Episode 13
It was completely my delusion that I could negotiate with the wholesalers.
No, the very idea that we could have a normal conversation was wrong.
First, I checked the authenticity of the seal on the loan certificate. Unfortunately, it was genuine and there was no room for forgery.
“I have something to tell you first. A 50 percent interest rate is ridiculous.”
I talked about what I wanted to talk about the most.
“But your father made that contract, and it’s become a situation where you have to pay it back. We’re just employees, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The answer was always the same. Finn Schneider continued, looking at me with pity.
“First, please look at the conditions we have proposed. We hope you understand that we are treating Miss Prim with the utmost consideration.”
Then he handed me a piece of paper from across the table, still smiling kindly.
I picked up the contract they had handed me. As soon as I read the contents, I burst out laughing.
“……either sell your body or give up your house.”
Ask me to choose between these two.
As I looked back and forth between the two men with a hardened expression, Finn Schneider looked up at Fabid, who was standing up, smiling mischievously.
“Fabi, how much will it cost?”
He nodded and pointed at me like an object. Fabid began to look me up and down with his narrow eyes.
Greed flashed in his eyes for a moment. He answered, his tongue flickering through his thin lips.
“Well, we’ll have to take it off to find out for sure, but from the outside, it looks top-notch.”
A rough voice scratched my ears, causing me to frown.
“Did you hear?”
Finn Schneider met my eyes again. His long, slitted eyes closed.
“You can either pay me back right now or choose one of these two options.”
“…….”
“Choice is free.”
I should have immediately questioned what kind of ridiculous condition this was, but I was so shocked that I couldn’t say anything.
Besides, I don’t know what they might do to me.
I brought it home for no reason.
I was in a hurry to finish the conversation and go to work, so I couldn’t think deeply.
“As I said earlier, we are just employees and we have to show results. Shouldn’t we return with decent results?”
I tried to think of a way out of this situation.
If you give up your home, you will have nowhere to go. It is not easy to give up the place you spent with your father.
But I don’t have the ability to pay back over 100 million Bergs, and I have no other choice…
Should I scream?
“Miss Prim, I can tell from your expression that you’re considering whether to yell. Do you know that we’ve done this before?”
“…….”
“The more uncooperative you are, the worse the conditions will become.”
Finn Schneider smiled kindly and gave orders to Fabid.
“Please close the door.”
Then Fabid walked towards the door, his feet stomping on the floor.
I ground it so it made a sound.
“Do you work by deceiving and threatening people like this?”
“Usually?”
Finn Schneider chuckled.
“But we are gentlemen. We are gentle and nice. Is it hard to find someone as handsome as this?”
I just burst out laughing.
The man was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
You probably haven’t seen what a real gentlemanly person looks like when all he does is show off.
Johannes Schultz… … .
Come to think of it, I’ve only seen you when you were in the Navy and when you were a sergeant. You must be more of a gentleman in real life.
Compared to him, Finn Schneider was a mere imitator of the gentlemanly faith.
“Did you laugh?”
“No. That can’t be.”
He quickly took away the sneer that had appeared on his lips. However, Finn Schneider’s mood was as hurt as it could be.
“I guess I’m laughing. In times like this, there’s a method we often use.”
It was a face that was properly hurt.
It seemed like I had touched his sore spot.
“Fabid, why are you so late! Fabid!”
Finn Schneider turned around with a nervous expression and headed toward the door, warning me.
“Stay still. If you run away, I’ll sell you.”
His bony index finger seemed ready to prick me.
I was suddenly scared, but now that he had shown an opening, it was the right time to run away.
Why not just go out the back door and run down the other road, or go to Mrs. Pensler’s house, or catch a carriage to the Duke’s residence… ?
I just waited for him to walk away, then I just got up and ran out the back door.
And when I opened the door, I couldn’t help but freeze in place.
“Duke Schultz……?”
“Fabid, fabid!”
Finn Schneider ran his fingers through his hair several times as he headed toward the front door. As soon as he realized what was in front of him, his face turned pale.
“What, what is it……!”
The large Fabid was struggling, holding onto the back of his neck. His face was bright red, almost purple, and he was on the verge of losing his breath.
A group of people in pure white uniforms were completely blocking the front of the house. They were the navy of Docilia.
Why the Navy……?
The police weren’t really a problem. If you feed them money or befriend them, they’ll take care of things.
But the Navy is different. It’s inflexible.
But although they care about public safety, they have never taken such a direct approach.
Finn Schneider, who had been chewing his lips nervously, took a step back. However, it didn’t take long for him to stop walking as he felt a large shadow cast over him.
“Shit!”
Finn Schneider slowly turned around and looked up at the man who had blocked his way with a surprised expression.
His face grew increasingly more astonished.
“Johannes Schultz…? Why, Your Majesty?”
Finn Schneider’s voice shook miserably.
Weren’t you looking at me?
‘How far should I look after you?’
In that moment, an icy voice struck my head.
Finn Schneider was the illegitimate son of the Count of Swabia, born to a concubine.
A half-nobleman who cannot even follow the surname of the Count of Swabia.
I tried hard to keep up with the gentlemen. But, perhaps because of my mother, who was a concubine, my damned street behavior showed no sign of improving.
Naturally, he had only one choice.
Although I will not be recognized as a noble, I will be treated with all the respect and enjoy a life of debauchery.
So, I was setting up a bar, stripping several women, and then drinking heavily.
I heard something about Lieutenant Colonel Schultz among the marines who were rushing into the store, so I glanced over and happened to make eye contact with Johannes Schultz. He was a lieutenant colonel at the time.
Johannes warned Finn Schneider as if he knew of the vile fraud.
I know that the Count of Swabia is watching over you, so do whatever you want.
So why was I protecting my subject more secretly and more illegally?
He couldn’t figure out why. What was clear was that he was in a state of shock.
“Duke Schultz……?”
I stood there blankly, then looked surprised when I saw the navy surrounding the house.
I didn’t wonder how or why he came here. Right now, I was just relieved.
And I followed Duke Schultz, who was walking briskly into the house, without even knowing what was going on.
He stopped in front of Finn Schneider.
“Johannes Schultz…? Why, Your Majesty?”
I couldn’t help but frown as I watched Finn Schneider’s face grow more and more stupid.
Then he burst into a short burst of laughter.
After a while, he put his hand on his forehead with an expression of incredulity. It was the appearance of a weak person that I had never seen before.
That was when.
Thud, Fabid fell to the floor. Finn Schneider, who discovered him, began to tremble even more.
It’s amazing. I’m not afraid of that ugly face anymore.
It seemed like I could hear the sound of heads rolling.
He seemed to be thinking deeply about something, then spoke with a brighter face than before. No, it was more like shouting.
“Wow, I thought the royal family took away the Schultz family’s right to immediate action……?”
“Your eyes are just for decoration. It’s a shame.”
Duke Schultz burst into laughter.
“That’s why I came as a colonel.”
Finn Schneider was a quick-witted man. He quickly threw away what little pride he had left and knelt down.
“Ha, just give me a chance. If you arrest me, I, I might really be killed by my father.”
“It’s your situation.”
Then, with his trembling hands on his knees, he grabbed hold of Duke Schultz’s trouser leg. Then the sailors kicked his shoulder with their feet.
Finn Schneider collapsed to the floor.
“I didn’t know you were still up to that dirty trick. Didn’t I warn you?”
Duke Schultz spoke coldly. Then he turned around and stood facing me, staring at me with his blue eyes. I still couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
His lips, which had been tightly closed, opened.
“I can’t help you, Miss Prim, right now.”
Duke Schultz’s voice was softer than I thought. I thought it would be cold as usual……
But the relief that I had that I might be able to go back as if nothing had happened disappeared like a bubble.
Yes, Johannes Schultz has no obligation to pay my debts.
For a moment, I felt ashamed of myself for having such a thief-like symbol.
Sir Frett, who appeared out of nowhere among the sailors, spoke as Johannes nodded.
“To be precise, it’s true that they committed an illegal act. It’s hard to explain now… Anyway, it’s a common method.”
“Then……!”
“But it takes time until it goes to court. Until then, it’s hard to prove it’s illegal, so you have to pay them the amount they claim, and then the house will go.”
Sir Frett looked around the house. When I saw him looking like I was going to die, he continued with a pitiful expression.
“The law is really dirty. It is difficult for Colonel Schultz to help. He can lend up to 50 million Bergs to others.”
“But it’s different when you can help each other without expecting anything in return.”
Johannes Schultz intervened at a convenient time.
I just kept my mouth shut, because I knew what he meant.
You’ve been acting like you’ve never proposed to me before, and now you’re asking me to marry you again.
Why on earth?
I looked up at him with confused eyes. Duke Schultz bent down.
He asked from a slightly closer distance.
“Do you need help?”
“…….”
“Substantial.”
The blue eyes lit up for a moment. I almost burst out laughing.
‘Substantial.’
I never thought I’d get back what I said to him.
It was a very dry proposal. But I can say with certainty that it was more romantic than any other proposal.
What other man would throw away 135 million Bergs and propose to a common woman who has nothing?
Besides, the other person is Johannes Schultz, whom every young lady in the social world desires. Although his face has not been officially revealed, everyone in the social world will know him.
A small laugh escaped.
Anyway, I had to protect this house. I didn’t have the energy to protect my pride.
It certainly won’t be free.
But no matter what conditions he sets, I’m the one at a disadvantage right now.
Since I proposed, I don’t think he’ll sell my wife away or take our house away.
I said with determined eyes.
“Yes, like crazy.”
