~CMWDD 05~
Chapter 5
Bobby brought warm tea to Ollentia, who was lost in thought.
“Miss, are you really all right? It doesn’t seem like nothing happened,” he asked.
Bobby was perceptive. No matter how much Ollentia insisted she was fine, he kept asking the same question.
“I hope you don’t keep things from me. I don’t want to see you suffering all alone,” he said.
“Well… it’s a bit embarrassing, so I don’t really want to talk about it,” Ollentia admitted.
“Miss, you’re embarrassed? That surprises me even more. You usually handle things so calmly,” Bobby replied.
Ollentia nervously bit her lip and tucked her long hair behind her ear. Her heart was restless.
Maybe it’s better to just tell Bobby what happened rather than staying anxious by myself.
“So, what happened outside today was…”
Eventually, she decided to tell Bobby everything. Usually composed, Bobby seemed extremely shocked.
As expected, he almost dropped the teapot he was holding.
“Bobby! Watch out!” Ollentia exclaimed in surprise.
After a moment, Bobby braced himself and lifted the teapot again, his face pale.
“D-D-Duke… Your Highness? Are you all right? Nothing happened to you, did it?”
Bobby was more focused on the fact that Ollentia had met Duke Belial than on the human traffickers.
“What do you mean, ‘nothing happened’?” Ollentia asked.
“Well… I mean, being drained of energy, or… it’s impossible, but being bewitched by His Highness… you know, things like that!”
Seeing Bobby, usually so practical and wise, stammer like this made it clear that the rumors about the Duke were widespread.
If something happened… the Duke must have said some cruel things, right? Ollentia recalled meeting Dimidius earlier in the day and clicked her tongue.
“Well… it’s nothing,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“I just acted on my own. So technically, he helped me. It’s a bit ambiguous, though.”
After all, she had escaped from the human traffickers, so she had received significant help. That was why she had wanted to know his name.
Now that she knew Dimidius’s true identity, even the fact that he helped her felt complicated.
That wasn’t right. She didn’t want to act cowardly.
“I did get help. I’m grateful,” Ollentia said firmly.
Bobby sighed in relief.
“Ah… that’s good. I was worried you’d encounter someone worse while avoiding the human traffickers.”
“Honestly, the rumors might be exaggerated. He didn’t seem that bad,” Ollentia said.
“Well, His Highness Duke Belial is still a centaur, and some say they’ve seen him kill people,” Bobby warned.
“K-Kill… people?” Ollentia’s voice trembled like a candle in the wind. She shivered imagining Dimidius choking someone earlier in broad daylight.
On top of that, his imposing figure added to the intimidation.
Ollentia wrapped her hands around her shoulders, trembling. Being near someone like that made her whole body feel cold.
“Bobby, I think you were right—I was in danger,” she admitted.
Hearing her, Bobby set the teapot down and clenched his fists.
“I should have been there! From now on, always move with a bodyguard knight. It’s too dangerous otherwise,” he insisted.
“You’re right. I had been optimistic thinking it would be fine, but now that I have Yulsa too, I should hire a separate personal guard.”
“Are you planning to hire mercenaries at the Count’s estate? Will that even work?”
“If it doesn’t, I’ll just leave the Count’s estate. I should have done that from the start.”
She wasn’t short on money. With Count Sokor repeatedly appealing, legal battles would drag on, so staying in the estate indefinitely wasn’t an option.
Thinking that she was finally stepping into a new world, Ollentia’s heart swelled. She sipped her Rosemary tea.
“I hope only happy days lie ahead. I really want to be independent.”
She was beginning to relax when suddenly the door swung open. Countess Kikozelia entered. It was rare for her to come to the annex, and even when she did, she always knocked. Why was she behaving this way now?
Ignoring the usual courtesy, Kikozelia stepped forward, her dress adorned with layers of lace flowing behind her. She looked brighter than usual, her large eyes sparkling with curiosity, her thin lips curved upward.
Something feels off, Ollentia thought, frowning as she put down her teacup.
“What’s the matter? You could’ve at least knocked,” she said reproachfully.
But Kikozelia ignored her comment and said,
“Miss! Archbishop Werbu has set the date for your wedding! Isn’t that wonderful?”
Ollentia’s eyes widened as she looked up at her.
What do you mean? Could it be… because I have no intention of marrying, they just set the date anyway?
Clutching her skirts, she shouted,
“You didn’t… get a special marriage permit without my consent, did you?”
She couldn’t believe it. No matter how many ridiculous things Sokor had done or how hypocritical Countess Kikozelia had been, she couldn’t imagine they would force a marriage.
Yet Kikozelia’s flushed face made it clear she had guessed wrong.
A special marriage permit was traditionally issued when a wedding had to be conducted urgently. Once granted, the archbishop’s consent made it difficult to cancel.
Trusting Sokor’s words and delaying her request to end her guardian’s protection had been a mistake.
Ollentia’s face turned pale. She knew all too well who Sokor and Kikozelia had in mind as her potential husband: Marquis Luxus.
Every morning, he would arrive with bouquets and jewels, drunk and lecherous, notorious for changing women every other day.
Not long ago, he had visited the Armeniaca estate and grabbed Ollentia’s wrist, refusing to let go.
What are you doing, Marquis Luxus! Ollentia shouted, struggling to free her hand. He merely moistened his dry lips, his dark eyes fixed on her.
Of course we should be together… why are you pretending otherwise? he said.
What are you saying? I have no intention of marrying you! she spat.
It’s heaven’s blessing, Lady. Even your tender flesh welcomes me, he said lewdly.
Ollentia’s stomach churned as she tightened her grip.
At that moment, Count Sokor descended the stairs. Ollentia looked for help, thinking that old affections might save her. But Sokor simply laughed heartily and extended his hand toward Marquis Luxus.
Ha ha! Does my cousin please you so much, Marquis?
After seeing them laugh together, Ollentia couldn’t remember much else. The shock had overwhelmed her.
Even now, with Kikozelia before her, her head spun.
“You’ve crossed the line! Is this really necessary? People can live well without hurting someone!” Ollentia shouted, her face cold.
Kikozelia shrugged.
“Ask anyone else, Miss. In the Bonus Empire, apart from Duke Belial, which family can match the Armeniaca family?”
Unlike the previous Countess Malisa, Kikozelia wore a light, flashy dress adorned with layers of decoration, which suited her.
Ollentia commented, She really knows how to dress herself.
“Do you always measure things this way?” Ollentia asked.
“Marquis Luxus is the only choice. I’m finding the most suitable match for you, so be thankful,” Kikozelia said and left.
Left alone with Bobby, Ollentia gritted her teeth.
“This is insane, Bobby. Marquis Luxus? They must have discussed it with the Marquis and my inheritance.”
Bobby’s eyes glistened with tears.
“We cannot let such a brute take you!”
“Of course not. Marrying Marquis Luxus? Just thinking about it is horrifying.”
“What will you do?”
“I need to talk to Sokor first. Whether he applied for it, or how this happened—I need to know,” she said.
She suspected Sokor, as her guardian, had applied for the special marriage permit, with Kikozelia’s opinion reflecting his. But she wanted to gauge his intentions precisely.
The day before
Having purchased all the new dresses presented by the tailor, Kikozelia headed to the Armeniaca estate’s tulip garden for lunch.
Tulips in full bloom colored the ground in various shades.
If the weather was fine, she often dined in the garden with Count Sokor.
Sokor was already in the garden, wearing a white vest under a navy frock coat—a smart and neat appearance.
As the spring breeze blew, Kikozelia’s hair, treated with camellia oil, fluttered beautifully.
She sat down, her face cheerful, and enjoyed a pre-meal drink.
