“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hugo, the eldest son of Marquis Grenville.”
“Hmm… So you’re the one…”
A week had passed since my bout with Kenneth.
As soon as my father approached Archduke Woodstock with a marriage proposal for his granddaughter, the man promptly dropped by the main residence—in person.
Ha-ha… He must be pretty hungry for his next sacrifice.
Then again…from the archduke’s point of view, a marquis had just offered to hand over his son with zero preconditions. Given the rumors surrounding the man’s granddaughter, it was only natural that he would jump at the opportunity.
“What do you think, Your Grace?” asked my father.
“Hmm… The boy’s manners and bearing reflect well on you, Lord Grenville,” the archduke answered with a satisfied nod. If I wasn’t mistaken, it seemed I had already found favor with him. “When would be a good time to have him meet my granddaughter?”
“What do you say, Hugo?”
The two of them stared back at me. I could see it in their eyes—they both wanted this to happen right away.
“I’m available anytime…,” I replied. “But I would like to meet her as soon as possible, if I could.”
“Oh-ho! In that case, I’ll return in a week!” said the archduke.
“Very well,” my father replied. “I will make the necessary arrangements with Hugo.”
With the conversation settled, my father and I saw the archduke off at the front entrance.
“Ah, yes,” he said, turning back. “My granddaughter resides in my family’s holdings rather than here in the capital, so we’ll use the portal at my mansion to jump there instantaneously.”
“Understood,” I replied.
Impressive. Given its incredible cost, teleportation magic was rarely used even by the most high-ranking nobles. To think that Archduke Woodstock had a portal set aside for his exclusive use…
“Hmm, yes… This was a very worthwhile meeting!” With a huge grin on his face, the archduke stepped into his carriage and set off back to his mansion.
“…You understand your duty, I hope, Hugo?” my father asked sternly.
“Of course. You can count on me.”
“Mm. Then you may go.”
“Very well. Excuse me, Father.”
Offering him a respectful bow, I made my way back to my cottage.
“… Just one week to go…,” I murmured under my breath as I sat back in my chair.
It was official—in seven days, I would be meeting Archduke Woodstock’s granddaughter for the first time.
And yet…other than the rumors, I didn’t know the first thing about her. Through all six of my previous lifetimes, I had never heard anyone describe what she looked like or even mention her name.
My father might know, but we weren’t exactly on speaking terms… If we were close, I would never have set out on this quest for revenge in the first place.
“…I wonder what she’s like…”
To put it bluntly, I was simply using the archduke’s granddaughter as a stepping stone on my path of revenge. In truth, I didn’t particularly care what sort of woman she was. It wouldn’t matter even if the rumors were true, and she really was a monster in human form.
“…Yes,” I told myself, shaking my head. “After my past six lives, I’ve given up on family… All I want now is revenge. If that means using her for my own ends, so be it. It’s none of my concern what becomes of her.”
It was as though I was trying to uproot the guilt and hesitation growing inside of me.
“…Maybe I should get some air.”
With that thought, I stepped outside and headed for the garden.
Compared to the main residence where the rest of my family lived, the cottage had only the smallest of gardens. But throughout the past fourteen years of my life—no, my combined forty-six years of life—it had been my only refuge.
“Ha-ha… I guess I’ll have to say good-bye to this place forever when I leave to join House Woodstock.”
I gazed at the flowers blooming in the garden as emotion welled up within me.
“Good morning, Master Hugo!”
A week had passed, and it was finally time for me to meet the archduke’s granddaughter.
Ellen came to wake me up early in the morning—or strictly speaking, sometime before dawn.
“…It’s still dark outside, Ellen.”
“What on earth are you saying? Today’s the day you’re due to meet your future wife! You need plenty of time to prepare!”
According to Ellen, this was how such things were done.
“Your bath has already been drawn, so please come with me!”
“Ah, r-right…”
Ellen all but dragged me into the bathroom and pushed me into the tub.
…Isn’t this going a little far? I mean, flower petals floating on the surface?
“Would you like me to add more hot water, Master Hugo?” she asked.
“No, this is fine…”
What I wanted was for her to step outside. Washing in front of her was too embarrassing…
“Then please come over here…”
“…I can dry off and change by myself, so could you wait outside, Ellen?”
“I’m sorry? There’s no need to be shy, Master Hugo…” She looked like she wanted to say more, but she ultimately succumbed to my forceful stare and changed course. “Understood. Excuse me,” she said and hastily left the bathroom.
She probably didn’t want to cause any problems on such an important day.
After quickly drying myself off, I put on my underwear, shirt, and pants, then joined her outside.
“Now then, this way, please.”
Next, she made me sit in front of a mirror as she put me in one outfit after another. I felt like one of my sister’s dolls.
I usually went about in shabby attire, but today, I wore clothes from a famous designer in the imperial capital. Personally, I couldn’t see the point in dressing me up like a peacock after all this time.
In any event, after a three-hour-long fitting session, I stood up.
“…I left something in my room,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”
“…You forgot something?” Ellen tilted her head to one side.
It was only natural she was confused. After all, I didn’t own a thing in this house. Leaving her to mull this over, I returned to my room and opened my desk drawer.
“……”
Inside was a hair ornament adorned with a unique design—the only memento I had to remember my late mother by.
Ha-ha… Didn’t I make up my mind to be rid of family…?
With a dry chuckle, I plucked up the ornament and slipped it into my pocket. Then I returned to Ellen.
“Let us join His Lordship,” she said, guiding me to the main residence.
As I left, I couldn’t help but notice the relieved look on Molly’s face.
If the rumors were to be believed, my trip to the Woodstock Estate was tantamount to a death sentence.
Of course, from the moment I began my seventh life, I had made my peace with such risks. I was ready.
It was a momentous day—I would be taking the first step on my path to revenge.