Josephine glanced at Esme while steadily eating her meal. From what Josephine had observed, Esme was someone who liked flashy things and fluttered about like a butterfly.

Whether what’s inside is human or devil, I’m not quite sure.

Josephine swallowed the last piece of steak and dabbed her lips.

“Ah, my lady. By the way, the Viscount seemed to have a lot on his mind.”

“Worries? Because of Simon?”

“It didn’t seem like that. I think it might be because of the merchant guild…”

“Hm?”

Esme tilted her head. Merchant guild? Could it be that Adeline is interested in the guild? Why suddenly? Esme’s eyes turned vicious in an instant. Josephine continued speaking with an expressionless face.

“Why the merchant guild? What kind of problem is there? Our daughter was never interested in such things. I just want our daughter to live without any hardships.”

Esme spoke softly. However, she couldn’t hide the malice in her eyes.

“Tell me more details.”

“Well, I don’t know the details either. But it seems she heard stories from the believers coming and going at the temple.”

At the temple?

I heard she didn’t meet anyone separately. Well, there are quite a few people coming and going there. She could have overheard conversations. Esme nodded to herself in understanding. How much money did I spend sending Adeline to the temple this time? Surely, she wouldn’t have betrayed me.

If that’s not the case, it means something unfavorable to her. Esme’s eyes sharpened.

“Well, I’m not sure who it is that works at the Wesley merchant guild.”

“…What?”

Esme curled her lips thinly. Her plump lips curved nicely. Esme wasn’t actually a noble. She was a commoner until she caught the eye of the widowed Viscount Wesley and entered the Wesley household with Jayden.

There were already quite a few women gossiping about that fact. They say she seduced a man to change her fortune. But she didn’t care because the Wesley Viscount family had much more money. But why the Wesley merchant guild, which was laying golden eggs so well?

If something happens to the Wesley merchant guild, Esme’s life would crack as well.

“It seems she heard that the head of the Wesley merchant guild has been frequenting gambling dens lately. So she’s suffering in silence, unable to tell anyone.”

“Such stories… to Josephine?”

“No.”

Josephine shook her head with round eyes.

“I overheard her talking to herself. The Viscountess doesn’t seem to have much caution.”

“Oh my, I see.”

Esme hid her trembling hands. Her soft, milky hands were shaking. Anger boiled inside her. A dog doesn’t stop at shit.

With that good brain, he’s gambling? I made him into a person, and he dares.

‘This crazy bastard…’

She might overlook a little embezzlement, but gambling is not acceptable. Esme’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Thank you, Josephine. Please continue to take good care of our Adeline like this.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Having completed her task, Josephine left the room with a refreshed face.

*

Esme panted with a face full of anger. Crash! The sound of various furnishings breaking filled the guild master’s office. Esme, walking around in shoes on the mess of debris scattered on the floor, found evidence of gambling in the coat that was hanging.

“Aaargh!”

Esme stomped her feet.

“Where is that bastard! Where is that damn mongrel bastard?!”

“Look at how you’re talking to your elder brother.”

Thomas entered swaggeringly and shrugged his shoulders.

“Why are you so irritable again? You’re scaring people. Huh? I told you not to come to the guild. It interferes with this elder brother’s work.”

Esme, panting, threw what she was holding at Thomas’s face. The chip that hit Thomas’s face rolled onto the floor.

“Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? How dare you, as the head of the Wesley merchant guild, gamble? And even get caught?”

“What are you talking about? I got caught?”

Esme pointed at Thomas. Her sharply pointed finger moved wildly as if about to stab Thomas. Thomas opened his eyes wide.

‘No, how did this girl…’

How much trouble had he gone through to hide his identity all this time? Thomas gulped. Esme pulled up the fur draped over her thin shoulders.

Her bloodshot eyes glared at Thomas.

“Esme, wait. Esme! Listen to me for a moment! Esme!”

“Shut up!! I told you clearly! I said I’d kill you if you touched gambling again!”

*

Josephine does her job very well. After confirming that Esme had returned with an excited face, I closed the curtains. But what is Edward doing? He said he’d contact me as soon as he finished talking with the temple. He said it would be easy to win over the temple. Was it not?

Just try to change your mind. You’ll really get it.

I sat down on the bed with a deep sigh.

It’s so frustrating. How long do I have to stay here like this? I need to be able to move around more freely. Should I become independent? No. Why should I leave the Wesley mansion? If anyone’s leaving, it should be Esme and Jayden. I clicked my tongue shortly.

There’s really nothing easy.

“Sigh.”

It was the moment I sighed.

Speak of the devil.

The curtains swayed at the open balcony. Beyond it, I could see Vincent’s carriage entering.

“Oh! Josephine, he’s here, he’s here!”

“It’s Duke Vincent’s… carriage.”

“Yes! I have something to do with him this time!”

“I see. It seems you’ll be going out, what kind of clothes should I dress you in?”

“Hmm. Something comfortable and practical would be nice. Not these princess-like clothes. Do we have anything with less lace?”

Adeline’s taste was the opposite of mine. How can she wear clothes like this?

“Practical clothes… Miss Leira liked such clothes too.”

“I guess our tastes are similar since we’re friends.”

I smiled awkwardly. Where did the taste go? Even if we switched bodies, we still look for the same things.

*

3 days ago.

After Adeline left, Edward also moved busily. Thanks to feeding a lot of donations, it was easy to meet the High Priest, but unexpectedly, the High Priest was adamant.

“No matter what, demon beast fur is a bit… You know too, Your Grace. How scrutinizing eyes are these days. There are even rumors that the northern cold is due to demon beasts. The central government won’t sit still either.”

Ah, so the central government is the issue.

Everything else was just an excuse. Why would the High Priest bother with justifications when he’s already tasted money?

“Are you saying it would be fine if the central temple gives permission?”

“Yes, Sudelai always listens to the words of the believers. Surely Your Grace’s prayers will be heard too? We know you’re always sincere to the deity as well.”

The cold from the far north was coming down. There was no time to go all the way to the central in such a situation. Even if the fur problem was solved, there was still the food problem.

Edward stood up. He had found a way, and there was no time to keep dawdling here.

“Ah, if… Sudelai permits the use of demon beast fur, it would of course need to go through a purification process, right?”

The High Priest started.

Supply the fur only through the temple. He’s saying he’ll take a commission in between.

“High Priest.”

Edward slowly bent his waist. Edward’s red pupils, pressing both hands on the table, sank into darkness.

His wax-like face, devoid of all emotion, was as cold as the northern chill. The thick black cloak Edward was wearing added to the intimidation.

The High Priest raised his head to meet Edward’s eyes.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The High Priest smiled brightly.

“If you’re too greedy, you might get in trouble.”

“What greed am I…”

“This won’t work, High Priest. If all the northern residents freeze to death, there will be no temple either.”

Edward slowly chewed his words. The High Priest swallowed. Until now, Edward had obediently filled the temple’s pockets. But it seemed like an alarm was ringing that he absolutely must not cross the line this time. The High Priest lowered his gaze to stare at the table.

There was a crack in the table Edward had been pressing.

“…I understand well what you mean. I will not forget the sincerity Your Grace has shown to Sudelai all this time. Don’t worry about the purification.”

The High Priest quickly changed his words. He couldn’t lose his biggest donor over mere pocket change. Edward met the High Priest’s eyes once more and left the temple.

Why does his solid back look even bigger than before? The High Priest swallowed.