CHAPTER 57……………….
“Only Eunice Gillian herself knows what she’ll order that shill to do.”
Ruellian spoke.
“But we already have the description, her special skills, even the exact date and place she’ll act….”
“She basically spoon-fed it to us.”
I nodded.
Besides, we know Eunice’s usual methods. Causing incidents. Disrupting business. Damaging reputation. Something along those lines, right?
“Then I should focus on stopping this first. And you?”
“I’ll stick someone close to Eunice, try to dig up clues about that ‘very important matter’ she’s preparing.”
“Once I get rid of the shill, I’ll also investigate Eunice again. I think we’ll find something if we search her room. Especially that locked desk—I really need to open it….”
I looked at Ruellian.
“You’re an expert at this sort of thing. Do you happen to have one of those master keys thieves use? Could you lend me one?”
Silence followed.
“If not, never mind.”
“That’s not it….”
Ruellian’s expression turned strange.
“You said you weren’t interested in me. But you didn’t even bother to examine the key I gave you? That is the master key.”
“Oh? Really? I had no idea. Isn’t it too important to just leave in my hands?”
“Don’t worry. I have another one.”
He gave a wry smile.
“Use it to open Eunice Gillian’s desk if you want, but don’t misuse it otherwise. Keep it safe. You’re the first and last person I’ve ever handed that over to. Not that it’ll be for long.”
“I’m honored.”
“Don’t mention it. Just don’t forget about that before you leave.”
Ruellian jerked his chin toward the scale.
Ah, right.
He had just given me information about Eunice’s scheme, so his plate was raised high.
To balance it, I needed to provide him with information too—something vital for his safety.
After some thought, I spoke.
“The reason you got caught in that trap was because your body has an invisible curse on it.”
“A curse?”
“When you touched the binding cast by Zeekren, it seeped into you. From now on, be especially careful in situations like that during your heist work.”
At my words, my side of the scale slowly lifted.
It rose past balance, just slightly above his, then stopped.
“That’s enough. Next turn is yours.”
“Understood.”
Ruellian nodded.
“I’ll find out as quickly as I can and contact you.”
“Good. See you soon.”
I packed my bag and stood.
Nothing happened as I rode the lift up and slipped out through the chapel.
After a few steps, I glanced back, feeling odd.
Who would ever imagine such a world existed beneath that chapel?
Feels like a lie.
With that surreal sensation lingering, I walked toward the docks to find a carriage. In the shadows, someone beckoned.
“We’ll escort you home.”
It was the men I’d seen earlier in the alley, bowing deeply. Their manners were respectful, but their fear was palpable; they shifted uneasily.
“Please, allow us to escort you.”
I gave them a quick look.
Just what is Ruellian to these people?
I’d claimed I wasn’t curious, but I couldn’t stop wondering.
“Forget home. Just drop me off somewhere in the capital’s busy district.”
“Yes! Of course! Thank you!”
“No, I should thank you.”
After quite a ride, we reached a familiar district. I switched carriages and returned to the ducal estate.
“My lady! Where have you been? You even sent the maids back first….”
“Oh, I lost track of time while out.”
I didn’t even need to fake being drunk. Sitting in the carriage so long had left my legs weak, so I staggered naturally.
“Why such fuss? You’ve seen me like this before, haven’t you?”
Acting a little petulant, I glanced at the main building.
The duke’s office was still brightly lit. His aides seemed to be watching from the window.
Just wait, Eunice.
I staggered inside.
“Tsk, tsk.”
The duke’s aides whispered as they watched from above.
There was Lady Aristina, swaying into the estate, swinging her bag and fussing at the butler.
“The duke even keeps track of every little newspaper article about her. And she doesn’t even realize, stumbling back drunk again.”
“What was that?”
The aides froze at the voice behind them. They’d thought the duke was asleep.
“Aristina came home drunk?”
“N-no, my lord. Please don’t worry.”
They scrambled to cover up, knowing his usual outbursts.
But…
“……”
Strangely, he said nothing.
Duke Canel just stood there, expression complicated rather than angry.
“…Sigh.”
A quiet exhale.
She was buying orphanages, shaking things up here and there, bustling with energy—I thought she was fine. I expected her to come to me tomorrow again, pestering for this or that favor….
Maybe it had all been an act, pretending to be okay.
Ever since he scolded her over inflated sales numbers, she hadn’t spoken to him. Now she’d even gone back to drinking, which she’d quit before.
So it really did hurt her. She said it was out of concern for my health….
Of course, he told himself it wasn’t genuine concern. If he collapsed before naming an heir, her own position would be unstable—that must be why.
And yet…
Was it just that 2 a.m. makes people sentimental? Despite knowing how many times she’d betrayed him…
Maybe I went too far this time.
The thought wouldn’t leave him.
She had been showing real effort lately. If she went astray again because of the wound he inflicted…
What should I do?
The duke wrestled with it.
Then suddenly, a thought struck him. He beckoned to his chief aide.
“Eunice, come here a moment.”
Two days later.
I arrived at the department store early.
Time to show Eunice a lesson.
I’d already passed along the shill’s description and habits to the guards and staff. While munching on the VIP snacks, a report came in.
“The person you mentioned has appeared.”
“Oh? Good. Keep a close eye. Don’t let them notice.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
As ordered, every move of the shill was relayed to me.
“She just went into the fitting room of the clothing section.”
“She came out in disguise, then met someone else.”
“They seem to be working together. They’re heading toward the jewelry section.”
Then—
A loud commotion erupted.
“What? Accusing me of theft?!”
Everyone turned to look.
An elderly woman in shabby clothes raised her hands, panic written on her face.
“I don’t understand! Oh heavens, what’s happening to me?”
The clerk looked flustered.
“Ma’am, please. You asked to see the diamond ring earlier. We gave it to you. Now, you need to return it.”
“When? I’ve never done such a thing… My children begged me to visit a department store once, and this is what happens? Oh, heavens!”
“May we check your bag?”
Another clerk swooped in, snatched her bag, and dumped it out.
A worn handkerchief, a cloth-wrapped potato, cough drops, a few coins—everything spilled out. But no diamond ring.
“Uh… what….”
The clerk faltered.
“So we accused her wrongly?”
The crowd murmured uneasily.
Just then—
“Step aside!”
I pushed through and seized the supposed clerk’s arm, twisting it behind her back in one swift motion.
“Aagh!”
At the same time, my other hand slipped into her pocket. Out came the sparkling diamond ring.
Gasps erupted.
I spun her around for all to see—a woman with reddish-brown hair and a slightly crooked nose.
“Everyone, this woman is no employee of ours! She’s a professional shill who staged this scene to damage our store’s reputation! She was working with that old woman!”
Yes. From the start, the one we shadowed closely was this fake employee.
She’d gone into the fitting room, emerged disguised as staff, then met the old woman to set the plan in motion.
The scheme was simple: the old woman would pretend to steal, the fake clerk would ‘search’ her bag, and secretly pocket the item.
Then it would unfold: ‘She was falsely accused!’ ‘They humiliated a poor mother!’ Sympathy, outrage, boycotts. Our reputation in ruins.
We might have fallen for it—if we hadn’t already known their tricks.
But with their description and specialty on record, under surveillance? They didn’t stand a chance. Solving it was like filling in answers with the key in hand.
Heh….
I handed the shills over to the city guard, triumphant.
But then—
“What’s all this noise?”
A voice rang through the store. A voice I knew all too well.
“……?”
I turned in disbelief.
“……Father?”
