If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 76

—————

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

—————

If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 76
“What do you think this is, a street corner? You dare presume to share the Countess’s carriage?”
“Is that not acceptable?”
“It is not!”
Despite my sharp rebuke, the woman spoke with perfect composure.
“I see. I had hoped to request that you review a contract for me. I heard you would be arriving late today, so I thought I might impose upon you briefly during your journey.”
Wait a moment.
‘A contract?’
Odette blinked.
True enough, Basil knew little of how the world worked. Had he possessed such knowledge from the start, he would never have agreed to a political marriage with the Crimson family.
I could not claim to understand everything about how society functioned, but compared to Basil, I certainly knew more. At least when it came to investments and contracts.
Yet hearing her speak this way….
‘Basil was being difficult!’
He should have accepted outright, yet he had clearly hesitated with that characteristic attitude of his that drove people to exasperation.
So he must have assumed that since I held economic authority and, despite everything, was the daughter of a Merchant Guild leader, we would understand each other.
In any case, I was the Countess Plivier.
“Forgive me for the intrusion. I apologize for my rudeness, madam. I shall take my leave.”
“Wait, just a moment!”
Odette caught the woman as she turned to depart.
Even as I held her, I was uncertain. Was I truly permitted to review this?
After a moment of internal conflict, I made my decision.
‘Yes. Let me think of this as my final duty as the lady of the Plivier household.’
It was better than allowing the contract to fall through.
And perhaps, I thought, it would be fitting to make this woman my final witness.
She could testify that she saw me sitting quietly in a café, taking tea.
“…Get in, then.”
“Thank you.”
We had simply ended up traveling together by circumstance, so I resolved not to engage in idle conversation.
Yet the moment the woman boarded the carriage, she thrust a thick sheaf of documents into my hands.
“If you have any questions as you read, please tell me. I shall explain.”
‘What is this….’
Whether it was when she asked for a ride or now, this woman certainly had a way of getting straight to business.
I had not expected the contract to be this thick.
Daunted by its sheer volume, Odette nonetheless began to examine it.
Having only glimpsed such documents over my father’s shoulder, I possessed no particular legal expertise, so I had no choice but to ask about the various terms. Forced into conversation, we naturally fell into an exchange of words.
“…What does Basil say about this contract?”
“Would you prefer a long explanation or a short one?”
“The long version.”
“He said, ‘I am grateful that you take such interest in Plebiae County.'”
“That’s what you call ‘long’? What were you planning to say if I’d asked you to keep it short?”
“‘Thank you,’ ma’am.”
Of all the ridiculous things….
I was utterly exasperated.
“Julius Noel—your superior, that is—how did he come to take an interest in Plebiae County in the Central Region? Isn’t he from the Southern Region?”
“He has an eye for land. The Kona Marble Mine was in the Western Region, after all.”
“…Ah, that’s true.”
“The mountain running through the middle of the territory undervalues it, but if we tunnel through, it could serve as a logistics hub. Of course, the construction costs won’t be trivial.”
“That’s fair. So you’re planning to cover the investment costs with tunnel tolls and such?”
“No, ma’am. It’s far more efficient to monopolize the tunnel, secure a distribution network, and use the profits from that. Collecting tolls bit by bit is inefficient—the more traffic passes through, the faster the road deteriorates. Any toll revenue would just go toward maintenance costs.”
“…Then what about the territory’s residents? Even with a tunnel, they’d still have to use the inconvenient routes?”
“Ah, I was speaking in terms of cargo-laden wagons. Regular foot traffic and passenger carriages would be fine. It’s only cargo wagons we’d monopolize.”
The woman let out a soft laugh.
“The residents would be delighted if they knew. If they realized the Countess was looking out for them.”
“Well, I….”
The woman’s teal eyes across from me were large and clear.
‘I’d promised myself I wouldn’t speak carelessly.’
Looking into her eyes, I felt my heart open unexpectedly. It was a strange sensation.
Odette, who had been hesitating, asked.
“…So you’re from the Southern Region too, like your superior?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m from the Port City.”
Though I’d eagerly made plans, I’d never actually traveled by train or ship alone.
“You must have ridden ships quite a bit, then?”
“Well… yes. My father was a sailor.”
“Was a sailor? You mean he isn’t anymore? What does he do now?”
The woman’s brow furrowed slightly.
Odette hesitated. Had he passed away?
“I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just difficult to explain. Do you happen to know about ‘Fang’?”
“Ah… yes, I do.”
“He borrowed money from them and is currently working off the debt. I’m not sure if that counts as work, but… well, because of that, I’m paying off his debt instead.”
Odette was at a loss for words.
She knew what Fang was. She knew well what kind of person Vargas, the head of Fang, was. He frequented Crimson often enough.
If her father had borrowed from such a loan shark to the point of indentured servitude, the woman’s life couldn’t have been easy either.
Naturally, her own circumstances overlapped with the woman’s shadow. Odette asked quietly.
“Then… you haven’t seen him in a while?”
“About three years.”
“…Do you miss him?”
The woman, who had been gazing at Odette intently, spoke.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“You don’t know?”
“Whether I hate him or love him despite everything. My heart changes several times a day. Isn’t that strange?”
Whether I hate him or love him.
Rather than an answer, a question without a subject came back to me. At a loss, I turned the woman’s words over in my mind from my own perspective.
Soon, I opened my mouth.
“If you’re confused… if you’re truly uncertain, then you’re probably in love. As much as you love, that’s how much you hate.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
I realized it like a sigh.
“…You can only hate something if you have expectations of it…”
There was a time when Kaileb’s words had weighed on my heart.
The way Kaileb always called me “my princess” with that smile had held me back. How many times had I begun writing divorce papers when he said “it’s all for you,” only to fold them away again.
But the confusion was about Kaileb’s intentions, not my own heart.
Today, I never once hesitated because of Kaileb. I was only unsettled and afraid of what he might do under the guise of doing it all for me.
The person who made me think and reflect, the person I overlaid onto the woman’s words—it wasn’t Father. It was Basil.
“A husband with no money, no strength, no power—one who must bow his head to anyone, even someone like me. I hate that too.”
Only now do I realize that was love.
Only after leaving Basil.
A tear fell onto my bare left hand, which clutched the hem of my dress.
“Sob…”
I burst into tears like a child.
The woman asked nothing and quietly stayed by my side as I wept.
Even after the carriage stopped at the Shopping District, I couldn’t stop crying for a while before finally coming to my senses.
“Oh… what do I do? I didn’t finish reading the contract.”
“It’s fine. You can review it slowly.”
The woman, unaware of the situation, spoke gently.
I let out a hollow laugh.
“No. The rest… just have Basil review it.”
“Why? Is there a rush? Unless you’re planning to flee somewhere far before the banquet to escape Father’s eyes.”
I froze solid.
My head turned with a creak.
“No ring on your finger, a large bag, and despite being pregnant, you came to the Shopping District without a single maid to attend you.”
“…You, what…”
“And no matter how heavy documents are, if you lean on your belly like that, what happens? The cushion is all crushed because of it.”
I shot to my feet.
A chilling possibility suddenly surfaced.
“Could it be… Father sent you…!”
The woman’s expression turned serious.
“What an unfortunate thing to say.”
“Then… who are you?”
“Oh, I realize I haven’t introduced myself yet.”
The woman rummaged through her pocket and handed over a business card.
“Allow me to make a proper introduction.”
[Secretary to the Merchant Guild Master – Iliana Grecia]
“I am Iliana Grecia, secretary to the Merchant Guild Master of 【La Mar】.”
Countless questions swirled through Odette’s mind.
Why was someone from 【La Mar】 here? How did she find out? How much does she know?
What on earth are her true intentions?
Yet all her questions dissolved at the woman’s next words.
“I’ll help you. So you can escape from your father.”
Odette stammered out her question.
“You’ll help me?”
“Yes.”
The answer was resolute.
Why? How could this be? Once again, countless questions flooded her mind, yet only one word escaped Odette’s lips.
“…How?”
“Ah, first.”
The woman handed over a small vial.
“Why don’t we go back and have your husband take the antidote first, then we can talk?”

—————

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

—————