Chapter 3

Larienne planned to go to Isirial, the capital. Because that was where the Maen Merchant Guild, the only guild where she could work, was located. She had to untangle the twisted thread again there. First, she had to survive.

She had to stay in the capital for a year and first dig into why she had ended up in such a situation. She knew it would be closely connected to Sir Werner. She knew he was a dangerous man, but in order to avoid death, she would ultimately have to uncover his identity as well.

To avoid the marriage her father was forcing on her, she intended to put forward a fake fiancé as well. Also so that she would not become entangled with Sir Werner again. A messy scandal would surely follow, but perhaps that would be the better choice.

I do not need marriage. And I have to erase those fluttering feelings of love as well. In order to survive. In order to overcome the tragic fate of her family. She had to make the greatest possible use of the future she knew.

“Lari, even I get chills hearing that you are to marry that old Marquis. I will definitely stop it, so don’t worry, and if it really comes to it, then let’s run away.”

Larienne, who had been packing her things, grew urgent once more at her mother’s words as she came into her room.

Larienne still shook her head. Because more than anyone, she knew that she had to avoid her father before tomorrow came.

‘Mother, tomorrow night, though not intentionally, you are going to kill Father in an accident. And then you are going to be imprisoned…. If I speak of the future, will you believe me?’

Larienne stopped what she was doing and cautiously walked over to the Countess. She let out a long sigh, and just as she was about to speak,

“Madam, the Earl has returned. I think you should go out.”

A servant came up to the second-floor bedroom where Larienne was and delivered the message.

Larienne’s eyes widened. He was supposed to come tomorrow, so what had happened? Maybe the future was changing little by little. Her father returning already was something she had not expected. Larienne bit her lip hard.

Then she had to make sure that her mother and father did not create any kind of conflict as much as possible. And the only way was to secretly run away while her father was out. After leaving behind a letter. With contents that would make her father give up on the marriage.

“Mother, just a moment. Before you see Father, no matter what he says, just say you understand. I will take care of what comes after that. All right?”

Though she urged her mother again and again, Larienne’s eyes were darkened. Seeing her daughter’s expression, now so serious unlike before, the Countess could not hide her puzzlement.

***

“Madame, things with Marquis Harnes have gone better than expected. I’ve secured plenty of the business funds I needed. I’ll be able to recover now. Isn’t that right? Our daughter Lari.”

Earl Tarin spoke boastfully to his daughter and wife, gathered in the first-floor drawing room. The way he smiled at Lari did not hold affection for his daughter so much as greed-stained eyes. That was why he had even thought of selling off his own daughter.

How many times had she heard such words? Words she had heard dozens of times, and the many businesses that had failed without exception. Even the marriage dowry her mother had brought had fallen into his hands and disappeared.

Following her daughter’s request, the Countess neither argued with her husband’s words nor rebuked him, and merely listened in silence. Anger rose in Larienne, but she struggled to contain it. With neither approval nor objection from his family, only the Earl was excited.

The Earl became even more worked up and even spoke in detail about his business plans. Then, saying he had nearly forgotten, he smoothly brought up Larienne’s marriage.

“So, about that, I would like us to form a strong family bond with Marquis Harnes, who invested business funds in our family…. As it happens, I hear Marquis Harnes has been widowed. What do you think, Lari? You would become a Marchioness. You could even live in the capital.”

At the sinister way he looked at his daughter, Larienne was dumbfounded, but unlike what was in her heart, she only lowered her head obediently.

‘So now he is even selling off his daughter. Things will never go according to Father’s plan! I will stop it somehow.’

Larienne suffered as she could not suppress the anger rising toward her father, unlike her meek outward appearance. How much longer do I have to listen to this kind of talk? She could only repeat to herself countless times that she just had to endure today well. It was the Countess who cut off her father’s endlessly continuing words.

“It is already late at night, so how about discussing the rest tomorrow? Surely it will all work out.”

The Earl, who had been pouring out one word after another, paused briefly at her mother’s words and caught his breath. Then he looked at his wife. Somehow, a pleased smile spread over him. With a confidence she could not understand, as though he believed she had finally acknowledged him.

Larienne rose, hiding the fury filling her inside and feigning calm. As she did, she casually asked about the Earl’s schedule.

“Father, then what is your schedule like tomorrow? You seem as though you will be busy because of business.”

“Ah. As it happens, I plan to meet another investor tomorrow. I’ll be going around the capital and nearby villages, so you just focus on preparing for bridal lessons. I’ll arrange a place with the Marquis soon enough.”

“Then let us go in as well now. It is late at night, so Lari must be tired too.”

The Countess gently spoke up to her husband, trying to leave at about this point. After taking one look at her daughter’s face, the Countess gestured for her to hurry upstairs.

The Earl and Countess left the drawing room, and only Larienne remained alone. Ha, a long sigh came out on its own.

Knowing the future was a precious opportunity, but it felt as though she herself was disappearing. The timing, shifting little by little from what it had been then, somehow bothered her. Was fate something that could not be changed after all? She could not understand why she had returned to one year before. It was mysterious and eerie.

Could it be Sir Werner? The memory of his tearful eyes as he said he would save her made it hurt even more. Could she avoid him, the one who had been her first love…? Just thinking about it made her chest ache sharply. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

Still, I absolutely must avoid becoming entangled with him. My life depends on it, and it is the only way for me to survive. Larienne rose for a moment, but staggered from dizziness. She only prayed that nothing would happen tonight. She could only look toward the bedroom where her father and mother had gone in with worried eyes.

For now, her plan was to pack her things tomorrow right away, hide near the capital for a few days, and then go to the Maen Merchant Guild to find work.

For several days of money while in hiding, she would use her marriage dowry. Her mother had barely managed to protect that so her father could not touch it. Compared to that of other noble young ladies, it was still a very small sum, but… now she had no intention of marrying, and she intended to earn money at the merchant guild, so it was money she did not need for that purpose.

‘The reason I came back. It is to change my fate.’