Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Boundaries and Beginnings
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‘Knowing Resuan needs magic crystals, he’s not even trying to propose marriage but scheming to exploit it?’
If she could just hold out until Ryan and Resuan’s wedding, the imperial family’s crystals would solve everything afterward.
Marquis Epekle let out a hollow chuckle as he scrutinized Ryan standing before him.
He saw a man consumed by a thirst for revenge against the one who had humiliated him.
Foolish pride?
‘Blinded by vain revenge.’
“Before this matter concludes successfully, if the magic crystals for Resuan run out, tell me anytime.”
He’d added the bit about Resuan, but it didn’t come across kindly.
“...”
Ruining the Etwar family felt more like a desperate outburst from Prince Ryan and Emperor Kies.
The prince he’d met for the first time today had more spirit than Ryan—and just as much confidence.
‘Darsi, was it.’
It wasn’t strange that Ryan was acting so desperate. The sudden shift toward associating with Marso, whom he’d treated as an enemy, was likely because of him.
‘Only conversing with Marso Etwar.’
Even knowing how dangerous it was to reveal his weaknesses, he’d done it anyway.
That also meant the man knew how to protect what was his.
Rumor had it that most of Emperor Kies’s battlefield achievements were actually Darsi’s doing.
Thoughts raced through his mind. But the answer he offered was already set.
“...Send the contract.”
Even if it meant accepting the imperial family’s aid, his desire to send Resuan into that family was steadily fading.
He couldn’t hand his granddaughter over to a man who would prioritize anything over her, even for a single moment.
Not when it might lead to disaster.
Which meant he had to find a way for her to stay healthy without going to the palace.
Something like this mine.
‘It’s also true I can’t stand the sight of Marquis Etwar.’
He rationalized his jealousy as he lifted the poisoned chalice.
To safeguard the sole treasure his daughter had left behind.
Of course, that was merely Marquis Epekle’s perspective.
From afar, Ryan was no different from him—just another man.
By the time I returned to the ballroom, people were trickling out of the palace one by one.
I’d shown my face, announced I’d be handing out magic crystals, so my business at the ball was done. Satisfied, I climbed into the carriage.
...And the moment I got back to the mansion, Marquis Etwar summoned me.
“What in the world were you thinking? I heard you vanished with a prince today.”
He usually turned a blind eye to whatever I did, so calling me like this meant the situation was grave.
“Do you even grasp what that implies?”
But our rift had already deepened as far as it could go.
His recent actions, supposedly for my sake, had only stirred up resentment that hadn’t existed before.
No, knowing all that, he’d just let Marso trail after Ryan and pull off her antics?
I wanted to tell him to mind his own business, but I held back for now.
“I’m sorry.”
Even if the marquis was nothing but contradictory and never truly cared for me, a baseline of respect was...
“You’ve been seen cavorting so openly with that prince—rumors are flying. Do you realize that?”
I’d meant to let it slide, but not this.
Before he could continue, I swiftly cut in.
“Yes, it’s not a mistake. I truly support him.”
I cautiously voiced my support for Darsi.
Marquis Etwar’s jaw dropped. My behavior seemed more shocking than he’d anticipated.
“...Have you truly given up on Ryan?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me in disbelief.
“...You seem like an entirely different person.”
He’d caught on quick. I muttered with a hint of sarcasm.
“Maybe I’m becoming one.”
“...What do you mean by that.”
“You never once looked my way.”
I’d pondered why Marso had fixated so obsessively on Ryan. Were her antics truly all for him?
I knew she’d wanted his love. But that didn’t explain the malicious deeds.
She hadn’t just targeted Resuan—she’d treated others cruelly too, earning her infamy as the socialite villainess.
...Perhaps, deep down, she’d hoped her outrageous behavior would finally make the marquis notice her?
No matter her material abundance, her heart must have been empty.
Her father was a coward who used work as an excuse to ignore his daughter.
The marquis sighed at my words and muttered.
“...Don’t provoke His Majesty too much. You never know what he might do.”
I couldn’t let that pass. My gut told me this was the main reason he’d summoned me today.
I recalled seeing him at the palace earlier. An imperial matter, no doubt under Emperor Kies’s orders.
“...What did His Majesty say.”
“It’s not for you to concern yourself with. Just be cautious about using magic crystals.”
He was probably referring to the gift I’d given Darsi today.
With our family controlling one of the empire’s few magic crystal mines, his warning wasn’t out of place.
But why did it feel so suspicious? I narrowed my eyes.
Still, there were limits to what I could infer from the conversation. Hearing it straight from Marquis Etwar was the wisest course.
“If you won’t tell me honestly, I can’t obey.”
“...”
“Please tell me.”
Had he noticed I wasn’t my usual self? Marquis Etwar hesitated, then let out a deep breath.
“His Majesty’s pressure to hand over the mine has intensified lately.”
He explained the situation simply.
Here’s how it broke down.
Emperor Kies had been persuading—or rather, threatening—Marquis Etwar to surrender our family’s magic crystal mine to the crown for quite some time.
Marquis Etwar had been flexibly complying by supplying extra crystals and cutting back on distribution.
But my impulsive gift of crystals to Darsi today had soured Emperor Kies’s mood once more.
Though that wasn’t the only reason. Me leaving with Darsi. And taking so long to return.
“We scraped by this time, but next time’s uncertain.”
Marquis Etwar warned me.
How hypocritical he was—never giving Marso the attention she craved, yet fussing over her well-being now.
“Do you know how many battles he’s commanded and won?”
No, I don’t.
It was meant to remind me how fearsome Emperor Kies was, dredging up battle tales, but I snorted inwardly.
Because I knew he hadn’t done those feats himself.
To me, who knew the truth, all the threats Marquis Etwar had endured were meaningless.
Milking battles he hadn’t even fought—truly despicable for an emperor.
“But threats like that won’t fly anymore.”
“What do you mean.”
Rumors of Darsi’s exploits hadn’t spread yet. I held my tongue.
“You’ll find out eventually.”
It felt like I was the only one who knew the story’s ending. I couldn’t help feeling smug.
Facing the marquis’s bewildered expression, I spoke again.
“So stop trying to look out for me.”
It was unexpected that he was trying to protect Marso, but I didn’t want any more hidden meddling.
It just felt like incurring an unwanted debt.
Once he learned Kies’s threats were toothless, he’d have no reason to worry.
No reason to protect me.
On top of that, I planned to keep hanging around Darsi and launch a venture drawing in mages. Neither Kies nor Ryan would take that lightly.
“This is where our relationship stands.”
I didn’t want any fallout from my actions splashing back onto him.
In high society, I was still the headstrong daughter, and he the neglectful father.
Whatever I did, he had plausible deniability.
So his hidden troubles were enough at this level. No need to forge deeper bonds.
I already had Darsi.
Above all, I didn’t want to stop the planning and dreaming I was caught up in now.
If I’d felt chained to the book’s Marso before, now I felt truly alive.
The marquis gazed at me blankly before giving a wry smile.
He asked flatly.
“What’s the reason for going this far.”
“I want to be happy.”
I wanted to find my purpose in life and chase it.
The days when everything had felt exhausting seemed like a dream now.
It was as if Darsi had cast a spell on me.
The moment he’d shouted that he’d returned for my happiness.
The moment he vowed not to leave until I was happy—spring winds began to blow through my life.
Marquis Etwar gave a wry smile.
But he didn’t stop me.
The line between us remained firm.
It always would.
With things squared away with the marquis, I set about planning my future moves.
‘Alright, how should I kick off my activities.’
I couldn’t go full throttle right away.
Before I even got started properly, Ryan or Kies’s lackeys would slap restrictions on me.
I needed to stay low until I sealed deals with the mages, at least.
Once the business launched, all eyes would be on it—making it tough to pull off anything too outrageous openly.
After much deliberation, I estimated the time needed to win over the mages.
At least a month...
Too long for a secret trip.
But I had a perfect opportunity to exploit.
‘When I leave, I’ll spread rumors that I’ve holed up at home again.’
Once was shut-in antics; twice wouldn’t raise eyebrows. People were used to Marso’s eccentricities, so holing up again wouldn’t seem odd.
They’d gossip among themselves and slap some half-baked explanation on my behavior. Convenient—no need for me to justify anything.
Still, such chances wouldn’t come often. Vanishing for months on end would draw suspicion.
Pitol’s play drawing eyes to me was ideal timing. It’d run for three or four months, buying time until it wrapped.
One shot, one kill. I had to wrap it up perfectly in one go.
Time to devise a flawless plan to win over the noble-hating mages.
Without a single misstep.
I threw myself into strategizing.
And launched the first phase of the plan.