The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 14

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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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The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 014

“The Elbanon Trading Guild Master himself said it directly. He clearly stated that the wheat sold to Lunein was 100% Hesen wheat.”

As I said this, I let my voice tremble slightly at the end.

As if I felt some doubt but couldn’t be certain. Or as if I was intimidated by someone raising their voice at me.

If the opponent was looking down on me because of my gender and age, wouldn’t it be polite to use that to my advantage? People naturally empathize with the weak, after all.

Thanks to this, people began to listen to my words.

“But in that ledger you gave me during our last meeting… Oh, thank you, Shubel. I was a bit startled.”

When I deliberately swayed a little, Shubel sensibly supported me.

My act as a noblewoman shocked and relying on her husband was absolutely perfect.

“I showed it to an expert. As I mentioned, I haven’t been long since I inherited this work from Mother, so I wanted to do well.”

This time I was acting as an eager daughter-in-law, and Shubel wrapped his arm around my waist.

‘…There’s no need to go this far, is there?’

I was momentarily flustered by the hand generously embracing my waist, but I couldn’t show it in this situation, so I endured it.

Still feeling a bit bothered, I subtly moved to avoid his hand. Shubel’s hand naturally followed and stayed attached.

‘What is this man doing?’

Annoyed, I pinched his forearm so it wouldn’t show, and the chest I was leaning against trembled faintly.

Are you laughing? You find this amusing right now?

“But that person said the unit price didn’t match. I thought maybe the price was written incorrectly, so I made an inquiry to confirm, but it seems that was processed as a report.”

Whether I was waging an invisible war with Shubel or not, my performance continued.

And in this process, the ‘report’ had somehow become an ‘inquiry.’

“We all heard it, didn’t we? The Elbanon Trading Guild Master said he only sells Hesen wheat.”

“That’s right.”

“He said it so proudly just earlier too.”

I could hear the audience nodding and joining in agreement.

I finally succeeded in pinching Shubel’s clinging hand hard enough to make it fall away.

Feeling somewhat triumphant for some reason, I declared:

“The ledger clearly stated 100% Hesen wheat too. But the expert said this: ‘No trading guild in the South has ever sold that amount of Hesen wheat.'”

Instantly, people’s gazes turned toward Tairontse.

Tairontse and I confirmed simultaneously.

“That’s right. That expert was Tairontse Albioh.”

“It’s not even Hekail wheat but Hesen wheat. For such a large-scale transaction, there’s no way I wouldn’t remember it.”

“But now you’re saying that even giving me the ledger was a lie, so I’m very confused.”

The climax was approaching.

I posed one question to the people whose suspicions had accumulated.

“Or… is there another ledger, and perhaps I received the wrong one?”

The heated atmosphere suddenly became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

Tension filled the air between people like a tightly stretched string.

Double bookkeeping. It’s the second most serious crime after tax evasion at the Finance Bureau.

Since double bookkeeping is usually done to form hidden assets or evade taxes, it’s sometimes considered equivalent to tax evasion.

When the possibility of double bookkeeping was raised, the eyes of Hailey Michelle, who was planning to quit, completely changed.

Double bookkeeping was a term that made even someone planning to quit serious.

‘This is why I’m putting on this whole theatrical performance.’

Actually, I prefer just crushing them rather than this kind of theater, but I had to approach carefully since it could be seen as a large trading guild pressuring a smaller one if done wrong.

And well, there’s a bit of personal feeling mixed in too.

‘Mother blamed herself so much back then.’

Since I had already recruited internal personnel from the Elbanon Trading Guild, I could have taken them down with internal whistleblowing, but the reason I went this far was…

I wanted this bastard to self-destruct and pay for the mental anguish he caused the Duchy House people.

Moreover, inviting an audience here was also meant as a warning to the trading guild masters.

Even after I leave the Duchy later, when dealing with Lunein, they should engrave today’s scene in their hearts forever.

‘Well, this should be enough payment for their kindness.’

After I coughed up blood, Bella had been constantly worried and kept recommending foods and medicines that were good for health whenever she had a chance.

I know how much care it takes to be concerned about another person’s health.

That’s why I felt sorry. I wasn’t really sick, after all.

But since I couldn’t explain the exact reason, I had been feeling somewhat indebted.

“Answer me, Elbanon Trading Guild Master. Is this ledger really fake? Does another ledger exist, different from this one that states 100% Hesen wheat as you directly said?”

“Th-that is…”

The Elbanon Trading Guild Master was caught by his own words and fell into a dilemma.

If he claimed the ledger was fake, it would be exposed that he sold something other than Hesen wheat.

As a contract violation with Lunein, he would have to pay enormous penalty fees, and the trading guild’s credibility would be buried in the ground.

The Finance Bureau would never believe someone whose credibility had already hit rock bottom.

They would definitely shake him down thoroughly, and since the Finance Bureau are pros at finding hidden assets, you can imagine what would happen next.

Conversely, it would also be problematic if he acknowledged that the fake ledger I handed over was real.

While he could avoid the immediate crisis, once that ledger was in the Finance Bureau’s hands, they would quickly notice the price discrepancy when examining the accounts.

Then everything would be over.

The result wouldn’t change.

“…No, the ledger is real.”

And the trading guild master’s choice was temporary avoidance.

I couldn’t hide my scoff.

‘A coward to the very end.’

If he had chosen the former, he could have at least tried to fight about the forgery of me and the ledger.

Of course, that wouldn’t have worked since it was a ledger Kaiseus had copied and a forgery expert had recreated identically.

“For now, it would be best if you came with me to the Finance Bureau to have a leisurely talk. Elbanon Trading Guild Master.”

“What? W-wait a moment! Finance Manager, please give me time…!”

“As I said, please don’t address me that way.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched the finance manager, who already had the eyes of a bird of prey that had spotted its quarry, drag away the Elbanon Trading Guild Master who was breaking out in cold sweat.

Probably in a few days, a small article like [XX Trading Guild, seized by Finance Bureau for double bookkeeping and hidden assets…] would appear in tiny print in the corner of a daily newspaper.

“Still scary as ever. Our Seton young lady.”

Once the Elbanon Trading Guild Master was dragged away, the atmosphere quickly became chaotic. People glanced at me, who had invited them here.

I looked at the person who appeared before me and said:

“I’m married, you know?”

“I know. But once a little miss, always a miss.”

Tairontse, who spoke cheekily, now addressed Shubel who was behind me.

“Nice to meet you, Lunein Grand Duke. Please call me Tairontse of Albioh. Privately, I’m like Risha’s unrelated uncle, I suppose. I’ve been watching Elisia since she was this small.”

I was dumbfounded by the self-introduction that included unnecessary details, but what came next was even more shocking.

“When our Risha was little, she used to say she’d marry me. But now she’s grown up so much. Time is truly fleeting.”

“Wh-what are you saying, you drunkard!”

I looked back and forth between Tairontse and Shubel in panic.

My face turned bright red without me realizing it. It had been a long time since I was this flustered.

“Hahaha. Still cute as ever, Risha. Anyway, please take good care of her. Though Risha looks strong on the outside, she’s actually tender-hearted inside.”

“Won’t you be quiet?!”

I bickered with Tairontse.

This man still had childish aspects like a teenager despite his age.

As I irritably swatted away Tairontse’s hand that was ruffling my hair, I became increasingly conscious of what was behind me.

Strangely, I was bothered by Shubel’s reaction.

‘Is it shame?’

I couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, but it was probably something similar. Like having my embarrassing past exposed.

I anxiously chewed my lips. I didn’t know how married couples usually react in situations like this.

‘No, do I need to worry about that?’

We’re just a showwindow couple anyway…

Just then.

“My lady.”

Shubel called out to me.

I flinched and my shoulders trembled without realizing it, when gentle hands wrapped around my waist.

Like being caught in a trap, this time I couldn’t avoid him.

Shubel whispered softly.

“Was that your type?”

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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