Chapter 3
Get a grip, Dana Hartwin. You fool.
Those people don’t see you as family.
“I’m just stupid for realizing it too late,” she thought.
Shaking off her thoughts, Dana let out a sigh.
If she suddenly changed her attitude here, it would only raise suspicion.
“Jamie, this is the last time. Please, just succeed this once.”
“I got it. You just quietly focus on preparing for your marriage!”
That crazy brat! Dana barely held back the curse words forming on her tongue.
If she got angry now, it was obvious that her strict parents would take it out on her alone.
Better to avoid a fight before her blood boiled.
Shaking her head at her brother, Dana left the dining room step by step, her anger bubbling inside.
“See? That girl will end up doing as I say.”
“I see, our son is quite clever, isn’t he?”
Her family exchanged looks, thinking she would obey again.
Dana had always begrudgingly complied with her family’s requests, no matter how angry she got.
But as Dana marched forward, she suddenly spun on her heel.
She wasn’t going to leave quietly this time.
“If you’re going to fail, fail completely—Mother, Father, and Brother.”
She smiled faintly and spoke.
“Oh, and Jamie.”
“Why?”
“Since you’re getting investments anyway, make sure you take everything you can.”
“Well, of course. She’s going to be the wife, so a duke can’t refuse her brother anything.”
Jamie was finally saying something sensible?
He chuckled, and Dana, who usually spoke so plainly and seriously, looked at him coldly.
“So, when will you introduce me to Duke Hembern?”
“At the upcoming Founding Day, during the royal ball.”
Founding Day… the last chance to escape this family.
“Duke Hembern doesn’t like frivolous women. Behave properly, like you are now. Got it?”
With that final remark, Jamie downed another drink.
A third wife, yet the bride-to-be must remain modest… Dana let out a quiet snicker.
She quietly went up to her room.
At the very top of the mansion, in a small, shabby space, was Dana’s room.
She perched on the creaking bed and thought about her past.
Her life had been nothing but exploitation.
As a child, she did the work of the maids. As an adult, she was merely a tool to make money.
But why…
She tilted her head.
“Why have I always just endured it?”
It was sudden, but a decision had formed in her mind.
Even to herself, the change felt abrupt.
Her mind seemed lighter, as if freed from a long-standing curse.
“Dana, about the statistics table you prepared last time…”
Kira approached cautiously at work, tapping one side of a report.
A yellow note, folded in half, was attached there:
<How to Block Loans in Your Family’s Name>
So soon?
Dana’s eyes shone with gratitude.
The day after hearing Jamie’s nonsense, she had gone to Kira.
Kira’s sister was a competent lawyer.
“Thank you so much, Kira…”
“According to my sister, there’s no more reliable method than this.”
In the quiet office, they whispered to each other.
Could this be the way out of the mountain of debt her family kept creating?
Dana carefully unfolded the note.
<Poor thing. Build a new family.>
“…Huh?”
That’s it?
Dana, confused, peeled off the note and looked around, flipping it over and over, searching for more words.
Kira gently took her hands, amused by her flustered behavior.
“That’s all. But it’s sure to work.”
“Build a new family…?”
“Marriage, Dana. Only marriage.”
Marriage? Maaarriage?!
Kira supported the dazed Dana as they walked outside.
Through the long hallway, past the garden fountain, Dana didn’t say a word.
Once Kira confirmed no one else was nearby, she shouted at Dana:
“Wake up! What can imperial law do about this?”
“Right… damn imperial law…”
Long ago, monsters from near the northern border had surged all the way to the capital.
No one knew why.
The important thing was that people’s lives were completely ruined.
The Hedron Empire released welfare funds and introduced new policies.
One such policy was low-interest loans.
People rushed to banks, attracted by the low interest.
But long lines often forced them to leave empty-handed.
As public dissatisfaction grew, the loan process was simplified.
Even if a family member had credit, anyone could apply.
Even a single family ID would suffice!
Excited, the Hartwin family borrowed large sums under Dana’s name.
“My life’s getting worse and worse…”
Dana splashed her face with water and made up her mind.
“Kira, you’re right. If I stay in this wretched family, I won’t survive.”
“Then let’s get this marriage done quickly!”
“Crush them all!” Kira punched the air.
Kira, was that a marriage or a duel?
Dana got up and firmly held Kira’s hands.
“Thank you for trying for me.”
“It’s nothing between friends!”
Sunlight fell on Kira’s neatly braided orange hair.
She was truly a reliable friend.
Behind them, the fountain splashed, and occasionally, small birds flew by, chirping.
A peaceful scene…
“Why are you here!!”
—More like hell.
Leighton, head of the Potion Management Division, split the two with a roar.
“What’s the matter, Leighton?”
Dana rolled her eyes. She knew he could be stubborn, but berating them for taking a short break?
And he takes three hours for lunch!
Her sharp gaze met his.
“Paul Damon is coming! Secretary to the Minister of Magic!”
Why would he come here?
The Potion Management Division was the lowest-ranking department in the Ministry—sometimes called the scrap heap.
Leighton, fuming, said,
“The Minister must have something important to tell us! Maybe a promotion… maybe a promotion…”
Incompetent as he was, Leighton had clawed his way here through flattery and balancing.
Still, his desire for promotion hadn’t waned.
“Anyway, hurry! He said everyone should gather!”
No time to be impressed, Dana and Kira hurried to follow Leighton.
Dana’s seat was next to the office door.
Just as she picked up her pen to handle backlogged documents, someone arrived.
“Oh, you’re here!”
The urgent voice echoed, and next to her…
“What is with that… rear?”
It was Leighton, groveling.
Dana cursed her luck for being next to the door.
“Seeing this first thing in the morning…”
She awkwardly got up to avoid him.
Leighton rubbed his hands together and approached Paul.
“Why are you here…? Is there something the Minister wants to tell us…?”
“Sorry for interrupting your work.”
Paul cut him off, with not a hint of apology.
“A new employee has joined the Potion Management Division. I came to introduce him.”
All the staff whispered in excitement at the long-awaited newcomer.
Then, behind Paul, a dazzling man appeared.
Golden hair, and even more dazzling beauty…
It was unmistakable. The angel from yesterday.
His face was unforgettable, and Dana immediately recognized Edwin.
Even the staff couldn’t help but marvel.
Kind Kira quietly closed their gaping mouths.
Edwin, however, remained composed, his gaze fixed on Dana.
When their eyes met, he smiled calmly.
Paul, shaking his head as if witnessing a scandal, introduced the newcomer.
“This is Edwin… Lambert. Make sure the new employee doesn’t run wild.”
Why speak like that? Like a zookeeper handling a beast.
Leighton, looking exasperated, said,
“…Is that all? Didn’t the recruitment end last month?”
Ah. Paul glanced at Edwin briefly, too lazy to make up an excuse.
“This… friend hasn’t been able to work due to health issues.”
With that, Paul hurriedly left the office, as if chasing a ghost.
Edwin’s eyes never left Dana.
Embarrassed, Dana smiled awkwardly.
Then his eyes widened.
Red irises burned like fire.
Meanwhile, Dana thought…
“Ah… he’s a physically weak man.”
Her first impression of the new employee, Edwin.
Paul’s excuse had caused Dana to misunderstand him completely.
