Chapter 127

Misunderstanding and Mixed Feelings (1)

After arriving at the Pravio Residence, she would catch her breath and get off the wagon. The royal carriage arrived, so it could have come out, but the people who usually came to meet were nowhere to be seen.

She slowly took off her hat and walked toward the mansion. At first glance, she could see someone standing in front of the door.

She took a step toward the door with the idea of ‘Well then’. As she approached, a familiar silhouette caught her eye.

“…… Arthur?”

At her words, he turned to face her. Black hair and black eyes turned to her. His brows narrowed with the well-equipped clothes.

Why is he here? He looked calm as if he knew she was coming.

She stepped back, doubting her eyes at the sight of Arthur approaching her.

‘What? How the hell did you know?’

How’s that girl doing? The first thing that came to mind was fake Mary. She’s the girl Nox created to be just like her.

She, who deceived Arthur as well as Carl, was not seen here.

“Mary.”

“What if I’m a fake pretending to be Mary in the newspaper?”

She didn’t narrow the distance from him. When he approached forward, she stepped back. Suddenly, his hand grabbed her hand and pulled it toward himself.

Arthur, who removed the scarf covering her neck, smiles low at her. His eyes, as if they were checking, stuck to her neck.

He put a scarf around her neck again and pulled her hand.

“I didn’t know you would do whatever you want.”

“Originally, I did whatever I wanted.”

“I know. Still…… I thought you would come back in a day.”

She clapped her hand at Arthur’s words and rolled her eyes. Why does he say this when he spends time by the side of a fake without trying to catch her? As she was about to enter the Pravio mansion, he said from behind.

“There’s no way you can’t recognize my traces.”

“… Maybe, did I know that?”

“I had no choice but to find out what Nox was using. Because I can’t keep playing with his pranks.”

“Ha! Then Carl……?”

Arthur nodded slightly instead of answering.

She felt an unexpected relief that he knew her, but she was annoyed that he abandoned her even though he knew. Why did he deceive her when he could have told her in advance?

“When you find out, Nox will find out faster, so I couldn’t help it.”

“So did you get what you wanted?”

“Well, he won’t be able to play that kind of joke anymore.”

“Did you meet Nox yesterday?”

He shook his head. Nox said he was going to meet him, so it wouldn’t be a lie. If anything had happened at night, he would have returned right away. Nox didn’t come.

She wanted to ask more, but she had to stop interrogating when the Marquis of the Pravio appeared. But why isn’t he angry about what she did?

“Arthur, did you see the newspaper?”

“Let’s talk about it later. First of all, the contract comes first.”

His words were not wrong, so she nodded and closed her mouth. The marquis opened his eyes gently as he saw her and Arthur coming together.

He must have looked at the newspaper. He couldn’t come up easily and came out maintaining the distance and looked at Arthur alternately.

“If it’s because of a newspaper article, here’s the Imperial certificate.”

Arthur handed the marquis a certificate stamped with imperial seals. The marquis accepted the certificate with a suspicious face and looked around.

It was an undoubtedly perfect letter stamped with gold wax. It was only when he saw the Imperial seal that a smile spread on the marquis’ face.

“I greet Princess Mary Anastasia. Thank you for coming with Grand Duke Arthur Douglas.”

“May I talk with you now?”

Arthur hinted at the marquis and brought up the contract. The Marquis took us to the drawing-room as if he had been waiting.

The Pravio family, located in the north, was in charge of waterways. She heard that the recent severe drought is causing trouble.

Arthur and she immediately came up with a good contract. Although he was a Marquis, it was clear that the power of the family would have more influence than expected as it was holding the waterway.

Water was important to everyone, and especially if it was a waterway, roads had to be built and maintained here and there.

The Pravio family, which has been in charge of this task, is currently in charge of the waterway and has something close to a monopoly.

It was cumbersome, but if it didn’t rain, they had to purify and supply water through the reservoir and the sea, so they would have to penetrate all the geography in the system.

“I heard it’s hard to supply water these days.”

“…How did you know that? I thought the Imperial family wasn’t interested.”

“How can the Imperial family not be interested in the water supply when the people and everyone are supplied with water through the waterway? I know the Pravio family’s credit well.”

The Marquis shed tears as if he were touched by her words. It was not that she was unaware of his past achievements.

In the ledger, it means that the Imperial family knew about the water and waterways supplied by the Pravio family.

Of course, although they have never been rewarded for their direct contribution. It was buried because it was entrusted to the prime minister separately.

Right now, she’s taking a test to fill it up with others. However, it seems that there has not been a suitable person yet.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to pay attention to other things. I’m sure you’ve heard the current news, but we’re looking for the right person after abandoning the prime minister and a few people, so we won’t have to worry about it from now on.”

The Pravio family seemed to believe only when the story, which they knew through rumors, came out of her mouth. He took out the carefully organized booklet.