I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

“What does it mean to be successful?”

I asked a question as soon as I got into Navier’s carriage. Because it was extremely unpleasant to be the only one who didn’t know about something.

Navier answered my question only after the carriage had set off. “I created my own power, Arianne.”

“You?”

I was astonished, as if seeing an earthworm acting like a snake.

Navier wanted to pinch Arianne, but he held back. He wasn’t the type to get upset at this level, but Arianne especially had the power to scratch people’s insides.

“Yes. I created a force suitable for ‘me.’ I think I found my aptitude while investigating the background of dirty and miserable ones.”

I thought about it. What force is suitable for a lazy and indolent idiot? Clearly, it would be a force composed of pathetic individuals who indulged in luxury and pleasure. And in the end…

No matter how stupid he was, he had to have something he was good at!

I thought that I had to do something to fix Navier’s bad habits, even if it meant tearing out his hair.

“Violet.”

A look of surprise flashed across Navier’s face at the words Charter uttered.

“Oh gosh. I didn’t expect you to figure it out that far.”

Charter continued speaking with an indifferent expression. “The continent’s first information guild. Didn’t they say it’s a guild that receives requests and sells information?”

“This is a world where information makes money. Because information about your opponent is your competitive edge.”

Charter nodded in agreement. “In fact, I was surprised. Some people have made it their profession, but no one has ever thought of forming a guild.”

Navier said with a smile, lowering the corners of his eyes more seductively. “Because I had the discretion and resources to do so.”

He’s Count Bornes’s relative. Of course, the count had no idea that he helped build Navier’s force, but isn’t that the beauty of the information guild?

“So you were the one who was behind that information guild?”

“That’s right.”

I quickly rolled my head. No matter how hard I thought about it, this was a business that would work. If so,

“I’ll invest too. Shall we share some shares?”

Of course, he’ll accept it, right? We’re kind of close, right? Right? My eyes glistened with anticipation.

“That won’t do.”

“What? Why?”

If I just dip my toes into this big business, I will become rich in no time! Is he saying that he wants to eat and live well on his own?

When I couldn’t hold back my anger and was about to vent my frustration, Navier suddenly flickered my forehead and said, “This is illegal, Arianne. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m the daughter of Count Bornes.”

Oh gosh… Did he forget that? Who’s gonna say something if the villain’s daughter does something illegal? If you don’t want to share it, just say no. You little bastard!

“I want to give you only good things. I hope you always shine brighter than anyone else in bright places.”

Navier looked at Arianne with a warm gaze.

He was prepared to roll around the mud as much as he could for his little sister.

He would give everything to the world if Arianne would come back alive. He thought he would burn down the whole world if she couldn’t return. Fortunately, she came back alive, allowing this world to continue, but this was a fact that no one knew.

Whatever Navier’s intentions were, Arianne was taken aback.

Charter sighed.

That’s what Charter was thinking.

“…What are you saying?’

Of course, Arianne was the exception.

* * *

“It’s fine. This is good enough to stay for a while,” I said after looking around the temporary hideout that Navier had prepared for me.

It wasn’t luxurious by any means, and most mansions were out of reach for me, but growing up in Bornes County and setting up my newlywed life in the Kaien Duchy had me settled for this level of comfort.

Charter expressed his gratitude with an indifferent expression. “Thanks to you, I didn’t have to make Arianne sleep in her ruined building with the dust pit. Thank you.”

Although Navier was an object of wariness to Charter in many ways, with his help, he was willing to tolerate his dark intentions as long as Arianne could live comfortably.

“What!” I glared at Charter.

I, pouting my mouth, leaned down on the sofa and said something with an uneasy look on my face. “Anyway, I think I forgot something…”

What is it? No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t remember. So, I dismissed it as unimportant.

At that time, Madrenne, standing in the middle of the empty building with the front door torn off, let out a sound of deflation. “Did they just leave me?”

* * *

“What do you mean? You want me to return the money you invested all of a sudden?”

At Duke Krow’s question, who had hardened his face, the noble sitting across from him fell into contemplation, and his body trembled.

“Please! I have a debt to pay right away, but there’s no way… It looks like I’m going to have to sit down on the street right away. So please…”

Duke Krow clicked his tongue as he looked down at the nobleman, who bowed his head and begged.

This has already happened three times. Several nobles came to him, asking him to return the money they had lent him under the pretext of investing. The problem is that two more nobles are waiting for him in another parlor.

Duke Krow wanted to scold him and kick him out right away, but he couldn’t do that for the sake of his face. These are the people who will help him and support this empire in the future, so if he throws them away now, his position will be narrowed right away.

“I get it. Just go back for now.”

Only when Duke Krow got it did the man’s complexion return.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Duke Krow, who was staring at him leaving the parlor with a series of thanks, called the butler. “Paul!”

  “Yes, Master.” The butler immediately appeared in front of Duke Krow.

“Kick the rest of them. Even if I don’t hear them, it’s obvious what they’ll say.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The butler’s job is to take on the task their master finds inconvenient. Paul had to deliver bad news to the guests who were waiting for the duke. Of course, their resentment was the butler’s responsibility.

“Things are going wrong.”

Something was going wrong. He tried to drag the war on for about two years, discredit the emperor, and put pressure on him to hand over the throne to the crown prince, but it was falling before that. It seemed like his work had to be done sooner.

Duke Krow thought, pressing his temples with a tired face.

The reason was in the center of the capital.

“We have sent debt requests to those on the list.”

Count Bornes, who stood by the window with his back to his subordinate’s words, turned around. “Now is the beginning.”

Count Bornes laughed bitterly.

It was just the beginning. The very beginning of the hunt. In fox hunting, hounds were released, and the fox was driven into a corner. Count Bornes used his debtors to drive Duke Krow as if he were unleashing hounds. He felt good just imagining Duke Krow struggling like a cornered fox.

“How dare you touch me? Your purpose will never be achieved, Duke Krow.”

The moment he was cornered and revealed his teeth, his hypocrite mask would come off. All he had to do was willingly watch him fall into the abyss.

* * *

Charter left the mansion to deliver the agreement between Princes Paku—the current emperor’s representative—to the emperor. Navier and Arianne, who were left alone, stared at each other over cups of warm tea.

“30%.”

“No.”

“25%.”

“No.”

“You greedy man! You’re going to inherit my father’s property too!” Arianne shouted as she glared at Navier with disgust, which was comparable to her father.

Naiver looked at Arianne and smiled as if he knew her.

To Navier, the Bornes family’s property was worthless. The only thing he wanted from that family was Arianne, who was right in front of him. However, to Arianne, who didn’t know the circumstances of Navier, who planned to destroy Count Bornes and Baron Develun, he was seen as just a greedy person who wanted to make a living for himself.

“How much have I done for you, and now you alienate me like this?”

“…”

Navier didn’t feel it was worth answering back to Arianne, who considered him like a thief whose plans had been discovered.

“

! Well, the share is okay! Then I want it for free. Don’t ask me for commission fees until I die.”

“I can do that much for you.”

Navier, who knew Arianne very well, hid that fact. Because he knew very well the disaster that would occur if that little devil gained such great power.

When Arianne raised the corners of her mouth as if she was finally satisfied, the corners of Navier’s mouth also rose.

“Come in.”

Rein, Navier’s servant, opened the parlor door, bowed deeply, and then winked at Navier.

“It’s alright. It’s something Arianne should hear.”

When Navier’s permission was granted, Rein opened his mouth. “It is said that Count Bornes has moved.”

“As expected. It looks like my uncle did something right.”

Arianne’s eyes shone sharply. “He moved?”

It was earlier than expected, but it wasn’t bad. No, the timing was just right.

Arianne noticed that Navier had already figured out the entire situation. In addition, it’s also possible to predict when Duke Krow would do something. Navier picked up the slightly cooled teacup, sipped, and nodded slightly.

“When do you think it’s going to explode?”

To Arianne’s question, Navier answered. “Half a year. One year at the max.”

“Then it’s too late. Let’s get things done quickly.”

Navier raised his eyebrows at Arianne’s words. “How soon?”

Arianne smiled meaningfully. “Tonight.”