Chapter 20: Blessings
Since then, Harird had been looking for a chance to interrogate the actress.
However, with Livia always nearby, that opportunity never quite came.
She deftly sidestepped Livia’s words, never letting her smile fade, behaving exactly like a noblewoman.
Eventually, perhaps growing tired of her attitude, Livia left the area.
Harird did not miss that chance and immediately confronted the actress.
“What exactly are you trying to do!”
“…Viscount, why are you raising your voice like that.
Lady Livia will hear you.”
“Ghk…!”
Harird had the servants stand guard so Livia would not overhear.
In any case, the servants already knew that she was not the real Electra.
“Why did you accept Livia’s proposal.
Living together, for what purpose.”
“I merely carried out my work, Viscount.”
“Work?”
“Yes, exactly.
If, in that moment, I had refused Lady Livia’s proposal, do you think she would have withdrawn so easily.
Most likely, had I refused and left, everything would have simply returned to the way it was.”
“Ugh…”
Harird worked his mind, thinking it through.
If she had refused Livia’s proposal—
“I have also heard a certain amount about the circumstances surrounding this matter.
About Lady Livia as well.
That is why I judged that refusing her at that moment would have been meaningless, and so I accepted.
I merely did my job.”
“That may be so, but—”
“You know Lady Livia far better than I do, Viscount.
Do you believe I made the wrong decision.”
“Guh…!”
Livia would certainly have tried to stop this ‘Electra.’
Harird understood that much.
Which meant the actress was right.
“If you understand that, then I am glad.
In that case, Viscount, I will be imposing on this mansion for a while.
For Lady Livia’s sake, of course.”
“Tch… but the payment—!”
“The contract includes an upfront fee and an additional fee upon success.
Given the current situation, it is unclear whether this can be called a ‘success.’
Where would you like to draw the line.
If ‘I’ were to leave the mansion right now, it could have a negative effect on Lady Livia’s mental state.”
“Ugh…”
Harird pictured Livia in his mind.
Since this actress accepted Livia’s proposal, Livia had been happier than she had been in a long time.
If she suddenly disappeared—
“The length of confinement is unknown.
Accordingly, I will require compensation to match it.
I have no intention of staying here long.
If this is deemed a success, I would like to take my money and leave promptly.
However, this is still my job.
If anything, the one in trouble here is you.
…Or so I would think.”
Harird realized that he could not expel this actress immediately.
Moreover, as an actress, she was likely affiliated with some organization.
The head steward had hired her directly, so Harird did not know the details.
But forcibly removing or imprisoning her would inevitably leave a trail.
He could not resort to violence.
“I won’t work without proper compensation, you know.
I would not even mind revealing the truth to Lady Livia and demanding a fair reward from her, as the future viscountess.”
“Damn it…!”
In other words, he was being told to keep paying to house an unwanted cohabitant.
If not, she would tell Livia.
It was an utterly miserable situation.
“Talk it over with Said.
I won’t pay some outrageous sum.”
“Then I shall do so gratefully.”
The aqua-haired actress rose smoothly from her seat and moved to pass by Harird.
Her movements were refined.
She truly seemed like a woman from a noble household.
“…What’s your name?”
“My name?”
“Yes.”
“Fufu.
Electra Vent.
…That is my name.”
“Don’t mock me!”
“Oh my.
You must be consistent at all times, Viscount.
Otherwise, Lady Livia may learn the truth.”
“Guh…!”
Once the contract was over, he would pressure whatever troupe she belonged to.
Harird thought that, but she deftly avoided the issue.
His irritation continued to build.
That unpleasant feeling returned, as if he were standing on the palm of some unseen being.
“…Viscount.
For your sake, and for Lady Livia’s, there is something I would like to ask again.”
“What is it!”
Harird wanted to drive this woman out as soon as possible.
As he thought that, she stepped closer, almost clinging to him.
“Did you truly intend to refuse that proposal?”
“…What?”
Her eyes were cold, startlingly so.
Without thinking, Harird took a step back from that chilling gaze.
“If I had been the ‘real Electra.’
…Would you truly have refused Lady Livia’s proposal?”
“…!”
“Would you not have calmly said it was a ‘good idea’ and accepted it.
If the one standing here had been the real Electra Vent.”
A shiver ran through Harird.
Her words hit the mark.
Indeed, he had thought, if she had been the real one.
“Fufufu.
Why is it that men who commit infidelity are so eager to keep their ‘ex-wives’ close at hand.
You should just forget them, shouldn’t you?”
“What are you—!
I—!”
“You’re wanting what you don’t have, aren’t you.
Because you vaguely understand it.
That Lady Livia alone does not satisfy you.
So you want both.
And you believe that should naturally be accepted.
That is why you searched for ‘her.’
Did you know.
People like that, despite being the ones who discarded her, will feel jealous if she is happily living with another man.”
“…!”
“Your happiness lies in forgetting your former wife.
Because that is the life you chose.
Fufu, I wonder if you can truly forget.
As long as ‘I’ am here, it may be difficult, you know.”
“Y-You are…!”
To Harird, the woman before him felt like something unknowable.
“What exactly are you…
Who are you…?”
“I am Electra, Viscount.
Ah, but please rest assured.
I do not know what your former wife thinks.
But I do wish for you and Lady Livia to be united.”
“…What?”
“Please, have a happy marriage.
Hero Harird Carlson.
A knight who continues to dance, unaware of whose sword he wields, and whose fortune he was granted.
Please, make her happy.
Your ‘role’ is to lead Lady Livia to the very pinnacle of happiness.”
Harird sucked in a sharp breath.
This woman.
The ‘Electra’ standing before him—
Was not merely an actress.
He had realized it.
But by then, Harird could no longer drive her from the house.