Please Grant Me a Glorious Regret [Novel] Chapter 17

Every single point was an assumption.

While she had confidence in her paintings, she couldn't be certain of the outcome.

Even if she gained recognition in the art world as Dimion suggested and fully utilized the premium of being sponsored by Rocata, 50,000 lirang wasn't an amount she could easily repay.

"Didn't you say you wanted revenge?"

As Dimion brought up revenge, Arte's eyes wavered once more.

"To put an end to all the various risks I just mentioned, wouldn't it be better to just wipe out the Baron's family entirely?"

The best way to stop trembling in fear, stop gritting her teeth in humiliation, and achieve financial freedom was for Baron Pitt's family to face complete ruin.

It was also something Arte had desperately wished for since long ago.

Only then could they completely sever the long chain of their ill-fated connection.

"People don't often realize this, but revenge ultimately comes down to money."

"…"

"30,000 rirang is more than enough for revenge. Lieutenant Tian should know exactly how to use that money."

At the mention of Peter, the gunshot she heard yesterday and the blood-splattered floor naturally sprang to mind.

The hand heavily wrapped in a bloodstained bandage also flickered vividly before her eyes.

"Shouldn't you give him a chance? The Lieutenant Tian I know is the type of person who pays back exactly what he suffered. I think he'd do an exceptionally good job of it."

Dimion wasn't merely pointing out what Arte had missed and filling in the gaps, but he was practically handing her the method for revenge and telling her exactly what she needed to do next.

The thought of finally executing the plan she had dreamt of for so long made Arte's heart pound without her realizing it.

Yet, simultaneously, an unresolved question reared its head again.

Thinking back to Dimion's attitude toward her over the past few days, malice seemed more fitting than favor.

It was just a few days ago that he had warned her not to carelessly bring up Phelia's name and ignored her pleas, leading to a disaster.

Now, that same man was suddenly offering unprompted help.

It was difficult to accept it as pure goodwill.

"You have a look that says you can't understand why I'm suddenly helping."

Startled, Arte's eyes widened.

Dimion had read her thoughts without a single margin of error.

"Because I accepted your contract, My Lady. I protect everything that belongs to me. Even if it's just a doll."

The word doll echoed exceptionally loudly.

Hearing herself called a doll belonging to him while holding the 50,000 lirang he had given her made the reality of the contract she had undertaken hit her all over again.

But was Dimion truly sincere?

She clearly remembered the potent disgust in his eyes when he looked at her.

It didn't seem possible for someone who felt such intense emotion to change overnight.

It felt like a trap.

She sensed it instinctively.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact reason or what Dimion ultimately wanted, but an overwhelming intuition told her that his favor was absolutely not for her sake.

"Well, if you don't want it, I can't force you."

At first glance, it sounded like he was taking a step back.

But from his voice and the slight upward curve of his lips, Arte could sense his certainty and composure that she would inevitably accept his offer.

"…"

An urge surged within her to shatter that confidence, but it was just that… an urge.

The suggestion that she should give Peter a chance for revenge kept echoing in her ears.

The grueling time her family had suffered under the crushing weight of debt vividly resurfaced in her mind.

With the opportunity to wipe it all away dangling right in front of her, she couldn't turn away.

Especially since she was the root cause of this miserable entanglement, so she, of all people, couldn't ignore it.

Even if it reeked of something ominous and the debt she had to repay multiplied significantly, Arte had to follow the method Dimion had laid out.

"…Thank you, Your Grace."

In the end, Arte accepted the envelope Dimion handed her.

Dimion chuckled, seemingly satisfied, and continued.

"Anyway, since it's a contract, we'll draw up the specifics once we go up to the capital. We'll leave in two days. Get ready."

"In two days? That's too soon…"

"And from now on, I'd like to make our titles clear."

Her protest that it was too fast was cut off far too easily.

"I have no habit of using formal language and observing etiquette with a sponsored dependent or a doll."

"…"

"You don't mind, do you, Arte?"

The moment he said her name in a low voice, Arte was certain.

Dimion's strangely altered attitude and his seemingly sweet proposal were all traps.

A terribly sticky trap from which she wouldn't easily escape.

As expected, by the time Arte returned to the estate, the news that she and Dimion had gone into town together had spread to everyone in the Count's family.

Arte sat her bewildered family down and explained about the 50,000 lirang Dimion had given her.

Naturally, any mention of the contract was omitted.

She spun a tale that while conversing with Dimion, she happened to show him her paintings, and he liked them so much that he offered to sponsor her.

She tried her best to convey it as plausibly and calmly as possible, but she was understandably worried.

Even for someone from the Rocata family, putting down 50,000 lirang based on the potential of an unknown noble lady was no simple matter.

It was reasonable to suspect there was some hidden transaction.

However, faced with such sudden fortune, the Count's family was in no position to remain level-headed.

The time they had spent crushed beneath infinitely multiplying debts, and the time they had suffered under the tyranny of Benjamin and Baron Pitt, had been too long.

Everyone was exhausted.

They were especially vulnerable after Peter had lost his finger.

Furthermore, Dimion and Peter's relationship served as a convenient screen to obscure various doubts.

The two had fought numerous battles together in the same deployment area.

The word comrade carried power.

If it was because they were comrades that Dimion used the Rocata name to secure Peter's release, and if he wanted to sponsor Arte as a way to support his wrongfully injured friend, everyone was too busy nodding their heads in touched agreement to question it further.

Even when she revealed they had to leave for the capital in two days to align with Dimion's schedule, not much was said.

The Count and Countess were surprised and asked if it wasn't too fast, but that was all.

Neither of them really tried to stop Dimion or Arte.

Instead, they merely encouraged the servants to hurry with packing her bags.

Only one person, Lisa, remained dissatisfied and uneasy the entire time.

"Your luggage? Is it all packed already?"

"Yes. You know how meticulous Martha is. Everything is organized except for the dress I'll wear tomorrow morning."

After spending two whole days preparing to leave, it was already the night before her departure for the capital.

Lisa, her complexion still dark, entered Arte's room.

"Why is your face so dark?"

"How could it be bright? My one and only little sister is suddenly flying off to the capital."

"You seem to be the only one who thinks that way and feels sad."

Arte replied with a small laugh.

It was a slightly bitter laugh.

Since the news of Dimion's sponsorship had broken, the Count's estate had practically been in a festive mood.

The moment the sun rose, Count Tian had visited Baron Pitt's estate and settled their debts.

Furthermore, Arte had handed the remaining money to Peter, exactly as Dimion had instructed, along with a small note suggesting he take his revenge.

So now, all that remained was the victory of the Tian family, who had finally achieved their long-awaited wish.

It was natural that the estate was filled with joy.

Yet, amidst that natural joy, it hurt a little that no one seemed to think about parting with her.

Of course, she didn't want to blame her family.

The time had been that grueling, the suffering that intense.

But she couldn't stop the slight bitterness she felt.

"Arte."

Perhaps reading the shadow behind her faint smile, Lisa called Arte's name in a subdued voice.

"Do you really have to go to the capital?"