CHAPTER 28………………………………………….
Chapter 28
Trisha clicked her tongue inwardly.
If that’s the case, they simply shouldn’t have accepted the request.
She didn’t understand why people were even gathered here.
Perhaps it was because they were that uneasy.
They probably aren’t confident they can regain His Majesty’s favor.
Fortunately for the Marchioness of Devon, the emperor had sought her out again.
The moment her substitutes disappeared, the Marchioness became irreplaceable.
We can’t leave it like that.
Trisha turned her head again and glanced at the people in front of the Marchioness.
Even now, there seemed to be hardly anyone worth noticing…
The Marchioness seemed to share a similar thought, frowning slightly.
“I intended to devote everything I received today to God with a faithful heart. And yet, these unfaithful people come seeking me.”
She clicked her tongue.
Apparently, the virtue I’ve accumulated so far is still lacking.
The Marchioness had consistently donated huge sums to the temple—second only to what she gave her lover.
Diverting money from the Grand Duke’s family to the temple…
She must have done quite a few things one shouldn’t even do with the temple.
Trisha was considering whether she could dig up something by investigating that side when suddenly a commotion broke out.
“Are you insulting me right now?!”
The Marchioness struck a man with the fan she was holding, and he collapsed without even a scream.
“Do you take me for some fool who doesn’t know the value of that mine?! And you dare ask me to lend you money!”
“N-no! That’s not it, Madam!”
The man looked genuinely desperate.
“My wife is ill! But all I have left is this mine…”
“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it!”
The Marchioness gestured to her knights to drag him out.
Since he was the last applicant, the atmosphere grew unbearably cold.
Trisha, observing the situation, quietly left.
The man was thrown out of the mansion by the knights.
“No! Knights! I must see the Marchioness of Devon!”
“Leave while you still can.”
“If you bother me again, I won’t stay silent next time!”
The knights pressed their hands against their sheaths, threatening him, and he reluctantly let go of them.
He watched the knights walk away, despair written across his face.
No… I can’t…
The man sank to his knees.
Once a wealthy merchant, all he had left now was an ailing wife and a low-yield mine.
His fortune had been lost paying for his wife’s treatment.
Finally, he had found a cure for her illness—but it was prohibitively expensive.
If he were still wealthy as before, it might have been possible, but now he couldn’t afford it.
He had thought of using the mine as collateral…
It was hopeless, after all.
He forced a bitter smile and stood.
I guess I’ll have to come back when the Marchioness is in a better mood.
Just as he was about to turn away, a voice called from behind.
“You wish to borrow money for your wife’s treatment in exchange for your mine?”
He turned and saw a woman with glossy black hair flowing like silk—a stunning beauty.
Recognizing her as the Duchess of Mason, he bowed hastily.
“Your Grace, the Duchess!”
“The greeting will do. But I’d like to hear more about this.”
The man hesitated, unsure of Trisha’s intentions. Trisha noticed and pressed further.
“Are you trying to lower the price?”
Caught off guard, the man flinched. Trisha smiled softly.
“If you do that, you won’t be able to secure enough for your wife’s treatment.”
“The mine’s yield is low, so there’s nothing I can do. If it’s impossible, I’ll have to earn the rest myself.”
Trisha remained silent. The man scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“It’s no wonder the Marchioness was angry. I basically committed fraud.”
“Perhaps it’s not fraud.”
“Huh?”
“You never know. It might turn out your mine holds a tremendous amount of valuable minerals.”
The man blinked in confusion, unsure why she would say that.
“Take this and go to the Rosentain family.”
Trisha handed him a letter—an introduction stating he would be sent to Count Rosentain.
“My brother and I don’t get along, but he takes investment matters seriously.”
“R-really…”
“If you investigate and the yield is better than expected, he might offer a higher price.”
The man lowered his head, blinking in disbelief.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I will never forget this favor.”
Trisha smiled silently and turned away.
I don’t feel at ease. I feel like I’ve committed fraud.
Her smile had vanished by the time she headed toward the mansion.
She recalled the man, former owner of the Argyle Mine.
In my previous life, he came to see Aunt three times, was rejected each time, and sold the mine cheaply.
As a result, he didn’t have enough money to buy his wife’s medicine, ended up in a dangerous situation, and died in an accident.
His wife, left alone, also died without care.
When it became known that the Argyle Mine was highly productive, tales of the unlucky first owner circulated widely.
If I tell my brother, the mine’s value will be properly paid.
Above all, this would prevent the Marchioness of Devon from taking control of the Argyle Mine.
On the verge of losing her maintenance allowance and the emperor’s favor, she must be walking a very thin line.
“Your Grace, you should get ready soon.”
Back in her room, Jane urged her to hurry.
Trisha wore the neat dress she had pre-selected and finished preparations for her outing.
In the lobby, the gifts brought by today’s visitors for petitions were piled high.
The Marchioness of Devon sat on the massive sofa, frowning at Trisha.
“Where are you going this time?”
She crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
“You wander outside because you cannot remain modest! Don’t you understand that?”
Caught off guard by the sudden scolding, Trisha bowed politely.
“Her Highness the Princess ordered me to enter the palace.”
“The Princess?”
The Marchioness raised one eyebrow, scrutinizing Trisha as if to detect any hidden motive.
“You intend to meet the Princess dressed so plainly?”
Then she sighed deeply.
“You’re so eager not to tarnish the Mason family’s reputation. I’ll teach you a trick—follow me.”
“I beg your pardon, Madam!”
At that moment, Jane intervened. Bowing almost to the floor, she added carefully,
“Her Highness the Princess has commanded you to enter the palace as swiftly as possible!”
The Marchioness clearly didn’t intend to let Trisha go. She would find fault with any outfit to delay her.
Jane cleverly used this to her advantage.
“Since she said to come before sunset, Your Grace must hurry.”
“You are a worrywart, aren’t you?”
The Marchioness clicked her tongue but spoke gently.
Surely, you aren’t so shameless. Get up at once.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Jane, expecting a reprimand, stood up dazedly.
Trisha finally took the initiative.
“I apologize, Aunt, but I must leave now.”
“What?”
The Marchioness, about to lead the way upstairs, froze.
Trisha remained calm, still in her previous spot.
“I said I must leave now.”
Jane glanced at the Marchioness, but Trisha remained composed.
She has no intention of letting me go easily.
Jane’s gentle manner was just a ruse to hide her aunt’s true intentions.
Unlike when she wielded influence in the Grand Duke’s family, now she has to consider her subordinates.
Still, she wanted to vent her frustration by delaying Trisha’s palace entry.
“Ha…”
The Marchioness let out a hollow laugh.
“So you dare act arrogantly in front of me after winning the Princess’s favor?”
“That’s not the case, Aunt.”
Trisha bowed once more and hurriedly added,
“This dress may be inadequate before the Princess, but it is perfectly suitable for petitioning on behalf of a sinner.”
“A sinner?”
The Marchioness’s mind went briefly blank. Could it be…?
“Miss Olivia Moret is still under house arrest.”
“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
The Marchioness still occasionally received letters from her husband and Baron Moret, asking for Olivia’s house arrest to be shortened so she could return home, even briefly.
“I’m not sure if Her Highness the Princess will listen, but I’ll petition to reduce Olivia’s house arrest period.”
“If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”
The Marchioness nodded, pretending to give reluctant permission.
Trisha thus departed smoothly.
She alighted in front of the imperial palace and dismissed the carriage driver, insisting she could manage herself.
Then, she took the prepared carriage with Jane and moved on.
Today, Trisha’s destination was not the Princess’s residence.
Her story about being summoned by Hestia had been a lie to facilitate an easy outing.
