C14
What Liena mentioned was her past.
"The pottery you bought at the market turned out to be the work of an artisan, or you liked the merchant's name and invested in him, and then that merchant exclusively supplied popular products."
In an instant, a deflated sound like a squeal escaped from her mouth.
"I know. It's hard to believe, isn't it? At first, my family thought it was just child's play."
I didn't laugh because I couldn't believe it but because I was astounded.
"It's not that I have a good feeling, but I knew it thanks to regression."
From the perspective of a transmigrator who obviously knows the situation, it made me smile bitterly.
Even in the novel, this was Liena's usual phrase every time she provided information that could be useful to the family, and then others wondered, "How could she have known?"
"My intuition is pretty good!"
Her second brother, Leheim, believed in this flimsy excuse until the last half of the work.
"It's as simple as that."
Even as I doubted Leheim's intelligence, Liena continued to chat enthusiastically.
"But one day, I went to the Andala region to play and passed by my sister-in-law's mine..."
Ah, that's why you mentioned this story out of nowhere.
"I felt something. Ah, this mine may have little value now, but it will be a great success in the future."
Subsequently, Liena returned home and informed Leandro about the news.
Leandro came to ask if the Wallace family would be willing to sell the mine for his sister.
"I was attracted to my sister-in-law when I saw her! I even felt that you seemed like a good person."
I had mixed feelings.
"Mmm."
Liena is basically a good person, but when it comes to personal gain, she shows a terrifying side.
She lied calmly when necessary, and when it came to acting skills, she rivaled a theater actor.
"When I read it, I liked that the main character didn't seem like an easy prey."
It's really embarrassing that you're trying to deceive me.
Some people probably think it's a white lie for the benefit of everyone.
Cassius benefits by acquiring the mine, and I benefit because my relationship with Leandro improves thanks to her mediation, and I don't have to divorce. It was a good ending for everyone.
However.
"It's not funny at all."
I didn't want to passively accept Liena's greedy good intentions.
I had no intention of becoming a puppet who does what she wants.
"Do you remember the day my brother brought you home for the first time? I was surprised because my first impression was very good."
Liena spoke shyly, unaware of my true intentions.
"After that, when we became family and saw each other often, I started to like my sister-in-law."
Then she laughed. Liena's angelic deadly smile that had captured many people in the past.
"That's right. I like my sister-in-law very much."
To be honest, when you look at her objectively, removing all selfish concerns, she was really cute.
To the point where I can understand, at least a little, the servants who make such a fuss as if their gallbladder is about to be removed with just a smile from her.
If it were two years ago, I wouldn't have known what to do with her because she was too cute...
"Do you really like me?"
The angel's eyes lit up.
"Of course!"
"Then, you don't need to have the mine, right?"
"What?"
"Can I just return and keep the mine?"
"Wait a moment, sister-in-law."
Liena quickly opened her mouth.
The other parts of her face remained motionless, only her eyelids moved.
But I just said everything I wanted to say.
"Well, that's a relief. Actually, I constantly felt uncomfortable because of the mine. But now that I know, I'm relieved that it was just Liena's intuition."
"...Relieved?"
"If it's because of your intuition, you really don't need the mine. I'll just return that abandoned mine to my parents."
"But it's definitely the dowry you were supposed to receive from Cassius..."
"Didn't you say you like me? Do you only like me for having the mine?"
"No! Of course not."
Liena smiled faintly, but the embarrassment she couldn't hide was clearly visible.
Liena's words that she likes me are probably not lies. Because she treats most people kindly, as long as they're not wicked people.
Especially if it's someone who benefits her.
"But that doesn't mean she likes me as if I were family."
The people of Cassius had a well-established affection among themselves that I could never share.
Like a fool, I didn't even know, but I kept hope in a corner of my heart that someday I could be included.
"Uh, I mean, um..."
Liena hesitated for a moment and then shouted, 'Ah!'
"Look at my head! I had a gift for my sister-in-law, but I forgot it! Matisse, can you bring it?"
Then Matisse went out and came back with a bunch of boxes of different colors.
The same thing happened with the coachman who followed Matisse.
On the ground were boxes wrapped with colored ribbons.
Liena looked down with a worried expression.
"I'll think about the mine. I agree with that, but I don't know if my dad will agree. There are things like family respect and customs, so giving back the dowry you received is a bit..."
"Since when does Cassius care so much about those things...?"
"Look at the gift instead!"
Skillfully change the subject without blinking.
"It seems like they absolutely have no intention of accepting me without the mine."
I already imagined it.
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I chose what I wanted."
Liena hummed as she rummaged through the boxes and placed the one decorated with a red ribbon on the table.
"Open it quickly!"
I hesitated, removed the ribbon, and opened the lid of the small box.