“There’s something I didn’t tell Young Lady. Actually, I was planning to take this ring to the Baron and receive the reward.”
Layla looked as if she couldn't understand why Judith was saying such things now.
“Can Young Lady also give me the case money?”
“So you mean you’ll keep your mouth shut if I give you a bribe?”
Although she understood what Judith meant, Layla did not seem to believe her.
“You don’t plan on making a big deal out of it anyway.”
It would be easy to kill Judith Harrington without anyone knowing. But it would not be easy to kill the Countess of Rhineland, the wife of war hero Erne Rhineland, secretly.
Especially since Erne witnessed the kidnapping scene.
However, Layla is very anxious because Judith caught her doing something that could get her caught. So she needs to be reassured.
“I’ll put my secret up as collateral.”
Judith bent down toward Layla and lowered her voice.
“Let’s share our secrets with each other?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is a secret that my life depends on. I think Young Lady will be able to feel at ease with this much.”
If it's a story of a secret or a story that would be fatal to both parties if revealed, wouldn't Layla be able to trust me?
“It costs a bit of money to keep my secret a secret, is that okay?”
“That’s not a fair deal.”
Layla's eyes sharpened. If Erne Rhineland hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have engaged in such an unfair deal.
But Layla, as Judith had expected, didn't want to make a big deal out of this.
“But listen.”
“That’s a wise decision, Young Lady.”
Judith smiled happily as she delivered the candles and received payment for them.
“I got married.”
What, that's all you're secret about?
Just as a look of disappointment crossed Layla's face, Judith pointed to Erne, who was standing outside the carriage.
“With that guy.”
Judith confessed everything that had happened. From her accidental marriage with Erne and inheriting the debts of the Count of Rhineland to her dealings with moneylenders.
Of course, she left out the story about Ern's death and the undecorated body. Erne pretended to be dead to catch the person who was trying to kill him, but fortunately, it went over well.
“Yes, I understand that much. But why is this a secret?”
Layla asked as if she didn't understand at all.
“All the candles that are ordered are made at the Count’s Rhineland.”
“In that cursed mansion?”
A look of disgust suddenly appeared on Layla's face.
“If I told people that I was selling candles made by the Count of Rhineland, everyone would react the same way as Young Lady.”
“Nobody is going to buy the candles.”
“Yes, then I won’t be able to repay my debt. If I can’t repay my debt, I’ll be sold to a moneylender. That would be worse than death.”
So how dangerous a secret is this?
“That’s why they say it costs money to keep a secret.”
Layla, who had been thinking for a moment, let out a chuckle.
“If I don’t buy Miss Harrington’s candles because I feel uncomfortable after hearing your secret, everyone will think it’s strange.”
Baroness Briggs used to actively introduce Judith's candles to others. If someone like that suddenly stopped buying her candles, wouldn't everyone wonder why?
Originally, one such small and petty suspicion was enough to ruin the whole thing. At least until the rumors of the cursed mansion faded and the mansion found its true value, it had to be kept a strict secret.
To keep this secret, Erne deliberately took a detour, went through the back door rather than the main door, and even covered his face with his hood.
"Great."
As if she understood Judith's hardships, Layla nodded after much thought.
“As long as Miss Harrington keeps her mouth shut, our family will never lose business. Oh, and Miss Harrington will take care of that ring.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Judith bowed to Layla and got out of the carriage.
“Oh, that’s right.”
Judith, who was about to go to Erne, looked back at Layla with a look of surprise.
“I’m just curious.”
“What is it?”
“How could a baby suddenly be born when it had never been born before?”
Judith looked at Layla's expression, which was becoming more and more mysterious, and just shrugged her shoulders and turned around.
“You really like collateral.”
Before I could even say thank you, Erne clicked his tongue and insisted on saying something.
“The situation can’t be helped. But where did that saying come from?”
Where did he get the words in that short time? He was said to be a capable knight, but he is capable in this area too...
“I bought it.”
“Huh? How much money do you have?”
My head tilted so low that it almost touched my shoulder. Erne stroked the horse's neck and answered shamelessly.
“With your money.”
I was traumatized.
Erne, who was in a hurry to follow me, got on a nearby horse and shouted to the horse owner that he wanted to buy the horse. Of course, the owner's intention was not taken into account at all.
I wanted to return the horse and pay only a day's fee, but the horse's owner was adamant in demanding the price. He said he was going to sell it at the market anyway or something.
I ended up buying the horse because I was told that if I didn't pay the price, I would be reported to the police.
Three months' worth of interest had been paid. I slumped my shoulders, my face paler than when I had been kidnapped.
“It’s cheap for the price of life.”
By the way, my head thought so, but my heart didn't. In particular, Erne's comfort, which he gave with a look of delight at being able to talk, had no effect at all.
“But what was the last thing you said?”
“What?”
“You said that the baby in the Baroness’s womb didn’t seem to be the Baron’s. Is that based on your story?”
I shrugged and said.
“I have heard it rather than based on evidence. I overheard it when I went to deliver to the Marquis of Ferney’s tea party last time.”
I heard someone say that a certain lady had an affair, so she hasn't been attending social events much lately. She must have had a hard time living with an older husband.
“I don’t know if it’s the Baroness or not. I just let Youngady Briggs know that there might be other useful cards besides that ring.”
It's ambiguous, but we're now in the same boat.
“If Young Lady Briggs inherits the title, she will have more to protect. Then she will be more anxious to keep rumors about this ring from leaking out. Then this secret will be more valuable.”
Erne, who had been quietly listening to me, furrowed his eyebrows. So, it seemed like I wanted to extort more money from the Lady.
“I almost died when I went to that house to collect the case fee. Have you already forgotten about that?”
“The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. If you take such a risk, you won’t be able to escape poverty.”
Well, what would a wealthy young master know? I clicked my tongue.
“As for the horse, Sir Erne will take it.”
"What?"
Erne asked in astonishment.
“Why are you like this, so anxious? Are you sick? They say that when a person suddenly changes, it means that it’s almost time for them to die.”
He put his hand on my forehead and muttered seriously, "There's no fever." I roughly pushed his hand away and frowned.
Layla looked as if she couldn't understand why Judith was saying such things now.
“Can Young Lady also give me the case money?”
“So you mean you’ll keep your mouth shut if I give you a bribe?”
Although she understood what Judith meant, Layla did not seem to believe her.
“You don’t plan on making a big deal out of it anyway.”
It would be easy to kill Judith Harrington without anyone knowing. But it would not be easy to kill the Countess of Rhineland, the wife of war hero Erne Rhineland, secretly.
Especially since Erne witnessed the kidnapping scene.
However, Layla is very anxious because Judith caught her doing something that could get her caught. So she needs to be reassured.
“I’ll put my secret up as collateral.”
Judith bent down toward Layla and lowered her voice.
“Let’s share our secrets with each other?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is a secret that my life depends on. I think Young Lady will be able to feel at ease with this much.”
If it's a story of a secret or a story that would be fatal to both parties if revealed, wouldn't Layla be able to trust me?
“It costs a bit of money to keep my secret a secret, is that okay?”
“That’s not a fair deal.”
Layla's eyes sharpened. If Erne Rhineland hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have engaged in such an unfair deal.
But Layla, as Judith had expected, didn't want to make a big deal out of this.
“But listen.”
“That’s a wise decision, Young Lady.”
Judith smiled happily as she delivered the candles and received payment for them.
“I got married.”
What, that's all you're secret about?
Just as a look of disappointment crossed Layla's face, Judith pointed to Erne, who was standing outside the carriage.
“With that guy.”
Judith confessed everything that had happened. From her accidental marriage with Erne and inheriting the debts of the Count of Rhineland to her dealings with moneylenders.
Of course, she left out the story about Ern's death and the undecorated body. Erne pretended to be dead to catch the person who was trying to kill him, but fortunately, it went over well.
“Yes, I understand that much. But why is this a secret?”
Layla asked as if she didn't understand at all.
“All the candles that are ordered are made at the Count’s Rhineland.”
“In that cursed mansion?”
A look of disgust suddenly appeared on Layla's face.
“If I told people that I was selling candles made by the Count of Rhineland, everyone would react the same way as Young Lady.”
“Nobody is going to buy the candles.”
“Yes, then I won’t be able to repay my debt. If I can’t repay my debt, I’ll be sold to a moneylender. That would be worse than death.”
So how dangerous a secret is this?
“That’s why they say it costs money to keep a secret.”
Layla, who had been thinking for a moment, let out a chuckle.
“If I don’t buy Miss Harrington’s candles because I feel uncomfortable after hearing your secret, everyone will think it’s strange.”
Baroness Briggs used to actively introduce Judith's candles to others. If someone like that suddenly stopped buying her candles, wouldn't everyone wonder why?
Originally, one such small and petty suspicion was enough to ruin the whole thing. At least until the rumors of the cursed mansion faded and the mansion found its true value, it had to be kept a strict secret.
To keep this secret, Erne deliberately took a detour, went through the back door rather than the main door, and even covered his face with his hood.
"Great."
As if she understood Judith's hardships, Layla nodded after much thought.
“As long as Miss Harrington keeps her mouth shut, our family will never lose business. Oh, and Miss Harrington will take care of that ring.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Judith bowed to Layla and got out of the carriage.
“Oh, that’s right.”
Judith, who was about to go to Erne, looked back at Layla with a look of surprise.
“I’m just curious.”
“What is it?”
“How could a baby suddenly be born when it had never been born before?”
Judith looked at Layla's expression, which was becoming more and more mysterious, and just shrugged her shoulders and turned around.
“You really like collateral.”
Before I could even say thank you, Erne clicked his tongue and insisted on saying something.
“The situation can’t be helped. But where did that saying come from?”
Where did he get the words in that short time? He was said to be a capable knight, but he is capable in this area too...
“I bought it.”
“Huh? How much money do you have?”
My head tilted so low that it almost touched my shoulder. Erne stroked the horse's neck and answered shamelessly.
“With your money.”
I was traumatized.
***
Erne, who was in a hurry to follow me, got on a nearby horse and shouted to the horse owner that he wanted to buy the horse. Of course, the owner's intention was not taken into account at all.
I wanted to return the horse and pay only a day's fee, but the horse's owner was adamant in demanding the price. He said he was going to sell it at the market anyway or something.
I ended up buying the horse because I was told that if I didn't pay the price, I would be reported to the police.
Three months' worth of interest had been paid. I slumped my shoulders, my face paler than when I had been kidnapped.
“It’s cheap for the price of life.”
By the way, my head thought so, but my heart didn't. In particular, Erne's comfort, which he gave with a look of delight at being able to talk, had no effect at all.
“But what was the last thing you said?”
“What?”
“You said that the baby in the Baroness’s womb didn’t seem to be the Baron’s. Is that based on your story?”
I shrugged and said.
“I have heard it rather than based on evidence. I overheard it when I went to deliver to the Marquis of Ferney’s tea party last time.”
I heard someone say that a certain lady had an affair, so she hasn't been attending social events much lately. She must have had a hard time living with an older husband.
“I don’t know if it’s the Baroness or not. I just let Youngady Briggs know that there might be other useful cards besides that ring.”
It's ambiguous, but we're now in the same boat.
“If Young Lady Briggs inherits the title, she will have more to protect. Then she will be more anxious to keep rumors about this ring from leaking out. Then this secret will be more valuable.”
Erne, who had been quietly listening to me, furrowed his eyebrows. So, it seemed like I wanted to extort more money from the Lady.
“I almost died when I went to that house to collect the case fee. Have you already forgotten about that?”
“The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. If you take such a risk, you won’t be able to escape poverty.”
Well, what would a wealthy young master know? I clicked my tongue.
“As for the horse, Sir Erne will take it.”
"What?"
Erne asked in astonishment.
“Why are you like this, so anxious? Are you sick? They say that when a person suddenly changes, it means that it’s almost time for them to die.”
He put his hand on my forehead and muttered seriously, "There's no fever." I roughly pushed his hand away and frowned.
“There's no point in me keeping the horse.”
“I thought you were going to sell it back.”
Well, actually, I did think about that.
“I’m grateful. I’m grateful that you didn’t ask for a divorce, and I’m grateful that you just saved me.”
Erne may have had some reason to maintain the marriage, but not as much as me. If he had insisted on getting a divorce, I would not have been able to stop him.
“Does Miss Judith Harrington feel grateful too?”
Is it okay to be sarcastic when someone expresses their gratitude with sincerity?
“You don’t want to take the horse? Just leave it alone. I’ll sell it or eat it.”
“Why are you saying such cruel things when a child listening?”
Erne gently covered the horse's ears. Judging from the fact that he didn't say anything about not taking me, he must have really hated walking around.
“But you speak as if you’ll never see me again.”
“You’re not coming back, are you?”
When the fake ID is revealed, Erne sets out to find Cliff.
After hearing about his death from Cliff, will Erne return to the Count of Rhineland? To the woman he had spent a few days with, but who was no different from a stranger?
My answer was skeptical.
“I was originally going to give you travel expenses, but I’ll give it as a gift instead.”
“Were you going to give me travel expenses? Are you really okay? Why are you acting so uncharacteristically?”
“You sang a song asking me to buy you a horse, and when I bought it for you, why... huh?”
The liquid that flowed down my philtrum wet my lips. I felt under my nose with ny finger. Blood stained my finger red.
“That’s right, you’re sick. I think it’s time for you to go.”
It's time to go to the afterlife.
“It’s not time for me to go yet.”
I found a handkerchief, held it under my nose, and glanced at Erne.
“I couldn’t sleep for a few days because of that ring.”
***
Square square square square-
“Oh, really.”
I, who was scratching my ears at the sound of a bug gnawing on something, looked around the floor and walls. I could hear the sound but couldn't see it, so I couldn't catch it.
This gnawing noise has been heard often in the past, but recently it has become much more frequent.
“Should I buy some pesticide?”
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