I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

“What? Someone came to see me?”

“I heard she is Baroness Devit, Lady’s friend.”

Layla’s mouth opened at the butler’s words.

“Really! What is she looking at me for!”

Layla ran down the stairs with angry steps. I’m going to rip out all the hairs on her head right now!

She opened the parlor door, shouted in a loud voice. “Hey! How dare you come to this place. Let’s try this once.”

However, Arianne wasn’t alone in the parlor. Two men, very handsome men, were with her.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince… and Second Prince?”

She recognized the crown prince and Luiden right away, as Layla went to many banquets in the capital.

Why? To our mansion? Why the two of them together with her? Layla widened her eyes because she didn’t understand what was going on.

At that time, Arianne, who was sitting with her back to Layla, turned her head and greeted her. “Hello, Lady Layla. How have you been?”

“Gasp.” Layla was speechless by Arianne’s calm attitude.

She resented her because she missed the timing to get angry. However, it was impossible to show disgrace in front of the crown prince and second prince. She squeezed her hand, which was ready to pull out Arianne’s hair.

“Your Highness? What brings you to our mansion…”

Layla had completely forgotten her decision to pluck out a bunch of Arianne’s hair. Rather, her attention was focused on the men in front of her.

From the moment she saw the crown prince and second prince, a pink dreamland unfolded in Layla’s head. Did they come to visit me after hearing about my situation when I was unfairly kicked out of the Duchy? It never happened, but as expected, Layla’s self-centered thinking transcended common sense.

Seeing Layla’s thrilled face, I noticed her condition. I understand what she’s imagining without even needing to ask. I dragged her down to earth, who was floundering into her delusion.

“You don’t need to know that. We’re here to borrow a carriage.”

“What?”

“Oh my, it’s truly an honor for our family to have precious nobles come to our humble mansion,” said the greedy-looking man, who seemed to have a grumpy look on his face. It was Laila’s father, Viscount Rumbojio.

Next to him stood a young and beautiful woman that it was hard to believe she had a daughter the size of Layla. She was Layla’s mother, Viscountess Rumbojio, the friend of Madam Kaien.

Fortunately, she resembles her mother. It was my impression. It was because Viscount Rumbojio was an old, ugly man who looked like a toad.

“It may not be sufficient, but we’ve prepared dinner, so please join us.”

It was an opportunity to treat the crown prince and second prince. For Viscount Rumbojio, it didn’t matter why they came to his mansion. Because the goal was simply to show off to them and leave the unremarkable outskirts to enter the capital.

Upon arriving at the dining room, the group was delighted to see the enormous amount of food.

“You seem to have taken care of us too much. It’s a sight I’ve never seen except in the imperial palace. I didn’t want to burden you.”

“That’s right. It’s a dinner you might only see at an imperial banquet.”

Luiden and the crown prince said. Viscount Rumbojio, misinterpreting their remarks, smiled broadly and said, “This is what I can afford with my income, so don’t feel pressured and dig in. It’s not usually this much, but I enjoy a variety of dishes.”

Why don’t you just say I’m the villain who sucks the people in my territory to the bone? I thought as I listened to the oblivious viscount continue to show off his wealth. No matter how rich the estate owned by viscount on the outskirts of this empire, outskirt is still an outskirt. Considering the number of permanent residents and taxes collected, this luxury was impossible. Of course, it might be possible if they squeeze the residents hard enough to keep them from dying.

Luiden’s expression was very stiff the whole time he listened to Viscount Rumbojio’s words, probably thinking the same thing. And the stupid crown prince… as expected, he was listening to the viscount with a blank face. You idiot! There’s something else to listen to.

Puck! I stabbed the crown prince’s side without realizing it.

“Why? What’s wrong, Baroness Devit?”

I beckoned him to come near and whispered in his ear. “Your Highness. Please give your eyes a little strength in front of others. If you look so plain, they will look down on you.”

“Really? I see.”

It was him who immediately put strength in his eyes and listened.

Let’s not talk. I shook my head.

Sparks flew from Layla’s eyes as she watched the two of them. What’s with that slut? Is she even trying to seduce the crown prince on the subject of a married woman? Even with Duke Kaien?

Layla was in a rage. She couldn’t figure what on earth she was doing to attract men. Layla acknowledged her beautiful appearance, but she thought her looks alone won’t make her go anywhere. What’s the difference between that woman and me?

Regardless of Layla’s burning insides, Arianne enjoyed the dinner while talking leisurely. Even during the meal, Viscount Rumbojio’s self-praise continued. Arianne recognized at once that once he talked, he wouldn’t stop.

“Even though I’m now stuck in the outskirts, in fact, the former Viscount Rumbojio was quite famous in the capital. My father inherited his title as he died childless. My father should have gone to the capital then, but unfortunately he wasn’t greedy.”

He even talked about his family affair that no one asked about.

“I can’t believe that you two are so close to each other. Of course, this empire will become stronger and richer in the future.”

He couldn’t read the situation.

“By the way, what brings you two to my estate in this rural corner? By any chance, are you traveling?”

He didn’t even know what was going on in the world.

“We’re on our way to the battlefield. Have you heard the news yet?”

Viscount Rumbojio answered Luiden’s words with ease. “I heard that additional troops will depart from the capital soon, so is there anything to worry about?”

“Anything to worry? Come to think of it, the estate of Viscount Rumbojio is really quiet. Aren’t you ready for war?” Wonder at the attitude of Viscount Rumbojio, who was so laid-back, Luiden asked.

“It’s up to them to take care of it. Since it is the duty of those border territories and the capital’s troops to prevent enemy forces from entering this empire?”

Luiden’s mouth stiffened at his confident words.

“Yes, you’re right. Indeed, Viscount Rumbojio distinguishes between public and private matters.”

The corner mouth of Viscount Rumbojio rose at my praise. “Did you say you’re Baroness Devit? Although you’re a woman, you deserve the title. One of the virtues of woman is to know how to please a man.”

My eyebrows wriggled at the words of Viscount Rumbojio. However, the viscountess and Layla showed no signs of agitation, as if it was a word they had heard all the time.

It’s understandable. Figuring out who Viscount Rumbojio was over.

“However—”

“Viscount Rumbojio.”

At the same time I opened my mouth, Luiden called him too. When Luiden called him in a low voice, Viscount Rumbojio looked at him as if he was asking what was wrong.

“Baroness Devit here wasn’t given the title because she was a woman. She deserves her rightful place on her own merits. Please don’t belittle her like that.” Luiden, who had been courteously polite until a while ago, spoke as if warning him.

“Haha. Your Highness, why are you saying that? Did I say something I couldn’t say?” Viscount Rumbojio couldn’t understand why Luiden’s behavior became like that.

This fool dares to ignore Baroness Devit? Luiden was angry as if he had been insulted. There was a tense tension that seemed to kick out of the seat at any moment.

I grabbed Luiden’s arm, winked at him to stay still, and changed the topic with a smile. “You’re right. I have a very high virtue as a woman. Of course, Viscount is also an honorable person who sets an example as a noble of the empire, right?”

Viscount Rumbojio, who felt uneasy and displeased by Luiden’s sudden change of attitude, smiled at Arianne’s praise and said, “Of course. Although I’m rotting in this rural corner, I know more honor than anyone else in the capital.”

“I knew you would. That’s a relief.”

At my words, the viscount asked, “What do you mean?”

“The reason we came here was because we lost our carriage in an accident on the way to the battlefield. Fortunately, we’ve met someone like Viscount who knows honor, so we don’t have to worry anymore. I have no doubt that Viscount will join us on the battlefield. You wouldn’t just stand by the enemy who dared to invade the empire, right? You’re a man of honor, aren’t you?”

“What?”

Viscount Rumbojio’s eyes widened.

I smiled brightly at him and said, “Come with us, Viscount Rumbojio.”

Viscount Rumbojio wondered if he had heard it wrong. He just thought the crown prince and second prince were traveling with a concubine, but they were on their way to the battlefield? And they want him to join them? What the hell are you talking about? That woman?

Viscount Rumbojio, who was going to scold the woman who was talking nonsense, had to give up that idea soon.

“I see. You’re the man of honor, so you will come with us to wipe out the enemy, right? Viscount Rumbojio.” Luiden smiled and talked to him as if he had never been angry.

“No… that…”

Viscount’s gaze turned to the crown prince. If he was the one used to listening to his words without saying anything, maybe he would take his side. However, the crown prince also looked at him with a confident face as if he believed in him.

hat is this… In an instant, the situation pressed him down. He was still at a loss as to what had happened. He was so confused that he missed his glass. The dark-colored wine was stained on the white tablecloth as if hinting at the future of Viscount Rumbojio.

“It’s late today, so let’s leave tomorrow and rest now.”

At my words, both Luiden and the crown prince nodded and stood up.

“Then guide me to the room, Viscount.”

At Luiden’s words, Viscount Rumbojio rose from his seat and moved like a stiff wooden doll.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.”

“See you tomorrow.”

After greetings Luiden and the crown prince, I was also guided into my room. The room that I was guided to was too much to be called the mansion of countryside viscount. Luxury goods were placed everywhere. A large picture frame was hung on the wall as if it were plastered, indicating that it was intended to show off one’s wealth rather than to decorate the room.

“I’m tired. But I’m going to wash up in warm water and sleep. Don’t tell me that the bathroom in this house is covered with gold.”

When I was about to pull the rope to call the maid with reasonable doubt, the door burst open and Layla came in.