Chapter : 66
In truth, there had been only one answer from the start.
Granting a wish to restore the honor of a ducal house the emperor himself had annihilated—reviving an erased lineage—was far more difficult than treating the final victor, the hero who had saved their lives, as a guest of state.
“Th-that’s… right.”
Starting with one voice of agreement, a chorus followed.
“If it’s our hero, then yes—dining with His Majesty would be only fitting!”
“Exactly. Such treatment is only proper! Didn’t they save us—save His Majesty?”
“That’s right! It’s reasonable and just!”
Amid the shouts, Rosetta slowly straightened her posture. A satisfied smile curved her lips.
Just as expected.
She had never thought the emperor would restore the honor of the Willow ducal house.
To rebuild a family he had personally trampled would be to admit his own mistake. Rather than that, she had figured he would choose to grant treatment on par with that of foreign royalty.
After all, if you present a difficult demand first, the next one always feels easier.
At her smile, the emperor’s brow twitched.
It was a sign of displeasure—so slight that only Rosetta, standing at the very front, noticed it.
“Impudent.”
Cesare whispered the word in a voice meant only for her, then gently closed his eyes.
When the emperor opened them again, an angelic smile filled his face.
“I grant you a dinner with me.”
“Forty percent commission?!”
Count Fabinho slammed the desk and shouted, unable to hold it in.
“No matter what, isn’t that excessive? If the broker takes nearly half, how much do you think is left for me?”
“Ow, my ears.”
The broker dug a finger into the ear he’d been covering.
Did he boil train fireboxes for breakfast or something? This old man screaming at the top of his lungs was a real eyesore.
“Anyway, with fourth-grade low-tier magic stones like these, even if you use the magic stone exchange, you won’t get a higher price than this, will you?”
“Y-you…!”
“If you don’t like it, then don’t do it.”
The count wanted to hurl curses, but he clenched his teeth and held back.
Because the broker was right.
The exchange’s commission was only ten percent, but the base price itself was low, leaving little profit in his hands.
If they were third-grade stones or higher, it would still be worth using despite the low pricing, but…
Even a little… I need to make even a little more profit!
The gap between third- and fourth-grade stones was enormous.
Worse still, the patience of those who had bought the bonds issued by the Fabinho family had run out.
They were threatening to sue and have all his assets seized if he didn’t make up for their losses.
Count Fabinho had already used the bond money to pay off urgent debts and had nothing left on hand. He’d begged to buy time, but he had to raise funds somehow—and quickly.
Those damn bastards…! When they heard I’d acquired a magic stone mine, they acted like they’d give me their liver and gallbladder!
When Iglesia cut ties with him, and when he learned that the Valenca mine—his last card—was nothing but a so-called “empty” mine, despair had swallowed him whole.
Why… why do I have to go through this?
He had devoted his entire life to rebuilding Fabinho after his foolish father ruined it.
He’d stumbled once after getting unlucky and tangled up with Willow, but in the process of enduring it, he’d found true love—and even had a child as its fruit.
Julie… yes. For Julie’s sake, I have to do something.
Clenching his fist, Count Fabinho glared at the broker.
“When does the black market open?”
“That’s not something I can tell you. Confidential.”
“…Then I’ll deal with you. Will that do?”
The broker grinned and said it was a wise choice, sliding over a contract. Normally, he would have had Daniel Crawford inspect it, but the count signed immediately.
“Thank you for the good business, Count.”
After the broker collected the contract and left, the count, now alone, scrubbed his face dry and exited the study.
“…Dad.”
“Julie?”
He flinched in surprise when he ran into his daughter in the hallway.
Did she see the broker?
Since the man specialized in illegal trades, it wouldn’t do to have his face recognized.
Fortunately, she didn’t look like she’d met a stranger. Still, her clothes were different from what she’d been wearing around lunchtime.
“Where have you been?”
“I went out for a walk.”
“What? By yourself?”
Count Fabinho grabbed Julieta by the shoulders.
“How many times have I told you not to go out alone! Did anyone approach you?”
“N-no, no one. Why are you acting like this?”
“The capital’s security isn’t normal these days! Just now, people I know said that folks who went missing in the back alleys have been found as corpses!”
Shouting that she needed to be especially careful, the count strictly forbade her from going out alone.
Julieta puckered her lips.
What the heck. He’s just telling me not to go out at all.
Only one maid remained at the Fabinho town house, in charge of the kitchen. Telling her not to go out alone was basically telling her to stay inside all the time.
Julieta pouted and thumped her chest.
“But Dad, lately I feel so stifled here I’m going crazy.”
“What? Is your heart hurting?”
“Lately, he’s been… neglecting me.”
“You mean Genomegard?”
“Yes. Even when we’re in the same space, it doesn’t feel like we’re together…”
Count Fabinho’s face hardened at once.
That insolent brat. If he’s become a husband, he should do his duty—how dare he make my daughter lonely?
Without reflecting on his own faults, the count vowed not to let it slide if anyone made his daughter cry.
“And lately, my friends aren’t contacting me either. It feels like they’re avoiding me.”
“…I’m sorry, Julie. It’s because your father is useless…”
“What? What are you saying, Dad! You’ve always been the best father!”
“Oh, Julie. Julieta, my treasure…!”
Count Fabinho pulled Julieta into his arms.
“As long as I have you, I have enough. At least you, I swear I will…!”
“Dad…!”
As he patted the back of the daughter clinging to him, he resolved to solve this situation no matter what.
The Julieta in his arms, however, was expressionless.
Back in her room, Julieta changed clothes, went into the bathroom, and washed herself in cold water before coming out.
The Princess was right.
Looking out the window, she saw a familiar silhouette returning to the town house.
A traitor should be used until their value runs out. Use them until there’s nothing left—squeeze them again and again, until there isn’t even juice to extract.
Diego.
Her husband.
The owner of the voice she had overheard through the princess’s magic in the Ruby Palace:
“She was supposed to marry me originally. Iglesia stole her away. I’ll take back what he took from me.”
…That’s when I’ll throw him away.
At that moment, Diego lifted his head. Perhaps he’d noticed her standing by the window; he tilted his chin slightly.
Julieta deliberately curved her eyes and waved at him.
The dinner with the imperial family was scheduled to take place after the hunting competition concluded. In the meantime, Rosetta learned of Judith Palmer’s whereabouts.
“She was found in a canal?”
“Yes. They said her face was so swollen from the water it was hard to recognize, but her body was shriveled up, as if burned.”
Her face unrecognizable, but the body looks burned… Cutting off loose ends? Or a fake corpse?
When Rosetta’s expression darkened at Sol Rique’s whispered report, Viscountess Arena Belf was quick to worry.
“Are you all right, Valerie? Did something happen?”
“Oh.”
Right—we were in the middle of seeing them off.
Rosetta smiled and shook her head at the Marquis of Bavaria and Viscountess Arena Belf, who were looking at her with concern.
“I was just wondering when we might meet again. Please invite me to your home sometime.”
“Oh my. I’d be honored. You’re welcome anytime, if it’s to host you!”
“Sister… we go to our house…?”
Angel, who had been in Viscountess Arena Belf’s arms, rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked.
End Of Chapter : 66
