NOVEL WEB Chapter 108.1
Chapter 108.1. The Duke Daugther’s Determination
“W-What do you think you’re doing? I’m talking to Sara-dono right now, and here you are, barging in like you own the place!”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said? I made an appointment and came to visit Sara at her home. The one barging in unannounced on a scheduled day is you.”
Clyde tries to speak confidently, not wanting to be overwhelmed by Katia’s presence, but she coldly cuts him off without hesitation.
Rather, she turns her icy gaze towards Illumina.
“In that case, it’s only proper to turn away unscheduled visitors. Why did you let him in? Don’t tell me you didn’t know I was coming—are you trying to be funny?”
“!”
Illumina’s shoulders tremble, and she breaks out in a cold sweat, remaining silent. It’s clear to anyone that her reaction is a dead giveaway.
She didn’t know—or perhaps even if she did, her mind was so preoccupied with Sara’s marriage prospects that she completely forgot about the appointment. Or maybe she didn’t realize it was Katia visiting and thought she could use Clyde’s position to forcefully dismiss her.
In any case, it’s nothing short of foolish.
“E-Even so!”
Katia is briefly silent, pondering how to interrogate them further, but once again, Clyde’s voice cuts in.
“Even if there was an unfortunate misunderstanding, that’s no reason to force your way into our conversation! The Hartman family will formally apologize for that later, but right now, you have no right to interrupt my discussion!”
…In a way, it’s admirable.
The audacity to ignore his own uninvited intrusion, the nerve to blame the other party as if they were in the wrong, and the slyness to shift all responsibility to the Hartmann family.
Katia sighs, realizing one thing.
This man is exceptionally skilled at making excuses at the moment. Even if she points out his contradictions, he’ll likely just come up with more excuses, turning it into a never-ending cycle.
—Therefore.
If she’s going to do this, she’ll start from the root of the issue.
“…Fine. So, your goal is to snatch Sara away, degrade Class B once again, and if possible, secure an engagement with her—that much is clear from your conversation.”
Clyde had begun to relax, thinking the confrontation was over, but Katia wasn’t about to let him catch his breath.
“Setting aside whether that’s possible, are you sure about this?”
With a slight smirk, she prepares her move, having anticipated this scenario.
“In that case—your family will become a vassal of the Trakia family.”
“………What?”
“Don’t understand? Well, it was just decided yesterday, so it’s no surprise.”
Seeing the completely stunned look on Clyde’s face, Katia explains further.
“Yesterday, during a discussion between the heads of our families, it was officially decided that—’The Hartman family will become a vassal of the Trakia family.'”
As the heir of a marquis family, Clyde fully grasps the meaning behind her words.
If it’s just between families with no affiliations, then matters of marriage are purely between those families.
But vassalage—when ‘factions’ are involved, it changes the entire dynamic.
From the Trakia family’s perspective, a marriage involving Sara would mean offering up a daughter from within their faction.
Naturally, the receiving family would be entitled to demand a suitable return. For example—the other family would join their faction.
Regardless of personal intentions, that’s how it would play out in the formalities. That’s how significant negotiations work in a noble society.
“Ridiculous!”
Of course, there’s no way Clyde, who has always viewed Katia as an enemy, could accept this.
“What is this nonsense?! The Hartman family’s allegiance hasn’t been decided yet—!”
“True, it was a deadlock with multiple families eyeing us. The numerous marriage proposals to Sara were a result of that. The Trakia family refrained from acting to avoid unnecessary conflicts, but now—”