Chapter 2
Chapter 1 – We Don’t Buy People
Three days later.
I heard two voices echoing through the quiet mountain.
“So, Uncle lives in that house over there, right?”
“Yes, Count Hugo!”
Hugo Lionet.
He was my grandfather’s nephew—
and the very person who had driven me out.
“But there’s one condition. Never set foot in this empire again. Ever.”
“Ugh, I’m so nervous. Of all people, I have to barge into Uncle’s house!”
“Well, he is sick, isn’t he? Even if he was strong, a long illness wears anyone down…”
“You talk so casually because you’ve never met him! Do you even know what kind of man he is?!”
Hugo snapped at his aide.
The aide flinched and stammered,
“I-if something goes wrong, the others said they would come as well…”
“Then they should’ve come from the start! I know exactly what my sister is thinking—she wants me to step on the landmine alone, damn it.”
While complaining, Hugo finally mentioned my name.
“Be careful of that girl named Elisha. She’s twenty, and she’s probably a real vicious one!”
“You mean His Grace’s granddaughter? Vicious?”
“Just the fact that she’s stayed by Uncle’s side all this time tells you enough! I’m worried about how rude and ill-mannered she must be…”
Vicious? Rude? Ill-mannered?
It was practically verbal abuse, but I didn’t feel offended.
Because—
‘Go ahead and expect it. I’ll show you what “vicious” really means.’
I fully intended to act exactly like that.
As I listened to their voices getting closer, I picked up a long pole.
I was already completely prepared.
‘Good. Hugo Lionet, you’re first.’
When Hugo finally arrived at the house, he suddenly stopped.
A girl was standing in the shadows in front of it.
She had a long pole resting on her shoulder.
“W-what is that?”
A spear? A hoe? A pitchfork?
Feeling uneasy, Hugo shouted without thinking,
“Aaah! Who are you?!”
“Hmm, I think that’s my line.”
The girl tilted her head and laughed lightly.
“But I’ll answer anyway. I’m the granddaughter of this house—Elisha.”
“Th-that stick… what is it?”
“Oh, this? I was just painting the door.”
That girl is Elisha?
Hugo looked her up and down.
‘Hmph, at least her eyes are the Lionet light purple.’
Honestly, aside from that, she didn’t resemble the Duke—or even her parents.
The Duke of Lionet had a sharp and cold appearance.
But this girl?
‘She looks like she couldn’t even kill a fly.’
While he was thinking that, Elisha spoke up.
“By the way, you haven’t introduced yourself yet. Who are you?”
“This is—”
“Enough. I’ll introduce myself. I am Hugo Lionet, Count of Fanon and nephew of Michele Lionet.”
Introducing his title and family always made his heart swell.
It made him feel his power and status again.
But Elisha didn’t focus on his title.
“Grandfather’s nephew…?”
“Yes. The reason I came here is—”
“Oh! You came to visit him because he’s sick!”
Hugo was caught off guard.
Is she tearing up? Why? What visit? What sickness?
But before he could question it, Elisha spoke rapidly.
“I’m so glad you came. Grandfather is very ill… I wanted to contact our relatives, but I didn’t know how.”
“Uh… y-yes, of course.”
“Oh dear, I should offer you tea, but I just painted the door and handles, so we can’t open it.”
“Ah… that’s fine. Let’s just say we had tea.”
Before he realized it, they were sitting side by side on a bench talking.
Wait… I came here ready to twist this girl’s arm…?
Hugo shook his head.
What is this? She’s so naive. She clearly adores Uncle. She’d do anything for him.
Not rude at all—just easy to manipulate.
Hugo smiled to himself.
‘I don’t even need to call the others. This will all be my achievement!’
At his signal, the aide brought out documents and certificates.
When Elisha heard that the pawnshop owner Michele was actually a Duke, her eyes widened.
Hugo began his prepared mix of threats, persuasion, and lies.
“…Honestly, isn’t it your fault that Uncle’s illness has worsened? Now it’s time for you to repay him.”
The aide added,
“There is medicine only nobles can use. But it’s extremely expensive, so His Grace’s hidden funds are needed.”
“So—”
Elisha’s long eyelashes trembled.
“If I just sign… if I give everything up, you’ll cure my grandfather, right?”
“Of course!”
Hugo, thrilled, added coldly,
“But there’s one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Never set foot in this empire again. Ever.”
Ha…
Elisha let out a deep sigh, then nodded.
“Give me the papers.”
Yes!
Hugo suppressed a cheer and handed her the documents and pen.
Elisha took only the papers and pulled out her own pen.
She read every clause carefully, then signed.
“Here… oh, wait a moment.”
She was about to hand them back but paused.
“But what if my grandfather doesn’t have much money? What if he only has debts? Then the medicine…”
Hugo almost laughed.
She’s worried there might be no money? She really knows nothing.
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He couldn’t reveal the truth about the Duke’s wealth, so he said casually,
“Well, even if there isn’t any, I’ll handle it somehow. Consider it repayment for your sacrifice.”
“…Then you promise everything will be fine, Count Hugo?”
“Yes. Even if your grandfather has not a single coin, it won’t be a problem.”
“Could you say that one more time?”
There was a faint click sound, like something being pressed.
Probably nothing.
Impatient, Hugo quickly said,
“I promise there will be no problem. I, Hugo Lionet, swear it on my name.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
Elisha’s final words sounded strangely cold.
But Hugo was too excited to notice.
Elisha, now leaving with nothing but paint-stained clothes, stood looking at the house.
‘She looks a bit pitiful, now that I think about it.’
Hugo decided to show a little mercy.
The job had gone smoothly, and he’d never see her again anyway.
He secretly removed the gold coins from a pouch, leaving only silver, and tossed it to her.
“Here. It’s not much, but buy yourself some new clothes.”
“Yes, it really isn’t much.”
Elisha said expressionlessly without even checking it.
What? Is this the same girl who was crying earlier?
Something felt off, but asking more would only be annoying.
She must just feel bad about leaving.
“Since it’s your last time, aren’t you going to see your grandfather?”
Elisha looked at the sunset for a moment.
“He’s probably sleeping right now.”
“I see. Then it’ll be easy to take him.”
“…No. It won’t.”
“What? I didn’t catch that.”
“Nothing. Oh, the paint should dry in about an hour. I’ll be going now.”
Elisha turned and walked down the mountain.
She never looked back even once.
One hour later.
The paint had dried.
Finally!
Half nervous, half excited, Hugo threw the door open—
and froze.
“U-Uncle? Uncle?!”
His uncle was gone.
And not just him.
“W-what… what is this…?!”
Shockingly—
the house was completely empty.
