Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

Inside the gardens of Count Hekeduo's estate in the western district of Wind Facing City...

At the invitation of Countess Hekeduo, the noble ladies and young daughters of the Northern Territory gathered in the estate's Blue Rose Garden for their monthly tea party.

As the wife of the ruling Duke Family of the North, Avnora had naturally been invited as well.

Hoping to help her granddaughter open up, Avnora thought that bringing Yumo here to meet children her own age and make a few friends would be an excellent opportunity. It would also help her adapt to life in the North as quickly as possible.

So, while Avnora chatted with the other noblewomen, she encouraged Yumo to go play with the children from the other noble families.

It sounded like a good idea.

Unfortunately...

Miss Yumo didn't think so.

It was true that after arriving in this world, she had considered making a few friends.

But...

She had never intended those friends to be little children.

The difference in their way of thinking was simply too great. They had nothing they could genuinely talk about.

Besides...

These children didn't seem particularly friendly toward her either.

At that moment...

Beside the pond in the garden...

Yumo, who had only wanted to take a quiet stroll and watch the fish by herself, suddenly found herself surrounded by a group of little girls.

"Hm?"

...What is this supposed to be??

Looking at the children around her, all barely over four feet tall, Yumo wore a puzzled expression.

She had deliberately left the crowd to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Why had these children specifically come looking for her?

"Um... is there something you need?"

Trying to remain polite, Miss Yumo asked calmly.

The moment she spoke—

"Hehe, of course we're here to see Miss Xia'er. It's been years since we last met~"

Accompanied by a clear, childish voice...

A little girl stepped forward from the crowd.

Her light-blue hair rested casually upon her shoulders, while a pink butterfly ribbon fluttered gently atop her head.

She wore a blue-and-white noble dress embroidered with intricate golden patterns. The exquisite skirt, elegant stitching, white embroidered shoes adorned with pearls, and the pink sash tied into a beautiful bow around her waist all reflected the refinement expected of an aristocrat.

Combined with her fairly pretty appearance, she was certainly an adorable child.

However...

The expression on her face was anything but lovable.

Her brown eyes were filled with mockery.

Surrounded by several girls acting as her attendants, the obvious leader of the group skipped over to Yumo before giving her an exaggeratedly "respectful" curtsy.

"Long time no see, Miss Xia'er. I wonder how you've been lately?"

Hearing the heavy sarcasm dripping from her words, Yumo frowned slightly.

Before she could answer...

The other noble girls immediately chimed in with mocking smiles.

"How could she possibly be doing well? Didn't she get captured and become a slave?"

"Exactly! She probably couldn't eat well or sleep well. How could life have been good?"

"Oh? But Miss Xia'er has such nice skin. She doesn't look abused at all. Maybe she became someone's bedwarmer, so she got treated a little better?"

"Ah? If that's the case... Miss Xia'er, you weren't already..."

"Ah? That happened already? Well... I guess that's normal for a slave. But after something like that, how can she still have the nerve to become the Marquis' heir?"

...

...

Although none of them openly cursed at her, the contempt and ridicule in their voices was completely undisguised.

Yumo merely frowned slightly.

She had always been quite tolerant toward children.

She wasn't particularly offended by their nonsense.

She was simply confused.

How strange...

The people from the Asumos Church who had witnessed her pretending to be a slave had all been forced by Mengxi to swear secrecy. They couldn't possibly leak it.

As for the Duke Family, everyone who knew the truth had been severely warned by the Marchioness.

They shouldn't be talking either.

The Duke Family had also been trying their best to suppress the news recently.

Then...

How did these children know?

Did the information leak out earlier?

Sigh...

Forget it.

Yumo had never cared much about what other people said about her.

As the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, she had been insulted far worse than this countless times.

Still...

Looking calmly over the group of young noble ladies before her, Yumo let out a disappointed sigh.

So this is supposed to be bullying? Kids these days really aren't very well-behaved...

Seriously...

They couldn't compare to her own obedient little children.

Seeing that Yumo showed neither shame nor anger—instead even looking somewhat dismissive—the blue-haired girl became visibly irritated.

"W-What are you sighing for?!"

"Nothing."

"'Nothing'? Is that all you're going to say? Just as I thought, Miss Xia'er. You've been a slave for so long that you've forgotten noble etiquette, haven't you? I personally came over to greet you, and you didn't even return the greeting!"

"Return the greeting?"

Ah...

Now that she mentioned it, there was such an etiquette rule.

"But... who are you?"

"You...! You actually forgot my name?!"

Realizing that her childhood rival didn't even remember who she was, the blue-haired girl immediately became furious.

She pointed accusingly at Yumo.

"I am Xingya Hekeduo! The eldest daughter of Count Hekeduo! Your greatest rival! Even after all the years you disappeared, I've never forgotten you! But you... you... actually forgot about me! Don't tell me you thought my name wasn't even worth remembering?! Were you looking down on me that much?! That's too much!!"

"...?"

Watching the little girl angrily rant to herself, Yumo was completely speechless.

This girl's imagination is certainly impressive...

Still...

It looked like they didn't know she had lost her memory.

They knew she'd been a slave.

But they didn't know about the amnesia.

Someone's deliberately spreading information...

Yumo silently reached that conclusion.

However...

Her silence was mistaken by Xingya for disdain.

She had said so much, yet the girl in front of her hadn't responded.

She had even looked off into the distance!

Too much... That's going way too far!!

Enraged, Xingya yanked on a leash and pulled over a crimson hunting dog standing about half a meter tall.

It was her contracted spirit beast—

A Crimson Wind Hound.

Clearly, the angry little girl intended to let her dog frighten Yumo and recover a little of her lost dignity.

Under Xingya's command...

The Crimson Wind Hound bared its fangs and slowly advanced.

However...

The very next instant...

Yumo casually turned her head and glanced at it.

The moment the hound met Yumo's azure eyes—and caught the faint crimson light flickering deep within them—

An indescribable pressure descended upon it.

A horrifying sense of oppression crashed down from above, crushing its very soul.

It felt as though its spirit might be shattered at any moment.

"W-Whine?!"

In an instant...

The fierce hunting dog completely lost its courage.

Like a beaten stray, it let out terrified whimpers.

"What?!"

"Xiaoji?! W-What's wrong with you?!"

Xingya cried out in shock.

Before she could understand what had suddenly happened to her beloved pet...

The Crimson Wind Hound turned and fled without a single glance backward.

"Eek?!"

Caught completely off guard as the dog bolted away, Xingya lost her balance.

"Splash!"

She tumbled directly into the pond.

Water exploded into the air as every noble girl nearby stared in astonishment.

...

The pond wasn't very deep.

Xingya quickly climbed back to her feet.

Unfortunately...

She had become a complete drowned rat.

Her elegant clothes were soaked through and covered in mud.

Seeing her attempt to humiliate Yumo end in utter failure—and having embarrassed herself before everyone—Xingya's overwhelming pride finally gave way.

"Waaahhh—!"

She burst into tears.

Yumo: "...Uh..."

The crying naturally attracted the attention of the nearby guards and the noblewomen enjoying tea not far away.

Everyone hurried over to the pond.

Ignoring her expensive dress, Lady Dailinna immediately jumped into the water and tightly embraced her daughter.

"What happened, Xingya? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Still sobbing, Xingya couldn't answer.

However...

One of the girls from a baron's family—one of Xingya's followers—immediately decided to accuse someone else first.

She pointed straight at the innocent-looking Miss Yumo.

"It was her! That slave girl pushed Miss Xingya into the pond!"

"...?!"

The instant those words were spoken...

Complete silence fell over the scene, broken only by Xingya's sobs.

Everyone present stared at the girl in disbelief.

Even the girl's own mother couldn't help covering her forehead with one hand.

Although it was true that the Marquis' granddaughter had once been a slave...

That was something people only discussed in private.

How could anyone blurt it out in public?

Especially...

In front of members of the Duke Family?!

Sure enough...

The next moment...

After hearing those words, Avnora slowly stepped toward the pond.

Her sharp gaze locked onto the young daughter of the baron's family.

An intimidating wave of battle aura gradually radiated from her body.

Everyone present—except Yumo—instinctively felt fear creeping into their hearts.

"A slave?!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Avnora stepped forward to defend her granddaughter's honor.

However...

Just as she spoke—

A deep male voice rang out from behind the crowd.

"My Lady, there's no need to be so angry."

"After all..."

"That young lady didn't say anything incorrect."

"The heir of our Duke Family..."

"...is indeed a slave."

"...?!"

Hearing the unmistakable mockery in those words, Avnora clenched her fists.

Slowly turning around, she glared furiously at the unexpected newcomer behind the crowd.

"Benjamin?!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"