The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 54

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

It wasn’t simply a story about the passage of time and aging.

Stefan, who knew what Michele’s illness was, couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Michele, who had been watching him, continued quietly.

“I don’t have much time left. I know that better than anyone. So, I just want to spend that remaining time meaningfully. With my granddaughter.”

“Haah…”

“Since Elisha has already seen the snowdrop root, there’s nothing we can do about that, but you can come up with an appropriate name for the illness. Please.”

The sound of footsteps approached from outside the door.

It was Elisha’s.

At the sound of her footsteps, Michele’s lips, which had been stiff the whole time, curved up slightly.

Just before the door opened, Michele said.

“Be careful from now on. My granddaughter is quite sharp, so she might notice our lie with just a few careless words.”

Click, the door opened.

Elisha entered, panting with a flush on her cheeks.

“Geez, really! You’re so picky about food, asking me to get lemons and all.”

“If I thought you couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t have asked.”

Despite her words, Elisha carefully placed the lemon water in front of Michele and smiled brightly.

The girl, whose eyes sparkled with hope that she could cure her grandfather, asked.

“What a relief, we found medicine after all. What kind of herb is this? No, more importantly, what’s the cause?”

Stefan opened his reluctant mouth.

“…It’s suspected to be an illness called Mendax…”

The lemon cake was very delicious.

However, Stefan put it down after only a few bites.

“Thinking about that lie… this cake is too good for me, Miss Elisha.”

Stefan let out a long sigh.

***

The Moro Duchy, located in the northwest of the continent.

It had been a month since the Grand Duke disappeared overnight, but the Grand Duke’s office was not empty.

The attendant swallowed nervously and pushed the office door. He had only recently started working here and was afraid.

Because the person who had taken over that office was none other than.

“Leaving without even a word. The Grand Duke must mean I can run state affairs as I please. Isn’t that right?”

It was Belastard, the Guardian Lord.

She smiled ominously with only the corners of her mouth raised, as she was the Grand Duke’s regent.

‘It seemed like they didn’t get along well…!’

The attendant had only encountered the Grand Duke and Guardian Lord at a few official occasions. The two people he saw were like a cold wind blowing between them.

Far from having conversations, they didn’t even make eye contact.

‘Su-surely she’s not planning something while the Grand Duke is away?’

Bella, who was turning through documents while ignoring the attendant whose spine was crawling with goosebumps, muttered.

“It seems our Grand Duke trusts me too much.”

“Gu-Guardian Lord, Your Excellency.”

“Should I enumerate examples of regents who harmed kings and devoured countries…?”

Just then.

Heavy footsteps could be heard behind the trembling attendant.

“You won’t do that.”

‘Eek!’

The attendant, realizing whose footsteps those were, froze.

Bella only raised her eyes to stare at the owner of those footsteps.

“Why?”

She asked coldly.

“Because the Grand Duke is my son?”

“No. Because if you get rid of me, you won’t be able to retire for at least another 20 years.”

“That damn mouth of his, I should just rip…”

‘Huh?’

What does this mean?

Didn’t they not get along? Bella gestured to the attendant who was just rolling his eyes.

“Get out.”

After the bewildered-looking attendant was half-chased out.

Bella stood up abruptly and smacked the back of Tesagh, who was both Grand Duke and her son.

“Ugh, this damn kid. No contact for ages, then you come back after a month and the first thing you say to your mother is a threat?”

Belastard Moro was the current Guardian Lord and former Grand Duke of Moro.

She was furious to death at having to handle state affairs again when she had only recently abdicated to her son.

But they were the Guardian Lord and Grand Duke, after all.

There was dignity to maintain, so she had endured until now, unable to smack his back in front of the attendant.

Though a sword fight might be different.

“You know it doesn’t hurt even if you hit me.”

Maybe she really should have drawn her sword.

Bella pressed her forehead as she looked at Tesagh, who was saying things that turned people’s stomachs.

“And what do you mean there was no contact? Aide Milton should have reported. Were the reports omitted?”

“Do you think I’m doing this because I want to receive Milton’s reports?”

“Isn’t the content more important than who sent it?”

“…Tesagh, you’re hopeless with women.”

“Well, that’s been a long-standing issue, hasn’t it? Anyway, I’ll keep it in mind.”

Who’s going to take that damn guy? Whoever it is will clearly have a hard time.

‘My husband and that person’s father wasn’t like that, so who did he take after, really.’

…Don’t tell me it’s me?

Bella, who had been rubbing her throbbing temples, poured wine into her glass.

Tesagh, who had been watching that scene blankly, spoke in his usual businesslike tone.

“Setting that aside, I understand you received the reports.”

“Yes, I did. That you followed traces of Rugenote and arrived at ‘Ashen Street’ in the Empire’s capital.”

Bella’s eyes, redder than wine, glinted sharply.

“Of all places, the heart of the Empire.”

The Moro Duchy and Presripe Empire were long-time allies and, tracing their roots, brother nations.

The Empire respected the duchy that guarded the harsh northern continent, and the duchy responded with faith and cooperation.

On the surface, that is.

Good brothers are rare, after all.

“What do you think will happen if the Empire finds out that a Grand Duke infiltrated the heart of the Empire’s capital? Are you confident you can handle the consequences of the trouble you’re stirring up?”

“Confidence to handle it. That’s a question you should ask the Empire.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Because I detected Rugenote’s aura from the Captain of the Imperial Palace Knights.”

Thud.

Bella set down her glass.

“From what I heard, you detected Rugenote’s aura at a pawnshop. You suspected Eivor was using that pawnshop to secure funds, so you would monitor it.”

Bella frowned.

“But what’s this sudden talk about the Knight Captain? Did you make contact with him?”

“He came to the pawnshop as a customer. Well, more like an unwelcome guest.”

Tesagh continued in a monotone.

“That’s how I found out. The fact that the Knight Captain has Rugenote’s aura on him.”

“Surely you don’t mean the Knight Captain is the culprit.”

“Yes. After considering various possibilities comprehensively.”

Tesagh crossed his arms.

“Eivor stole Rugenote under the Empire’s orders. That sacred sword is stored in the Imperial Palace.”

“Hmm.”

“And in the process, they used the pawnshop to launder its origins… That’s the conclusion we can draw so far.”

Bella wasn’t surprised.

She too had suspected the Empire as the mastermind.

“Then what about the aura felt from the Knight Commander?”

“It must have rubbed off on him. Since he has strong holy power, he would be more affected by the aura of Rugenote, a sacred relic.”

Bella furrowed her brow.

“Who do you think ordered this?”

“Generally speaking, it would be the Emperor. What if his current absence for the holy pilgrimage is just for show? What if it’s an act to claim innocence by saying he wasn’t in the Empire at the time?”

“But since you said ‘generally speaking,’ you suspect someone else.”

“Yes. Count Crodil is the most suspicious.”

“Count Crodil. That wouldn’t be surprising coming from him.”

Before they knew it, their conversation had become that of the Guardian Duke and Grand Duke leading the duchy, rather than mother and son.

However, despite the gravity of the matter, Bella and Tesagh remained calm.

“We must prevent such things.”

“Yes. That’s why I went to the Empire.”

Bella, who had been drinking wine, asked.

“How do you plan to obtain evidence? I trust you’re not planning to infiltrate the Imperial Palace vault.”

“I plan to catch a witness, not evidence.”

“A witness?”

“The pawnshop owner who brokered the deal has disappeared. If we catch him, we can learn about the circumstances.”

Hmm?

Bella tilted her head.

“Disappeared? That woman already? How?”

Milton had reported that there was some young woman at the pawnshop.

Tesagh had also said he visited the pawnshop almost daily, so how did she manage to evade his eyes?

‘She might be more dangerous than I thought…’

While Bella was thinking, Tesagh spoke up.

“I’m not talking about that woman. I’m looking for the woman’s grandfather.”

“Then what about that woman? Since they’re family, they must be in cahoots. So we should capture that woman first and…”

“No. That woman is innocent.”

Tesagh’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he cut off Bella’s words.

“…At least, that’s what I’ve determined so far.”

Bella narrowed her eyes.

…Well, well?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————