Chapter 72

Chapter 72

A few days later.

Mrs. Tornian, who was looking through the mail in front of her without much thought, hardened her eyebrows unknowingly.

Not to mention, the name of the sender written on the luxurious envelope was…

〈 “Anriche von Valois.” 〉

…Because she was the Duchess of Valois.

‘Why is the Duchess of Valois writing to me?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she had no reason to receive a letter from the Duchess of Valois. The two weren’t very close, and above all, Tornian was engaged to Baron Londini. It has been almost publicly known that Valois had recently regarded Londini as a thorn in their eyes.

Mrs. Tornian swallowed a gulp and opened the envelope.

At the same time, her eyes widened.

‘Huh…?’

Despite the fact that she was very nervous, the content of the letter was quite polite.

〈 “Dear Mrs. Tornian.

Hello. I think this is the first time I’m sending a letter like this.

It’s nothing because I’m thinking of buying a new building. However, I think it would be a bit lonely to go alone.

So, by the way, can’t Mrs. Tornian accompany me?

I’m doing this so that I’ll get the opportunity to talk to you, too. It was a pity that I did not have a chance to share a friendship with Mrs. Tornian until now, but I want to get closer in many ways this time.

Then, I will wait for your reply.” 〉

“…You want to make friends with me?”

Mrs. Tornian glanced down at the signature of the Duchess of Valois, written in the elegant handwriting.

The letter itself was impeccable, though it still felt subtle.

Because….

‘In the first place, the Duchess of Valois has no reason to make friends with her, is there?’

Although her self-esteem was hurt, it was true.

Unlike the Duchy of Valois family, which was comparable to the imperial family, the Tornians were just ordinary people.

‘Then, if I reject the Duchess’ offer… No, that’s not going to happen.’

Isn’t the opponent ‘that’ Duchess of Valois? She didn’t know what kind of evil she would do if she hastily rejected her offer.

Mrs. Tornian pulled the letter paper with a stiff face.

Unable to overcome the tension, Mrs. Tornian’s hand, which was writing down the reply, was trembling softly.

***

A luxurious carriage bearing the coat of arms of the Duchy of Valois stopped in front of Tornian’s townhouse.

Mrs. Tornian walked out with a tense look on her face.

‘The Duchess of Valois came to pick me up right up to the townhouse…’

Of course, it was a law that close friends ride a carriage together, but no matter how much she thought about it, the kind of relationship between the two of them wasn’t like that?

Click.

The carriage door opened.

Anriche, who was sitting leisurely in the carriage, looked at the side.

“Greeting Duchess of Valois.”

Mrs. Tornian, struggling to hide her confused mood, bowed her head as politely as possible.

Anriche accepted the greeting kindly.

“Hello. Mrs. Tornian. Thank you for coming out like this.”

“No, please don’t mention it.”

She quickly shook her head, and Mrs. Tornian got into the carriage. Then, she glanced at Anriche’s eyes.

“Have you ever seen the building?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, if it’s the building the Duchess chose, it must be a very nice building, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Tornian desperately tried to please her, though Anriche only showed an inexplicable smile on her face.

‘What is she trying to do?’

Mrs. Tornian felt a cold sweat run down her back.

After that, some time passed, and the carriage passed a familiar road and stopped in front of a familiar two-story building.

‘What…?’

Mrs. Tornian widened her eyes without realizing it.

It was…

“Is this the Londini Orphanage?”

She couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

Anriche gazed out of the window just in time, and confirmed with a feminine voice that this was the destination.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get off.”

“Yes, yes?”

However, before Mrs. Tornian was able to express her doubts, Anriche hurriedly went out. And so, she hurriedly followed.

“You’re going to buy a building…”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Anriche nodded her head casually.

“I want to buy this building.”

Then, with her chin, she points to the Londini Orphanage.

Mrs. Tornian’s mouth was wide open.

“There, there’s no way the Londini family can sell the orphanage building…”

“No, they’re going to sell it.”

In response to that firm answer, Mrs. Tornian stared at Anriche with a bewildered face.

And, then…

From afar, security guards began to rush in.

‘…Security force? Why did the security forces come here?”

Feeling a chill in her spine somehow, Mrs. Tornian froze on the spot without realizing it. It must be so, because the momentum of the security force was quite ferocious.

As if they came out to catch a huge felony…

‘Besides, that person… ‘

Among the security force was also a man in the uniform of an imperial tax officer.

What in the world is this situation…?

At that time, Mrs. Tornian was struggling to somehow understand the current situation. The chief security officer at the forefront opened his mouth with a stern voice.

“From now on, under the orders of His Majesty the Great Emperor, we will conduct a search and seizure of the Londini Orphanage.”

…What?!

Mrs. Tornian stopped contemplating.

Nevertheless, at that point, the situation was growing out of control.

“Yes!!”

The soldiers responded with a loud voice and rushed into the orphanage as it was.

The security chief and the tax officer greeted Anriche.

“Greetings Duchess of Valois.”

“Everyone is working hard.”

Meanwhile, Anriche was always relaxed, even in this chaotic situation as though all these things were being done in the palm of her hand.

At the same time…

Baron Londini and his wife were seized by security forces and dragged out.

“Do, do you know who I am!?”

“How dare the security forces put their hands on the nobles’ body!”

“Dirty commoners, get your hands off before all your head is blown away…!!”

The two couples frowned as if they were pigs picked by the throat. At the same time, a soft voice posed a question to the two of them.

“Who’s going to blow someone’s head off?”

“Of course, these commoners!”

“If they treat a noble like this, they should be punished severely…!”

The couple, who reflexively raised their voices, swallowed the tip of their words as soon as they found the owner of the voice.

“…Duch, Duchess of Valois?”

“The security forces are merely following the Emperor’s command.”

Saying that, Anriche showed a wide smile.

Baron Londini stuttered and opened his mouth.

“Duch, Duchess, what’s going on here…”

“Yes, just to make sure you two are getting the proper punishment.”

“…What?”

Baron Londini and his wife stared at Anriche blankly.

“I, if it’s a legal punishment…”

“Have you forgotten already? It seems that you two are suffering from a selective memory disorder.”

At that blatant remark, the security forces had to work hard to contain the burst of laughter.

The couple’s faces turned bright red.

‘EEck… !’

However, whether the couple felt shame or not, Anriche continued to speak in a calm voice, “Have I told you two the other day when I brought Liliana from the orphanage?”

“…What is that?”

“If you become more greedy in the future, or if you’re bothering Liliana again…”

Anriche’s smile grew a little darker.

It was a smile as cold as ice.

“I will respond accordingly.”

“Well, what do you mean, respond accordingly? Even if you try to blame us, there’s no sin that can be blamed…!”

“You embezzled Liliana’s money that you had taken for her living expenses.”

At the sound of a voice that had no warmth left, the Baron Londini couple stopped and stiffened.

“Did you think that the punishment for that matter could end with just paying a fine?”

“But, that problem has already been punished?! It’s all over…!”

“Who said it was over?”

At those words, Anriche gazed at the two with a cold gaze.

“Rather, you two were Liliana’s only relatives, so don’t you think you’ve benefited from her?”

“Benefit?”

“The Londini family has this tax issue covered by paying a fine.”

A calm voice pierced their heart like a knife.

“Though in principle, embezzlement and tax issues require not only fines but also imprisonment of up to five years.”

At those words, Baron Londini and Mrs. Tornian were a little stunned.

Of course, they knew that in principle, that was usually the case.

Nonetheless, when the nobles committed a crime, it was usually, under normal circumstances, it was to the extent of a fine. In fact, it was an unusual case in itself that an enormous sum of 3,000 grossen came out…

“His Majesty the Emperor was also very pleased.”

…Wait, His Majesty the Emperor?

At the formidable name that popped up out of the blue, Baron Londini and his wife were hardened on the spot.

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