“Yes, you’re right. My job is to go around various branches of Ash Co. and resolve their issues. Lying is inevitable in that process, so I don’t really feel guilty. An honest merchant is as good as a ruined one, after all.”

At his tidy response, a cold wind swept across my chest, despite it being summer.

Then, he slightly bent his body and came close to Aelfrie, speaking in a low voice.

“But… this is a first for me.”

Could this also be a lie? Aelfrie found herself trembling, irritated by how composed he appeared.

Yes, if it’s all a lie…

“I’ll do it.”

Aelfrie spoke with emphasis.

To him, this lie meant nothing. He would carry it out without much thought and forget it soon after.

Then shouldn’t she approach it lightly too?

Aelfrie decided to live a little more freely.

After all, everything would end when autumn arrived.

The first people to burst in after Aelfrie accepted his proposal were Nisha and Ino.

As soon as they entered, they repeatedly bowed their heads to Aelfrie, saying they were really sorry, promising to raise her weekly pay and give her a substantial special bonus for this matter.

The words “special bonus” steadied Aelfrie’s heart.

This is a job. Although temporary, it’s a responsibility I have as an employee of Ash Co.

The Earl of Hebrides contacted them a week later, inviting them to his estate.

“I do know of the Earl of Hebrides.”

Though she had not participated in social circles, Aelfrie was well acquainted with his name.

He was the academy principal a long time ago and was the king’s mentor.

But he had no ambition for advancement and had resigned after fulfilling his basic term.

Aelfrie had come to know of him through some dusty, unread records of academy principals.

Who would even look for such records?

Even in the academy, they made those records out of courtesy for the principals; they weren’t books meant for anyone to see. Most people didn’t even know they existed.

Had Aelfrie not hidden deep in the library to avoid people she had met there, she wouldn’t have known of the book’s existence either.

In it were the Earl’s writings, his honest thoughts penned after resigning from the academy.
Aelfrie was engrossed in reading the article. The straightforward account, devoid of any embellishments, was naturally more heart-stirring than ornate prose.

Quickly jotting something down on a piece of paper, Aelfrie handed it to Nisha.

“Nisha, could you get these items for me?”

“Hm? I can easily get these, but… what are they for?”

“They’re gifts for the Count’s house. Please get the best quality.”

“Gifts? These things?”

Nisha seemed perplexed as she looked at the paper. Ino, standing beside her, leaned in to glance at it and wore a similarly confused expression.

“I know Count Hebrides is frugal, but these hardly seem like suitable gifts.”

This time, Calon reached for the paper and looked at it.

He too wore the same expression as Nisha and Ino—a face that seemed to say, ‘This qualifies as a gift?’ Aelfrie let out a soft chuckle.

“Don’t worry. They’ll make good gifts.”

“Um… still, I’ll prepare some high-end items that are typically gifted to noble clients. It’s not that I don’t trust you, Aelfrie, but I’m a bit uneasy…”

At Nisha’s words, Aelfrie nodded in understanding, though she probably wouldn’t need the gifts Nisha prepared.

The four then exchanged some more information about Count Hebrides before diving into preparations.