Chapter 2 First Meeting (2)
First Encounter (2)
Hair as lustrous as silk, eyes like rubies—vivid, striking crimson.
Though her features were sharp, she was undeniably beautiful enough to be called a beauty.
'...This is absurd.'
Was this just how things were in a RoFan? How could a woman even have looks like that? Not that I had any room to talk, of course.
But beauty alone wasn't all there was to her.
The dark circles under her eyes and her half-lifeless, doll-like gaze exuded a uniquely decadent aura.
Her condition was so poor that anyone could tell just how much she had suffered.
Not that I had any reason to care about that right now.
Even as I thought this, she remained silent.
What was this? What kind of person didn't even offer a greeting in front of someone of ducal standing?
Somewhat irritated, I finally spoke.
"...What are you doing?"
"My apologies. It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace, Duke of Hardenberg."
My irritation eased slightly at the sight of her perfectly respectful bow.
Come to think of it, was I really just annoyed that a mere count's daughter hadn't greeted me properly?
Living in this world must have made me adapt to its class system. The bitter realization made me sigh.
"Well, fine. It wasn't meant as a reprimand, so don't dwell on it."
"Thank you for your generosity."
"Now then, what is your business here?"
Her crimson eyes contracted slightly at my words. Adel Este steadied her slightly uneven breath and met my gaze.
'...So she has regressed.'
Just as described in the original work—her pupils constricting, as though experiencing a flicker of pain.
I couldn't tell how many times she had regressed.
But judging by the exhaustion in her complexion, it couldn't have been just a few.
"I've come to propose a trade."
"...A trade."
I tapped my fingers against the armrest of my chair, drawing out my words.
"Do you understand what a trade entails, Miss Adel?"
"...I do."
Of course she would. From her perspective, this wasn't the first time she'd heard this question.
She must have listened to it dozens, if not hundreds, of times—enough to be sick of it.
"Then?"
"It is the exchange of things of equal value."
Exactly what I had been about to say. Experiencing her regression ability firsthand like this was strangely fascinating.
"Our thoughts align, it seems."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"Then, Count Este's daughter, what is it that you desire?"
"A one-year contract marriage."
"Hm?"
This was unfolding exactly as it had in the original.
Normally, she would have used information related to the Imperial House to draw the Duke of Hardenberg to her side.
But to me, who had read the original, that information was practically useless.
Adel before me must have realized that through her countless regressions as well.
"I see. So you wish to return to the social circle?"
"That is correct."
According to the original, Adel was currently in no position to re-enter high society.
Unlike typical RoFan novels, this tragedy of a story didn't allow anyone into the social circle without an invitation.
The novel had an absurd amount of unnecessary realism.
"Then what do you intend to offer in exchange?"
"The Este Family's merchant guild."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"To be precise, the exclusive rights to the Este Family's merchant guild."
...Correct.
The decisive reason the Duke of Hardenberg had agreed to the contract marriage in the original.
It was precisely because of the Este Family's merchant guild.
After all, the guild controlled nearly half of the empire's market share.
Of course, if that were all, the original Abel wouldn't have gone so far as to enter a contract marriage just for exclusive rights.
He was, by all appearances, a duke whose influence rivaled the Imperial House itself.
The reason he had accepted the marriage was simple.
'Because Count Este is an arms merchant.'
A fact known only to the Imperial House and Count Este himself—that the Este Family's merchant guild handled the distribution of military supplies.
Even Adel before me didn't know. That alone spoke volumes about how classified this information was.
The original Abel had agreed to the marriage because he knew this secret.
And from my perspective—someone who loathed the Imperial House—it was more than worth the trade.
"How amusing. A child holding a gemstone, unaware of its worth."
"...What do you mean?"
"Pay it no mind."
I called for Allen, who had been waiting outside.
"Allen."
"You called, Your Grace?"
"Bring it here."
He entered through the door, and I didn't need to explain further. Allen immediately understood and retrieved a sheet of paper from thin air.
A simple application of subspace magic to conceal the document.
A contract.
I rose from my chair and took a seat on the sofa opposite Adel.
Allen placed the contract on the wooden table between us, flipping it over so she could read it.
"...Impressive."
"I suppose. Just a simple trick."
"Is that so?"
Adel closed her eyes briefly, looking weary, then picked up the contract and began reading its contents one by one.
"By the way, that contract has a Geas on it. If you violate it, you'll pay the price."
"How thorough of you."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
With that, Adel fell silent, fully absorbed in reading the contract.
Somehow feeling a little bored, I studied her face.
If decadence had a face, it would probably look like that.
Ever since I entered this RoFan world, I'd noticed how overwhelmingly beautiful everyone was.
The funny thing was, those with unrealistically stunning looks always held important roles in the original work.
Myself, Adel, even the original male leads—all of them.
Every time I faced such beauty, I felt a sense of alienation from this world.
The fact that even her striking face left me indifferent was because of that very dissonance.
Lost in thought, I was startled when Adel suddenly spoke.
"Can the terms of the contract be modified?"
"Of course. But mutual agreement would be required for that."
"...I see."
She went back to scanning the contract. Perhaps she found nothing worth changing.
Not that she could have.
The contract I drafted was identical to the one Abel and Adel had agreed upon in the original work.
Come to think of it, my name and hers are quite similar.
Only a single initial differed. Did the original author plan that?
"I'll proceed as is."
"Is that so? Then, pour your mana into the contract."
"Understood."
Soon, crimson smoke rose from Adel's hand and seeped into the document. I drew out my own mana and infused it as well.
The contract trembled briefly from the mana's repulsion before settling into stillness—a sign that the pact had been sealed.
"Speaking of which, it's been a while since I last saw Count Este."
"Has it?"
"Could you pass along a message for me?"
"Yes."
"Tell him not to act recklessly."
"...I will."
Adel exhaled softly and gave a slight nod.
"The engagement ceremony is in a month. Starting tomorrow, you'll come to the Duke's estate."
"Pardon?"
She seemed caught off guard.
"If you're to be the Duke's wife, you'll naturally need the proper training."
"What do you mean—"
"Bride training."
Adel stared at me, flustered. The innocent expression on her sharp, fox-like face was so incongruous that I had to suppress a laugh.
Of course, my reasons weren't so pure.
Bringing her to the Duke's estate meant using her as leverage against Count Este.
A father who doted on his daughter wouldn't dare carelessly leak information about me to the Imperial House.
"You may leave now. I should retire for the night as well."
"...Understood."
She quickly composed herself and followed Allen out of the office.
Just like the original plot.
Securing Count Este as a pawn in exchange for a contract marriage wasn't a bad deal.
Besides, Adel Este was the key to my goal.
What mattered was my purpose.
My aim was to dismantle the Imperial House—the mastermind behind the tragedy yet to unfold.
The original Abel had little information on the Imperial House and had no choice but to grope in the dark, but I was different.
Though even with that advantage, it won't be easy...
What choice did I have? If I didn't want to struggle, I had to act.
***
He's dangerous.
Truly dangerous.
When my friend had explained the original work, they mentioned Abel was a formidable schemer, a true mastermind.
After facing him myself, I couldn't agree more.
Regression isn't the problem.
I'd already steeled myself for regression. In fact, I'd been driven out by him multiple times already.
Thankfully, my save point was right before my audience with the Duke—otherwise, I might've lost my mind.
Originally, I'd planned to offer information about the Imperial House in exchange for the contract marriage, intending to aid his goal of crushing them.
But he showed no interest in that information whatsoever.
After five regressions, I concluded he already knew.
Most likely, the butterfly effect of my actions had led him to obtain it.
Of course, if that were all, I wouldn't have needed to be this wary.
That man... He already knew I'd propose a contract marriage as my bargaining chip.
He'd even predicted the exact terms I'd offer—every last one was written in the contract.
He'd investigated me, a mere villainess, to that extent.
Considering he'd prepared the contract in advance, he was testing me.
Testing whether I'd propose the exact deal outlined in it.
Had I failed, he would've discarded me without hesitation. And he had.
...I might've bitten off more than I can chew.
I shut my eyes tightly and leaned against the carriage wall. The rattling vibrations traveled through me, but unlike usual, I barely noticed.
Something far more unsettling occupied my mind now.