“I’m sorry~ He drank too much last night, so he’s still not quite himself, you know?”
“No worries. In fact, I’m sorry that I couldn’t join you for a drink with the count back then.”
“Oh my~ You’re so kind, Viscount Bjor.”
Viscount Bjor and Freya began to exchange light-hearted remarks as they faced each other.
“This brooch I bought at the auction cost quite a bit~ It was quite the effort.”
“Indeed, it’s a dazzling brooch that suits the countess’ elegant grace, set with a gemstone that shines brilliantly.”
“Oh my~ Hearing you say that makes it all worthwhile~ Hohoho~”
“Haha. It suits you well.”
‘Hmph, that fool Common completely misjudged her. There’s no way this airheaded woman, with nothing but flowers in her mind, would do such a thing.’
As Viscount Bjor admired the brooch pinned to her chest and nodded along, he realized that Common’s previous report was completely off.
“…Hm. While the count is still asleep, I think it’s time we moved on to the main issue.”
“The main issue? What do you mean?”
“The reason I came to see the count today is to collect the money I lent him.”
“You came to collect the borrowed money?”
With that, Viscount Bjor ended the pleasantries and began to take out the forged promissory notes he had prepared in advance.
“Wait, oh dear… Gordon? Is this true?”
“Hmm… Yes, it seems to be, given that it has the family seal… It looks legitimate.”
Freya, who could only understand that money was borrowed, handed the documents to Gordon for confirmation, who adjusted his spectacles awkwardly before responding.
“Oh no, what shall we do… First, hand over the money to Viscount Bjor!”
“Ma’am, with our current finances… we’re barely able to cover the interest due this time.”
“W-What? Are you saying the treasury is empty?! What was the treasurer doing all this time?”
“The treasury was managed by a man named Common… He recently left to return to his hometown.”
“So… as it stands, we have no means of repaying this debt…”
‘Just as planned, everything is falling into place.’
“Ahem. I gathered every penny I had because the count assured me he’d repay me. If things turn out this way, I’m in a difficult position too.”
Seeing Freya look so flustered and repeating, “Oh dear, what to do…” Viscount Bjor smiled secretly and gently cleared his throat to push the matter further.
“V-Viscount! I’m so sorry! What should we do…”
“You’re very close with the count, aren’t you? Couldn’t you perhaps grant a little more time?”
“Ahem…!”
As Freya stood up, clearly desperate, she approached Viscount Bjor, taking his hand and looking up at him with imploring eyes, causing him to notice her ample chest and the deep cleavage visible from her low neckline.
“Viscount…”
“Well… there might be a way.”
“Really?”
Freya’s face lit up as she asked, her expression one of relief.
“But first. That beast-man over there…?”
“Ah! You mean our cute little puppy?”
Viscount Bjor’s gaze shifted to the beast-man, Fenrir, who stood quietly behind the sofa where Freya had just been sitting.
“I happened upon the opportunity to get one! Beast-men are rather rare, aren’t they? Isn’t that right, puppy?”
“Y-Yes… Thank you.”
“Say ‘woof’! Didn’t you learn this?”
“W-Woof… woof…”
As Freya explained that she’d recently purchased the beast-man, Fenrir opened his mouth to respond, then quickly bowed his head, imitating a dog’s bark.
“Oh… I see.”
“Now, there’s actually a way for you to pay off your debt and earn even more money. Would you like to hear it?”
“W-What? Is that true?”
“Of course. I’m sure the count and the madam would both be very interested. Hehe…”
“Please, tell me quickly!”
‘Excellent! She took the bait!’
Seeing Freya fall for his trap, Viscount Bjor could hardly contain his laughter as he continued the conversation.
“Hahaha! Very good! Everything is going smoothly!”
Refusing Freya’s request to wait until the count woke up, Viscount Bjor left Evergarden Estate immediately in his carriage, laughing the entire way.
“This turned out so well thanks to that drunken fool and that flower-brained woman!”
The “business deal” with Freya was, in truth, nothing more than a scheme to take over Evergarden Estate entirely.
“With this, he will surely be pleased. If I can catch his attention, I won’t be stuck in some remote estate like this… I’ll rise higher!”
Eager to seize this chance to raise his rank, Viscount Bjor, who had secured powerful connections, was determined not to let this opportunity slip by.
“And that woman, well, she may be foolish, but she certainly has a beautiful face and figure…”
As he thought of Freya’s beauty and recalled how she had held his hand and looked at him so desperately, he let his mind wander.
She was foolish, and all she knew was how to spend money, but her face and body were indeed quite beautiful—smooth, fair skin, long eyelashes, a straight nose, and lips as red as cherries.
And her chest was so large that even his hands could barely encompass it.
“Heh, when this plan succeeds, it would be perfect to dispose of that drunken fool and have her warming my bed instead.”
On that dark night, lying in his bed, he imagined Freya lying there, naked, blushing as she looked up at him, and his lips curled into a grin as he felt his excitement grow.
Lost in these fantasies, Viscount Bjor continued his journey back to his estate from Evergarden.
Meanwhile, at the Evergarden mansion…
“…Um, sir.”
“Yes, lad?”
“Will everything… really be okay?”
Unlike the composed Gordon, the anxious Fenrir whispered to him.
“Honestly, even I’m not s—”
“Gordon?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“A glass of whiskey on the rocks… no, never mind. Just a strong cup of milk tea, please. My stomach is unsettled.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”
At that moment, when Freya, who had been sitting quietly until now, finally spoke, Gordon left the drawing room at lightning speed.
“Sigh….”
‘At my age… did I really just flirt with a nobody like that? Me, acting all coy like a woman?’
Freya let out a deep sigh, internally cursing herself.
Playing the part of a noblewoman wasn’t hard.
She had learned how to handle people and wield authority thoroughly in her days as an heir, after all.
And now, with her family’s fate on the line, she knew she didn’t have time to sulk about being a woman.
But still…
‘I didn’t even do that with my wife… here I am acting like a loose woman!’
No matter how tough she was, Freya found it mortifying that she’d used her chest to play innocent and naive for Viscount Bjor.
Her pride as a former man felt crushed.
She wanted to drown herself in a strong drink, but her logical mind insisted that she settle for tea instead, which only frustrated her more.
“Ugh…”
“…I may have gone too far, even if it was an act. I apologize.”
“No, mylady. Such words are nothing to me, as I’ve heard worse in my life.”
Despite her earlier performance, Freya felt guilty about the harsh things she’d said to Fenrir, who just shook his head, saying he was used to it.
“Don’t be like that. You’re my person now, so don’t think of yourself in such a lowly way. You’re worth much more than that.”
“mylady…!”
Touched, Fenrir’s tail wagged eagerly as Freya spoke with such warmth.
“Mylady, here is your tea.”
“Oh, thank you. It’s thanks to you two that I can keep it together. I’m truly grateful.”
“Please, mylady. It’s only natural for me as Evergarden’s loyal servant.”
“Hehe… you’re always so dependable.”
Just then, Gordon returned, handing her a cup of steaming milk tea.
Freya managed a slight smile as she took a sip.
“By the way, Viscount Bjor is planning something rather clever.”
Sipping the tea, Freya thought back on Bjor’s offer.
“Distributing ‘magical beasts,’ and using our domain as the base for this operation…”
Magical beasts—creatures mutated by magic—were known to soldiers and adventurers alike.
Their magic-infused stones were highly valuable, with some mercenaries even specializing in hunting them.
However, due to their danger, their trade was heavily regulated.
Knowing how profitable these creatures were, some nobles traded them illegally, often using them as pets or in underground arenas.
It was a high-risk business, punishable with severe penalties, even treason.
“It’s obvious he intends to use our domain as a scapegoat.”
“Indeed, likely to make us the fall guys in case something goes wrong.”
The Evergarden estate would merely serve as a shield for the operation, taking the blame if the trade was exposed.
‘So, this is the treason my daughter warned me about… everything is falling into place now.’
Freya recalled her daughter’s warning about Evergarden’s downfall and connected it to Viscount Bjor’s plan.
She was now sure this was the cause.
But she wasn’t about to sit back and let it happen.
“Quite a thorough scheme, right from the loans to this plan…”
“What will you do, mylady?”
“I’ve managed to buy us some time by saying I need to consult my husband, so we need to make the most of it.”
“Fenrir?”
“Yes, I’ll gather a team of skilled infiltrators to start an investigation.”
“The priority is to trace the magical beasts’ supply chain and identify everyone involved. Only then can we formulate a response.”
“Understood, mylady.”
With just a glance, Fenrir immediately understood Freya’s intentions and prepared to dispatch the investigation team.
“Alright, let’s proceed carefully.”
‘If anyone dares to bare their fangs at my family, I’ll make sure to break them all.’
Freya took another sip of her now lukewarm tea, smiling calmly.
‘And especially you, Viscount Bjor.’
Though her hand clenched slightly around her teacup, that was a detail only Freya herself noticed.