# 87
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In the past, when I was learning accounting, Loeb, who was in charge, said to me: “When you feel down, count your money!” And he was right.
This is because the feeling of depression he had been feeling for a while after returning from the outing had completely recovered.
Of course, when Allen came back from the palace and saw me eating the spoiled cake, he joked with me and said that going out to play with Diana was my punishment, but he also bought me a new cake to make me feel like it.
better.
“But I really didn’t like being dragged to the training ground by force.”
I finally calmed down, but the moment I arrived at the training hall, my memories of the teacher became more vivid.
So, I felt uncomfortable, and I ended up practicing my skills without even realizing it.
Fortunately, the Duke had led Taiz and other elite Rexion Knights for regular training, so the only people in the training hall were a few apprentice knights and servants who were organizing the warehouse.
Of course, after the sparring with Allen ended, I felt like it was a bit wrong. …
But actually, I didn't really care.
“Who on earth would believe this? If a small, skinny kid like me can use a sword.”
And even if it came to Tice's ears again, it was enough for me to say that I would not learn it, as I had said many times.
Anyway, a magic stone is a magic stone, but since the investment list had been delivered separately to the Duke, all that was left now was to make money.
“Doesn't that make me the richest person in the empire?”
Luxury houses near the Imperial Palace were not the problem, but if we did well, we could also buy castles in other areas where we bought land.
“Then we must invite Diana and everyone and serve them valuable and delicious food.”
And I thought I would be really happy if I could give you a good gift.
“Ha-ha-ha.”
“Noona?”
While I was smiling like an idiot, Diana, who was holding my hand, tilted her head.
"Why are you laughing? Diana wants to laugh too!"
“Well…actually, I laughed because I felt happy when I thought about spending happy time with you.”
“Diana too! I’m so glad I went with Nona today.”
Diana was jumping up and down.
Her hair, which was braided into two braids, was moving along the path.
“Miss, your hairstyle is messed up, be careful.”
"Oh! No!"
Diana quickly grabbed her head with both hands, urgently trying to stop her for fear of damaging her hair, which she had put so much effort into.
“Oh, she's so cute! How can our miss be so cute?”
“Diana is always nice!”
“That's right, you are the most beautiful girl in the world since you were born.”
“You are the most beautiful in the world!”
“Well, you two are playing well.”
While I was having a good time with Diana sitting on the little sofa in the hall, an intruder appeared.
Allen had a grim face.
“You too, Master, are you frowning because you can’t go to the Imperial Palace with Miss today?”
“I'm upset, I'm upset!”
As I asked jokingly, Diana was laughing beside me and teasing Allen.
In a short time, Allen's face turned bright red and his chest was wheezing.
“Do you think this is why I can’t go to the Imperial Palace?”
“Then why would you do that?”
“That's because! This, that...”
“Why are you arguing for no reason, Aline?”
At that time, the Duke and Duchess came down the stairs.
“I wasn't arguing!”
“This guy, he's not smart at all.”
As if his youngest son was being kind despite what he said, the Duke stroked the head of Allen, who was frowning.
I approached the Duchess.
“Ma’am, are you okay?”
Her skin looked lighter than usual.
She looked gorgeous as usual, elegantly dressed and covered in makeup, but I could tell that as I watched her cloy every day.
“It's okay, I just had a little trouble sleeping.”
"Are you a little tired? I haven't slept a wink all night."
At this time, the Duke frowned and said.
“If you don't feel well, you don't have to go.”
“Is this possible on a day like this...”
He frowned at the Duchess's words.
After all, today was the Empress's birthday.
And just yesterday was the anniversary of the death of the Empress's parents, the late Duke and Duchess Beronde.
When the Empress was still a girl and princess of the Duchy of Beronde, the Duke and Duchess of Beronde died in one hour in a carriage accident while returning from their estates to the capital to celebrate their daughter's birthday.
Since then, Princess Berund's birthday has become a day of mourning rather than celebration.
However, even as an Imperial Empress, she couldn't pass by quietly, so instead of celebrating her birthday by holding a grand banquet, the Empress gathered the noble ladies and enjoyed a light tea party like today.
This was an event that no lady or miss in the capital could ever miss.
“It was a day always attended by the Duchess of Peronde, who was not very active in social circles.”
“But didn’t you say your chest hurts? There’s no need to push yourf even though it hurts.”
I was surprised by what the Duke said at the time.
“Ma’am, does your heart hurt so much that you can’t even sleep?”
“Well, I don't know, it's a bit frustrating.”
When I watched the Duchess talk as if it was no big deal, I felt uncomfortable for some reason.
The Duke also opened his mouth again, as if he was worried.
“Why don’t you stop being stubborn and take a rest? The last time I saw her, Her Highness seemed very friendly towards you.”
“Don’t you remember what the weather was like last time?”
When the Duchess asked again, the Duke tilted his head.
"Wasn't it very good? Ah, yes. At first, I was a little embarrassed when I found out that Lucio didn't come as expected, Princess. ... Ah!"
At that time, the Duchess tapped the Duke on the side.
“There is nothing to say,” the Duchess said in a low voice to the bewildered Duke.
to whisper.
I asked him carefully.
“Did he not attend the last imperial palace banquet?”
After asking this question, I wondered if it was an off-topic question, but fortunately it didn't seem unnatural in the flow of the conversation.
“Yes, Lucio didn’t come, he must have been very tired from the academy classes. It doesn’t make sense to go to the Imperial Palace when he can’t come home often.”
I tilted my head at the Duchess's answer.
The academy was almost adjacent to the Imperial Palace, so it was much closer than Duke Elad's residence, which was said to be closer to the Imperial Palace.
‘Besides, is it okay to decline an invitation to the Imperial Family like this?’
“But it would be nice to come home once every two weeks, or at least once a month, right?”
The Duchess seemed very upset that Lucio did not come for several months after the holiday.
With a small smile: “Sure.”
When she nodded, she suddenly smiled brightly.
“I see! Leah, I hope Lucio comes home often!”
I was surprised that the Duchess seemed so happy suddenly, but I nodded gruffly.
Then I immediately fell upon another thought.
After I returned from my walk that day, I was so preoccupied with seeing my master that I did not take a closer look at my visit to the Imperial Palace.
'I was busy watching the servants.'
However, I felt strange about this new fact.
I repeated the same words over and over in my head.
“The day I left, Lucio did not go to the Imperial Palace...”
* * *
Daryl's headquarters, the guild leader's room.
Lucio, who was sitting in front of the table and flipping through documents, suddenly felt startled.
“Now...”
I felt a shiver run down my spine.
That was when Lucio raised his eyebrows slightly due to a feeling of discomfort that he did not know the reason behind.
Jump —!
Suddenly the door opened and a man wearing a robe entered inside.
“Tell me, tell me, tell me, I'm so curious that I can't sleep!”
“...What are you doing?”
“What are you talking about? Please tell me without saying anything else, who on the face of this earth is he?”
The man shouted as if he were screaming, but Lucio snorted.
It was ridiculous that I should feel such a sense of crisis just by meeting this person.
But the man was also very persistent.
It's been a month already, and he comes here every day without missing a day.
“I cannot tell you this information, I believe I have made it clear, Your Highness.”
Nicholas, who had taken off his robe upon hearing Lucio's words, sat down in the chair next to him and snorted.
“No, what would you do if the Information Guild didn’t l the information? Honestly, don’t I need to know that? It would be good to build friendships in advance!”
“Didn’t you say that it was stipulated in the terms of the contract that you not reveal your identity?”
“Wow... It's not like I'm going anywhere and talking about this...! Anyway, wasn't I the one who had a major influence on the founding of this guild? They made me emperor!”
“That's true, but shouldn't we distinguish between public and private life?”
“Wow, you have become a businessman! No one knows that the Noble Duke of Elad is an all-around businessman!”
Lucio asked, letting Nicola's sarcastic remarks slip by one ear.
“But didn’t you go to the imperial palace?”
“I had to go, I just came to show my face, honestly, would Her Highness the Empress want to see someone like me on her birthday? Anyway, I am a member of the imperial family, so I am. You just have to follow protocol.”
Nicholas frowned as he finished speaking.
“You are a cunning snake! You must have changed the subject so quickly?”
“I'm just asking a question.”
“Since when did you care about me entering the palace... Ah! Come to think of it, Duchess Elad and Her Highness the Younger Princess entered the palace today.”
Nicholas rubbed his chin and smiled strangely, as if he had realized something.