TPES 41

Chapter 41

“Ta-da.”
I placed the money I received from the marquis on the table.
“What’s this? You actually got money from that marquis?”
“Of course.”
Excitedly, I took out the money and started dividing it into my bag, one bundle at a time.
“Here, this 300,000 litas is to pay back Father. And this 450,000 litas…”
I paused, pondering over the money.
Should I return this to Duchess Ameron and Baroness Scount, the second-highest bidder? They’d probably live fine without it…
After much thought, I eventually put it into another bag.
“This is money to return to the painting buyers.”
No matter how noble they were, losing such a large sum would surely hurt them.
“And these jewels here. Turn them into cash. Can you do that?”
“Easily. I’ll convert them right away.”
Since Robert managed both intelligence and a pawnshop, converting these jewels into cash without anyone being able to trace them was an easy task for him.
“Then the money and the remaining cash will be used for the next task.”
“The next task?”
“Yeah. Of course, we have to prepare for the next task. Especially for the person working so hard right now.”
“Oh, you mean the one locked up in that house? Shouldn’t we get them out?”
“They’ll come out on the day of the auction, the day after tomorrow. There’s still work to be done in that house.”
“What kind of work?”
“We need to secure an important witness. We have to prove to the knights what crime Marquis Monjas committed.”
“But someone’s being confined… is that okay?”
“Don’t worry. They’re not really confined.”
“Not confined?”
“They can leave, they just don’t. That’s not confinement.”
Seeing me smile, Robert let out a wry, exasperated laugh.
“So, what’s this next task?”
“Of course, it’s a loan scam. We have to get revenge for Corin.”
“What on earth is the lady thinking with that little head of hers?”
“Well… just thinking about how to take money from those swindlers, I guess.”
I glanced at the time.
“Ha, I should get going then. Are you attending the royal banquet tomorrow?”
“Of course. It’s very useful for business. How about you, Lady?”
“I’ll be attending too…”
“Then why the glum face?”
“My partner is His Grace, Duke Holt. I feel a little guilty, like a thief getting caught in the act. Even though we scammed the scammers, it’s still a scam, after all.”
“Really? Your conscience must be bothering you a lot.”
Hearing Travis’s name, Robert smiled faintly, slightly bitter. It seemed inevitable that even he would feel uneasy around Travis.
“Ha… see you tomorrow then.”

“Oh my, where did the dress I was planning to wear to the royal banquet go?”
“I wonder. We hung it in the most visible spot in the dress room.”
As expected, seeing the missing dress, Tonin and I bit back our laughter, trying not to make a sound.
Nothing about this was surprising.
Rose, curious about what I would wear to the banquet, had been sneaking in and out of my dress room for days and eventually stole the dress I had hung there.
With Rose’s personality, this was entirely believable.
“I guess I’ll have to wear something else. Ha… that dress was really pretty.”
I deliberately stepped into the hallway and shouted. I wanted Rose, hearing my voice from her own dress room and thinking she had won, to feel my mock frustration.
“Shall I bring that dress over?”
“Yes.”
Actually, the dress Rose took was prepared to tease her. Though it looked fine, imagining the embarrassment it would cause her at the royal banquet made me chuckle in advance.
“I didn’t think you’d actually take it.”
“Exactly. No conscience at all.”
“You’re a thief. A thief.”
“That’s why you’ll be punished. Today.”
Tonin also looked on with a delighted expression.
“By the way, His Grace, Duke Holt, is coming today, right?”
“Yes.”
“That must make it even more frustrating. Did you know? Countess has already gone down to the first floor.”
“Why?”
“Probably to try pushing Lady Rose to Duke Holt one last time.”
Even after being dismissed like last time, she still hadn’t learned her lesson.
The best way for a noble lady to raise her status and dignity was through marriage. Benefiting greatly from that, the countess seemed intent on marrying her daughter, Rose, into a good family.
That must be why she keeps bringing up Haren.
“I hope she doesn’t succeed in pushing her toward Duke Holt.”
Especially since Travis had become more hesitant after receiving the money from the marquis yesterday.

“What’s this outfit?”
Travis tightly closed his eyes upon seeing the luxurious banquet attire prepared in his room.
“This is the banquet outfit you’ll wear to the royal banquet today, Your Grace.”
“No need. My knight’s uniform will do.”
“No, absolutely not.”
The butler, who had looked after him since childhood, blocked his way with a firm expression.
“For your partner’s sake, you should attend in the banquet attire this time.”
“For my partner’s sake?”
“Yes. If your partner shows up in the knight’s uniform, how upset would the lady be? It’s not proper etiquette for your partner.”
Hearing the butler, Travis thought of Espin. True, the world of noble ladies’ social gatherings was more talkative than expected and could be damaging to her.
“But this is way too flashy. I’ll just wear something simpler.”
“Your Grace, at the royal banquet, making your partner shine is also part of your role.”
“Still…”
“And, unfortunately, all the other banquet clothes are being cleaned. I’m sorry, but this is the only one available.”
The butler, knowing Travis wouldn’t argue further, smiled faintly and lifted the banquet attire.
“Now, please change into it.”
The white fabric, embroidered with gold, looked imposing.
But the butler’s expression was firm, so Travis had no choice but to change.

“Now, take the carriage to Count Leon’s residence and escort Lady Espin. And after the royal banquet ends, don’t forget to bring her home.”
The butler went on lecturing Travis until he left the house. To him, Travis still looked like a six-year-old boy.
“Butler, enough. I get it.”
“I’m worried because it’s the first time you’re going to a banquet with your partner.”
“First time? What’s the big deal?”
“It’s special. Isn’t it your first time? Ha… I always worried that Your Grace would grow old alone. But now I can rest easy.”
The white-haired butler smiled in relief.
“Rest easy? You still have a long way to go before resting. You’re so healthy.”
“Now go. Lady Espin will be waiting.”
Travis let out a wry laugh at the butler calling someone he had never seen “Lady Espin” with such affection.
The carriage, well-maintained by the butler, looked as if it had barely been used. Travis, used to riding horses, felt awkward sitting in the unfamiliar carriage.
Shortly after leaving the duke’s residence, the carriage arrived at Count Leon’s residence.

The doors opened quickly, as if they already knew he was coming. And surprisingly, someone unexpected was waiting to greet him.