The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 28

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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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Alter’s brow furrowed.

“I’m not sure if you properly heard what I said.”

“Yes. I heard you clearly say there’s no negotiation and that it’s not a proposal that would be disadvantageous to me.”

“Then why are you refusing?”

“Because the premise doesn’t hold. There’s something wrong with what you said. Employing you would be a loss for me.”

He let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

“Do you know how much I’m worth? I’m offering to settle that for just a commission fee and even provide an advisory contract, so how is that a loss?”

I knew he would say that.

I pretended to place my hand over my heart.

“That’s exactly why it’s a loss. It would make me uncomfortable to employ someone so expensive for such little money. You know that debts of the heart are the hardest to repay, right?”

Before Alter could interrupt, I added:

“Besides, the commission is a one-time payment, but advisory fees are ongoing costs. My losses would grow over time.”

“The advisory fees are…”

“Surely someone as expensive as you wouldn’t work for free. According to shop policy, advisory fees must be paid, and if you lower your own value, it makes you seem like someone with ulterior motives.”

Like someone who’s extremely curious about the 2nd floor.

Having thrown out those probing words at Alter, who was caught by his own statements, I smiled brightly.

“Oh, right. You said you weren’t coming to see me, but I keep having these misunderstandings.”

Alter’s fighting spirit, which he was about to unleash in retaliation, visibly deflated.

While acting sweet as a flower garden, I was working my brain.

Alter seemed determined to make an advisory contract today.

So the attitude I needed to take was decided.

‘Someone like that won’t easily give up on their goal. But if I reject him once like this?’

I can get him to sit at the negotiation table.

This was also one of Grandfather’s teachings.

But Alter’s response, after running his hand through his hair, was unexpectedly dry.

“Anyway, as long as you’re providing advice on weapons, advisory fees are a necessary expense. The word ‘loss’ doesn’t fit this situation. Isn’t that right? So I just need to receive the standard commission.”

“That’s true.”

When I readily agreed, one of Alter’s eyebrows rose.

Because he was right.

‘While it’s money going out, it’s not synonymous with loss.’

Spending 1 gold on candy doesn’t make it a loss, right?

However, I was a bit surprised that Alter had accurately pinpointed the twisted logic in my words.

“But the debt of the heart remains unresolved… and there’s something that worries me most of all.”

“What is it? Are you worried I might get hurt again?”

“Of course that’s a concern too. But I don’t know your skills yet, do I?”

“My skills?”

Alter’s expression became subtly crumpled.

“You don’t run a weapon shop, nor do you have a profession like blacksmith or magical engineer. Skills that people claim themselves are usually meaningless.”

Just like how Helena had doubted me.

“So how about this – let’s try a few jobs temporarily first. If the results are good, we’ll make a formal contract. How does that sound?”

Of course, even if they’re good, I plan to say they’re not.

‘This is why you shouldn’t make verbal contracts carelessly.’

Who would have known he’d ask for job placement instead of 200,000 gold?

While I was grumbling inwardly, Alter, who had been looking at me, chuckled.

It wasn’t a hollow laugh of disbelief or a mocking sneer, but his genuine laughter that flashed by very quickly.

Why is he laughing? I wondered, when Alter spoke.

“You clearly said there was no negotiation, yet you end up presenting conditions. But well… there shouldn’t be any problem. Fine.”

As if sensing my bewilderment, he leaned down to meet my eyes.

“I’m confident. You’ll like it.”

The words added in an extremely low voice echoed in my ears.

Instead of saying nonsense like ‘You, sir? Or the results?’, I mulled over his words.

Seeing how confident he is, he must not be completely lacking in skill.

‘Well, I’ll know when I see it.’

Alter seemed to belatedly realize his words could be interpreted ambiguously and quickly pulled back.

“…Of course I’m talking about my skills.”

I answered while suppressing my laughter.

“Understood. I’ll contact you if I have something to commission. Well then…”

“Wait. I’m curious about something.”

“Curious? About what?”

Thinking it would be about those weapons or the pawnshop’s 2nd floor again, I asked casually.

“Your name.”

“My name?”

“What’s your name?”

That was the most unexpected and interesting question I’d heard all year.

I deliberately propped my chin and tilted my head slightly. It was the most coquettish pose I knew.

“I thought you already knew?”

“Why would I? We’ve never introduced ourselves.”

“Well, you’re with the Information Guild. I thought you’d at least know my name.”

“…”

“Don’t tell me you wanted to hear my name directly from my lips? How unexpectedly romantic of you.”

As I grinned mischievously, Alter narrowed his eyes.

‘Oof, look at that expression. I should tease him in moderation.’

They say you can’t even spit on a smiling face, but what about someone with such a stern expression?

He’d probably be able to spit on my smiling face without hesitation.

After clearing my throat, I straightened up.

“Elisha. It’s Elisha.”

Alter nodded and turned around.

What, he’s not telling me his name? Did giving me his business card count as an introduction?

As I watched his retreating figure, I suddenly realized something.

What was different about him today that had seemed oddly changed.

“The white shirt suits you well!”

Alter, wearing a white shirt instead of his usual black one, turned back to look.

He stared at my wave for quite a long time before turning away.

***

The Imperial Palace of the Presripe Empire.

The attendants shuddered at the strangely cold atmosphere.

No, perhaps they trembled because an excessively ornate carriage had stopped in front of the Imperial Palace.

“Have you arrived, Your Highness the Regent King?”

An attendant opened the carriage door and hurriedly bowed his head.

The marquis with an arrogant expression, called the Regent King, was about to step down when he saw the carpet. There was a small speck of dust.

“Prostrate yourself.”

“P-pardon?”

“I said prostrate yourself.”

The attendant bit his lip and prostrated himself in front of the carriage.

The marquis stepped down as if it were perfectly natural, treading on the attendant’s back.

Then he rubbed the sole of his shoe on the man’s head. Like treating a shoe mat.

“You have ears but cannot hear, only asking questions back, so how are you different from a mat or carpet? Isn’t that right?”

While everyone was horrified, only the marquis remained haughty.

He was the regent who was handling state affairs in place of the Emperor, who was on a pilgrimage to heal his mental illness.

In other words, there was no one higher than him in the Empire at present.

If you asked how a marquis, not even a duke, became regent, there was only one answer.

‘My sister. You’re only helpful to me now that you’re dead.’

Count Crodil was the brother of the recently deceased Empress.

It was a shocking appointment to entrust someone with acting as the Emperor’s proxy based solely on blood relations, but there was no other way to explain it.

With an inward smile, he gestured with his finger to the Minister of the Imperial Household.

He had no interest or need for the scroll of state affairs that the following minister was carrying.

“I enjoyed tea time with old friends today after a long while. But… a certain viscountess told quite a disturbing story.”

“What kind of story do you mean?”

“That illegal shops are flourishing. She said unqualified people are forging permits to sell unverified goods.”

The corners of Crodil’s mouth curved up as he recalled Rosaline, Viscountess, who had been present at tea time.

She was a very useful resource, helping nobles launder money through replica paintings.

“Regent King. There’s something I want to get rid of in a very ‘legal’ way.”

“Are you talking about an object or a person?”

“To be precise, it’s a place, Your Majesty. You have to clear out the rabbit hole to catch the rabbit.”

So, granting a favor or two wasn’t such a difficult task.

“Come to think of it, the permit format was established hundreds of years ago and has never been revised since. So what should we do?”

“…Are you saying to implement a new permit format?”

There was a reason it had never been changed. The existing method was efficient and problem-free.

But Crodil pretended not to know this and continued speaking.

“That’s right. By adding one condition.”

“What condition do you mean?”

“A guarantor. Only issue permits to those who have a guarantor.”

Crodil turned around.

“That way, even if the permit forgers run away, there’ll still be someone left behind to drag over and hang, won’t there?”

He gently stroked the chin of the Old Minister, who flinched at the cruel words, like petting a dog, then smiled wickedly.

He was remembering what Rosaline had added.

“So it’s a person after all? I’m curious who dared to offend you.”

“Haha, is that so? I’ll show you soon. The face of that rabbit kneeling before me.”

“But we can’t let just anyone be a guarantor. Let’s set qualifications. Either blood-related family willing to take joint responsibility, or.”

“…Ugh…”

“Nobles whose very existence is proof. One of those two.”

Crodil muttered indifferently while imagining the face of the person who would fall into Rosaline’s grasp.

“Have the Royal Knights handle the crackdown. They don’t have anything to do right now anyway, do they?”

“…”

“Since we need to show results, let’s start with… yes, that place would be good. Ashen Street, the dirty and dangerous shadows of the capital.”

Crodil patted the Old Minister’s wrinkled cheek and turned around sharply.

“Where is Katarina?”

The attendant who heard the princess’s name gulped nervously.

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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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