If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 32

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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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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 32
“My body feels heavy, but it’s only been three months. What’s there to complain about?”
“Still, you’re carrying our precious little marquis. If something troubles you, shouldn’t you call your father first?” Kaileb asked, awkwardly laughing as he positioned himself to block Odette’s view of the basement.
Odette smiled stiffly while Kaileb spoke.
“Anyway, what brings you here, my princess? Is there something you need?”
“Well, I was in the Capital City anyway, so I thought I’d stop by to see Father’s face for a moment. And while I’m at it, say hello to Norbert too.”
Kaileb, who had been about to close the door, froze at her added words.
“Say hello to Norbert? What for?”
“Huh? Norbert found my dress and pendant for me. I was thinking of thanking him, but I don’t see him around. Doesn’t he usually go everywhere with Father?”
“M-Madam! I’m right here!”
Norbert, who had been in the process of being “disposed of,” quickly interjected.
Kaileb cursed inwardly.
‘Damn it.’
Norbert had undoubtedly grasped the meaning of her words—that his only path to survival lay in impressing Odette.
Norbert rushed over, hastily composing his tear-streaked face into a servile smile as he bowed his head.
“My? Norbert, what’s wrong with your face?”
“Ah, well, I was testing some new self-defense products! I accidentally got some in my eyes, you see. Hehe. …Oh dear, I’m so sorry for showing you such an unsightly appearance.”
“Oh, no. These things happen when you’re working. Anyway, thank you for the trouble of securing the pendant and dress at auction.”
“Goodness, trouble? That’s too kind, Madam. It was my pleasure, truly. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask this Norbert!”
“Is that so? That’s fine with you, Father?”
That cunning fool had even dared to mention the ‘little one’ in her belly.
Now that things had unfolded this way, Kaileb found it difficult to dispose of Norbert immediately.
“…Of course, my daughter.”
Forcing an artificial smile, Kaileb reflected.
Yes, it was all for Crimson. Thinking of it that way, it wouldn’t be bad to make better use of Norbert, who had just been reminded of his place today.
“Then since Father is busy working, I’ll borrow Norbert for a moment. I just remembered something I wanted to ask him.”
“Do that, my princess.”
Norbert, having barely escaped with his life, escorted Odette away in an almost genuflecting posture.
Kaileb exhaled irritably, watching Odette’s elegant retreating figure and the employees bowing deeply to the Countess.
His expression gradually softened.
‘That’s right. A marquis or earl won’t suffice.’
One with “blue blood” worthy of universal respect should rightfully be a count or higher.
However, the laws of the Medior Empire were strict, limiting the number of titles themselves, so new count families were virtually never created unless a lineage ended and a vacancy opened.
It was rare—something money couldn’t buy—but Kaileb had found another workaround that money could solve.
Bloodline laundering.
Kaileb had ultimately succeeded in making his daughter a countess by paying off the entire debt of a count family in financial crisis.
‘Of course, I can’t be satisfied with merely the title of a countess’s father.’
Everyone has weaknesses that crumble when touched.
Just as Norbert had his rebate ledger, or his son-in-law the count had his massive debts.
The same would apply to Aden.
Blue blood demands wealth and honor befitting its station.
Yet that fool dared to position himself as Crimson’s rival, dividing his profits and attempting to steal the Empire’s greatest merchant guild’s prestige.
Kaileb Crimson could never tolerate such audacity. He would uncover his weakness and destroy him utterly.
‘I haven’t found it yet.’
As Kaileb Crimson headed toward his office, he flipped through the documents and reports on his desk before stopping at one page.
After reading the report for a long while, the corners of Kaileb Crimson’s mouth twisted upward.
‘If there truly are no flaws, then I’ll simply create one myself.’
A knock sounded at the door.
“Chairman, the Countess has decided to return home, and I’ve just finished seeing her off, but….”
“Go to the Southwestern Region immediately.”
The report was thrown before Norbert, who had entered trembling like an aspen leaf.
As Norbert picked up and read the report, he was momentarily confused.
“The Noel Earldom is requesting assistance from you, Chairman? But Noel….”
“Who said anything about helping Noel? That report is merely a pretext and justification for you.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Listen carefully, Norbert.”
Kaileb Crimson’s cunning eyes gleamed with light.
“From this moment on, you will become the bomb that destroys La Mar.”
***
The next day.
Morning broke on the day of the first negotiation.
‘I need to meet the homeowner. Even if they’re a member of the Noel family, there must be personal reasons behind their resistance, not just money.’
If I could uncover that, the negotiation might proceed more smoothly.
But to do so, I had to overcome one major obstacle—Aden himself.
As his secretary, I needed to convince him to let me meet the homeowner directly instead of attending the negotiation with Noel.
‘Last night I kept watching for a chance to talk to him, but he went into an all-night meeting alone with Laklan, so I couldn’t get a word in.’
So I spent the entire night devising various scenarios….
“Branch Director, where did the CEO go?”
“He left for the Noel Earldom at dawn with a legal expert.”
I was faced with news that left me uncertain whether to rejoice or despair—my seat at the first negotiation table had never existed in the first place.
“If there are tasks that require Iliana Grecia’s participation, I’ll inform you at that time.”
He truly keeps his word thoroughly. Besides, he had never asked me to follow him in the first place.
In any case, left behind like this, I could now meet the homeowner with Laklan without telling Aden.
“The homeowner’s name is Julius Noel. Though he bears the Noel name, his position is far too insignificant to call him a true family member.”
“I see. Being a distant branch and a son-in-law at that, he must have had almost no say after his wife’s death.”
“From the Noel Earldom’s perspective, he’s someone they could do without. And from our perspective, as well.”
Laklan had a talent for saying terrifying things in a remarkably monotone manner.
“Then did Julius promise himself money in exchange for his resistance?”
“That’s highly likely.”
“…But what troubles me is that the actual period of residence is extraordinarily long. Over thirty years, no less. Don’t you think there might be some reason he cannot leave that house?”
“The likelihood is low.”
“May I ask the reason for your thinking?”
“You’ll understand once you speak directly with Julius Noel.”
“I see. Understood.”
But I possessed a talent for rarely losing my composure, so the conversation proceeded smoothly enough.
I also obtained information about the Noel Earldom.
“So the succession hasn’t been proceeding smoothly because Noel Marquis died suddenly.”
“That’s right. The Marquis’s illegitimate son is claiming succession rights, but the Marquis’s wife is adamantly opposed—says she won’t have it. That’s why our negotiations are stalled too. There’s no one in charge.”
One thing became certain.
“Whatever it is about some earldom inheritance or succession issues, you don’t need to know the details. Understood?”
The Marquis family that had attempted to kidnap me under the guise of marriage was indeed Noel.
“Is the illegitimate son unmarried?”
“Well, unmarried if you want to call it that… though I’m not sure that’s the right way to describe it.”
Puzzled, I grimaced at what followed.
“The bastard son is a notorious libertine who finalized his fourth divorce just a few months ago. So technically, the position of wife is vacant.”
‘But ‘someone’ sent people to sell me off to such a man.’
Fury surged within me, but I wanted to hear the rest of the information from Laklan.
However, the carriage came to a stop in front of the problematic house at that very moment.
“How many times must I say it? I promised to keep my word, didn’t I? Julius Noel just needs to endure as we say… ah.”
My expression turned cold as I saw the person emerging from the gate.
The ‘someone’ with a familiar voice, who stood frozen holding documents bearing the Noel seal while looking at me.
“Aren’t you Iliana?”
It was my Uncle Randolph.
Randolph appeared momentarily flustered.
But soon he approached me with shameless laughter.
“How long has it been? Never thought we’d meet in a place like this. What brings you here… ah.”
Randolph, who had drawn out his words with exaggeration while alternating his gaze between Laklan and me, nodded as if he understood everything.
“So you’re running errands for the higher-ups at some merchant guild called La Mar, is that it? Right, if you want to make money, you have to do ‘that kind’ of work. But if you came down to the Southern Region, you should have paid your respects to this uncle first.”
He raked his eyes over me from head to toe with a hearty laugh.
The emphasized words and the contemptuous slide of his gaze were insults as unpleasant as they came, yet
“I might have been able to arrange something more lucrative for you… ”
“Ah, yes. My apologies for the late greeting.”
I cut him off without changing my expression and offered my business card.
“I am Iliana Grecia, Secretary to the Guild Master of La Mar. I have come here representing the Guild Master.”
“…What?”

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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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