“Welcome.”
Just as Diego was crossing the threshold of the reception room, a slender woman sitting with her back to the sunlight streaming in through the window greeted him with a small smile.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
She had bright blonde hair that was tied up and green eyes that shined like blue leaves, which were impressive. However, she also had a hazy impression that seemed like it would disappear at any moment. She was a unique woman.
“Sit down.”
Cecilia nodded to the seat opposite her. Diego sat down in that seat, looking straight at Cecilia. Considering his status as a commoner, it would have been natural to scold him for being unpleasant, but Cecilia had nothing to say.
“I heard you called.”
Diego opened his mouth quietly. Cecilia took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the table. Of course, there was elegance in her smooth movements that did not even make a rattling sound. Even Diego knew that it was not an easy task.
“James Morak? Diego Lawson? Which name sounds more comfortable to you?”
“Call me whatever you want.”
Since we both know each other anyway, what does it matter what name you call me? Cecilia gave a short laugh at Diego's indifferent answer.
“I just want to know why you called me.”
“Mr. Lawson has a short temper.”
Cecilia straightened her back with a relaxed expression. Diego instinctively felt that he would not hear the answer he wanted from the indifferent and calm face of the woman looking down at him.
Cecilia Burnett, the Grand Duchess of Burnett, was accustomed to hiding and not revealing herself.
“If you want, let me get to the point. I requested a somewhat rude meeting with you to ask you for a deal.”
Cecilia spoke calmly. Diego blinked quietly.
“I guess you expected that much.”
“What do you need?”
Cecilia looked satisfied at Diego's answer.
“I need the information you have.”
And then I told him the truth about why I invited him.
Just as Diego was crossing the threshold of the reception room, a slender woman sitting with her back to the sunlight streaming in through the window greeted him with a small smile.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
She had bright blonde hair that was tied up and green eyes that shined like blue leaves, which were impressive. However, she also had a hazy impression that seemed like it would disappear at any moment. She was a unique woman.
“Sit down.”
Cecilia nodded to the seat opposite her. Diego sat down in that seat, looking straight at Cecilia. Considering his status as a commoner, it would have been natural to scold him for being unpleasant, but Cecilia had nothing to say.
“I heard you called.”
Diego opened his mouth quietly. Cecilia took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the table. Of course, there was elegance in her smooth movements that did not even make a rattling sound. Even Diego knew that it was not an easy task.
“James Morak? Diego Lawson? Which name sounds more comfortable to you?”
“Call me whatever you want.”
Since we both know each other anyway, what does it matter what name you call me? Cecilia gave a short laugh at Diego's indifferent answer.
“I just want to know why you called me.”
“Mr. Lawson has a short temper.”
Cecilia straightened her back with a relaxed expression. Diego instinctively felt that he would not hear the answer he wanted from the indifferent and calm face of the woman looking down at him.
Cecilia Burnett, the Grand Duchess of Burnett, was accustomed to hiding and not revealing herself.
“If you want, let me get to the point. I requested a somewhat rude meeting with you to ask you for a deal.”
Cecilia spoke calmly. Diego blinked quietly.
“I guess you expected that much.”
“What do you need?”
Cecilia looked satisfied at Diego's answer.
“I need the information you have.”
And then I told him the truth about why I invited him.
Diego groaned softly.
His upper ranks were large, and information was easily exchanged. Diego used this to his advantage and recently set up an information shop disguised as a pawn shop. But he didn't know that Cecilia knew about it.
“Is that all you know?”
“...”
“I know your true identity.”
Cecilia's faint smile disappeared. A faint chill was felt from her completely expressionless face. It was the face of a ruler that Diego was familiar with.
“If you know that much, I don’t think you really need my informant.”
Diego looked at Cecilia with interest and turned her down. Cecilia Burnett was now only twenty years old.
Besides, she must have wasted several years lying in bed due to illness, so how could she know something that even the Emperor doesn't know?
“I can’t go through the back alleys myself every time.”
But the answer he got back was very arrogant and at the same time blunt. She meant that the work she wanted Diego to do was secret and not very clean. And she meant that she was too precious to do such work.
“I called you today.”
“..”
“It’s partly to delegate work, but also because I’m curious to see how far Diego Lawson can go.”
Cecilia blinked quietly. Diego looked behind Cecilia and saw the lioness licking her foot while lying lazily.
“Will that help my future?”
Diego asked. Cecilia quietly raised the corners of her lips.
“I can let you use your first name proudly.”
And then she answered softly.
“Someday I may give you the title you desire.”
There were many opportunities to learn. One of them could have been given to Diego Lawson and given him a title. Knowing the future was the only advantage Cecilia could find in her second life.
“I wonder if it would be something like the countship that Count Nova holds.”
But Cecilia knew of a better opportunity than that: to take the title of Count of Nova away from Diego and give it to him.
“When?”
“If Count Nova dies, it won’t be more than three years. So answer me. How much can you find out?”
Diego laughed briefly at Cecilia's question. It was funny how the woman seemed to know everything he wanted, but it was so true that he couldn't even deny it.
“To be honest, it is difficult to get past the Emperor’s bedroom door.”
So he answered very honestly. The information about the palace, which was surrounded by countless knights and servants, was always vague. There was too much information, and it was rather chaotic and intertwined. Even the members inside did not know the truth.
“But as for other information... If Your Highness the Grand Duchess promises me a title, I will find out somehow.”
Diego Lawson, or more accurately, just 'Diego', was a man driven mad by his status. It was a deep-rooted inferiority complex of a man born as an illegitimate child of a noble family and abandoned in the bushes when he was still a baby.
“If you want.”
Cecilia promised. Only then did Diego smile refreshingly.
“What do you want?”
What he wanted was intuitive and simple, and he would be loyal to anyone who could make his wishes come true.
“I want to know about Count Nova.”
Cecilia answered clearly without avoiding his gaze.
“What he was thinking, what he did, and what his children were doing around him.”
In her previous life, the material that Count Nova used for his accusation was recorded before Eden married Cecilia. That meant that he was already preparing to betray Curtis.
Even now, at this very moment, the evidence of that betrayal is probably being recorded one by one. If you don't know, you won't know, but even if you do know, it's something you can't see twice.
“How much time should I give you? A month?”
Diego smiled at Cecilia's question.
“Let’s just do this as a test.”
"Test?"
“How much, or how far, I can go. Your Highness, this is to test me.”
It was a confident face.
“I will contact you within two weeks.”
“..."
“And if you are satisfied with that information, you can put your promise in writing.”
Diego had been given the title of Count in his previous life. Of course, it was a result of his marriage to Ilya.
But this would not have been possible if he had not been smart and had not had an opportunistic side to look for the right opportunity.
“I am grateful.”
Cecilia lifted her teacup again. The conversation was brief, with the tea still warm.
“You can go now. I’ll wait for your call.”
“I'll see you soon.”
While Cecilia took a sip of the fragrant tea, Diego bowed gracefully and turned away. Once he had completely left, Cecilia was left alone in the drawing room.
“...”
To be honest, she wasn't feeling too good about it. She wasn't particularly happy about the fact that she was trying to absorb the people that Ilya had discovered and used with her abilities in the past.
“I can’t help it.”
But there's no way around it. If the purpose of this life is to return what she's received, then this is not the time to be picky. Arguing about whether something is cowardly or not is something that can only be applied to petty chivalry.
Cecilia took a deep breath and thought.
She shouldn't be easily shaken. Eden in her previous life softly whispered that he wished for death.
The carriage Eden was riding in was approaching the townhouse. In fact, it was close, but the carriage still showed no signs of stopping.
It was inevitable, as it was a townhouse of similar size to the mansion of a decent estate. It was natural since the Emperor had torn down four townhouses and built one for Eden.
“...?”
And that meant it was incredibly easy to spot outsiders since no one was around except for servants and authorized guests.
Eden, who had just pulled back the curtains covering the carriage window, stared at the person who had slipped out through the mansion gate with a puzzled expression. It was not a face he recognized, as he carefully selected his servants.
“Is he a guest of my wife?”
Eden muttered softly. If it wasn't a face he recognized, then chances were it was a guest of his wife, Cecilia.
However, he looked like a commoner with shabby clothes...
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
Cecilia was quite shy and not particularly close to men. Because of this, she had no significant romantic relationships, despite her beautiful face and slender body, which made many men's hearts flutter.
Eden, who was recalling the appearance of the man who had already passed by, came to his senses upon hearing the coachman's voice.
“Good job.”
It was when Eden, who had gotten out of the carriage, briefly mentioned the coachman's hard work.
"Your Highness.."
Cecilia appeared through the open front door of the mansion, perhaps having heard the news of Eden's arrival. She was breathing slightly out of breath as if she were in a hurry, and she smiled as if she couldn't help but be happy to see him.
“How did you find out?”
“I asked Madame Monte.”
Cecilia answered with a shy face. Eden returned his wife's affection with a light smile. And he lightly erased the man from his mind. He thought that he was not a great person to be chewed over for too long.
If there was a reason, they could have met. Cecilia, who likes him, wouldn't have been meeting another man.
“Shall we have dinner together?”
When he said he would try, he was literally making a conscious and physical effort. So Eden didn't feel too guilty about his indifference now.
Actually, it didn't seem that important yet.
"Great."
Cecilia's thoughts and heart, smiling brightly at his proposal, and those passing by.
His upper ranks were large, and information was easily exchanged. Diego used this to his advantage and recently set up an information shop disguised as a pawn shop. But he didn't know that Cecilia knew about it.
“Is that all you know?”
“...”
“I know your true identity.”
Cecilia's faint smile disappeared. A faint chill was felt from her completely expressionless face. It was the face of a ruler that Diego was familiar with.
“If you know that much, I don’t think you really need my informant.”
Diego looked at Cecilia with interest and turned her down. Cecilia Burnett was now only twenty years old.
Besides, she must have wasted several years lying in bed due to illness, so how could she know something that even the Emperor doesn't know?
“I can’t go through the back alleys myself every time.”
But the answer he got back was very arrogant and at the same time blunt. She meant that the work she wanted Diego to do was secret and not very clean. And she meant that she was too precious to do such work.
“I called you today.”
“..”
“It’s partly to delegate work, but also because I’m curious to see how far Diego Lawson can go.”
Cecilia blinked quietly. Diego looked behind Cecilia and saw the lioness licking her foot while lying lazily.
“Will that help my future?”
Diego asked. Cecilia quietly raised the corners of her lips.
“I can let you use your first name proudly.”
And then she answered softly.
“Someday I may give you the title you desire.”
There were many opportunities to learn. One of them could have been given to Diego Lawson and given him a title. Knowing the future was the only advantage Cecilia could find in her second life.
“I wonder if it would be something like the countship that Count Nova holds.”
But Cecilia knew of a better opportunity than that: to take the title of Count of Nova away from Diego and give it to him.
“When?”
“If Count Nova dies, it won’t be more than three years. So answer me. How much can you find out?”
Diego laughed briefly at Cecilia's question. It was funny how the woman seemed to know everything he wanted, but it was so true that he couldn't even deny it.
“To be honest, it is difficult to get past the Emperor’s bedroom door.”
So he answered very honestly. The information about the palace, which was surrounded by countless knights and servants, was always vague. There was too much information, and it was rather chaotic and intertwined. Even the members inside did not know the truth.
“But as for other information... If Your Highness the Grand Duchess promises me a title, I will find out somehow.”
Diego Lawson, or more accurately, just 'Diego', was a man driven mad by his status. It was a deep-rooted inferiority complex of a man born as an illegitimate child of a noble family and abandoned in the bushes when he was still a baby.
“If you want.”
Cecilia promised. Only then did Diego smile refreshingly.
“What do you want?”
What he wanted was intuitive and simple, and he would be loyal to anyone who could make his wishes come true.
“I want to know about Count Nova.”
Cecilia answered clearly without avoiding his gaze.
“What he was thinking, what he did, and what his children were doing around him.”
In her previous life, the material that Count Nova used for his accusation was recorded before Eden married Cecilia. That meant that he was already preparing to betray Curtis.
Even now, at this very moment, the evidence of that betrayal is probably being recorded one by one. If you don't know, you won't know, but even if you do know, it's something you can't see twice.
“How much time should I give you? A month?”
Diego smiled at Cecilia's question.
“Let’s just do this as a test.”
"Test?"
“How much, or how far, I can go. Your Highness, this is to test me.”
It was a confident face.
“I will contact you within two weeks.”
“..."
“And if you are satisfied with that information, you can put your promise in writing.”
Diego had been given the title of Count in his previous life. Of course, it was a result of his marriage to Ilya.
But this would not have been possible if he had not been smart and had not had an opportunistic side to look for the right opportunity.
“I am grateful.”
Cecilia lifted her teacup again. The conversation was brief, with the tea still warm.
“You can go now. I’ll wait for your call.”
“I'll see you soon.”
While Cecilia took a sip of the fragrant tea, Diego bowed gracefully and turned away. Once he had completely left, Cecilia was left alone in the drawing room.
“...”
To be honest, she wasn't feeling too good about it. She wasn't particularly happy about the fact that she was trying to absorb the people that Ilya had discovered and used with her abilities in the past.
“I can’t help it.”
But there's no way around it. If the purpose of this life is to return what she's received, then this is not the time to be picky. Arguing about whether something is cowardly or not is something that can only be applied to petty chivalry.
Cecilia took a deep breath and thought.
She shouldn't be easily shaken. Eden in her previous life softly whispered that he wished for death.
The carriage Eden was riding in was approaching the townhouse. In fact, it was close, but the carriage still showed no signs of stopping.
It was inevitable, as it was a townhouse of similar size to the mansion of a decent estate. It was natural since the Emperor had torn down four townhouses and built one for Eden.
“...?”
And that meant it was incredibly easy to spot outsiders since no one was around except for servants and authorized guests.
Eden, who had just pulled back the curtains covering the carriage window, stared at the person who had slipped out through the mansion gate with a puzzled expression. It was not a face he recognized, as he carefully selected his servants.
“Is he a guest of my wife?”
Eden muttered softly. If it wasn't a face he recognized, then chances were it was a guest of his wife, Cecilia.
However, he looked like a commoner with shabby clothes...
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
Cecilia was quite shy and not particularly close to men. Because of this, she had no significant romantic relationships, despite her beautiful face and slender body, which made many men's hearts flutter.
Eden, who was recalling the appearance of the man who had already passed by, came to his senses upon hearing the coachman's voice.
“Good job.”
It was when Eden, who had gotten out of the carriage, briefly mentioned the coachman's hard work.
"Your Highness.."
Cecilia appeared through the open front door of the mansion, perhaps having heard the news of Eden's arrival. She was breathing slightly out of breath as if she were in a hurry, and she smiled as if she couldn't help but be happy to see him.
“How did you find out?”
“I asked Madame Monte.”
Cecilia answered with a shy face. Eden returned his wife's affection with a light smile. And he lightly erased the man from his mind. He thought that he was not a great person to be chewed over for too long.
If there was a reason, they could have met. Cecilia, who likes him, wouldn't have been meeting another man.
“Shall we have dinner together?”
When he said he would try, he was literally making a conscious and physical effort. So Eden didn't feel too guilty about his indifference now.
Actually, it didn't seem that important yet.
"Great."
Cecilia's thoughts and heart, smiling brightly at his proposal, and those passing by.
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