Please Kill Me - Chapter 147
“Her voice shouldn’t be too high. I had enough of that kind of whining from my mother. Her eyes should be a bit sharp rather than overly round. I’m not fond of people who strain their eyes to make them look more pronounced. Her lips should be thin, and she should be lean rather than plump. Silver hair is preferable to blonde, and black eyes are better than green.”
Yekaterina meticulously noted down Dmitry’s preferences, including his seemingly trivial comparisons. She then dipped her pen into fresh ink and asked, “What about her personality?”
“Should I describe what I prefer, or what would be suitable for the wife of the head of the Offenbach family?”
“Do both.”
“For my preference, someone a bit indifferent and cynical. She should have a strong will and be intelligent enough not to easily falter. She should be strong enough to complement my own weaknesses.”
“And for the latter?”
“I’d prefer someone who’s completely clueless and incapable of voicing any opinions or complaints.”
Yekaterina’s gaze, which had been focused on the paper, slowly shifted to Dmitry.
“Aren’t you talking about your future wife?”
“I spoke truthfully, so there’s no need for that expression. I genuinely prefer the simple-minded.”
Knowing too much can be troublesome. A frog thrown into a well might not even realize it’s trapped, spending its life praising the well’s comfort and charm while never seeing beyond that circular sky.
Dmitry and Offenbach have too many things they shouldn’t know.
“I’d prefer my wife to be someone who knows nothing and can indulge in luxuries with the money I give her. If that’s the case, our marriage would be happy and trouble-free.”
Dmitry said this with a smile that seemed all too pleasant to others, but Yekaterina couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that always accompanied his smile.
“It would be problematic if someone, despite you being here, tried to claim the position of Offenbach’s mistress just because she’s my wife.”
Especially since Dmitry had said this just before leaving, it was even more unsettling.
Offenbach was a family where the hierarchy was clearer than anywhere else.
The authority of the head of the Offenbach family was essentially the authority of his wife. Since the founding of Offenbach, there had never been a case where the head’s wife was not the mistress of the household.
Occasionally, as in the current situation, when accidents or events occurred and a new head was appointed without a spouse by their side, the head’s sister temporarily took on the rights and duties of the mistress of the household.
However, once the head married, all responsibilities and rights naturally transferred to the head’s wife.
But now, he was insisting on Yekaterina Offenbach being the mistress of the household herself.
“Offenbach is a place where rank is determined solely by strength. So, it seems strange that Sister would be in a lower position just because someone became my wife.”
Yekaterina found this argument quite reasonable and was even more confused by it.
Even today, as she attended the Vesna banquet, she still pondered this.
‘What exactly is Dmitry thinking?’
After returning to Offenbach, Yekaterina had expected to face some of the worst and most troublesome tasks the family had to offer. After all, she had been away from Offenbach for a long time.
Although she didn’t understand why Dmitry had taken her back, she assumed that there would be no shortage of arduous tasks awaiting her.
— Do I really need to give Sister difficult tasks? Why would I?
— Wasn’t that the reason you brought me here?
— Sister must be mistaken. When did I ever say that? I only said that I needed you to manage Offenbach.
— So, you’re saying you weren’t bringing me here as a model or an example?
Dmitry responded with a neutral expression, neither laughing nor frowning. It was as if the statement was so ridiculous that he couldn’t bring himself to laugh.
— Offenbach is a place ruled by the strong. So, I’m thinking of preparing a position that suits you now.
— Then what should I do?
— It’s simple. Do some of the tasks I ask of you, and if anyone dares to speak out against you or me, handle them the Offenbach way.
In simpler terms, it meant to kill them. Yekaterina gripped the dagger in her hand and turned it over, considering her response.
— Until when?
— Until no one dares to smirk in front of you anymore. Until everyone knows that you are the strong one.
Dmitry said this and left Yekaterina to her own devices. Occasionally, Dmitry had asked her to deal with rebellious vassals during the transition of power, but those tasks were relatively straightforward compared to others. They were not incredibly dirty or grueling.
In fact, compared to the tasks she had performed up to now, these were relatively mild. Moreover, the numerous tasks she had handled while staying at Offenbach were running smoothly even without her, so she was relieved of the mundane chores.
Instead, she was now responsible for discussing and deciding on matters previously managed by Sergei and Dmitry. Naturally, her lifestyle changed to match Dmitry’s as well.
Even with this much, Yekaterina remained uneasy. She had never trusted Dmitry even once.
