The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 128

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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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“Why are you here…?”

Tesagh looked just as flustered as I was.

Did he not expect me to come either?

I was the first to regain my composure. I started with a greeting.

“Hello, Your Grace.”

At that title, Tesagh’s eyes wavered sharply.

The bewilderment had faded, and looking at his red eyes mixed with slight anxiety and confusion, I gestured.

“May I ride with you?”

“…Get in for now.”

Once I boarded the carriage, Tesagh asked in a locked voice.

“How did you come to be here?”

“The Border Guard sent me. He requested an on-site appraisal.”

“Ha… So that’s why he kept the accompanying appraiser’s name secret.”

From his muttering while rubbing his face dry, it seemed he really didn’t expect me to come.

He who had been wiping his face suddenly asked.

“Do you even know what you’re going to appraise?”

“No, he said I could get an explanation once I got on this carriage.”

“You accepted without even listening properly? What did the Border Guard promise you in return?”

“He said he’d give me materials about the ‘Root of Blindness.'”

Tesagh sighed.

“I’ll give you those materials. So get off.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll send them to your pawnshop as soon as they’re completed, so go back now. This isn’t something for you to get involved in.”

‘Ah, so that’s how the Border Guard knew I needed materials on the ‘Root of Blindness.”

It seemed those materials could be obtained from Tesagh after all.

When I thought ‘Alter’ was an Information Guild member, I had asked him for it.

Tesagh’s tone was somewhat cold as always.

‘Does he think I’m shameless?’

After storming out of the warehouse like that, he might find it unpleasant that I’m now asking for cooperation over materials.

Of course, I hadn’t come knowing Tesagh would be here either.

However, my head lifted at the words that followed.

“…Because it might be dangerous.”

The words added in an extremely low voice, barely audible, contained concern for me.

After saying just that, Tesagh turned his head away sharply.

After watching his profile for a moment, I spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I refuse.”

“What?”

Tesagh looked back at me sharply, incredulous.

“I said I’d just give you the materials. Why, are you worried the Border Guard might find fault? I’ll take responsibility for that…”

“Actually, that’s not all I agreed to receive.”

I made a circle with my hands.

“He’s also giving me money. Ten million gold as a down payment, and twenty million gold for travel expenses. The completion fee is separate regardless of authenticity.”

“…Huh?”

“Of course I’ll give you money too. I’m someone who calculates precisely. It’s ridiculous to try to settle with just a few sheets of materials.”

“For a moment I felt like pledging my loyalty, Your Excellency Border Guard.”

“Hmm. What I want from our boss isn’t momentary loyalty but something else.”

“…Do you perhaps want my body and heart, something like that…? What should I do, I can’t give you that…”

“No, that’s fine…”

Recalling my conversation with Belastard, I smiled a little.

Tesagh had clearly been about to say he’d give me money too.

But after staring at my smiling face, he closed his lips.

“And though I didn’t hear what item needs to be appraised, I think I know what it is.”

Something that required the Border Guard to send me with such a large sum of money.

Something important enough for a Duke to go personally, and serious enough to call dangerous.

There’s only one thing.

“You’re going to see the pearl sword relic you’ve been searching for, aren’t you?”

Rugenote.

“As an appraiser, I can’t yield such a glorious opportunity to someone else.”

It’s the Duchy’s most precious treasure and relic.

I couldn’t miss the chance to see the legendary sword directly.

‘Not to mention I could find clues about Eivor, the real culprit behind the Ruby Tablet theft.’

That wasn’t all.

‘If it’s proven to be the real Rugenote…’

I looked at Tesagh.

‘The Duke would have no more reason to chase Grandfather.’

I could secure Grandfather’s safety too.

If only that happened.

‘We might be able to have a conversation.’

Or not?

If the Rugenote issue is resolved, would the Duke have no more reason to talk with me?

He had approached me because of Rugenote from the beginning.

Though my thoughts were complicated, I shook my head.

‘The immediate matter takes priority now. I’ll think about it after it’s resolved.’

“Then will you allow me to accompany you?”

After staring at me for a while, Tesagh slowly nodded.

“…Fine.”

“Thank you. Then could you give me some action guidelines?”

“Action guidelines? There aren’t any.”

“Oh, then could you at least give me a manual for the disguise tools?”

“…Did the Border Guard say that? That there would be action guidelines and a manual in the carriage?”

“Yes.”

“I think those action guidelines and manual are probably me.”

Aha?

‘The Border Guard seems to have a somewhat playful side.’

However, that joke didn’t seem very amusing to Tesagh.

Tesagh, who sighed deeply enough to sink the ground, ran his hand through his hair.

Starting the carriage, he spoke with a frown.

“The place we’re going now is County of Delphia, located in the western part of the Empire.”

“The estate of Count Delphia who died recently?”

“Right, he died but the Church recently decided to canonize him as a saint in recognition of his merits. A party is being held to commemorate that. We need to infiltrate that party.”

“Infiltration. Well, it would be troublesome if our identities were discovered. I understand.”

I’m an appraiser, and Tesagh is a Duke.

If it’s true that the Count’s family has Rugenote, we’d be the primary targets of suspicion, so we couldn’t enter openly.

As I was thinking, I suddenly asked.

“But what’s the connection between the canonization commemoration party and the pearl sword?”

It’s supposed to be a canonization ceremony, so they’re not going to hold a sword fighting tournament or anything.

Tesagh, holding his forehead, said quietly.

“At the end of the party, they’re dedicating the relics that the late Count Delphia had collected to the World Tree.”

Dedicating sacred relics?

“Then among those collections….”

“That’s right. We received intelligence that the pearl sword, namely ‘Rugenote’, is there. It’s scheduled to be revealed in the final ceremony of the dedication ritual.”

“So that’s why the Border Guard sent me. You needed someone who could quickly identify it before it gets dedicated.”

Tesagh nodded, but his expression was quite displeased.

“Really, to canonize someone who collected stolen goods as a saint. The Church’s verification process is nothing but an illusion.”

If he was noble enough in character to be canonized, perhaps Count Delphia didn’t know they were stolen goods?

I thought so, but I could understand Tesagh’s feelings, so I said nothing.

Instead, I was curious about something else.

“Is there no way to see that Rugenote… before the dedication ceremony?”

“There isn’t. The duchy tried approaching while pretending to be sacred relic buyers, but they said it absolutely cannot be revealed before the dedication ceremony. However….”

“There are always loopholes everywhere. If we go there directly, we might find some weak spots.”

Tesagh raised one eyebrow.

“Right. I think so too. That’s why we’re going the day before the dedication ceremony is held.”

‘When I see times like this, we think surprisingly similarly.’

Though it probably doesn’t mean much.

I shrugged and looked around.

“But to infiltrate, we need to change our appearance. Who should I disguise myself as?”

Come to think of it, Tesagh wasn’t wearing the disguise magic tool clip today.

While I was looking at his still fierce but clean face, he pulled out some documents and a ribbon.

“You’ll disguise yourself to look like this person. Put it on and read this.”

I roughly clipped the pin-shaped ribbon into my hair and read the documents first.

[…Eloise Devin, minor baroness of House of Devin…]

The woman named ‘Eloise’ was around my age.

Though her facial features were different, it seemed she was chosen because her height and build were similar to mine.

‘She’s from the duchy and a real person, invited because collecting is her hobby like the deceased count. They must have secured this person’s identity.’

“That magic tool only changes hair and eye color, it can’t change facial features. Since your face was on the front page of newspapers, there might be people who recognize you. Be careful with your words and actions.”

“Yes, I understand. Then what about Your Grace?”

Will he pretend to be ‘Alter’?

But since he also came to the Founding Festival, there might be nobles who would recognize him.

I was thinking this when I choked on his next words.

“I plan to act as your attendant.”

“Cough.”

‘Setting aside the vast disparity between appearance and occupation for now.’

“Cough, cough. I have to pretend to be Your Grace’s superior?”

“That’s right. Is there a problem?”

“Of course there’s no problem for me, but can Your Grace act as my subordinate…?!”

This, this, I’m getting a feeling.

I’m getting the feeling this will fail spectacularly!

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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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