Chapter 15
‘Now that I think about it again… under the name of friendship, Lana has been living in a world that’s way too narrow for a duke’s daughter.’
Of course, the country in this world I was living in—the Janette Empire—didn’t guarantee individual rights the way modern society did.
But even among ducal families, no matter how weak their political influence was, Lana was still undeniably a duke’s daughter.
Which meant that if she wanted to, she could enjoy enormous power.
‘If I wanted, I could even abuse that power.’
Of course, I wouldn’t.
There was no way someone as naturally timid as me could pull off the role of some tyrannical villainess.
Honestly, I had already been feeling guilty because it seemed like I’d been making Harriet work way too hard for me.
If Harriet focused on his own life, and I expanded my relationships and secured the position of family head more safely than in the original story—
Then there was only one answer.
‘Focus on my own life!’
Come to think of it, with money backing me up now, weren’t there endless things I could do?
Back when I had ordinary finances, the most exciting thing I could do was decorate a diary with stickers from discount stores.
But now?
I could decorate an entire mansion.
No more assembling the cheapest furniture all night.
No more losing sleep because of awful blackout curtains.
Not decorating a tiny studio apartment—
Decorating a whole mansion however I wanted.
Suddenly, the original story that had been stressing me out didn’t matter at all.
‘First, buy a town house in the capital as soon as possible! Since I’m motivated, let’s sell all the exploration stones today.’
I pulled the bell rope and called Susan, who had been waiting outside.
When she came quickly, I told her to sell all the exploration stones and find a buyer.
She immediately pulled documents out of her apron.
“Hm? What’s this?”
“Actually… a gentleman named Deligan just sent documents saying he wants to purchase all of the exploration stones.”
“To the mansion? How? I signed under a fake name and listed Verian Bakery as the address.”
“Ah! Just like you instructed, it was delivered to Verian Bakery. Thomas received it and brought it to me, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Thomas was a young worker employed at the estate.
That meant it was probably safe.
“I was waiting for you to call so I could show this as soon as you decided to sell.”
“Oh wow, you should’ve told me sooner!”
Fast, efficient maids naturally become close friends.
Without thinking, I slung an arm over Susan’s shoulders like I used to with my friends—
Then immediately lowered it.
‘That’s… probably not appropriate.’
Susan smiled awkwardly and handed me the papers.
I quickly picked up a feather pen and read through the contract.
‘This isn’t bad though? The price is exactly what I wanted. But who is this Deligan? Is he inside the Empire? Is there a noble with that surname?’
Lana’s memories had no such name.
Was there really a bourgeois wealthy enough for this?
‘Hmm. Maybe I just don’t know. Could be using a false name like the Leyton Trading Company.’
Anyway—
Once I sold them, it was over.
Humming to myself, I dipped the pen into ink.
And without hesitation, I signed:
Homer.
‘Buy them as soon as possible and pay me quickly.’
No matter how spacious and comfortable the grand ducal estate was—
Lana’s family wasn’t truly my family.
Every meal felt uncomfortable.
Every moment required perfect etiquette.
My whole body constantly felt tense.
Independence.
Self-reliance.
Freedom.
Muttering those beautiful words, I slipped the completed contract into the envelope.
‘I’m so happy I could dance. Let’s live peacefully now!’
Without knowing what lay ahead.
Without knowing anything about the person named Deligan who bought all my exploration stones.
I handed the documents to Susan with complete confidence.
Looking back…
I should have checked the buyer.
I should have been more careful.
* * *
1 a.m.
Raymoon Estate should have been silent except for the footsteps of servants on patrol.
Yet warm light still spilled from the third-floor office used by the young duke.
Harriet pulled out the documents delivered by his butler and smiled leisurely.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.
But at the same time—
He wanted to know why this had happened.
And that made it interesting.
‘Why was Lana so obsessed with these stones? And how did she know the price would skyrocket like this?’
He rubbed his chin and leaned back.
He knew better than anyone how clever Lana was—
And also how little confidence she had in herself.
But…
To think she even had the ability to foresee the future.
‘That must be why Belthanio is quietly waiting to send a marriage proposal to House Demierd.’
Harriet had watched Belthanio suffer after losing his fiancée from another country.
Once—
They had been close friends.
Only Harriet truly understood Belthanio’s real feelings.
‘So why isn’t he acting the way I expected?’
If a certain incident had never happened—
Harriet might still have remained Belthanio’s friend.
But now he realized—
Trying to understand or judge Belthanio had become meaningless.
‘Back then, things were different.’
He used to think Kelient, the First Prince, might leave the imperial family and wander before inheriting the throne.
He had even admired Belthanio’s devotion.
But—
How could he talk about marriage proposals while knowing how much Harriet cherished Lana?
‘…Was Belthanio trying to keep me in check?’
Harriet remembered Belthanio walking toward Lana while she enjoyed a picnic in the Raymoon gardens.
“I want to protect Lana’s dream…”
Harriet pressed against his throbbing temple and took a deep breath.
It was obvious.
After barely recovering from the pain of love—
Belthanio had undoubtedly fallen in love with Lana.
From some point onward, Harriet became too busy to visit House Demierd often.
At the same time, rumors spread that Ever would inherit the family.
Harriet believed Belthanio had orchestrated all of it.
Even so—
Harriet still felt reassured.
Because Lana would never—
No matter what happened—
Marry before inheriting the position of family head.
And lately, she had even been trying to raise her own status.
At the debutante, she hadn’t worn flashy dresses or fashionable hairpieces.
Yet somehow—
She never looked plain.
Wearing silk from Bartze that ordinary nobles could hardly obtain, with a diamond hair ornament—
Lana had been beautiful.
The moment he looked into those light green eyes beneath her pale lavender-gray hair—
An irrational irritation rose inside him.
I wish you’d just stay and spend time with me.
He remembered something Lana once said—
That feelings and expressions like that were childish.
At the same time, his heart started beating faster.
The moment she stood on stage and drew everyone’s eyes—
He even felt anger rising.
He wanted to break the relationship they had maintained.
Even if it meant throwing away all the sincerity he’d shown.
Even if it disappointed Lana.
But in the end—
All he could do was express childish jealousy and bring Lana outside the ballroom for a moment.
“I can guarantee it. Even if I somehow get engaged to His Highness, it won’t last long. He deserves to live with someone he truly loves.”
“You think his feelings won’t turn toward you?”
“What are you talking about? Of course not.”
Lana knew nothing.
And that frightened Harriet.
She didn’t realize her own worth.
She didn’t realize how others saw her.
That innocent ignorance sometimes made him want to throw away the mask he wore.
‘…I can’t even warn her. Ridiculous.’
Choosing gentle words around her.
Carefully preserving the familiar Harriet she remembered from childhood—
Suddenly, it all felt unbearably tedious.
……
Then Lana’s slender shoulders came to mind.
If he held those shoulders.
If he brushed over her deeply curved collarbone—
What expression would she make?
He couldn’t imagine it.
And that—
was unbearably difficult for Harriet.
