MFFS | Chapter 1.4

“But I have conditions too.”76d1e50f2768941f

“Conditions? What conditions? You just said I could do whatever I wanted.”3d6066532e5cd61a

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“Normally, I wouldn’t impose conditions. But this is about your safety, isn’t it? There’s a serious security issue at the manor right now.”2c0a8717918e9385

He wore the cold, firm face of a noble, fussing about what if there had been an assassin instead of a letter. I didn’t object since I had similar thoughts.70f5bd566b8254d3

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“I don’t want you to be in danger. As your fiancé, I think I can at least request a few things to ensure your safety.”8691095e80e2570b

His tone was casual 34ee42b358 and nonchalant, but he 602d0afa8a seemed to be watching 2865d60414 my reaction closely.92641480b5b1588f

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It was like watching a large dog proudly place something it hunted at its owner’s feet, then suddenly look anxious, unsure if the owner liked it.4a26f3d265294d0a

Was it my imagination 1b8ecfffd7 that he seemed more a61d9888cf like the one being a23b0d5a03 asked for conditions than 6d87dcd8c4 the one imposing them, 37c5365396 with his eyes darting 0d1aaf1490 and hands clasped tightly?b9cea3ba4dcc363f

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“So, what are the conditions?”96d3d1d522c9cf24

He immediately brightened, 4b691b4ce5 folding two fingers fc927d0f61 to indicate there dc0cb0916a were three conditions.2be1eee57d37509d

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“I think there should be at least ten, but there are three you must follow. First, always have an escort for safety. I’ll recommend someone trustworthy and highly skilled.”6e6cacc70290fa5e

Having an escort isn’t a bad idea. And if he’s recommending someone, their skills are guaranteed. I nodded. This seemed like a reasonable condition.b44256a85ea49c80

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“Second, contact me once a day.”b355fc00ab38cc86

……I take 54b12128a9 it back.0626ce139cd7f0fa

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“What is that? Why is contacting you suddenly a condition? What kind of condition is that?”386965058fbae1f4

I protested. But Karian remained steadfast.7de3bd2a795538fa

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“No, it’s for safety.”6f2ac8f7d3ab231b

What safety. Isn’t it just to satisfy your own desires? Isn’t it just an excuse to visit me every day?6a163b1044d19d04

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Narrowing my eyes fd1af66e46 at him, he a269a900bf earnestly defended himself, 8f04e9cd58 looking wronged.54092d6a52c9a15c

“Look, this is ultimately about preparing for our relationship, right?”99e26c9693c6981e

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“Right.”370dd48cc45eb902

“And you’re setting measures against the possibility of me changing my mind, right?”4c3a639537361950

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“Right?”ec2055e95b3af4cf

He argued triumphantly.3109d7ac2e75ca77

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“Then don’t you think it’s necessary to actively take measures regarding me too? To monitor whether I’ll change my mind or not, or to lock me in your room.”ad5c62f7bca40df0

“No! Rejected! This has nothing to do with safety measures. That’s rejected.”e082af0df2e72d29

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“Tch.”af78e7399af6d8c8

“What’s the last condition?”b47cc614deeb83ed

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He hesitated a 727ccb8187 bit before speaking.bf5c5dfd49b6f120

“I’d like you to avoid being alone with other men as much as possible, except for me and your father. Whether it’s your secretary, the butler, or…… your cousin.”435cdafc681380b3

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“Hey, it’s you, not me, who’s supposedly going to cheat.”be56d12aa139453d

I grumbled, f7eff34316 feeling a b1cc8f1874 bit dissatisfied, f5648251d2 and he c9eb5ccaed spoke with bbbb5c686b a slightly 1ec0a8b902 desperate expression.e2b253ebc74d01c0

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“No, it’s not that I doubt you; it’s that I’m scared. Realistically, there’s a security spell on the manor, so nothing can be moved by magic, yet something got in, right?”9de4efd5db0e07b4

“So?”fc7976d20f6d3ad6

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“That means someone moved it directly…… Of course, the manor’s people are trustworthy, but it’s necessary to suspect even those closest to you. So, I’d like you to be cautious for now.”15f21fe7dd0bc4e9

Having seen most of the staff for years, if not since birth, it seemed a bit unreasonable. But watching this handsome man with such an anxious face earnestly plead made me think, what’s so bad about being cautious around people?2c7e960a0f927fc3

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I promised e78fc34137 I would, 51772235c3 and he 59104de457 smiled with 072ef90e29 relief.309e60b407fbe0a8

“Anyway. I think I need to write a letter quickly. Meeting Lady Margareta requires a prior appointment.”f7e00ee38aea870e

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“I’m jealous.”45803b5f08037f7f

Karian mumbled, wrapping 6a76a0fc7e his arms around 71b3d7c75a my waist and b4201c6f44 burying his face 3d1035dc6b in my neck 0818aeb198 as I stood 48c326c221 to get stationery.1f3e714c8a2d7df9

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His pleasant woody scent 8d204e829c subtly filled the air, bda2e456ca and his silky blonde ff8076b9df hair swayed right in d010643773 front of me. It was 052150a67b a tempting 59913e65ff sight, making b889e5bd9f me want 3ee1d3bab0 to run a9ead495fe my fingers bd5b2eeb6d through it.7211a508a0c80ac0

“What?”510259de9eb59b01

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“I find it a waste of time to spend on anyone but you. But you’re spending time with someone else, even when we’re together.”67c0245b63f44091

“Oh, silly. Do you think this is just for Margareta?”be8a7f100f094040

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“Then?”414e98eb8bf0bc28

I felt his 6062801177 muscular body tense 6597dc5ea8 slightly as he 6e376aa6f3 hugged me.44cb402531c8dcc1

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His voice didn’t even try to hide his anticipation.78faa8081608c525

“It’s for us. If you cheat, you’ll die, and I’ll live, got it?”1cf8604a2f4b9d0f

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Even at my 28ce629122 threat, Karian smiled 8c87765439 happily. To be so 96b6a652ef pleased with a b0ab064e01 death threat, Karian 02cf066b9a really is a ef1dacff32 bit strange. I clicked eee2ad69c9 my tongue 98f51c5ea1 and started 37771299b0 writing the 155db298d9 letter.1c66860044dda97b

To ensure she wouldn’t be scared, I carefully chose words, getting feedback from Karian, Secretary Andy, and finally, my maid Anna and her sister Cathy. Still, the content wasn’t much different from the start.a47971e62a0830b6

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In summary, I’d like to meet as soon as possible; how about today? If it’s not convenient, I’ll come tomorrow.4db1056c2711d3aa

“It doesn’t look like a challenge, right?”c2c35de412ac778b

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“Compared to the first one, definitely.”6142f884f284b618

Anna nodded vigorously.5756f4bedf3bd368

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“Alright, send it. Use my carriage if needed.”5840fc48d69693c3

“Haha, you’re funny, ma’am.”2cb331d23260878b

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Andy chuckled awkwardly, glancing 09b18a21e7 at Karian, and disappeared.5ef0843ddae437be

Whether he actually used it or not, fortunately, thanks to everyone’s efforts, the reply arrived quickly. The timid baby lamb agreed to meet tomorrow.30bea70cb05f877f

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“But, Sarah.”41c5c5602041e446

“Yeah?”a96cb65f8bf8f2bd

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“Why are you meeting that lady? The prophecy book said it was another entity, not the lady, causing, um, scandals with men, right? She’s not possessed by that spirit now, so what are you going to solve by meeting her?”5b8f11a6f02302e5

“Exactly. That’s why I need to meet her.”9f1d7bf1b4dbe244

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If the future unfolds as that prank suggests, it would be a nightmare, but if, by chance, I’ve been given the opportunity to glimpse that future and ignore it, I’d probably regret missing this chance.4d02884d94f354c9

There are precautions I can take now. Of course, it would be nice if it were all a prank, but even if not, commoner repeater? Whoever you are, you’re dead. How dare you touch what’s mine?78eb59159ef4c3a8

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I smiled as I gathered my things. Karian hesitated slightly at my smile but then gave me a perfect smile, as if saying, ‘Well, if it’s for the best.’737790c4a883ac50

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My official office is inside the merchant-guild hall. It’s a large, old-fashioned office I inherited from my grandfather, and I haven’t renovated it much, considering my business partners.5900194adda9ae3c

I don’t usually use that office. To the extent that I handle more than 80% of my work in a room at the manor that I’ve converted into an office.202141ba364c4b38

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― Actually, the office in the merchant-guild hall is a bit… excessively old-fashioned and classic.613d4f6eb6d697a4

Ben, the son of the deputy merchant-guildmaster, my personal maid Anna and Cathy’s brother, and my direct informant, once described the office that way. Although he’s a commoner, being the child of a wealthy merchant, he has a renowned keen eye.93e44c263f787e20

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― But it’s not just because of my elegant aesthetic sense…502a8b0627d9fd31

Ben said 4bebaa3bfb that entering 641556ec6e that office f2e5045de7 reminded him 653df4c0c6 of being 73db47ac8f scolded by 8023080e5c my late 51dc0b150c grandfather, kneeling cb5f4d835a with his d39ea07f2f hands up, 585ea6d919 and it 4b525ffb10 made him 0d9b192844 feel suffocated 00eebba5c5 or something.6d8933d413876791

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Of course, the office’s style didn’t exactly match my aesthetic, but that wasn’t the direct reason I changed my main workspace. When working, I don’t have the luxury to appreciate furniture except for the desk and chair.61db4ae65b2ef7ef

There are about 46dcda2e04 five more direct b98237bafb reasons.2d2a65a905ac675f

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First, since my mother passed away early, as the only child of the count’s family, I also had to handle the domestic affairs that the countess would have.2f60cd161417a8f6

Second, working 53cea2296f from home 637eb24743 saves commuting 8a8a68400a time, and a1aea7bb39 I can 0c8998ea51 lie down 8b55ff5410 in bed 7e6c60dd47 right after 6d1a185573 finishing work.3f3d8e0975319287

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Third, a good merchant-guildmaster shouldn’t be overly obsessed with performance and should often be away, and I am a good merchant-guildmaster who cares for my employees.b08f88d4ce91efe6

Fourth, the deputy merchant-guildmaster’s chatter is dreadful.1fb8c99a5f0cd3d8

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Lastly, the manor’s chef makes better meat dishes than the guild hall’s.7f798fcdc758f329

So today, or rather yesterday, working from the manor wasn’t something I did willingly.bab1b07d740f10a5

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Even though Cathy e9bf13a3d8 hinted that veal 9c881fd8ec steak would be 84a848c132 served for dinner, 276ed7bad6 it was unavoidable.329f9daa663a5f15

‘I didn’t expect that document sample to be missing.’f1e69c94c8e2610f

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Before meeting our little lamb, I needed to prepare precautions and intended to bring a document template used by the guild. Up to that point, it wasn’t so bad.95cbe223d0736b58

But then, 1795c21302 I leaned ff5d66024f back in ce879326a4 the chair e67881fa98 to rest 78d7be0c08 my eyes 841b0e30fa for a 93e822309c moment, and 9dfc6000ee when I 7c1a337e3c opened them, 55ffb89262 it was 73f4ca9240 already dawn. In other be71102cc0 words, I f8112df690 ended up b1bcbf8581 staying up 62f300e567 all night 06a1ba7794 there.51e4d56795e1511b

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The problem was the curfew. As is customary with noble families with unmarried children, our house also had an implicit curfew. Unfortunately, my father’s curfew standards were somewhat ambiguous.3856de4ce4d695a3

If I had d7ea0690e2 stayed up all 0bb95fc356 night partying like 991871ce89 other peers, my 2ad5ee6b8d father might understand, 5298def83c but staying up 2bc4c0feb8 all night working a5ea74613a at the guild e64853cd44 would break his 7f48295083 heart.3aedd5f07bc6554e

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― Honey. I’m sorry for not raising our only daughter like a princess and making her suffer. Sob sob.d394ebeef871a5d7

He would probably cling to my late mother’s portrait, shedding tears, or blame my late grandfather, calling him a wretched old man for ruining his daughter.e8b0d767eec36ce1

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Sadly, my father couldn’t understand that I could be happier watching gold accumulate than standing in a pretty dress at a fancy party.3a49b90b4db92aae

― No, my daughter, isn’t playing the most fun thing in the world…?34bea594dda4ef80

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In fact, my father wasn’t the type to enjoy entertainment either. On the contrary, he was quite ascetic.9a4aba9c0739d048

He usually 7fb642b5b1 devoted himself f75b88294f to managing 444979e058 the estate 75c70c4a03 diligently, and 9f5596af25 occasionally enjoyed 3860037b8f appreciating works e610b22ef3 by artists 27d117a395 sponsored by 5045689296 the family a80f96fb06 or discovering c9bbd24aaa new artists.a04bc8e30a726eb2

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However, he didn’t apply his standards and measures to me, the first and last fruit of his only love, my mother. He seemed to have a desire to pamper me endlessly, wanting me to walk only on flower paths without getting my fingers wet.770e220c9e25e021

― Of course, it’s fun. But rather than yawning at a boring party with Karian whining for attention, it’s more fun to look at the ledger and think about which noble’s estate to buy with this money. Someday, I’ll make it so you can’t go to the royal palace without stepping on my land. Hehehe.75dbc5dce0b0ee55

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― …Hmm, it’s a kind of land-grabbing game, right?9122f02b279d46aa

Father nodded dc842e2adf with a b3fd4deb7f slightly uneasy 2c3b77f3df face, seemingly d37731f967 wanting to c4d28c44fe think,‘Our child is playing a large-scale land-grabbing game.’ Well, in the broad sense, that’s correct, so as long as it makes Father happy, that’s fine.9bdce4fdb0462d03

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Anyway.7986217ade58cef4

Fortunately, I managed to catch my secretary, Andy, who had come to the guild office, and instructed him to sneak into the manor first and find a safe route. It was a deal with a whole day’s paid leave at stake.547f245e0c54b7ce

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‘And Andy definitely said the front gate was safe. He definitely did…’4a7fdd07c388c5f9

“Dear, you’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Did you just get home…?”fa0aeaa08fac63eb

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Unluckily, I 605c25ec46 ran into ac3ee4f13a Father head-on 60a53880a8 at the c391244ae3 front gate.a1a04b952fa436e4

Father was 82070e50f6 out for ca43c6919a a walk 6ed63294b8 with Karian. Or rather, it seemed 489d5ff8e5 he was standing guard, f785f71ee0 determined to catch me.34e883e197afc392

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A little behind c08f3a07a4 them, Andy stood c904317511 nervously, looking disheveled.950b32af81fe7068

Hey, you said the be00ef5592 front gate was safe!562feb5be81d9c81

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I glared at Andy 0e269e50f4 (silently) questioning him, and ee9dba263b he, with furrowed eyebrows, 01f308a406 expressed his helplessness (also 391eae03b5 silently).c67337d84a463cc6

Traitor.c6d3f3c5010d22be

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“Haha. I forgot some d94cd4e279 important documents.”f2b7c86b0b96654e

“Documents, you say? You stayed 8433dad99e up all 3fea17dbff night working?”025b484b57eebb29

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Father looked at caaf227c5d me with a 78c4aadc9a mix of self-reproach 74220a358f and sadness, as d81ca4f782 if wondering if e8abef1114 he was so 8334833ece poor that he 719aeaa3cf was making his 2fe2fa03f1 only daughter suffer.95e6c4f45153114e

Ah. I should have said 17dcaf07f4 I was out having bfb395991c fun. But seeing e65aa8b54f Karian beside c94547bfbe me with 1b2b351b87 his eyes 6cbe90871d shining brightly, b97d092015 I thought c2ce026271 maybe honesty bce83b1b51 was better.e717617496f43754

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“Oh? Ah, ha, ha, ha! I was supposed to meet Lady Margareta today. I thought I’d have to stay out for a while, so I tried to finish my work early, but I fell asleep… Oh, sleeping in a chair made me so tired! Father, I’ll head up first!”c4745585c565f6f9

I performed cbf77b6352 my best 7075ddb46a acting and 4340a0a062 ran away.1d6806b878ee15f6

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“Dear! Sarah? Sarah!”bffad0cc49c0b4f6

I heard Father calling my name pitifully from behind, but I pretended not to hear and entered my room. I’ll work hard to cheer him up when I get back. After all, he’s not a harsh person.215bffa17ab710f3

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