~Chapter 114~
Gideon gave Penny a short glance.
“…Uncle, you don’t mean for me to leave, right?”
She asked with an incredulous look. But Gideon only nodded, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“No way! She’s my customer!”
“Right now, she looks like my customer.”
He tilted his chin toward me as if to say, Isn’t that right?
“But it was you and my aunts who gave me the job as an information broker!”
Before I could say anything, Penny started whining like a child. Her crying grew so loud that the woman we’d seen earlier rushed inside.
“What on earth, Penny!”
“Waaah!”
The woman panicked, then at Gideon’s signal, she quickly pulled Penny out of the tent.
“Don’t mind her. She thought she owned you as a client, but now she feels like she lost you. She acts grown-up, but she’s still a kid.”
It sounded like he was trying to be considerate, since I couldn’t stop watching Penny.
Maybe he wasn’t such a difficult person after all—
“…But using such a young child as a broker doesn’t make you look much better.”
Scratch that thought.
I wanted to argue that Penny had insisted on taking the job herself, but I swallowed my words.
There’s no benefit in picking a fight with him…
“I didn’t come here to make a request.”
“I know. You came not for a request, but to persuade me.”
Gideon smirked. But his smile wasn’t pleasant.
“Lady of Roygin. You either meddle too much, or you’re just plain foolish—always stirring up useless trouble.”
…What a generous evaluation.
“Dragging out your connection with my sister makes your intentions obvious.”
What kind of misunderstanding was that?
And besides—he was the one who mentioned Amy first!
I rubbed my forehead.
“Clearly, I’m not the type to be swayed by personal ties. Why would I use such a tactic?”
“So you didn’t? Then what exactly have I been hearing this whole time?”
Gideon picked his ear, as if my words were nonsense.
This is so unfair! I hadn’t even said anything!
“Anyway, whatever you say, I’ll keep living comfortably just like I am. If you came to persuade me, you’re wasting your breath.”
He hadn’t said it outright, but I understood.
He had probably guessed why I came, though he wasn’t fully sure.
So instead of asking directly, I carefully rephrased.
“Comfortably?”
“It’s just a figure of speech. I have my own ending in mind.”
“I’m the same.”
At that, Gideon gave a mocking laugh.
“So your goal is just to live a safe life in your estate? Not much different from mine, then.”
“Yes. I was raised sheltered, and sometimes I make foolish choices. But at least I don’t just sit by and do nothing, like you.”
“….”
“Which choice do you think leaves fewer regrets?”
I shrugged lightly. His forehead vein popped in anger.
“Seems you want to become an imperial hero like your grandfather. But if you want that, shouldn’t you do it with your own strength?”
“…What are you even talking about?”
An imperial hero?
If anything, wouldn’t that be treason?
My words made Gideon falter, realizing the conversation had gone off track.
“Why do you think I want to be like my grandfather?”
“Feels like… we’re talking past each other.”
Just then—
“Tada! Look who I brought!”
Penny suddenly burst in. I froze, then gasped when I saw the figure standing behind her.
“…Bianca.”
But Ricardo, as if expecting me here all along, looked completely calm.
***
Meanwhile, outside the tent—
Penny, who had been kicked out earlier, couldn’t hold back her frustration.
She doesn’t trust me! That’s why she’d never give me the job—she’d rather trust lazy Gideon who just sleeps all day!
Everyone treated her like a child, but she wasn’t.
She was already a top information broker in the underground, and she had never once failed a job.
Well… except for keeping the auction secret.
But that was her first and last mistake.
I even understand war, you know!
She kicked a pebble on the ground. It rolled across the alley until it hit a wall. That was when she had a sudden idea.
Bianca must have come to find her for one reason—to save her lover.
News had already spread that the Hessen house had defied the emperor’s orders.
If Bianca had risked everything to save Peril, then surely she would rise up for her lover too.
And if Penny got to him first?
Then Bianca would shower me with praise—and money too!
Excited by her plan, she quickly transformed into a mouse.
She had allies all over the capital—small creatures who were experts at finding traces and spreading rumors.
Tracking Bianca’s lover, the Duke, would be easy.
There he is!
…But she hadn’t expected the Tower Master to be by his side.
“I can’t even begin to understand what you’re thinking,” Peril’s voice carried to her ears.
Penny pricked up her ears, but then she also heard the pounding of hooves. A large group of knights was approaching.
Her heart pounded nervously, but Ricardo and Peril seemed completely at ease, still talking.
“I was so determined to stay out of politics… How soft I’ve become.”
Peril rushed back his hair and held out a hand to Ricardo.
“For the record, I’m not helping you. I’m repaying a debt to her.”
“And I’ve already told you.”
Ricardo handed him something.
The twilight was too dim, so Penny squinted to see the object.
“This is by my will alone. Which means no one can touch her.”
“…Ah, I really shouldn’t have agreed to this.”
Moonlight briefly illuminated the scene.
And for a moment, Penny saw strange objects in the shadows: dolls and scattered junk.
Confused, she suddenly remembered something.
He’s preparing doll magic…
Doll magic was a forbidden type of alchemy—breathing life into an object that its owner had treasured most, recreating their figure, habits, even their smallest traits.
Only underground alchemists knew of it. Most people didn’t.
Then she noticed the bizarre doll in Ricardo’s hand.
She tried to step closer to see it better—
But Ricardo’s sharp voice rang out:
“Were you planning to watch all along…?”
Startled, Penny froze. But Peril quickly grabbed her.
“What should we do? I’d feel guilty killing her.”
Then Ricardo’s eyes locked onto her.
“You… don’t tell me.”
Recognizing her, his expression flickered. Penny seized the chance.
“You know me! I’m the little one Bianca cares about!”
Never had she wanted Bianca by her side more than at that moment.
“Take me with you! I’m a decent alchemist too!”
Ricardo hesitated at her words.
***
“…So that’s what happened.”
After explaining everything, Penny proudly straightened her shoulders.
Gideon looked like he had plenty to say, but before he could, Penny puffed herself up and stood in front of me.
“Well? Didn’t I do great?”
Then, with hopeful eyes, she held out her hands to me, clearly expecting a reward.
CUTEEE