My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 3

Episode 3

Is there a reason he suddenly told me not to get married?

Does Dylan also know that my ex-boyfriend is trash?

Is it because there are already rumors spread everywhere that I’m a fool?

‘Feeling a reality check?’

I muttered with a puzzled look on my face.

“I’m not going to marry that person.”

“Oh.”

With a faint smile on his lips, he whispered softly.

The corners of his mouth slowly lifted, and a faint light peeked through his narrowed eyes.

Could it be Dylan’s elusive smile?

It was truly beautiful, to the point where it could bring admiration.

Seeing him smile like that, it couldn’t be that he dislikes me, right?

“Ah, but it seems like anyone would hurry to get married“

In an instant, his eyelids fluttered like a butterfly.

“…Yes?”

When our intense gaze met, Henry called out to me loudly from a distance.

“We’re short on épées! It’s a big problem, Ishael!”

Wait, if we’re short on épées, isn’t it a disciplinary matter?
“Oh no, what happened? I’ll go right away. Then, Dylan, work hard!”

I rushed off to Henry in a panic.

And I completely forgot about my conversation with Dylan while counting the épées from the start.

But 48 hours from now, I will be marrying that man.

* * *

Amidst various tasks, I completely forgot about the breakup with my ex-boyfriend.

But there was another problem.

Dealing with my damn family!

They could still cause trouble, like getting involved with loan sharks.

They were truly prone to trouble, day after day.

I arrived at the house where I lived with my family.

It was a small but pretty house, surrounded by a modest stone wall covered with ivy in the suburbs.

And in front of the mailbox.

I received a foreboding letter.

[Recipient: Ishael Lorelei]

I rarely receive letters because I’ve been working ever since I was young and hardly have any friends.

[Chief Director of Loan Shop]
Damn it.

In the past, present, and future, my family continuously took on debts.

And I paid off all those debts.

“I can’t take it anymore. I should just hit them.”

I clenched my fist and was about to swing open the front door with determination.

But through a slightly open gap next to the stone wall, I heard my mother’s thoughtful and gentle voice.

“Pedro, you broke up with Ishael?”

“Yes. Since it turned out this way, I was thinking of dating Soldika instead of Ishael.”

“Oh, Pedro. You can’t do that. You two have a loyal bond, don’t you? Ishael loved you so much. And Soldika, once we buy a noble title, will marry a real noble. She’s completely different from Ishael, from appearance to behavior.”

I acknowledged them both.

‘Do they have a talent for making crazy statements sound normal?’

The guy who said he would date my younger sister after we broke up, and my mother who would laugh and accept it, were both cunning.

“Well then, madam. When will you regain your noble status? I’m receiving my wizard title in a few months.”

We may be a commoner now, but the Lorelei family was originally of noble lineage, albeit fallen.

They said that the family’s fortunes took a sharp decline before I was born, so they sold off their titles.”

“Don’t worry. I contacted the Chief Director of Loan Shop because we’re short on 300 million gold. It’s only a matter of a few months until we become nobles again!”

“Hmm, that’s strange. Does the Chief Director of Loan Shop lend money to jobless women as well?”

“Huh? Of course not. It’s not for me, but for Ishael. She has a job, you know.”

I was momentarily speechless.

‘Are these people for real?’

Meanwhile, their conversation continued smoothly.

“Our eldest daughter is so cunning that she’ll easily pay off the debt, so don’t worry.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s see. Around summer, you will receive your title, then we’ll buy our titles, then once Ishael pays off our debt to some extent, you can marry her around that time.”

“Sigh… Ishael may be clever, but her appearance is not that great…”

“Well, that’s true.”

Did I ever agree to get married?

Why are they discussing my own marriage without my consent?

“Besides, what if she can’t repay the debt? I met her recently, and she seemed quite tough.”

Yeah, I was tough.

“Huh? There’s no way my daughter would say something like that, but His Majesty has implemented the ‘family-oriented’ policy, right?”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that!”

The former emperor despised illegitimate children and single-person households.

He implemented a family-oriented policy that actively encouraged “normal families.”

It was exactly the policy that tormented me.

That wicked law that allowed direct blood relatives to freely use each other’s names for loans!

In the future, victims like me would disappear by being stabbed by their own parents.

Unfortunately, that law was still in effect.

‘They shamelessly borrowed money in my name and became a noble. I paid off their debt and almost reached the point of suicide.’

While I was agonizing over it, Pedro cheerfully replied.

“Is Ishael going to repay the debt with her salary and side jobs?”

“That’s right. Ishael is a wizard, so she can repay it quickly. Everything is perfect.”

They smiled at each other with pleasant expressions, without even seeking my consent.

“That’s right. It’s perfect. Then, madam, when will you be paying the debt?”

“I’m thinking of going to see them the day after tomorrow. I have Ishael’s administrative officer’s business card and proof of family relationship.”

Very useful information, thank you.

I relaxed my clenched fist.

‘Even if I openly engage in villainy here, nothing will change. They will somehow try to borrow money in my name without my knowledge.’

I had to think big.

The only way to sever our family relationship was for me to marry and acquire a new house.

“Once we become nobles, everything will change.”

No, it won’t.

Neither of you will become nobles.

I’ll give you a good blow to the back of your heads, just wait and see.

Mother and Pedro laughed happily facing each other.

“Well, our plan is perfect.”

Everyone has seemingly perfect plans.

Until they get hit…

I chuckled while holding the recording device hidden in my pocket, just in case.

Now that I had secured solid evidence, it was time to start by cutting them off through marriage.

And then, the next step.

To show them how difficult it is to be in debt.

How miserable and unfortunate it is to be treated like a beggar by others.

I’ll make them experience it too.

***
The next morning.

First, I went to see a lawyer.

Then I obtained a notarized document regarding marriage contracts.

‘To prevent existing family members from using my name, the only way is through adoption or marriage, right?’

‘Yes. A new family needs to be formed to separate from the existing family.‘

‘Then, what if my husband tries to steal my name to take out a loan?‘

‘You can write a legally binding prenuptial agreement before the marriage. It can prevent any future legal disputes.‘

I emptied out my remaining assets and obtained a marriage contract and notarization from the lawyer.

My plan was perfect.

“Now, all I need is a man to marry!”

It would be better if her prospective husband is already a knight.

I first stepped into the training grounds inside the knight’s order.

Originally, I came here to manage the facilities.

But now, I was here to choose a future husband!

It felt strangely exciting.

It was when I stepped into the administrative office.

Inside the nets, the knights were engaged in group training.

Outside the nets, administrators and noble ladies were holding umbrellas and watching the training.

I sat next to the ladies.

‘Fortunately, it’s group training time. I’m lucky.’

It’s a good time to find my future husband.

The training continued incessantly.

Handsome knights, ugly knights, potato-like knights, hardworking knights.

But I kept hearing whispers from nearby.

“Doesn’t Dylan seem to keep on looking in this direction?”

“Could it be because Lady Garnet is here so he’s looking this way?”

I listened to their words and stared into space for a moment.

It felt like Dylan’s gaze met mine, but was it just my imagination?

Of course, I was wearing my plain glasses.

There was no chance for the two of us to lock eyes.

‘It must be my imagination.’

I took out my notebook and solemnly began writing down names.

I planned to list knights who had an ordinary appearance, showed no interest in me, and had good manners.

Excluding some knights who ignored me because of my frizzy hair and glasses.

Excluding wealthy knights and noble knights because they were burdensome.

Also excluding knights who were too noticeable or already had a fiancée.

Only two names remained in my notebook after eliminating them one by one. 

[1. Sir Tov
– Warm-hearted personality. The friendliest among the knights. Good personality. Currently single. Skilled in training.
– He mentioned in a drinking gathering that he might consider a contract marriage despite being against marriage.
– He said he needed money urgently before the retreat.
If it goes well, this marriage could be a win-win for both of us.

2. Henry (Not a knight)
– Can understand my circumstances. A fellow administrator and my close friend.
– It might become a concern that it’s an office romance, but considering Henry’s personality, we could still get along well even after divorce.
– He’s… interesting as a person.]

Only these two remained.

“It would be best to propose to Sir Tov, since he is the top choice, right?”