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Chapter 21
“Did you find it this time? Let’s hear it.”
With little expectation in his voice, Zachary leaned back against the sofa in his room. His legs were propped up on the table, and in one hand he held a glass of whiskey strong enough to burn an empty stomach.
Before him stood an informant who had been led in by Toby. The man wore a black top hat pulled low enough to hide his eyes.
“We found it.”
At the informant’s short but confident reply, Zachary stopped swirling the ice in his glass.
“It appears the item has been put up for sale on the black market in the southern region.”
“The price?”
The informant named an amount so enormous it would make an ordinary person gape, but Zachary didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.
“Buy it.”
“There’s one problem. According to the letter from our local contact, the seller keeps making excuses and running around. He says it’s too precious to sell to just anyone.”
“He’s trying to drive the price up as much as possible. There are probably others after it too. Sounds like he wants the prestige of the sale as well.”
Selling an item to a great noble or powerful figure was the kind of achievement merchants bragged about for years.
“We mentioned Your Grace’s name, but the insolent seller said he wouldn’t hand over the item unless the Duke himself came in person.”
“Oh? Really?”
One of Zachary’s brows rose. He downed the whiskey in one shot, then smiled like a villain.
“That bastard’s got guts. Doesn’t value his life much, does he?”
“Shall I instruct the local informant to eliminate the seller?”
“No. If we lose track of the item, that’ll be a disaster. We retrieve it no matter what.”
“Then…”
“I’ll go myself.”
“Pardon? Your Grace is personally going to the southern region?”
“I should properly show that seller exactly who the buyer is.”
Then the grin on Zachary’s face suddenly froze. It looked as though a troubling thought had just occurred to him.
“Wait… if I go…”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll have to sleep separately while I’m there.”
“…What?”
“Damn it.”
As Zachary’s expression turned even darker than before, the informant flinched internally.
I’m screwed. Is he angry? Wait, is this because of me?
But instead of exploding in rage, Zachary sat there silently with a frown, deep in thought. Finally, he slammed the whiskey glass onto the table.
“It can’t be helped. Pichino.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I’ll be back within three days.”
“The southern region in three days? It takes two full days just to get there by carriage…”
“Then I’ll ride through the night.”
Since Zachary couldn’t sleep properly without Yurita anyway, it was a perfectly logical solution to him.
To the informant, however, it sounded exhausting.
Meanwhile.
What are they talking about for so long?
Though she knew it was improper, Yurita pressed her ear tightly against Zachary’s door, trying to catch even a fragment of the conversation.
All she could hear were muffled voices beyond the door.
“My lady…”
At that moment, the head maid approached carefully.
“In a minute.”
“It’s just… a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
At those words, Yurita turned toward her.
“From the palace? Why?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you to the palace tomorrow.”
“Her Majesty?”
Why again?
Just then, the door swung open.
Yurita’s eyes met Zachary’s as he stepped out of the room.
“What are you doing? Were you eavesdropping?”
Zachary asked suspiciously, but Yurita merely shrugged calmly.
“No? I just happened to be passing by your room.”
“Like I’m supposed to believe that… Hey, Pichino.”
The gentleman who followed behind bowed politely to Yurita before turning to Zachary.
“You go ahead and prepare for departure first.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The man called Pichino answered before briskly heading down the stairs.
So he’s the informant?
“I’ll be away from the estate for about three days.”
Zachary adjusted the coat he was wearing as he spoke.
“Where are you going?”
“The southern region.”
“Hm. What for?”
She didn’t really expect him to answer, but Yurita asked anyway.
“There’s something I need to retrieve.”
Contrary to her expectations, Zachary answered without resistance. Then he pointed a finger at her.
“The one-week sleeping arrangement starts after I get back. Don’t start counting from today.”
Wait… he’s seriously this concerned about that?
Yurita barely managed to suppress a laugh.
“Alright. I’m flexible enough for that, so don’t worry.”
Zachary stared at her with a dissatisfied expression before reluctantly starting to walk away.
“Then I’m off.”
“Yeah, sure. Have a safe trip.”
Yurita watched from the window as Zachary and the informant rode away on black horses. She kept watching until the two became tiny black dots disappearing beyond the horizon.
He’s personally going just to retrieve an item?
What kind of object could possibly move the infamous Duke Killerster himself?
A number of unpleasant possibilities crossed Yurita’s mind, and she quickly stopped herself from thinking further.
Still, the fact that Zachary would be gone for three days was a relief. She felt like she could finally breathe for a moment.
…Though tomorrow is the real problem.
Going to the Imperial Palace always made her uneasy. She was glad Zachary had left, but at the same time, it felt strangely lonely not having anyone to go to the palace with.
The next day, when Yurita arrived at the palace, her appearance was quite different from usual.
She wore a flowing cream-colored dress and a hat adorned with a navy silk ribbon. It was one of the outfits Zachary had bought for her.
It’s refreshing to get away from black and red.
Feeling lighter than usual, Yurita walked into the palace.
Huh?
When she entered the audience hall, other noblewomen and young ladies had already gathered there.
So I’m not the only one invited.
Among the crowd of noble daughters, Yurita spotted Helena, the original story’s heroine.
Helena looked at Yurita for a moment before quietly lowering her head in greeting. Yurita returned it with a nod.
“So the Duchess has come as well. It’s been a long time.”
Unlike before, the noblewomen greeted her respectfully.
Standing among them, Yurita noticed Baroness Nora nervously greeting people while carefully reading the room.
Looks like Zachary publicly gifting me that bracelet really had an effect.
Yurita deliberately brushed her hair behind her ear while looking at Lady Nora. The bracelet wrapped around her wrist sparkled beneath the chandelier light.
Lady Nora merely cleared her throat and lowered her gaze.
She’s completely lost her confidence.
Yurita smiled faintly. Perhaps life would become a little easier from now on.
“Her Majesty the Empress is arriving.”
Soon, the Empress appeared grandly draped in a spotted mantle reminiscent of a dalmatian.
“Thank you all for coming, lovely flowers of the capital.”
“Your Majesty, have you been well?”
“The reason I summoned you all today is because, as you know, the week of the Cultural Festival is approaching.”
Ah, so that’s why.
The festival of the Naroa Empire, which had appeared as an episode in the original story.
It was the empire’s largest annual event, overseen by the Empress, who was responsible for the nation’s culture and arts.
“For this year’s Cultural Festival, I wish to borrow your talents. We will open the Imperial Villa, and I would like all of you to plan events everyone can enjoy there.”
“What?”
Soft murmurs spread among the ladies. Judging by their surprise, opening the Imperial Villa was not something that happened often.
“The person among you who presents the finest idea shall be appointed director of the villa’s events and receive great honor. Of course, there will also be a reward.”
“What reward, Your Majesty?”
“You may ask this Empress for any one wish.”
“Oh my!”
The young ladies gasped at the far more extravagant prize than expected.
The Empress was the one who presided over marriages throughout the empire. Earning her favor practically guaranteed marriage to whoever one desired.
“It’s an amazing reward, Your Majesty!”
While everyone became excited, one woman in particular burned with motivation.
A wish from the Empress?
Yurita’s eyes sparkled.
Of course, it wasn’t because she wanted to find a marriage partner.
Living with the villain of the original story felt like walking on thin ice that could crack at any moment.
To Yurita, the Empress’s wish felt like an emergency escape button for the future.
There’s no downside to securing it just in case.
For the first time in a while, Yurita felt her competitive spirit ignite.
After the Empress’s announcement, the noble ladies began leaving in small groups.
“Duchess Killerster.”
The Empress stopped Yurita.
“Why don’t you stay behind for a moment and speak with me?”
