ITMWG 65

Chapter 65…

Unnerving.

Insurance was not a new concept. Most commoners who were struggling to make ends meet couldn’t understand why it was necessary, but the wealthy nobles of the capital enjoyed keeping up with the latest culture before anyone else. In other words, it was a kind of trend. Even Altair, who was not particularly interested in trends, had heard about various types of insurance through rumours, so it was a unique new wave. Hence, it was not strange for the Marquis of Vine and his wife, who were at the centre of the capital’s social culture, to have insurance. However, the fact that the recipient was not the previous Marquis’ only daughter, but his younger brother… It was, by no means, a normal situation.

“It’s clearly suspicious, so why wasn’t this an issue?”

“It is said that there was no room for doubt as the previous Marquis had signed a contract directly with the insurance company.”

“The previous Marquis himself?”

“Yes. The insurance company is trying hard to catch the culprit, but I think there were no problems with the process given that they did pay the insurance money.”

“The process was legal, but the circumstances were suspicious….”

Since the other party was a high-ranking noble, the problem could not have been escalated solely by unusual circumstances.

“The more I listen, the bigger my doubt grows. I don’t think he’s a very smart man, given that he was in huge debt, but was it just luck that he avoided such a difficult situation?”

Blan asked cautiously, and Altair slightly nodded.

“The benefit that the current head of Vine has gained since the previous Marquis and his wife passed away is too great to be a mere coincidence.”

“Also…”

Blan carefully added important information for Altair, who summarised the situation with calm.

“If anything, that insurance also included the Madame.”

“What? Nadia is also included?”

“Yes. Same as the insurance of the previous Marquis and his wife, the benefits will also go to… The current Marquis of Vine.”

A loud bang was heard. Altair’s body moved faster than his thought as his fist met with the surface of his desk.

“… Nadia was also riding with the previous Marquis couple when they had a carriage accident.”

“Yes. She survived alone.”

It was becoming increasingly clear what suspicions Blan had harboured during the investigation. He was unable to leave the capital because he believed that the carriage accident in which the previous marquis and his wife died was not simply ‘an accident’. Altair had some doubts about Blan’s swordsmanship – which by the way, anyone’s skills would be questionable by Altair’s standards – but he thought of him higher than anyone else when it came to intelligence. The intuition of a knight who possessed remarkable intelligence could neer be ignored.

“Do you even need an order?”

Blan smiled faintly at Altair’s gaze, which seemed to speak more than enough.

“No. I fully understand everything you want to say.”

“If he had planned to bury it, it would not be easy to dig up.”

“That’s the scary thing about power.”

Thus, if one got involved with a high-ranking noble, things could get tiring. Still, Blan never knew how to give up.

“But we can definitely get to the bottom of this. Once a knight of Aylesford is riled up, he never gives up until he gets what he wants.”

As soon as Blan finished reporting to Altair and came out, he ran into Pavel, who was standing in the hallway waiting for the office door to open. Although they were brothers who had not seen each other in a long time, they did not exchange warm greetings.

“You can go in. My business here is done.”

Blan moved slightly to the side to clear the way, but Pavel’s intention was not to meet Altair.

“I don’t have any business to attend to his lord.”

Blan pointed at himself with a puzzled look.

“Don’t tell me… you come to ask how I am since we haven’t seen each other in a while? Please say no. If so then I might die from goosebumps.”

Pavel clicked his tongue as he saw Blan rubbing his arm with a frightened look.

“Humans don’t die from things like goosebumps.”

“I might be the first.”

“Bullshit. Do you think I came here for that kind of business?”

“Who knows , just in case.”

“It’s not like that, so don’t be so fussy. Madame wants to see you for a moment.”

“Huh? The Madame?”

His shoulders flinched as they were just talking about Altair and Nadia. At that, Pavel narrowed his eyes.

“…your reaction is strange.”

Even a chivalrous man skilled in espionage could not avoid the insight of his flesh and blood. However, it was difficult to reveal something that was still unclear, so Blan had no choice but to remain ignorant, even though he knew Pavel would find it odd.

“So it’s a matter that can’t be shared yet.”

Pavel calmly adjusted his glasses and assessed the situation. Being hit on the nail on his head, Blan cleared his throat loudly, and Pavel clicked his tongue again and looked his brother up and down.

“If you keep wearing your heart on your sleeves like this, how can you do your job properly?”

“I’m still doing fine out there though?”

“Oh, so you’re admitting you’re idiotic when you’re back here.”

“Hey!”

Blan, who had been upset by the small talk, soon regained his composure and poked Pavel’s side.

“Why is the Madame suddenly looking for me?”

“… I don’t want to talk here.”

Pavel glanced around and held back his words.

“I think it would be better to hear it directly from the Madame. It’s not an issue I can bring up easily.”

“Hmm…I have a feeling it’s going to be a serious problem.”

When Pavel did not deny his half-joking remark, a serious look appeared on Blan’s face as well.

“Is this really serious?”

Pavel hushed him with a finger on his lips, as if he couldn’t be bothered to say it twice. This meant that it could not be said here. Blan’s expression stiffened as he sensed that this was truly a grim matter due to his brother’s resolute attitude.

❈❈❈

I’m sure he must have finished reporting by now, right?

While Nadia was waiting for Blan to arrive, she summarised on paper the matter she had discussed with Pavel. It was to be delivered to Altair. It ended up being longer than she expected as she not only summarised the discussion she had with Pavel, but also added measures to create standards and institutions to classify magic stones.

I’m definitely comfortable with writing.

Words that had been spoken could not be withdrawn, but writing can be edited multiple times, so it was perfect for people like her who are always worried about making mistakes. It was even better because she was able to organise her thoughts and what she wanted to say at the same time.

Now that I think about it, there was more to the story in the novel regarding this magic stone mine.

Therefore, Altair developed magic tools that could expose magic stones so that they could show off that they were using good magic stones.

The reason why the nobles of the border quickly became rich was not simply because of the discovery of the magic stone mine.

Without that strategy, it would have been difficult to sell magic stones in the harsh capital aristocratic society.

The important thing was that at the time in the novel she read, there were several artisans who could make such magic tools. And since the craftsmen were all affiliated with Aylesford workshop, she remembered that they made a lot of profit not only from magic stones but also from magic tools.

I accelerated the discovery and sale of magic stones, so he couldn’t have thought of that…

This was a business that Altair, the villain in the novel, started directly, so were she to just drop a hint, he would be able to quickly pursue the business. The development of magic tools that could show off magic stones in this way could create even more synergy in conjunction with the magic stone rating system.

I can feel it. The sensation of great success approaching!

“Madame. Excuse me but… outside…”

“Yes, come on in!”

Nadia thought it was Pavel and Blan so she didn’t check the identity of the visitor, but when the door opened, it was Melissa who appeared. Today, she was accompanied by her personal maid whom she had brought from the Marquis house.

“Huh…?”

“What kind of mistress is this?”

Because her mocking self-talk was a bit loud, Anna, who opened the door, looked at me worriedly.

“Don’t get in the way, get out.”

Melissa’s personal maid, whom she had brought from the house of Vine, pushed Anna away rather irritably. If Marie had stayed in her place, she might have been able to respond better, but she was now away from the castle for a while, saying something urgent came up.

She said a friend she knew from the capital had come.

It was very rare for Marie to ask if she could leave, so Nadia thought it must be important, so she agreed. She didn’t expect Melissa to come barging in.

This would be too unnerving for Anna to handle….

Nadia winked at Anna as if to tell her to hurry up and go before she got into trouble, and perhaps understanding what she meant, Anna nodded solemnly. After sending Anna away and assessing the situation closely, she realised the maid that Melissa had brought was someone she knew. In other words, she was a maid who had been at the Marquis house for a long time, who knew better than anyone else how she had been treated at Vine. Perhaps that was why the maid’s eyes as she looked at her were full of disregard. Still, she didn’t want to make a fuss. Nadia turned away from the maid’s rude look and shifted her attention to Melissa.

“Are you asking because you really don’t know? Do you think I’m not aware that you’re hindering me?”

“Hinder?”

“Yes! Do you hate me meeting your husband that much?”

“Melissa, I have no idea what you’re talking about. All I did was prepare the things you liked and treat you with hospitality.”

Since Melissa came to Aylesford, Nadia had treated her to her tastes and with the utmost care. It was an undeniable truth, so Melissa cleared her throat a couple of times awkwardly. But again, Melissa wasn’t the type to give in to that kind of truth.

“You always have a maid there to watch over me. It’s suffocating.”

“It’s not about surveillance, it’s about giving you proper guide. You don’t know Aylesford Castle very well. You said you would go around on your own yesterday, but didn’t you lose your way?”

“You!”

Melissa got upset upon hearing something unfavorable about her.

“Miss.”

I could see Melissa’s maid cautiously stopping her from getting so angry when she was about to explode. Normally, she would have shouted at the maid first, but now, for some reason, she obediently kept her mouth shut. It seemed there was something more important than being annoyed.

“Alright. I’ll relay your words to him. But he is a very busy person, so it can be hard to find time.”

“He has to make time for me. My father entrusted me with a letter of something he has to tell the Baron. He told me to deliver it directly to the baron by all means.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell me right away on the first day?”

“Th-that’s… I just forgot for a moment!”

This was an excuse. It’s a lie. It was obvious to anyone who saw it. But Nadia had no way to confirm or reject it.

“I just so happen to bring the letter with me, so guide me to him. This is such an important letter that the Baron should be willing to give me some of  his time.”

When Melissa proudly lifted her chin up as if she knew Nadia wouldn’t be able to refuse, her maid snorted. It was then that the hallway became strangely noisy.