PVMC 12

Chapter 12

After that, maybe the comforting worked to some extent, because Matthias quietly kept his head down until the treatment was finished.

As soon as I finished wrapping the new bandages, I hurried out of the room to find Enoch.

“So the young lady will continue to stay by his side, then?”

I gave a brief summary of what had happened earlier and nodded.

“He still seems to be a bit afraid of people.”

“…I think so too.”

Trauma isn’t something that fades easily, Enoch said with understanding, nodding his head.

“If you stay with him, I think our distinguished guest will be able to receive treatment more comfortably.”

From the first time I saw him, I thought he wasn’t ordinary at all. His wariness toward strangers was so strong that even if you approached slightly, he immediately bristled.

No—bristles wouldn’t even cover it.

Like a beast baring its fangs, he wouldn’t allow anyone to take even a single step closer.

He was completely raw and untamed. If handled poorly, I felt like I might be the one to get bitten instead.

Having witnessed that wariness myself at the end, I nodded in understanding.

“Then please take care of him just for a while. If you need any medicine or ingredients, tell Sophia and she’ll prepare them right away.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

“Don’t worry.”

Enoch, quick to sense things, immediately realized what I was about to say.

“I came here today to treat the guest.”

“…I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”

At that, Enoch gave a faint smile and bowed his head. After saying he would return in two days, he turned to leave.

I rested my hand on my waist and glanced back at the room I’d just exited.

The treatment was roughly finished.

Now it was time to deal with the remaining matters.

‘First, I need to win over Marchioness Odilon.’

Her husband, Marquis Odilon, had quite a… colorful past.

From what I heard, even before their marriage his reputation had already been terrible.

‘Which means—’

Not only before the marriage, but even after, she must still be suffering because of him. Her nature, valuing rules and principle, was the complete opposite of his.

On top of that, he played around with numerous women. How humiliating must that be for a noble lady? They said she’d been complaining to her close aides for a long time about wanting a divorce, so if given the chance, she’d probably jump at it.

‘I’ll deal with Xavier.’

And the marchioness can get rid of her troublesome husband.

‘Perfect.’

We each get exactly what we want. Isn’t that the ideal combination to scheme together? But suddenly going to her now would still be too risky.

If I just said, “Your husband is running a slave ring,” she’d obviously be shocked, but without solid proof, those words would quickly lose credibility.

If I wanted the marchioness to move personally, I needed undeniable evidence that the marquis was running a slave business.

‘Matthias is a living witness, but…’

I could believe it because I know the original story—but she didn’t.

‘I know exactly where the auction takes place.’

District 10.

Auction goods.

And high-ranking nobles.

Piecing those clues together, I easily recalled the details from the original story.

‘It was one of the early episodes.’

Frenhold.

Its official name: Frenhold Theater.

One of the grand opera houses.

But the noble who owned it went bankrupt, and it became an abandoned, ghost theater.

Since it’s a bit away from the central plaza, no one goes there now.

‘It was often used in the original story too.’

A secluded space away from people’s eyes.

The perfect place to commit crimes.

In reality as well, illegal gambling and auctions were rampant there.

Back when Matthias was captured by the slave traders, the episode where he tried to escape also took place in Frenhold Theater.

‘One week from now.’

Time: 10 p.m.

If everything goes like in the original story, Xavier’s slave traders and illegal auction group will appear then.

‘Then it’s about time to start moving.’

I slipped my hand into the inner sleeve of my dress.

I took out a small key and inserted it into the keyhole of the second drawer on the right.

Click.

Inside was a box wrapped in red velvet.

As I gently touched its soft surface, I smirked.

‘I already know the time and place anyway.’

Time to throw out some bait.

“…You’re saying you found a way to repay the debt?”

The next day.

Upon hearing that there was suddenly a way to pay off the debt, Xavier rushed into the mansion in a panic. But the debt wasn’t small—twenty billion.

How could such a massive amount be handled overnight?

He came just in case, but he still clearly doubted my words.

“Yes, I found a way to repay it.”

“And what is that?”

At Xavier’s question, I smiled brightly.

“An auction!”

“…What?”

For a moment, Xavier blankly repeated the word, stunned. But soon disbelief filled his face as he looked at me.

“An auction.”

I widened my eyes innocently.

“Nobles often auction off their precious belongings among themselves, right? I’m sure there are things here in the mansion we could sell.”

“…”

“My mother used to collect jewels, remember? If we sell some of those, wouldn’t we at least get a decent amount?”

At those words, Xavier’s face twisted. He looked at me like I was an absolute clown.

He’d rushed over early in the morning because I claimed I had a way to pay off the debt…

And what do I say? An auction?

“Hah!”

Xavier scoffed in disbelief.

“Did you forget how big the family’s debt is?”

“No, of course not.”

“And you think you can pay that enormous sum with just that?”

“Is it not possible?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Xavier looked me up and down with clear irritation. I simply smiled back sweetly.

His gaze grew even more sinister.

Meanwhile, just as Aria expected, his irritation was boiling over.

‘I thought she had at least some brains.’

She must have completely lost her mind along with the family’s downfall.

If this ridiculous idea was the best she could come up with, she was definitely losing it. Xavier sighed deeply as he looked at his niece in utter disappointment.

At this point, instead of telling her to repay the debt—

‘It’d be better to hurry and pass down the title of count.’

Xavier’s eyes narrowed.

From her delicate features to her slender neck and rounded shoulders, his gaze swept over her, and he licked his lips.

‘Might be better to sell her off sooner rather than later.’

She’d fetch a decent price in the marriage market.

Even if it wasn’t to a high-ranking noble family, she could at least become the wife of a wealthy merchant. Being buried in debt could be handled with a bit of manipulation.

‘If not, I could just sell her as a slave instead of killing her.’

Actually, that might be even more profitable.

Thinking about it, that sounded much better than killing her off.

After all, she was considered quite pretty in high society.

If handled properly, couldn’t she be sold for a very high price?

…I can practically see exactly what you’re thinking.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

I knew far too well what kind of thoughts were running through his head, and it was honestly laughable. He must be thinking about how he could make money off me right now.

‘Typical thoughts a slave trader would have.’

You only see what you’re used to seeing.

His thought process was disgustingly low.

But I still needed information for now. So pretending to be naive, I blinked and asked,

“I heard noble ladies can make a lot of money there. Lots of rare items go up for sale too.”

“…Noble ladies?”

“I hear a lot of things while attending social gatherings.”

Of course, that was a lie.

I’d gone to social gatherings, yes—but I’d never really spent much time chatting with noble ladies.

But to bait prey, sometimes you have to spin a few lies.

I slightly lowered my gaze.

“To be honest, this is a secret…”