# 38
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“The families who bought the rights to the business are ling their properties to pay off the remaining amounts.”
At Hirose's words, she let out a soft laugh.
I could clearly imagine the faces of those nobles from the Imperial Faction, their eyes red with greed.
“They may have been feverish and distraught from the flu, so some who bought under the influence may have regretted it once they got home.”
“That's why I asked for half the amount up front so they couldn't cancel the contracts.”
I nodded at Hirose's words.
They will be forced to pump more money just to recover their losses, but in reality, the rights to the works I sold were “the setting sun,” so their losses will deepen.
Of course, none of them had realized that yet.
“As expected of you, ma'am.”
Hirose spoke quite admiringly when a servant knocked on the door and announced a visitor outside.
“Ma’am, young Marquis Filius Rigalo has arrived to pay off the Rigalo family.”
Even though I splashed his face with water last time, his impudence is impressive.
Until now, I had always emptied a barrier of protective water on Velius whenever I saw his face, but today that was not necessary because he came with the money.
“Do you want to take over, Hirose? We just need to receive payment.”
"Understood."
But long after Velius entered, she heard her arguing fiercely.
“What's wrong?”
When I opened the door, the servant explained to me what was going on in the drawing room.
“The young Marquis insists on handing over the money to you alone, Madam, and Monsieur Hirose flatly refuses.”
I knew.
What is this cheap drama he's trying to do now?
I thought about stealing the money directly, but there were still many nobles who had not paid their balances, and I couldn't risk angering them either.
In addition, treating customers politely is a basic business ethic.
“Did you search him carefully when you entered?”
“Yes, he did not carry any weapons.”
“Tell him I'm coming in, let him out, Hirose.”
I put a small dagger in my pocket as I said this.
Filius is not good at using weapons anyway. I avoided approaching him because of his filth, not out of fear.
No matter what nonsense he says, as long as I get the money, I have no problem.
After a while, Hirose came out of the reception room to stop me.
"my lady."
“If he tries anything stupid, I will kill him immediately, don’t worry.”
"but . …!"
She shrugged Hirose's shoulder and opened the reception room door.
The ugly man who was sitting jumped up with joy.
“Oh! Catherine, my fiancée.”
Even as I immediately frowned at him, he folded his hands and repented pathetically, as if he longed for me endlessly.
“I brought the money thinking I would l my soul if I could see your face just one more time.”
“Your soul is worthless even for free.”
“Don’t say that, I know I was wrong before, please forgive me—”
He extended his arms towards me but hesitated and lowered them shyly, perhaps retreating at Hirose's previously cold gaze.
What a coward.
“Advance aside.”
He motioned for Hirose to close the door, saying he wouldn't move.
But Hirose wasn't going to listen to him anyway.
However, I was interested in knowing Regalo's payment, so I had to collect the money.
I turned to ask Hirose to wait outside when—
“Officials from the court have arrived.”
I heard loud noises behind me.
“They came to arrest a criminal.”
Soon several soldiers stopped near the door of my reception room.
"criminal?"
A court official who I did not know welcomed me and explained the situation.
“Evidence of an illegal drug trade banned by the Empire has emerged today.”
He pointed to Filius.
“Young Marquis Filius Rigalo, specifically.”
He never disappoints me with his brilliance.
*His abomination: It is derived from the word “abomination” which means filth, vileness, or ugly work.*
Filius was startled as if he had been struck by lightning and jumped.
“What are you saying? I would never do something like this.”
“Search him.”
By order of the official, the soldiers searched Velius's pockets and took out a suspicious-looking bag of white pills.
“Come for interrogation, what are you doing? Take the young Marquis.”
The soldiers rushed in and grabbed his shoulders.
“Thank you for your cooperation, ma’am.”
“By the way, what kind of drug is this?”
I asked the official as he was about to leave.
“The human mind is distorted for hideous uses.”
When I looked at Filius with disgust, he waved his hands hysterically in denial, but I didn't care.
I quickly signaled to the official to take this filth away.
“Katherine, this is a misunderstanding, do you think I’m doing that? I don’t even know who put it in my pocket—”
“Sure.”
“Wait, Catherine!”
You dirty bastard.
I was guessing why Filius insisted on being alone with me.
Not that I would ever fall victim to his miserable schemes.
“Ma’am, are you okay?”
“Of course, but I wonder, can court officials really arrest someone so quickly for illegal drugs?”
The official said they caught him while smuggling today.
They'd have to analyze the drug to confirm its effects, wouldn't they?
“There must be a victim.”
That was reasonable.
I shot Filius a look of even greater disdain as he walked away.
Really criminal.
Did he try to target another woman again?
* * *
Inside an old office, Etheus remained quiet as he leafed through documents.
Despite the cold weather, the cramped room was without proper heating, however, he was working without a coat today.
Stacks of papers from officials disapproving of him were stacked on his desk.
However, he checked them all without the slightest disturbance.
After finishing one stack, Etheus suddenly stood up.
The rolled up sleeves of his white shirt revealed his muscular forearms slightly.
'. …It's hot.'
He reached back to brush his bangs.
“Huh...”
He was well aware of the ongoing side effects.
He had hurriedly used the dark curtain to catch the illegal drug dealer.
Because of that, he couldn't keep the man as a witness or a criminal.
If news of his ability spread, it would be disturbing.
So he ordered his men to strip the merchant of his clothes and leave him in the middle of the frozen lands.
Then Etheus himf took the drug.
He described its effects as symptoms after taking suspected illegal substances, and filed an emergency complaint against Velius Rigalo, who was carrying the drug with him.
Thus, Velius was quickly arrested.
While he was enduring the effects of the drug and processing documents, there was a knock on the door and someone entered his office.
"Welcome ."
Etheus heard the familiar voice, and his blue eyes twitched.
A woman appeared, very radiant in this shabby room, wearing a calm, sky-blue dress.
Her round forehead, her distinctive eyes with purple irises, and her delicately swaying pink hair—all of it affected him more than usual today.
“...Why is the window open again? The room is very cold.”
Catherine wrapped her shawl around her dress and approached him, trembling.
I frowned and scolded him.
"And what are you wearing, Your Highness? Are you trying to catch a cold?"
What she said made sense.
Although the temperature was below zero inside the room, he was wearing only a thin shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
His coat, which provides no actual warmth, is hanging on the chair.
She even sent him a note asking him to buy warm clothes.
Where was this money spent?
Etheus stared at Katherine for a moment before his lips opened.
“...don't worry about it, and...”
He lowered his gaze and issued an order to expel him.
“The documents for Marquis Regalo’s arrest hearing are currently waiting in Parliament. After the decision is made, they will be sent to your residence, so leave now.”
Although Catherine probably did not know, Etheus felt extremely uncomfortable.
The heat inside him rose even more as she entered the room.
I felt as if a sweet fragrance was coming from her.
Her purple eyes had always been special, but today he wondered if they had always been this deep and bright.
“Okay, but...Are you sick?”
Without realizing her inner struggle, Catherine moved closer, studying his face anxiously.
His perfectly handsome features had not changed, but today they looked a little strange.
His cheek looked a little red as well.
'What is this? His heart rate on the watch was normal. …’
Driven by anxiety, she moved closer to examine him, when—
“...Stop.”
Etheus suddenly stepped back and turned his face away.
A rough, shaky exhale came out of him.