The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 72

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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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After finishing her bath, Chloe felt dazed.

 

“I’ve prepared some food for you. Once you finish eating, I’ll guide you to the reception room.”

 

The bathwater was fragrant, the room was warm, and the maid was kind.

 

Was she dreaming?

 

Chloe, who had been pinching her cheek, swallowed her saliva at the sight of the steaming soup.

 

Having not eaten a single meal for several days, she carefully took a spoonful and put it in her mouth.

 

“…It’s delicious.”

 

When she came to her senses, she had already finished both the soup and bread.

 

Chloe was embarrassed by the empty dish, but the maid nonchalantly brought her another bowl.

 

It was when she had emptied the second bowl of soup while watching for reactions.

 

“Shall we go to the reception room now? A customer is waiting for you.”

 

A customer.

 

It was too generous a title.

 

Chloe had grown up in a rural village in the outskirts with a strong tendency to reject mages.

 

Her parents abandoned her and fled when her magic manifested, and Chloe was driven out of where she lived.

 

The mages at the Magic Tower she arrived at after wandering here and there were inherently individualistic people, leaving her with no place to lean on emotionally.

 

But why would people who wouldn’t hesitate to throw stones at her, why…

 

‘Elisha… that’s what she said. Why did that person take my side?’

 

And why was that woman helping her?

 

When she hesitantly arrived in front of the reception room, the maid left.

 

Left alone, Chloe carefully listened to the voices leaking through the door crack.

 

Nicholas’s voice could be heard.

 

“…Why did Rosaline send that mage to me, Miss Elisha? And what’s the reason she suddenly agreed to the divorce?”

 

“The reason she agreed to the divorce is obvious. She was trying to cut off her tail.”

 

“T-tail?”

 

“Yes. To show that even if something happens to you, Nicholas, it wasn’t something I did. Since we’re strangers who even got divorced, why would I bother with him? I guess it’s a tool to claim innocence, saying I have no interest in Nicholas.”

 

“Th-then…”

 

“I’ll have to hear the details from Chloe, but she probably tried to turn you into a cripple, Nicholas. So you could never paint again.”

 

“How terrible. I thought the Countess had sinister intentions from when she was arrogant at the auction house, but I didn’t expect it to be this extent.”

 

Elisha, who had been watching the Duke of Alchemiya sigh, rummaged through her bag.

 

“That’s not all. Rosaline must have realized there’s no forger as good as you, Nicholas. There’s information that she frequented the painter training institute but kept returning empty-handed.”

 

Elisha, who had spread papers on the table with a rustle, continued speaking.

 

“If she simply wanted to prevent you from painting anymore, Nicholas, she would have rather assassinated or kidnapped you. But the reason Rosaline specifically sent Chloe, who is a mage, is.”

 

“Don’t tell me…”

 

“Yes. She definitely tried to steal your talent, Nicholas. She probably intended to transplant that talent into someone else.”

 

With a voice suppressing anger, Elisha concluded.

 

“To create a forger who would never leave Rosaline again, one who moves without self-awareness.”

 

Nicholas covered his mouth. It was because Rosaline’s thoughts were horrifying.

 

Meanwhile, Chloe, who was listening through the door crack, also covered her mouth, but for a different reason.

 

‘How did she know?’

 

Chloe was amazed that Elisha had accurately pinpointed Rosaline’s thoughts.

 

“Just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous.”

 

The Duke of Alchemiya, who had been holding her forehead, furrowed her brow.

 

“But we lack evidence, don’t we? We do have a witness, but if the Countess makes excuses that it was something her subordinates did, it would be difficult to prove the connection.”

 

The butler, who had been rubbing his face dry all along, carefully spoke up.

 

“…How about asking that mage for cooperation in exchange for freedom?”

 

“Cooperation, you mean.”

 

“Yes. Asking the mage to act as a spy.”

 

Nicholas, startled by the word spy, hurriedly interjected.

 

“A spy?”

 

“Since she’s wearing restraints anyway, wouldn’t Countess Rosaline think there’s no possibility of betrayal and let her guard down? During that time, couldn’t that mage gather information?”

 

“B-but you saw how frightened the mage was, Butler. Besides, those restraints seemed very painful…”

 

“Nicholas, then is there any other method?”

 

Nicholas bit his lips and the Duke of Alchemiya quietly looked at Elisha.

 

Rather than agreeing with the butler’s words, she seemed to be waiting for Elisha’s response.

 

‘It’s natural. Since those people saved me, it’s natural for them to expect something in return from me.’

 

It was when Chloe hung her head.

 

“There is.”

 

At Elisha’s voice, Chloe slowly raised her head.

 

“It might be a bit slow and troublesome, but there is another way.”

 

With an utterly clear voice and a firm, articulate tone, Elisha was saying that.

 

Chloe unconsciously pushed the door.

 

“And I think freedom is not something that can be put on the scales of negotiation.”

 

“Miss.”

 

“That would make us just like Rosaline. How is it different from saying ‘I’ll free you if you behave, so do what I tell you to do’? I don’t want to become the same kind of person as that woman.”

 

“…Th-that’s.”

 

“I appreciate your concern, Butler, but I don’t think I can accept that opinion.”

 

Clap, clap.

 

Elisha, who had been catching her breath after finishing her words, looked up at the sound of applause.

 

The Duke of Alchemiya was clapping softly.

 

“I was curious about what Michele had been doing for the past 20 years… The answer was here. It must take a lot of time to raise a child this well.”

 

“Your Grace?”

 

“What do you think, mage?”

 

Elisha, who had been puzzled, turned around and made a surprised face when she saw Chloe had arrived.

 

“When did you come, Chloe? Sit down for now. I’ll remove the restraints first.”

 

So Elisha hadn’t known that Chloe had come.

 

It meant those weren’t words deliberately said for her to hear.

 

Rather, the one who had wanted her to hear their conversation was.

 

‘The Duke of Alchemiya.’

 

Perhaps it was the Duke who had seen Chloe enter but waited for Elisha to finish speaking.

 

The Duke, who had sipped her tea, smiled slightly. That smile was quite pleased.

 

Then Elisha gently took Chloe’s left hand.

 

“Wait a moment, let me take a look. What did Rosaline say about these restraints?”

 

“She said only a Rionet could remove them…”

 

“Really? That’s fortunate.”

 

“…Fortunate…?”

 

Didn’t she mean that no one but someone from Countess Rosaline’s family could remove them?

 

But why was she saying it was fortunate?

 

While Chloe was tilting her head in confusion, Elisha rummaged through her bag.

 

What she pulled out was.

 

“There are probably two ways to remove them. Either by dripping Rionet blood into them, or.”

 

It was an ornate seal.

 

When Elisha brought the seal close to the restraints.

 

“Using a Rionet seal.”

 

Click.

 

Elisha picked up the restraints that had come off ridiculously easily and examined them, then smiled broadly.

 

“My introduction was a bit late, Chloe. I’m Elisha. I’m also the granddaughter of former Duke Michele Fiochedade Rionet.”

 

Chloe, who had been rotating her lightened left hand, asked blankly.

 

“…What should I do now?”

 

“For now, just rest a bit. After that, let’s work together to find a way to heal the poisoning symptoms in your right hand.”

 

Elisha spoke gently and firmly grasped her blackened right hand.

 

It was a warm temperature.

 

Chloe, who had reflexively tried to pull away because the body heat felt unfamiliar, gradually tightened her grip to hold Elisha’s hand in return.

 

She doesn’t leave. Even knowing she’s a dangerous mage poisoned by dark magic, she doesn’t run away.

 

Chloe swallowed and said.

 

“I want to help you.”

 

“What? But Chloe’s current condition…”

 

“I appreciate your concern for me, but I want to properly apologize. And.”

 

Chloe, whose lips had been trembling, clenched her fist tightly.

 

“I want to do good things too.”

 

“…Chloe.”

 

“If it’s work to bring down that person Rosaline, and.”

 

Chloe looked at the restraint device.

 

And she looked into the clear eyes of the woman who had freed her from the restraint device that tormented her without saying a single word about it.

 

Though they’re both Rionet, this woman is different.

 

Chloe could be certain of it.

 

“Lady Elisha… If it’s work for you, I believe it will be good work. Please let me help. I beg you.”

 

Elisha asked worriedly.

 

“Are you really sure you’ll be okay?”

 

“Yes. Instead of slow and troublesome methods.”

 

Chloe said with emphasis.

 

“I’ll become a fast and certain method for you.”

 

Elisha, who couldn’t speak for a moment, nodded her head.

 

“Thank you, Chloe.”

 

Then she hugged Chloe tightly.

 

After patting Chloe’s back several times, Elisha cleared her throat and sat up.

 

“Your Excellency, Lord Nicholas. I’m sorry, but could I borrow the atelier for a moment?”

 

“Of course!”

 

“Certainly. But what for?”

 

What she pulled out while rummaging through her bag was a pouch filled with tools.

 

“I’m going to modify this restraint device a bit.”

 

Elisha grinned.

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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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