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Chapter 3

-Chapter 3-

'So a man who was worse off than you is now better off and you're pissed off, isn't that right?'

The current Duke Ludwig and Count Rigelhoff have been rivals since childhood.

However, Count Ludwig, who had less power than Count Rigelhoff at the time, was awarded the title of Duke after making a big contribution in the war.

And Count Rigelhoff believed that the dukedom had been stolen from the Rigelhoff family.

"It was suppose to be mine because of my grandfather's great achievements. But he stole it! And the Emperor is a fool to give a dukedom to that bastard!" Father shouts.

Yes, well, the feeling was understandable. But why do I have to be the scapegoat for this revenge?

According to my newly formed memories, I was going to marry Duke Ludwig's son as bait to hide Count Rigelhoff's dark intentions, and the Count knew very well that if things went wrong, I would be the first to lose my head.

'Why is my family like this in my past and present life? What did I do wrong?'

It was so absurd that I felt like I was about to burst into tears, but I held them back. This wasn't the kind of family that would comfort their daughter if she cried.

Still, it wasn't all hopeless.

After all, I will be leaving this house in a week's time anyway, and I'll find a way to live in the Duchy of Ludwig, the main setting of the original story.

'Yes, there's a crisis at the beginning of every villainesses possession story, and as long as I don't do things like Edith did in the original work, I'll survive!'

I made up my mind and prepared myself for the evening dinner between the two families.

* * *

Despite my best intentions, I was overwhelmed by the majesty of the Ludwig's residence, which was no different from a castle. Count Rigelhoff's mansion was enough to dazzle me, but a duke is on another level.

Apparently, winning a war against a neighboring country was a big deal, so the mansion was enormously large and luxurious.

'If the Ludwigs, who were less off than him, were given a mansion like this, is it any wonder Count Rigelhoff was so jealous...?'

The difference was big enough to make me think so.

Besides, I'm sure it wasn't just a mansion that they received. I don't know, but I'm sure he got more things like estates and chests full of gold coins.

Anyway, it didn't matter to me.

'It's more important that I don't get beaten up for interrupting the negotiations today.'

Count Rigelhoff will try to negotiate to send some of their maids to Count Ludwig's mansion.

Of course, it's not because he's worried about my safety or livelihood. The maids he wanted to send in with me were all mercenaries trained in assassination and theft.

'Can I even call such people maids in the first place?'

In particular, Sophia, the maid who brought in my washing water, was quite a favored one, and who had been assigned to guard and watch over me at the Rigelhoff mansion.

She is deferential to me, but in terms of power within the mansion, she is above me.

'And she's also the person who helped Edith do most of her evil deeds in the original story.'