The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 47

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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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5. Unlike Someone Else

[…Nicholas Raum, Viscount, who was unknown, makes a spectacular return and debut…]

[…”I respect my husband’s artistic activities, I have nothing else to say” Rosaline, Viscountess, clarifies her position…]

“Of course Rosaline would have no choice but to say this.”

I closed the newspaper with a snap and smiled slightly.

“She can’t contact the Viscount. She also has her image of loving art, and if things don’t align, it’s over, so she can’t act rashly and must be anxiously waiting. Moreover.”

[…Duke of Alchemiya promises full support to the Viscount…]

“You’ve gained a reliable patron in the Duke of Alchemiya, haven’t you? So Rosaline can’t carelessly touch you either.”

Where we were was a private cafe in the Alchemeia Duchy. A space that outsiders couldn’t enter.

Nicholas, who was drinking tea across from me, nodded his head shyly.

His cheeks were flushed red.

It seemed like he was excited about going out after a very long time, happy to be recognized, and perhaps a little bewildered.

“I really never thought the Duke of Alchemiya would take interest in my paintings….”

“I told you, didn’t I? That everyone would love your paintings. The Duke was no exception.”

In my previous life, Nicholas’s paintings that were revealed after his death became a sensation.

Everyone competed to buy his paintings.

Among them, the most passionate person who mourned his death more than anyone was precisely.

‘The Duke of Alchemiya.’

Remembering this, I sent photos to the Duke through William’s Information Guild.

Because taste and discernment don’t change easily.

And my thinking was exactly right.

The Duke of Alchemiya immediately summoned Nicholas to the Duke’s residence.

“Did you also mention that you have an investor, Viscount?”

“Yes. Though I didn’t reveal exactly who it was.”

Nicholas was faithfully keeping the secret.

“But the Duke said it didn’t matter. Investment is investment and patronage is patronage. Just one thing, he asked for the opportunity to see completed paintings first, so I agreed.”

“As expected. The Duke of Alchemiya truly knows how to love art properly. Unlike someone else.”

Nicholas slowly nodded his head.

He seemed to be reflecting on how unreasonable the treatment he received from Rosaline had been.

“Um, there’s been no reply yet to the divorce papers I left behind….”

“Yes. That’s expected. Rosaline will try to bring you back.”

Out of love?

No. Rosaline would soon realize.

That there was no other forger with Nicholas’s level of talent who could be easily manipulated.

“But that’s only temporary. Rosaline will have no choice but to divorce you with her own hands.”

I drank my tea while thinking about what I knew about Rosaline and my plans.

Since I spoke with certainty, Nicholas agreed as if enchanted.

‘Well, if Nicholas loses his title through divorce, his qualification as a guarantor would disappear too, but that’s not much of a problem.’

After all, this was something Rosaline started just to catch one grandfather.

It was an ineffective policy, and since the ‘Ashen Street’ incident revealed that the guarantor system was meaningless, it would disappear soon anyway.

Even if she insisted stubbornly, there were plenty of countermeasures available.

‘But she probably won’t be able to say much.’

I smiled wickedly, recalling the story I heard from William.

“So for a short while, you could make use of your position as a viscount, couldn’t you? It’s power you held but couldn’t use.”

“For example?”

“Well, like taking VIP tours of art museums?”

“Wow….”

It was something I could say because the Duke of Alchemiya would provide him with security.

Nicholas’s face turned red again, as if just thinking about it felt like a dream, and I held out a bag to him.

“Here. This is the auction payment for 《Life》.”

“What? But that’s a painting I gave to you, Miss Elisha. The sales proceeds should be used by you and Duke Michele….”

“It’s fine. I brought it after deducting 10% for the investment.”

I had made an investment contract to receive 10% of the proceeds whenever Nicholas’s paintings were sold.

But after thinking, Nicholas pushed the bag back to me.

Then he spoke in a shy but clear tone.

“Alright. I’ll accept it. But this time I want to give it back, as a gift!”

“A gift?”

“Yes. Think of it as pocket money and gratitude from a relative elder to Miss Elisha.”

Nicholas said quietly, looking down.

“I was already feeling bad about it. Duke Michele must have taken good care of you, Miss Elisha, but… it still wasn’t easy, was it?”

Nicholas had said he didn’t know much about the Rionet Ducal House in detail.

He had been confined to his atelier painting all the time, and wouldn’t have been included in important family meetings.

I hadn’t helped Nicholas expecting information about the ducal house either.

‘But it seems he heard Rosaline and Hugo speaking badly about grandfather here and there. Is that what he’s talking about?’

However, his next words were a little different from my expectations.

“Living without parents… just with your grandfather. It might be presumptuous of me to say, but I’m also… I’m also an orphan, so I understand a little. That sometimes you feel lonely and sad.”

Ah.

Sometimes there are facts you become newly aware of when you hear them from someone else’s mouth.

‘Right. I don’t have parents. …Maybe I deliberately ignored it because thinking deeply about it would make me sad.’

My heart stings.

“So use this to buy delicious food! It might not be much compared to Duke Michele’s wealth, but.”

It was too much money just for buying delicious food, but I was more grateful for his heart than the money.

I spoke sincerely to the embarrassed Nicholas.

“No. …Thank you so much. It’s the first time I’ve heard such words.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Then I’ll use this to buy delicious food with grandfather.”

“You can buy clothes and shoes too!”

“Haha, yes. I will.”

Nicholas smiled brightly and quietly took out a notebook.

“And this is what you asked for last time.”

“Ah, Rosaline’s client list?”

Nicholas didn’t know much about the ducal house’s affairs, but he knew more about Rosaline’s business than anyone.

As I flipped through the notebook, I stopped at one place.

‘As expected. Crodil was also Rosaline’s client.’

It was the moment it became clear that the permit incident was Rosaline’s scheme.

“Oh, was that permit matter handled well?”

“Yes, of course. Thanks to your help. All the other guild members are grateful too.”

“What help? I only signed.”

I had applied for not only myself but all other guild members to have Nicholas Raum, Viscount, as their guarantor.

Thanks to that, not a single place had to close down.

“It’s surprising that your wife, no, ex-wife gave in so easily.”

“She didn’t give in easily. From what I heard, there were complaints saying that since you gained your title through marriage, you don’t meet the ‘honor’ condition. Rosaline probably had them complain.”

“What? Then….”

“But it was approved in the end.”

Hello, William. About our street’s permit matter, I heard some nobles protested fiercely?

But do you know how the final approval came through?

“Someone truly unexpected helped us out.”

Princess Katarina! That person stepped forward! I couldn’t believe it even after hearing it!

***

Ailren was in his office.

He looked down at the items placed on his desk.

A quill pen, paper, a paperweight, and.

‘An hourglass.’

It was a gift he had received a few months ago.

Around the same time his headaches had started.

However, Ailren couldn’t bring himself to simply throw away that hourglass.

Because.

“He sent this gift saying to take good care of the Imperial Palace.”

It was a bestowed item sent by the Emperor who had departed on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Late at night, a green-eyed attendant had come carrying a box stamped with the Emperor’s seal.

When he reverently received it and opened the box, there was a black hourglass inside.

Thinking it meant to manage his time thoroughly, Ailren had always kept it on his desk.

‘But if the hourglass is the cause of my headaches, then His Majesty… No, no. How could I have such impious thoughts.’

There was something that made his mind even more complicated.

As he spent less time in his office while conducting inspections, his headaches had also improved.

So, to be precise.

‘It was after I stopped by that pawnshop.’

It was the moment he had made contact with the pawnshop owner.

The pain was incomparable to anything before, making it impossible to even breathe.

However, those symptoms soon improved. And then.

‘It felt similar to disinfecting a wound. At first it was extremely painful, but… gradually I felt my mind clearing up. Why is that?’

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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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