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Iâm sorry for posting this reeaally late. I was a bit unwell so⌠yeah thatâs it.\n
Tldr; here you go.\n
âI should have asked him more questions.â\n\nAs soon as I left Ortzenâs office, that thought flashed in my mind.\n\nI was repeatedly told that Captain Jullius need the Count title, but I couldnât inquired for more information beyond that. That being said, even if I were to return inside, I wouldnât gain anything more. To be honest, if Ortzen wanted to hide something, it would be hard for me to figure it out. Although Iâm confident to win in a sword fight but itâs the other way around in wits battle.\n\nAs I walked down the long hallway with the intention to share these chocolates with Captain Jullius, suddenly I saw Clauen who was bringing a flat square leather bag, approaching me from the other side of the hallway. It appeared that thereâre important files inside the bag. I waved my hand at him.\n\nâClauen!â\n\nâOh, Miss Epheria.â\n\nHe looked at me as I was approaching him. Come to think of it, in the beginning this guy also opposed my engagement with Captain Jullius.\n\nâI heard you also wished for Captain Jullius to get a proper noble title. Is that true?â\n\nClauen nodded shortly in affirmation to my question.\n\nâItâll be beneficial for Captain in many ways for having a noble title. His Majesty the Emperor and also other noble factions will be less likely to control over Captain Jullius.â\n\nâSo do you also want me to marry Captain Jullius?â\n\nClauen slightly flinched and then compliantly nodded.\n\nâItâs true that I hope you two will get married.â\n\nâBack then you even told me not to think about it ever.â\n\nâThe situation was different back thenâŚâ\n\nHe embarrassedly murmured and looked straight at me.\n\nâAs long as you marry Captain, I can get you anything you want.â\n\nYou donât say. For real?\n\nâYou seemed pretty confident there.â\n\nâIn this world, you can almost resolve anything with money. Due to his position as a Captain, he has many enemies that are wary of him, or else I also wish to give Captain Jullius a noble title.â\n\nâApparently you have a lot of money, huh?â\n\nâRoughly about 10 million of gold.â\n\nâThatâs a lot. Is that your accumulated savings?â\n\nâNo. Thatâs my average income every year.â\n\nFor a moment I was left speechless. Every year? Every year?\n\nâHey!! Even the Holy Churchâs annual budget is less than 5 million gold!â\n
âThatâs only natural for how a church should be. Even though my income is 10 million gold, itâs only 1,5% worth from the total profit of the western merchant association make in a year.â\n\nâYou said youâre just a middle-man!â\n\nâBecause Iâm a middle-man thatâs why I got some share. Initially my share was 3% from the whole profit but I gave half of it to Captain Jullius so I only have 1,5% left now.â\n\nââŚ, what?â\n\nIt turns out that Captain Jullius is filthy rich! That old bastard Ortzen was spouting nonsense about retirement plan when thereâs nothing to worry about! There wonât be any problems even if Captain Jullius doesnât have a noble title. No wonder he (Ortzen) didnât seem interested in my wealth, because actually I was tricked by him again!\n\nâThis is absolutely a secret. If this fact is known by others, there will definitely be many insects who want to approach Captain just for his money.â\n\nThatâs for sure.\n\nâIs it alright for you to tell me this?â\n\nâIâll readily accept you with open arms if you are going to marry for money.â\n\nâFor your information,I also have a lot of money.â\n\nâItâll be better if you genuinely marry Captain out of goodwill.â\n\nHis attitude went through a drastic change. Was a Count title that covetous? I knew he meant well, so I didnât mind his change of attitude because he acted this way for Captain Jullius well-being. Ortzen might have ill intention, but I think this brat in front of me is sincerely care for Captain Jullius.\n\nâItâs not just a penny or two but you even gave that generous amount of money to Captain Jullius every year. You really like Captain Jullius very much.â\n\nâIâve told you before that I have known him since heâs still a child.â\n\nâDid you take care of him?â\n\nâRather than saying I took care of himâŚâ\n\nClauen looked embarrassed then continued his words.\n\nâIt could be said I was the one who was protected by him.â\n\nâSince youâre a child?â\n\nâO-of course I also helped a little⌠but how should I put it, I was a coward back then.â\n\nHe frankly revealed his shameful past. Somehow I wanted to give a pat to his head.\n\nâAlright I trust you.â\n\nââŚ, what are you talking about all of a sudden?â\n\nâWhoever you are, I trust you.â\n\nWhether if youâre a demon or human, it doesnât matter. Clauen looked somewhat confused for a moment before faintly smiled in the end.\n\nâThank you for trusting me.â\n\nâNo need to thank me because I have decided on it. Besides, Iâm sure Captain Jullius also believes in you.â\n\nââŚ, is that so?â\n\nâYup.â\n\nOf course itâs precisely so. Clauen remained silent for a moment with an awkward face that looked as if he didnât know what to say.\n\nâAlthough youâre the one who said it, but Iâm happy.â\n\nHe shyly replied.\n\n\n\nAnd the next day, the engagement ceremony between the Special Task Squadâs leader, Captain Jullius and Count Epheriaâs daughter, Silla Epheria was officially announced by the royal court.\n\nâEven though this engagement ceremony is being held in such a haste, how could they didnât even send out any invitations? Where would there be anyone who do things this way?!â\n\nSince there were accidents happened recently, the engagement ceremony would be held just between the corresponding parties. When Sofia heard the news, she instantly got really angry until her breath became ragged. I ignored Sofiaâs nagging while looking at the dress sent by Ortzen. The long dress which laid on the bed was all white in color that made me felt fearful to wear it as I might stained it. I wonder if itâs a must to wear a white dress during the engagement ceremony.\n\nâEven the engagement ceremony was announced the day before the event takes place! Theyâre completely disregard you, Miss.â\n\nâNo, itâs not like that. I think they did so as to prevent some troublesome bugs from laying their eyes on us.â\n\nIf the invitations were to be sent long before the engagement ceremony, and those greedy people would have enough time to device any plans to cause disturbances at the engagement ceremony.\n\nâBugs?â\n\nâWell, something like that.â\n
I deliberately didnât tell Sofia in details. If she knew I became a treasure lump because of my wealth, I was sure she would be more agitated than now. She might even cry to death regretting that itâs such a waste for me to marry Captain Jullius. Sofia, you actually donât know that Captain Jullius is in fact very rich.\n\nJust with his one year worth of income, we could eat and live well for a lifetime. If this fact was made to be known to the public, he would gained greedy peopleâs attention that trying to get a share of it.\n\nââŚ, letâs try to put on the dress first.â\n\nSofia let out a long sigh in anguish then carefully lifting up the dress from the bed. Iâm afraid I might leave a stain on it if I put it on now.\n\nâWhat are you going to do to Young Miss and Young Master?â\n\nShe asked while helping me changed my clothes.\n\nâAlthough Vires isnât part of the Count family household, but Roanne is. Even though Iâve said that I will give her a generous amount of money to her dowries, it seems like sheâs still stubborn. Who was it again? I found out that a Count family which I never heard of before, came and took her away with them.â\n\nAlthough sheâs just an illegitimate daughter, sheâs still the Countâs daughter nonetheless. If I died before getting married or renounced my right as the heir, then the guy who married her would became the next Count Epheria. Therefore because of that fact, it seemed like thereâs a lot of noble men who approached Roanne. Thanks to this, Roanne didnât have to worry about not being able to eat and live well and loudly stated that she didnât need any wealth but she demanded her rights to be acknowledged as a member of Count Epheria family.\n\nâShe still has some value so she could live well at least until I get married. When she doesnât have any value left and get kicked out, at that time I will just give her some money and tell her to take care of her own life.â\n\nI told her I would take care of her but if she was being willful and ran out on her own accord then it canât be help. If she caused any trouble in the future, Ortzen could handle it as he deemed fit.\n\nâMiss, youâre really pretty!â\n\nAfter I have changed into the white dress, I was pulled by the overly excited Sofia in the front of full-body mirror.\n\nâEven though the engagement ceremony isnât held inside the Palace, but your dress and jewelry are very luxurious. But of course, Miss is already pretty to begin with!â\n\nâHmm.â\n\nI looked at the reflection of a woman who was wearing a white dress in the mirror. Well, itâs pretty indeed. I think Iâll hear others saying that Iâm pretty if I put on a smile.\n\nâWell, itâs nothing.â\n\nâWhat do you mean by âitâs nothingâ! Miss will become the center of attention at whichever party you go.â\n\nâEii, itâs not precisely so. Thereâre lots of beautiful women in the Empire.â\n\nI knew about it very well because I used to attend various party in the past. After all, I was someone who had escorted all beautiful women in the Empire to the parties more than once. In response to my words, Sofia was a little bit dejected and pouted her lips.\n\nââŚ, then again, people said that Duke Kidiaâs daughter is the most beautiful woman in the Empire.â\n\nâWhat? The most beautiful woman in the Empire is the daughter of Duke Kidia? Who on earth told you that?â\n\nâMany people said so. A dazzling platinum blonde beauty with a pair of bright purple eyes like jewels make her looks like the Goddesââ\n\nâThatâs a blasphemy.â\n\nI clicked my tongue and said firmly.\n\nâIn this entire Empire, thereâs only one person who can match the Goddessâ beauty.â\n\nââŚ, who is it?â\n\nâThe High Priest.â\n\nSofiaâs eyes were widely opened with an unbelievable look on her face.\n\nâItâs my first time to hear about it though? Besides, the High Priest is a man.â\n\nâIs there a rule stated that a man isnât allowed to be beautiful?â\n\nEven though Iâm a woman but I was considered as the most handsome person in the Empire.\n\nBut even if I said so, Sofia seemed to doubt my words.\n\nâNo matter what, how could a man look prettier than a woman?â\n
âThe High Priest is the Goddessâ incarnation. No matter if the High Priest is a man or woman, itâs beyond human standards.â\n\nâBut I still canât believe it! On top of that, Miss has never met with the High Priest. People said the daughter of Duke Kidia is the most beautiful woman because they have seen her in person.â\n\nI used to meet Him a lot. I also even acted as a bodyguard by his side! However I canât say it.\n\nâItâs true.â\n\nâButâ no, forget it. Alright, I get it.â\n\nâItâs really true.â\n\nâAlright. Now, I will put on this hair accessories on your head so please lower your head a bit Miss.â\n\nSofia moved her hand and pretended to hear my words. Somehow I felt chagrined. I considered to take Sofia to the church after the engagement is done.\n\n\n