Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 53

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 53
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“Thierry. Did you get Deborah Simour’s signature on the contract?”
The Fifth Princess’s question, laden with obsession, made Thierry scratch his head.
“I apologize, but the lady has been secluded recently, so I haven’t been able to meet with her.”
“Why?”
“She’s taken ill, apparently.”
“How dreadful—she’s sick! As her future close friend, I should visit her and pay my respects, shouldn’t I?”
“No. It would be better to leave her alone for now. It’s merely a case of frustration-induced illness.”
“She fell ill from anger? Whatever for?”
“Though Simour is keeping the servants’ mouths sealed, there are rumors that the lady lost the Empire’s one and only pink diamond. After the Ball ended, she apparently went to the Night Market without thinking and fell victim to a pickpocket.”
“Good heavens!”
Deborah Simour could have collapsed from the shock. Even for a lady of Simour, losing the Empire’s most famous jewel was an irreplaceable loss.
That gem, which had garnered attention for its rarity since its first appearance, had only grown in fame and value at the Imperial Ball.
‘Isidore certainly played a significant role in elevating that jewel.’
Combined with Duke Simour’s affection for his daughter and Isidore’s popularity, the gem had become a symbol of bitter envy among the young ladies. The price had likely soared far beyond what Duke Simour had paid at auction.
“Now that it’s in the hands of thieves, that jewel must have already been sold on the black market.”
The Fifth Princess clicked her tongue with a sympathetic expression.
“There are also rumors that Philaf Montes, who failed to win the pink diamond at auction in the past, is trying to recover the jewel that Deborah Simour lost.”
The Fifth Princess’s brow furrowed.
“The way things are turning doesn’t look good. If Philaf secretly obtains that jewel and gives it to Miya Binoshu as a gift, do you think Deborah Simour will simply accept it?”
“Absolutely not. This time, the lady might truly lose her composure and explode.”
Thierry muttered while clicking his tongue.
* * *
“Squeak, squeak!”
Noticing that Deborah Simour’s gait lacked vitality, Cookie paced anxiously around her. Watching her with her pallid complexion and trembling lips, Blanche Master narrowed his eyes.
“My lady. You don’t need to keep up the act even in front of me.”
“I’ve become so immersed that I’ve deceived even myself. The sense of loss from losing that jewel has made my heart ache.”
Watching the lady mutter her jest with an oddly serious expression, Isidore clenched his fists tightly and swallowed his laughter.
A week prior.
“We’re going to pretend to lose the pink diamond? Surely this isn’t the entirety of your plan, is it?”
At first, Deborah Simour had been astounded by Master’s strategy and remained skeptical.
“I apologize, but this is the easiest and simplest method to resell the jewel without upsetting Duke Simour.”
“Who would believe that I lost that jewel? No one would dare lay a hand on me. A rat stealing a cat’s bell would be more convincing.”
“That’s precisely why a festival where people wear masks and roam the streets is most suitable.”
“. . .”
“Among the pickpockets at the festival’s Night Market, there are many with quick hands. Even skilled knights often fall victim to them, so it’s not at all strange for someone to lose valuables even with an escort knight. Everyone will simply assume a thoughtless noblewoman wandered about carelessly and was robbed.”
“Sigh. But what if I actually lose it?”
“After leaving the Imperial Palace, summon a spatial magic pouch, place the jewel inside, and pretend it’s lost for a while.”
After a moment of deliberation, Deborah Simour finally accepted Master’s proposal.
“Master, become the protagonist of this con in exchange for getting me an invitation to the auction held before the Noir Pot.”
“It seems the Princess is interested in that auction as well.”
Deborah Simour happened to possess information about the notorious auction event held only on specific dates—the Noir Pot.
“I was actually planning to recommend your attendance. Since the Imperial Ball ends right when the auction begins, this con becomes all the more convincing.”
However, Isidore kept hidden the premium information that the Noir Pot would feature auction items Duke Simour would appreciate.
‘I’m sorry, but I need to use that information to earn points for my real body.’
Deborah Simour would feel grateful and pleased toward the one who had handed her the book written by Belmont, the sixth family head. It was quite a compelling scene—abandoning the masquerade ball to enter the Night Market in search of a gift for her father, only to lose a jewel.
Few fathers would scold their daughters for such carelessness in these circumstances.
‘Duke Simour seemed to cherish Deborah Simour even more than I had anticipated….’
On the list of those seeking to obtain the pink diamond that the Princess had boldly lost(?), Duke Simour was included as well.
‘But I can’t sell the same item to Duke Simour twice.’
Above all, my precious client would not wish for it.
“Master. How much did you sell the pink diamond for?”
Deborah Simour asked in her characteristically sharp voice.
“I sold it for 2.5 times the hammer price.”
Master flicked a gold coin upward just as he had when first meeting the Princess, catching it lightly on the back of his hand. Then, showing the obverse side impressed with the bust of the founding emperor, he smirked.
“Fortune favored us. Thanks to you elevating the jewel’s value at the ball, everything went smoothly.”
“What kind of fool—no, what wealthy idiot bought it at that price?”
“I sold it to a foreign collector who gathers rare items. A man drowning in money.”
“Foreign, you say. That saves us trouble. Sending it far away is cleaner and causes fewer complications than having it circulate within the Empire.”
Deborah Simour was right—that approach was far neater.
‘Though I did take a slight loss.’
After discreetly contacting those willing to purchase the pink diamond, the Montes faction offered the highest price aside from Duke Simour, with the collector coming in second. Yet Isidore did not hand the pink diamond to Philaf Montes.
He fingered the gold coin while concealing the complex emotions within. It was absolutely not a decision befitting Isidore, who typically chased only profit.
Moreover, two more pink diamonds were scheduled to be released later, making this one’s value destined to decline. It created the perfect situation to provoke Philaf.
‘Still, something doesn’t sit right….’
Most would assume Philaf would gift the jewel the Princess had lost to Miya Binoshu, but Isidore disagreed. It was a man’s intuition. Perhaps it stemmed from the expression on Philaf’s face as he glared at him just before the final waltz began at the ball.
He tossed the defective coin—bearing only the emperor’s profile in relief on the obverse—skyward once more, a sharp smirk playing at his lips.
* * *
‘Master, I love you so much.’
The moment I heard that Master had sold that unnecessary pink jewel for 2.5 times its value, I nearly confessed it sincerely. I wanted to embrace this lucky man who kept flipping coins that landed heads every single time and bounce around with him.
‘Indeed, staying beside a fortunate person must bring me luck as well.’
His proposal to resell it at double the price and split it fifty-fifty—honestly, I’d suspected half of it was bluster.
‘At last, a substantial sum of gold coins is within my grasp.’
Until now, I’d been acquiring gold coins inefficiently by selling jewels in dribs and drabs. I steadied my rapidly racing heart and opened my mouth.
“Now it’s time to settle the proceeds from the jewel sale.”
“I’m as meticulous with money calculations as I am with commission results.”
Master moved his fingers lightly. Soon, four large boxes soared through the air and landed with heavy thuds on either side of me.
“Squeak!”
Cookie, eyes wide, hastily backpedaled toward Master’s side, then suddenly bared its teeth and growled menacingly at the boxes of gold coins.
‘So this is what they call hard cash—or rather, gold coins dumped in bulk.’
When I lifted the lid of the lustrous ebony box, the gold coins packed inside gleamed with blinding brilliance.
“This is the box sent by the jewelry buyer. I’ve verified the full amount, and all of it belongs to you, my lady.”
Life truly is sweet.
Intoxicated by the sight, I swept the large box into my spatial-magic-enchanted pouch, then deliberately composed my expression into one of solemn dignity.
“Would you pour me another cup of tea?”
He gestured with his fingers, and hot black tea flowed into my cup.
“Master, now let’s discuss business matters. We’re partners, after all.”
I took a sip of the black tea and spoke with measured seriousness. It was too early to pop champagne. I couldn’t settle for a mere two billion.
In this place, the rigid class system meant that without a noble title, one faced considerable social restrictions. So severe that even the patent certificates I’d carefully obtained became utterly worthless.
It was already disheartening to lose my noble status simply because I hadn’t married, but to also lose the comfortable monthly stipend that came with it—the very thought filled me with melancholy and sorrow.
‘So I need to push straight ahead to ten billion without hesitation.’
Burning with determination, I clenched my fists.
“Now that I’ve earned money, I’m thinking of making proper investments in business ventures.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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