The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 63

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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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However, Ailen was looking at me as if my reaction was even more puzzling.

Holding my head, I barely managed to ask.

“I’m a bit confused. What does taking responsibility for me mean, simply put?”

“Exactly what I said. I will serve you.”

“No, not that kind of simple!”

This is getting worse and worse.

Rubbing my forehead hard, I tried to interpret the knights’ peculiar terminology.

“So, um… taking material responsibility means if I bill you for repair costs of damaged items, you’ll pay. Taking mental responsibility means if I ask for cooperation, you’ll help me. Should I understand it roughly like that?”

“That’s correct.”

“Yes, we’re finally communicating.”

“But that’s not everything.”

What else is left?

I looked at him with a completely drained expression, and Ailen cleared his throat.

“The matters you mentioned are my responsibilities as the Royal Knights’ commander. There remains something I must take responsibility for as Ailen Hugo Radeian, as an individual.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes. …I’ve decided to ‘lose’ it.”

Ailen dropped a small pouch in front of me with a thud.

Really as if he was losing it.

Then like a knight picking up a handkerchief dropped by a lady, he picked it up again and handed it to me.

Even while being dumbfounded, his stuffy manner was amusing, and I thought he was quite a consistent person.

“I hope such a thing won’t happen, but if you feel even the slightest abnormality while investigating that lost item, please stop immediately and tell me. I will take every possible measure.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“And… even if it’s not necessarily related to the lost item.”

Ailen’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

“I will do my best to help with your affairs. So please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“Oh, you don’t need to go that far.”

“Aren’t you also doing something you don’t need to do? I’m simply returning the favor.”

If he puts it that way, well.

Shrugging my shoulders, I carefully picked up the hourglass to examine it.

I don’t see anything unusual. All I can see is just sand as black as darkness and…

‘Well, look at this.’

Frowning, I gestured to Ailen.

“Do you see here? There are traces of the screws being twisted open.”

“Are you saying the contents were replaced?”

“Yes. It’s quite crude workmanship. I’d say it looks like the work of someone who’s never even touched tools before.”

Ailen’s brow furrowed slightly.

The fact that the sand was replaced was evidence supporting my claim.

‘It looks like Crodil did it himself. Though it’s not really something you’d entrust to someone else.’

Wait, if Crodil did it himself?

‘The mage I asked Emma to find! If only I had that person, I could know exactly whose hands it passed through.’

I wonder if she’s made contact by now?

‘I’ll know tomorrow. I was planning to show this hourglass to Emma anyway.’

Clearing my throat, I put down the magnifying glass.

“For now, there are no other unusual features besides these traces.”

“Then…”

“But this isn’t the end. Tomorrow I plan to have a mage I know confirm whether the sand inside is really magic stone.”

I explained my pre-planned strategy to Ailen.

“As soon as I get confirmation, I’ll make you an hourglass that looks exactly like this one. Of course, I’ll fill it with harmless real sand.”

“Are you telling me to place that on my desk?”

“Yes, then your enemies will let their guard down. They’ll think you don’t know anything.”

The time of Ailen’s death I saw in the future is several months away.

There’s still time to investigate.

And there was something as important as finding who was behind the hourglass.

“Also, starting tomorrow I’ll look into whether there’s a way to treat magic poisoning.”

That was treating Ailen’s magic poisoning.

Ailen had only focused on hiding his symptoms so far, and probably hadn’t dared to look for a solution.

“I’ll ask around among doctors and mages, and I know someone at the temple so I’ll investigate through that route too. Of course, I’ll keep it secret that it’s about you. If necessary, I’ll say I’m the one who’s sick.”

“…”

“Since you might get better by staying away from this hourglass, carefully observe your physical condition starting today. If there are any changes, please tell me too. Well then…”

I was about to say goodbye when Ailen spoke up.

“…I’ve gotten a little better since visiting your pawnshop.”

Huh?

Is it a matter of mindset?

Or are you overcoming it with hope and fighting spirit?

I have no idea what’s going on, but since it’s good news anyway, I answered playfully.

“Really? That’s great, then you should come often.”

“Yes. That’s what I’m thinking. Thank you for allowing it.”

‘Wait, was what I said permission…?’

Anyway, since it’s a situation where he’ll have to come often, I nodded.

It would be nice if he came by and sold some items while he’s at it.

‘But I wonder why I get so tired when I’m with the knight.’

Maybe it’s because my energy got drained earlier.

As I was rubbing my eyes, Ailen keenly said goodbye.

“I apologize for the intrusion at this late hour. I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, yes. You know I wasn’t trying to give you a hint, right? My eyes are just a bit dry.”

I heard what sounded like a slight deflating sound.

Did Ailen laugh?

Nah, must be my imagination.

“I don’t mind.”

Ailen bowed his head slightly and turned around after starting to leave.

“Ah. I don’t want to delay saying this, so I’ll tell you now.”

As I looked at him, light glimmered softly.

“Thank you. I think I understand why His Majesty trusts you… Well then.”

Mulling over his words, I waved my hand.

For Ailen, that would be the highest compliment.

“Yes, see you again!”

“Yes. I’ll see you again.”

After Ailen had gone far away.

After organizing the commemorative coins and removing the dagger I had strapped to my thigh to store it away, I stopped in front of the telegraph.

This morning, a telegram had come from the doctor.

‘He said there was another person who came asking about Grandfather. A man wearing a pitch-black robe.’

Based on what the doctor said about somehow feeling dignity in his manner of speech.

‘He’s probably in cahoots with the brown-haired man who came first, right? Could he be the superior that man mentioned?’

Still, it’s fortunate.

Thanks to the doctor covering well for me, he mistakenly thought I was sick and left.

‘I don’t need to worry about it for now.’

If I solve other matters step by step, the day will come when I’ll also learn who the people chasing Grandfather are.

As I was yawning and laying out a blanket, I discovered something glinting in the moonlight where Ailen had been.

Wondering what this could be, I looked and chuckled.

It was ointment.

And it works well on bruises too.

‘Did he “lose” this and leave it behind too?’

As I picked up the ointment that had been left there alone, I suddenly tilted my head in confusion.

‘Come to think of it… both when he came to get me and just now. It’s nighttime, so why was Ailren sparkling?’

Just like when looking at holy relics.

…Is it really a halo?

‘Do handsome people naturally do that?’

Or is that light actually a hidden secret technique of the Knights?

But before I could fall into doubt, sleep poured over me.

***

Tesagh’s aide, Milton, thought.

‘The dagger His Grace the Duke gave to the pawnshop owner had three functions.’

First, the Rugenote tracking function.

When Rugenote energy was detected within a certain radius, it could be transmitted to a connected magical device.

Today, two out of five total indicators lit up.

When Milton reported this with joy.

“The Knight Commander accompanied that woman, so it must be his energy. Report again when it becomes three or more.”

Tesagh gave this instruction, but Milton never reported again. The markers remained at the level of two.

Then what about the second function?

‘It was for protection. Though I don’t really understand why he included a protective function for that pawnshop owner.’

The third and final function?

Just like right now…

「You’re saying you don’t bother Lina these days?」

It was a function that could hear surrounding sounds.

It was similar to a business card magical device, but slightly different.

Considering the pawnshop owner’s privacy, it was set to pick up surrounding sounds only when a certain level of heartbeat was detected.

If the heartbeat increased?

It would mean an unusual situation like being scared, angry, dumbfounded, in danger, and so on.

‘Of course, I still don’t understand why he considers the pawnshop owner’s privacy this time either…’

But why.

「I will take responsibility for you.」

“…What is this about now?”

Milton couldn’t understand why Tesagh was making such a menacing expression at the Knight Commander’s voice.

‘Wait, the fact that voice was transmitted means? That the pawnshop owner’s heartbeat quickened after hearing those words?’

Why would that be? Was she scared of those words?

Milton, who had been tilting his head in confusion, backed out of the room for now.

When an already scary person is frowning, it’s best to get out of his line of sight.

This was life wisdom that Milton had learned through experience.

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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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