Wiretapping magic.
At those embarrassed words, I hurriedly picked up the bracelet and checked it here and there.
Nicole also seemed curious, as she craned her neck like a deer and looked at the bracelet.
There was a small magic circle drawn on the inside part where the wrist touches, but it wasn't strange at all for a magic bracelet to have a magic circle drawn on it.
Just looking at it, you wouldn't know if there was a wiretapping spell.
But since Perdes wouldn't say something like that for no reason, it's certainly under a wiretapping spell.
“What is this, Count Tesis?”
“I, I don’t know anything about it!”
Count Tesis jumped to his feet, shuddering as if struck by lightning.
“Wow, a wiretapping spell! I had no idea that there was something like that!”
The way he stutters for fear of being called rich is exactly like Nicole Tesis.
“I, really! This is the first time I’ve heard of this story!”
Judging from his facial expressions, speech, and actions, it seemed like he really didn't know anything, but it wasn't possible to be certain.
It could be because of his excellent acting skills like Perdes.
Perdes asked Count Tesis.
“Then tell me where you bought this bracelet.”
Count Tesis sat back down awkwardly and answered.
“No, I don’t know where to buy it.”
“Do you think it makes sense that the person who gave the bracelet doesn’t know where it was purchased?”
“I, really! I asked Count Smith to get it for me, so I don’t know where he bought it.”
If he was Count of Smith, he was a nobleman of the Imperial Party.
That means the Emperor is involved in this matter.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.”
Nicole Tesis waved her hands and asked in a smaller voice,
“If this is really a wiretapping magic circle, doesn’t that mean the other party is eavesdropping on our entire conversation?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. This reception room has a mana-blocking spell.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Nicole Tesis sighed in relief.
Perdes asked Count Tesis again.
“Are you sure that Count Smith gave you that bracelet?”
“Of course! He heard somewhere that I was looking for a magical accessory to give to Your Excellency the Duke as a congratulatory gift, so he took the initiative and offered to get it for me!”
“We’ll find out if that’s true once we check.”
Perdes stood up, intending to find out right away.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Yes. I can figure this out on my own, so you finish up here.”
After saying that, Perdes quickly walked out.
After he left, a somewhat heavy silence fell over the drawing room.
I stared blankly down at the bracelet with the eavesdropping spell, and Count Tesis fidgeted and watched me.
The same was true for Nicole Tesis.
She looked at both me and Count Tesis, then spoke to me cautiously.
“It seems that my father really knows nothing about wiretapping magic, Your Excellency.”
“Are you taking his side because he is your father?”
“Oh, no! That, that’s not it...”
"I'm kidding."
I was half in doubt just a moment ago, but when Perdes said he was going to check, I was able to confirm it when I saw that his eyes didn't waver at all.
“It seems that the Count, like me, was used by Count Smith.”
“Your Excellency the Duke... like that?”
“Yes. I think I was also used by the Dark Top.”
I put my hand on my cheek and sighed deeply.
“You asked if I was the one behind the attack on the back of Marquis Frasis’ head earlier.”
“...”
“No. Why would I hit the back of the head of the Marquis of Frasis?”
“Then where did you get all those magical items...”
“I bought it from a place called Cosmos Top. If you doubt what I’m saying, I can show you the contract.”
As I stood up as if I was going to go get the contract at any moment, Count Tesis shook his head violently.
“No. I trust you, Your Excellency, so there is no need to go that far.”
“Oh my, you trust me? I thought you were suspicious just now...”
“Oh, no! That, that was just a thought, I never suspected you, Your Excellency.”
He must have been very flustered, as cold sweat dripped down his broad forehead.
It's a bit sad to see that, and I think I've put enough pressure on him, so I guess I'll end it here.
“It won’t be good if rumors spread that we were taken advantage of, so let’s ask each other about this matter.”
As I said that, I put the problematic bracelet down in front of my eyes.
It was an unspoken threat that if he didn't do as I said, I would make it public that I had been given a bracelet with a wiretapping spell.
Count Tesis flinched as if he understood the hidden meaning, and then nodded his head vigorously.
“Of course. I swear on my family name that I will not tell anyone about this.”
To the nobles, their family was their pride, honor, and life, so an oath made in the name of their family was trustworthy.
“Then what about the Marquis of Frasis who asked you to help him find the culprit?”
“Well, I have no knowledge of that part, so I’m afraid I can’t help you, Your Excellency.”
Look at that change in words.
“Ahem.”
I laughed because it was funny, but Count Tesis seemed a little jealous and coughed loudly as he looked at the bracelet I had put down.
“Then this bracelet...”
“Oh, I’ll hold this just in case.”
“I, I guess so.”
I felt like he wanted to take the bracelet back, seeing his fingers waving in the air, but I couldn't.
It was right for me to keep the evidence just in case.
I said, putting the bracelet back in the box.
“Then shall we finish Princess Tesis’s business?”
I brought it up, but there was nothing to do.
From this point on, it was Nicole Tesis's turn to look at me.
“Phew.”
Nicole Tesis took a deep breath as if trying to calm her agitated mind, then spoke seriously.
“My father told me to get a contract to fill an empty warehouse within two months because he wanted to test my abilities.”
But her voice still trembled.
“Not only did I fill the warehouse as my father instructed, but I also obtained the long-coveted Pura transport rights from the upper reaches of Tesis.”
Hoo, you were after the Pura Transport Ticket from the top of Tesis.
I just found out.
After all, the Tesis upper deck had never taken the right to transport Pura before, so it was something to be desired.
“So, I hope that Father will also keep his promise.”
“...”
Count Tesis's face became clouded for a moment.
He glanced at me, sighed deeply, and nodded.
“Yes. I promised, so I must keep my promise. As soon as I return to the Count’s house, I will call together my vassals and declare you the official successor.”
“No. I don’t need a successor.”
“What is that...”
“I never wanted to be the successor in the first place. It was purely my father and brother’s mistake to think that I wanted that.”
Before I knew it, the trembling in her voice had completely disappeared.
Nicole Tesis clenched her fists and continued speaking resolutely.
“What I want is complete freedom without any interference from anyone.”
“...!”
“So, from now on, I hope you don’t mind what I do.”
Whether or not Nicole Tesis's bombshell announcement was quite a shock, Count Tesis returned half-asleep, supported by his servant.
Nicole Tesis, on the other hand, looked relieved as if all her burdens had been put down.
“Thank you for your help.”
Nicole Tesis bowed deeply in greeting.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for your help, I was able to sort everything out. Thank you very much.”
“No. I also received help from Young Lady, so you don’t have to be so grateful.”
“I’m so glad I could help.”
“But are you really sure you can refuse the position of successor? It’s a great opportunity to take over both the Count of Tesis and the entire merchant family. Aren’t you greedy?”
“I would be lying if I said I had no desire at all.”
Nicole Tesis laughed bitterly and scratched her head.
“But to get that, I have to endure countless jealousies, envy, and plots from other people, including my brother... I don’t have the confidence to endure that.”
"I see."
“Haha, I’m sorry. You helped me out so much, but you’re saying such pathetic things...”
“No. I’ve never thought of you as pathetic, so you don’t have to blame yourself for that.”
It wasn't an empty remark, it was sincere.
Since different people have different priorities, I couldn't judge what Nicole Tesis chose.
“Your Excellency, I owe you a great favor. If you need my help, please let me know at any time. I will gladly assist you in any matter.”
I was about to refuse, but then I remembered something else I wanted to ask her, so I asked her something else.
“Do you know of Gloria Island?”
“Gloria Island? Where is it?”
“Um, wait a minute.”
I thought it would be better to show it to her than to explain it in words, so I brought out a map and spread it out on the table.
“It's here.”
And pointed to a spot where there was nothing.
“It’s such a small island that it’s not marked on the continental map... Is this the first time you’ve heard of it?"
"Yes."
“Then do you know this place?”
Nicole Tesis nodded as I pointed to the nearby island of Lumia.
“Is there a branch of Tesis here?”
“No, we don’t have a trading post there. Instead, there’s another shipping company that has been around for a long time on Lumia Island.”
“Are you by any chance close to those people at the top?”
“I’m not close with everyone, but I’m close with the captain.”
Captain? I asked just in case, but it turned out to be a moonfish.
“Could I possibly ask the captain to sail the ship to Gloria Island?”
“A boat?”
“Yeah. I have to go to Gloria Island, but it’s hard to find a boat to get there.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, I will ask. Since it is a request from Your Excellency the Duke, I am sure he will grant it without me having to ask.”
“No. Please keep what I asked a secret.”
“Yes? But you have a business to attend to Gloria Island...”
“It’s not me who goes there.”
“Then who is going?”
Instead of answering, I stared at Nicole Tesis.
She immediately understood what my gaze meant and asked back with a start.
“Your Excellency, are you telling me to go there?”
"That's right."
“No, wait, why....”
“Didn’t I tell you to let me know whenever you need Young Lady’s help?”
Nicole Tesis closed her mouth as she recalled what she had said just ten minutes ago.
I patted her shoulder and continued speaking.
“First, check if the ship can sail to Gloria Island. I’ll tell you the next plan after confirming that.”
At those embarrassed words, I hurriedly picked up the bracelet and checked it here and there.
Nicole also seemed curious, as she craned her neck like a deer and looked at the bracelet.
There was a small magic circle drawn on the inside part where the wrist touches, but it wasn't strange at all for a magic bracelet to have a magic circle drawn on it.
Just looking at it, you wouldn't know if there was a wiretapping spell.
But since Perdes wouldn't say something like that for no reason, it's certainly under a wiretapping spell.
“What is this, Count Tesis?”
“I, I don’t know anything about it!”
Count Tesis jumped to his feet, shuddering as if struck by lightning.
“Wow, a wiretapping spell! I had no idea that there was something like that!”
The way he stutters for fear of being called rich is exactly like Nicole Tesis.
“I, really! This is the first time I’ve heard of this story!”
Judging from his facial expressions, speech, and actions, it seemed like he really didn't know anything, but it wasn't possible to be certain.
It could be because of his excellent acting skills like Perdes.
Perdes asked Count Tesis.
“Then tell me where you bought this bracelet.”
Count Tesis sat back down awkwardly and answered.
“No, I don’t know where to buy it.”
“Do you think it makes sense that the person who gave the bracelet doesn’t know where it was purchased?”
“I, really! I asked Count Smith to get it for me, so I don’t know where he bought it.”
If he was Count of Smith, he was a nobleman of the Imperial Party.
That means the Emperor is involved in this matter.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.”
Nicole Tesis waved her hands and asked in a smaller voice,
“If this is really a wiretapping magic circle, doesn’t that mean the other party is eavesdropping on our entire conversation?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. This reception room has a mana-blocking spell.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Nicole Tesis sighed in relief.
Perdes asked Count Tesis again.
“Are you sure that Count Smith gave you that bracelet?”
“Of course! He heard somewhere that I was looking for a magical accessory to give to Your Excellency the Duke as a congratulatory gift, so he took the initiative and offered to get it for me!”
“We’ll find out if that’s true once we check.”
Perdes stood up, intending to find out right away.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Yes. I can figure this out on my own, so you finish up here.”
After saying that, Perdes quickly walked out.
After he left, a somewhat heavy silence fell over the drawing room.
I stared blankly down at the bracelet with the eavesdropping spell, and Count Tesis fidgeted and watched me.
The same was true for Nicole Tesis.
She looked at both me and Count Tesis, then spoke to me cautiously.
“It seems that my father really knows nothing about wiretapping magic, Your Excellency.”
“Are you taking his side because he is your father?”
“Oh, no! That, that’s not it...”
"I'm kidding."
I was half in doubt just a moment ago, but when Perdes said he was going to check, I was able to confirm it when I saw that his eyes didn't waver at all.
“It seems that the Count, like me, was used by Count Smith.”
“Your Excellency the Duke... like that?”
“Yes. I think I was also used by the Dark Top.”
I put my hand on my cheek and sighed deeply.
“You asked if I was the one behind the attack on the back of Marquis Frasis’ head earlier.”
“...”
“No. Why would I hit the back of the head of the Marquis of Frasis?”
“Then where did you get all those magical items...”
“I bought it from a place called Cosmos Top. If you doubt what I’m saying, I can show you the contract.”
As I stood up as if I was going to go get the contract at any moment, Count Tesis shook his head violently.
“No. I trust you, Your Excellency, so there is no need to go that far.”
“Oh my, you trust me? I thought you were suspicious just now...”
“Oh, no! That, that was just a thought, I never suspected you, Your Excellency.”
He must have been very flustered, as cold sweat dripped down his broad forehead.
It's a bit sad to see that, and I think I've put enough pressure on him, so I guess I'll end it here.
“It won’t be good if rumors spread that we were taken advantage of, so let’s ask each other about this matter.”
As I said that, I put the problematic bracelet down in front of my eyes.
It was an unspoken threat that if he didn't do as I said, I would make it public that I had been given a bracelet with a wiretapping spell.
Count Tesis flinched as if he understood the hidden meaning, and then nodded his head vigorously.
“Of course. I swear on my family name that I will not tell anyone about this.”
To the nobles, their family was their pride, honor, and life, so an oath made in the name of their family was trustworthy.
“Then what about the Marquis of Frasis who asked you to help him find the culprit?”
“Well, I have no knowledge of that part, so I’m afraid I can’t help you, Your Excellency.”
Look at that change in words.
“Ahem.”
I laughed because it was funny, but Count Tesis seemed a little jealous and coughed loudly as he looked at the bracelet I had put down.
“Then this bracelet...”
“Oh, I’ll hold this just in case.”
“I, I guess so.”
I felt like he wanted to take the bracelet back, seeing his fingers waving in the air, but I couldn't.
It was right for me to keep the evidence just in case.
I said, putting the bracelet back in the box.
“Then shall we finish Princess Tesis’s business?”
I brought it up, but there was nothing to do.
From this point on, it was Nicole Tesis's turn to look at me.
“Phew.”
Nicole Tesis took a deep breath as if trying to calm her agitated mind, then spoke seriously.
“My father told me to get a contract to fill an empty warehouse within two months because he wanted to test my abilities.”
But her voice still trembled.
“Not only did I fill the warehouse as my father instructed, but I also obtained the long-coveted Pura transport rights from the upper reaches of Tesis.”
Hoo, you were after the Pura Transport Ticket from the top of Tesis.
I just found out.
After all, the Tesis upper deck had never taken the right to transport Pura before, so it was something to be desired.
“So, I hope that Father will also keep his promise.”
“...”
Count Tesis's face became clouded for a moment.
He glanced at me, sighed deeply, and nodded.
“Yes. I promised, so I must keep my promise. As soon as I return to the Count’s house, I will call together my vassals and declare you the official successor.”
“No. I don’t need a successor.”
“What is that...”
“I never wanted to be the successor in the first place. It was purely my father and brother’s mistake to think that I wanted that.”
Before I knew it, the trembling in her voice had completely disappeared.
Nicole Tesis clenched her fists and continued speaking resolutely.
“What I want is complete freedom without any interference from anyone.”
“...!”
“So, from now on, I hope you don’t mind what I do.”
***
Whether or not Nicole Tesis's bombshell announcement was quite a shock, Count Tesis returned half-asleep, supported by his servant.
Nicole Tesis, on the other hand, looked relieved as if all her burdens had been put down.
“Thank you for your help.”
Nicole Tesis bowed deeply in greeting.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for your help, I was able to sort everything out. Thank you very much.”
“No. I also received help from Young Lady, so you don’t have to be so grateful.”
“I’m so glad I could help.”
“But are you really sure you can refuse the position of successor? It’s a great opportunity to take over both the Count of Tesis and the entire merchant family. Aren’t you greedy?”
“I would be lying if I said I had no desire at all.”
Nicole Tesis laughed bitterly and scratched her head.
“But to get that, I have to endure countless jealousies, envy, and plots from other people, including my brother... I don’t have the confidence to endure that.”
"I see."
“Haha, I’m sorry. You helped me out so much, but you’re saying such pathetic things...”
“No. I’ve never thought of you as pathetic, so you don’t have to blame yourself for that.”
It wasn't an empty remark, it was sincere.
Since different people have different priorities, I couldn't judge what Nicole Tesis chose.
“Your Excellency, I owe you a great favor. If you need my help, please let me know at any time. I will gladly assist you in any matter.”
I was about to refuse, but then I remembered something else I wanted to ask her, so I asked her something else.
“Do you know of Gloria Island?”
“Gloria Island? Where is it?”
“Um, wait a minute.”
I thought it would be better to show it to her than to explain it in words, so I brought out a map and spread it out on the table.
“It's here.”
And pointed to a spot where there was nothing.
“It’s such a small island that it’s not marked on the continental map... Is this the first time you’ve heard of it?"
"Yes."
“Then do you know this place?”
Nicole Tesis nodded as I pointed to the nearby island of Lumia.
“Is there a branch of Tesis here?”
“No, we don’t have a trading post there. Instead, there’s another shipping company that has been around for a long time on Lumia Island.”
“Are you by any chance close to those people at the top?”
“I’m not close with everyone, but I’m close with the captain.”
Captain? I asked just in case, but it turned out to be a moonfish.
“Could I possibly ask the captain to sail the ship to Gloria Island?”
“A boat?”
“Yeah. I have to go to Gloria Island, but it’s hard to find a boat to get there.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, I will ask. Since it is a request from Your Excellency the Duke, I am sure he will grant it without me having to ask.”
“No. Please keep what I asked a secret.”
“Yes? But you have a business to attend to Gloria Island...”
“It’s not me who goes there.”
“Then who is going?”
Instead of answering, I stared at Nicole Tesis.
She immediately understood what my gaze meant and asked back with a start.
“Your Excellency, are you telling me to go there?”
"That's right."
“No, wait, why....”
“Didn’t I tell you to let me know whenever you need Young Lady’s help?”
Nicole Tesis closed her mouth as she recalled what she had said just ten minutes ago.
I patted her shoulder and continued speaking.
“First, check if the ship can sail to Gloria Island. I’ll tell you the next plan after confirming that.”
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