CHAPTER 107……………………………….
Under the Duke of Bacard’s orders, the amount of grain entering the capital was reduced.
The Duke promised to make up for the reduced amount in gold.
In truth, the amount of grain produced in the eastern region hadn’t decreased at all, but the number of hungry people in the capital grew day by day.
It started with a very small reduction—so gradual that even those managing imports and exports didn’t notice.
And the effects began to appear in the slums outside the capital walls.
It was Baron Akot’s job to send money regularly to the eastern nobles.
The problem was that he had been secretly using the money he received from the Duke of Bacard.
A small hole slowly grew larger, and eventually, Baron Akot began borrowing money to fill it.
“Damn that Chad bastard—he should’ve paid up before dying.”
Baron Akot’s anger toward the already-executed Chad was endless.
He grew increasingly nervous that the Duke of Bacard might find out.
At that moment, the butler reentered the study carrying tea.
“What about the Viscount’s family?”
“There’s still… no reply, sir.”
“I’ve sent so many letters asking to meet. How insolent she’s become.”
As soon as Baron Akot heard that Everett had become the heiress, he began sending her letters.
The first congratulated her on inheriting great wealth.
The second invited her to a private dinner at his home, saying he had something confidential to discuss.
When both went unanswered, his next letters included veiled threats.
“Um, my lord… wouldn’t it be better to just repay the debt quickly instead of sending more letters?”
The butler spoke cautiously, watching the Baron’s mood.
Rumor had it that the money from House Kestarrican carried a curse.
He had recently heard the story, but Baron Akot snorted dismissively.
“That damned curse, curse! Do you really believe that nonsense? How can money be cursed?”
Baron Akot snapped irritably.
The butler flinched but quietly muttered Chad’s and Joanne’s names under his breath.
“At this rate, I might die before that curse ever gets me!”
He was furious that Chad had died without paying, leaving him in this dire situation.
“I fear the Duke of Bacard far more than any curse.”
Baron Akot muttered under his breath.
“Sitting around waiting won’t solve anything.”
He ordered the butler to prepare his carriage.
The place Baron Akot urgently sought was none other than the mansion of Viscount Kestarrican.
“Is the young lady in?”
He strode in as if it were his own house.
The maid who opened the door glared at his back disapprovingly and replied,
“The young lady is out at the moment, sir.”
Baron Akot clicked his tongue.
“Where could she be wandering about in broad daylight? When will she return?”
“Well…”
“She’ll be back before the tea gets cold,” answered the butler, descending quickly from the stairs.
“It’s been a while, Butler.”
“It has indeed, Baron Akot.”
The butler’s tone was polite as ever, but there was something in his gaze that irritated the Baron.
“When you say ‘soon,’ how soon exactly?”
“She’ll return before the tea goes cold, sir.”
That seemed soon enough, so Baron Akot agreed to wait and followed the butler.
“This isn’t the way to the drawing room.”
“No, sir. I’m leading you to the young lady’s study.”
“The study? Not the drawing room?”
They arrived at the most remote corner of the mansion’s first floor—
a place that could’ve easily been used as a storeroom or servant quarters.
“This is her study?”
The butler opened the old door without answering.
Inside, it was surprisingly neat, though still far too plain to be the heiress’s personal study.
Baron Akot’s expression soured.
“Why bring me here? I was always received in the drawing room before.”
“The young lady only uses this room now,” the butler said calmly.
“Only this room? In this enormous house? Why?”
The butler sighed softly and glanced around.
“There are… unpleasant rumors going around these days, as you know.”
So he meant the curse.
Baron Akot nodded as if he understood.
“She’s young, and I suppose she’s frightened. We can’t exactly watch over her day and night like a child.”
The butler’s tone was subtly sarcastic—unlike his usual reserved manner.
And the way he spoke so freely about his mistress told Baron Akot that the butler didn’t think highly of her.
“I heard the young lady isn’t actually related to the late Viscount—not even distantly?”
“That’s correct. Not a drop of shared blood.”
“Then how did she become the heiress? Did the Viscount know her before?”
“The Viscount once collapsed during a walk. The young lady saved his life.”
Baron Akot nodded knowingly.
A calculated act disguised as coincidence.
He was certain Everett was the same kind of person as the late Chad—
a cunning woman who lingered around the wealthy, waiting for the right moment to strike.
For the first time in a while, Baron Akot felt things might turn in his favor.
“Bring me a warm cup of tea. I’ll wait—just as you said—before it gets cold.”
The butler bowed and quietly closed the study door.
Baron Akot glanced around the room again.
Now that he looked closer, it seemed someone had tried to make it look pleasant.
As he snooped around, his eyes fell on a sheet of paper left on the desk.
“Hmm. So she’s had some education, at least.”
But as he read on, his eyes widened.
The paper listed the exact amounts of money Everett had reclaimed so far.
“Well, look at that. She’s already collected more than the Viscount ever managed to.”
Baron Akot chuckled, humming to himself.
“Seems the gods are still on my side. They don’t intend to let me die just yet.”
He was thrilled at the thought of a new benefactor but reminded himself to be cautious.
Chad had been a fool driven by greed,
but Everett—the heiress—was no ordinary opponent.
Still, Baron Akot felt confident.
No matter how clever she was, she was young—just a lucky novice.
Laughter leaked from the study as Baron Akot chuckled to himself.
Meanwhile, the butler lingered anxiously near the front entrance.
The moment he confirmed the Baron’s carriage, he had sent a pageboy to alert Everett.
She had already given detailed instructions on what to do when Baron Akot inevitably arrived.
But the butler hadn’t believed her—he didn’t think someone as proud as the Baron would come in person.
Now, he was more shocked by Everett’s foresight than by the Baron’s visit.
In the distance, he saw her carriage approaching.
He wanted to rush out immediately, but Everett had warned him not to act out of character.
So he merely stood by the doorway, stretching his neck as he waited.
Everett’s first instruction had been “Pretend you dislike me.”
The butler understood why, but his heart still pounded nervously.
When Everett stepped down from the carriage, her expression was calm and composed,
utterly unlike his own tense demeanor.
Once again, he was struck by how extraordinary she was.
“You’re back, my lady.”
Everett’s beautiful eyes curved softly as she asked,
“You said there’s a guest?”
“Yes, Baron Akot arrived not long ago. He’s waiting in your study.”
When she asked silently with her eyes if he had done as instructed,
the butler gave a small nod.
“Baron Akot, have you been waiting long?”
Everett entered quietly, opening the study door with a sharp bang.
Startled, Baron Akot looked up, clutching the very paper she had left out for him to see.
“Ah—ah… Lady Everett?”
Baron Akot hastily set down the paper and hurried toward her.
“How pleasant to finally meet you. I’ve been trying to contact you, you know.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with many matters. I was just about to reach out myself, and here you are.”
Baron Akot forced a smile and nodded.
“Well, of course, the new heiress of House Kestarrican must be very busy.”
“Thank you for understanding. Please, have a seat. The butler will bring refreshments shortly.”
Baron Akot’s gaze brazenly lingered on her,
but Everett ignored it and sat down gracefully.
“So, did you come to repay your debt yourself, Baron? You could’ve sent someone.”
Baron Akot swallowed hard at the direct mention of his greatest weakness.
“D-Debt… yes, I came to settle that, of course.”
Everett calmly opened a box and pulled out his promissory notes.
“You borrowed quite a large sum. It must be difficult to repay all at once.”
As she inspected each document, Baron Akot’s mustache trembled.
Before he could even ask for more money, she was already pressing him to repay.
While pretending to check the notes, Everett called upon Arcana.
“What kind of man is Baron Akot?”
A man holding a sword appeared in the air—the figure from the Five of Swords card.
Of the three men in the card, the one representing Akot was the victor—
the one who had snatched away the others’ swords, smiling triumphantly.
“Betrayal and deceit… Will Baron Akot betray the Duke of Bacard?”
Everett asked Arcana her second question.
