Episode 17

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard your name a lot.”

“Oh? The Lady of Vetra’s Ruler knows my insignificant name! Hahaha!”

This man approaches Ezekiel and pretends to be a resourceful partner… … .

‘How did you hit the back of the head?’

Oops. I didn’t read that far.

The only information I have in my head is the first 20 episodes where I became friends with Ezekiel as a spy.

Still, I decided to watch for now.

‘Just as my life changed, this person might have been twisted from the original and ended up not being a villain, right?’

“I heard that Mr. Eustice was recently awarded a title.”

“That’s right. He was recognized by the imperial family for his contributions in opening trade routes and became a nobleman!”

“Then I will call you Sir Philip.”

“Thank you. Your Majesty the Emperor is truly a wonderful and kind person. He has bestowed upon me, a commoner, a title of nobility.”

No, it hasn’t changed at all.

Philip, who praised the imperial family and the emperor whenever he opened his mouth, led the conversation in a humorous manner.

“I was just hoping to meet the Duke of Vetra. What a coincidence. Haha.”

“Oh my. Why did you want to meet me?”

“Just as His Majesty the Emperor resides in the royal palace, isn’t this the waterway that takes you two around your territory?”

Even trying to buy my favor with such a pathetic trick.

The only fortunate thing is that, unlike the original, he met me first, not Ezekiel.

I must make sure this man never gets his hands on Ezekiel.

“If the Duke would meet me—”

“He’s busy. Instead, you met me.”

“Oh. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to chat with Dogaresawa about various things. Would that be okay?”

“It’s not bad. I was hoping to talk to people from other regions anyway.”

Sir Philip Justis answered with a false smile.

“I, a humble man who knows nothing about formalities, am honored to become acquainted with you, Dogaresa.”

Yeah. I’ll make it a misfortune for you to have met me first.

This time,

Thanks for the twist, original.

***

‘Let’s see. How can I get rid of that person so that people will say I did a good job?’

I continued to observe Sir Philip.

It was annoying to see him constantly showing off his wealth by saying, “We have a lot of these at home too,” while bringing out precious tea leaves.

Besides, it was uncomfortable to glance at Valentina while she was talking to other people.

“Lady. If you have time, let’s have a serious conversation…”

Why do you keep hitting on Valentina, who just became an adult?

‘You’re in your late thirties!’

Still, it was fortunate that the other ladies had come to Valentina’s aid and pulled her out. I shared the idea of setting up a window display with the men gathered there, then looked around.

Today, I’ve gotten to know some important people, so I’m satisfied with this and will retreat tactically.

“Valentina, see you later. I’m going back now.”

“Are you leaving already? I really enjoyed today! If there’s another gathering, would it be okay if I invite you to Dogaresa again?”

“Of course. I liked Valentina too.”

“Thank you. I’ll definitely send you an invitation!”

Sir Philip also expressed his disappointment in a heated manner.

“Oh! Are you leaving already? I will write to you, dear friend, Dogaresa, with sincerity soon. Someday, I will tell you the tale of my bravery as I sailed the oceans!”

“Ah. Yes.”

On my way back to the duke’s residence, leaving the two behind, I told Anna what I had been thinking.

“I need someone to be my eyes even when I’m not going out.”

Anna gave me the answer I wanted as if she had been waiting for it.

“Can I do that?”

“I was going to ask you a favor anyway. I’ll give you some paid vacation time, so you can take some time to sightsee and let me know how things are going in this city.”

He asked them to keep a close eye on Sir Philip and Valentina in particular.

As I was scheming alone like that, I ran into my husband as soon as I got home.

Ezekiel asked curiously.

“Have you returned? Did you get any results?”

“The ladies were interested in my idea. Their response was positive.”

I left out the story about Sir Philip for now. I thought I’d dig a little deeper and then tell you.

“Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”

That was the end of it. We parted ways after a brief conversation, as if we were just meeting for a business briefing.

No, I was going to break up.

“for a moment.”

“Why is that?”

“I put a peach cake in the wife’s room.”

“?”

“I think you must have lost some weight after coming from such a long journey.”

Ezekiel, who had left an absurd remark, climbed the stairs and leisurely disappeared.

As he said, the cake on the glass table in the bedroom was quite delicious.

As the season gradually approached, the juicy flesh of the peach melted refreshingly on my tongue.

I felt good about my husband’s thoughtful consideration.

Except that my husband didn’t show up for dinner that night.

“What the heck. I was expecting this because you even gave me a cake as a gift.”

What on earth is this person thinking?

He was even more inscrutable than the mysterious Sir Philip.

***

A few days later.

I rode in a carriage across the street next to the canal, the river breeze blowing.

The meeting place was a salon near Sir Philip’s temporary residence.

The meeting was arranged outside, as Philip was reluctant to come to the Duke of Vetra’s residence or to visit me at his residence.

“Thank you for your hard work on your long journey.”

“Sir Philip.”

Philip Justis seemed oblivious to this situation, yet he greeted me in a salon with a large window overlooking the canal.

“I recommended it because it’s close to where I’m staying. The coffee at this salon is superb.”

On the surface, his manners were impeccable. He escorted me, pulled out my chair, and even ordered me a coffee with elegance.

He even boasted about a nice house on the street across the canal, claiming it as his own.

“Oh my. What a nice townhouse.”

“I liked this city and wanted to stay for a long time, so I pushed myself a bit.”

Anna, who had followed me, stood nearby and quietly observed Sir Philip. It was as I had requested.

“So how long do you plan to stay?”

“I don’t have anything planned, so for now, I’m just going to relax. I was born a seafarer, so being in a city by the water makes me feel good.”

“For someone who has traveled the world by sea, any place with water is home.”

“Yes.”

대화는 자연스럽게 그의 무용담으로 넘어갔다. 그간 외국에서 겪은 일들과 동쪽 대륙에서 가져온 신비한 물건들 얘기가 계속 나왔다.

참고로 내 자작가 가족은 이 사람이 들여오는 사치품과 향신료에 미쳐있었다.

사촌 여동생 카밀라만 해도 후추와 비단을 가져보겠다고 몰래 사채를 썼으니까 말 다 했지.

가족의 원수. 용서 못 한다.

가족 같지도 않았지만 그래도 용서 못 해.

“경, 그 얘기도 해 주세요. 북쪽 대륙에 갔을 때도 색다른 경험을 했다면서요?”

“오, 그렇죠! 그곳을 통치하는 후작님과 좋은 관계를 맺었답니다.”

응. 거기서 후작 등쳐먹은 거 다 안다. 사실은 ‘경’의 칭호도 그 공로로 얻은 데다가 황제의 첩자로 발탁까지 됐잖아?

“북부 후작님은 얼지 않는 물길을 관리하는 분이셨죠?”

“부동항 말씀입니까! 후작령의 귀한 자산이었죠. 척박한 영지라서 오로지 물길로 수송하는 물자에 의존했으니까요.”

그래, 그거. 당신이 후작한테 사기 쳐서 그 부동항을 다시 제국에 귀속시켰지.

덕분에 제국 허락 없이 물자도 못 얻게 된 북부 사람들은 겨우내 끔찍하게 고생했고.

“이왕 이렇게 된 김에 베트라 공작 저하와도 이곳의 멋진 운하에 관해 이야기를 나눠보면-”

“크흠. 켁!”

나는 냅다 기침하며 말을 끊었다.

“괜찮으십니까, 도가레사?”

“괜찮아요. 물을 너무 많이 마셨더니 체해서.”

“예?”

“이야기 계속하죠.”

몇 번 맞장구치고 속내를 떠봤더니 필리포스 경은 찰나 빈틈을 드러냈다.

“사업하면 경쟁자가 미울 거 같아요. 이를테면 베트라의 큰 상단들이라거나.”

“아, 베트라가 밉긴 하죠. 제 먹거리를 이쪽 대상단들이 뺏어가니까요. 하하!”

이런 간악한 놈.

아슬아슬했던 대화를 끝마치고 마차에 올라탈 때까지도 그는 나를 향해 손을 흔들었다.

나에게 잘 보여서 에제키엘한테 접근하려는 속셈이 훤했다. 안나도 눈치챘는지 창문을 통해서 그를 미심쩍게 바라봤다.

“잘 다녀왔습니까.”

공작저에 들어오자마자 현관에서 남편을 마주쳤다. 예상치 못한 만남이었다.

“나, 나를 기다렸어요?”

“그럴 리가요.”

쳇.