The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 125

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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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“Yes. This is a matter that Princess has permitted.”

The men in the warehouse were remnants of Rosaline’s faction.

So I reported directly to the Royal Knights, and in that process, I heard that Lina became very angry when she learned I had been injured.

When she found out I was going to the Rionet Duchy, she insisted that she would send security personnel and that I must travel with them.

Though I never imagined that ‘security personnel’ would be the Captain of the Royal Knights himself.

“However, even if it hadn’t been Princess’s command, I would have accompanied you, Elisha. So please don’t mind it.”

Ailren said this and turned his eyes away, saying ‘Please go about your business.’

I decided to gratefully accept his kindness and began reading the letters.

…I heard the news that Beatrix and

that child’s husband

died in battle.

Perhaps that strange dream

was a premonition of this event…

That short letter was the last one exchanged.

Grandfather was not someone who easily showed his emotions.

However, when talking about Princess Beatrix, my mother and his daughter, his handwriting was trembling.

What must Grandfather have felt?

With a heavy heart, I read through the other letters in reverse order.

…Alchemiya, you would probably think

‘What did this fellow eat wrong,’

but lately I’ve been thinking that perhaps

it’s time for me to step down.

Dreams are originally reflections of the unconscious, aren’t they…

Then did Grandfather dream of stepping down from his ducal position?

I paused in my thoughts.

…telling me to leave.

Someone’s voice whispered like that…

I recalled the voice that had rung out loudly when I touched the Ruby Tablet.

「Leave.」

I hurriedly looked through the other letters, but as the Duke of Alchemiya had said, there was no more content about dreams.

There were only brief discussions about the duchy’s operational policies and political situations.

‘Was the voice Grandfather heard similar to what I heard?’

It’s too strange to be a coincidence.

Biting my lips as I organized the letters, I turned my head toward Ailren, who was reading a newspaper.

Somehow sensing my gaze from behind the newspaper, Ailren looked at me.

“Did you check the advertisement, Count Airen?”

What Ailren was reading was the 《Press Life Prism》.

Below my exclusive interview featured prominently on the front page, there was an equally large advertisement.

[☆Pawnshop buys jewelry at the highest prices! Same-day appraisal, immediate cash payment available☆]

The purchase start date was written as one week from now.

The advertisement would run daily for the next week.

It was an advertisement that abandoned all aesthetics and design, focusing solely on readability.

Because.

“Yes, this should be more than enough to attract people’s attention.”

It was an advertisement that needed to be seen by as many people as possible.

This was the plan I had told Ailren about on the day I returned from the Imperial Palace.

“The culprit would have quickly disposed of the three Ruby Tablets. It’s more likely they sold them to someone rather than burying them somewhere.”

“Yes, they probably used unofficial auctions to launder the original seller. However, I don’t think those with guilty consciences would come to sell Ruby Tablets to you…”

“Right, I don’t think the people who bought the Ruby Tablets would readily sell them again because of a high-price purchase advertisement. But still, they will come.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If they’re the type to buy stolen Ruby Tablets, it means they’re people with a desire for jewelry, right? So they’ll come to buy. The jewelry I’ve purchased as inventory.”

In other words, that advertisement was a trap.

A trap to lure in the people who bought the Ruby Tablets.

I had told Ailren, ‘We can also collect rumors about large jewels while we’re at it.’

But I had another plan.

‘I can see holy power!’

The Ruby Tablets are divine-grade holy relics.

Anyone who touched such holy relics would naturally have holy power remaining on them.

I just needed to distinguish people who had unusual light.

“Right? If anyone even slightly suspicious comes, I’ll tell you immediately.”

Although he didn’t know I could see holy power, Ailren had agreed that this method was the best.

“Since my involvement in the Ruby Tablet investigation is top secret, they won’t be too wary.”

But.

“…”

Today he didn’t answer and was looking at my injured hand.

I could guess what he was worried about.

I shook my head slightly and smiled.

“Of course, it would be nice to have security personnel like today, but if we do that, they might get scared and not come at all. I’ll be as careful as possible.”

“No. I wasn’t trying to urge caution upon you, Elisha.”

“Oh, then what?”

Ailren lowered his eyes.

“…I just wanted to say that I’m always grateful for your cooperation…”

It seemed like that wasn’t all Ailren wanted to say.

But Ailren only said that much and closed his mouth.

‘Is something wrong?’

Just as I was tilting my head in wonder, the train arrived at the Rionet Duchy.

“Oh my, oh my. That woman is the one from the newspaper…”

“My goodness. Then is she a princess?”

The estate residents were murmuring.

I gave an awkward nod in greeting and was about to board a carriage to my destination when I stopped and looked at the Duke’s Residence in the distance.

‘So that’s where Grandfather lived.’

The manor that Grandfather had renovated during his time as duke was modest but elegant.

As I stared as if entranced, Ailren asked.

“Would you like to go inside and look around?”

“Oh, can we go there?”

“If you wish, I’ll get special permission right now.”

At his words burning with determination, I laughed and waved my hand.

“Hey, saying ‘special permission’ means it’s outside my authority, doesn’t it? Thank you for your consideration, but you don’t need to do that.”

“I’m really fine. I am curious, but…”

‘Special’ permission means I don’t currently qualify to enter the Duke’s residence.

I wanted to enter proudly, without needing any permission.

The first day I go to the Duke’s residence should be like that.

“When I’m officially recognized. I want to go then.”

“…I see.”

“Yes. The workers are probably waiting by now, let’s go straight to the mine.”

The mine wasn’t far.

The workers I had arranged in advance seemed to have torn down various signs and barriers.

There was an entrance.

I whispered quietly to Ailren.

“Even though it’s an abandoned mine, it’s still a mana stone mine, so it might affect Count Airen. I’ll go alone.”

‘Huh. That strange expression again, like on the train earlier.’

Ailren, who had been quietly staring at me, soon bowed his head briefly.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“You don’t need to do that, just rest.”

“No. I’ll wait.”

How stubborn he is.

I winked slightly and entered the abandoned mine with the workers.

I even put on a miner’s hat properly.

“We surveyed the veins before you came, and it seems the mana stones are indeed depleted.”

The prospector waiting at the end where we arrived by mine cart looked troubled.

“It doesn’t matter to us, but… should we try mining anyway?”

I had secretly hoped something would pop out when we reached the final section.

However, I could smile and nod even while looking at the empty mine shaft.

‘Hoping is one thing, but this is just like Grandfather.’

It was when I played treasure hunting games with Grandfather as a child.

Grandfather really used to hide treasure notes in the most extraordinary places.

If I think of this as a game with Grandfather too, and if what Grandfather hid wasn’t a note but real treasure.

“Yes, please do. Contact me immediately if anything unusual comes up.”

Naturally, I should put in at least this much effort, shouldn’t I?

*

I wanted to look around the duchy more, but I had to return because of my appointment with Hanna.

‘Finally, Hanna said she finished the restoration work.’

Now I can receive the ‘Root of Blindness’ materials.

Nothing was more urgent for me than that.

So I was on the train returning to the capital city.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you, Lady Elisha.”

“Oh, yes. Please go ahead.”

Ailren, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke to me.

He was originally a man of few words, but he was especially quiet today, which had been bothering me, so I was glad and turned around.

Ailren was someone who always spoke with excessive politeness.

But what he said was.

“…Did you happen to meet a man named ‘Alter’ in the warehouse?”

It was a direct question with no cushioning whatsoever.

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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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