I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

“Ahem. Pfft. Puhahahaha.” Luiden’s laughter, which covered his mouth and shook his shoulders, finally burst out.

Duke Krow was stunned by the embarrassing and absurd situation. His face reddened as if coming to his senses from Luiden’s laughter, and he shouted, “What on earth does that mean? The first night is not more important now!”

Despite Duke Krow’s criticism, Charter’s expression didn’t change at all. “Your Majesty has given me his permission.”

At the words of Charter, Duke Krow looked at the emperor and said, “No way, did Your Majesty really allow it?”

“Is there any reason not to allow it? With the war ahead, it might be your last time with your loved one.”

Emperor Beirut readily agreed to Charter’s request. Maybe that day will be their last. Isn’t that what it is like?

Charter was a loyalist who would stand at the forefront of this war as if it were natural. The emperor was just grateful and apologetic for his sincerity in doing work that others didn’t want to do, as if it were his duty. It’s still too early for the Harpion Empire to collapse. This loyalist man still remains.

The emperor smiled happily at Charter. If I had only a daughter, I would have made him my son-in-law and given him the position of emperor. The more he thought about it, the more he felt sorry. Charter was a perfect man who had rational judgment, swordsmanship, and leadership.

Rather than sticking to his mere flesh and blood, the emperor wanted to appoint a talented person who could straighten out this declining empire as the next emperor. However, Duke Kaien only repeated his gratitude again and again. Neither the crown prince nor Prince Luiden knew about this. It was nothing more than a minor conversation happening between the emperor and Duke Kaien.

A man who refused to take the position of the emperor but will stand at the forefront of the war for the sake of the empire. How could he not be greedy? Even Duke Krow, who was called a loyalist to the Empire, was a very selfish human being aiming for the next emperor’s power. Whatever his purpose, he was willing to borrow Duke Krow’s power because it was the priority to prevent enemy invasion right now.

“If the war breaks out before then, you will have to go to the forefront right away.”

“Of course.”

Duke Krow threatened Charter. He had to stop with this warning level because he couldn’t stop what the emperor had already allowed.

Duke Kaien, whom I thought had nothing but reasoning… Oh,  what a big deal. Duke Krow shook his head as if he still couldn’t understand Charter.

Right now, Charter’s instinct has taken over his reasoning. If there comes a situation where I will go to the battlefield and never see Arianne again… So if she ends up forgetting me… He couldn’t leave like this when he thought of her, who would forget about him and marry another man.

He wanted to tier her even by marriage. He hoped she wouldn’t forget her first night with him. Whenever he promised that he wanted to treat her with respect… I’m such an ugly man. Despite his self-reasoning, he couldn’t possibly give up on her.

“Then, regarding the soldiers and supplies to be borrowed from the nobles…”

Since then, they had been discussing ways to prepare for the war. Charter was able to leave the imperial palace only when it was dark.

* * *

“Leni, did you happen to hear his name?”

“No. I just saw him on my way back from an errand.”

Layla said, looking like a woman in love, “He is such a beautiful man. Especially those eyes that seemed to seduce…”

“Right? They gave off a slightly sexy vibe.”

“Hmhm, Leni. Those are inappropriate words to say in a place like this.” Layla told Leni, who said nasty things.

“Ah, I am sorry.”

Leni looked around and said carefully, “Still, I have never seen a man look so erotic.”

“That’s true. I almost introduced myself first because my heart was trembling. It’s against etiquette.”

In noble etiquette, it was customary for a person of a higher status to greet a person with lower status first, and for a person of low status to be greeted by a person of higher status.

“I’m sure he must have a title of the count or higher, right? It’s a face I’ve never seen before, but how many people in this empire can shoot openly in the Duchy?”

“Isn’t that only high-ranking people who can do that? Maybe he is a high-ranking person from the Britana Kingdom!”

“My status is not low, but I don’t know the other person, so I shouldn’t be rude.”

Although Layla’s words made sense, the only thing to nitpick was that she didn’t have that high status. She was the daughter of a countryside viscount, which would be treated lower than the daughter of a baron from the capital. But as expected, Layla regarded her status infinitely high due to her self-centered thinking, believing the fact that she was staying in the Duchy.

“Anyway, he is so tactless. Even though Lady paid attention to him, he didn’t introduce himself until the end.”

“Well, good men can do that. He’ll tell me his name next time.”

“Of course, Lady. There is no way he would be able to live without saying hello to such a beautiful person like Lady. I’m sure he forgot because he was embarrassed earlier.”

How can she pick only the words that she liked so much? Layla was in a good mood, thanks to Leni. She was offended by the man who dared to ignore her, but she couldn’t get angry at him because of his good looks.

What are they saying now? I was stunned. I just left the greenhouse and headed back to Bein because I remembered what I had forgotten on my way back to the mansion. But Layla and Leni twisting their bodies like that because of Bein?

I felt the situation going strangely and was watching the two closely. The conversation between them after Bein wrinkled his face as if annoyed and disappeared without saying goodbye was the situation from a moment ago.

Beautiful? Sexy? Bein? That rotten fish eyeballs? I thought that Layla and Leni were completely insane. Are their eyes on the soles of their feet?

* * *

The next morning, I headed to the town with Bein and Madrenne. It seemed that Charter returned to the Duchy after midnight yesterday as well. As he was busy preparing for the war, it was my responsibility to prepare for our wedding.

“It seems that preparations are roughly finished now.”

“Yes? Baroness, don’t you need to search for the most important jewelry?”

At my words, Madrenne reminded me that I must have forgotten the most important wedding gift.

“Huh. I won’t buy jewelry.”

“Yes? You won’t buy jewelry?” Madrenne exclaimed in disbelief.

“Noisy. Why are you always talking about jewelry?”

“Me? Isn’t that what the Baroness said? The person who said she wanted to have all the jewels in the world because she loved jewels…”

“It’s all useless. Is such jewelry more valuable than life?”

Madrenne spoke with a grave look on her face. “It’s strange. When a person suddenly changes—”

“Shut up.”

Madrenne hurriedly shut her mouth and glanced at Bein. What do you know? Why is this person doing this?

Bein remained silent, hiding behind his hazy glasses.

“Ah, it’s frustrating. It’s been a while since I’ve been out of town, and it’s not fun.”

Madrenne’s cheeks puffed up, and she grunted. As I remember something, I said to Madrenne, “Shall I show you something fun?”

“Are you going to buy jewelry?”

“No.”

“…”

I was in a good mood whether Madrenne made a bad expression or not. The carriage arrived in the old residential area of District 3. I, who got off in front of an old building, naturally opened the door and entered. Dust and trash rolled around every corner of the building as if it had been a long time since people had lived in this building.

“Where are we?” Madrenne said with a puzzled face.

“My building.”

At my answer, Madrenne widened her eyes and asked, “When on earth did Baroness buy a building in the capital city? Where did the money come from?”

“I got paid.”

Madrenne, who was looking around the building, said, “But why did Baroness buy such an old building? You should have bought a more fancy mansion.”

“Mansions are expensive.”

“Ah…”

A mere thousand gold could never be enough to buy a mansion.  

“Where is it?”

Bein answered my question. “It’s on the second floor.”

“What does that mean?”

“Something fun.”

I raised the corner of my mouth and laughed. Madrenne stroked her arms as if she got goosebumps and then muttered softly. “Why am I getting goosebumps all of a sudden? Did she imprison someone?”

Following me to the second floor, Madrenne opened her mouth as if her jaw had fallen out. “Did Baroness lock up a real person!”

At Madrenne’s scream, I crumpled my brows and said, “Noisy. You said you wanted to see something fun.”

“Is this something fun? Don’t you feel scared by it?”

“It’s not like you’ve only seen it once or twice. What’s wrong with you?”

“That was what Count Bornes did. But this…”

In front of me sat a man bound with chains. His eyes were red, and he was struggling to scream as if he didn’t like his situation very much.

“Hmm! Hm! Mmm!”

“Bein, release the gag.”

At my instruction, Bein approached the man and removed the gag that was restraining the man’s mouth.

“Cih! What the hell is this! You’re such a crazy woman!”

He hadn’t washed or shaved properly in the meantime, and it was hard to find his former appearance. That man was Piere, who had lost the bet with Arianne just a few days before.

“I’m exercising my rights. Can you see this contract well?” said me, waving the contract in front of his eyes.

I read to him, pointing with my finger so he could see. “I, Piere Valdezar, belong to Baroness Devit, and I follow her instructions unconditionally. Anything contrary to this may result in being locked up.”

“This! What is this! What a ridiculous contract! It’s like a slave contract!”

Piere shouted at the top of his voice, but I didn’t change my expression.

“That’s right, you should have read it carefully before signing. And your body is mine anyway. What’s the difference between a transfer of rights? And I told you to lock yourself in the corner of the house, didn’t I? Why are you trying to run away at night?”

The night Piere lost the bet, he was caught trying to escape at night and was locked up in this building the whole time.

“You horrible thing! You will be punished by heaven!”

Despite Piere’s swear words, I responded in a nonchalant way. “Is that so? If there is a God, wouldn’t they punish you, not me?”

“What do you mean? Am I more vicious than you who imprison and persecute people like this?”

“That’s right.”

“Huh. This crazy… Does Duke Kaien know that you are insane!”

The words that I hate to hear the most came out. Is he bringing up Charter again? How dare he…

When my eyes turned hostile, Piere came to his senses, changed his ways this time, and began begging. “I have a precious family. Please let me go.”

My expression didn’t change despite his pleading, which was heartbreaking to the viewer. Her expression was just getting colder.

“I heard your family doesn’t need you though? It’s up to me whether I should bake you or boil you.”

Piere’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. He shook his head in disbelief and said, “It can’t be true. My wife and my children can’t do that. Don’t lie!”

“Why do you think it’s a lie?” I approached him and asked, as I was really curious.

“That’s not natural. How can they abandon their father and husband!” Piere shouted at the top of his voice. His voice was so devastating that he could arouse sympathy in those who heard it, but I felt no sympathy for him.

I opened my mouth as beautifully as my face, but a chilling voice came out just like a frozen lake in the middle of winter. “You’re the one who abandoned them.”