IBTHM Chapter 24

"……What did you say?"

At Hades's shocked expression, Mason's lips curved into a smirk.

Hades's eyes narrowed as he watched him. As expected, this old man wasn't going to let things slide quietly.

"Are you joking?"

"Pardon? We're approaching this matter with utmost sincerity."

Hades ground his teeth as he watched Mason's grinning face.

It seemed Count Razley and Count Garen had agreed to this proposal as well. They avoided Hades's gaze, which demanded an answer, and remained silent.

In truth, even without saying it aloud, both vassals were inwardly disappointed in Hades over the matter with Abel. Being men who dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to Ruvermonte made their disappointment all the keener.

Understanding their feelings, Hades suppressed his rising anger and spoke.

"The fact that people who know Esclife's situation are demanding 8 billion nortes as a dowry—should I take that to mean you absolutely cannot accept this marriage?"

"Your Grace? We told you we respect your decision. Whatever family you wish to connect with, we will simply follow. However, isn't the marriage of the great Ruvermonte ducal house a major affair that draws the attention of everyone in the empire?"

Mason continued in a calm, measured tone.

"Public interest will surely focus on whether the other family's status matches Ruvermonte's. If they're not a powerful family with equal standing, shouldn't they at least demonstrate through wealth that they can rival Ruvermonte? Shouldn't there be at least some small justification for the union of the two families?"

Mason's smooth talking made Hades want to punch him, but in truth, he couldn't say the words were wrong.

Hades had also wanted to find a reasonable compromise, as long as they weren't unconditionally opposing his marriage to Aisha.

And this was for Aisha's sake, not anyone else's.

Already lacking in family power, if he forced the marriage through regardless, she would very likely be looked down upon not only by the vassals but also by the Ruvermonte bloodline rooted throughout the noble territories.

If he could compromise reasonably here, it would be better to meet the vassals' demands and then solidify Aisha's position so firmly that no one could talk behind her back.

"It seems Esclife doesn't have such resources, Your Grace?"

Even though he knew everything, Mason tilted his head and asked as if he didn't.

Hades gazed at him quietly, considering, then opened his mouth.

"They'd have to pull up their foundation by the roots, but if it's about 8 billion nortes, Esclife could somehow scrape it together. Very well. I'll convey your requirements to Esclife."

Mason was flustered when Hades, whom he'd expected to throw a fit, readily nodded his head.

He clearly knew Esclife was a poor territory that wouldn't yield a drop of oil no matter how hard you squeezed it, so he couldn't understand what Hades was relying on to be so composed.

The two counts beside him were equally confused.

Hades nodded nonchalantly and rose to his feet.

"Then, with Esclife preparing a dowry of 8 billion nortes, the discussion of this marriage is concluded. If there's any gossip afterward, or if my wife—who will enter this ducal castle with such an enormous dowry—fails to receive the treatment she deserves."

Hades added one more thing before sweeping out of his office like a gust of wind.

"You'll bear the responsibility."

No sooner had the vassal meeting discussing the marriage ended than Hades summoned me to his room.

From his expression, it seemed there was a problem.

Not that I hadn't expected it, so I sat facing him without much emotion.

After offering me a seat, Hades crossed his legs, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and remained silent for quite some time.

His hand slowly rubbing the bridge of his nose looked tired.

How should I put it—it felt like watching my past-life self after pulling all-nighters for a solid week writing personal statements. I felt a little sorry for him.

"Your Grace."

"Mm."

"They still said the marriage is impossible?"

Hades lowered the hand covering his eyes and answered with a grimace.

"I told you. That won't happen."

"Then what is it?"

"Hah……. Just wait. I'm thinking about what to do."

So there was some kind of problem after all.

Actually, if he was going to worry about it alone, why call me over so early? He should have called after he finished thinking.

I watched Hades, who kept his eyes tightly shut in prolonged silence, when a thought suddenly occurred to me.

"Your Grace."

"What."

"Is your foot okay?"

"Foot?"

Hades opened his eyes and asked back with a puzzled expression.

"Your sole."

"Why are you suddenly asking about my sole?"

"I'm talking about healing the Young Lord's wound. Wasn't that using the Core Stone's absorption ability? The ability to absorb wounds in exchange."

At my question, Hades looked somewhat surprised.

"You know about that too?"

What kind of dismissal is this?

I was curious about how shocked Hades would be if he knew that I actually possessed knowledge about virtually all the principles of this world at a level practically equivalent to a god.

I spoke with a slightly sulky tone.

"Why are you treating me like an idiot?"

"No, I'm just surprised because you know about that ability even though you can't hide your Core Stone and don't have a speck of magic power. I'm not treating you like an idiot, am I? Where would I find a woman as smart and good at acting as you?"

Ah, there he goes again saying it's acting.

Another sigh escaped me automatically, but I decided to let it go.

"I just know it as common knowledge."

"Hmm……."

For some reason, Hades smiled and looked pleased.

I didn't know what he was thinking, but I could tell his next line would be another self-assured remark.

"So, if I had taken the wound completely? Were you going to apply medicine and wrap it in bandages like you did for Abel?"

As expected.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but unfortunately not. While it's true the pain transfers at the same level, absorbing external injuries doesn't mean the wounds are carved identically. That was slightly incorrect knowledge."

"I see……."

There had never been a scene where a character without purification ability absorbed external injuries, so this was something I hadn't known.

Among the novel content I knew, Hades was the only one who used absorption ability without white attributes.

Of course, since the wound he absorbed from Abel was internal injury and mental collapse, there was no way to know how external wounds would transfer.

Anyway, this newly learned fact was interesting.

Watching me nod repeatedly, Hades chuckled.

"If you were curious, you should have just asked right away. I wonder if you even slept properly from worrying."

Hah…

I took a deep breath and dry-washed my face a couple of times.

Fine, let's say that's true.

"Just tell me what the vassals said. It's better when two people worry together than alone."

"They demanded a massive dowry. As a condition for not objecting to this marriage."

"Oh my! Really?"

I was satisfied with the unexpected content that came from Hades's mouth.

The vassals would try to obstruct our marriage by any means.

Esclife was a barony stuck in a rural backwater, the poorest territory of all, so they naturally thought such a demand couldn't be met and made that condition.

But they were very wrong in their thinking.

Hehe…

Three years since I opened my eyes as Aisha Esclife in this Crescenta.

While my fangirl heart had remained constant for all three years, I'd only started following Abel around in earnest one year ago.

So here's the question.

What did I prepare during the two years after first opening my eyes?

Not absolutely essential for fangirling, but still, a factor that would be more helpful than anything if I had it.

That was precisely…….

Wealth!

In my past life, the reason I studied desperately, got a job, and earned money was all for smooth fangirling. And it was the same here.

To send tribute gifts of a quality not embarrassing to Abel, I felt the need to possess wealth, and mobilizing all the knowledge I had, I obtained satisfactory results in just two years.

I could stake Hades's perfectly fine soles on the fact that the wealth I currently possessed could buy up this entire empire and still have plenty left over.

"How much did they demand for the dowry?"

"Eight billion nortes. But you don't need to worry. I'll arrange money from my assets that the vassals don't know about. The problem is that if I want to make it look like it came from Esclife, I'll have to forge documents…"

"Is that all?"

Piece of cake.

Hades looked puzzled at my face, which had brightened considerably for some reason.

"What do you mean, is that all?"

"Don't worry. I can pay that much."

What wouldn't I do for the position of Abel's mother?

Hades seemed unable to understand my composure and asked with narrowed brows.

"Where would you get that money?"

Of course I couldn't answer truthfully and needed an excuse, but fortunately, having investigated my background, Hades would know about 'his' existence.

"I can ask Dug. So Your Grace, don't worry about anything."

"……Dug?"

"Didn't you say you knew about him before? I'm talking about Viscount Hurane who sponsors my family."

"Ah, Viscount Douglas Hurane."

Hades made a sound of recognition, then for some reason, remained silent with a displeased expression.

His reaction was strange, so I asked if there was a problem while watching his mood. He spoke with a still-hardened face.

"You even call him by a nickname…"

A nickname?

Wait, Dug?

"……You must be quite close?"