Chapter 1 – Part 5

In a world without the internet, how could rumors spread so quickly? Olivia realized the conduit was the human mouth.

The lands of the Empire were so vast that you couldn’t see the end of it, yet the power of the human mouth was so great that her news had reached even the remote villages.

Olivia dumped all the letters on the desk into a box. The contents were all the same – invitations to the tea party. Even a newly possessed Olivia knew that was just a public execution.

The aristocratic society was insular, but there weren’t many cases of women becoming the masters of a household yet. So Olivia becoming the Marchioness was bound to be a big issue. And on top of that, this Marchioness had kicked the famous Count’s…

“Hmm.”

The air of that day seemed unforgettable, even after a long time. The momentary silence after she had kicked Gael Abyss was followed by the alarmed cries of the people who rushed in.

“Marchioness, what is the meaning of this! Apologize to the Count at once!”

The attendants rushed to surround Gael. The knights who had followed Olivia also gave her harsh glares, demanding she apologize.

“I know I went overboard. But shouldn’t he have apologized first?”

Amidst the commotion, only Olivia remained calm. She looked at the curled-up Gael.

“It’s useless for you anyway. You have to be qualified to use it, and what’s the point of doting on it when you can’t even manage it properly.”

Olivia shrugged, looking at Gael’s flushed face.

“Pull yourself together, Count. What do you think your fiancée will think when she finds out you came to take me away?”

The atmosphere shifted slightly at those words. Olivia had taken a more serious tone compared to earlier.

“This is not proper towards your fiancée.”

With that, Olivia passed by the Gael, who seemed about to faint from the pain. Of course, it wasn’t just Gael who was acting like he was about to faint – very soon, everyone with eyes would know about that day’s incident.

They all judged it to be an impulsive act of hers, but in fact, Olivia had deliberately done it. How dare this man, who had a pregnant woman, come to meet another woman? This was unacceptable, original story or not.

Even if it was wrong of Ronae to use forbidden sorcery, it wasn’t unreasonable that she was wasting away over time. And there were even rumors going around that Olivia had done it out of jealousy.

With the maid’s help, Olivia dressed in a pantsuit and headed to the meeting room. She didn’t wear a dress.

“My Lady, please come in.”

The steward’s shout coincided with the huge doors opening.

Well, well. The people sitting upright like executives in a morning drama didn’t even stand up.

Olivia’s lips twisted. She was boiling with anger, but on the other hand, she also had this thought:

These bastards must have some leverage. The fact that they aren’t even pretending to be polite outwardly means they’re that confident.

Olivia racked her brain, but the memories didn’t come back. In that case, Olivia decided to deal with any upcoming problems when the time came.

There were three empty seats in the spacious meeting room. Her seat at the head, the seat to the right for the head of the vassals, and the middle seat to the right. According to the list of vassals she had memorized, the seat to the right was for the head of the vassals, ‘Harry Palmer’, and the middle seat was for the Baron’s lackey.

Now that she thought about it, Harry Palmer wasn’t present at this meeting. Olivia was curious about this, but decided to address it later.

“Huh? Marchioness, where are you going…”

The steward couldn’t continue. Olivia, who had directly pulled out a chair and sat down, looked around nonchalantly.

“What are you doing right now?”

“Why?”

Olivia turned to the vassal on her left.

“Are you mocking us?”

“It’s you all who are mocking. When someone comes, shouldn’t you greet them?”

The vassal looked at the others like he had seen a ghost. He seemed to be asking for help, but they were just as surprised.

Olivia Charbert did not sit in the head seat. She sat in the empty vassal’s seat.

“I thought I had been pushed out of the master’s seat again, so I sat here. So when is the real master coming? Isn’t there supposed to be a standing ovation since they’re holding a meeting for the first time in a while?”

“Uh, what is the meaning of this?”

A weak murmur began. Olivia turned to face the left vassal, resting her chin on her hands.

“Mr. Roderick, what’s the problem? No one greeted me, so I thought I wasn’t the head. Why is everyone looking at me so strangely?”

“So you’re doing this to embarrass us?”

Roderick slammed his fist on the desk. Huh? This moneybag with no title is being cocky?

“Fitzroy Roderick.”

Olivia lowered her hands. At her lowered voice, Roderick’s hand flinched.

“Let’s get the sequence of events straight. You all didn’t show me proper etiquette first, and that’s why I got pissed off, but is that something I should be scolded for?”

Roderick swallowed. It was as he had heard. Olivia Charbert had truly returned as a different person.

“So the rumors about you partially losing your memory are true, I see. Then let me tell you the reason why you shouldn’t be treating us this way…”

“No, no, don’t bother telling me.”

Roderick’s voice rose. Olivia leaned back against the chair, annoyed.

“Since I even remember your face, Roderick, that means the reason isn’t important enough for me to remember, right? Don’t bother telling me. I’m not curious.”

“What nonsensical talk is this! If Lord Palmer finds out about this…”

Then the vassal on the opposite side sprang up like a coiled spring. He seemed to have hoped to surprise her, but of course Olivia was not surprised.

Harry Palmer, the head of the vassals. Olivia had expected them to bring up this person.

Even without finding out the details about Harry Palmer, she had him in her memory.

“My lady, you are too foolish. If you were my family, I wouldn’t have let you out anywhere.”

He was a man who had manipulated Olivia for a long time, despite not being much older. And the vassals were hiding behind him, pressuring Olivia.

“Wow, this is crazy, really.”

Though her voice sounded naïve, everyone was shocked.

“So these vassals were treating their master this way? I don’t know what kind of leverage they have, but go ahead and do as you please. In return, I’ll do as I please as well.”

As Olivia abruptly stood up, the chair was knocked over with a bang. All eyes turned to her.

“I’m a bit interested in the law, so I looked up some precedents. Apparently, there are nobles who were acquitted even for killing their vassals, something about signs of rebellion or whatever.”

Olivia walked over to the knight standing by the wall. The knight’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“So I’m thinking of creating another precedent.”

In an instant, Olivia effortlessly drew the knight’s sword. Her sword pointed at Roderick. The vassals all stood up.

“What are you doing!”

“Finally, you stand up. Then shall we try a proper greeting?”

Before she could cut down anyone.

Olivia smiled, and the vassals quickly exchanged glances. There must be a way to calm this situation, a way… Their minds went blank.

“Buddy, that’s enough.”

That calm voice felt so out of place. The vassals’ heads turned in the direction of the voice, as if broken.

Olivia was the same. She turned her head, question marks all over her face. The door was open, and a new person had entered.

‘Who is it?’

It wasn’t quite a Baron, there was something rather distinct about this man.

“Excuse me, but I’m in a situation where I find it difficult to greet you. Who are you that you address me so casually?”

The well-groomed dark-haired, black-eyed, haughty eagle-like man was unfazed by Olivia’s pointed question.

“Troy Marsden.”

The man’s low voice echoed in the frozen meeting room.

“The person who was your teacher and your guardian.”