Askin’s brow furrowed at Aria’s words. It made no sense.
'She didn't say anything? She didn't do anything?'
"Aria, you promised never to lie to me again," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I’ll ask one more time. Did she really not do anything to you?"
"Yes..."
"Nothing at all?"
"Yes... she didn't do anything." Aria hesitated for a second, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress.
'But...'
Askin saw her shudder and felt a fresh wave of shock. Aria was clearly confused by what she had seen.
*"Hey! Is anyone there?! Help! Someone collapsed!"*
The moment she had fallen, Aria hadn't lost consciousness immediately. She had heard Charlize’s voice, sharp with urgency, calling for help. It was a sound that didn't fit the Charlize Altsbeit she knew.
"I don't know, Brother. But the Princess... she really didn't say anything bad."
"..."
Askin was silent for a long moment before letting out a tired sigh. "I suppose she just hasn't gotten around to it yet."
Gary, the Duke’s personal physician, stood politely by Aria’s side. He gave Askin a slight nod. Aria was telling the truth—physically, at least.
"The Lady is fine, Duke. She simply fainted from the shock of the encounter."
Gary’s words didn't ease Askin’s mind. He knew his own anxiety was a chronic condition, but he simply stroked Aria’s head instead of arguing.
"I’m just glad you’re not hurt. I’ll end this engagement soon, so just bear with it a little longer."
"...Yes, Brother." Aria nodded, though the confusion remained in her eyes. She wondered if she had truly misunderstood the woman she’d seen today.
* * *
The next day.
Askin woke up unusually late. He’d spent the entire night working, trying to channel his rage into something productive: a way to pay off the Altsbeit debt.
The day before, when that woman had brazenly demanded he pay her back right then and there, he’d been momentarily speechless. But the days of being held hostage by her family’s money were coming to an end.
*"Please, reach out to me whenever you are ready, Your Excellency. I will be waiting."*
Askin recalled the words of the ally who had approached him recently. He stood up and headed for the hallway, only to find it unusually noisy.
The Lemut estate was a Dukedom in name only. They had very few staff because almost every cent they had went toward Aria’s medical treatments. Yet, it felt as if every single servant and maid was crowded into this one corridor.
"What is happening?"
"Ah! Duke!" The head servant gasped, his face a mask of bewilderment and something that looked suspiciously like amusement.
"Is his Lordship awake?" Bond, the head butler, stepped forward to speak for the flustered servant. "I’m sorry to bother you so early, my Lord, but there is something you should see for yourself."
"What is it?"
Bond didn't answer. He simply led Askin to a window, his expression full of worry.
Askin looked out and froze.
'What on earth...'
Right next to the garden in front of the mansion, on the wide road where carriages usually parked, a single carriage was stationed. And right in front of it, sitting comfortably in a plush armchair and sipping a cup of tea, was Charlize Altsbeit.
Askin, a man who prided himself on his composure, felt his jaw drop.
'What am I looking at?'
The carriage was undeniably an Altsbeit—it was covered in enough gold and silk to be visible from space. This wasn't a dream. Askin rubbed his face and let out a low groan.
"What kind of madness is this now?"
"..."
He had always known she was a nightmare, but this was a new level of "viciousness." Usually, Charlize was an arrogant woman who considered herself the height of culture when she was sober. She didn't typically do things that defied common sense quite this blatantly.
'Wait.'
*"If you don't give me the money, I won't break the engagement. I’m not moving a single inch."*
*"...Do whatever you want. It won't go your way, Charlize."*
Had she really taken his words literally? Askin didn't want to believe he was responsible for this. The anger in his eyes flared.
'How much more does she want to humiliate me? Does she think our family is a joke?'
"Duke? My Lord?"
Askin turned and marched back to his office. "Ben! Bring me those papers! Now!"
He sat at his desk and began writing, his handwriting elegant but sharp.
'The debt. She wants to make the debt the issue?'
To break his engagement to Charlize, Askin had to pay back every cent his family had borrowed during their time together. But the Duke of Altsbeit had added a clause: if Askin initiated the breakup, he had to pay back the principal plus a massive amount of "penalty" interest.
*"We can help you, Duke. We would make very good partners."*
Thanks to the family that had offered him a deal, he finally had a way to clear the dark debt that had been hanging over his head. He’d been hesitant to get involved with them, but he couldn't take this anymore.
"Send this letter immediately," he ordered. "As soon as humanly possible!"
Charlize’s behavior—first the encounter with his sister and now this "camping" stunt—showed she was losing whatever shred of sanity she had left.
"And keep a close watch on the woman outside. Make sure she *never* gets near Aria again."
"...Yes, my Lord!"
And so, Charlize Altsbeit began her residence on the front lawn of the Duke of Lemut.
* * *
*The crazy villainess Charlize Altsbeit is sleeping in front of the Duke of Lemut's mansion!*
"...So that’s the rumor, is it?"
"Yes, yes! Princess!" My maid nodded enthusiastically, though she kept a wary eye on me. She seemed worried I’d be offended by the gossip.
I smiled and took a sip of my steaming tea. "Let them talk."
"Pardon?"
"It’s true, isn't it?"
I looked out at the scenery. 'The grass here is actually quite lovely.'
Three days had passed since I started my "homeless" life. Askin had blocked me from the gate, so I’d done exactly what I said I’d do: I’d set up camp in the garden.
The rumors were surprisingly accurate for once. I sat in my armchair, enjoying the view. To be fair, "homelessness" was a bit of an exaggeration. Once the Altsbeit maids realized I was staying, they’d brought a high-end portable carriage and enough supplies to make me perfectly comfortable.
'I can't believe how useful magic is.'
I was having a surprisingly good time. It was my first time "camping," and it was actually kind of fun. I’d seen Askin a few times over the last three days. Every time he passed by, he looked like he was trying to swallow a lemon.
'He looks like a statue sculpted by a god even when he’s angry. It’s hard to stay mad at a face like that.'
Still, while my body was comfortable, my mind was a mess. I had to stop the breakup, but I couldn't think of a clear solution.
*"Break the engagement."*
The look in Askin's eyes when he said those words was pure, 100% sincerity. He really, *really* wanted to be rid of me. And I knew that if he succeeded, I was dead.
'How am I going to handle the money?'
The debt was the only thing keeping the engagement intact. But the Altsbeits were more powerful than almost anyone except the Imperial Family. They were experts at making money and even better at keeping people trapped by it.
'My grandfather isn't going to let Askin go easily. He’ll demand an impossible amount of interest.'
I was just spinning my wheels, sitting in the garden and hoping for a miracle. Every day, Askin's gaze grew colder, and he began to ignore me entirely.
'I need him to trust me, even just a little bit. But I’m just making him angrier.'
I needed a plan. And as it turned out, my chance came much sooner than I expected.