He still had a crush on Charlotte.
Even if Odette came back alive, he doesn't think she would cooperate with the Count's family since she declared war on him.
If there were a real Purifier who would cooperate with the Count, it would be all the better.
But isn't Charlotte's attitude of suddenly wanting to be adopted after refusing for two years strange?
"If it's just my opinion... then it's not certain after all."
"However, Lady Charlotte has a condition. She wants to take Paula, who used to be a maid in this house, as her maid."
The Count's brow furrowed at those words.
"Paula? How on earth does Charlotte know Paula?"
"I don't know about that either."
"Are you sure that the purpose of coming to this mansion is Odette's weakness?"
"It's hard to be sure, but I still think so."
The Count felt uneasy at the name that suddenly popped up. Paula?
'Isn't that kid Sasha's long-time loyal follower? I don't even know where she is now...'
In that situation, there was only one conclusion the Count could come to.
"Charlotte's adoption case is on hold."
"No, my lord! Lady Odette has declared war."
"Does that mean we should bring someone into the house whose intentions we don't even know? And with Paula as a bonus?"
The Count was firm.
"Master. This is such a good opportunity that a flaw like Paula's is nothing. What if Lady Charlotte changes her mind?"
"Even so, given the circumstances, I intend to be even more cautious, Rolf. It's not an easy decision to make."
But Rolf protested as if he were being chased by something.
"Didn't Miss Odette get in so easily? Number 39!"
"Rolf!"
The Count loudly rebuked the butler for his arrogant attitude. Rolf's face showed an absurdly desperate look.
'When discussing the Count's business, what could a butler be so desperate about?'
"Master. Please listen to me. Miss Odette. No. Odette is a true S-class Purifier. She is the daughter of God. If Siegfried's daughter is the daughter of God, how can she win?"
"Rolf."
"The only way to respond is Saintess Charlotte! Saintess Charlotte, the S-class Purifier!"
"...Ugh."
"Furthermore, I am ashamed to report to you, but the Count's financial situation is dire! Since Lady Charlotte has offered to provide financial support to the Count's residence, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Count's family."
"You don't seem to be objective right now."
"Master, I am the most objective person in this mansion! Weren't you the one who risked your life to adopt the Purifier?"
Then the Count asked in a sarcastic voice.
"Really? Are you so objective that you hid the fact about Fernand's gambling from me?"
At those words, Rolf flinched and trembled.
Then, as if he had lost his words, he kept his mouth shut for a moment, but then he spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"...I did that because I was afraid that if the master found out, you would give up on Master Fernand's immunity trial."
"So you thought it was normal for you to cheat your master? You didn't even report it when Fernand sold my weapons and became a complete gambling addict."
The Count spoke in a displeased tone. Rolf's face was filled with a strange sense of injustice.
"Master. It was for the Count's sake."
"You are only the butler of this house, Rolf. I am the one who decides what is good for the Count. You are obliged to report everything. It is not your place to judge!"
Rolf did not respond to the Count's firm orders and just trembled.
'What an intrusive attitude.'
Even though he evaluated Rolf in that way, the Count first tried to persuade him by looking at his indignant expression.
"It's not too late to find out whether Odette is really Siegfried's daughter, what the relationship between Charlotte and Paula is, and what the relationship between Odette and Charlotte is, Rolf."
"..."
"Besides, Charlotte has been saying all along that Odette sent her. You'd need more evidence than what you overheard to suddenly believe that they're not on good terms."
"..."
"We also need to be clear about Charlotte's purpose. We also need to know why she needs Paula."
"..."
"I didn't refuse, I just put it on hold. If the investigation results are satisfactory, then of course I will bring Charlotte in."
"....Yes, sir."
Rolf, who had kept his mouth shut the whole time, finally spoke. Now he had to please the butler, too.
The Count clicked his tongue inwardly.
The problem was that as the family fortunes declined, capable people started leaving one by one.
'There aren't many truly useful people left in this house anymore.'
"You don't have to worry about the financial situation right now, Rolf. 'Morel' has also started to be distributed. Charlotte's adoption is not urgent enough to bring her in without verification."
'Morel'. It was an expensive medicine made with high-quality herbs. Its sales had been halted due to a fire at the research center two years ago, but now they had secured a stable number of seeds and were beginning to distribute them.
If expensive drugs like this one start selling, the economy will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
In addition, with the recent flu epidemic, related medicines were also being sold in succession. This means that money was slowly starting to accumulate.
"...Yes. I understand, Master."
"Please hire a private detective and have him do the investigation."
Rolf bowed and left the study. Only after sending Rolf out did the Count sigh.
But at that moment, he had no idea. Less than a month after making that decision, he would be involved in a lawsuit because of the drug he believed was his hope. 'Morel'.
***
The room Raphael had assigned was the largest of the guest rooms in the cathedral.
The storage room in the cathedral was rare in that it even had a closet and a bathroom. It was also a room that was only provided when the royal family visited.
That's why the interior of the room was very luxurious. God, the World Tree, the first god's monster, the first disaster, the first Saint.
The chronologically arranged Bible frescoes covering the entire ceiling felt sacred.
'I asked for a room from the Pope, but the one who actually gave me the room was Raphael.'
It was obvious that they had deliberately chosen a room in a location where the high priests could monitor her at any time. They also seemed to have intended to drop them in a completely different building, in case they were to harm Charlotte.
'It seems like you think I'm a total fraud.'
It's not unfair. She committed fraud against the entire empire three days ago.
'But if that's the case, why do you believe Charlotte? I said it's ridiculous.'
That kid, too, no, that kid is a real conman.
Odette stared intently at the first painting of a Saint on the ceiling. It was Rosaline, whose appearance had not been recorded, so the artist had painted only her from behind.
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