The Heroines Are After My Fortune

40 – The Saint’s True Colors

“What? You’re telling me I must visit the Loen Baron’s estate right away?”

Renee, returning to the mansion at her father Marquis Raphael’s summons, was taken aback. Participating in any other matter was out of the question, as she had a critically important event scheduled for today.

“Yes, I have urgent matters to discuss with him, and your presence is absolutely necessary.”

“……I see.”

If only he had told her a day earlier.

Even with the relatively advanced state of magical engineering, the fastest way to disseminate information to many people was through the newspapers. It was far too late to inform the fans who were already gathering at the event venue of her absence.

Some people had surely attended specifically to see her. How disappointed they would be to arrive and discover she was not present. It wasn’t about her own reputation being tarnished, but this event was the largest gathering related to ‘Eternal Moonlight,’ and her absence could damage the film itself. She could not give up easily.

“Could we possibly postpone it by a day? I have a very important engagement today.”

“Important engagement? What are you babbling about?”

“It’s….”

Rene explained the situation, but the Marquis’s expression twisted, becoming something akin to a demon’s.

“You dare say you’ll skip a crucial discussion between nobles for some low-class event where commoners flock, Rene—!”

“………!”

Rene recoiled at the Marquis’s roared outburst,

her body starting to tremble.

‘…I should have known from the start.’

Even if she’d gained some public recognition through the newfangled cinema, her father, Rafael Este, wasn’t one to acknowledge such a thing. He’d probably loathe it even more, using it to try and trip her up.

“Yes, I’m sorry. Father is right. I’ll prepare to go to the Roen family estate.”

Rene nodded, her face paling. The words from the note Aiden had slipped her during his quiet visit to the event a few days ago echoed in her mind.

‘Marquis Este will soon ask you to visit our home with him. Refuse once, but if it doesn’t seem like it can be smoothed over, cancel whatever important engagement you have and go with him.’

He’d even added that the schedule could be rearranged, so not to worry. Rene couldn’t fathom what they were discussing that made Aiden and Marquis Rafael act so uncharacteristically.

‘Perhaps…marriage talks?’

That was the only topic that came to mind.

If Aiden won the discussion, she’d be free to call off the engagement as planned. She’d bet on his victory and trod this treacherous path because of it, but—

‘If Father wins the discussion, does that mean… I’ll marry him?’

Her face flushed hot.

She quickly forgot about the canceled engagement. Strange thoughts began to flood her mind. As Rene left the Marquis’s study, she came face-to-face with a familiar figure.

“Sir Marcel? It’s been a while.”

“Miss Renée, it’s been a long time.”

Marcel Galliard, the commander of the Iron Blood Knights, the Este family’s most formidable force. He was always out leading the knights on missions, so it felt like an age since they last met.

“You always work so hard. I’ll be going now…”

“Yes, please, go on. Miss.”

Commander Marcel bowed deeply.

After Renée left, he lifted his head, his face like ice.

Tap-tap-

“Lord, it’s Marcel.”

“Enter.”

Marcel opened the door and walked in. The Marquis cut straight to the point.

“Is the Knight order ready?”

“Perfectly.”

“The signals, they’re fully understood, yes?”

“Yes, my lord, give us the signal and we will tear into that lot of our family and cut them down.”

The Marquis smiled, pleased.

He asked, as if bestowing a favor, “Is there anything you desire?”

“… The arrogant b*stard’s younger sister, the one you mentioned, she has a certain… allure.”

Marcel, having kept his eye on Elena Roen, had been looking at her with lustful eyes ever since he’d seen her at the banquet. This opportunity felt like heaven sent.

The Marquis, on the other hand, was now far more interested in his own strength and power than in any carnal desires. A pretty face meant nothing to him.

“Hmm, is that so. Take them freely, use them as you see fit.”

“I am grateful for your generous heart. I will absolutely not disappoint you in this endeavor.”

“That’s a good mindset.”

The Marquis turned his chair to gaze at the sky outside the window.

Today, one of Aiden and the Marquis, could not stand beneath the same sky.

‘Today, the Loen Barony will be erased from the Empire.’

####

“Hah, hah. Master Aiden. This time, you’re really cutting off twenty years, right….”

“Yeah, yeah. If you survive, that is.”

I patted the shoulder of the guy who’d collapsed on the floor and fallen asleep like a faint in three seconds. Recently, Luke had been obsessively engrossed in inventing, sleeping only four hours a week. Everything was to stop the Marquis, and because of it, he’d been worked to the bone; now, he was so hollow he could be mistaken for a skeleton.

But, I didn’t feel even an ounce of remorse.

It can’t be helped, I need to survive!

‘First, the manpower that can fight….’

We had about five Experts, including Cassano and Sasha, and I had hired knights below them who were serviceable enough.

‘Of course, a lot of these b*stards would run with their pants down if they knew we were fighting the Este Marquisate….’

That won’t do.

Anyway, as long as they’ve taken my money and are employed in this mansion, even if they die, they need to fight to the end.

It was truly fortunate that the help request I’d thrown out as a last resort had actually succeeded.

“……What are you staring at, you wanna die?”

A beautiful blonde woman with a scowl spat out those words.

Astonishingly, the person’s identity was, Saintess Dimona.

The situation was this:

####

“So, Marquis Este was trying to marry Baron Aiden and Lady Rene Este to get his hands on a devil contract, and now, the rumor is he’s about to kill them both?”

“That’s correct.”

“Haa, how could this be…”

The Saintess sighed, hand pressed to her forehead.

She and I had some connection, so she understood right away that this wasn’t some completely outlandish tale.

“Should I mobilize the Vatican’s forces? And check for demonic energy emanating from my body…”

“It won’t work, the Marquis has prepared loopholes to slip through at any moment.”

Among the exorcist clergy who determine whether one is demon or human, some are bribed, and if the aristocratic faction uses its power, they could easily bury the situation entirely.

“Then, what exactly is it you’re asking me to help with?”

“That is—”

The request for the Saintess was simple.

When we’re throwing down with the Marquis, heal us and debuff him!

“…………………Haa.”

I realized for the first time that even the Saintess’s serene expression could crack. She couldn’t quite hide the emotion of ‘absurdity’.

“I am sorry, but I have no talent for battle…”

“Doesn’t the ‘other Dimona’ have a talent for battle?”

“……………!!”

Startled, she recoils, eyes darting around, scanning the space. Finding no one else but me, her gaze snaps back, a sharp, wild glint taking hold.

“You… just how much do you know?”

Her stare, a cloying, thick mass of murderous intent.

The moment her two-faced nature was exposed, her personality shifted.

Into that of the ‘mad b*tch’ who, for the Church, would snuff a life without so much as a blink.

“That’s not particularly important.”

“Then what is important?”

“Whether you’ll help, or not, is what is important.”

“Ha.”

Dimona snorts, a scoffing laugh.

“Threatening a Saintess, you’ve truly lost your mind. Do you happen to have extra lives tucked away?”

“…………….”

The Church’s power might not be what it once was, but even for me, threatening the Saintess is a reckless gamble. Such a symbolic figure, even the slightest misstep could become a monstrous snowball, crushing me.

But I had no ground to retreat.

“Either way, even if you don’t assist me, I’ll die. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to squeeze something out of me *after* this whole affair is over?”

“…………….”

Dimona continues to glare, her eyes seething with murderous intent.

But soon, she heaves a long, heavy sigh.

“…Ugh, this is bullshit.”

Never did I imagine I’d live to hear a Saintess curse like that.

Well, ain’t that somethin’ you see after livin’ long enough.

“Hey, I’ll help out, but if it gets dangerous, I’m outta here, understand? You cool with that?”

“That’s more than enough.”

Dimona had a final trick up her sleeve to get out of trouble if it came down to it, so she wasn’t too worried. With the important talk done, she started to rise from her seat, when something suddenly popped into his mind.

“Miss Dimona, something’s been on my mind. Would you mind if I asked you something?”

“No, don’t ask.”

“The marriage between you and I, pushed forward by the Holy See, was that something ‘the Dimona with the current personality’ decided?”

“…………….”

She froze, there was no clear mention of it in the original story, but judging by her personality, it was a good guess, and it seemed to be the right one.

“You got yourself a pretty good informant, I guess. Or maybe you’re just sharp like that.”

“What’s the reason? There’s no need for you to sacrifice yourself for the Holy See’s financial stability…”

“Sacrifice? What are you on about?”

“Huh…?”

Dimona tilted her head at me, and the reason that soon came out of her mouth was, to my ears, shocking.

“Well, it’s the ‘other personality’ that’ll be under your thumb and wailing, right? I ain’t sacrificing nothin’.”

“………………”

So, the wifely duties were gonna be on the good personality, while she’d be using the huge amount of wealth from our marriage to manipulate the Holy See—is that it?

‘This is kinda… messed up.’

It’s like, I knew she was that kind of woman, but hearing it come out of her own mouth, makes you wanna get heated.

Gotta survive this fight first.

If, by some absurd chance, I found myself inescapably bound to marry the Saintess, I’d need to ‘educate’ her properly.

Make sure she learns the world doesn’t bend to her will, beat that lesson into her bones all night long.