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The future ahead was clearly one where I’d have to get used to language choices where the word “human rights” didn’t even exist.
“But… is it okay for just the three of us to come like this? Even if this negotiation is just for show…”
My voice trailed off. Isaac and Letilia exchanged glances.
“Among the three down there, two are kind of idiots—no, I mean, they don’t have much in their heads. You saw it, right?”
“They’re the perfect counterparts for the duke.”
I understood immediately. In short—this was a recipe for disaster.
The three currently meeting with the duke were Nobel, Ethan, and Hazen.
Nobel and Ethan needed no explanation. Hazen was the kind who’d make the duke grab his neck in frustration, but for completely different reasons.
Of all people, why those three as the negotiation representatives…
Just imagining the duke squirming helplessly at the negotiation table filled me with wicked delight.
“That’s great news.”
“Right?”
Letilia smiled beautifully, like a picture.
“Oh, and Shunen, there’s something you should know.”
As if he’d almost forgotten, Isaac briefly explained. On their first day here, Letilia had proposed to the duke that she wanted to accept “his daughter” into Hardenberg. The duke had misunderstood, thinking she was referring to Saren…
So that’s why he said that earlier.
I snorted, remembering Saren shouting that she’d soon become part of Hardenberg.
“So the duke must be pretty excited, huh?”
“Excited to the point of comedy.”
“So you intentionally left it vague, didn’t you?”
It was obvious they hadn’t corrected his misunderstanding just to raise his expectations even higher.
Letilia gave a soft, sly smile.
“Hehe, I won’t deny it.”
Of course.
“So when should we make our grand entrance?”
I couldn’t hold back my grin.
They exchanged a look and smiled the same mischievous smile I wore.
“We can take our time, don’t you think?”
“They’re so desperate to see you—it wouldn’t hurt to grant them one last wish.”
“Then let’s take a nice, slow walk down!”
Even if we were rabbits riding on a tiger’s back, we’d still be coming from above.
Locked doors weren’t obstacles for us.
Letilia casually pointed at the door, smiling serenely. Then—BANG!
We strolled through the shredded remains of the door and into the corridor like nothing had happened.
“Wh–What on earth…”
“She’s escaped! Notify the duke immediately—!”
“Y–You’re…!”
Servants rushed in from every direction, alerted by the noise.
The moment they saw the two figures standing beside me, they froze in shock.
“Why are they here…?”
Mary, the maid at the front, stammered in a trembling voice.
“Oh, perfect timing.”
I smirked. We met faster than expected.
Mary stared between me and the two beside me, her eyes darting back and forth in disbelief.
She clearly couldn’t comprehend why they were standing with me.
“I was just thinking I’d like to say my farewells anyway. Great timing.”
“W–What?”
“I’m saying goodbye to this wretched house today. And to you, too, as a bonus.”
There were plenty of nasty people here, but you were something else.
Just remembering how you laughed when I was thrown into the stables still makes my stomach churn.
Mary, who had been frozen, suddenly blurted out nervously, as if reaching some conclusion.
“P–Please, wait! I’m sorry to say this, but there seems to be some kind of misunderstanding!”
“…Misunderstanding.”
“Yes! That girl standing with you two isn’t Lady Saren, the duke’s daughter!”
Mary bowed so low her forehead almost touched the floor. Isaac muttered under his breath.
That’s the best she could come up with?
I looked down at her dryly.
It seemed the perfect storm of panic and anxiety had led her into outright denial.
“If what you’re saying is true,” I began. All eyes turned to me at once.
“Then what exactly do you plan to say I am?”
“W–What…?”
“You said she’s not Saren. Then what am I, huh?”
Go on. Use that brain of yours.
“You say it all the time. Why don’t you introduce me like that?”
No matter what answer she gave, she was already screwed. I smiled faintly.
Mary lifted her head sharply and screamed toward Isaac and Letilia.
“S–She’s a bastard! The duke’s daughter you’re referring to is Lady Saren! She’s obviously impersonating her—!”
“Why the hell would I do that.”
Any intention to just quietly watch evaporated in disbelief. I was being very serious. Impersonating Saren? Yeah right.
“I told you. Even as a bastard, I’m not someone you can talk down to.”
“……”
“And do you really think they would make that kind of mistake?”
I pointed at Isaac and Letilia. They’d been silently watching me with pleased faces, but the moment their eyes met Mary’s, their expressions turned cold as ice.
“Listen carefully,” I said. “They came here for me. Not Saren—for me.”
Gasps echoed through the corridor.
When I glanced back at Isaac and Letilia, they smiled warmly and backed me up.
“Of course. We couldn’t imagine anyone but you, Shunen.”
“How could anyone compare you to some nameless noble girl? Letting her wallow in her delusion was all for your sake.”
Their smiles and words were gentle, yet their meaning was absolute. Mary’s face turned deathly pale—she understood exactly what that meant.
Isaac spoke coldly.
“Now I see who you’ve been running your mouth to.”
Mary flinched.
“I’d love to help you say goodbye to that tongue forever… but I’ll let it go this time for Shunen’s sake.”
Tears welled in Mary’s brown eyes.
I tore my gaze away from her without a shred of pity, brushed past, and walked down the corridor as the servants scrambled to bow their heads to me.
“I think we can leave now.”
This was satisfying enough.
Honestly, no one here was actually going to die today. We had other priorities.
This was just the appetizer.
❖ ❖ ❖
The duke and Saren were losing their minds.
“…Hardenberg, I’ll say it again, this is—”
“Oh god, again. Are you a phonograph? Stop repeating yourself.”
“Does everything you hear leak out one ear? Maybe I should fix that for you.”
“Where’s Shunen… Nobel, can’t we just blow this place up and leave?”
The three in front of him clearly had no concept of the word “negotiation.”
Nobel looked ready to blow the duke’s head off. Ethan stood beside him with folded arms, repeating threatening remarks.
The only one not actively hostile was Hazen—but he was lying behind them, half asleep.
It was, in short, a nightmare group.
Even if they’re Hardenbergs, how dare they treat me, a duke, so rudely!
The duke had tried to offer a reasonable reward for their work. Nobel and Ethan responded by repeating one phrase endlessly:
—“Five times. We want five times more.”
—“That’s absurd! Five times? That’s an outrageous price!”
—“You don’t set the price. Five times.”
—“If you don’t have the money, sell something. You’ve got antiques at home—try the black market.”
—“Insolence! I am the lord of this house, there are limits to my patience—”
—“Shut it. Want to sleep on the streets tonight?”
Nobel raised his hand, and the duke immediately shut his mouth.
The offer was high—very high. Even a duke couldn’t lowball Hardenberg.
The problem was their insane demand.
Five times…!
They were trying to rip out the foundation of the ducal house.
And they weren’t even paying attention to Saren, who they had supposedly come for.
Watching his daughter hold back tears after being ignored again and again was both humiliating and painful for the duke.
Where the hell are they?!
He was desperate for Isaac and Letilia to show up.
And at the peak of his despair—
BANG!
The door was blasted off its hinges, flying like paper.
The duke and Saren turned toward the sound, aghast.
Standing where the elegant door once was—Isaac, Letilia, and…
“Holy crap, look at the smoke coming off the door.”
…Shunen. Someone who absolutely should not have been there.
❖ ❖ ❖
“How did you get in here…!”
The duke’s face twisted with fury.
“Get out! How dare you crawl into this place!”
“You!”
Saren joined in the moment she noticed I was with Isaac and Letilia.
“Why are you with them! They’re here to take me! Right now—”
“Shunen…!”
“…Shunen.”
“It’s Shunen… It’s really Shunen…”
Saren’s shrill cry was drowned out by the sudden commotion.
Nobel stood up. Ethan inhaled sharply. Hazen, half awake, muttered in disbelief.
Seriously, how do they even know each other?
He’d given up on that question long ago, but was still baffled.
Just as I wondered whether I should greet them, Nobel strode forward.
“Shunen!”
“Ugh—”
Before I could dodge, he pulled me into a crushing hug. All I could think as my ribs were squeezed was—
Damn it, I hope nothing broke.
Forget emotions. My personal safety came first.
Thankfully, Letilia casually waved a hand, and Nobel went flying into the wall beside the door.
“Don’t you dare touch Shunen like that.”
“Leti’s right… Nobel’s an idiot…”
Hazen agreed from behind. Ethan and Isaac added their own comments. Lovely.
The reception room was already in chaos.
Saren, unable to take it anymore, screamed.
“Shuneria!”
The sharpness of her voice made me wince. God, my ears.
“What are you doing here?! Do you even know where you are?!”
“It’s not like this place is that sacred.”
“This is the reception room! Where Father and I greet distinguished guests!”
“So what? It’s a mess anyway.”
I replied dryly. Even Saren couldn’t deny the disaster around us, and she fell silent. Her face turned red with shame.
“That’s not the point! Didn’t you hear? These people came to take me!”
“Uh-huh. Except you’re not Shunen, are you?”
“You’re even less worthy! Do you really think they came for a lowly thing like you? Earlier was just… just a momentary mistake!”
Her already borderline word choices finally crossed the line. Uh-oh.
As expected, the five of them froze, their expressions darkening.
“Hey.”
Chills ran down my spine. That was Nobel’s voice.
“Wh–What…?”
“Why are you talking to Shunen like that? Both of you.”
