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"Letizia, you really...!"
Paydan's face was a sight to behold, his mouth agape as if he hadn't imagined I would dare to defy him.
That sight was quite exhilarating.
Just then, Erin appeared from the dressing room, having packed all my belongings.
Since I didn't really have much that I could call my own in this mansion anyway, my luggage was quite simple.
"Let's go, Erin."
As I left the room with Erin, Paydan's voice, belatedly regaining his senses, rang out.
"If you leave like this, you'll never be allowed back in this house again, you hear?"
I scoffed at that.
Did he think I would waver like I used to if he said that?
'So what, you jerk!'
I pretended not to hear him and strode out of the Duke's mansion.
After leaving the Duke's mansion, I went straight to the most expensive hotel in the capital.
The hotel staff, still thinking I was the Duchess of Farnese, naturally offered me a suite.
Once I was up in the room, I immediately ordered a bath to be prepared.
'How terrible life on the streets and in prison was.'
I never wanted to experience the sensation of rats and bugs crawling on my body again.
As I was soaking in the warm water that had been prepared, Erin entered with a knock.
"Madam... no, Miss. I wasn't sure which wine would be more suitable, so I brought both..."
Erin held out the white wine and red wine she had received from the hotel manager.
'I wonder if the more expensive wine would taste better?'
As I thought that, the red wine began to sparkle.
In contrast, the white wine emitted a black light.
'Does that mean the white wine has no value?'
I, still marveling at the power I hadn't yet gotten used to, pointed to the red wine for now.
"I'll have the red wine, please."
Erin quickly poured the wine and handed it to me.
I immediately took a sip and instinctively frowned.
'Ugh... it's very dry. Well, just because something is expensive doesn't mean it will suit my taste.'
Still, since I chose it, I decided to take responsibility for my choice and finish at least one glass.
I sipped the wine, gazing silently at the wedding ring that no longer sparkled.
'The ability to distinguish valuable things...'
When faced with a situation where I have to distinguish valuable things among various objects, this ability alerts me with a sparkling effect.
Gold means it's valuable, black means it's not.
And when I no longer need it, the effect disappears, and it shows the object in its original form.
It was a convenient and necessary ability.
Especially for me now.
'Now that I've left the Duke's mansion, next is...'
My next goal was to 'extract as much alimony as possible.'
Of course, my ultimate goal was to take everything Paydan had and leave him penniless on the street.
'To do that, I need to get alimony and grow my business first.'
Using this ability, I should be able to pick out only the valuable things that will make money in the future as alimony.
'But I don't want to waste my precious life on that bastard for long.'
I want to end my revenge as quickly as possible and enjoy the rest of my life.
'Hmm, if I had a powerful ally, I could shorten that time even more...'
As I was lost in thought about the future, Erin's voice broke through my reverie.
"Um, Miss. What if His Grace doesn't pay for the hotel?"
The cost of the hotel we were staying in was all being billed to Paydan.
Erin, who had directly witnessed the fight between me and Paydan, seemed anxious about it.
I reassured Erin.
"Don't worry. He'll pay for the hotel without complaint, even if it's just to cover up the rumors of discord."
Well, if that doesn't work, I can use this ability to make money.
I said it casually, but Erin thought I was upset and deflated, and suddenly she started getting even more heated.
"Honestly, how could His Grace do that? In the first year of marriage, when everyone says you're supposed to be so in love! How could he have eyes for another woman when he has such a beautiful wife?"
"Erin."
"No, it's not just been a year. It's been like that since right before the wedding. Treating you like a fish he's already caught! He's been messing around with that woman since then!"
"I'm okay now."
"I'm not okay! I'm never going to let them get away with this!"
"What are you going to do if you don't let them get away with it?"
Erin, with a serious face, pondered for a moment before opening her mouth.
"Sh-should I kill them...?"
Erin, with a frightened face, spoke quite seriously, and I found it endearing.
I laughed heartily for the first time since my regression, then stopped, remembering Erin from my previous life.
Erin had mysteriously died while insisting on my unjust accusations.
'I was chased away without even uncovering the cause of Erin's death.'
Whatever I do for revenge, it must be in a direction where this child will not be harmed.
"But then your life would be wasted. You should meet a nice, handsome man and go on dates."
"That's... true."
Thinking that what I said made sense, Erin grabbed my hand tightly and urged me.
"Miss, you must meet an even more wonderful man. You must."
Erin probably didn't mean much by it, but the moment I heard that.
Something flashed in my mind.
"Hearing you say that gives me a good idea."
"A good idea?"
"I'm going to have an affair too."
"Excuse me...?"
I smiled brightly at Erin, who was blinking in surprise, and added.
"You told me to meet a better man, right?"
It just occurred to me.
A 'better man' than Paydan.
On a roll, I even sent a letter to 'that man' saying I wanted to meet him, then lay down on the soft bed in the hotel.
So who is that man?
'Idris Dellua.'
The third prince, who received the title of Grand Duke Dellua when the Crown Prince ascended to the throne.
Crucially...
'The villain of the original story.'
In fact, in my previous life, I had hardly ever met Idris.
He was the number one person to avoid for transmigrators.
There was no good to be gained from getting involved with the villain of the original story.
'But now the original story doesn't matter.'
Even the male lead is having an affair with another woman, so there's no reason why the villain should only be evil, right?
'Besides, he was at odds with Paydan...'
Our interests might align well.
'Well, that might just be my wishful thinking.'
But that's okay.
I have a card that will benefit Idris, and he will be the one to regret it if he refuses.
'The reply... should I wait about a week and accept it as a refusal if it doesn't come?'
Whether it's a refusal or acceptance, I hope the reply comes quickly.
Just as I was thinking that and about to doze off, Erin's flustered voice was heard.
"M-Miss. A reply has arrived."
...Huh?
The word 'reply' banished my drowsiness and my eyes snapped open.
"Already?"
It had only been an hour since I sent the letter to the Dellua Grand Duchy.
The round trip distance alone would take an hour, so how could a reply have already arrived?
'Is it a cold rejection after all?'
Well, even if it were me, I would be suspicious if the mistress of a hostile family asked to meet.
I opened the letter, half resigned, while considering other ways to persuade Idris.
But...
[Then I'll be waiting tomorrow.]
What is this, this reply that came back as if he had been waiting for it?
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