete, due to a flaw.
Fenulla had explained that because the Libertan Duke had signed as guardian, not Estelle herself, a loophole existed. If Estelle touched it, it could be altered.
Countess Hetel had tested it with her daughter—it worked.
And now Estelle had foolishly touched the document herself.
There was no way to stop it now.
Meanwhile, Johan wrapped an arm around Estelle’s shoulders protectively.
“My wife would never lie.”
“…Johan.”
“If you’re going to spout nonsense, prove it with a contract artifact.”
At his cold threat, the hall fell silent.
Countess Hetel seized the moment.
“Gladly. In fact, I’d like Chancellor Orteca to arbitrate. He has the Empire’s most accurate contract magic tool.”
The nobles agreed. Chancellor Orteca finally nodded.
“Very well. Things seem complicated—I shall verify it now.”
He revealed a ring with a brilliant blue gem.
“This is a royal treasure entrusted only to the Chancellor. It can discern contract magic. If the gem turns red, there’s evidence of tampering. If it remains gold, then the contract is genuine.”
His green eyes gleamed like a serpent’s as he studied Countess Hetel.
Countess Hetel stiffened.
I never thought the royal treasure itself would appear… but he said it’s like a regular artifact. It should show as genuine, like when I tested it earlier.
“Very well. We are innocent.”
Estelle, who had remained silent, finally lifted her head.
“Countess Hetel. If this turns out to be false, how will you compensate me?”
“Pardon?”
“If I had been falsely accused, I might have been forced to pay an enormous debt. That’s not something to brush aside.”
Her eyes were reddened as though she had cried.
“And this involves the honor of House Blanchet. Surely you won’t just let it go?”
“Of course not.”
“Ah, thank goodness.”
Estelle gave Johan a bright smile.
“Johan, in such cases, what kind of compensation is appropriate?”
“Usually ten times the attempted fraud amount.”
At the word fraud, Countess Hetel shrieked.
“F-fraud?!”
“Why so shocked? If my wife could be lying, isn’t it just as possible the Hetel family is committing fraud?”
“Th-that’s…”
This was not part of her plan. Even if things failed, she had intended to play the victim.
“Perfect then! I’ll swear on my title as Duchess Blanchet that I never signed that document.”
Estelle smiled sweetly, innocently.
“So, Countess Hetel, why don’t you swear on your family name as well?”
“…”
“You can swear, can’t you?”
Her navy eyes shone brightly.
Countess Hetel suddenly felt those clear eyes were terrifying.
Why does it feel like I’m the one caught in a trap?
Her confidence faltered. But she couldn’t back down now.
At that moment, Lotte exclaimed innocently—
“Chancellor, let’s proceed quickly. There’s no need to delay!”
