“In essence, you’re paying all the money earned from smuggled diamonds as tax and bail.”

“That’s what I heard.”

“There’s no way you have that much gold on hand right now. You’ll have to sell at least two or three of your estates. Sigh… The Duke must be devastated to sell his hard-earned property at a bargain price. The same goes for Young Lord Leonard.”

I coldly sneered, imagining the plight of Duke Klein and his son Leonard.

The Duke stared at me intently and asked.

“So, what will you do now? Go back and think it over gradually?”

I shook my head and answered his question.

“No. I have a plan in mind already.”

“I’m curious about this plan of yours. Can you tell me?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s a bit difficult this time. This matter needs to be handled discreetly.”

Saying that, I put down the cold teacup and stood up. The Duke followed me with his eyes and said.

“If you’re returning to the mansion, I’ll provide a carriage.”

I shook my head and replied.

“…No. I’m going to the Klein estate to meet Leonard.”

“…The Duke’s estate?”

“Yes. He must be feeling anxious and overwhelmed right now, so I should go comfort him.”

“…”

“Thank you for the tea. I’ll see you again, Your Grace.”

I slightly bowed my head to the Duke and immediately walked towards the reception room door.

I felt the Duke’s persistent gaze following me, but I didn’t look back.

After leaving the Duke’s mansion, I took a carriage to the Klein estate.

As I got off the carriage at the main gate, the gatekeeper who recognized me rushed over.

“It’s been a while, Lady Christine!”

“I’m here to see the Young Lord. If he’s not busy, could you guide me?”

“Of course! Please follow me!”

The gatekeeper led me to the greenhouse located on the east side of the mansion. Leonard was sitting in an outdoor chair in the center of the greenhouse, reading a letter. When the gatekeeper approached to announce my arrival, he brightened up and stood from his seat.

“Christine! What brings you here?”

“Oh, you know. I just wanted to see you.”

I smiled at him, casually lying. Leonard showed his usual kind smile, then pulled out a chair for me and said.

“Sit here, Christine. Shall I call a maid right away to bring some tea?”

“Thank you, Leonard.”

“I just got my hands on some good rooibos tea. Christine, you like that tea, don’t you?”

“…Yes. I do like it.”

I answered his words while trying to hide my stiffening expression. It wasn’t me who enjoyed rooibos tea, but Danae, though I didn’t bother to point that out.

Shortly after, a maid brought a teapot and a three-tiered tray with freshly baked cookies. After the maid left, I turned to Leonard and said.

“I heard the news. They say your father has been imprisoned in the western tower.”

Leonard exhaled heavily and said.

“Yes. He incurred the Emperor’s wrath when the diamond smuggling was discovered.”

“…Oh dear. You must be devastated.”

“It can’t be helped. Damn it. That damned Duke Haven. I never thought that son of a bitch would trip up our family like this. Christine, you didn’t notice anything at all?”

“…No. The Duke moved so thoroughly that I only found out after your father was imprisoned in the western tower.”

I shook my head with a sad expression. Leonard sighed repeatedly, seemingly frustrated, and ran a hand through his hair as he spoke.

“…Damn it. Because of that bastard, we’re about to suffer a huge loss.”

“I heard rumors that your father promised to pay about three times the original tax as a fine and bail. Is that true?”

“Hah, that’s right. Our gracious Emperor said he would release father on the condition that we pay that amount by the end of next month. He said he’d specially forgive us this time, considering my sister-in-law Meredith’s face.”

Leonard said that in a somewhat sarcastic tone. I put on a worried expression and opened my mouth.

“My goodness. How are you supposed to raise such a large amount by next month? The Emperor is being too harsh.”

“…We have no choice. We’re the ones at a disadvantage. It looks like we’ll have to dispose of some family assets.”

“That’s true. Have you decided specifically what and how much you’ll sell?”

When I asked, Leonard shook his head and answered.

“No. I haven’t decided anything in particular. I’m not in a position to be picky right now. I’m planning to sell everything we can except for the essential assets and estates our family needs.”

“Hmm. …Leonard. Have you considered selling the Anworth estate?”

I carefully said while gauging his reaction. Leonard slightly furrowed his brow and asked me.

“Anworth? Who would want to buy such barren land where proper cultivation is impossible?”

At those words, I barely managed to suppress a scoff that was about to burst out.

‘Right. Everyone in this empire thought like you.’

As he said, the Anworth estate was currently nothing more than barren land with an old port and vast salt fields.

However, six months from now, that assessment would be completely reversed. This was because Moldov Castle, the largest port city in the Mercia Empire, would be completely destroyed by an earthquake.

Unable to trade with other continents as a result, the Emperor would order his vassals to find a castle that could immediately serve as a major port. The port of Anworth was chosen for this purpose.

Leonard’s father, Duke Klein, who owned that port, would almost monopolize trade with other continents using it.

Moreover, with the money earned through it, he organized a powerful navy, and that military power became a great foundation for supporting Prince Louis as the next emperor.

In other words, the port of Anworth was like a key to opening a new era for them.

However, there was no way he would know that fact at present. He shouldn’t know. I carefully chose my words in my mind and cautiously opened my mouth.

“As it happens, I know a wealthy merchant who wants to buy a small port city to spend his retirement. How about selling the Anworth estate to that merchant?”

“…It’s not difficult to sell, but how much would that merchant be willing to pay for the Anworth estate?”

“I actually asked him discreetly. He said… he’s willing to pay up to this amount.”

I picked up the quill pen on the table and wrote half the amount of the check I received from the Duke on the document in front of Leonard.

Leonard was surprised, his eyes widening as he said to me.

“Really? Did that merchant say he would pay such a large amount to buy Anworth?”

“Yes. He also said he would pay this entire amount in gold coins immediately if the ownership of the estate is transferred. …What do you think? Are you willing to sell at this price?”

“Of course! I need to meet this merchant right away! Christine, could you ask that merchant to come to my mansion as soon as possible?”

“Alright. I’ll try to arrange a meeting.”

I nodded and answered. Leonard then let out a sigh of relief and suddenly pulled me into his arms.

And in a voice full of emotion, he said to me.

“Ah, Christine! You’ve saved me! Father will be so grateful to you when he hears about this!”

“It’s nothing. Leonard, it’s about you and your father. Of course I had to step in.”

I smiled brightly and hugged him back. Unlike his still cheerful expression, my face reflected in the greenhouse’s glass wall was coldly glaring at him as he held me.

Of course, Leonard didn’t notice this side of me.

After leaving the Klein estate, I immediately headed to the Jester’s Guild. It was to find a jester who could act as the merchant to deal with Leonard on my behalf.

After offering 10 gold coins as compensation, I was able to find a jester who perfectly matched the conditions I wanted. He was a man with an innocent look who said he had sneaked into the empire illegally to earn money for his wife’s medicine.

I met him while wearing a mask, and contracted with him on the condition that he wouldn’t inquire about my identity or the events to come. Afterwards, I trained him to play the role of an ordinary merchant.

A few days later.

After pretending to take a nap and slipping out of the mansion, I headed to the Klein estate with the jester. The jester was disguised as a merchant, and I as the ‘merchant’s servant’ who had to wear a mask because my face was disfigured by an epidemic when I was young.

Guided by a servant into the mansion’s reception room, we were greeted by Leonard who was waiting there.

“Welcome! I’ve been waiting!”

He couldn’t hide his joy upon seeing us. His slightly haggard face showed that he had been quite worried about whether this contract would be finalized.

Perhaps because of this, after exchanging a few ceremonial greetings, he immediately handed the contract to my jester disguised as a merchant. I waited for the two of them to finish signing the contract, then placed a pouch full of gold coins on the table between them.

The butler of the Klein estate immediately opened it to check the number of gold coins inside. Soon, as he nodded slightly as if satisfied, Leonard smiled and said to the jester standing in front of me.

“The contract is sealed.”

“Thank you for selling such a precious estate to a lowly merchant like me, Young Lord.”

The jester responded to his words with a somewhat servile attitude, maintaining an innocent expression. At this, Leonard’s eyes showed a faint hint of pity and contempt as he looked down at him.

He seemed to think it foolish to buy a useless piece of land at an absurdly high price and even express gratitude for it.

‘Disgusting.’

I inwardly sneered, mocking Leonard’s attitude.

Unaware of my identity or such thoughts, Leonard looked at the jester with a smiling face and said.