The rhythmic rocking of the carriage did little to soothe the thoughts swirling in my head. I leaned against the cushioned seat, eyes half-lidded, as I let my mind replay everything Lenora had told me before we even arrived in town.
It all started with a name.
Vivienne du Ruelle.
Right, it's that bratty noble girl, but it seems like she was someone with both status and burdens. A pawn in a grander game. At least, that's how Lenora described it.
She asked me if she could ask something while I was 'playing' with my skills and I agreed. Which led to her practically spilling everything about the whole predicament.
And the problem?
A marriage arrangement. One forced upon Vivienne by circumstances beyond her control.
It wasn't just about her, though.
Her family, her house—everything hung in the balance. And as fate would have it, today was the day things would start spiraling out of control.
Talk about coincidences huh. Just when the protagonist visits the town, all this happens. Yeah, I'm not believing it.
Anyway, when Lenora finished explaining everything to me back then, she looked at me with quiet desperation and asked—
"Please… will you help her?"
And just as I was about to respond, the world flickered.
[Event Triggered...]
I still remember my lips twitching from amusement.
And as usual, the event window had almost no useful info. Heck even the objective and penalty was filled with question marks.
I am sure it was intentionally so. The system probably wanted to use psychology tricks on me, using those question marks. But while it could be bad, it could be good too, so I didn't pay attention to them.
And honestly speaking, I was really tempted to ignore it.
Not out of malice or to get back at Vivienne for her bratty actions, but because I had my own survival to worry about. Not to mention the fact that I wasn't strong, that I wasn't some overpowered protagonist, and that I wasn't in a position to challenge noble politics.
But then I thought about it rationally.
I didn't need to go in headfirst. I didn't need to fight battles I couldn't win.
What I could do… was move in the background.
And so, I made my decision and formed a plan while they were in the hospital.
I had already set half of my plan into motion. The rest would unfold soon enough.
Just as I finished gathering my thoughts, the carriage jolted slightly, slowing down as the driver's voice rang out.
"We've arrived!"
I exhaled, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
Alright, time to get to work.
I stepped out of the carriage, adjusting my light autumn coat, and took in the scene not far from me.
The street was packed.
A sea of onlookers had gathered in front of what looked like an upscale boutique, their chatter buzzing through the air. Some whispered behind their hands, others openly gawked at the scene unfolding before them.
Ah. So it was already at the 'free entertainment' stage.
Blending into the crowd, I shifted my gaze forward.
At the center of it all, I spotted Vivienne. She stood rigid, her expression carefully schooled into something neutral, but her clenched fists betrayed her emotions. Beside her, two older figures—her parents, most likely—wore expressions of equal parts frustration and helplessness.
And then there was the trio.
Aeron. Livia. Emilia.
Aeron's usual relaxed demeanor was absent. His jaw was set tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Livia and Emilia stood beside him, their postures tense.
And standing across from them—
A fine-looking, red-haired young man in his early twenties.
He looked about twenty, draped in a rich dark coat with intricate embroidery. Sharp, handsome features, an easy-going smirk, and an unmistakable air of confidence that screamed 'self-entitled noble brat.'
And behind him? A group of men dressed in sharp black attire. They were either debt collectors or the enforcers. Or probably a few of his own allies thrown in for good measure.
I let out a silent hum.
'So that's the rumored scumbag, huh?'
My eyes lingered on him briefly before I scoffed inwardly.
'Not bad for a third-rate villain.'
I kept to the shadows, watching the scene unfold.
Vivienne's shoulders were tense, her hands curled at her sides. But she wasn't saying much. Not because she had nothing to say—but because she was being carefully led into a corner.
Surprisingly, the red-haired noble was good with his words.
He sighed, shaking his head as he spoke.
"Vivienne, I truly don't understand why you're resisting this so much."
His voice carried just the right amount of disappointment, laced with something almost akin to affection.
"The deal was clear. Your family had a way to repay their debt. But you… you failed to complete your end of the arrangement. Now, rather than struggling in vain, I am offering you an easy way out."
He stepped forward slightly, his voice gentle, coaxing.
"You won't have to worry about money ever again. Your family will be safe. And most importantly…"
His sharp eyes softened ever so slightly.
"I like you, Vivienne."
A few murmurs of envy passed through the crowd, but more than a few had the gleam of schadenfreude in their eyes—watching noble drama unfold like a stage play.
'Oh, he's good.'
I tilted my head slightly, watching the way his words turned the situation in his favor.
Instead of appearing like a villain, he played the role of a 'generous benefactor.' Someone willing to 'help' despite being 'wronged.' If Vivienne refused, it would look like she was being unreasonable. If she accepted, she would be bound to him forever.
A classic trap.
I glanced at Vivienne.
She was trying to keep her composure, but I could see the strain in her expression.
Her parents looked conflicted—helpless even. And as for Aeron and the others? Their anger was barely restrained, but they knew charging in recklessly wouldn't solve anything.
Or worse, they had already tried and been beaten.
The red-haired noble stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly.
"I really like you, Vivienne. This isn't just about the debt. I want you by my side." His gaze was warm, persuasive. "This is the best for everyone, don't you think?"
The murmurs grew louder.
I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head slightly.
'Not that much of a third-rate, huh?'
He knew how to twist the narrative, manipulate the setting, and turn public perception in his favor.
A small, amused smirk pulled at my lips.
But that's where he made a mistake.
Because I was already here.
And I didn't like following someone else's script.