CH 38

It was somewhat dark, but not to the point where he couldn’t identify the man’s face reflected in the back. But that person was a complete stranger.

“Who is there?”

“Ah, are you Viscount Waieos?”

Simon, full of vigilance, took a step forward and replied. “Yes, I’m Viscount Waieos. But what are you doing in front of someone else’s mansion at this late hour?”

In response to Simon’s question, the man slightly averted his gaze and said, “Is that Lady Waieos next to you?”

“Hey!”

Despite the darkness, the gaze that scanned Elusiana’s body was insidious, like a snake’s tongue.

Simon reflexively stood in front of Elusiana and said, “I asked who you are for visiting someone else’s mansion this late.”

Simon’s voice rose a little. But the man just smiled slightly and bowed politely. “I’m sorry for greeting you late. My name is Painen, and the owner of ‘Dream-seeking Paradise’.”

“Dream-seeking Paradise?” The question came out of Elusiana’s mouth, who was standing behind Simon.

Elusiana narrowed her brow and moved to Simon’s side. If it’s Dream-seeking Paradise, it’s a moneylender, right? Why did he come to visit my father in such a place? She felt embarrassed, and at the same, her heart began to beat wildly due to unknown ominousness.

“That’s right. A noble lady may not know much about the business of humble—”

“Isn’t it the largest moneylender on the island?”

Elusiana glared at Painen with suspicious eyes. Faced such Elusiana, Painen couldn’t hide his satisfaction. Even though she was wearing an old dress, peals in the soil won’t lose their shine. It’s beyond my expectation.

Painen answered, hiding his greed which rose from the bottom. “You know very well. To be exact, it is a moneylender officially registered with the treasurer, Lady Waieos.”

Painen smirked and poked out his head. As a result, Elusiana, who was one step away, hesitated and stepped back.

“It’s an honor that Lady Waieos knows about my business.”

“What kind of rude behavior is this?” Simon frowned and stepped forward.

Painen waved his hand and stepped back lightly. “I apologize. The Lady’s beauty is so beautiful that I seem to have been captivated for a moment without even realizing it.”

Painen, who stretched out his mouth insidiously, smiled and held out the paper he was holding. “Then, I will tell you my business.”

“What is this?”

“You’ll know when you see it for yourself.”

Simon, who was about to lose his temper, widened his eyes when he checked the paper Painen handed him.

Elusiana, who had stepped aside, stared at Simon with anxious eyes. What is it? Even though Simon seemed infinitely gentle and kind on the outside, he wasn’t like that when it came to matters concerning his daughter. However, he was silent even when the moneylender showed an explicit gaze. Is he shocked? What the hell is that paper?

“Then please visit us in the near future.” Painen stepped back with a relaxed smile. His light steps were so cheerful.

Elusiana looked back at Simon as if trying to dispel the ominousness. Just then, Simon, who had managed to avoid his daughter’s gaze, spoke in a crawling voice. “…I’m sorry.”

Elusiana could be sure of that brief and concise word. She didn’t know what that piece of paper was in Simon’s hand, but… that their future would never be smooth.

* * *

After roughly brushing off their wet bodies from the rain, the two entered the mansion and then sat face to face.

“Drink it. It’s hot tea.”

“…Thank you.”

Simon wrapped his trembling hands around the teacup. However, maybe because of his sins, he couldn’t bear to lift it up and just stayed still.

Elusiana sighed like she was sick of him looking so pitiful. If Simon had been a stranger, he would have cursed him gleefully and would never have seen him again in her entire life. But this man was Elusiana’s only family.  If others saw him, they might be frustrated and call him foolish, but to her, who lived in the world without a family, Simon was—

He’s the person who let me know what family warmth is. She clearly remembered the look in his eyes, which watched her anxiously all night, and the sadness, hoping if only he was the one who got sick… Still, this is really not right, Father.

Elusiana closed her eyes tightly as she looked at the copy of the guarantee contract that Painen gave him. Of course, it’s a debt guarantee! It was a contract that wasn’t different from a slave contract in which the mansion was mortgaged, and the people in it were.

Elusiana asked Simon, quietly putting down her trembling hand in anger. “Father, what happened to this contract?”

“T-That’s what it is. Actually, I don’t know either.” Simon, who finished answering, shook his head and made a puzzled expression.

“What?” Elusiana, who unknowingly asked back, opened her eyes wide. But he even stamped the contract himself, so how could he not know the contents? Does that make sense?

It was true that Simon had been a pushover, but he wasn’t a heartless person enough to deny and turn a blind eye to his mistakes.

“You really don’t know?”

Elusiana paused for a moment as she turned the back page of the contract.

“This is a contract signed today.”

Elusiana couldn’t help but laugh at this ridiculous situation. She went to work in the morning and took half a day to leave work. But what happened in the meantime to get a huge debt of 1,000 gold?

But Simon’s words that followed made her grab the back of her neck. “A contract signed today? Milan did go see me at work though. He said Becky was seriously injured and asked me to borrow some money.”

No, why is that son of a bitch’s name mentioned here? Elusiana squeezed hard on her frustrated heart. The amount Viscount Milan had borrowed alone exceeds thousands of gold. He had been quiet for the past few years, but he was back again today?

At the ominous feeling, Elusiana asked hastily. “Is that why you lent money?”

Simon shook his head. “No, Lusi. I flatly refused. I already promised to decide on that part after consulting with you in advance. But this contract…”

Simon shut his mouth quietly as he spoke. He hesitated for a long time as to whether it was difficult to say or not find a suitable word, then spat out the words quietly.

“It looks like he stole my seal.”

“…What?”

Elusiana put on a bewildered expression for a moment. However, in the meantime, her taut was predicting the possibility. By the way, how did Viscount Milan steal Father’s seal? Unless he steals it…  Oh my!

“Don’t tell me…!”

Simon said, rubbing his brow furrowed in pain. “Huu— It seems to be right. There was a time when I was away for a while when Milan came. Maybe then— I guess he used the seal on my desk.”

Shortly after, Elusiana’s felt her emotions were not anger burning like an active volcano. She was just distraught, as if her heart had been half burnt.

Seals issued to public officials of state-affiliated institutions cannot be duplicated. Even the forensic team cannot prove it. Unless there’s CCTV. Of course, there was a recording tool similar to CCTV in this world. However, there was no way they would have installed that expensive tool at the lowest administrative office.

“…I have… no face.”

Simon’s guilt-ridden shoulder sank to the ground.

* * *

The next day.

Wearing a relatively elegant dress, Elusiana headed straight to the ‘Dream-seeking Paradise’. Even so, it was too shabby for a noble, but the dress she was wearing now was the best among the things she had.

She left Simon, who said he would go with her, because the shock he received was much greater than expected. Last night, Simon, who abruptly visited Viscount Milan’s mansion, returned with a face as if he had lost the whole world.

“It’s like… something is wrong, Lusi. Someone else lives in my friend’s house? What’s more… They have already lived there for over two years. Hoho.”

Elusiana hurried her steps, erasing the scene of Simon’s back, who had completely lost his motivation to live. Whatever it was, it was necessary to find out exactly the situation.

There were two copies of the contract received from Painen.  One of them was, as Simon remembered, that he had already paid off his debt. He sold the estate he left behind for her marriage at a bargain price and paid them back.

“But what is this interest?”

It’s like 30 gold. She felt like she had to ask this part. Why is interest still attached to the debt that had been paid off? Still, this 30 gold debt was mere dust in front of the debt from the second contract.

A debt of 1,000 gold was caused by the thief who stole the seal. It would be less unfair if she really borrowed the money, but the thought of paying back this huge amount of money with her life made her eyes darken.

“How can I pay this back?” Can she pay it back before she dies? Elusiana managed to hold her dress as she was about to explode.

She searched the law about it all night, but there was no way to appeal the law. This was more difficult because Simon worked in the administration office, and it was clear that the seal used in the contract belonged to Simon. Unless Viscount Milan confessed or there was a recording of the crime scene, this contract belonged to Simon, which couldn’t be denied.