CH 3.2

“I have one favor, uncle.”

“Tell me, Diana.”

“Please get out and never visit me again like this. Like when my father was still alive, you should live in your countryside estate, and I stay here. While you’re there, you don’t have to worry whether I live well, and I will live wondering if I have someone out there whom I share blood with. What do you think? It’s not hard, right?”

Did he think I would ask him to buy me dolls or expensive chocolates?

Count Corcos, who was shocked by my request, managed to pull himself together and said,

“How can I leave a child like you alone and go back to the estate?”

Being stupid was also a talent.

He couldn’t understand even though I was telling him to leave in the simplest way.

I would only hurt my mouth if I tried to talk to a fool. I had no obligation to make him understand.

Therefore, instead of talking to him any further, I opened the door across the drawing-room.

“Goodbye, uncle.”

I hope this will be our last goodbye. It was my most sincere goodbye.

***

“Young Lady, I heard you told Count Corcos that you are not going to appoint him as your guardian.”

How did Janice know about it?

I guess a rat is snooping around in this house.

“That’s true. But, where did you hear about that?”

“Some eavesdropper. So, what are you going to do? They are freaked out.”

“They?”

“Yes! The maids and the servants. If you don’t designate a legal guardian, our salary will be cut. I would be fine if my salary is one or two months behind. But the others….”

In the Irenberg mansion, the number of young servants and maids was unusually high.

It was because my soft-hearted father kept hiring slum children who couldn’t find a decent job.

They were very sensitive about it either because they had to live or support their family with that one month’s salary.

‘It’s good that I managed to kick out Count Corcos, but there are too many to take care of. I need to take care of the servants and maids, meet Cassion, and appoint a guardian. Is there no way to take care of them at once?’

It would take too long looking if I did it one by one.

I was a little worried about provoking Count Corcos, and I was also worried that there’s not much time left to appoint a guardian.

‘There are only six months left, I think?’

I was at a loss when I counted the time I got left. I had to find a way.

I hope someone will give me a good idea.

“That’s it! That will do!”

A brilliant idea came to my mind.

When I shouted out of the blue, Janice asked me in wonder.

“What? What do you want to do?”

“To get married.”

“What? Who? With whom?”

“Me. My partner would be Cassion.”

“What? Who did you say you’re going to marry?”

“The Third Prince of the Petrora Kingdom.”

Janice opened her mouth wide.

「An underage marriage requires permission from a parent or a legal guardian, except in the case of marrying a royal family member. – Petrora Civil Law Article 189」

The law that I read in the past flashed in my mind like a ray of light.

If I married a royal family member, I didn’t need a guardian, and I would be considered an adult and recognized as the official head of the family. Only then could I manage my family’s money and deal with the household affairs at my disposal.

If I appointed someone I didn’t know as my guardian, the past would repeat. There weren’t as many reliable adults as I thought. There’s Aunt Zoe, but she was someone who would be the chief of Journee.

‘Also, my aunt wants to live free like the wind.’

If she became my guardian, of course, her face would be known by people. If that happened, her wish to live a free life would go up in the smoke.

That’s why I had to forget about appointing a guardian and became the head of the family instead.

‘This is a perfect way to repay Cassion and to avenge my revenge.’

Like a map complete with detailed directions, what I had to do became very clear.

My marriage partner would be Cassion.

I decided to marry him to repay the kindness he had done for me and avenge my revenge.

‘But, is it possible for us to get married?’

Taking the King’s opposition or interfering with Dyson was one problem, but there’s a bigger problem.

Unfortunately, Cassion was very weak as a child.

‘He was healthy when I saw him at the execution ground, but since he is 11 years old now…’

‘This is the time when he is so weak that I could say that he’s dying.’

‘Will he be able to walk through the ceremony? Please don’t say that I have to prepare for his funeral instead. He does look like a little rabbit on the verge of dying….’

I was worried about Cassion’s condition.

“Janice, I need to go to the palace!”

Once my goals became clear, I had to hurry. I need to see Cassion. I had to make sure that he’s fine.

“Why the palace, all of a sudden? Young Lady, why don’t you wipe your nose first? Also, the palace is not a place where you can visit right away just because you want to.”

I took Janice’s handkerchief and blew my nose with all my might.

It was because of the tears. I was overwhelmed that I found a way to protect my family without having to appoint a guardian.

“There’s always room open for nobles.”

“But it’s for the adult nobles, not for a young child like you.”

Janice and her bitter truth, as always.

According to the rule, for a 13 years old child like me to enter the palace without a guardian, I had to express my intention to visit the palace and wait for permission.

The only people allowed to enter and exit the palace on their own were the royal family members.

If I were the head of the Irenberg family, I could come and go to the palace like it was my own house, but unfortunately, I was only an heir without a legal guardian.

“I think you shouldn’t go.”

Janice dissuaded me, worried that I would be kicked out of the palace.

There’s a hundred percent chance that I would be kicked out if I visited the palace without prior notice.

‘But for me, there’s always a way.’