Chap 5

Count François plopped down in his seat without a greeting, babbling away informally.

"You?"

Ermedillin, surprised by the Count's tone, frowned and glared at him.

"What, you glare at me? You seem to have forgotten your place?"

'You? Even if he is my father, to use such language with a daughter who is an empress?'

The Count's attitude was excessively inappropriate, even for an ordinary father.

Now he even looked at the young maids with malicious eyes, scanning them with a disgusting expression.

Ermedillin's beauty was inherited from her father, so the Count also had good looks, but the expression he wore was unbearably unpleasant.

'Wow, even a handsome face can look that nasty. Such an expression would spoil my appetite even if my favorite grandfather came.'

"Are these the new ones that came in? This time they are a bit higher level than last time."

'What's he talking about? This crazy old man.'

Though she wanted to chase him away immediately, she had to put out the urgent fire first.

"Um, Father. Something to tell you…"

"That one."

Suddenly, the Count pointed with his finger at a maid with thick golden hair.

The maid who was pointed at barely lifted her head and sent a desperate look to Ermedillin.

Tears were already falling from her eyes.

"Why that maid? Did she commit some rudeness?"

Ermedillin asked with a stern expression.

The Count then glared at Ermedillin, putting strength in his eyes.

"Are you insane? That blonde. I'm taking her. This time send her back with her life attached."

"Your Majesty…"

It seemed like she might burst into incredulous laughter, but the maid's desperate face, chosen by the Count, was too vivid.

Ermedillin stood between her father and the maid.

"Why are you borrowing my person, your Grace? May I ask the reason?"

The Count's expression, which had been wearing an unpleasant smile while looking at the maid, turned fierce for a moment.

"Today, why are you like this? Have you really gone mad? Fer…"

The Count almost mentioned someone's name but stopped.

"I don't want to argue in front of these creatures. Take her with you when you leave…"

"No."

Before the Count could finish his words, Ermedillin expressed her refusal sharply.

"What?"

"I said no. Why would you arbitrarily borrow my person? First, repay the money you borrowed from me."

The Count's eyes seemed to bulge out at Ermedillin's words.

A face like he'd seen a ghost.

"Everyone, get out."

Grinding his teeth and driving out the maids, the Count was trembling with rage.

The maids left, and he abruptly stood up and grabbed Ermedillin by the scruff.

"This crazy, have you really gone mad? Do you not care if Ferdinand dies?"

'Ferdinand? Who is that?'

A name that had never been mentioned in the novel.

Why should I care what happens to someone I don't even know, who must not be an important character?

"I have to get my money first no matter what happens to Ferdinand. Repay the money?"

Holding Ermedillin by the scruff of her neck, Count François was captivated by a strange sensation as he looked at his daughter's confident eyes.

'Am I dreaming right now? Is this woman really the Ermedillin I knew?'

However, the only clear eyes in the empire.

The privilege of being able to use dark magic, her purple pupils made it impossible to deny that the alien woman in front of him was his daughter.

The Count released the grip on her neck and asked in a low voice.

"Why do you suddenly need money?"

"I have a personal use for it."

"Personal? You have a personal need for money? If you're so desperate, do as you were. Either make illegal drugs or beg from your lovers."

François the Grand Duke looked at Ermedillin with eyes as if he was looking at not a daughter but waste and trash.

"You've borrowed so much money, why would you do such a thing? It's tiring. Just give it back."

"What? Have you gone mad? Do you really want to see Ferdinand die?"

'Ah, so who is that?'

"Do as you please. I need to get the money. It's recorded in detail, so if it goes to court…."

Before Ermedillin's words were finished, the Grand Duke grabbed her hair.

He then drew his dagger and pressed it to Ermedillin's throat.

Startled, Ermedillin writhed, and a small wound appeared on her snowwhite neck.

"Ahh!!"

"Don't whine. Just call the cleric to heal it. I'd like to kill you right now, but I'll hold back this time. You must be under a lot of pressure too. And send the money right away. Use whatever means you have to make up the amount. Got it?"

The sensation of metal at her neck was so vivid that Ermedillin couldn't respond at all.

She was just biting her teeth hard not to cry.

The Grand Duke grabbed Ermedillin's hair and threw her hard against the wall, then left with loud footsteps, kicking the door open.

Thud! Ermedillin's head hit the wall with a loud noise.

As soon as the Grand Duke left, the maids who rushed in screamed at Ermedillin's condition.

"Kyah!! Your Majesty, the Empress!!"

"Quick!! Call the cleric!!"

One of the maids rushed out to call the cleric who was residing in the palace.