9

“You have to touch what you like.”

Yenid belatedly realizes the meaning of the words.

It was a method that Harnette often used even before her engagement.

However, if he recklessly put forward a condition, Hannette could have done something unexpected.

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave it alone for now? You can barely hold on.”

“We have to approach it a little differently this time. That’s why I said I’d give you a choice.”

“Speaking of options…”

“It allows you to choose between profit and loss.”

Yenid seemed to think for a moment, but then he fully understood.

If only damage was left as an option, Hannett would have unconditional rebellion.

However, if profit is added as an option, wouldn’t it be natural to avoid losing money?

“That’s a good way. There will be a backlash, but I will try to benefit from it.”

“It is enough just to make an effort to see a profit.”

“Because I need help from Zion.”

“It doesn’t matter if I tell you the circumstances and ask for your cooperation. In the end, won’t we be together?”

“It’s going according to the will of the head of the household in some way.”

“Can’t we see it as more of a coma on our side? If you are a duke, you should do that.”

Robbins was determined to somehow consummate the marriage of Harnette.

If he misses this opportunity, he may not be able to enter into an arranged marriage with the Marquis family forever.

Although there is a compromise of being a count, I did not want to choose the difficult path.

“Things are going well now. According to you, Shion will pass over Hanette no matter what she does.”

“Still, I am a little worried. Drinking or gambling makes you show a lot of vulgarity.”

“No. It could be the other way around.”

“You mean that Shion might like it?”

“Not all personalities are the same. Just because you’re a noble doesn’t mean you only like educated young ladies.”

“…Are you talking about a commoner woman?”

“There are nobles who like innocent and easy-going women. Aren’t you tired of seeing what you always see?”

“ah…”

Of course, I couldn’t say that Hannett met that condition.

However, she didn’t act like an ordinary noble lady, and always acted as she felt.

That is why, while looking similar to a commoner woman, she stood out as a different aristocrat.

“That’s lucky for me. Did you know that the son of the marquess, whom you carefully selected, would have a crush on my daughter?”

“Then would it be better to leave Harnette alone?”

“Even if you leave it alone, you have to intervene little by little. Wouldn’t that make it possible to have a wedding sooner?”

At the request of the Marquis of Reggiard, the engagement period had been extended to six months.

In other words, the wedding could not be held for six months unless a special change took place before then.

During that time, Shion Regard’s mind could have changed, or reasons for breaking up the marriage could have arisen.

“I need to be more comfortable with Zion.”

“You have to look. If you need anything, give it quickly. To make her see only Harnett, she needs to stop thinking about anything else.”

Robbins is relieved internally, but he can’t shake his worries.

When things go easier than expected, there are bound to be difficulties.

At times like this, I had to look more closely at the situation around me.

‘If you solve only Hanet, you can get over the hurdle.’

For Robbins, Harnette was a scarred finger.

Even if the fingers remain intact, if one of them is injured, the problem arises from the hand itself.

Her children were precious fingers, and Hannett was the only one missing.

That’s why he was trying to fully restore his hand while paying more attention to Hannette.

‘How can I get rid of my sore finger? I still have to carry it.’

Of course, he was greedy for Hannett.

Because Hanette was a member of the family before she was her own child.

However, he also had a wish to live happily, so he made her betrothed to the son of a marquis.

‘I need to find out more about Zion. Something will come out.’

* * *

Residence of the Duke of Adelaira, 2nd floor hallway.

Harnette was walking down the hallway with a grim expression on her face.

I had just returned from my office, and I received semi-forced instructions from Robbins.

If you keep the conditions, you will benefit, but if you don’t, your pocket money will be reduced.

‘Ha… He’s constantly trying to tie me up.’

It was quite unfair from his point of view, but he could not ignore the order.

All the money he received came from Robbins, and the money was not small.

At least, if I had said that I would reduce my allowance unconditionally like before, I would have rebelled, but I had no choice but to back down a little because I had a choice.

‘You want to go with him? Why complicate things?’

Robbins’ condition was extremely simple.

Whenever you go to a bar or gambling house, take Zion Regard with you.

If we were together, we would add half of the current allowance, but if we could not be together, we would reduce half.

In other words, half of the pocket money was exchanged depending on whether or not there was a Zion Regard.

‘What’s good about drinking and gambling…’

Hannette sighs and goes up the stairs.

He only used alcohol and gambling to save money.

Shouldn’t Shion Reggieard come as a hindrance to stealing the pocket money?

‘Still, they’re giving me half more, so I’m tempted.’

Harnett was now aiming to raise as much money as possible.

If you can only get cooperation from Shion Regard, half of your pocket money will follow.

I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

‘How should I convince you…’

Hannett stopped in front of Shion’s room, pondering over and over again.

There was already an agreement to cooperate with Shion Regard.

Wouldn’t he follow his words if he gave him money for his trouble?

‘It should be divided equally in half.’

Harnette cleared her throat and knocked on the door.

When I opened the door, Shion, who was sitting in front of the desk, immediately caught my eye.

“Would you like to talk to me for a minute?”

“My time is a bit expensive. Did you bring the price?”

“hahahaha… what do you want from me?”

“I don’t want anything. I was just kidding.”

“…you’re really unlucky.”

“My sister is good at saying what I want to say.”

Hannette entered the room with a frown.

Shion showed a faint smile and moved to the round table.

“So what are you going to say?”

“Listen to my request. I just need to stay with you wherever you go.”

“Where are you going… do you mean a bar or a gambling house?”

“right. If you do that, they will give you half of your allowance.”

“Um… what can I get if I do as you say?”

“I’ll give you half of the extra money you get. Is that enough?”

Based on the contents of the conversation, Shion quickly grasped the situation given to Hanette.

From Harnette’s point of view, she wouldn’t want to go to a bar and gambling house with someone.

Of course, he would benefit from going with him, but it wasn’t a good choice because he was stealing money secretly.

Obviously, there are benefits and losses at the same time, so he must have been willing to take risks.

“… If you don’t go with me, your pocket money will be gone?”

“You are quick to notice. So are you going to go or not?”

“I think your calculations are wrong. If you don’t go with me, you will always lose money, right? Then you should give me all the benefits you get from going with me.”

“what? Do you know who is doing this because they like it?”

“I have nothing to lose. Wouldn’t it be better to give everything and keep what you have?”

“you…”

Harnette clenched her fists and glared at Shion.

I was young, but the things I did were so clever.

Regardless of gain or loss, Shion’s answer itself was not to his liking.

“it’s okay! I won’t go out with you for less money. You know who’s an idiot…”

Harnette raised her voice and rose from her seat.

I was stupid for expecting that guy.

It would have been better to throw away half of my pocket money than to crush my pride and get help.

“Um… did you feel offended?”

“Enough! I’m not going to help you anymore.”

“Why would you do this? You have to listen to the end.”

“What are you listening to? You are completely ignoring me. I was hooked up with a guy like you…”

“I can’t even joke. I’ll only take half, so sit down.”

“… do not know. I won’t.”

Contrary to her answer, Hannette did not leave the room.

Shion covers the corners of his mouth, barely holding back the laughter that leaks out.

“Are you just kidding me? What am I going to do with my sister’s pocket money?”

“I don’t know. Do you have a lot of places to write? If I had known that, I would not have asked.”

“Kuk-kuk… Ah, okay. I won’t play pranks like this in the future.”

“… add one more.”

“Add what?”

“Don’t say I’m going crazy. Do you know who listens because they want to hear that sound?”

“You didn’t like to hear that? okay. I won’t, so take a seat.”

Harnette glanced at Shion and then carefully sat down.

Shion slowly withdraws his laughter and resumes the conversation.

“I will do whatever you want. But there are conditions.”

“What?”

“When you go out, you have to go out after the sun rises, and when you return, you have to come back before the sun goes down. Can you do that much?”

“… okay.”

Harnette answered bluntly, but she understood Zion’s position.

Shion must have certain schedules or things to do, but I couldn’t just ask her to come.

Depending on the situation, you may have to adjust yourself to Zion.

“I also sometimes go out, so I can’t always keep up.”

“Don’t force it. All you have to do is stay with me for a little while.”

“ah. I’m telling you in advance, I can’t drink. I can gamble sometimes.”

“I’m not asking you to drink. Whether it’s a gamble or not, it’s up to you.”

“You can’t stay long.”

“You don’t plan on staying long?”

Shion didn’t want to interfere with Harnette’s plan.

Even if it was a person with a low proportion, that thought would not change.

It is easier to foresee the future only when the flow of content is kept constant.

‘I’ll have to pretend to get along.’

It was not yet time to step out.

I couldn’t get the magic sword I wanted, and the main character didn’t even appear.

Now, I had to prepare steadily while cooperating with Hanette.

‘I’m probably not good at drinking…’

* * *

The capital of the Alain Kingdom, a luxurious tavern.

Luxury taverns, unlike common taverns, have their customers covered.

Only aristocrats were invited as guests, and they waited on them, offering wine to match.

Commoners could only enter if they had a lot of money or came with an aristocrat.

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t drink?”

“Yes it was.”

“I’ll order something else, so drink that or something.”

Hannette relaxed and sat down first.

Shion sits down behind him and looks around.

Only aristocrats in fancy clothes came into sight, and occasionally there was a sound of talk or laughter.

“You are also a kid. What if I can’t drink?”

“Do you want to be treated like an adult just because you drank a little?”

“What do I want from you? Just watch it in silence.”

Harnette opened the bottle and immediately poured it into her glass.

Shion watches it with a vague sense of uneasiness.

I wonder if he was drinking too much because he wanted to show off his bluff.

“Drink in moderation. It’s not good to drink until you’re drunk.”

“Are you worried about me now? Looks like I’ve got a good fiancé.”

“You are worried about me, not my sister. I don’t have the confidence to handle a drunkard.”

“I don’t drink that much.”

Harnett smiled and drank from her glass.

Unlike him, Shion tilted his teacup and tried to erase his anxiety.

But what I feared eventually happened.

“Hey… are you easy on me? That’s why you’re making fun of your snout. uh? If you’re going to call me sister, I mean be polite. You unlucky bastard.”