The Transaction
Why is she acting like this? She was someone who clearly had no interest in me. Compared to before my Regression, the only thing that had changed was me. I was still handsome, of course, but I had achieved so much more—winning the tournament, suppressing the rebellion, and the like. Is she trying to keep me in check because the number of capable vassals under me is growing?
“To suddenly demand an annulment... I’m quite taken aback. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Of course, I wasn’t going to admit anything first and put myself at a disadvantage. Does she have proof?
“You shameless piece of trash!”
“Trash, you say...”
“I know all about you fooling around with the Countess of Rystein, so don’t try to pull any tricks on me!”
Whoa, she must have actually seen us.
“Are you afraid of losing the Countess’s favor? Even if I am capable, to make such false, slanderous accusations...”
“The Melbourne family has pledged loyalty to the Rystein Countship for generations. And I am Viscountess Melbourne, who holds the Countess’s absolute trust. Do you think I would slander a common-born knight for such a petty reason?”
So it’s not about keeping me in check... Then what is her goal?
“Hmm, then do you have any proof?”
“I don’t even need proof. I am the witness! Monica believes everything I say.”
“Well, the only person who could refute that would be the Lady’s mother.”
“I have ways. I’ll give you one more chance. Admit it willingly and annul your engagement to Countess Monica Rystein!”
Why is she so obsessed with the annulment? Usually, if it were out of loyalty to a liege or a friend, the more common reaction would be to tell me to get lost and never set foot in the territory again. It feels like she’s focused solely on the annulment itself.
“That seems difficult.”
“Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind if I tell Monica about this right now?”
Winnie turns to leave the room. It would be a bit troublesome if Monica found out.
“Well. Can you handle the consequences?”
“Ha, so you do have someone backing you up?”
“No, I’m asking if you can handle the Countess’s wrath.”
Viscountess Melbourne pauses. She seems to care deeply about Monica’s feelings.
“If she hears that her future husband, of all people, is having an affair with her own mother... she’d be deeply hurt and furious.”
“...Are you admitting to the affair?”
“Well. It’s just that I’m not very good at lying.”
I’m craving a cigar for the first time in a while. Maybe it’s because I’m using my brain differently than when I was studying.
“Viscountess, you were trying to resolve this without letting Monica know, weren’t you? Because you know she wouldn’t take the news well.”
“...A true loyalist knows when to offer counsel, even when they know it will be ill-received.”
“I don’t know if your relationship is that simple, but... wouldn’t it be meaningless to tell her?”
“What is that supposed to mean...”
“If I annul the engagement with Monica, I can just date Vera officially... wouldn’t that make me Monica’s stepfather? Well, if you don’t mind me not being in the husband’s seat, you can go ahead and tell her.”
“I thought your combat prowess was worth using you as a knight, but now you’re spouting nonsense! I shall tell her to kick you out immediately!”
Seeing her react so violently to just a little prodding, my suspicion is slowly turning into certainty. I even wonder if this is really the case.
“Hey, calm down. Solving this without a fight is best; it wouldn’t do you any good to fight me.”
“All men are enemies.”
“No, what I mean is that you can achieve your goal with my help, without becoming my enemy.”
“My only goal is to remain loyal to the Rystein Countship and assist the Lady. There’s no way a crude swordsman like you could help me.”
“Enough with the lip service. You like Monica, don’t you?”
“W-what is that...”
“No, I heard you’ve been friends since you were young. Aren’t you trying to get rid of a man like me out of affection for your friend?”
“That’s right! Because we’re friends. Yes, because we’re friends...”
It really is true. I can’t say it outright since she can’t reveal it, but this reaction is as good as an admission.
“Actually, I don’t really want to get married either. I like Vera, not Monica.”
“Then why don’t you annul the engagement?”
As soon as I said I didn’t like Monica, her tone softened immediately.
“Because it’s a contractual matter. Isn’t that how political marriages are? An annulment requires mutual agreement, and the Rystein family still wants the marriage. Both Monica and Vera.”
“...Then if Monica says she doesn’t want to get married, will you annul it?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“...Countess Dowager Vera Rystein...”
“The reason Vera wants the marriage between Monica and me is because she wishes for Monica’s happiness. If Monica refuses to marry me, she won’t force it.”
Viscountess Melbourne fell into deep thought. The idea that she had to eliminate me seemed to have vanished completely. Her tone regained its usual leisurely, slow pace.
“...As a friend, not a vassal, it would be fine to give a few words of advice on married life, right?”
“Well, that’s up to you.”
“...Do you only need to change her mind before the wedding? But there’s so little time left on the schedule...”
“Are you asking me to postpone the wedding? I’m not sure if that’s possible. I’ll see if I can adjust it.”
“Hmm, you. You’re a decent man for a guy.”
Winnie Melbourne held out her hand. If I take this hand,
“I hope we get a good result.”
“That depends on you, Viscountess Melbourne.”
The deal is struck.
“The wedding has been postponed?”
“Yes, Countess. Sir Edward’s injuries haven’t healed yet, so it was judged that it would be difficult to hold the wedding, and the schedule has been delayed slightly.”
Monica, returning to the territory, was not pleased with the change in schedule. To think there would be a setback in such an important matter.
“To not even be able to take care of his own body...”
Is the recovery from an arrow wound really that slow? If Winnie had given him medicine, he should have recovered quickly. He’s a man who is unreliable even when he’s doing well. Still, Monica liked that he showed these little shortcomings. If he did everything he was told perfectly, wouldn’t there be no room to find fault?
“If the wedding is postponed, what happens to the conferment ceremony?”
“Since the messenger sent from the royal capital contacted us a week ago saying they would be slightly late, it seems it will be aligned similarly to the postponed wedding.”
“Actually, it’s a good thing it was postponed; the schedules align well now.”
Well, Winnie is very meticulous. She must have considered all of this when adjusting the schedule. In Monica’s opinion, Winnie’s administrative ability was outstanding. If it weren’t for that lazy personality, she would have her work every day. Still, it was reassuring to be able to leave things to her when she was away, so even just that made her far superior to other viscounts in the territory.
Before long, the Countship came into Monica’s view. Seeing the serfs diligently plowing the fields, it seemed there was nothing amiss in the territory. As she led her soldiers into the interior of the Lord’s castle, she saw someone who had come out to greet her.
“Welcome back, Countess.”
“Hmm, Viscountess Melbourne, thank you for your hard work while I was away.”
Leaving the escort of the soldiers to the administrative officials, Monica entered the main castle with Winnie.
“Why did you come all the way out to greet me? You must have been busy working.”
“...Well, someone came to do the work for me.”
“Hey, I’m tired. Do it for me until today.”
“...We’ll see.”
“Hey, do it for me.”
Whenever she pestered her like this, Winnie would always give in, even while grumbling.
“...You heard the wedding was postponed, right?”
“Yeah, I heard it from the messenger on the way. That man Edward said he was sick, but he didn’t even come out to see me.”
“...I gave him medicine, but he was being quite dramatic about the pain. Should I go and bring him now?”
“No, it’s fine. He must really be sick.”
After that, they chatted about what had happened in the territory and various trivial matters. Mostly Monica was the one talking, and Winnie was the one listening.
“...So I was starving myself to wear a pretty dress at the wedding, but it was suddenly postponed. Ugh, how annoying.”
“...If it’s that annoying, you don’t have to get married.”
“Should I really do that?”
“Huh?”
“It’s a joke, a joke. Why are you so surprised? We’ve come this far, how could I do that?”
“...What does it matter...”
“Aren’t you getting married? I’m getting married, so if you don’t want to become an old maid, you should get married too.”
“You know our family doesn’t really get married.”
The House of Viscountess Winnie Melbourne was a family where female viscounts succeeded the title for generations, and the viscount would either receive seed from somewhere or continue the line through adoption.
“Well, just because that’s the tradition doesn’t mean you have to follow it. Who’s going to say anything to you?”
“...Hmm, is that so?”
I don’t want to do something like marriage. I’ve felt it since I was young, but Winnie felt once again that it wouldn’t be easy to change Monica’s thoughts on marriage. Since that man finally postponed the wedding, she had to find a way within that short time.
“They say Monica is here, don’t you need to go out?”
“Hmph, the examination isn’t over yet...”