The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 154
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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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“Eloise!”
After finishing lunch, the Marquise of Devin headed to her daughter’s room, dismissed all the maids, and pushed open the door herself.
The room filled with jewels and paintings was dim, and the figure lying on the canopied bed didn’t turn to look at her.
But the Baroness sat at the foot of the bed as if this was familiar.
“You remember that Duke borrowed your identity. And you also know that because of that incident, your name is being talked about among gossips.”
There was no answer.
The Baroness irritably pulled back the canopy.
“Along with Duke’s name, no less. Perhaps because of that, the Duke’s Residence has summoned you.”
“….”
“So you should know what you need to do!”
The Baroness raised her hand high toward her still-silent daughter.
“Ugh, you damn thing. Get up! Your mother is talking to you!”
“It’s bothersome, my ears work fine so just say it….”
“And what time is it that you’re still lying down?! People should get some sunlight!”
Thwack, thwack.
She struck Eloise’s back.
But somehow it felt soft.
Eloise rolled around and laughed, “Hehe.”
“I knew mom would hit my back so I prepared by wearing thick clothes.”
“Ugh!”
Eloise, who had been skillfully dodging her mother’s hands while lying down, soon grew tired of even that and sprawled out complainingly.
“Can’t mom and dad just handle it yourselves? I don’t go outside anyway, so I don’t care what rumors spread.”
“Duke cares though! And even if you don’t care, you have to pretend you do! You have to cry about it, say you’re suffering because of the rumors!”
“Why?”
“So he’ll at least reduce our taxes a bit!”
“Ah.”
“Ah?!”
Should I kill this thing or let it live.
The Baroness looked down at Eloise with cold eyes and pressed her forehead.
Others say the Marquis and Marquise of Devin are strict with their daughter, but that’s all false rumors.
Their only daughter simply hates going outside terribly, but people make up stories about house arrest orders.
They allowed the rumors thinking it was better than others knowing the truth.
‘That’s why I thought it was great when Duke said he’d borrow Eloise’s identity.’
Though they agreed without knowing what it was for, the Marquis couple trusted the Duke’s ability to handle affairs, thinking it would help the duchy.
Honestly, they thought it wouldn’t matter if he used it however he wanted.
Where else would there be such an opportunity to become famous while staying quietly in her room?
If only that happened.
‘Her name would become known in social circles, and then some naive young men might take interest in Eloise…!’
Very thankfully, Duke had used their daughter’s identity freely, but the problem was this damn daughter.
She showed no signs of cooperation. What an opportunity this was!
‘What good is just having her name known if this damn thing won’t go outside!’
The Baroness, screaming internally, crossed her arms and quietly stared at her hedgehog-like daughter.
Still, the marquis family line must continue!
‘Is there a way?’
Make a connection with the Duke? That’s impossible.
‘Even thinking about it would be disrespectful to Duke.’
The Baroness had excellent self-awareness. Her daughter was no exception.
Then what could be done?
‘Let’s get some tax reduction this year, and since it’s hopeless within the duchy, let’s make her travel to other countries.’
She had to get her out somehow.
If she traveled anywhere, connections would form….
The Baroness, thinking about her daughter’s interests, casually spoke.
“Anyway, get ready quickly and go to the Duke’s Residence. You can’t refuse or postpone an urgent summons.”
“Dad could go….”
“They called for you! If that worked, your father would have gone already!”
“Ugh… But I’m not good with words….”
“I’m not asking for much, Eloise. Just get a 5% tax rate adjustment this year. If you do that.”
The Baroness tapped the newspaper.
[☆Pawnshop buys jewelry at highest prices! Same-day appraisal, immediate cash payment available☆]
“I’ll send you here. You were curious about this pawnshop, weren’t you?”
Eloise’s head shot up.
“…Really? For real?”
“Yes. While you’re there, do some sightseeing in the Empire too. I won’t say anything if you buy jewelry with the tax savings.”
The Baroness hoped her daughter would have some outside life.
Actually, taxes were more than half an excuse.
‘She only goes between auction houses and home to buy jewelry, so I’ll send her away for a long time.’
Surely she wouldn’t stay holed up in a hotel even in the Empire.
With lots of time, wouldn’t she at least do some street sightseeing?
“Wow! You promised, mom! No take-backs!”
Watching Eloise get dressed with a bright, cheerful face, the Baroness pressed her temples.
What did she say when asked seriously about her concerns?
“…So you, I mean. Do you dislike men?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then….”
“But women are the same.”
“….”
“Actually, I dislike people, ow!”
Is it okay to send that person to the Duke’s Residence alone?
The anxiously waiting Baroness was flustered seeing the certificate Eloise presented upon return.
“The tax rate… was reduced by 20%?”
“Yeah! Then I’ll prepare to go to the Empire! What should I wear? I should dress as nicely as possible, right? Can’t be looked down upon!”
“Wait, wait! Not today! More importantly, what did they say?”
“Nothing much? Duke wasn’t there, so I had an audience with Captain of the Royal Knights.”
Eloise said brightly.
“When I said we were in a situation where we could spend money at the Empire’s pawnshop equivalent to the tax reduction, so please take care of us, he laughed a lot.”
“Ah, my blood pressure….”
“Madam, madam!”
“Anyway, I did what mom told me, so you’ll send me within this week, right? Great, I need to organize things to do! Go to the launch show and visit auction houses too!”
The Baroness, who had been holding her neck, watched her daughter’s excited retreating figure and thought.
Well… the goal was achieved anyway, so is it fine?
‘Seeing that she’s planning to go to launch shows, she seems to have plans to go around?’
But more than that, why did Captain of the Royal Knights allow it after hearing such a childish reason from her daughter?
She suddenly asked the marquis who was supporting her.
“By the way.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Who could that woman be, the one who borrowed ‘Eloise’s’ identity and was carried out in Duke’s arms?”
The baron shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, madam. But we don’t need to know who it is, do we?”
Is that so?
The baroness, who had been thinking, nodded her head.
“Yes, well… we’ll never meet anyway.”
She couldn’t even imagine that there would be a situation where that ‘woman’ and Eloise would come face to face.
*
‘This is strange.’
I quietly observed the man who had come late at night.
“This looks expensive just by looking at it? How much is this pocket watch with the pink diamond?”
“You have a good eye. Pink diamonds are rarely available on the market right now, especially this one is from the Eastern Continent so the color is deep, and it’s 2 carats with a trillion cut making it even more special. And the movement is…”
“I don’t need all the details, just tell me how much it costs.”
“…6.2 million gold.”
“Cheaper than I thought? Is it because it’s used?”
There were often customers who acted arrogantly and showed off their wealth.
But usually people who flaunted their wealth also tried to show off their knowledge.
Like saying ‘Look how good my eye is!’ while rattling off everything they knew.
But this person?
“Anyway, it’s authentic, right? Give it to me.”
He was buying without asking or questioning, only picking expensive-looking items.
Including the pink diamond watch, this was the third item, and they were all things to wear.
Since he was buying rather than selling, it wasn’t easy to verify with documents, but that didn’t mean there were no methods at all.
“Customer, excuse me, but I have something I’d like to ask.”
“…What is it?”
Unlike when he was buying randomly, his attitude was defensive. He was being cautious.
After quickly observing the man’s expression, I smiled casually and said.
“Are you perhaps buying these as gifts? If so, I’ll wrap them beautifully as a service. No additional cost.”
“Ah. No need, I don’t need that. I’m going to use them myself.”
He visibly relaxed.
“I see. But I’ll still put them in cases for you.”
“Do as you like.”
I maintained my business smile while packing the items, and lightly pressed a button under the case.
“Take care and please visit us again.”
“If things go well.”
I kept smiling until the man disappeared, then hardened my expression.
“Patrick, please check the location of the person who just left.”
Patrick took out the map magic tool connected to the case and examined it carefully.
A red dot floated around on the map, then stopped at one location.
“He stopped near Floren Street again this time. But I wonder where this place is…?”
It seems like we found it.
The third ruby tablet fragment, or…
“It’s not certain yet, but.”
A cancerous existence of society.
“In my opinion, it looks like an illegal gambling den.”
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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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