I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 45
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45
Deep in the garden where the banquet hall’s lights dimly reached.
“So you’re telling me you couldn’t even seduce one measly woman and tucked your tail between your legs?”
When Barto Smith asked with disdain, Fabian Noguen clasped his hands tightly behind his back and answered.
“I did my best, but… that woman wouldn’t give me any openings, so there was nothing I could do.”
“Cut the excuses.”
Barto snorted and crossed his arms.
“You just couldn’t do it because you’re incompetent. Isn’t that right?”
Feeling that whatever he said would be dismissed as an excuse, Fabian kept his mouth tightly shut.
“You see, an aide should be someone who brings the results their superior wants.”
Barto slowly circled around Fabian Noguen as he continued speaking leisurely.
“But failing at that means it’s hard to consider you a competent aide.”
To be treated like this just for failing to seduce one woman.
Fabian Noguen’s jaw tightened with tension.
“…I’m sorry.”
But no matter how frustrated and angry he felt, there was nothing a mere aide like him could do.
His opponent was even the heir to a marquis house.
One wrong move could endanger not just him, but his entire family.
“I’d rather hear that you succeeded than that you’re sorry.”
“That’s…”
“I told you. That woman is necessary for the Nuviar I’ll rule in the future.”
Eileen had not only discovered the cause of the Raed River’s flooding in just one day—something no one had figured out for decades—but had also found a solution.
Though the results weren’t out yet, considering her skill in preventing Belheim’s autumn rains, success seemed almost certain.
That’s why Barto Smith coveted Eileen even more.
With her, it seemed she could solve other problems that arose in the city too.
“We absolutely must seduce that woman and make her settle down in this territory.”
While male commoners couldn’t leave their assigned territory without migration rights, female commoners could move to another territory if they married someone from there.
Barto Smith intended to use exactly that point to bring Eileen to Nuviar.
Of course, this was his plan alone.
He had casually mentioned it to his father, Smith Viscount, but instead of praise, he was scolded not to do useless things.
“You must never do anything reckless that would earn Grand Duke Crowbell’s resentment, Barto.”
He had even earnestly entreated him, but Barto had no intention of following his father’s words.
It would be foolish to let good talent slip away when it was right before his eyes.
Besides, if Eileen said she wanted to marry someone she loved and leave the territory, even Callix Crowbell couldn’t say anything about it.
“I’m telling you again, seduce that woman by any means necessary.”
At his superior’s command, Fabian answered with a sigh-laden voice.
“There’s no time for that. Miss Eileen is returning to Belheim tomorrow.”
“No time? There are still 12 hours left.”
“What? What do you mean…”
“History can be written in just one night.”
Barto’s eyes flashed with sinister intent.
“Wouldn’t alcohol, a few sweet words, and a bed for two be enough?”
Only then realizing what his superior was suggesting, Fabian’s eyes widened.
“B-but that would require the woman’s consent…”
“Then make her consent. If that doesn’t work, give her strong alcohol to make her unconscious.”
Just as Fabian was about to say that would be a crime, a lit cigar fell onto Barto’s shoulder.
“Argh!”
Barto let out a scream and quickly threw off his coat.
Fabian was also startled and quickly stamped on the coat.
“Ah, sorry.”
Then, a chilling voice came from above their heads.
Both men looked up simultaneously.
They saw a man leaning diagonally against the terrace railing with a cigar in his mouth.
“You were spouting such garbage that I mistook you for a trash can and threw it away.”
The man’s identity was none other than Callix Crowbell.
Upon seeing him, Barto Smith’s face instantly turned pale, and Fabian Noguen froze, unable to even breathe.
“H-how long have you been there…”
“Well.”
Callix took out a new cigar and answered as if muttering.
“From the part about your aide no longer being competent, I think.”
That meant he had heard almost all of their conversation. Barto Smith bit his lips tightly. He had to get through this crisis somehow.
“I-I should mention this beforehand in case of any misunderstanding…”
“Oh, the trash can talk too.”
Callix chuckled and flicked the ash from his freshly lit cigarette. Black ash fell between the two men along with red sparks.
Barto reflexively stepped back.
“Stop defiling my eyes and ears any further, and get lost.”
As soon as the command was given, the two men fled with their tails between their legs.
‘How pathetic.’
Callix Crowbell chuckled and took a deep drag of his cigar. The red glow briefly illuminated his darkened eyes before fading away.
He didn’t think this was something Smith Viscount had orchestrated.
He wasn’t thoughtless enough for that.
It was probably his immature son acting on his own to satisfy his greed.
Though he knew that, he had no intention of just letting this incident slide.
“What should I do.”
Along with the white smoke, the smile he had been wearing completely disappeared.
While it was important to teach Barto Smith, who was acting up without knowing his place, a lesson, what was more important was controlling the people around Eileen.
The more Eileen’s competence became known, the more people like Barto Smith would cling to her trying to possess her.
“This is why I said being too competent isn’t good.”
She really doesn’t listen.
Callix clicked his tongue and stubbed out his half-burned cigar on the terrace railing.
Actually, this incident was something he hadn’t anticipated either.
He had expected at most some reinforcement of the riverbank, or creating drainage channels so overflow water could drain quickly, but to think she’d solve the problem itself.
It was surprising yet also delightful.
Solving the Raed River’s flooding problem was also a different direction from the future he knew.
‘Can that woman really help me escape this damn fate?’
And even end these recurring terrible nightmares?
As the scale of his half-doubt gradually tilted to one side, his thoughts solidified toward absolutely not letting Eileen slip away.
“I want to hide her away where others can’t see.”
Then, knowing her personality, she absolutely wouldn’t stay still.
Eileen was a strange person who, despite being afraid of him, still said everything she wanted to say.
Of course, he didn’t dislike that aspect, but still, it was regrettable now, so Callix clicked his tongue.
* * *
Returning to the party venue, I stuck close to Noah Roheim and didn’t leave his side.
That way, people like Barto Smith or Fabian Noguen wouldn’t be able to approach me carelessly.
This method seemed to work, as there were no more people throwing unnecessary flirtations at me.
“To prevent the flooding of the Raed River. How truly remarkable.”
“Indeed. We should inscribe Miss Eileen’s name in Nubiar’s history books.”
I was sick of hearing them praise me as amazing, calling me the hero who saved Nuviar.
‘It’s not even confirmed that we’ve prevented the flooding yet, but if they’re already like this, what will it be like later?’
Just thinking about it made my head throb. The only silver lining was that I wouldn’t be in Nuviar when it was completed.
‘I’ll have to decline even if they send me an invitation to the celebration party.’
I was tired of being treated like a hero. Once was enough for the experience of having my corset tightened to the point of suffocation.
“If you’re tired, you can go back and rest now.”
“Really?”
Since it was what I’d been waiting to hear, I asked with delight, and Noah Roheim smiled softly.
Oh, did I make it too obvious? Feeling embarrassed, I rattled off excuses.
“The corset is uncomfortable, and my shoes are hurting my feet, so I wanted to rest.”
“Then hurry back and rest. I’ll escort you to your room.”
“No, it’s fine. I can go by myself.”
“An escort includes seeing you all the way there.”
Since he put it that way, it became awkward to refuse further, and just as I was about to nod, someone grabbed my shoulder.
“I’ll take her.”
It was Callix Crowbell. He must have been smoking cigars, as his body reeked of heavy tobacco.
“Understood.”
I wished he had refused this time too, but Noah Roheim stepped back without complaint.
“Let’s go.”
Ah, suddenly I don’t want to go back to my room.
I sighed deeply in my heart and followed behind him.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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