#059
To that, Anne subtly scorned Catherine and Chezare in a voice dripping with disdain.
"Whoever you are, you seem really heartless and utterly lacking in manners. How could you compare our misfortune to some cheap play? Sister—even you should apologize to us, don't you think?"
It was a perfectly steady voice, impossible to believe it belonged to someone who'd been sobbing her heart out just moments before.
She doesn't recognize Chezare's face.
The more remote the nobility, the less they kept up with events at the empire's heart. Even Catherine, who'd been educated by noble ladies, hadn't known Chezare's face precisely—and Anne, who didn't know the first thing about politics, was even less likely to.
The Chen Viscount panicked and tried to deny her words. "N-no, that's not the kind of person they are. Please watch your words, Anne."
"Watch my words? Our wedding was insulted, and you're telling me to—"
"I said watch it!"
The Chen Viscount bellowed, his face flushing beet red. Anne flinched, shoulders hunching in confusion.
"Wh-why are you yelling at me?"
"Madam, even if it's you, how can you fail to recognize His Highness Duke Chezare? Have some shame!"
The Chen Viscount scolded her right in front of Chezare, making a show of it—clearly desperate not to offend him.
"Th-that...?"
Only then did Anne glance up at Chezare's face, her own going pale as a ghost. But Chezare didn't spare them a single look, no matter what they said.
Catherine knew it wasn't deliberate humiliation— he simply wasn't interested at all.
Catherine beckoned to Demian Rodria. Still clad in his golden armor, he approached from the carriage, a massive chest strapped to his back.
The open chest revealed dozens of gleaming gold bars lined up inside. Without Fontpado Madam's strength enchantment, even Demian couldn't have carried it barehanded.
Anne stared up at Catherine in disbelief. "What... what is all this...?"
"Chen Viscount? This is my wedding gift to you. As Anne's sister, I figured I should show at least this much sincerity."
Even for the wealthy Chen family, this wasn't a sum to take lightly. The viscount's expression and demeanor turned humble in an instant—he'd been treating her like she didn't exist until now.
"Th-thank you."
"Now that I've shown my goodwill, let's get to the point. I came today not just for Anne's wedding, but because I have something to say."
"O-of course! Speak freely, sister-in-law. We're family now, aren't we?"
As the viscount requested, Catherine spoke plainly. "I've bought all the land that Chen Romance was leasing. Please clear out everything by the end of the week."
A long silence stretched out.
Catherine kept smiling as she alternated glances between the Chen Viscount and Anne.
Only after a while did the viscount let out a disbelieving chuckle. "What do you mean by that, sister-in-law? What land did you buy?"
"Didn't you hear me, brother-in-law? Exactly what I said. I bought all seven plots from their previous owner, Duke Chezare—so pack up and get out."
Unlike her chattering just before, Anne clamped her mouth shut, clutching her wedding dress in white-knuckled fists.
The Chen Viscount let out hollow laughs before calling desperately to Chezare, who was absorbed in his book. "Your Highness? What is the meaning of this...?"
"Miss Catherine is correct. The investment ends today, Viscount."
Only then did the viscount snap to attention. He rushed a step toward Chezare and shouted, "This isn't right, Your Highness! Those lands were legitimately leased to my father by you!"
"Precisely because they were leased, I'm taking them back."
"The contract states Chen Romance can use them until year's end!"
As his voice rose, Chezare closed his book. Meeting those eyes, the viscount belatedly shut his mouth, breathing raggedly.
In the hush that followed, Chezare responded coolly to the viscount's claim. "You seem to have overlooked a crucial detail, Viscount. There are exactly two weeks until contract renewal. Have you forgotten? All these years, I've renewed at year's end for your family's convenience, regardless of the date."
The viscount's face twisted in horror as realization dawned.
"I assumed you took that courtesy for granted, Viscount. That's why you only sent someone at year's end in December, not September when the contracts actually expired."
Murmurs rippled through the guests, growing louder.
"Th-then I'll buy the land."
Chezare rejected the offer outright. "I don't sell my land, Viscount. Didn't your father warn you? 'Duke Chezare doesn't trade territories—find others to buy for your house's growth.'"
"Then why sell to that woman?"
The viscount's trembling finger pointed straight at Catherine, rage thick in his voice.
Chezare eyed him like he was asking the obvious. "When Miss Catherine asked, what do I care if it's land Chen Romance was using? I just gave it to her."
Catherine could already sense the misunderstanding brewing. By tomorrow, high society would buzz with rumors:
"Duke Chezare is head over heels for some country girl. Hands over land he won't sell to anyone else!"
The viscount didn't even seem to dare reproach Chezare. Clutching his head in a silent scream, he drew a tsk from Chezare. "Don't groan like that, Chen Viscount. I'm just withdrawing my investment. If your business crumbles from one dropout, better to fold and start fresh."
Catherine joined in with genuine pity. "I'm sorry it's come to this, Chen Viscount. For the record, I didn't buy the Chen Romance lands to make Anne pay for her sins."
Anne bit her lip. Catherine continued nonchalantly, gazing at that pitiful face. "It wasn't because she stole my former fiancé, or slandered me as a homewrecker. Don't worry—Anne's innocent. This has nothing to do with her."
"V-Viscount...?"
"Of course, from now on, I'll shadow Chen Romance and snap up any land your family eyes—at three times the price! But it's got nothing to do with Anne, so no need to fret."
Anne promptly welled up with tears, right on cue. Unfortunately, the viscount was too busy scheming a way out to notice his wife's plight.
That was when it happened.
A black shadow crept over the clear blue sky. Looking up, a massive turtle lumbered slowly toward them.
"Queen."
She'd returned after ditching the cardinal in a distant lake, as Catherine had ordered.
"As ordered, I dumped the cardinal in a far-off lake. The shit-stink won't leave his mouth."
"Thanks, good work."
But what Catherine truly wanted wasn't the report.
"Ugh. Fishy stench."
Her real goal: baiting smell-sensitive Anne into a reckless remark.
"...Fishy stench? Human. Did that filthy mouth of yours just call it a fishy stench?"
That's why she'd summoned a prideful demon on purpose.
Queen's menacing voice boomed across the sky. Her rolling blue eyes fixed squarely on Anne.
Startled, Anne clapped hands over her mouth and shook her head frantically. "I-I didn't say that!"
"Didn't say it? How dare you! To me, Queen—acknowledged by the ruler of the great ocean, queen of the seas—claim I reek?!"
Her sky-shaking roar made Anne tremble, hugging her shoulders. Soon, blue light enveloped her body.
"Kyaaak!"
"Anne!"
The viscount rushed to her, but when the light faded, no bride in a wedding dress remained.
Just a small green turtle, sitting there alone.
"Live out the rest of your days as a stinking turtle. It'll be most educational."
With that malicious parting shot, Queen vanished in a swirl of white foam.
And so Anne was cursed into a turtle.
Oh, what a horrific tragedy! The guests mockingly feigned concern, pointing and jeering at the Chen family's turtle bride.
"Heavens! Such a shameful affair!"
"The star of the wedding turns into a turtle?"
"The Chen Viscount's fourth wife will be a turtle, not a person."
No one here sided with Anne—from lowly Orleans servant stock, no less.
The viscount stared blankly at the turtle on the grass before scrambling to Chezare. "Y-Your Highness! Please, lift the spell on my wife!"
Chezare shook his head. "Queen rivals Remor in rank—a high demon. If I undo her curse on your wife, who handles the fallout?"
"B-but you're a grand archmage! A mere demon like that..."
"Mere demon?"
Chezare's brow furrowed at the viscount's rash words—he was their chief, after all. Legs crossed, he leaned back in his chair and commanded, "Then pay the price."
Despair washed over the viscount's face; he looked two decades older in a heartbeat.
"The price to save your wife. Or like your father, beg my investment again? But what do I gain investing in your wife? She doesn't seem particularly useful."
Arm propped on the table, Chezare turned to the turtle. All eyes followed—to the turtle, or rather, Anne the turtle.
"Not versed in magic like my lady."
Gazes shifted to Catherine.
"Not bold like my lady."
The guests eyed Catherine with keen interest.
The duke's woman must be a bold mage!
Their murmurs swelled.
"Just a small, smelly turtle."
By tomorrow, the headlines would update again: "Duke Chezare smitten with a bold country mage! Gives away unsellable land—not just once, but twice!"
As the viscount's wrinkled face reddened beyond endurance with shame,
a cackling laugh burst from the crowd.
The woman striding out in sharp heels was none other than Magi Orleans. Her heels clicked threateningly as she approached Catherine.
"How about this, then, sis?"