NOVEL NEXT chapter 40
40. Interview
Helena left after telling her business. Said Frances.
“As long as the duke calls you personally… ….”
“It must be about marriage.”
“I guess so.”
Her face was full of confusion. Is there any hole for her to get out of here?
“Isn’t there a better way?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Frances tore off her thumb nail. It’s a habit you show whenever you’re anxious or disturbed.
“The duke must be dumbfounded. She said she was going to do business, but she suddenly said she was going to go ahead with the marriage… ….”
Um. That’s right. So she said this time she’d better just be honest. From what I’ve observed so far, the duke is indifferent to France, but he doesn’t hate or dislike him.
“Let’s go straight ahead and be honest this time.”
“To be honest with your head?”
“Yes. It is said that the marriage was forced by Duke So.”
“Is that okay? I think there will be a disagreement.”
“It will come alive. But there is no other way. And, since the meeting has already been decided, it cannot be canceled.”
Perhaps it is because Eden has to inherit the ducal family, work is done very quickly. Perhaps by now she’d already sent all the way to the post-Priden writers.
In the end, even with the intervention of the Duke, the meeting with Asil Pryden cannot be avoided. Well, it won’t result in the marriage going ahead.
“It would be nice if things didn’t go too far… ….”
Frances keeps biting her thumb nail. I took France’s hand and lowered it.
“I refrain from that habit.”
“Ah, I do it without even knowing.”
France’s thumb nail was bleeding. Looking at the condition, it seemed to be a habit that had been going on since before I came.
“Anyway. Things won’t get too big. The Duke’s position now is that the Princess is trying her business to the end.”
First of all, the conflict between the two is definitive. I don’t know how Eden will communicate with the duke, but considering the duke she’s shown so far, she’ll support Francesca no matter what.
“Let’s meet the Duke first. You will be fine.”
“Yes. I will be back.”
* * *
France headed to the Duke’s office. The butler immediately opened the door as if he had been waiting.
The Duke was sitting on the sofa, preparing tea and waiting for Frances.
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
As soon as Frances sat down, the duke immediately got down to business.
“I heard from Eden. We decided to proceed with the marriage.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Didn’t you say you would do business?”
“That… ….”
Franche closes her eyes tightly and expresses as much resentment as possible. After a while, she opened her mouth.
“I guess Duke So didn’t like my business. He told me to select a list and bring it in before proceeding with the marriage, but I passed it on quietly.”
The Duke said, “So?” Frances continued.
“When he heard that he was running a business this time, he rushed right away and got angry and told me not to do useless things and choose a marriage partner. So, I accepted it, but…….”
France could sense from the expression that the Duke was uncomfortable. Eden didn’t like the way things went on his own. Frances continued, thinking that this gap could be an opportunity.
“I’m thinking of making the marriage annulled so that this never happens again.”
“Busan? What are you going to do?”
The Duke’s eyebrows twitched. This proves that Francesca piqued his curiosity. Things are going well.
“I have a plan. I have a favor to ask of you here. Do you dare to make a request?”
Nodding his head, the duke replied.
“Yes, what was it?”
“If the marriage breaks down, Duke So may hold me accountable. I want you to hand over the problem well then.”
This is an opportunity given to me by the duke. Even Frances knew that if she didn’t show her ability at this time, it would be the end. So, we have to make the most of the current situation.
Fortunately, the duke gave a positive answer.
“Yes, it’s not difficult, so I can help you with that.”
“Thank you.”
“But how is the business going?”
“It is going well. We will show you the results as soon as they come out in a month.”
Oh, the duke shows anticipation again this time while walking away.
“The result. Yes, if it works out and breaks Frida’s monopoly, it will be the best achievement.”
France grinned and smiled.
“We will do our best to live up to your expectations. My goal is to stop Frida’s monopoly.”
Then the Duke raised his eyebrows as if satisfied.
“Yes, I like the goal. If you like the result, we will give you full support, so please do your best.”
“Thank you.”
Even if the marriage is annulled with this, Eden will not be able to say anything. It might be possible to cut off the coming of a married woman in the future.
I must have gained the duke’s trust. After the business was over, Frances got up from her seat.
“Then let’s go.”
“Okay, go out.”
The door opened and Frances went back. The Duke remained alone and rang the waiting bell outside to call the butler.
“What are you doing?”
“Recall Eden Descartes.”
“Yes, I understand.”
That’s how the butler called Eden, and Eden entered the office.
“I heard you called.”
“Eden.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you force France to get married?”
Eden’s eyebrows twitched. Originally, I wouldn’t be interested in this kind of thing. Both for approving the business attempt and meddling in this matter. Recently, the duke has been protecting Frances.
“This is what France has been wanting all along, and we decided that there would be nothing good for each other if France was in the duchy. So, as soon as the engagement was broken, he found a marriage partner.”
The Duke wrinkled his brow.
“So, why are you deciding that without my permission?”
“I wanted to stop it before it started doing weird things with my business. Because it goes against the prestige of Duke Descartes.”
Haa, the duke sighed. He was trying to cool off his anger.
“It was I who gave France a chance. But what do you mean by mentioning the prestige of Descartes? Do you think I can’t handle that much?”
Eden was silent. Expressionless. As if his own choice was not wrong at all, he just stayed silent.
“From now on, do not meddle in France’s affairs. Leave that to Line as well. Whatever happened to France’s business, it’s all my responsibility and it’s something I think about. I will not allow anything that goes beyond the subject.”
Eden’s expression shook at the Duke’s words. It is momentarily furious.
“… What is the reason why you came and embraced me like that? The Duke didn’t manage France, so I’ve taken care of her until now. The activity expenses allocated by the Duke, the parties to participate in, and life. All this What is the reason you are here now?”
Eden was ridiculous. Until now, she did not understand that whenever she neglected France and treated her as her missing daughter, she would come and take care of her and even give her a chance.
“Duke, your father has never paid any attention to Frances. But she’s Francesca. She’s changed since she turned 18. Why?”
It was a simple question. If this is the case, she will be good to you from the beginning, she will take care of herself. Eden felt a sense of alienation from the duplicity of the duke.
“It is simply my choice. It’s my decision None of your business.”
“… Is that so.”
Are you not telling me? Eden let out her big sigh and turned away, and she opened the door with one last word.
“… Be consistent and show one look.”
“Eden.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to be presumptuous like Rhine?”
For an instant, Eden shrank at the duke’s heavy voice. Eyes shimmering with greenery stare at Eden. She had a savage gaze.
“… No. Sorry.”
“Get out now.”
“Yes.”
Kung. With the door closed, Eden left her office and was lost in her thoughts.
‘I don’t understand.’
Something was wrong with her from the time she allocated her activity money to Frances. A man who had no interest in her daughter suddenly began to only care for Frances.
‘Is it related to her mother?’
Her father was so full of love that he only looked up to Eileen Descartes, her mother. But after her mother died, she changed drastically. She was cold and strict with her sons, Eden and Rhine, and treated Frances as a completely absent daughter. By the way, the year she turned 18, Frances. She suddenly changed.
In Eden, there was one thing that came to mind as to why the duke changed like this.
‘… She may have remembered the image of her mother when she saw Francese growing into an adult.’
With her displeasure for some reason, Eden went back to her own office.
* * *
Time passed and her france came back, and I asked her.
“How did it go?”
“I think things are going well. You don’t have to worry unnecessarily.”
It seems that the conversation with the duke went well. Well, Duke So did things too recklessly. Because he ignored the duke’s opinion.
“All that remains is to cut off the marriage and continue to expand her business.”
“Yeah, I can’t believe things are going so well. Life is something you really know but never know.”
Is that what a 20-year-old kid would say? Well, it must have been because he had such a bright smile. I also have a sad past.
“Everything seems to have worked out, let’s focus on studying magic now.”
“Studying magic?”
“Yes. The business hasn’t even come out with a dress yet.”
“That’s right. If you pass the marriage issue, you have a month’s time, so you can study magic.”
What’s left now is the imperial family party in a month. I hope nothing big happens. But France’s fate won’t go the way she wants.
I was attacked right now on my way to a party held in the Marquess of Eldas. There is a high possibility that the assassins will come again this time.
‘If I’m attacked again, I’ll be able to find out who’s behind it.’
I finished a lot of miscellaneous thoughts. Said to Frances.
“Let’s go to Khazar’s house.”
We went out safely and went straight to Kazar’s house. Knock on the door, it opens right away and Kazar comes out. Pretty messy looking. I must have been engrossed in research.
“Come in.”
I entered the house. However… ….
It was very messy. It was more messy than the shabby houses I saw in the County of Sayrell. Tools are scattered here and there, and books are lying open on the floor. They didn’t wash the dishes, and there wasn’t even proper tableware.
Seeing this, Frances couldn’t hide her astonishment.
“Why is your house like this?”
“Yes?”
“Why is it so disorganized?”
hahahaha, Kazar smiles shyly.
“I recently invented a mysterious magic. I couldn’t pay attention because I was concentrating.”
“Can’t you clean with magic?”
“I can do it, but it’s annoying too… ….”
… Seriously. Her face was mysterious, as if Frances was also very shocked.
“Kazar. Teach the princess magic. I will do the cleaning for you.”
“Oh, really? Thank you. Come on, princess. Let’s go learn magic!”
Kazar was excited and took France’s hand and went out into the yard. What. Somehow I feel like I’m caught in a trap.
“… ….”
Well, it doesn’t matter since I had to watch it anyway. As I tidied up Kazar’s room, I watched them through her window.
I couldn’t hear the sound, but I could tell just by looking at his expression and atmosphere. Both Kazar and Frances are enjoying themselves. When I saw this, I suddenly burst into laughter. Would you feel this way if you had a daughter?
At that moment.
[The player’s immersion increases.]
[Synchronization deepens.]
“Ah.”
[Some of Jean Barenberg’s memories are inherited.]
[Partially inherits the personality of Jean Warenberg.]
「… Is this the 1900th? It’s no longer possible. I need someone to replace my soul.”
A voice flashed through my mind, and at the same time, a skull-shattering headache came over me.
“Keugh… !”
This time it was on a different level. Originally, it felt like a short time and ended, but now it lasted for a long time. I felt the pain even more.
I grabbed my head and knelt down. I couldn’t come to my senses.
“This is too bad…….”
About 5 minutes had passed. Then the headache was over.
“Whoa.”
Couldn’t it be that the higher the level of immersion, the more the pain gets worse? If this is the case, I have no choice but to quickly leave France’s side.
“The problem is big.”
She is not ready to make her independent and her plan is just the beginning. Very difficult situation.
‘I have no choice but to control myself somehow.’
I took a deep breath and started cleaning again.
France and Kazar studied magic, and I watched them from the side.
In this way, time continues to pass. Finally, the day came when I met Asil Pryden.