Why did they...
They fall in love and decide that they do not want to double cross each other. okay that makes sense. But why double cross the count? It wasn't his idea to pit them against each other. It was Hideko's idea to acquire a handmaiden to replace her. Why not just give him the half that he earned, for A) breaking you free of your sicko uncle and B) introducing the two of you?
Can some explain the reasoning? He was the least guilty of the three.