RBAR 40

Chapter 40

Countess Giorgio’s daughter’s birthday party.

As expected from a noble who makes money off commoners through wine, the party was very fancy and glamorous.

I felt a bit annoyed by the whispers and looks from nobles who recognized me, but I didn’t care.

My only goal was ‘Count Giorgio’ himself.

Then, a voice as clear as a jade bell called out to me.

“Oh my… Edith? Is that really you, Edith?”

It was an unexpected guest. I sighed in annoyance and looked at her.

A beautiful woman with a fresh and pure vibe was standing before me. Elisa Diehl, now Elisa Adelheid.

‘What’s this? Did she have some connection with Countess Giorgio’s daughter?’

I hadn’t expected her to be at this party. I glanced at her briefly and silently walked past.

‘Well, that’s not important right now.’

Right now, finding Count Giorgio was my priority. But Elisa wouldn’t let me just walk away — she grabbed my arm.

“Wait, Edith.”

Annoyance surged up. I didn’t have time to waste with Adelheid right now.

Elisa stared at me silently, then whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

“…Did you want to come to a place like this too?”
“Yeah, so don’t pretend you know me.”

I pulled my arm free forcefully, and Elisa dramatically staggered.

“Ah!”“Oh my, princess!”

Her pitiful act made me chuckle and walk away.

That was enough playing along with this little drama.

“Oh, Edith Diehl!”

At that moment, a young lady approached me.

She had soft, curly, light red hair that caught the eye. Probably around my age, with a youthful look.

“Who are you? Ah, are you Riela Giorgio, Countess Giorgio’s daughter?”
“Yes, I’m Riela Giorgio, the star of the party.”

Wow, someone who calls themselves the star — that’s new…

“Hello, Countess Giorgio.”
“Nice to meet you. You recognize me right away?”
“Isn’t it the same for you?”
“Well, I often see Lady Diehl in the newspapers. Haha.”

Countess Giorgio laughed lightly.

‘The newspapers probably only wrote bad things about me.’

I forced a smile. Nobles who hadn’t expected me here were whispering and sneaking looks.

Even Elisa, pretending to have fainted pitifully, glanced over, catching my attention.

“Thank you for inviting me.”“Thank you for coming! You’re making our party famous!”

Ah, so they invited me to get attention.

“By the way, what’s your relationship with Duke Orpheo?”

And a curious question.

The reason for inviting me was so clear that it made me want to laugh quietly.

Seeing me amused, Countess Giorgio kept chatting happily.

“I’m pretty open-minded, haha.”

Hmm…

I’ve never met anyone who claims to be open-minded but actually is.“I see. I want to thank Count Giorgio and his wife as well. Where are they?”

My real business was with the count.

“Lady Diehl.”

Suddenly, Countess Giorgio’s expression hardened. Her tone changed a bit, too.

“Do I sound ridiculous?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“I’m speaking, so you should answer.”

She asked a very personal question, but only bragged about herself, so what was I supposed to say?

“Lady Diehl, if it’s your first time at such a party, you should know this is bad manners.”

Looking down on me, I gave a hollow laugh. Apparently, she saw me as just an accessory to shine her up. Since I didn’t behave as she wanted, she was upset.

‘I’m way more upset than you are.’

But I didn’t show it and spoke calmly.

“If I meet His Grace the Duke, I’ll ask him.”
“…Ask what?”
“You seem very curious about my relationship with His Grace. I’ll ask if it’s okay to talk about it.”
“…What!”

Countess Giorgio gasped, shocked.

“Lady, are you crazy?”

It’s perfectly normal.

I knew why she reacted so strongly.

Killian, the Duke, was known to be very sensitive about his private life.

That’s why almost nothing was known about him except his hobby: gardening.

If he heard I was digging into his private matters…

I wondered how he would react.

‘Well, he probably wouldn’t care at all.’

I knew the answer, but those who didn’t know him would think he’d get angry.

“Riela, what’s going on?”

At that moment, a middle-aged man with oily skin approached.

Same hair color as the Countess Giorgio, and called her by a familiar name.

This must be Vincent Giorgio.

“It seems Lady Edith Diehl doesn’t know the etiquette, so I was teaching her.”
“Oh? Edith Diehl, you say?”

Count Giorgio finally looked at me.

As we made eye contact, I remembered what happened last night.

After asking Henry to get the auction list, I was almost sure.

‘Count Giorgio was probably there too.’

About two years ago, the purchase rights to Joan’s farm crops were auctioned.

Since 5-star properties rarely go to auction, everyone in the related business was watching closely.

Of course, Count Giorgio, who deals in wine, was involved.

He probably really wanted that purchase right.

‘But Duke Adelheid got it.’

Count Giorgio poisoned Joan’s farm.

If I can’t have it, no one can — maybe that was his thinking?

‘I heard Count Giorgio and Duke Adelheid are quite close.’

If Duke Adelheid found out the count was behind it, he would probably go crazy. Just imagining it made me laugh.

‘Master, I brought the list.’

As expected, the second-highest bid after Duke Adelheid was ‘Vincent Giorgio.’

Seeing the auction list Henry brought, I didn’t find the situation funny anymore.

‘Joan believed he was a good person.’

But if she found out the count helped her out of a weak sense of guilt…

She would feel terrible. I couldn’t even imagine that feeling.

‘Just in case.’

I came here to verify.

I politely greeted Count Giorgio.

“I enjoy Giorgio wine and wanted to meet you.”
“Haha, you know good wine!”

He laughed heartily, but his eyes weren’t kind.

‘He probably didn’t want me here from the start.’

It seemed the invitation was Countess Riela Giorgio’s alone. I handed a note to the count.

“Open this when you’re alone.”
“…?”

Later…

“You came.”

As I expected, the count came to the place I told him.

‘He had no choice.’

The note said I knew what business Duke Adelheid planned next.

‘If Vincent Giorgio is the real culprit ruining Joan’s farm…’

The reason was jealousy and insecurity about Duke Adelheid.

Someone would ask:

‘Why would Count Giorgio be jealous of Duke Adelheid?’

Unlike Duke Adelheid, who aimed at the nobles, Count Giorgio targeted the commoners.

‘Otherwise, he couldn’t catch up to Duke Adelheid.’

Count Giorgio’s strategy looked pretty successful.

But the problem was:

‘Despite investing a lot, he couldn’t beat Duke Adelheid, who controlled the wine business too.’

It’s more profitable to target nobles’ thick wallets than small money from commoners.

More production means higher labor, transport, and management costs.

‘So pure profit decreases.’

Meanwhile, Duke Adelheid’s Rohart wine focused on rarity, with low costs but big sales.

Overall sales were slightly higher for Duke Adelheid, but his pure profits were dozens of percent higher.

It was strange if you weren’t jealous.

‘Then losing Joan’s farm purchase rights was the last straw.’

Count Giorgio’s inferiority complex must have crushed him.

‘That’s why he poisoned Joan’s farm.’

My gaze turned cold as the count approached, unaware of it.

He cleared his throat and said:

“Ahem, don’t misunderstand. I’m here for the duke!”
“Really? Then we have different goals. Sorry, but it’s best to end this meeting.”
“What?! Don’t go!”
“You see Duke Adelheid as a business rival, so do I.”
“…Hmm.”

He kept clearing his throat awkwardly. Stop coughing if you don’t want this meeting known everywhere.

“So, what business does the duke plan next?”

At last, the count showed his true colors with a sly smile.

I was the one who should be laughing.

‘Got you! You bastard!’

Just like Henry told me, I secretly activated the voice recorder hidden on me.