The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 6

The people who arrived at the Diane Count’s residence were heavily armed guards, carrying imposing weapons. Their stern expressions and sharp, watchful eyes made it clear that this was far from a casual visit.

I instinctively held my breath. Though I was curious about why they had come, I sensed that stepping forward now would be a mistake. These men weren’t just debt collectors looking to settle accounts.

Count and Countess Diane stood silently before the guards, exchanging worried glances as they held each other’s hands tightly.

“We are here to seize all assets of the Diane estate, as ordered,” the head guard announced flatly. His voice was calm, almost devoid of emotion, yet the weight of his words cast an icy tension over the room.

Only then did I grasp the full extent of the situation. I’d known the Count had fallen out of favor with the palace and was drowning in debt, but I hadn’t imagined things could come to such a bleak outcome.

‘If it’s come to this, then I’m trapped here too,’ I thought, quietly retreating back upstairs.

“This is insane… a seizure notice?”

The emblem of the Chaield Dukedom—a red shield with two lions—was now plastered all over the Diane estate. Stickers were slapped on every drawer, every shelf, and even the walls.

Based on what I’d learned from visiting the bank shortly after ending up in this world, it seemed clear: the estate’s unpaid debt to Chaield Bank had led to this seizure.

I hurried downstairs to check on the Count and Countess Diane.
There was my father, Count Persh Diane, standing stunned as he watched the bank agents go about their work. He was the one responsible for this mess, having cosigned a friend’s loan that had ultimately ruined the family. Beside him, my mother, Countess Diana Diane, clung to him, her breathing shallow and strained as if she might faint at any moment.

Around them lay some three hundred teddy bears missing an eye each, scattered forlornly in a corner, and my mother’s lap held a stack of mending work due for delivery today. Yet the bank agents showed no mercy, moving to slap seizure notices on everything—even her handiwork.

“…That’s all merchandise we’re about to deliver. If they damage it, we’ll have to pay,” I thought, frustrated.

“Excuse me, please stop.”

I stepped forward to halt them. I knew the bank agents weren’t at fault here.

Count Diane had borrowed an enormous sum, cosigning on a massive loan, and that loan had come from Chaield Bank, the only bank in the empire.

From what I’d heard, the bank had already extended leniency due to his noble title. But naturally, from their viewpoint, it was only fair to try to recover their losses by seizing assets.

Eager to finish and be on their way, the agents gave me an expectant look, urging me to speak.

Drawing on what I’d studied over the past few days from Amelia Diane’s notes, I laid out my argument.

“As I understand it, Chaield Bank refrains from seizing noble assets, out of respect for the Emperor’s grant of honor and title.”

“But for the Diane estate…”

“Yes, exactly. The exemption only applies if there’s an heir capable of restoring the family.”

The Hyle Empire still upheld a social hierarchy, where nobility rarely fell into true poverty. An heir with the right connections could easily enter politics or a high-ranking position, restoring the family’s fortunes. Simply being noble came with privileges.

And, as the only child of the Diane Count and Countess, that heir was me.

“So what now? Is the young lady of Diane—who looks like she’s never worked a day in her life—actually planning to get a job?” one of the agents sneered.

…Well, I didn’t have much choice, but buying us some time was the first priority.

When I’d first arrived in Amelia’s life, her desk had been stacked with Chaield Bank’s loan and cosigning papers, along with job listings and classifieds from the newspaper.

Despite her lack of financial acumen, Amelia had clearly been ready to step up for the Count and Countess.

Moreover, they had cared for me warmly when I’d first arrived, still disoriented. I wanted to help shoulder this burden. Taking a deep breath, I replied.

“If I work, I can gradually pay off the debt. That’s my intention.”

“Hmph… you’ll need to show proof of employment within a month,” he replied.

“I’ll submit the required documents in time. So, please, leave us be today.”

It wasn’t exactly comforting, but having done every kind of job in the 21st century, I wasn’t entirely out of my depth. Plus, knowing the original story helped reassure me that repaying the debt wasn’t just a pipe dream.

It stung that I’d been thrown into this world right after finally paying off my student loans, but I wasn’t about to give up. I’d do what I could.

Even if the thought of going through this ordeal all over again made me shudder.

The agents, momentarily startled, began to pack up the remaining seizure notices—all except one man who lingered, looking irritated at the delay.

He peeled the sticker from the back of a seizure notice, approached me, and muttered darkly, “Let’s see how well you manage, young lady of Diane.”

Thud.

He slapped the seizure notice squarely on my chest and turned to leave.

“The nerve—actually putting a seizure notice on a person,” I thought.

Giving him a defiant wave, I turned and went over to the sofa where Count and Countess Diane sat, looking utterly defeated.
Even after all this, they truly were an unusual pair.

My father had once ascended to the rank of Head Knight Commander—the highest position for knights in the empire—at an unprecedentedly young age. My mother, in her prime, had been a prominent lady of the social scene.

How had such remarkable people ended up looking so defeated? Was it really all because of money?

According to Amelia’s journal, which I’d read in secret, my parents had met at a ball and, after one fiery night, had married a month later. And the result of that intense encounter? None other than Amelia Diane—the very body I now inhabited.
Apparently, Father almost got himself killed by his father-in-law despite his knightly title.

In this world, where marriages happened as young as fifteen, the Count and Countess Diane were only in their late thirties. Though they still looked youthful, years of poverty had taken a toll on their spirits, making them seem much older.

Looking at me with a weary expression, Count Diane sighed.
“Amelia… I’m so sorry. This is all because I backed the wrong person…”

He had trusted a friend’s trade venture and had cosigned a massive loan at Chaield Bank.

Clearly, my father was a man who valued loyalty and trust. And, as a Count in name at least, he took responsibility seriously, diligently sewing teddy bear eyes back on.

Then there was my mother.

“Dear… you must be so scared. Come here,” she said, her warmth mirroring his. She loved my father enough to share the burden of his mistakes.

I hugged them both briefly, but a cough forced me to pull away. This dreadful cold—I didn’t want to pass it to them.

Father, however, seemed unbothered, holding me tightly.

“Amel… come here. Let’s pray together.”

And here was where I saw the issue with the Diane couple.

They were undeniably kind and gentle—souls the Lord above would surely adore—but, born into nobility, they had little idea how to handle the hardships of daily life.

When the ceiling leaked and their only servant, short-statured Peter, couldn’t fix it, they turned to prayer. When mice raided the little food we had, they prayed.

They were too good-hearted to think about how to hold on to what they had. I couldn’t just abandon them to escape the Duke of Chaield’s debt collectors in the dead of night.

Despite their lack of practical skills, they adored Amelia, their only daughter. If I vanished suddenly, they would pray desperately for her return, wearing themselves out in the process.

I didn’t want that to happen.

So, I returned to their embrace, and my mother, with a tired voice, began to pray.

“Oh, loving Lord…”

Why are You putting me through this? I thought.

I didn’t exactly join in with fervor.

When the prayer ended, I sat them down for a talk.

“I think it would help to understand our household’s finances better. Once we know our monthly expenses, we can start chipping away at the debt.”

Years of managing part-time jobs to pay off my student loans had made me skilled at budgeting. In situations like these, even if income and expenses seemed nonexistent, it was essential to understand the cash flow first.

Since the Diane couple had no grasp of the household’s finances, it was no wonder their economic situation hadn’t improved.

Fortunately, they were open to my suggestions of keeping household accounts and finding odd jobs beyond sewing teddy bear eyes.

“It may be tough, but we should sell a few of the decorative items for immediate expenses. You both need to eat better for your health, too. I’ll start job hunting right away.”

“Oh, Amelia… it’s such a relief to have you here. But where did you learn all this?” Father asked, genuinely curious.

I hesitated, then remembered the stack of newspapers in Amelia’s room and mumbled, “Self-study, I suppose. I’ve taken an interest in reading the paper.”

“As expected of our daughter…” they said, smiling as they praised each other for raising such a wonderful child. Watching them, I felt a need for rest, so I made a small request.

“A visitor will be stopping by later. Don’t ask who—just send them to my room.”

Even saying that much made my throat sting. This cold was terrible. Hopefully, that quack of a doctor would arrive soon.
Back in my room, I wrestled with the stiff seizure notice stuck to my dress. Frustrated, I took off the dress and lay on the bed. Although I wore a thin chemise, it was meant for sleep and practically sheer in the sunlight.

Surely even a quack would knock before entering, I thought, closing my eyes, not knowing whom my parents might send to my room.