CH 39

* * *

The next day, Elusiana, who arrived in ‘Dream-seeking Paradise,’ was escorted straight into Painen’s office. She stared at the teacup set down by staff and looked at Painen with a tense expression.

“It’s an honor to take such a precious step, Lady Waieos.”

Painen’s eyes scoured Elusiana’s face shrewdly as if it was a compliment. Although her appearance was decent, a subtle smile spread over to her appearance.

“Looking at you again, you’re dazzlingly beautiful. I must have failed to capture the beauty of the Lady last night.”

There were wrinkles on Elusiana’s eyebrows, but then they disappeared.

“…I’m sure you’re busy, but let me ask you a few questions, Sir Painen.”

Elusiana looked into Painen’s eyes, giving strength to her trembling mouth.

“You seem to have a lot of questions. Alright, Lady. I also don’t want to be hated for misunderstanding, so I will comply with your wishes. So— what is Lady Waieos curious about?”

“I want to know about the payment borrowed three years ago, which Viscount Waieos’s estate became the collateral.”

“Ah, you must be wondering why it was still charged when it was already fully repaid.”

“…That’s right.”

Elusiana nodded at Painen, who smirked. She had a slight expectation that there might have been a mistake, but looking at Painen’s smirk, there seemed to be no possibility of that. This jerk. He must have left some of the principal on purpose.

Sure enough. Painen held out the prepared documents to Elusiana.

“This is the statement of repayment at that time. Let’s check it out.”

After accepting the documents handed over by Painen, Elusiana began to examine the contents carefully. But she distorted her brow before turning over a few pages.

4 cooper… for disposal costs? Elusiana, who was pointing it with her finger, almost cursed out. It was unbelievable that she had to pay 4 cooper on the contract even after the debt was paid off. Moreover, the 4 cooper has increased more than 8,000 times in just two years, resulting in a miracle to pay for more than 30 gold. Does this make sense?

Still, it wasn’t the time to get angry right now. She needed to hear what he was going to say about it. Elusiana took a breath and looked at the man who had caused the problem.

“This 4 cooper—”

Painen smirked and leaned back on the sofa. As if he had waited for her to ask that question, he answered without even checking the documents.

“4 cooper is the cost of disposing of the contract. If you look at the bottom, the source of use is written, right? Originally, the contractor should collect the contract, but his case hasn’t been collected. That’s why we inevitably incur processing costs.”

“Do you mean the cost is 4 cooper and the interest is being charged now?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Ha!”

This madman! You say that only now?! How could you exploit paper that will turn into ashes just by throwing it into a furnace?!

Painen said as if to answer the question. “Was it Viscount Milan? I heard he is a close friend of Viscount Waieos. He gave me the contract and asked me to handle it ‘in person’ at the office.”

Elusiana’s hand, holding the document, trembled. That punk viscount won’t be satisfied! What did he say! He would never have done this unless he was determined to sell his friend to the moneylender.

“Just in case, the interest was charged to Viscount Milan every month. This is a document related to it. Let’s see.” Painen took out another document and held it out to her.

Elusiana picked up the document, barely firming up her contorted expression. When she turned over the first page of the slightly thick-looking document, the date and amount of the interest claim were really detailed. For one year, interest was paid with the remaining balance from selling Waieos’s estate, and only 30 gold for the remaining two years was owed to the Waieos family.

Elusiana’s heart naturally grew heavy as the amount increased without her knowing. But there was still a question that she couldn’t understand. If the contract belonged to Simon, interest should be charged to Waieos. However, they were charging the interest to Viscount Milan. She didn’t know the reason, but this was enough to justify her refusal to pay.

Feeling relieved inside, it was time for her to look at the very last page of the document. Huh? What is this?

“…Warrant?”

It stated all rights to all matters related to the contract were entrusted to Viscount Milan. That meant that Simon would take responsibility for all the interest of 30 gold that should be charged to Viscount Milan.

F, F— Father!  Without realizing it, Elusiana closed her eyes tightly. With this, she had no excuse.

At that time, Painen took out another document and held it out to Elusiana, grinning. “Then, can you settle the debt now? Lady Waieos.”

* * *

The hall was full of red blood. On the floor, pieces of meat that hadn’t yet stopped breathing convulsed, bleeding blood.

“Uaargh. Urgh.”

“S-Save—”

“Uuurgh.”

With his bloodshot eyes wide open at the brutally terrifying sight, the old man shouted in agony. “Do you think you will be safe even after doing this, Second Young Master!”

The man climbing up the platform looked back at the old man who kneeled with indifferent eyes.

“To kill all the vassals who are loyal to the family just because they went against Young Master’s wishes. How dare you live before the empire’s laws after committing such a vicious act!”

The old man shouted out and expressed his resentment as if he was innocent. At this, Aster, a man with silver hair, smirked as he sat on a chair at the top of the platform and smiled.

“That’s right. I’m very curious as to why people who are loyal to the family are plotting tricks behind the scenes.”

“I told you it was a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? That’s too insincere to be an excuse.”

“Second Young Master!”

Aster said in a low voice, erasing his smile. “I warned you early. Please, keep quiet as if you’re dead. If you do, I will humbly let you live alive.”

“Why don’t you say that we were just an eyesore, so you wanted to kill us?”

Aster leaned his back against the back of the chair. This chair was a seat only the head of the family could sit on, and Aster has occupied it since two years ago.

“How could I personally kill a precious talent? If anyone hears it, they will believe that I’m a murderer who persecuted and killed you, my loyal subject.”

“So you disagree with that? How many more do you have to kill to stop this bloody affair!”

Aster stretched out his arms slowly, put his arms on the armrest, and rested his chin on it. Unlike his smiling mouth, his eyes were terribly cold.

“Are you going to pretend to be innocent after gathering mercenaries to kill me? That number has already exceeded the number of knights in the family. Isn’t it right? Count Eimum.”

“W-What do you…!”

Eimum widened his eyes in anger. He moved secretly and cautiously, but how did the second young master notice? But the look in his eyes was not just a passing word. Is that why he cut off the heads of so many people without hesitation?

Tap, tap. Aster, who tapped his finger on his cheek and said indifferently, “I’m well aware of your hard work. The butler here told me to remember. I mean, he said not to treat you carelessly and do my best with sincerity.”

Aster glanced at Louis, who was standing by his side. “So I did my best. I was willing to fit in and get along. But— Count Eimum, your actions far exceeded my expectations.”

“…”

“Still, I tried to understand. Aren’t you the vassals who have protected this House of Sestain for hundreds of years? I thought you were worth it.”

Aster, who frowned slightly as if he was sorry, sighed low. His expression was filled with sadness as if he was really heartbroken by their death if someone who didn’t know him saw it.

“But I couldn’t bear to turn a blind eye to the fact that even mercenaries were hired to cut my throat. Aren’t I a saint?”

“How can you take the lives of innocent people?”

“That’s right. But…”

Aster let out a long sigh as if in agony. But Eimum wasn’t fooled. Because he knew better than anyone the cruel temper behind that sad face.

“…Were they really innocent?”

“What a-are you—”

“You are the one who has made my hard-working generosity worthless. Is there any reason for me to bear it? You really have no conscience, Count Eimum.”

“…W-Where is the head of the family?”

Aster smiled, pointed to himself, and replied, “If you’re looking for the head of family, he is right here. Isn’t it before your eyes, Count Eimum?”

“Lord Heinrihi. Where is he!”