“Ugh…”
The Count, who had just regained consciousness, let out a groan.
A man approached him with hurried steps and helped him up. When the Count flinched, thinking he might be hit again, the man reassured him and stepped back.
“I was moved by what you said earlier and followed you. If you’re alright, I’d like to have a drink with you. It’s on me.”
The Count’s eyes widened at the sight of such an upright young man. He was weak to praise, especially from someone like this mysterious man who seemed to hold him in high regard.
Forgetting the pain from being hit, he linked arms with the man and left the alley, drinking until dawn.
Then he lay down in a room at an inn the man had arranged.
“Rest well.”
“To think there’s someone like you in this day and age.”
The Count, touched by this man whose name he didn’t even know, teared up. Then, overcome by drunkenness, he drifted off to sleep.
After sleeping deeply for a while…
He heard someone entering. It felt like someone was lying down next to him and poking him.
The thoroughly drunk Count mistook this place for his Valentine mansion in the east, and the person lying next to him for a woman he had secretly brought in behind his wife’s back.
So, unconsciously, he hugged them tightly.
“Sh*t… Why are you grabbing my ass? This sucks.”
The person in his arms cursed. The thick, low voice was undoubtedly male.
Just as he was about to open his eyes in shock, a strong blow hit his solar plexus.
The Count passed out immediately.
And when morning came and he opened his eyes…
“Sob, sob… How can I ever get married now…”
“We’re arresting you on the spot for this crime.”
In front of him stood a man wearing only underwear, crying about losing his chastity, and a guard with a look of contempt.
*** *** *** *** ***
I was now at the guild office of the two men who had infiltrated the Labyrinth mansion.
“So the Count is now imprisoned in the guard’s jail, they say.”
“I see.”
As I nodded in understanding, the guild master of the two men handed me a report for reference.
It detailed how they had gotten Count Valentine thoroughly drunk, taken him to a pre-arranged inn to sleep, how guild members had played rock-paper-scissors and the loser had to crawl into the Count’s bed wearing only underwear, and how the Count had grabbed the guild member’s buttocks.
‘To lose the chastity of one’s buttocks.’
It was unfortunate, but since he lost at rock-paper-scissors, it couldn’t be helped. The world of competition is cold.
I checked the report with dry eyes and returned it.
Then, the guild master, who had been staring at me with bright eyes that didn’t match his rough build, spoke.
“Do you think this result will satisfy that person?”
Here, ‘that person’ referred to the guild master of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild, which was me.
Surprisingly, this guild master was a fan of ‘the guild master of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild.’
When I first visited, he was uncooperative, but when I revealed that I had some connection with the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild, he treated me like a VIP with a face full of reverence.
Of course, I didn’t reveal that I was the guild master.
“Well, not really.”
When I dryly replied that the guild master of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild wouldn’t be satisfied with just this, the other person nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, for someone who can turn people into dolls when things go wrong, merely being dragged to the guard station wouldn’t be enough. It’s my oversight.”
Ah, that’s not it. It’s merchandise.
But my inner cry didn’t reach him.
The man, whose eyes had become sparkly, praised the cruelty of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild’s master until he was out of breath.
He claimed to be the 12th fan, saying it would be hard to find anyone among the underground guilds in this area who wasn’t a fan of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild’s master.
He even teared up, saying his lifelong wish was for the master to visit their guild just once.
“Oh, yeah. I hope that comes true.”
I felt uneasy upon realizing I had suddenly acquired numerous fans, and in a not-so-good way.
Who knew there would be such a side effect from Rader running around trying to expand the guild.
‘I really shouldn’t reveal that I’m the master.’
With mixed feelings, I returned to the Labyrinth mansion.
Then, taking the Countess who had been waiting for me with an anxious expression, I headed towards the guard’s jail where Count Valentine was said to be imprisoned.
It was time for the finale.
*** *** *** *** ***
Count Valentine was said to be in solitary confinement.
Normally, he should have been in a cell with other prisoners, but apparently, he was put in solitary because he was caught assaulting a man.
When I requested a visit as the Count’s wife, the jailer gave me a sympathetic look. He readily granted the request without asking any questions.
“My lady!”
The Count rushed towards Aria Valentine, his wife – no, me – as soon as he saw her.
But he could only reach out his hand, blocked by the cold iron bars.
Aria flinched and stepped back to avoid the Count’s hand.
Ignoring this, the Count frantically waved his hand through the bars and shouted urgently.
“They say I can leave if bail is paid. Did you bring any money?”
“…”
“Even though I said I’d pay them back as soon as we return. Ah, what a disgrace this is.”
“…”
“My lady.”
“…”
“My lady?”
Finally sensing something was amiss, the Count called out to Aria again.
Aria wasn’t looking at him.
With a pale face and tightly closed lips, she was only looking down at the cold stone floor of the prison.
‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought her after all.’
When I told her that ‘the Count had men push another man into the lady’s bedroom,’ Aria’s face turned pale, but her expression remained blank.
It was the same when I told her, ‘We used the same method to pay him back. He’s now locked up in jail.’
She seemed like a person who had lost all emotion.
That’s why I had intended to come alone, but she said she wanted to see him one last time, so we came together.
But seeing her face grow darker by the moment, I wondered if I had made a mistake.
Just then,
“Let’s…”
Aria, who had been moving her lips silently, finally uttered something.
With her pale hands gripping her skirt so tightly that blue veins stood out, she raised her head and looked at the Count with clear eyes.
I thought I saw a hint of moisture in those eyes.
Aria took a deep breath. She exhaled that breath along with words she had buried deep in her heart.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
“…!”
The shocked Count froze. Then, with trembling lips, he stammered broken sentences. Why, why…?
Aria spoke firmly, her voice wet with emotion.
“I don’t want to live with you anymore.”
The Count, his mouth agape like a fool, stared at Aria as if looking at a complete stranger.
Then, as if remembering something, he grabbed the iron bars with both hands and cried out desperately.
“It’s a misunderstanding, my lady! I’m not a homosexual! You’re the only one for me!”
“I know about your affair with Lady Layla.”
The Count’s frantic explanations came to an abrupt halt.
Avoiding his gaze, Aria lowered her eyes and continued without taking a breath.
“According to imperial law, if there’s evidence that a spouse has slept with another person, one can divorce unilaterally without a trial. I plan to send someone to the government office today.”
“Aria.”
“I’ll have your belongings sent separately. There’s no use coming to look for me as I plan to move.”
“Aria!”
“I hope… we don’t see each other again. Take care.”
Having finished speaking quickly, Aria left the visiting room as if fleeing.
“Aria! Aria!”
The Count cried out like a madman.
But Aria didn’t return, and only the desperate cries of a man who had lost everything echoed emptily in the prison.
I waited for the echo to subside, then pulled out a thin stack of documents I had prepared in advance.
I called out to him, signaling him to look this way.
“Hey.”
The Count – no, now just Nyx, a commoner – who had been glaring at the door through which Aria disappeared with bloodshot eyes, turned his head.
He looked like he wanted to kill someone right then and there.
“I have good news.”
I waved the stack of documents I was holding.
“Aria will transfer Valentine’s assets to you.”
For a moment, confusion clouded Nyx’s eyes. Why?
“Well. Perhaps it’s a final gift to a husband she once loved?”
I casually said as I took out a quill pen from my bag and handed it to him.
“Ah, of course, she’ll take back the title of Count. So the estate and mansion that come with the title will belong to Aria.”
Thanks to Nyx squandering so much on alcohol, gambling, and guarantees, the only asset left in the Valentine household was the gold mine he was so proud of. That is, excluding the estate and mansion.
Knowing this, Nyx’s eyes sharpened.
However, he also knew that it wouldn’t be strange if he was kicked out penniless, so instead of snapping back, he obediently signed where I pointed.
The content stated that everything of Valentine’s, except for the title, estate, and mansion, would be transferred to him.
After the signing was done, I carefully put those documents in my bag. Then I took out a blank paper and handed it to Nyx.
“If there’s something to give, there should be something to receive, right?”
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