"Sylvia. Issue the tickets in order of arrival. Those who receive tickets should be kept waiting in the reception room, and let them in one by one into my office." "Excuse me? Isn’t that treating them like workers coming to a labor office?" "Yes. That's how I intend to treat them." "…."

Looking at Aslan, who had completely changed to a businesslike demeanor, Sylvia was left in shock. Just a moment ago, his gaze towards Charlotte had been filled with happiness. But now, Aslan’s eyes, which glanced at the gathered noble ladies, were devoid of any emotion, like he was already dead inside.

"All of them... all of them..."

With a more fatigued expression than ever before, Aslan mumbled incoherently. Just how many are there? It was clear from a glance that there were at least thirty of them, and it seemed like Aslan might faint at any moment.

Since they were all precious daughters sent by influential families, he couldn't treat them harshly and send them back. At the very least, he needed to engage in some semblance of conversation with them. Even if he allowed five minutes of conversation per person, it was clear the afternoon would slip away in no time.

That meant he would lose all the time he could spend playing with Charlotte and Yulia this afternoon? Crunch. Aslan ground his teeth, barely containing the rising anger.

"That person is Aslan Vermont..." "The Earl of Vermont who inherited the title at a young age..."

Just as they had just stepped down from the carriage, the gathered noble ladies stared at Aslan with their mouths agape, dressed in disturbingly extravagant dresses. They couldn’t take their eyes off him. And who could blame them…

"I-I have to marry that person? Someone who looks so terrible…?" "One of us is destined to become that man's wife!" "No way. Think about it. That shameless man has two commoner slaves he intends to take as wives. He’s already thinking of polygamy. Maybe we’ll all be sold to him!" "Waaah! I want to go home!"

What had the scenery been like on the way here? Skeleton soldiers casually roaming the streets. A giant, dung-colored monster guarding the city entrance. And the ominous face of the Earl of Vermont...

The ladies felt as if they had been sold to a demon king’s castle.

"I heard my father has some debts, but... could it be that he was in such a weak position against this demon-like man!?"

Noble ladies without any special abilities were nothing more than negotiation tools for their families. While the ladies weren’t completely naive, they believed at least their fathers would send them to marry kind and loving men.

But of all people, it had to be Aslan Vermont? The Earl of Vermont, infamous for his twisted hobbies and the terrifying military force he commanded? My father has given up on me! He’s decided to sell me off!

Caught in the sudden reality, the noble ladies were engulfed in despair, as if the sky had crumbled down.

"Here. Your ticket." "A ticket...?" "There are quite a few people, so you’ll meet the earl in order of your ticket. I will guide you to the reception room. Please wait, and when your number is called, follow me." "…!?"

A ticket! To someone who came to discuss marriage? Aslan Vermont isn’t even treating us as guests!

"The Earl of Vermont really treats people like objects!"

To Aslan Vermont, we are not women but mere tools for family connections!

As the noble ladies trembled in fear,

"Oh. A button…" "…!?"

As the lady-in-waiting moved, a button from her collar fell off, revealing a scar-like mark near her nape. The lady-in-waiting hurriedly fastened her collar, trying to hide her nape. Upon seeing the mark etched on her neck, several noble ladies immediately recognized its significance.

"Th-That’s...!" "It’s the mark of bondage that is branded on vicious slaves!" "Those marked slaves must obey their contractor until death! Even if they try to remove it, they can't escape a doomed life!" "What a horrifying…!"

Aslan Vermont doesn’t even treat his own employees like people! The noble ladies were left speechless, shocked and terrified. We’re done for. The harsh reality weighed down on the ladies, who were still in disbelief.

"Waaah!" "It’ll be okay! If we stick together, we can endure any adversity… right… waaah!"

In an instant, tears began to flow freely. From now on, they could only rely on each other. The noble ladies reflected on their previous quarrels and embraced one another.

Why did they fight over something so meaningless back then? Now, as the exhausting fights that no one remembered ended, the noble ladies truly respected each other and reconciled in a beautiful moment.

"Okay. Number 1, please come forward." "Waaah!" "You have to be strong!" "We’re here for each other…!"

Finally, the lady-in-waiting called number 1. The noble lady holding the number 1 ticket wiped her tears and stood up. Her figure, following the lady-in-waiting toward the office, resembled a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

"There are so many beautiful ladies…!" "Shh, Charlotte."

Meanwhile, the back door of the reception room creaked open. Charlotte and Yulia, fearing their voices might escape, hurriedly covered each other's mouths as they peeked inside.

The reception room, which had seemed gloomy and dark when Aslan was present, was now transformed into a ballroom filled with beautifully dressed women, each one dazzling in her own right.

"Oh no, Yulia! All those ladies came to marry that uncle!" "Wha-what!?" "The position of the Countess is in jeopardy right now!" "…!"

At this unexpected news, Yulia’s eyes widened in shock. Those ladies are all here to marry Aslan? No way. Why would such beautiful people want to marry Aslan...?

"All those who have come to discuss marriage with Earl Vermont, please step forward and wait here. Pick up your tickets."

At that moment, Sylvia guided in more noble ladies. As Yulia's worst fears were confirmed, her heart sank.

Aslan... is getting married...? And women are lining up to marry him...? With a shock that felt like being hit in the back of the head, Yulia lost her words.

"Is she really that shocked…!?"

Looking at Yulia, who clutched her chest, Charlotte struggled to suppress her laughter. Yulia, who had been cooped up in the room, seemed still unable to grasp the situation. These ladies were all dragged here against their will!

"Hehe. Feeling a sense of crisis, huh?" "S-Shut up. That’s obvious. The position of the Countess is strategically very important. I can’t let it slip away. Yes, I’m just nervous…" "Hehehe. Excuses." "…It’s noisy."

At Charlotte’s teasing laughter, Yulia’s irritation flared up. Ah, seriously! This girl has started to find amusement in messing with me…

It’s so annoying. She only becomes so perceptive at times like this.

"Are you not worried, Charlotte? Your favorite uncle is about to get married." "I’m not really? If he wants to, he can." "…."

Charlotte replied with an overly relaxed smile, causing Yulia’s well-planned counterattack to fail. Charlotte smirked at Yulia, who was genuinely upset.

Whatever. I’m not really worried about it. I heard everything about my uncle talking to that knight sister. Uncle clearly doesn’t intend to marry any of them!

"Wait, is it really okay not to get married!? Then…!" "Number 2, noble lady. Please enter."

Just then, the office door swung wide open, and the first noble lady who had entered came running out as if she was escaping. It hadn’t even been a minute since she entered. The second noble lady also rushed out within three minutes. The same happened with the third, fourth, and fifth...

"Just as I thought. They’re all beautiful, but they’re not Uncle's type."

A relaxed smile spread across Charlotte’s lips. Just as I expected. Uncle has a disgusting taste in wanting to take an innocent, untouched commoner girl under his wing and shower her with kindness, making her unable to refuse when he proposes later. The influx of noble ladies was just a passing spectacle. ...Or so she thought at that moment.

"Wait. Has it been ten minutes since that lady went in?" "Yeah. It’s definitely past ten minutes." "But why isn’t she coming out!?"

Charlotte’s smile vanished. Her face started to pale. It’s an emergency! Uncle’s dubious and disgusting taste might be changing!!!