The Stand-In Villainess's Contract Marriage: I Was Divorced After a Year, But For Some Reason, My Ex-Husband Seems to Be Looking for Me - Chapter 12

They immediately headed toward the venue.

The carriage from the Karota Count’s residence was small, making it cramped for two people.

So when Naje arrived in the carriage from the Hord Viscount’s family to pick them up, he grimly advised Liana as soon as she got in.

“It seems you’ve been living quite extravagantly lately.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

Despite his tone, which hid no disgust, Liana was preoccupied with her sister’s medical expenses and hardly paid him any mind.

Naje seemed displeased by this and raised his voice further.

“Are you looking for a new lover to replace Count Tweed?”

“That’s right. In fact, I’d prefer someone wealthier than him.”

Since it was true that she was searching for someone, she said so, and he sighed in exasperation.

“Don’t do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the Karota family. Do you have no shame for Esrie, who has been tirelessly protecting our family?”

“My sister would probably think it’s better for me to leave the Karota family than to linger indefinitely.”

Of course, her sister wouldn’t say something like that.

In fact, her sister had told her that they should live together until Liana met someone she truly loved and married.

But Naje wished for Liana to leave the house as soon as possible, believing that such a statement would keep her from being a nuisance.

“…Are you searching for a marriage partner?”

His dubious expression made Liana nod.

“Now that you mention it, Count Tweed was indeed looking for a partner for you. Back then, it was quite the topic of discussion whether he intended to foist his lover off on someone else, but was that your desire?”

Liana vaguely nodded, recalling that event.

Although Count Tweed likely acted out of goodwill, her sister was perceived as his lover back then, as Naje had mentioned.

Though he probably thought of her sister’s future, her sister wouldn’t have found happiness with the marriage partner Count Tweed sought.

“As long as they meet my conditions, I wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t a marriage.”

“What conditions?”

“Money.”

Upon hearing that, Naje looked even more exasperated, but Liana didn’t care as long as it meant she could pay her sister’s medical expenses.

And she had no desire to seek understanding from anyone else about this.

At the party, several men approached her.

Surprisingly, Naje introduced her to a few as well.

Perhaps hearing that Liana was searching for a partner to leave home made him want to expedite that process.

However, the men Naje introduced were typical noblemen and didn’t meet Liana’s criteria for obtaining money for her sister’s medical costs.

Rather, they seemed like promising marriage prospects.

If Liana didn’t have her circumstances, she might have gladly accepted them.

(But that’s not going to work…)

What Liana desired was not her own happiness but her sister’s.

“What don’t you like about them?”

Naje asked her this in the carriage on the way back, but of course, the men were not to blame.

“I need money.”

Liana replied that her condition for a marriage partner was money, and Naje openly displayed his disdain, but she couldn’t concern herself with his reaction.

After attending several more parties, she noticed that only young men approached her.

Now that her identity as the notorious “bad woman” was revealed, it seemed more people were curious and wanted to talk to her, knowing she was the daughter of the Karota family.

It had already been announced at her sister’s engagement party that her sister was engaged to Naje from the Hord Viscount family and that they would inherit the titles and lands held in trust by the royal family together. Therefore, some were seeking connections with the Hord family through Liana.

Although the Hord family held the title of viscount, they came from a long-standing noble lineage with many marquises and earls among their relatives.

Some even approached her sincerely, to the point that it felt sorry to turn them down.

At this rate, she might run out of time.

Liana felt anxious, but at that moment, Naje brought up a marriage proposal.

Liana, who was scheduled to attend a party that day, initially planned to refuse his escort.

Due to the watchful eyes of her future brother-in-law, it was difficult for her to find opportunities to speak with men who might offer her a relationship.

However, Naje insisted on escorting Liana to the Hord residence, without giving her a chance to object.

“I’m going to be late for the party. I don’t need an escort, so let me go.”

She said this, but Naje brought her to the reception room and urged her to sit down.

“If you want to complain to me, save it for later.”

Liana was pressed for time.

As she desperately pleaded with him, Naje quietly told her, “You have a marriage proposal.”

“What?”

There had been several marriage proposals in the past.

However, Liana had turned down all of them. No matter how good a match it might be, it wouldn’t matter if it didn’t help her achieve her goal.

Liana didn’t want to find happiness for herself.

Naje must have known that Liana had declined multiple proposals in the past.

He must also know that her goal was money. So why go through the trouble of bringing her to the Hord family just to discuss it?

Liana realized that she needed to listen to him properly and ceased her protests, looking at Naje.