chapter 13
12 – b*tch vs Madwoman – 3
“Don’t wanna.”
“…………….”
A long silence fell after Renée bumped into the Saint.
Everyone watched them, tense, until Renée broke the stillness.
“Hehe, just kidding. Of course, the one who arrived first should speak first, no? I’ll just look around, so you two go ahead and talk.”
Renée, smiling like it was nothing, turned and walked away. She toyed with people, a master of give and take, if you asked me. Her stepping aside relieved Dimona. A figure of her renown had nothing to gain from starting beef in a place like this. And just now, she could’ve been busted revealing another personality.
“Lord Aiden, what are your thoughts on the invitation I mentioned earlier?”
Dimona asked, placing a hand over her substantial chest. I almost looked, damn it, but my superhuman willpower just about held. Getting distracted by such dangerous things would make me screw up the lines.
I was about to walk a tightrope now. Between two dangerous women, dangling the possibility of marriage, all while buying time and gathering power.
“My apologies. I’m swamped right now, so I won’t have time to visit the Holy See for a while.”
A roundabout way of saying no, but it was clear to anyone who heard it.
The Saint’s face stiffened.
“…It seems Lady Renée Este came to invite Lord Aiden as well. Will you be refusing the Duke’s invitation too?”
“No, I have some business to do with the Duke, so I’m planning on going.”
“I see…”
Dimona seemed to deflate a little at my answer.
I can’t visit the Holy See, but I will visit the Duke’s place. She wasn’t pure enough to not know what that meant.
Leaving aside the business with Caesar, from our family’s perspective, if I was to choose the most practical political marriage, it was definitely with the Duke Este’s family. As a leading figure of the nobility, he wielded considerable power that could provide substantial benefits to the Roen Merchant Guild. And in situations that called for force, they could also call upon the power of the Imperial Seven Power, the elite knight order led by Duke Rafael.
However, a political marriage with Dimona was vague in terms of practical gain. The overwhelming name value of a ‘Saint’ had somewhat balanced the scales between the two options, but it was likely I wouldn’t gain much from the Holy See.
Waldo, the Imperial 7th Knight, a holy knight belonging to the Order – I couldn’t use them for my personal affairs just because I was the Saint’s husband, and as a religious organization, it was awkward to ask for help with profit-making endeavors, so getting help from them would not be easy. If they didn’t fleece me under the guise of a donation, I’d be lucky.
Still, she must have hoped, as her disappointment was clear. She’s in a position where she has to make me visit the Papal See by any means necessary. Maybe I should throw out a lure now.
“How about we make a deal? It’ll be a good one for the Saint too.”
“A deal, you say? What sort…?”
“If you promise to help me once in the near future, I’ll go to the Este Marquis’s invitation and refuse the marriage.”
“…What’s the point of that for me? You’ve already refused the Papal See’s invitation.”
Dimona’s reaction was slightly bewildered, which was understandable from her position.
“It’s not a lie that I can’t go to the Papal See because I’m busy.”
“Does that mean…?”
“After finishing things with the Marquis this time, I swear to visit the Papal See. It won’t take too long.”
This way I can satisfy Dimona without going to the Papal See right away. And her expression was indeed brightening. It’s not easy to try anything if I kept refusing to go, but if I promise to visit directly, there’s no reason for her to hesitate. The Saint smiled radiantly and spoke to me.
“Okay. As long as it’s not an act that goes against my faith, I’ll help you, Aiden, as promised. You can contact the Papal See when you need my help.”
‘Good, you’ll regret saying you’ll help me.’
With this, I’ve bought time, and even got a promise to be helped when I need it. Thanks to the Saint’s help, I won’t be this feeble when I visit the Papal See. I have no intention of being played in the hands of the Papal See b*stards. After our mutually satisfying conversation, I said goodbye and sent Dimona on her way. Having no other business, she immediately returned with the holy knights.
Now it was Rene’s turn, and as I looked around, I spotted her and was so shocked.
‘Wait, why is she with Elena…?’
I almost had a PTSD flashback to the original story. Who was Rene?
Wasn’t she the villainess that made every reader of ‘Redal Dream’ grind their teeth?
‘That low-born…!’
‘A commoner, of all people…!’
“’If you lick my feet, I might consider sparing you?’”
Such a three-part combo was just a tiny fraction of her repertoire.
Worried about Elena, I hurried over to them, but the atmosphere flowing between them wasn’t what I’d feared at all.
“Miss Elena, your face is so lovely, and even your skin is as smooth as silk… I’ve been so worried lately because my skin’s turned rough from not being able to sleep.”
“No, it’s not true…! Miss Renée, your skin is better than anyone I’ve ever seen!”
“Oh my, really? I’m so glad to hear you say so.”
Was this really the Elena and Renée I knew? I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but they were still chatting amiably. In the original story, they felt like the bully and the bullied, but now, it was more like a pretty, popular older sister and the cute, innocent younger sister playing with her.
Well, she might be marrying me, so she wouldn’t be dumb enough to torment her future sister-in-law. She’s smart, that’s why she’s trying to get close to her beforehand. A villainess is good at charming those she needs to keep on her good side, while she’d torment others.
“Miss Renée, thank you for waiting. The discussion with the Saintess is finished, shall we have a little talk?”
“Yes, that sounds lovely.”
Elena was fidgeting, probably thinking she had to go to another room again, but I figured there was nothing in her conversation with Renée that others couldn’t overhear, so I told her to stay. I first asked, as a formality, what had brought her to me.
“Miss Renée, may I ask what business brought you to me?”
“Are you aware that my father was in frequent contact with the previous head of the Roen family?”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
“He was very disappointed to miss the funeral due to his busy schedule. Thus, he asked me to tell you that he wanted to share in the sorrow with Baron Aiden, and also to strengthen the inter-family cooperative relationship that had been discussed before.”
I had a feeling it was coming.
The cooperation between the Este and Roen families that was being discussed… was just a political marriage.
And of course, Renée in front of me would play the role of the bridge.
“As expected of Marquis Rafael, he is still thinking of my father despite his busy schedule. I would welcome it any time if you asked me.”
“Hehe, I hope that doesn’t mean you’ve agreed to both our family’s offer *and* the Saintess’s proposal?”
When I showed a positive response, René mirrored it with a smile, but her voice was cool as she questioned back, probably testing if I was playing both sides.
“It’s embarrassing to say myself, but I’m a descendant of the Empire’s foremost merchant. I’m not so foolish as to not know whose hand is beneficial for me to hold.”
Only then did René show a full, satisfied smile. She pulled a luxurious black envelope from her bosom and handed it to me.
“Refreshing, isn’t it? Take this, it’s an invitation to the soirée my family is holding in two weeks. If you want to come, you’re welcome to bring Elena along.”
“I’ll consider it. It seems I’ll be able to meet Marquis Raphael for the first time that day.”
“That’s right, and if you dress just as dashingly as you have today, it should be fine. I look forward to our next meeting.”
René walked away, a satisfied expression on her face.
It seems I managed to satisfy both the Saint and René.
“Huuu….”
Dealing with people who are only here to swindle me with a smiling face is truly exhausting.
I can understand why Uncle Yul developed such a distrust of people.
‘Tsk, finding someone who treats others purely is like finding a star in the sky.’
I clicked my tongue at the aristocratic society, which was filled with such obvious materialists.
Ah, come to think of it, I did have someone like that around me. Someone who treats others purely.
“Elena, how was it? What did you think of René Este in person?”
Wasn’t it said that women are particularly good at picking up on other women’s flirting or unsettling behaviors?
I asked, wondering if Elena might have picked up on René’s ugly inner nature to some extent— but-.
“I want to be a splendid young lady like René…!”
“…………??”
What was that?
Did my ears deceive me?
“She’s incredibly beautiful and sharp-witted, even caring for someone like me who’s lost and struggling. And she has such charisma… I thought, ‘She truly is a noble young lady!’ “
That was one hundred percent genuine.
Watching my sister, her eyes sparkling as if bewitched, I massaged my temples.
‘Oh, dear sister…’
If I leave her be, she might be tainted by bad influences. This innocent, kind girl will start looking down on those beneath her while laughing “Hohoho!” then this older brother’s eyes will surely weep bloody tears.
‘Alright, even if it means staying up all night…’
So, after returning home with Elena, without letting her sleep, I launched into a lecture on ‘How to distinguish between bad men and bad women’ for my sister, who clearly lacked perception.
“Oppa, stop… I can’t take any more, I want to sleep…”
“What are you talking about? We still have a long way to go.”
“Ughhh…”
Only after lecturing all night could I finally let Elena go to bed, after she begged me to.
Hm, hm, it was a truly beneficial night in that I had guided my sister onto the right path.