For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20
Pushing aside her uneasy feelings, Vanessa followed where Ian led.
Her assumption seemed to have been correct.
Unlike the nobleman who’d received a refund, when Ian presented his ticket, they entered without any trouble at all.
Now that she thought about it, didn’t his claim make sense? He disliked crowds, noise, and physical contact—yet he said a concert was fine?
Could he possibly have secured a private box reserved exclusively for nobility?
It was furnished like a small drawing room, so that would certainly be acceptable.
Same-day booking, too. He had luck on his side.
‘But…… doesn’t it seem strange? The hall is practically empty.’
Even if that other venue’s concert had been refunded, there shouldn’t be so few people here.
Thinking this as she followed Ian into the Lapis Hall within Nirvana Hall, she froze.
“This way, one can enjoy the performance in complete peace,” Ian remarked.
Against the backdrop of empty seats, Vanessa could only gape at the musicians flooding the entire stage.
……The nobleman who’d rented out Nirvana Hall for a date was standing right in front of her?
‘He’s insane…….’
***
“……I enjoyed today, Ian.”
After sitting through a concert that lasted over two hours, she was completely drained.
Staying seated for so long wasn’t something a person was meant to do.
Still, it had been quite extraordinary.
The performance that had filled the vast hall would likely stay with her for life.
And she’d learned something else: if you’re going to spend money, you might as well spend it properly.
‘This is the level needed to become the object of envy.’
In her past life, Ian Ruscliffe had been a generous spender.
Precisely speaking—to select individuals.
Higher wages and benefits than other houses, and additional stipends added each year.
Whenever the Leonard Marquis House servants gathered and murmured their envious remarks about him, it was absurdly amusing how she’d envied them in return.
It was truly childish and petty, but it had worked on her.
Because of it, she’d felt poverty—something she’d never experienced before—cut to the bone.
Everyone would laugh if a Duke’s daughter claimed to understand what poverty was.
But at least during her time at the Leonard Marquis House, her spirit had starved even as her body was fed.
No matter how much she ate, hunger gnawed at her; even in fine dresses worn to maintain dignity, she felt like she wore rags.
Looking back on it now, it must have been depression…… but!
Not anymore.
All the treatment she’d endured in her past life will become vengeance in this one, burning fierce and bright.
In that regard, Ian’s surprise gift today had been deeply satisfying.
She’d worried he might be stingy with money.
But if he’d spend enough on a single date to lift a mansion pillar, she had no complaints about his finances.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I worried you might dislike it.”
“I can’t speak for anyone else, but I do enjoy surprises like this. Though I’d find it burdensome if it happened every day.”
“……I’ll keep that in mind.”
Before long, the carriage came to a stop at the entrance of Scharoze Mansion.
Was it because the date had gone better than expected?
She found herself reluctant to part with Ian.
He might actually make a good partner after all…….
Before stepping down from the carriage, Vanessa turned to look at Ian.
“The day after tomorrow, there’s Ernasila’s wedding ceremony being held in the Southern Region. I’m planning to attend.”
Now that she was about to say it, she felt oddly nervous.
She let out a small, clearing cough.
“I need a partner to accompany me. If you’re willing……”
“The day after tomorrow. Should I come pick you up?”
“Ah…… yes, if you would, I’d be grateful……?”
“Done.”
It was absurdly easy, completely contrary to how nervous she’d been.
Ha. Vanessa let out a small, breathy laugh and descended from the carriage.
“Then…… I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, Ian.”
“Yes.”
Exhaling softly, Vanessa watched the carriage disappear into a speck before turning toward Scharoze Mansion.
Now she understood why noble young ladies sweat so much when asking someone to be their escort.
It really did take a great deal of courage.
She’d only spoken the words aloud, yet her heart thundered in her chest.
She’d worried about how to convince him if he refused, but this was fortunate.
To visit that place naturally, appearing as lovers rather than going alone would help them avoid suspicion.
‘There was a pleasant garden near the wedding venue, if I recall.’
She could stroll through it naturally and use the excuse of wanting to see the Southern Capital as a reason for the visit.
‘By now, she’s probably wrestling with doubts.’
Piede, Baroness of the Piede Barony.
She was the biological mother of Ernasila, the Young Lady marrying the second son of the Gideon Count House, the true owner of Marigula Mine, and the woman who had played a decisive role in its closure.
When the newspaper ran an article about her body being discovered suddenly in Marigula Mine, the Leonard Marchioness had certainly spent a long time staring at the page, her hand covering her mouth.
Looking back now, she probably hadn’t been hiding a frown at all.
Originally, when Ernasila married, the ownership of Marigula Mine was supposed to transfer hands.
That would have meant the Young Lady’s husband—the second son of the Gideon Count House—would gain control of the mine.
The Leonard Marchioness had gnashed her teeth over that prospect.
The reason for her hatred was a past confrontation between Calais Leonard and the eldest son of the Gideon Count House.
It hadn’t happened in this lifetime, but when she dredged up memories from her previous life, it was something that would occur soon enough.
At the wedding of Ernasila and the second son of the Gideon Count House.
By rank alone, the Gideon Count House should have given ground, but the problem was that the Cheliargo Duchy stood behind them.
Because of that, the Gideon Count House was in the wrong, but it was Calais who apologized.
For the Leonard Marquis House, that would have been a grievous blow to pride.
As if by cruel coincidence, months after that incident, trouble erupted at Marigula Mine.
At the time, the veins discovered in Marigula Mine were only low-grade ore, and with a body found there, no one considered purchasing it again—the mine was considered ill-fated.
No one knew that a Red Diamond lay buried deep within the narrowest passage, barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through.
It was less luck than a windfall of extraordinary proportion.
Owning a mine requires substantial capital and labor. That’s why the Leonard Marquis House hadn’t taken much interest in it until after Calais clashed with the eldest son of the Gideon Count House.
If that mine hadn’t been connected to the Gideon Count House, they probably wouldn’t have purchased it.
So in this lifetime, I had decided to help Ernasila a little, so that the Leonard Marchioness wouldn’t take interest in that mine.
It would be even better if the eldest son of the Gideon Count House and Calais didn’t clash, but that’s a matter of luck, so I’ll set that aside.
‘If there’s a problem, the only situation where the Leonard Marchioness and Baroness Piede would meet is at Ernasila’s wedding.’
Did Baroness Piede reveal herself as the true owner of Marigula Mine because she was simple-minded?
The mine her husband had entrusted to her while deceiving the Empire itself?
What reason would the Leonard Marchioness have to doubt that?
‘Come to think of it…… in my previous life, the Leonard Marchioness would leave early in the morning once a month and not return until nearly midnight.’
She remembered it because during those times, she’d been able to move freely without her mother-in-law’s watchful eyes.
‘There’s something there.’
Some connection that tied together people who seemed to have no point of contact.
***
“Perfect. This makes things much easier.”
Vanessa read the letter that had arrived early this morning with satisfaction, then picked up her coat.
Normally, if you meet before the wedding and chat about this and that, you become friends, and if you’re lucky, you become close friends.
And then—perfectly timed—you hand over the prepared envelope while letting the conversation drift…
‘Ernasila will tell Baroness Piede about it.’
Seeing that a reply had already come to the letter she’d sent yesterday was a relief; it seemed Ernasila wasn’t burdened by the prospect of meeting her.
There was still some time before the appointed hour, so perhaps she’d go early and look around the area a bit.
‘Saint Bertold Orphanage should be somewhere nearby too, shouldn’t it?’
If she was to bring Maleo as planned, advance reconnaissance was essential, so a light reconnaissance visit would be worthwhile.
The moment Vanessa thought that far ahead, someone knocked at the door. When she called for them to enter, Dia poked her head in.
“Miss, there’s a visitor, but we haven’t received any prior notice. Should I show her to the drawing room first?”
“A visitor?”
Vanessa glanced at the clock on the wall and tilted her head in confusion.
She hadn’t made any special appointments for today. Could it be Ernasila?
“Show her to the drawing room and bring Milk Tea for two.”
She’d framed the idea of becoming close with someone holding a wedding around the same time as rather casual, but she hadn’t expected her to be this bold.
Besides, since she’d written a bit about the mine at the end of the letter, there was no way the bait wouldn’t be taken.
Vanessa arrived at the drawing room in good spirits, and the moment her eyes met the woman’s, her eyes went wide.
“Princess Scharoze, I apologize for this sudden visit. Could you spare me a moment?”
“…Lady Margarita?”
The woman who had visited the mansion was one who served beside the woman whom noble ladies called “the Matron.”
“Of course, by all means.”
Vanessa answered her question belatedly and cautiously settled herself in the opposite seat.
Just then, the Milk Tea that Dia had brought was set down between them.
Margarita gazed at the tea with its deep, murky brown color, curious and uncertain.
“The color is quite unusual, isn’t it?”
“It’s Milk Tea—I’ve added milk instead of honey. It’s my favorite brew.”
At Vanessa’s explanation, she sipped the tea without a word.
“It tastes wonderful. You have a deft hand with tea, it seems.”
Along with the small exclamation came her praise, and Vanessa offered a faint smile in return.
“I’m glad it suits your palate.”
Margarita’s gaze settled on Vanessa.
“Your Highness. The reason I’ve come so suddenly is that I hoped to introduce you to someone—if you’re amenable, that is.”
“……A person?”
So abruptly?
At this entirely unexpected proposal, Vanessa blinked, her eyes wide with bewilderment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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