Here is the translated and slightly adjusted version for clarity and flow:
Viana stared at Sina for a moment, then sighed deeply. The presence of Count Lazarus always made her feel uneasy, as it reminded her of the painful memories of being tormented by him in her past life.
"Alright, I'll meet him," she said as she stepped out of her room, followed by Reyes, Joel, and Sina.
She walked toward the drawing room with a somewhat gloomy expression. She couldn't refuse the request to meet Count Lazarus, especially since this man was one of the wealthiest people, surpassing even the richest in the Valendale Empire.
Upon entering the room, she immediately saw Count Lazarus standing in front of a painting, admiring a classic landscape made by an artist from Elysia in the past.
When she entered, the Count turned around and smiled upon seeing her. His neatly groomed beard and mustache made him, though in his late thirties, appear elegant.
Even though he could be considered handsome, Viana still felt a mix of disgust and fear whenever she was in his presence.
Seeing him approach with a small smile on his lips and bow respectfully, she forced herself not to step back from where she stood.
"Your Highness, thank you for taking the time to meet with me," he said in a deep voice that was slightly hoarse. His tone lacked sincerity.
Viana merely nodded and walked to the center of the room, taking a seat on one of the sofas. Her face appeared haughty, showing no emotion as she said, "Is there something you need, Count Lazarus?"
The Count sat down on the sofa across from the Princess, and Sina immediately served tea and some pastries on the table in front of them.
She lowered her gaze, looking at the tea and pastries served by Sina and the other maids, aware that the man in front of her was staring at her like a hungry wolf.
However, his demeanor soon turned casual as Reyes and Joel positioned themselves behind the sofa where Viana was sitting, ready to protect her at any moment.
The Count then spoke, "I feel it is necessary to discuss the situation at the palace with you, Your Highness. Things seem to be heating up lately."
Viana quickly interrupted, "What do you mean, Count Lazarus?"
The Count leaned forward, giving the impression that he was sharing something important. "Since the Royal Assembly meeting about the formation of the Independent Committee yesterday, some nobles have been trying to hold onto their positions."
Viana frowned and asked, "What do you mean, holding onto their positions?"
Count Lazarus leaned back, resting against the back of his chair, and replied, "I cannot say for certain, Your Highness. However, I only want to remind you to be cautious of anyone approaching you with unclear intentions."
She did not respond immediately, staring at the man who had been her husband in her past life, trying to decipher his true motives behind his words.
"I am always cautious, Count Lazarus," she finally replied in a calm voice. "However, I appreciate your warning."
The Count's smile widened, which only made her more wary.
He said, "I am merely fulfilling my duty to ensure your safety as the heir to the throne, Your Highness. I believe you will be a strong and wise leader."
Viana maintained her calm demeanor, even though she recognized the insincerity in his words.
She responded with a small nod, signaling the Count to wrap up his purpose for coming.
After a few minutes of conversation that felt more like formalities, the Count stood up. He bowed once more with perfect politeness.
"Thank you for your time, Your Highness. I will take my leave now. Have a pleasant day."
"Thank you, Count Lazarus," Viana replied politely but remained seated.
Once the door closed again, she let out a quiet sigh and spoke to Reyes and Joel, who still stood behind her.
"I don't understand Count Lazarus' intentions, warning me like this," she complained.
"Your Highness, should we assign someone to monitor the Count's movements? If he has hidden motives, we need to uncover them before it's too late," Joel suggested.
She looked at the teacup that had been intended for the Count in front of her and thought, 'If I had already assigned someone to watch that bastard, perhaps I could thwart his plan to marry me in this life.'
She suspected that Count Lazarus had played a significant role in destabilizing the kingdom in her past life, particularly from a financial standpoint. His vast wealth might have been used to fund covert operations or influence key figures to weaken the palace's hold on power.
After all, he was a businessman. There was no way he would freely provide such an enormous amount of funds in exchange for a marriage with the Count.
In this world, everything had a price.
Her expression brightened slightly, and she said to Joel, "That's a good idea. But be careful, he has many hired men."
Joel and Reyes looked at the Princess's back with curiosity, wondering how she could know that Count Lazarus had many hired fighters.
In the Kingdom of Elysia, similar to many other nations of that era, nobles were not allowed to have large armies due to concerns they might overthrow the legitimate throne.
They were allowed to have only about two hundred to five hundred soldiers to guard their territories, but no more than that.
Some extremely wealthy nobles, like Count Lazarus, hired mercenaries disguised as residents of their counties.
This fact was not widely known, especially within the palace. However, Viana knew about it, which puzzled her personal guards.
They set aside their curiosity, and Joel said, "I will take care of it, Your Highness. I have just the right person for this task."
She gave a faint smile as she stood up and said to him, "I leave this to you, Joel. Make sure everything goes smoothly and safely."
He nodded, and all of them, including Sina, followed the Princess as she returned to her chamber to change clothes, and getting ready to go, as she planned to leave the capital with Reyes and Joel to meet the prisoner suspected of spreading rumors about her.