Diarin, who took a glimpse of the dazed Dermaf, turned her head and asked.
"How much interest should I calculate, Baron Dublen?"
"...."
"Baron Dublen?"
Baron Dublen, who had been listening as blankly as Dermaf, came to his senses a moment later.
"Special interest rates should be applied. Usually, you can calculate it at 40 percent."
Dermaf shouted at the butler in anger.
"You crazy bitch! If you're going to play pranks on children, get out of here… uh!"
"Hey, executor!"
At that moment, stars flashed in front of her. In an instant, Dermaf, who was kicked hard in the shin and back of the head, fell down. It was none other than Limoud who ran without breathing and kicked Dermaf.
He gave a threatening warning to the groaning Dermaf.
"Watch your mouth. One more rude word and I will kill you."
"Shit…"
"Shit?"
"No… No… Sir, ugh..."
Dermaf, who swallowed his words obnoxiously, barely got up with the help of his servants.
'I wanted to destroy the North Gate Castle by telling her to stop with the bullshit right away, but I couldn't.'
(TL/N: Dermaf is saying this)
Up until now, the Empress had been behind him, supporting him, but the Empress would never step out when things got bigger.
'…When things get bigger, I'm sure I'll be a severed tail!'
Dermaf, who finished judging the situation, opened his mouth politely.
"Lady D-Diarin Concel."
"Yes, go ahead."
"I'm really sorry, but I can't give you that much money… right now."
"Really?"
"Yes. Contrary to what you see, I have a lot of debt. If you show me generosity just once…."
"You have a lot of debt?"
Instead of answering, Diarin looked through Dermaf. He was dressed very richly. He ate well and got along well, so it was greasy.
In comparison, Baron Dublen, the butler of the North Gate Castle—
'He's like a well-dressed commoner.'
His clothes were neat and clean, but there was no noble luxury at all. He was dressed like that two years ago.
Swallowing a sigh, Diarin took off her brown cloak and opened her mouth.
"Executor Dermaf, if you don't want to pay interest, you have three options."
"Three options…?"
Diarin put up three fingers.
"The first is you being decapitated under the order of the Imperial Law on the charge of embezzlement from the North Gate Estate."
Diarin put down her thumb.
"The second is that the 8th Prince should submit an appeal to His Majesty the Emperor, and all of his property will be confiscated."
Diarin put down her index finger.
"Lastly, you will be beheaded for insulting me and Duke Concel."
The last remaining finger rotated.
"How dare you!"
How dare you, the reborn of a ruined family!
… …Executor Dermaf, who was about to shout that, couldn't.
This was because the sparkling wings spread from the back of Diarin. Dermaf's eyes widened spontaneously.
He quickly recognized that it was a Berge shawl.
(Remember that if you turn the diamond button of the Berge shawl, wings will spread behind.)
Aside from the fact that it is an ultra-luxurious item that even most nobles can't have, Diarin's fully exposed outfit was gorgeous.
Pure gold ornaments glittered all over as if they had fallen into a golden pot and come out. Even a dress with countless diamonds.
The things that Diarin was wearing now were of such great value that Dermaf himself, a low-middle-class aristocrat, could not even dream of them.
"...."
For Dermaf, it seemed like an indicator that Diarin's position had changed completely. Diarin naturally took off her cape on purpose for that.
"Executor Dermaf."
"Y-yes…?"
"I give you exactly one month from today, or I'll just put your head on that tray next time."
"...."
Dermaf's face turned white.
As Dermaf and his men left, the noisy hall became quiet in an instant. Baron Dublen pulled out a round brooch from his arms.
"That's…"
– You crazy bitch! If you're going to play pranks on children, get out of here… uh!
Dermaf's swear words were vivid. Limoud looked up and said,
"It's a magic tool for recording."
It was disposable, and the recording time was short, but the price was quite something for a magic tool.
Baron Dublen had sharpened his teeth and prepared it.
"If you submit that as evidence, how many things will he get caught in?"
"You can drag that person, who didn't keep the dignity of imperial officials, insulted the prospective imperial family, and robbed the budget."
"Oh… thanks to you, things have become easier."
Dermaf could have been sentenced to the maximum death penalty within a week.
The recording evidence became much richer thanks to Dermaf's swear words at Diarin.
To those unfamiliar with it, it sounded like Diarin had worked with Baron Dublen to get that kind of reaction on purpose.
'It must be a coincidence.'
With that in mind, Baron Dublen adjusted his outfit. He bowed his head slightly toward Diarin.
"It's been a really long time since I've greeted you, Lady Diarin Concel."
His thin silver-rimmed one-piece glasses gleamed. Diarin also greeted the baron, who had a sharp impression with light sky-blue eyes.
"Hello, Baron Dublen. Long time no see."
"Yes. It's been two years since you left. Did you have a good time then? Didn't you fall from running away in a hurry?"
The veteran baron's specialty was swearing with a smile. Look at those sharp thorns hidden in words, or expressed openly. Although this was an axis of drawing courtesy.
Diarin smiled face to face for a moment. She smiled, but her head was spinning.
'As expected, it's hard to help him.'
In fact, she expected Baron Dublen's coldness.
So Diarin had a plan. As soon as they got back to the castle, she'd take out the repair costs like carrots. A lot of money melts even a cold heart.
But the castle was already too perfect. If they talked about the cost of repairs, wouldn't he notice that they should use the money to buy a house and live?
It was then.
"Hmm."
Limoud coughed.
"Baron Dublen, why don't you take the lady inside first? You would be very tired if you met a horde of monsters."
"You were slaughtering monsters?"
"A bearwolf dragged the lady's carriage."
"What? A bearwolf? Dragging her?"
Baron Dublen's eyes widened in an instant. The cold corners of his eyes were relieved. He glanced at Diarin quickly with a puzzled expression on his face.
She said humbly,
"I didn't get hurt anywhere."
"…Then let's go inside. You just have to rest now. The hot mushroom soup is almost ready."
In fact, from the moment she entered the Great Hall, she could smell the hot soup. A delicious soup with plenty of butter, flour, and cream, and plenty of snow mushrooms, was a northern specialty. Mushroom soup, simmered like a stew, was one of Diarin's favorite dishes.
She wanted to go to the kitchen right away and eat wagwagu. Diarin looked at Limoud.
"Sir, would you like to talk to me for a moment before dinner?"
'First of all, I should solve this strange incompatibility with Limoud.'
* * *
Since the North Gate Castle is prosperous, there were basically a few drawing rooms as well.
The drawing rooms are the face of the castle. No matter how difficult the circumstances are, at least one drawing room is decorated with all of the castle's might.
This was the same North Gate Castle from two years ago. But now, it has been upgraded one step further. Mahogany furniture. Tablecloths with intricate embroidery. Porcelain tea set with delicate vine-patterned lace at the end…
At this point, Diarin seemed to be laughing out loud.
"Sir Limoud."
"Yes, Lady Concel."
Diarin looked at Limoud again.
Limoud Baston. Diarin knew that he was five years older than her.
Twenty-seven years old.
He was really tall, considering he was a young knight.
If it had not been for the reputation of returning from the floodgate's underground, the nobles of the capital would have avoided him as if they had seen a wildcat.
His red hair, apparently naturally curly, was tied up with a small string. Like a lion, like a bear. Like a giant dog…
'Is the last bit an insult?'
Diarin coughed and asked,
"Do you have the pledge I gave you at the Imperial Palace?"
"Of course."
"And you remember the verbal abuse you used toward me before that, right?"
Limoud's shoulders stiffened immediately.
Verbal abuse.
To be honest, it was a little too harsh to call it verbal abuse, but the aristocratic society was originally a bit like that. Depending on the interpretation, mere words could be verbal abuse or cold advice.
Of course, their situation was special back then, and Limoud apologized belatedly. But he clearly remembered it. Diarin didn't accept the apology at that time.
Is an apology that was not accepted still an apology?
The answer was, of course, 'no.'