Charlotte is the only daughter of this household. Instead of cherishing her as the daughter of a respectable noble family, he’s pointing fingers at her. The situation was so absurd that the reason that had fled from shock returned.

“Dear, please understand. Charlotte actually likes Duke Medvez. Imagine how shocked she must be that the man she has a one-sided crush on is coming.”

Rosalinda, who was beside him, glanced at me and defended me from the scolding Vern.

“A one-sided crush? I thought she was just a useless waste of food, but it turns out she’s good for something.”

“Did you really say Duke Clayton Veil Ro Medvez is visiting?”

“Yes. You heard me clearly, so why are you pretending you didn’t?”

My heart pounded ominously. It really was him. Clayton, the Serhart interrogator who accepted only Vern’s false testimony and judged my father a traitor, and who was my husband in the first regression.

Just as my breathing grew rapid from memories of that miserable marriage, Vern’s next words made my blood run cold.

“Anyway, this works out perfectly! Take this chance to win the Duke over and make him yours.”

“You’re not seriously planning to marry me to the Duke, are you?”

“Of course. Why else would I swallow my pride and cling to the Duke?”

“Dear, wasn’t today’s invitation to the Duke about trade with Kolova?”

Rosalinda asked with a puzzled expression.

“Of course I invited him for trade. But if there’s one rabbit, should I only catch that? I need to use the rabbit as bait to catch a wolf!”

Vern shook his clenched fist with an ambitious expression.

“If my marriage to Duke Medvez is the wolf you need to catch… I have no intention of doing that.”

At my indifferent words, sudden silence descended over the dining table. The next moment…

“…What?”

Vern’s mustache trembled with rage.

“I noticed something at yesterday’s banquet. Lady Evelyn Lorenfort of the Marquis family showed interest in the Duke. I’ll yield the wolf to her.”

I’m sorry to this world’s Evelyn, but I truly have no choice. I don’t want to get entangled again with Clayton, who brought me the greatest misfortune of my life. As long as I’m not his marriage partner, that’s all that matters.

Instead, I’ll do my best to prevent Vern from giving false testimony. Then this world’s Evelyn might be able to get along well with Clayton, unlike I did back then.

“Absolutely not!”

Bang!

Vern slammed his fist on the table.

“Oh my, you scared me!”

Rosalinda shrieked in surprise. Ignoring her, Vern snapped with the momentum of a hunting dog tearing into prey.

“You useless thing! Instead of thinking about helping the family, you’re yielding to someone? If you let the Duke slip away, we’ll never surpass the Marquis!”

His overreaction was incomprehensible. Then I grew curious at the mention of “Marquis.”

“By Marquis, do you mean Marquis Lorenfort?”

He couldn’t hide his flustered look, seemingly realizing his mistake too late. In that moment, I was certain. There was a secret between Jake Lorenfort, my father, and Vern Fraxon that I didn’t know about.

I wanted to dig into what it was. Did he frame my father because of that secret?

“I got a bit excited.”

Vern cleared his throat, trying to gloss over the situation, then continued.

“You said you like Duke Medvez. So why are you refusing now?”

“My feelings have cooled.”

“That’s your reason?”

“What else would there be?”

I shrugged lightly.

“If that’s the reason, there’s no reason not to meet him. No need for long explanations. You’re meeting him no matter what!”

“Do you absolutely need Duke Medvez, Father? You’re not someone so incompetent that you can’t do anything without the Duke.”

Sensing the subtle sarcasm in my words, his face crumpled.

“You don’t seem to understand…”

“I understand everything I need to.”

“You understand? That’s ridiculous.”

“His Majesty the King stands behind the Duke. If the Duke with his absolute power takes Father’s side, there’d be nothing to fear. That’s what you’re aiming for, planning to sell me off to the Duke.”

“At least I know your head isn’t just decoration. And yet you want to kick away this marriage?”

At those words, I couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. He twisted his brow in displeasure.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because the Duke doesn’t know what schemes we’re plotting, yet Father is already treating the marriage like a done deal.”

Unable to refute that, Vern pressed his lips tightly shut.

“Fine. I’ll do what you want, Father.”

“What I want is for you to make the marriage with the Duke happen.”

“You just said you invited the Duke because of trade with Kolova.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“As I understand it, Kolova is blockaded. But if trade is happening, that means they’re opening their borders… right?”

At my fairly reasonable deduction, Vern’s eyes widened in surprise.

“A trading post will soon be established in the border city. To become the owner of that trading post, you’d need to secure exclusive operating rights.”

I continued without giving him a chance to interrupt.

“I’ll definitely secure those exclusive operating rights for the trading post.”

At my bold proposal, Vern’s eyes bulged like they might pop out. The reason I brought up Kolova’s trading post wasn’t just to steal Vern’s wealth and power. If I won the bidding competition, I thought I wouldn’t be forced into marriage with Clayton anymore.

“Hahahaha!”

An unpleasant laugh burst out. Vern was laughing with his thin lips stretched wide. But his eyes were coldly calculating, fixed on my face.

“Where did you pick up such information? I thought you only knew how to choose clothes and shoes.”

“Just because I care about appearances doesn’t mean I keep my ears closed.”

“…”

“…”

A tense staring contest ensued. Vern was the first to raise the white flag in that battle.

“It’s hardly worth listening to more, but I am curious. How do you plan to secure exclusive operating rights? Do you think only one or two families have entered the bidding competition?”

“I can’t tell you that. If I reveal my secret method, I’m the only one who loses.”

“Ha.”

“I understand you don’t trust me. You can’t predict the outcome either, so you’re trying to get information from Duke Medvez.”

“To gain an advantage in the competition, you need to know how to manipulate at least the bidding supervisor. But if I leave this to you, we’ll be laughed at. Why would I disgrace the family?”

“I want to ask just in case. You haven’t planted spies in competing families, have you? To find out what amounts they’re submitting?”

Vern gasped with a shocked expression, seemingly caught off guard. Seeing that, I smiled subtly. Though I tossed out the words like they just occurred to me, I actually knew he was secretly plotting such things.

In my past two lives, he suffered considerable damage paying spies. When that was exposed, he received criticism from competitors. Vern won’t secure the trading post’s exclusive operating rights anyway. I have a better chance since I know whose hands the rights will fall into.

“If you’re thinking of doing that, I want to stop you.”

“Why?”

“Information from spies might be helpful, but what if they’re double agents?”

“What?”

Not having predicted that far, Vern looked shocked like he’d been hit from behind.

“Rather than spending money on such people, leave it to me.”

His face wavered briefly, seemingly tempted by my words. Then he asked with a still suspicious expression.

“Do you have some kind of plan?”

“As I just said, if I reveal my secret method, I’m the only one who loses.”

“Hmm.”

“Even if you step in, Father, you can’t guarantee victory.”

“Neither can you. Aren’t you unable to tell me because you have no plan?”

“I’ve said enough for you to know I’m very interested in this competition. This is all for the Fraxon family.”

“You want me to leave it to you without asking questions?”

“Of course there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“If I win the exclusive operating rights, all profits generated from the trading post will be mine.”

“By profits, you mean the amount remaining after deducting management fees, labor costs, operating costs, purchase costs, and all other expenses from revenue?”

“Yes.”

“That’s absurd! You’re saying you’ll take the net profit!”

“Of course. It’s a trading post I secured.”

“Then I lose out! There’s nothing coming to me!”

“Why not? The person who won the bidding competition is me, Charlotte Fraxon. A name that will bring glory to the Fraxon family.”

“Hmm.”

“If you’re really dissatisfied, I’ll give you 10% of the net profit. No more than that.”

“Forget it! I have my pride. I won’t put my spoon on a table you set.”

“Then is the deal done?”

Vern crossed his arms and fell into thought. After a moment, he slowly nodded and glanced at me.

“Fine.”

Yes!

I clenched my fists. Thrilling excitement gave me goosebumps all over.

“However, I also have a condition.”

“What is it?”

“You’re confident, but based on what you’ve shown so far, you’re not very trustworthy.”

I admit it. Not just Charlotte, but most young ladies aren’t interested in trade or economics.

“If you fail in the bidding competition, shouldn’t I have at least one backup plan?”

“What’s that?”

“Marry Duke Medvez.”

“I said I’d secure the exclusive operating rights instead of that marriage.”

“I know that. But what if you fail?”

“That won’t happen.”

“That’s what you think.”

I silently stared at Vern as he cunningly schemed.

“What’s the problem? You just need to secure the exclusive operating rights.”

“If I secure them?”

“Then the marriage with the Duke is off.”

He smirked, twitching his mustache.

“Fine.”

“Hahaha, that’s the spirit!”

Confident he’d won the battle of wills with me, he lightly struck the table and exclaimed.

“But don’t think I’ll obediently follow that plan.”

“What?”

His face, full of laughter, instantly hardened.

“Since the meal is over, may I be excused?”

I stood up and smoothed my dress. Vern glared at me disapprovingly and tossed out a remark.

“Don’t keep the Duke waiting when he arrives this afternoon.”

He still planned to make Clayton and me meet.

“I’ll think about it. But don’t pressure me too much.”

When I spoke firmly, his eyes widened in bewilderment. He sensed a refined atmosphere from Charlotte that he’d never seen before, usually so docile.

“No matter how I look at it, you seem like a completely different person.”

“I was humiliated at yesterday’s banquet, so I’ve come to my senses. Well then.”

I straightened my back and left the dining room.

“Miss, which one will you wear?”

The maid Lucy brought two dresses and held them out. They were for the afternoon meeting with Duke Medvez. My head throbbed.

I paced around the room without even looking at the dresses. I didn’t want to meet Clayton. I didn’t want to repeat that hellish time again.

“You’re so lucky. They say Duke Medvez has looks sculpted by God—is it true?”

“It is.”

“I heard everyone falls in love when they stand before him. Is that really true?”

“…It is.”

I answered half-heartedly.

“Oh right, I heard the Count is going to marry you to Duke Medvez.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Pardon?”

Lucy blinked, not understanding what I meant.

“I’ll choose my own husband.”

“But it’s a chance to become the Duchess of Medvez, whom all young ladies envy.”

“The opportunity will go to another young lady.”

“Then do you have a husband in mind?”

Leon Arthur Valekdrogo suddenly came to mind. The Crown Prince of Serhart. A man whose brown and ash-mixed hair playfully fell over his forehead and whose blue eyes sparkled cheerfully.

With his aristocratic and affable appearance and tall physique, he always drew attention. He was also exceptionally capable and received the full expectations and love of all Serhart citizens. If I could marry the Crown Prince, Vern wouldn’t try to pair me with Clayton anymore.

Of course, the future king is better than a duke.

“Around this time, Her Majesty the Queen held a ball…”

“What did you just say?”

Lucy, who had been diligently holding up dresses to see which suited me, asked.

“An invitation to a ball from the palace should have arrived. Where did we put it?”

“From the palace? There was nothing like that in today’s mail.”

Lucy’s eyes widened like it was news to her.

“It’ll come soon, so bring it to me as soon as it arrives.”

At my confident words that an invitation would come when the ball’s hosting was uncertain, Lucy looked bewildered. Regardless, I began planning my next moves in my head.