The main reason Kalon was pressuring Ino to find someone skilled in ancient languages was because a complex issue had recently arisen regarding ancient documents.

One day, a nobleman from Denertum suddenly visited the Ash Company, bringing land documents written in an ancient language, claiming he could prove his family owned shares of the land the Ash Company was trying to purchase.

Naturally, the document was written in an extremely difficult old script that couldn’t be properly read.

Nevertheless, they somehow managed to get help from someone with intermediate knowledge of the ancient language to decipher the document.

The contract proceeded smoothly. However, a problem arose after the Ash Company paid the money.

When they reported to the government office for the transfer of ownership, they received a response after a while saying, “We cannot recognize ownership of that land with this document.”

When they looked into what had happened, it turned out that the document brought by the person was indeed a genuine ancient document, but it was merely a temporary lease certificate for the land, not a proof of ownership.

However, that part was written in such complex language that the Ash Company’s employee couldn’t read it properly, and it turned out that the person with intermediate skills was actually a cousin of the one who came to sell the land.

“So we’ve been deceived, then.”

“Yes. It’s a grand scam. The nobleman, his relative, and even the government office clerk are saying that since there was no problem with the transaction, it’s our responsibility for not properly verifying the document, so we can’t even sue them.”

In the end, it meant all three of them were in cahoots.

Kalon decided not to pursue the matter further. They had clearly come prepared, so they must have their own countermeasures ready.

Moreover, it would be even more difficult if the government office took their side.

If we formally requested help from the royal family, a lawsuit might be possible, but it would surely take quite a long time to settle everything.

And above all, if it became known that we were deceived like this, even more swindlers would flock to us in the future.

‘The money we lost isn’t that much anyway.’

Considering the budget prepared for this plan, the money lost to this scam wasn’t even enough to buy a day’s worth of snacks for the Ash Company’s people.

‘Of course, I don’t intend to let it slide.’

He was a merchant. There could be no losses. That’s how he had lived until now, and that’s how he would continue to live.

In any case, having experienced one mistake, there couldn’t be a second. The Ash Company decided to halt all transactions until they found a proper expert in ancient languages.

In other words, they needed to find someone skilled in ancient languages to start working again.

“Right. This isn’t the time for us to be considering others’ circumstances.”

Kalon rose from his seat.

“Prepare to go to Viscount Aradis.”

* * *

Slap!

With a loud sound, Ael’s face turned to the side. Elize, standing in front of Ael, was breathing heavily with her face flushed red.

The Viscount couple stood beside the two, watching silently.

One might expect them to intervene when a younger sister slaps her older sister’s face, but the Viscount couple’s faces were filled with the same anger as Elize’s.

Watching Ael being slapped, Viscount Aradis looked around the room, grumbling as if he too wanted to do something, searching for something to pick up and strike with.

“You fool! Are you saying you did well just now?”

Elize shouted at Ael, then suddenly covered her face and collapsed onto the nearby sofa, starting to cry.

The Viscountess approached Elize to comfort her.

“Oh, our poor Elize. What on earth are we going to do now?”

“I don’t know! That idiot ruined my life!”

Elize’s crying turned into wailing. The Viscountess felt her heart breaking seeing her daughter like this.

Recently, Elize’s popularity had been rising day by day. Even the Grand Duke had been contacting and meeting with Elize more frequently than before. They thought that at this rate, Elize would undoubtedly secure the position of Grand Duchess.

So the Viscountess had been dreaming of a beautiful future with her daughter.

The future seemed so certain and within reach that she had even been preparing to become the mother of the Grand Duchess.

She had even prepared a list of nobles who had laughed at her for being the second wife from a fallen family and never invited her. To seat them in the farthest corners at Elize and the Grand Duke’s wedding.

The owners of dress shops, who used to subtly show disrespect, had heard the news and now welcomed the Viscountess and Elize very warmly when they visited.

They didn’t even complain when told they would pay for the dresses later.

It wasn’t just the dress shops; furniture stores and jewelers also welcomed the Viscount’s family.

Receiving their warm hospitality, the Viscountess had imagined her daughter’s wedding day.

When that day came, she planned to properly repay these people. And she would also return the favor to those who had looked down on them until now.

Of course, in the name of her son-in-law, the Grand Duke!

‘But that fool had to go and reveal all of Elize’s mistakes in front of Riena of all people……!’

The beautiful dream shattered in an instant. Riena would surely spread the rumor throughout the entire social circle.

That’s why she had invited so many people to the tea party.

It felt as if the future that had been so clear just moments ago had been suddenly murdered.

“What am I going to do now……”

Hearing Elize’s crying, the Viscountess abruptly stood up. Then she roughly grabbed Ael’s hair, who was standing with her head turned, and shook it violently.

“Someone like you, I should have thrown you to a vagrant on the street! Just because your name was on the nobility list, we took in and raised someone so disgusting, and this is how you repay that kindness? You wench! You did this on purpose because you were jealous of your sister, didn’t you?”

The Viscountess shook her wildly and then threw Ael to the floor.

“Ugh……”

A dull pain shot through her shoulder as it hit the floor.

It reminded her of her childhood, something she had almost forgotten as such incidents had become rare recently.

Those days of being beaten endlessly amidst screams and forced to kneel.

Ael, accustomed to the impending violence, raised her arms to protect her head. A blow to the head could result in more than just a little pain.

That’s when it happened.

“Master! A guest has arrived!”

“Tell them we can’t receive any guests today and to go back!”

The Viscount, who had been approaching with a fireplace poker, shouted at the servant who had rushed in.

“Bu-but… I think you should meet this one.”

In such situations, servants would usually take the hint and send the guest away, but strangely, this servant hesitated and didn’t leave.

“Just who is this visitor that you’re acting like this!”

“Well……”

The servant replied with a bewildered expression.

“It’s that Imperial who came with gifts before.”

“What? Why is he here?”

“He says he wants to meet with the master and the first young lady……”

“That one?”

The Viscount looked at Ael, who was trembling on the floor. The red handprint rising on her cheek, her disheveled hair and clothes.

No matter how they tried to tidy her up, they couldn’t present her in this state.

‘As much as I’d like to ignore that Imperial fellow.’

Judging by the gifts he had brought and his somewhat intimidating attitude, he was clearly a high-ranking official of the Ash Company. Recalling the previous visit, the Viscount asked the servant.

“Did he bring anything this time as well?”

“Yes. It seems he’s brought gifts again.”

The Viscount’s eyes sparkled at the servant’s answer.

Considering the previous occasion, it didn’t seem like he would have come empty-handed.

It wasn’t just Elize who had been pleased last time.

The Viscount recalled the fountain pen on his desk. How smooth it was to write with. Although it wasn’t entirely suitable for him, it was something everyone envied.

‘I don’t know why he’s come again, but……’

It’s better to accept what’s given, at least. The Viscount said to his wife.

“You’ll have to take that one away for a while.”

“Wow, look how rundown this house is.”

In the shabby reception room, Ino whistled lowly in surprise. He had been in and out of many noble houses in Denertum, but this was the first time he’d seen such a poor place.

It wasn’t just because the house was old.

Even an old house, if cared for with affection by its inhabitants, can develop a unique atmosphere that charms others.

Ino was certain. The owner of this house was not only short on money but also lacked affection for their home and even had poor taste.

‘It’s surprising the entrance was clean.’

Unaware that Ael swept and cleaned the entrance morning and evening, but that the reception room was a place the Viscount hadn’t allowed Ael to touch, Ino couldn’t understand this strange imbalance in the house.

‘Why are they taking so long to come?’

He grumbled inwardly, looking at the overly ornate sofa he didn’t particularly want to sit on.