The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 45

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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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There’s no point in turning the pawnshop upside down now.

If I find that ‘grandfather’ who hasn’t come even though the shop is about to close, I’ll get a clue.

‘There must be a reason why that grandfather’s whereabouts are so mysterious. He must be hiding because he has something to feel guilty about.’

Since this narrowed down the tracking range for Eivor, who was hiding like a dead mouse, Tesagh should have been happy.

But why was it that…

“…Ha.”

Something seemed to be bothering him.

Was it intuition that secrets were hidden in this pawnshop?

If not that, then…

“Isn’t that uncomfortable?”

Tesagh, who had been staring at Elisha sleeping curled up, roughly ran his hand through his hair.

Was it because it wasn’t that damn ledger pillow?

Tesagh, bending one knee, carefully tried to remove the blanket and support the ledger for her.

Just then, Elisha shifted her body.

“Mmm.”

Tesagh’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he inadvertently ended up cradling Elisha’s head with his arm.

Long eyelashes, delicate nose and lips, and even the soft pink hair tickling his fingertips.

The distance was far too close.

Somehow heat rose to his ears.

Tesagh, who had taken a breath and sharply turned his gaze away, stopped abruptly.

‘The tracking clip is sparkling.’

Blink.

Blink blink blink blink.

The magical device buried among Elisha’s soft pink hair was glowing fiercely.

There’s only one case when a magical device that detects Rugenote’s energy blinks continuously.

‘It means Eivor has been here. And recently too!’

Tesagh squeezed his eyes shut.

***

The western part of the Empire, Alchemeia Duchy.

The voice of the butler serving the aged duke was gentle.

‘It’s a place where there’s rarely any need to raise one’s voice.’

The servants who had worked there for a long time were faithful, and their master, the duke, also had a gentle disposition.

“Your Grace, I shall read today’s telegrams and letters to you.”

“…I could check those myself. You’re working so hard.”

Letters like party invitations and tea time invitations passed by quickly.

“Even though it’s been nearly ten years since Your Grace appeared in society, there still seem to be many who wish to see you.”

“That’s kind of them. But this old person just wants to live quietly with nature as a companion.”

“Yes, I shall politely decline them.”

“Please do.”

The duke, gazing at the flowers and trees outside the window through her glasses, murmured softly.

“I heard the snowy mountains and waterfalls in the north are quite beautiful.”

“…Your Grace.”

“Ah, I was just saying. If I dragged this old body all the way to the north, I’d likely fall ill.”

The duke, smiling bitterly, was sitting in a wheelchair.

Born with a weak constitution, she loved nature but had never seen it up close.

She could only look around the flower beds and trees arranged in the garden.

‘Those who coveted the positions of Your Grace’s adopted son and daughter sent all sorts of flattering paintings, but… none seemed to catch her fancy.’

The duke was married but couldn’t have children due to her weak body.

Therefore, there were many who wanted to become her adopted children to covet her wealth and title.

They would often send house-sized landscape paintings saying ‘Please find comfort in these at least!’ but the duke returned them all.

Was it because they didn’t meet the duke’s standards?

The butler, feeling dejected as well, picked up the last letter.

“Oh my, this is…”

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s a letter with no sender.”

Who could have sent it?

The butler, tilting his head as he opened the envelope, tilted his head even more upon seeing the contents.

“There’s just a single photograph inside.”

“Let me see it.”

The duke took the photograph.

Just as the butler was wondering who could have sent such a thing.

“Prepare the carriage immediately.”

“Pardon?”

The duke called out in a rarely excited voice.

“I must go to the Philosophie Auction House!”

While the servants became busy with news of a rare outing, the butler picked up the photograph he hadn’t properly seen earlier.

There was a dish in the photograph.

A small memo was attached below the dish painted with a waterfall.

I shall see you tonight at the Philosophie night auction house.

***

Late at night, approaching midnight.

Coming out of the guild hall, I stretched.

‘I’ve finished everything I needed to do. Now all that’s left is waiting.’

The permit reapplication was done, and I’d received word that the Duke of Alchemeia’s butler had taken the letter.

‘Should I start heading to the auction house now?’

On the way to the auction house.

I glanced at the darkened pawnshop.

‘Alter really did wake me up.’

I thought he’d just set an alarm clock or something.

But he woke me up exactly 30 minutes later.

“Wake up.”

Though he left immediately after waking me up.

‘Did he look at the 2nd floor while I was asleep?’

Since I was half-unconscious, I hadn’t properly locked the 2nd floor door.

Alter wouldn’t have missed that opportunity. He’d been constantly suspicious that I was hiding the pearl sword.

Anyway, since I don’t deal in stolen goods, I have nothing to feel guilty about.

‘I never thought I’d show it to him so anticlimactically.’

Not showing him the 2nd floor was partly due to policy, but half of it was close to stubbornness.

When I checked, all the items were in their proper places. It seems he only looked with his eyes.

‘Will he not come anymore then?’

I’d always worried about how to chase him away, but now that I thought he might not come, I felt somewhat regretful.

Thinking about it, I shook my head.

‘Alter’s matter, Ailren’s matter, Lina’s matter – my feelings are complicated about all of them, but I can’t know the results right away.’

It’s a hundred times better to faithfully focus on the present rather than worrying in advance.

‘There are things you only know after going through them, after all.’

Before long, the auction house comes into view in the distance.

Instead of heading straight to the auction house, I examined the carriages.

‘As expected.’

They’re here.

Rosaline’s carriage and…

‘Duke of Alchemy’s carriage.’

I smiled wickedly and put on my mask.

‘I’m curious, Rosaline.’

What expression you’ll have at midnight today.

***

The buyer’s section of Philosophie Auction House.

Rosaline couldn’t hide her irritated expression even with her mask.

To think she was at a mere night auction, not even the weekly auction that required trading over 200 million gold to receive an invitation?

This was all because of the incompetent Hugo, Carlos, and Nicholas.

‘If only Nicholas had properly painted the replica of The Forest of Cologne!’

Nicholas hadn’t shown his face at all today.

Even if they usually ate separately, he hadn’t even come out to give a farewell greeting.

Was he holed up in his atelier, afraid his mistake would be exposed?

It was an ostrich-like notion, thinking that hiding his head would hide his entire body.

‘Well, Nicholas is just a brush to be discarded once I get my hands on that ‘mage’ anyway.’

When that time comes, I’ll shove the original of The Forest of Cologne right in front of his stupid eyes and crush his pathetic pride.

Rosaline chuckled, burning with sadistic pleasure.

‘You’re troublesome to the very end, Uncle. But this is as far as you go too.’

Nicholas wasn’t the only one who hadn’t shown his face.

From what she confirmed right before entering the auction house, Michele also hadn’t appeared on Ashen Street.

Since that girl Elisha hadn’t come to find her either, that meant.

‘Now the pawnshop only has closing left to do.’

Once the pawnshop closes, Michele will start looking for his hidden assets.

All she had to do was follow him and intercept them midway.

What could a rabbit do after losing its burrow?

‘The assets hidden in The Forest of Cologne are like a stepping stone.’

As she was thinking, the painting category auction finally began.

“The Forest of Cologne, starting at 100 million gold. We’ll accept bids.”

Rosaline raised her paddle halfheartedly.

After all, she would be the only one buying that worthless painting.

But then.

“150 million gold. 110 million gold…”

Bids were continuing.

‘What?’

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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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