Chapter 76

‘The problem is how to find out.’

I returned to my room with that thought.

Information about the mysterious watch is hard to come by because most of the time the watch is activated when one’s life is at stake.

In the end, I just glared at the gold powder shimmering in my palm and thought of how to use it.

‘I can’t figure out anything using this power.’

Right now, it will be difficult to figure it out. Just by making the golden powder appear, it feels like I’m running a short distance.

It’s better than before, but the efficiency is really poor.

‘Something doesn’t feel real….’

It was so sudden and ridiculous that my head couldn’t keep up.

That’s why I started my daily life with much agitation in the morning.

I couldn’t use it for months no matter how hard I struggled, but today I can suddenly use it after waking up.

‘What the hell is this!’

After breakfast, my brain started to work in earnest.

A beat later, confusion set in.

‘Wow! Wouldn’t this normally be the perfect time for God to suddenly appear before my eyes?! Come on out and explain!’

Of course, such a thing did not happen, instead, a maid knocked on the door.

“Madam, Lord Michael Berris has arrived.”

Hearing those words brought me back to reality.

“I’ll be going soon!”

Originally, no matter what problems an individual has, the world goes on, and I started doing what I have to do today.

***

My original plan was to introduce Rupert and Michael to each other and create an atmosphere of peace and comfort.

But this naive plan became impossible as soon as each opened their mouth.

“My name is Michael Berris. Oh, it is an honor to meet the Marquis in person, who is rumored to make soldiers on the battlefield run away.”

He smiled beautifully and added, “You really are as rumored.”

He said ‘you look dirty’ in a polite way.

“I am truly honored. I meet Lord Berris, who is rumored to have a noble character befitting his position as a saint.”

Rupert continued nonchalantly, “Well, I guess I can’t believe rumors, after all.”

That is another way of saying ‘Contrary to rumors, you have a bad temper, don’t you?’

“…….”

I looked at the two in despair.

I don’t know why, but as soon as they met, they started a fiery war of nerves.

‘I heard you rarely met in private?’

But looking at them now, it was obvious there was a deep personal problem.

‘The future is already gloomy.’

“All right, Lord Michael.”

Anyway, I decided to separate the two as soon as possible.

“If you’re done greeting, I’ll guide you to the site! Because every second is precious.”

‘Let’s hear the details later.’

He laughed. “Noel, it’s disappointing that you use such a stiff tone between us.”

Is it time to say something like that in a situation like this?

“…….”

Rupert’s eyes grew cold.

“I hope you don’t pretend to be close to someone else’s wife.”

“Oh, I seem to have made you uncomfortable. I apologize.”

Without stopping there, Michael took a step further and added, “I’ve been close to her since childhood, so I’m not used to using honorifics with her…”

“Hahaha, stop chatting! Let’s move to the site as soon as possible!”

If I just leave them alone here, trouble will surely arise.

I quickly cut off his words and pushed Michael on the back.

Luckily, he moved without resistance, as if he had no intention of embarrassing me any further.

Rupert turned around with no words.

After looking at my husband’s back for a while, I asked Michael, “You said you rarely met Rupert privately?”

“That’s right.”

“Lie. You didn’t look like that at all.”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Noel. I had the same expression as usual,” he said, smiling.

I snorted. “It was sarcasm no matter how I looked at it. You usually get along with most people right away but why did you do that to my husband? Did something happen?”

“Not at all.”

“That’s weird.”

In fact, I hardly ever saw Michael upset.

I can’t believe he suddenly threw a breaking ball at my husband.

There must be something between them.

I said in a serious tone, “Michael, in normal human relationships, there are four types of cases in which people hate each other and pretend not to know each other at the same time.”

He asked curiously, “What?”

“First, a money-related relationship, second, a love triangle, third, a relationship with a former boss, and fourth, a relationship with an ex-lover who broke up abruptly.”

“…….”

“Which of the four is it, tell me quickly. Whatever it is, I’ll coordinate everything well in the middle.”

“Hahahaha.”

“Don’t laugh! Do I look like I’m joking?”

I never thought that the day would come when his carefree reaction would piss me off.

“If the two of you fight like this, it’s sure to be a disaster! Ainel Territory will explode before the medicine is successfully made!”

He was still clutching his stomach and chuckling.

I looked at him with displeasure and asked again, “So it’s one of the four, isn’t it?”

“…haha, well?”

Seeing my expression, Michael spoke in a soothing tone. “Don’t be angry, I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

I replied bluntly, “Okay, I’ll ask my husband later.”

Rupert would be easier to ask than Michael, who kept laughing and babbling away.

I realized something new about my strangely annoying childhood friend.

‘I didn’t know because we met briefly last time.’

“Michael, while I couldn’t see you, you developed a spite temper.”

Maybe it’s because he’s getting older.

“Do I look like that? How was I before?”

“In the past… well, it’s no use saying it now. You were like a real angel.”

Kind, tender, and gentle.

‘Well, that’s why I was worried.’

I wondered how he would make it through this harsh world. However looking at him now, it seems that he has adapted well to the environment.

“Am I not good right now? You don’t like me now?”

“No way, how can people stay the same when they get older? It is natural to change.”

I shrugged lightly. “Besides, what does it matter if I like you or not? As long as you’re comfortable, that’s enough.”

“It is important to me.”

It’s kind of a tickling answer.

“All right, say that to the person you’re dating later.”

He shook his head. “That’s a very you-like reaction, Noel.”

It sounds like an idiotic answer for some reason.

“What’s wrong with my reaction? All I want to say is that Michael was so cute and innocent when he was young.”

“You act like you’re talking to your little brother. You remember I’m two years older, right?”

“Of course. However, I saw you as a child in my dream today. It’s new, but you looked really cute.”

I said it without thinking, but his expression hardened slightly.

“In your dream? When I was young?”

“Yeah, but you were very picky. It’s probably because it’s a dream.”

“…….”

He was silent for some reason, and I asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Michael, who had been expressionless for a moment, immediately smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Nothing. It must have been an interesting dream.”

“…….”

For some reason, his reaction was very strange, so I decided to remember this conversation.

***

There are many other things to be concerned about besides penicillin manufacture.

Because of that, I had a brief talk with Michael, and the rest was done with the pharmacists.

Of course, these pharmacists had been scouted by Harvil in Opion the other day.

Fortunately, they quickly came over here, as if they were completely fed up with Count Opion’s atrocities.

‘The urgent takeover has ended.’

The next thing that must be done is to resume social activities that have been stopped for a while.

Interestingly, the number of invitations has increased much more than before.

‘Though I don’t have any special connections because I skipped the founding ceremony ball last time.’

I couldn’t go, but I knew it would be a blow to miss the biggest ball.

After reading a few sheets of rhetoric, I understood the situation.

Apparently, the rumor that Count Opion had kidnapped me was packaged very well and spread.

The Marchioness succeeded in developing a new medicine to replace Miracle Herbs to help the poor. However, she almost died at the hands of her greedy father, but came back alive.

‘Although everything is correct.’

Since it is a rare incident, there are many people who want to talk with me who experienced it firsthand.

‘Everyone really likes gossip.’

I’m glad it isn’t a bad rumor.

Rather, my reputation seems to have improved because of this incident.

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to attend the salon where a lot of relatively young ladies gather.