# 23
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After sinking into her thoughts for a while, the Marquise of Lenco suddenly got up and went to her husband.
“I have a good plan.”
The Marquis was still in a tense mood because of what had happened in the office, so he pointed to her with his hand with an angry face.
“Speak quickly.”
“Bringing down the Duke of Richmond into Richmond Palace is not an easy matter.”
"permission?"
“I have thought about it for a long time, and there is only one pretext capable of bringing down the Duke within his palace.”
“What is it?”
“High treason.”
At that moment, the sparkle in the Marquis's eyes changed to distress and annoyance.
“Treason?”
“We link him to the ‘Invisibles’ whom Her Majesty the Empress declared traitors.”
“The former Duke and his wife were killed by the Invisibles, and now you want to pin the blame on his son? Are you crazy?
“You are hasty as usual. Who said we would pin it on the Duke himf?
"permission? Don't tell me that you...”
The Marquise's eyes widened as if she had suddenly realized something, so the Marquise lowered her voice and said:
«Yes. The woman the duke brought.”
The Marquis sat upright and nodded his head, indicating for her to continue.
“If it is proven that this woman is one of the Invisibles, then you can call the Duke's judgment into question. How can someone who surrendered the duke's wife's room to an enemy who killed his parents rule Richmond?
“But we do not know her exact identity.”
“When we visited the Duke a short while ago, I deliberately provoked him, and he did not mention her surname. Why do you think?
“Because they are among those whose names are difficult to mention?”
“And in the Deccan Empire, where do those whose surnames are difficult to mention congregate? Aren't the villages of the fugitives near the wall of death?
The Marquis slowly stroked his chin.
“Hmm… I was wondering where the Duke met her, but if he was there… it actually makes sense. But what if she clearly proves her identity?
“We have to prevent this, by putting in place a safety net in advance.”
“How?”
The Marquise leaned towards him and whispered:
“First, send a falcon to Her Majesty the Empress. We have to hint that the Invisibles will appear in Richmond for a short time and then disappear. Then, prepare in advance the people I will mention.”
“Okay, understood. But how are we going to pin the charge on that woman? “It has to be done tightly.”
The Marquise smiled cruelly.
“The interior of Richmond House is under my palm.”
Her eyes sparkled ferociously.
“Two maids are enough. “I have already chosen two that are quite suitable.”
＊ ＊ ＊
Meanwhile, Grace was reading the documents Eric had brought.
“Are you satisfied?”
Grace looked up at him in astonishment as she rechecked the profit percentages.
“Eric, you don't have to ask if I'm satisfied. With these profits, you should ask for a bonus.”
“And if I ask, will you give me anything?”
"naturally. “This is the product of your work.”
“But in implementation of your orders.”
Grace smiled weakly and returned her gaze to the papers.
Blind money belongs to whoever extends his hand first.
The Empress, along with countless nobles from the capital, were handling the finances of the House of Taylor with blind perfection. This was natural, as the current Duke of Taylor himf treated the family fortune this way. He held onto Taylor's seal as if it were his life, but he treated the family money as if he had to spend it as quickly as possible, as if he was threatened with expulsion at any moment.
«Grace! Sign all these papers and send them in.”
“Let me review it first...”
“I am the one who decided all of this!” How dare you review?! How much do you despise me?!
«……»
“Stop chattering and sign immediately!” concept?!"
The trust, reputation, and wealth that the Dukes of Taylor had accumulated over generations were shaken as if by an earthquake.
She was not allowed to die suffocating under the rubble of a sudden disaster. It was then that Grace decided to use Taylor's blind money against them.
One of those methods was to withdraw the money herf. The current Duke does not even know what the documents look like, nor does he care. Grace entrusted part of that money to Eric, and he expanded the commercial caravan with it.
She returned the documents to him and said:
“Well done. Half of the net profit this time is yours, dispose of it as you wish.”
Eric's eyes lit up at the sound of it.
At a time when House Taylor's servants met mysterious ends, his father, the former Viscount Napier, was also murdered. While he was lost after his sudden loss, this little girl appeared before him and commanded him as if she were a lady:
“Stop crying and get up. First take revenge on the one who killed your father and mine, then cry as much as you want.”
She ordered him to establish a commercial caravan and raise money.
They didn't meet often. Even this time, their first meeting was nearly a year ago.
The little lady was getting bigger every time he saw her. Her chin became finer, and her gaze deeper. As the sparkle in her eyes deepened, so did his heart.
Grace gave him rewards whenever he made money, but the real reward for him wasn't money.
“Eric?”
When he didn't answer, Grace tilted her head, her eyes widening in surprise.
Eric smiled as sweetly as he could. His long eyes bent down, and part of his white teeth showed between his curled lips that smile which ladies of nobility longed to see at any cost.
Usually, that smile was enough to make faces blush or take away minds. But only his mistress, who truly possessed him, kept her face calm to the point of cruelty.
"insufficient?"
Eric asked her, feeling a coldness creeping into his chest.
“Why do you always insist on giving me a fixed percentage of money?”
“Because it is money collected with my capital and your effort. "It's only natural that we split it."
“I am your man, ma'am.”
That is, my effort is for you too.
Absolute confidence. Sometimes, he imagined if everyone around Grace disappeared, and only him remained. Even if it was that way, he wanted to be her whole world.
“I trust you. All I want is your effort to be appreciated.”
His wild thoughts vanished like dust. A mirage-like warmth spread over his chest, which had cooled, and suddenly Jesse's voice was heard:
“Looks like you should go now!”
Grace nodded lightly, so Eric rearranged his papers and then told her what he did not have time to say:
“The Marquise’s lady-in-waiting requested information about your identity.”
At that moment, Grace felt a bolt of lightning run down her spine.
“They suspected that you were a commoner and could not give your surname. “I told them it would take three months to find out the details, and I hinted at the possibility that you were from the fugitive villages near the Wall of Death.”
A smile appeared on Grace's lips.
"I did well. good job."
“I will inform you as soon as I receive any further news.”
Eric's red eyes bent like a tilted moon. He turned to leave, then paused for a moment and asked the question that had been on his mind:
“Your relationship with the Duke of Richmond… ends when you get Tyler back, right?”
"naturally."
The answer came to him lightly and immediately. He did not hesitate after that, and left the room. Contrary to what Walter thought, Eric had not misidentified him. He saw the scene when Grace entered the palace into his arms.
“Go in peace. "We'll meet soon."
"Yes. Take good care of her.”
“Your concern is misplaced.”
After a curt greeting to Jesse, Eric declined Joseph's offer to accompany him, and then disappeared with such agility and speed that even Joseph admired.
Joseph shrugged complainingly.
“What kind of training did you receive?”
Jessie answered indifferently as she watched the hallway:
“Hunter Training.”
“Hunters?”
Jessie smiled slyly.
“We remain silent... then suddenly we bite.”
«……»
While Joseph was frowning, two maids appeared in the hallway, the same two maids who had accompanied Grace to the Chandelier Room.
They were pushing a cart with plates covered in metal domes. The smell of food smells like it's dinner.
Jesse's eyes sparkled, like a hunter spotting his prey.