I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 191

However, a moment later, Rianel felt an awkward sense of discomfort. He had run into Ivetta in the dining room.

"......"

"......You’ve come to eat, I see."

Ivetta hesitated but spoke calmly. Rianel responded.

"A fine lunch it is."

"Indeed."

And then, silence.

"......"

"......"

The silence stretched unnecessarily long.

As the two of them stood there, staring blankly at each other, Giselle inhaled sharply and stepped between them.

“Haha, my lady will be having her meal later. The two of you should dine together.”

Giselle smiled brightly as she began «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» serving their meal. Rianel silently took a seat and started eating. Ivetta did the same.

Ivetta ate her meal without even glancing at him.

Clink, clink.

The only sounds were the clattering of utensils.

"......Hmph."

Suddenly, Rianel let out a brief laugh. He couldn’t help but recall how Ivetta had fiercely glared at him in the drawing room before.

"......"

Ivetta looked at him as if he were insane, then lowered her eyes.

Rianel cleared his throat awkwardly and resumed eating with refined movements of his fork and knife.

‘When we first met, I never would’ve thought she had that kind of personality.’

His impression of Ivetta had completely changed—and in a good way.

When Ivetta had come to him to break off their engagement, Rianel had thought she was wasting her energy on something trivial.

It had annoyed him that she couldn’t convince Countess Corindel and instead sought him out. It wasn’t as if she had to flaunt her incompetence.

From the beginning, Rianel had no intention of marrying Ivetta. He had planned to persuade Carla at an appropriate time.

If he handed over a good piece of land to his half-brother, Tebes, the talks of an arranged marriage would disappear on their own.

He hadn’t voiced this plan to Ivetta because he feared she might inform Carla.

Rianel didn’t trust those who weren’t under his direct control.

However, the Ivetta he had encountered again at the Halo estate was not the timid woman he once knew.

“You’re just avoiding the hassle, aren’t you? You find it bothersome to quarrel with the Dowager Duchess over trivial matters. You ignore arranged marriage talks because they’ll eventually fizzle out on their own, right?”

Amusingly, her words had hit the mark.

Her bold and fiery personality when angry was quite entertaining. Moreover, her competence as a secretary was outstanding.

She even managed to hold her ground against Kael, his advisor, which was truly surprising.

‘She really knows how to pick capable people.’

His admiration for Ivetta gradually shifted to admiration for Penelope.

Rianel had already lost Professor Baek to Penelope in the past. On top of that, other talented individuals from across the empire had been drawn to the Halo estate.

Penelope judged people solely by their abilities, disregarding family lineage or background. It was an admirable trait for a lord.

‘That’s probably why the Halo estate has developed so rapidly in such a short time.’

He had been astonished at how much the estate had transformed. When he passed through the gates of Halo, he had wondered if he had arrived at the wrong territory.

Rianel decided he wanted to stay a little longer and observe the changes in Halo firsthand.

Meanwhile, Ivetta, eating across from him, had her own thoughts.

‘This is so uncomfortable.’

If he was a grand duke, he should act like one and spend his time enjoying the glamorous social life of the capital. Why was he so serious about managing his territory?

A rich, handsome nobleman who was also diligent? The world really wasn’t fair.

Inappropriately, Ivetta felt a bubbling irritation in her stomach.

When Rianel had kicked out the two rude noblewomen, Ivetta had felt a wave of satisfaction, like a ten-year-old burden had been lifted. But that feeling hadn’t lasted long.

She had never imagined he would settle down at the Halo estate.

“To think the mighty Grand Duke of Rahinsel would confess in such a way that he can’t even choose his own fiancée.”

Why did she say that?

Ivetta regretted it immediately. She had let her anger take over and said exactly what was on her mind. For a noble, it was an unforgivable mistake.

Even so, Rianel had appeared entirely unbothered. Truly, he was no ordinary man.

Ivetta resolved to stay vigilant.

Somehow, she had to keep him in check. She couldn’t let him take even a single thing from Halo. Not under any circumstances.

‘Ugh, I feel like I’m going to choke.’

Ivetta’s face turned pale. She tried her best to chew her food slowly.

***

Meanwhile, Penelope found herself in an unexpected situation.

It had been pleasant flying on Ahwin’s back, soaring through the sky. They were looking for a nice restaurant on the outskirts of Halo when, out of nowhere, she spotted Carla. Countess Corindel was with her.

Penelope urgently whispered to Ahwin.

“Ahwin, it’s Carla!”

“I can see that. Could you stop blowing air into my ear?”

That wasn’t the problem.

“What do we do? She’s going to notice us!”

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“She won’t notice. Don’t worry.”

Despite Ahwin’s reassurance, Penelope couldn’t relax.

If she could see Carla, then Carla could see her. That was only logical. Yet Ahwin remained perfectly composed.

‘Ack! I think she saw me!’

Penelope’s heart dropped. Carla began striding in their direction, her expression thunderous.

“She’s coming this way! She definitely saw us. Let’s hide in an alley!”

“Calm down, Pepe. She can’t see us.”

“What do you mean she can’t see us? She’s not blind!”

“It’s magic.”

“......Oh.”

Penelope froze. She suddenly understood why Ahwin was so calm.

Magic. That explained everything.

It felt almost like cheating.

Come to think of it, Ahwin always seemed to avoid being noticed. Despite his unforgettable beauty, people rarely acknowledged his presence.

Even when they were together, most people acted as if Ahwin wasn’t there.

‘I thought it was because they were focused on me.’

Maybe that was magic, too.

As Penelope briefly pondered this, Carla continued striding purposefully in their direction, with Countess Corindel trailing behind.

‘What do I do? She’s right in front of us!’

Cold sweat trickled down Penelope’s back. Her heart pounded in her chest.

But then, Carla walked right past her. Countess Corindel followed without so much as a glance in Penelope’s direction.

‘Did she really not see us?’

Penelope stared after them, dumbfounded. As expected, Carla looked furious, while Countess Corindel appeared anxious.

Then Carla turned abruptly to face Countess Corindel and snapped.

“How long do you plan to follow me around? Are you going to trail me all the way back to the duchy?”

“Dowager Duchess, please, reconsider just once. My daughter must have been out of her mind today.”

“It’s not that she was out of her mind; this is simply her true nature. Your daughter’s flaws are rooted in her upbringing. I’m not surprised she turned out like this, given she grew up without a father.”

Penelope was stunned. Carla’s remark was a devastatingly personal attack.

‘No matter how angry you are, how could you say something like that? That’s just inhuman!’

Penelope felt her own anger rising.

Even so, Countess Corindel remained completely submissive.

“It’s all my fault. I’ll re-educate her from the beginning. Please, just grant her another chance with your broad and generous heart.”

“She’s a secretary for the Lady of Halo, isn’t she? What will you do if this scandal spreads in social circles?”

Carla glared at Countess Corindel with disbelief.

Countess Corindel, her face tense with frustration, bit her lips hard. It was clear she blamed her daughter for this predicament.