“You were all fooled by the snake charmer boy?”
The Emperor's Office. Erne, who had been invited there, frowned at Gelard, who was standing in place of his annoying aide.
He had thought from the beginning that there would be a limit to the information he could get from the con men. So he didn't regret their deaths that much.
It was just a shame that they couldn't find out more about the snake charmer boy who had given them the recipe.
“Did you send the snake knowing that the gang of scammers had been caught?”
“It seems so, but I’m not sure.”
“Then what is certain, Marquis? The four dead conmen? Or is that one?”
Cain lowered his head as if he was ashamed. Erne, standing next to Cain, felt uncomfortable as if he too was being needlessly reprimanded.
Something felt strange when the Emperor asked him to come alone and not Judith to congratulate him on his achievements.
“Why did you ask me to come?”
“Even if you have no business, if His Majesty calls you, all citizens of the Empire must come.”
The answer came from Gelard. Erne's face hardened even more.
“So you called me for no reason?”
“I called you here to congratulate you on your achievements. You’re not even a member of the Imperial Knights, but you’ve solved one of the country’s biggest problems.”
The Emperor smiled faintly. For some reason, the smile was ominous.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sir Erne.”
And? Shouldn't it be followed by something like there will be a reward, or that a reward will be given?
Erne waited, thinking that the Emperor had not finished speaking. However, the Emperor had an expression on his face that showed that he did not understand anything.
“Ah, this time the Countess’s performance was amazing too.”
“Seriously, that bastard got a wife who was more than he deserved.”
“Tell your wife she did a good job.”
“...Is that really all?”
You really called me to compliment me? All the way to the palace? Erne was furious.
A thick vein bulged above his temple.
“Is there no reward?”
Without it, you're just creating another traitor, Emperor.
Erne thought of Judith, who was like a rabbit waiting for the reward money that Erne would receive from the incense shop.
If she returns empty-handed this time, it will not be an incense shop, but the starting point of rebellion.
“No... No, there isn’t. There is. So, would you please relax your expression a little?”
“This time it shouldn’t be a dress.”
“Still, I don’t think you were a money-hungry guy before, but you’re becoming more and more hopeless as time goes by.”
Gelard glared at Erne with a very displeased look.
“Miss Harrington is now eagerly awaiting the gold coin that Your Majesty is about to give her.”
“The Countess deserves a reward.”
“...?”
If I ask for it, it's a request for money, but if Judith asks for it, it's something you should receive?
Gelard, that gentleman has gotten old and his eyesight has become clouded. He doesn't even know who is really looking for money. Erne was shocked.
“Yes, she deserves it. This time, she went into the tent of those con artists alone and came out with the recipe.”
Even the Emperor chimed in with agreement to Gelard's words.
“I heard from Madam that she went in even though she knew there was a body.”
“She truly brave.”
Erne was speechless when Cain got involved. If that was going to happen, why didn't he call Judith instead of himself?
“You got married really well.”
“They say that these days, when you think of a well-married man, the name that comes to mind is not Albert Ferney, but Erne Rhineland.”
The Emperor and Gelard's rhythm matched well.
“How do you compare me to Albert Ferney?”
“Are you better than Albert Ferney?”
“Aren’t relationships with women complicated there?”
At least in that respect, Erne prided himself on being clean.
“He holds her hand, he’s clean with women, and he’s the groom of the century.”
Erne's expression hardened more and more at the sarcasm disguised as praise.
“Please give me the reward quickly. I’m busy too.”
“You? I heard that the incense is made by the lady, the remedy is made by the apothecary, and the sale is done by Sir Henry?”
“I also do this and that.”
The Emperor sighed briefly and asked seriously.
“Are you really not going to return to the Knights?”
“I can capture the main group of Followers without joining the Knights.”
“No, after that. Are you going to continue working at the incense shop?”
Erne opened his mouth, then closed it again.
After that, after all the danger was gone, after Judith no longer needed me...
It was a difficult question. One he didn't want to think about.
“I will take care of it.”
This was the best answer Erne could give at the moment.
“When will you pay the reward?”
Erne finally raised his voice. The Emperor's expression didn't change as if he had expected him to be annoyed.
“The reward will be sent directly to Madam’s incense shop. Shr will receive it before you return.”
The Emperor was afraid that if he sent the dress this time, he would lose the Countess's trust, so he sent it in gold coins.
“Then why did you call me?”
“I have something for you too. Follow Sir Gelard.”
The old knight stepped back from the Emperor, bowed, and walked out with heavy steps. He motioned with his eyes for Erne to follow him.
Erne was certain that it was not a gift, even if he did not know what the Emperor wanted.
“Your Majesty, Judith Rine, ugh, madam, why, why are you doing this?”
The aide who came to deliver the reward to me on behalf of the Emperor was startled when I suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards me.
“Harrington, Harrington.”
This is a scented candle shop.
With twice as many customers as usual due to me selling the cure, I could not let it be known that I was the Countess of Rhineland.
“His Majesty has praised the services rendered to Miss Judith Harrington.”
The Emperor's adviser was quick-witted. He immediately realized that I wanted to be called by my maiden name.
The aide was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. He didn't even ask why I wanted to be called Ms. Harrington.
This was because I had already been defined in the aide's mind as someone with strange tastes who liked Erne.
There must be a reason why a strange person does strange things.
“Here, take it.”
“His Majesty’s kindness is immense.”
"...What is that strange way of speaking?”
Oh, isn't this what it is?
I scratched my head for a moment and quickly took the gift box. It was heavy. At least this time it wasn't a dress.
“It’s gold.”
“Hehehe.”
I, unable to hide the joy that welled up in my heart, opened the box.
Click.
The Emperor's Office. Erne, who had been invited there, frowned at Gelard, who was standing in place of his annoying aide.
He had thought from the beginning that there would be a limit to the information he could get from the con men. So he didn't regret their deaths that much.
It was just a shame that they couldn't find out more about the snake charmer boy who had given them the recipe.
“Did you send the snake knowing that the gang of scammers had been caught?”
“It seems so, but I’m not sure.”
“Then what is certain, Marquis? The four dead conmen? Or is that one?”
Cain lowered his head as if he was ashamed. Erne, standing next to Cain, felt uncomfortable as if he too was being needlessly reprimanded.
Something felt strange when the Emperor asked him to come alone and not Judith to congratulate him on his achievements.
“Why did you ask me to come?”
“Even if you have no business, if His Majesty calls you, all citizens of the Empire must come.”
The answer came from Gelard. Erne's face hardened even more.
“So you called me for no reason?”
“I called you here to congratulate you on your achievements. You’re not even a member of the Imperial Knights, but you’ve solved one of the country’s biggest problems.”
The Emperor smiled faintly. For some reason, the smile was ominous.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sir Erne.”
And? Shouldn't it be followed by something like there will be a reward, or that a reward will be given?
Erne waited, thinking that the Emperor had not finished speaking. However, the Emperor had an expression on his face that showed that he did not understand anything.
“Ah, this time the Countess’s performance was amazing too.”
“Seriously, that bastard got a wife who was more than he deserved.”
“Tell your wife she did a good job.”
“...Is that really all?”
You really called me to compliment me? All the way to the palace? Erne was furious.
A thick vein bulged above his temple.
“Is there no reward?”
Without it, you're just creating another traitor, Emperor.
Erne thought of Judith, who was like a rabbit waiting for the reward money that Erne would receive from the incense shop.
If she returns empty-handed this time, it will not be an incense shop, but the starting point of rebellion.
“No... No, there isn’t. There is. So, would you please relax your expression a little?”
“This time it shouldn’t be a dress.”
“Still, I don’t think you were a money-hungry guy before, but you’re becoming more and more hopeless as time goes by.”
Gelard glared at Erne with a very displeased look.
“Miss Harrington is now eagerly awaiting the gold coin that Your Majesty is about to give her.”
“The Countess deserves a reward.”
“...?”
If I ask for it, it's a request for money, but if Judith asks for it, it's something you should receive?
Gelard, that gentleman has gotten old and his eyesight has become clouded. He doesn't even know who is really looking for money. Erne was shocked.
“Yes, she deserves it. This time, she went into the tent of those con artists alone and came out with the recipe.”
Even the Emperor chimed in with agreement to Gelard's words.
“I heard from Madam that she went in even though she knew there was a body.”
“She truly brave.”
Erne was speechless when Cain got involved. If that was going to happen, why didn't he call Judith instead of himself?
“You got married really well.”
“They say that these days, when you think of a well-married man, the name that comes to mind is not Albert Ferney, but Erne Rhineland.”
The Emperor and Gelard's rhythm matched well.
“How do you compare me to Albert Ferney?”
“Are you better than Albert Ferney?”
“Aren’t relationships with women complicated there?”
At least in that respect, Erne prided himself on being clean.
“He holds her hand, he’s clean with women, and he’s the groom of the century.”
Erne's expression hardened more and more at the sarcasm disguised as praise.
“Please give me the reward quickly. I’m busy too.”
“You? I heard that the incense is made by the lady, the remedy is made by the apothecary, and the sale is done by Sir Henry?”
“I also do this and that.”
The Emperor sighed briefly and asked seriously.
“Are you really not going to return to the Knights?”
“I can capture the main group of Followers without joining the Knights.”
“No, after that. Are you going to continue working at the incense shop?”
Erne opened his mouth, then closed it again.
After that, after all the danger was gone, after Judith no longer needed me...
It was a difficult question. One he didn't want to think about.
“I will take care of it.”
This was the best answer Erne could give at the moment.
“When will you pay the reward?”
Erne finally raised his voice. The Emperor's expression didn't change as if he had expected him to be annoyed.
“The reward will be sent directly to Madam’s incense shop. Shr will receive it before you return.”
The Emperor was afraid that if he sent the dress this time, he would lose the Countess's trust, so he sent it in gold coins.
“Then why did you call me?”
“I have something for you too. Follow Sir Gelard.”
The old knight stepped back from the Emperor, bowed, and walked out with heavy steps. He motioned with his eyes for Erne to follow him.
Erne was certain that it was not a gift, even if he did not know what the Emperor wanted.
***
“Your Majesty, Judith Rine, ugh, madam, why, why are you doing this?”
The aide who came to deliver the reward to me on behalf of the Emperor was startled when I suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards me.
“Harrington, Harrington.”
This is a scented candle shop.
With twice as many customers as usual due to me selling the cure, I could not let it be known that I was the Countess of Rhineland.
“His Majesty has praised the services rendered to Miss Judith Harrington.”
The Emperor's adviser was quick-witted. He immediately realized that I wanted to be called by my maiden name.
The aide was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. He didn't even ask why I wanted to be called Ms. Harrington.
This was because I had already been defined in the aide's mind as someone with strange tastes who liked Erne.
There must be a reason why a strange person does strange things.
“Here, take it.”
“His Majesty’s kindness is immense.”
"...What is that strange way of speaking?”
Oh, isn't this what it is?
I scratched my head for a moment and quickly took the gift box. It was heavy. At least this time it wasn't a dress.
“It’s gold.”
“Hehehe.”
I, unable to hide the joy that welled up in my heart, opened the box.
Click.
Even the sound of its opening was luxurious, and inside the box were sparkling gold coins.
“It’s 100 gold.”
I touched the gold coins with my fingertips and quickly closed the box.
“If you capture the main group of Followers, His Majesty will give you 200 million gold, so please continue to work hard in the future.”
“Of course.”
“And the snake charmer who gave the recipe to the con men, Miss Harrington, no.”
“Yes, why that boy?”
“I heard this news just before I left the palace. It seems like that boy is the leader of these Followers.”
“Is he a general? Is he a captain?”
In the dungeons of the palace, before the aide goes to deliver the reward to Judith.
The place that had been filled with the groans and blood of traitors for a while was now deserted. Erne followed Gelard, who was holding a torch, through the empty iron bars.
A dark place where not a single ray of sunlight could reach. When Gelard brought the torch he had brought and held it close to the iron bars, a dry hand holding a candle appeared in the darkness.
The hand moved the flame of the torch to the candle and slowly stepped back. The dim candlelight illuminated the face of the skinny old man.
“It’s always so dark and stuffy here.”
Gelard also lit a torch on the prison wall. Only then could Erne see inside the bars properly. Well, as is the case with dungeons, there wasn't much to see.
“What is it? Why did you bring me here?”
"Followers."
A Followers who escaped from the Followers after releasing Cliff and Ceres' gold.
Gelard, who heard of his existence from Cain, pursued him along another route with the police.
And recently, he was found dying on the dock and brought in.
“He called himself a purple-feathered medium.”
“He said his name?”
“Yes, he was very cooperative with the investigation.”
The purple-feathered medium escaped from the main group with Ceres' help.
After that, the medium joined the upper group and headed to the port. However, he was robbed on the way, and although he somehow arrived at the port, he had no money and wandered the streets.
The Shartins are old and hard to find work, the weather is getting colder, and the purple-feathered medium is getting weaker. It wouldn't be strange if he died at any moment.
“That’s what he said, that the snake charmer boy is the one leading them.”
“Do you believe what he says? He may have brought in a fake to hide the truth.”
Erne looked over the old man, the purple-feathered medium while raising objections.
He was so skinny that it wouldn't have been strange if he had stopped breathing at any moment, and one of his legs was wrapped in a bandage.
The torch cannot be used to determine his complexion, but his complexion is probably pale. He smells like death.
“He will lead us to destruction."
“It’s 100 gold.”
I touched the gold coins with my fingertips and quickly closed the box.
“If you capture the main group of Followers, His Majesty will give you 200 million gold, so please continue to work hard in the future.”
“Of course.”
“And the snake charmer who gave the recipe to the con men, Miss Harrington, no.”
“Yes, why that boy?”
“I heard this news just before I left the palace. It seems like that boy is the leader of these Followers.”
“Is he a general? Is he a captain?”
***
In the dungeons of the palace, before the aide goes to deliver the reward to Judith.
The place that had been filled with the groans and blood of traitors for a while was now deserted. Erne followed Gelard, who was holding a torch, through the empty iron bars.
A dark place where not a single ray of sunlight could reach. When Gelard brought the torch he had brought and held it close to the iron bars, a dry hand holding a candle appeared in the darkness.
The hand moved the flame of the torch to the candle and slowly stepped back. The dim candlelight illuminated the face of the skinny old man.
“It’s always so dark and stuffy here.”
Gelard also lit a torch on the prison wall. Only then could Erne see inside the bars properly. Well, as is the case with dungeons, there wasn't much to see.
“What is it? Why did you bring me here?”
"Followers."
A Followers who escaped from the Followers after releasing Cliff and Ceres' gold.
Gelard, who heard of his existence from Cain, pursued him along another route with the police.
And recently, he was found dying on the dock and brought in.
“He called himself a purple-feathered medium.”
“He said his name?”
“Yes, he was very cooperative with the investigation.”
The purple-feathered medium escaped from the main group with Ceres' help.
After that, the medium joined the upper group and headed to the port. However, he was robbed on the way, and although he somehow arrived at the port, he had no money and wandered the streets.
The Shartins are old and hard to find work, the weather is getting colder, and the purple-feathered medium is getting weaker. It wouldn't be strange if he died at any moment.
“That’s what he said, that the snake charmer boy is the one leading them.”
“Do you believe what he says? He may have brought in a fake to hide the truth.”
Erne looked over the old man, the purple-feathered medium while raising objections.
He was so skinny that it wouldn't have been strange if he had stopped breathing at any moment, and one of his legs was wrapped in a bandage.
The torch cannot be used to determine his complexion, but his complexion is probably pale. He smells like death.
“He will lead us to destruction."
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