Chapter 4

When she revealed herself, Diane’s subordinates immediately assumed a combat stance. She gripped the dagger firmly in both hands, ready to face them. There were five of them, but she judged they could be subdued more easily than Geiser’s men.

At that moment, Diane Lesper raised her hand. Her curly red hair and bright red lipstick seemed out of place in the old house.

“You all go outside. We’ll finish this with a conversation between intellectuals.”

“Yes, understood, Lady Diane.”

With her command, the five subordinates promptly exited the house. She and Diane sat across from each other with the table between them.

“Opening the door means you liked my proposal, right? After all, how much can a neighborhood pharmacist earn?”

“……”

Did this woman not hear my shout when I opened the door? 

It seemed Diane had the incredible ability to hear only what she wanted.

“It must have been hard raising the child alone all this time. I completely understand. Now, put down that burden. I’ll help you.”

Watching Diane smile contentedly, as if she had already won, she furrowed her brow in annoyance.

She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Diane Lesper. It seemed she might be able to glean information about Ray by probing Diane’s weaknesses.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it was the only option at the moment. In this situation, there was no other way but to target Diane.

If she revealed some of the information mentioned in the original novel, Diane would soon be shaken.

She spoke slowly, not needing to rush.

“The child I’ve raised for seven years is indeed important and precious to me. But who are you to suddenly appear? There’s no way this child is important and precious to you. So stop talking nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. If you hand over the child, I’ll give you a million Deron. You know it’s a huge sum, but you probably can’t grasp how much it is, can you?”

Diane laughed, looking at her mockingly. The corner of Diane’s red lips curled upward.

“You probably haven’t bought a building before, so you wouldn’t know, but a million Deron is enough to buy a five-story building in the best location in Conradin. With that money, you could open the largest and most splendid pharmacy in the capital! Isn’t that tempting?”

Diane winked and smiled. It was a snake-like smile.

“You’ve probably never even dreamed of becoming a building owner, right? How about it? Dream big, and make that dream come true right away. All this is possible if you sell the child to me.”

Hohoho, Diane laughed, tilting her chin up. It was quite a spectacle.

Ha, hahaha, laughter burst from her lips as well.

Seeing her laugh like a madwoman, Diane stopped laughing abruptly and stared at her.

She suppressed the laughter that kept escaping and looked Diane straight in the eye.

“A million Deron? Isn’t that a bit much, Lady Diane Lesper? Considering your position in the Lesper trading company, it doesn’t seem like you could handle such a sum. Is it perhaps an exaggeration?”

“Exaggeration? No, it’s not!”

Diane immediately snapped back. She was clearly flustered when the roles reversed, given her expertise in suppressing others.

“If it’s not an exaggeration, show me the money first, Lady Lesper. At least a check. Don’t have one now? Seems like you don’t.”

“I don’t have one right now… How do you know my name? Who… are you?”

Diane’s sharp voice cracked slightly. Her breathing grew heavier as her temper rose.

She was definitely shaken.

“Who wouldn’t know the face and name of such a famous person? Your face and name appear in various newspapers almost daily.”

“A commoner pretending to read newspapers! Wait, now that I think about it, isn’t it odd that you speak so informally knowing my status?”

She scoffed.

Diane’s method of attack was obvious. She used her wealth and authority to crush her opponents—a somewhat clichéd tactic.

It was typical of a character who bullied the weak but cowered before the strong.

The response to this tactic was simple. She needed to become the ‘strong’ one, forcing Diane to become the ‘weak.’

Puhut, she chuckled loudly on purpose.

“You seem to like talking about money, so why don’t I talk about money too?”

“You need money to talk about money. Make some sense…”

“Madam Maggie, Madam Julie, and Madam Anne. You’re about to contract dressmakers at the Lesper trading company, right?”

“How… how do you know that?!”

Diane’s mouth hung open in shock.

The Lesper Earldom had accumulated wealth through the fabric business for generations. Recently, they were expanding into clothing and seemed to be recruiting famous dressmakers.

But since it was still in the early planning stages, there were various difficulties, one of which was recruiting famous dressmakers.

“How about I break that contract?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! How could someone like you interfere with our contract? Do you know how much it’s worth?”

“I’m suddenly very curious. About what I can do. Aren’t you curious? Shall we make a bet? This sounds fun!”

She clapped her hands and laughed.

Diane’s large, dark eyes rolled here and there in confusion.

She pressed on, pushing Diane further.

“It’s information only known to the top brass at the Lesper trading company. And I know it. Aren’t you curious now? What kind of person I am, living in such a backward house, barely able to raise a child?”

She tried her best to look at Diane with sharp eyes. Having rarely made such an expression, she didn’t know how to use her facial muscles effectively, so she just focused on putting strength into her eyes.

Watching Diane Lesper, described as the ultimate villainess in the novel, tremble in her eyes and lips brought her immense joy.

‘I thought she’d be impressive, but she’s not much.’

Diane, who showed extreme malice to those who cowered before her, was quite a sight when she shrank before someone who boldly raised their chin.

Moreover, the thought that the opponent she underestimated might not be so easy to handle must have confused her even more.

But Diane, true to her pride as a villainess, didn’t seem ready to back down yet.

“Acting all high and mighty with something you picked up somewhere! You probably read it in the newspaper. It’s obvious, obvious. Do you think I’d be fooled? Don’t make me laugh!”

She screeched, gathering the remaining strength.

Her pitiful appearance almost brought tears to her eyes.

“Wow, impressive, that vigor! Then how about this?”

Huhuhu, she laughed leisurely, drawing out the moment.

Gulp, the sound of Diane swallowing dryly echoed loudly.

“Should I raise questions about the contract with Earl Jeeter of the Duchy of Dakilan or Viscount Kerbil of the Kingdom of Dillens? I have some business with them too.”

“……”

“Which contract will they choose, mine or yours? How about it? Want to test it?”

“Ah…”

Diane opened her mouth as if to say something, but she couldn’t easily speak, making only foolish sounds.

Facing an opponent who knew sensitive contracts of the Lesper trading company, she seemed completely clueless about how to respond.

“Wh… who are you?”

Oh dear.

Her severe stuttering was pitiful.

Huhu, a sneer escaped her twisted lips.

“What will you do if you find out? Since it seems the deal won’t go through, why don’t you just leave?”

“I need that child!”

Diane cried out in a trembling voice.

Tears were welling up in her eyes.

With her mentality shattered, it was only a matter of time before her true feelings emerged.

“Why?”

“If I take the child, Bryce will pay attention to me. It’ll be the best gift.”

“Bryce? Duke Bryce Conver? Why him?”

For a moment, her mind went blank, and no thoughts came to her.

Her mouth hung open, unable to utter a word.

Duke Bryce Conver was the male protagonist of the original novel.

The most important figure in this world.

“Quickly… tell me. Why? Why is the child the best gift for Duke Conver?”

“Because that child is Duke Conver’s child!”

What?

What kind of nonsense is this?

Our Ray couldn’t possibly be Duke Conver’s son!

There’s no way the male lead has a son!

She grabbed Diane’s collar across the table.

“What did you just say? Say it again clearly. What did you say about our Ray?”

At that moment.

Knock, knock, knock, a knock was heard.

Simultaneously, the door swung open, and people entered the house.

They weren’t Diane’s subordinates.

Judging by the black armor with a gold lion emblem, they were the Imperial Knights.

‘Why is the Imperial Knight Order here?’

She quickly reached for her waist to draw her dagger.

But they didn’t draw their swords.

The one who appeared to be the leader spoke politely.

“Greetings, Miss Astrid Vaughn. I am James Forte, Knight Commander of the Imperial Second Knight Order.”

“Why is the Imperial Knight Order here?”

She asked, maintaining her guard.

He glanced at Diane Lesper before speaking again.

“It seems to be for the same reason as Lady Lesper. We wish to meet a boy named Ray. Here is the Empress’s decree.”

The Knight Commander handed her a parchment scroll.

Upon opening it, she saw the Empress’s seal.

And the content was astonishing.

[The Imperial Family has received information that the boy named Ray might be the son of Duke Bryce Conver. I, who cherish Duke Bryce Conver and his family, wish to conduct a paternity test to confirm the truth. We ask Miss Astrid Vaughn, the guardian of the boy named Ray, to willingly comply with the paternity test.]

Her hands holding the document trembled.

‘What kind of nonsense is this!’