ISHM 13

Chapter 13

The idea that I could negotiate with loan sharks was nothing but my own delusion.
No—thinking that a normal conversation was even possible had been a mistake from the start.

First, I checked the seal stamped on the promissory note. Unfortunately, it was genuine, with no room to suspect forgery.

“There’s something I need to say first. An interest rate of fifty percent is absurd.”

I brought up the issue I wanted to address most.

“But your father signed the contract that way, and now the situation has clearly become one in which you, his daughter, must repay it. We’re merely employees, so there’s nothing we can do about that.”

The answer was always the same. Finn Schneider continued, wearing a look of feigned sympathy toward me.

“Let’s take a look at the conditions we’re offering first. I hope you’ll understand that this is treatment that takes Miss Prim into consideration as much as possible.”

With that, he slid a piece of paper across the table, still smiling pleasantly.

I picked up the contract they handed over. The moment I read it, a hollow laugh escaped me.

“…Sell my body, or hand over the house.”

They were telling me to choose one of the two.

As I stiffened and alternated my gaze between the two men, Finn Schneider raised his chin toward Pavid, who was standing there with a mischievous grin.

“Pavid, about how much would she go for?”

He gestured toward me as if pointing at merchandise. Pavid’s beady eyes glinted as he began to scan me up and down.

For an instant, greed flashed in his eyes. He flicked his tongue between his thin lips and replied,

“Well, I’d have to strip her to know for sure, but judging by appearances alone—she’s top grade.”

His coarse voice scraped at my ears, making me frown instinctively.

“You heard him, right?”

Finn Schneider met my eyes again. His long, narrow eyes curved.

“Either pay the money right now, or choose one of those two options.”

“…”

“The choice is yours.”

I should have protested, demanding what kind of ridiculous conditions these were—but I was so stunned that no words came out.

And on top of that, I had no idea what they might do to me.

I’d invited them into my house for nothing.

I’d been in such a rush to finish this quickly and get to work that I hadn’t thought things through deeply enough.

“As I mentioned earlier, we’re just employees too, so we need to show results. We have to go back with something presentable, don’t we?”

I tried desperately to think of a way out of this situation.

If I handed over the house, I’d have nowhere to go. I couldn’t easily give up the place I’d shared with my father.

But I also had no way to repay over one hundred million Berk. And choosing the other option was…

Should I scream?

“Miss Prim, judging by your expression, it looks like you’re thinking about screaming. Do you think this is our first time doing something like this?”

“…”

“The more uncooperative you are, the worse the conditions will become.”

Finn Schneider dropped his gentle smile and gave an order to Pavid.

“Lock the door.”

Pavid stomped heavily across the wooden floor toward the door.

I ground my teeth until they made a sound.

“So this is how you work—deceiving and threatening people?”

“Usually.”

Finn Schneider chuckled.

“But we’re actually on the gentlemanly side. Gentle and nice, you know. And it’s hard to find looks as handsome as ours, don’t you think?”

I couldn’t help letting out a scoff.

This man was spouting nonsense that had nothing to do with reality.

He was all surface polish—he’d probably never even seen what a true gentleman looked like.

Johannes Schultz…

Come to think of it, I’d only ever seen him as a naval officer or as my superior. He must be even more gentlemanly in everyday life.

Compared to him, Finn Schneider was a cheap imitation who couldn’t even mimic the first letter of the word “gentleman.”

“Did you just laugh at me?”

“No. Of course not.”

I quickly wiped the sneer from my lips. But Finn Schneider’s mood was already thoroughly ruined.

“It looked like you laughed. In situations like this, we have a method we use quite often.”

His face showed genuine irritation.

It seemed I’d touched a nerve.

“Pavid, why are you taking so long! Pavid!”

Finn Schneider turned around irritably, then headed toward the door and warned me,

“Stay put. If you try to run, I’ll sell you on the spot.”

His bony finger pointed at me, as if it might pierce straight through.

Fear surged up—but the moment he turned away was the perfect chance to escape.

If I ran out the back door and dashed down the opposite street, or went to Mrs. Pensler’s house… or caught a carriage heading to the ducal estate…

Waiting for him to move farther away, I suddenly sprang up and ran for the back door.

And the moment I opened it, I froze on the spot.

“Duke Schultz…?”

“Pavid, Pavid!”

Finn Schneider ran a hand through his hair several times as he headed for the entrance. The moment he registered the scene before the door, his face turned deathly pale.

“What—what is this…?!”

The massive Pavid was being held by the nape of his neck, struggling. His face had turned from red to a purplish hue, on the verge of losing consciousness.

Men in pristine white uniforms completely blocked the front of the house.

They were the Navy of Dochillia.

Why the Navy…?

The police had never been much of a problem. Bribe them, or befriend them, and they’d cooperate easily.

But the Navy was different. They were inflexible.

And while they did concern themselves with public order, they’d never intervened this directly before.

Grinding his teeth in irritation, Finn Schneider stepped backward—until he sensed a massive shadow looming over him and stopped.

“Damn it!”

Slowly turning around, Finn Schneider looked up at the man blocking his way, eyes wide with shock.

His expression deepened into outright horror.

“Johannes Schultz…? Why are you here, sir?”

Finn Schneider’s voice trembled miserably.

Wasn’t he supposed to be looking the other way?

How far do you think I should keep overlooking you?

An icy voice slammed into his mind.

Finn Schneider was the illegitimate son of Count Schwaben, born to a prostitute.

A half-baked noble who couldn’t even inherit the Schwaben name.

He’d made relentless efforts to imitate true gentlemen. Even so, perhaps because of his prostitute mother, his filthy street behavior showed no signs of improvement.

Naturally, his path had been clear.

If he couldn’t be acknowledged as a noble, then he’d at least enjoy all the privileges—living a life of indulgence.

So he opened Banux, stripped countless women of their money, and drank himself into oblivion.

That was when the Navy had stormed into his establishment, and amid the commotion he’d heard someone mention “Lieutenant Colonel Schultz.” He’d glanced over—and by chance, met Johannes Schultz’s eyes. That was back when he was still a lieutenant colonel.

Johannes had warned him, as if fully aware of his despicable scams.

He knew Count Schwaben was backing him, so he told him to keep it reasonable.

After that, Finn Schneider had been even more discreet, even more illegal, carefully staying within his limits—so why now?

He didn’t know the reason.

What was certain was that he himself was now well and truly finished.

“Duke Schultz…?”

I stood there blankly, then noticed the Navy surrounding the house and looked shocked.

I didn’t care how or why he’d come. All I felt was relief.

And without understanding a thing, I followed behind Duke Schultz as he strode into the house.

He stopped in front of Finn Schneider.

“Johannes Schultz…? Why are you here, sir?”

Watching Finn Schneider’s face grow steadily more foolish, I couldn’t help frowning.

Then a short, incredulous laugh escaped me.

Soon, he pressed a hand to his forehead, his expression one of utter disbelief—a glimpse of weakness I hadn’t seen before.

That was when it happened.

Thud—Pavid collapsed onto the floor. Finn Schneider’s trembling intensified as he saw him.

How surprising. That hateful face no longer frightened me at all.

It felt as though I could hear the wheels turning in his head.

He seemed lost in thought, then spoke with a brighter expression than before—almost shouting,

“I—I heard that the royal family revoked the Schultz ducal house’s right to summary execution… didn’t they?”

“Are your eyes just for decoration? How unfortunate.”

Duke Schultz let out a scoff.

“That’s why I came in the capacity of a colonel.”

Finn Schneider was, in his own way, quick-witted. He discarded what little pride he had left and dropped to his knees.

“P-please, just this once, have mercy. If you arrest me, I—I might really be killed by my father.”

“That’s your problem.”

Then, with hands trembling violently, he clutched at Duke Schultz’s trouser leg. The sailors immediately kicked his shoulders away.

Finn Schneider tumbled across the floor.

“I didn’t realize you were still carrying on with such filthy business. Didn’t I warn you?”

Duke Schultz said coldly. Then he turned and faced me, fixing me with his blue eyes. I still couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

His tightly closed lips parted.

“At present, I cannot offer Miss Prim any help.”

His voice was gentler than I’d expected. I’d thought it would be as cold as usual…

But the relief I’d felt—that maybe everything would end as if nothing had happened—burst like a bubble.

Right. Johannes Schultz had no obligation to pay off my debts.

I felt ashamed of myself for having harbored such a thief-like hope, even briefly.

Johannes tilted his chin slightly, and from among the sailors stepped Sir Frett.

“To be precise, what they did was indeed illegal. It’s not something we can fully explain right now… but it’s a commonly used tactic.”

“Then…!”

“However, it will take time to bring this to court. Until then, it’s difficult to prove the illegality, which means you’d have to pay the amount they claim—and if that happens, this house will be taken.”

Sir Frett slowly surveyed the inside of the house. When he saw my stricken expression, he continued with a sympathetic look.

“The law is truly filthy. Even Colonel Schultz has difficulty helping. He’s only allowed to lend up to fifty million Berk to another person.”

“But it would be different if we became a relationship in which help could be given without compensation.”

Johannes Schultz interjected at the perfect moment.

I pressed my lips tightly together. I knew exactly what he meant.

After acting as if he’d never proposed to me before, now he was bringing up marriage again.

Why?

I looked up at him with confused eyes. Duke Schultz leaned closer.

From the reduced distance, he asked,

“Do you want help?”

“…”

“Practical help.”

His vivid blue eyes flashed for an instant. I almost laughed.

Practical.

To think he’d throw my own words back at me.

It was a terribly dry proposal. Yet I could confidently say it was more romantic than any other.

What man would propose to a penniless commoner woman while throwing away 135 million Berk?

And not just any man—Johannes Schultz, whom every young lady in high society desperately desired. Officially his face hadn’t been revealed, but everyone in society surely knew.

A small laugh slipped out.

Either way, I had to protect this house. I didn’t have the luxury of preserving my pride.

It certainly wouldn’t be free.

But whatever conditions he might set, I was the one at a disadvantage now.

Since he was proposing, he wouldn’t sell me off or seize my house.

With resolute eyes, I said,

“Yes. Desperately.”