Episode 115. Deceived
“Why are you saying I can't get a loan?”
The bank clerk sighed, as if fed up with Doana's words.
“Ha.”
He must have been quite tired.
“I mean, didn't I tell you earlier? It's not that you can't get a loan, but you need the Count's guarantee to get a loan.”
“No, why do you need his guarantee? Just take out the loan in my name. My identity is already established. So why do you keep saying no?”
“Lady Doana. Do you own any real estate?”
“No?”
“Then what assets?”
“No.”
“Do you have a steady income?”
“No. I'm not the type of person who would work like you, am I?”
Doana maintained a brazen demeanor, claiming she had nothing. Furthermore, she subtly ignored the bank clerk.
“So, you have no real estate, no assets of your own, and no income, so why would I trust you to lend you that much money?”
Despite the banker's words, Doana remained haughty. She even pointed a finger at him, blaming him for his innocence.
"Ha, this man is truly ridiculous. I'm the mistress of Count Wens, and I'm carrying his child. What could be more certain?"
"..."
Even the truth was this true. She was repeating the same thing dozens of times.
It's hard to get a loan in your name. If you want a loan, you need Count Wencd's guarantee.
I've gone to all this trouble, and you still don't understand? No, I guess it's more accurate to say he's being unreasonable.
The banker realized he couldn't handle it on his own. He pressed the emergency bell under the table.
Barely ten seconds after the banker pressed it, the large knights burst through the door.
The banker motioned to them, telling them to hurry and take Doana away.
The knights nodded and walked towards Doana.
"Who are they?"
As the burly men entered, Doana's spirits sank. She surveyed them with wavering eyes. Judging by the situation, she felt like she was about to be kicked out.
'This is different!'
He'd clearly said she could get a loan.
Doana trembled, remembering the red-haired knight.
'He was just talking without knowing anything.'
Whether intentional or not, she felt like she'd been played.
If she held out any longer, she'd be dragged out, ridiculously.
Doana stood up before the knights could lay a hand on her. To save face.
"You're losing a VIP like me."
Doana haughtily raised her head and turned. She strode proudly through the knights.
She hadn't been kicked out. She'd been the first to leave. She hadn't gained anything, but she held on to her head.
Artaeum Mansion.
The magicians and scholars sat in a circle around the Grand Duke. Rose was with him...
The flush toilet she mentioned before. This was a meeting to discuss the invention of it.
The Grand Duke, with a cool expression, carefully surveyed them. Every time his gaze met, they hastily averted their gaze.
Amidst the heavy silence, the Grand Duke of Artaeum's voice flowed out.
"So... you're saying you can't do it?"
His voice was as fierce as his chilling gaze.
No one could deny it, even after hearing this.
"You who are known for your talents say you can't... It's not that you can't, but rather that you won't do it?"
As the sharp voice reverberated, one of them, sweating profusely, managed to speak.
"I'm not saying we can't, I'm just saying that it's not certain whether it will work. Rebuilding the water supply and sewer system just to make one toilet more convenient? It's quite a hassle."
The people silently cheered the man who had taken up arms and opened his mouth. They clenched their fists, nodded, and gave him a look of confidence.
The people gathered here were not idle.
As the Grand Duke had said, they were people who were considered geniuses or prodigies.
Hearing that the Grand Duke of Arteum was embarking on a secret project, they put aside all other work and rushed over.
However, contrary to expectations, the Grand Duke of Arteum's project seemed insignificant.
"I thought you'd be doing something more meaningful."
"I didn't come all this way to build toilets."
"I took a long vacation for nothing."
Their thoughts varied, but ultimately, they were all the same.
They had no particular desire or expectation of participating in the Grand Duke and Rose's project.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense. The Grand Duke of Artaeum stared blankly at those he had gathered. Then, he quickly drew everyone's attention.
Knock, knock.
The Grand Duke lightly slammed the table.
"Don't overthink it."
The Grand Duke leaned forward and continued.
"If you think about it simply, you could think of it as developing a flush toilet. But this project will bring about a new revolution, not only in the Artaeum territory, but across the continent."
He glanced at Rose beside him.
'If Rose weren't here... I wouldn't have had to say such a thing, even if it hurt.'
The Grand Duke's style was to demand that anyone who didn't want to die follow orders.
However, he wanted to show only his good side in front of Rose. The Grand Duke was deeply disappointed that he couldn't pressure them.
“I guarantee you this project will mark your careers. That’s why... I want you to be the ones to undertake this undertaking.”
His eyes were cold, but his voice was filled with a deep appeal.
“I want this achievement to go to you. You, who have been looked down upon as people from the outskirts, now have a chance to demonstrate your potential as citizens of Artaeum. To those of you who have not given up, I will allow you to participate in this project first.”
He looked at the scholars and magicians, citing Rose’s speech at the conference.
They found the Grand Duke's offer, rather than his threats, quite unique.
“I will pay you generously.”
The ears of those who had previously viewed Rose and the Grand Duke project negatively perked up. However, it wasn’t an easy decision.
“You must have had a hard time coming from such a long distance. Why don’t we have a meal and a chat?”
The Grand Duke rang the bell on the table. As if they had been waiting, the servants entered in unison.
They quickly finished setting the table and began serving various dishes.
The scholars and mages' eyes widened as rare foods, unfamiliar to ordinary people, were presented.
"Please eat as much as you want."
The Grand Duke spoke softly, the corners of his mouth slightly quirking up.
"I will fully support this project. I will cover all research expenses, so you don't have to worry. If necessary, I can even find accommodations for you."
The Grand Duke smiled faintly, watching them devour their food without paying attention to his words.
"And, the meals are free. If you get hungry while researching, you can enjoy as much of the same food as you want."
The Grand Duke's seduction didn't stop there.
"I'll even open the library in the mansion if you so desire."
The scholars flinched at his words, their interest piqued. His study was filled with ancient books not easily accessible to the general public.
"I can also procure you as many magic stones as you like. I can even set up a temporary laboratory so you can conduct personal research during your free time after researching the project."
While the scholars had reacted earlier, this time it was the mages who were responding.
"I can research freely with the magic stone?"
"Isn't this a great opportunity?"
The dreary atmosphere began to revive. Everyonegathered here expressed a positive attitude toward participating in the project.
The people were all grinning, while the Grand Duke, watching them, wore a wicked grin.
Among them, Rose was the only one who couldn't smile.
'These people... They seem to be completely fooled?'
Why? It felt like I'd experienced this situation before.
The Grand Duke smelled like a graduate school professor. Rose glanced at the Grand Duke.
'It's like a professor trying to seduce naive undergraduates.'
The evil look in his smiling expression couldn't have been her imagination.
In her previous life, she had resisted the professor's tricks and gotten a job, but this wasn't the case for them.
The innocent sheep simply smiled brightly, completely unaware of what lay ahead.
Rose looked at them with pity.
'Somehow... I can picture their futures clearly.'
A fate to be driven relentlessly, seduced by sweet talk.
For Rose, who had to keep the business going, it was a welcome development, but she found it difficult to rejoice easily.
'Everyone... Cheer up.'
Rose encouraged them inwardly and nodded.
"I'll go first. Let's talk."
She whispered to the Grand Duke and quietly rose from her seat.
A maid greeted Rose as she emerged into the hallway.
“Ah, you’re here.”
The maid, carrying a package in her hands, handed her a letter.
“It’s from Count and Lady Serviat.”
“Really?”
She felt puzzled, having recently met them.
“A letter? What’s going on?”
Rose tilted her head and opened the letter. Her expression, as she quickly read the words, hardened.
Her hand holding the letter began to tremble. Her eyes, unfocused, trembled slightly.
Rose glanced around and hurriedly folded the letter in her hand, as if she didn’t want anyone to see it.
Rose hurriedly walked away. Neruan, who was approaching, called out to Rose.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
Rose passed Neruan without a word.
“...What is it?”
Rose's behavior seemed a little different than usual. Neruan couldn't take his eyes off her. The moment he was about to follow her,
"Neruan, you're here,"
Gwen approached him.
"I've laid out the route like this. What do you think?"
He unfolded the department store blueprint and asked Neruan for advice. Neruan, unable to keep up with Rose, turned his gaze to Gwen.
Rose had already left the Arteum mansion. She carefully unfolded the letter she was holding, looking around.
The letter instructed Rose to leave the mansion alone.
If she wanted to save the Serviats, she should come out alone.
She had found her way here, following the simple map written in the letter. This deserted place was incredibly shabby.
"...Is this the right place?"
Who on earth would do something like this! Cedric? Or... Doana?
If they harbor ill feelings, they'll take them out on themselves. She had cowardly taken her parents hostage.
The letter she received wasn't from Count and Lady Serviat.
It was a letter she didn't even know who sent. Disguised as if it were from Count and Lady Serviat.
'Please... please, nothing has to happen!'
She didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her. Especially not if it was her parents. As Rose looked around anxiously, a familiar figure entered her field of vision.
A man with a haggard appearance approached her.
Eric de Wence. It was her ex-husband.
“Why are you saying I can't get a loan?”
The bank clerk sighed, as if fed up with Doana's words.
“Ha.”
He must have been quite tired.
“I mean, didn't I tell you earlier? It's not that you can't get a loan, but you need the Count's guarantee to get a loan.”
“No, why do you need his guarantee? Just take out the loan in my name. My identity is already established. So why do you keep saying no?”
“Lady Doana. Do you own any real estate?”
“No?”
“Then what assets?”
“No.”
“Do you have a steady income?”
“No. I'm not the type of person who would work like you, am I?”
Doana maintained a brazen demeanor, claiming she had nothing. Furthermore, she subtly ignored the bank clerk.
“So, you have no real estate, no assets of your own, and no income, so why would I trust you to lend you that much money?”
Despite the banker's words, Doana remained haughty. She even pointed a finger at him, blaming him for his innocence.
"Ha, this man is truly ridiculous. I'm the mistress of Count Wens, and I'm carrying his child. What could be more certain?"
"..."
Even the truth was this true. She was repeating the same thing dozens of times.
It's hard to get a loan in your name. If you want a loan, you need Count Wencd's guarantee.
I've gone to all this trouble, and you still don't understand? No, I guess it's more accurate to say he's being unreasonable.
The banker realized he couldn't handle it on his own. He pressed the emergency bell under the table.
Barely ten seconds after the banker pressed it, the large knights burst through the door.
The banker motioned to them, telling them to hurry and take Doana away.
The knights nodded and walked towards Doana.
"Who are they?"
As the burly men entered, Doana's spirits sank. She surveyed them with wavering eyes. Judging by the situation, she felt like she was about to be kicked out.
'This is different!'
He'd clearly said she could get a loan.
Doana trembled, remembering the red-haired knight.
'He was just talking without knowing anything.'
Whether intentional or not, she felt like she'd been played.
If she held out any longer, she'd be dragged out, ridiculously.
Doana stood up before the knights could lay a hand on her. To save face.
"You're losing a VIP like me."
Doana haughtily raised her head and turned. She strode proudly through the knights.
She hadn't been kicked out. She'd been the first to leave. She hadn't gained anything, but she held on to her head.
***
Artaeum Mansion.
The magicians and scholars sat in a circle around the Grand Duke. Rose was with him...
The flush toilet she mentioned before. This was a meeting to discuss the invention of it.
The Grand Duke, with a cool expression, carefully surveyed them. Every time his gaze met, they hastily averted their gaze.
Amidst the heavy silence, the Grand Duke of Artaeum's voice flowed out.
"So... you're saying you can't do it?"
His voice was as fierce as his chilling gaze.
No one could deny it, even after hearing this.
"You who are known for your talents say you can't... It's not that you can't, but rather that you won't do it?"
As the sharp voice reverberated, one of them, sweating profusely, managed to speak.
"I'm not saying we can't, I'm just saying that it's not certain whether it will work. Rebuilding the water supply and sewer system just to make one toilet more convenient? It's quite a hassle."
The people silently cheered the man who had taken up arms and opened his mouth. They clenched their fists, nodded, and gave him a look of confidence.
The people gathered here were not idle.
As the Grand Duke had said, they were people who were considered geniuses or prodigies.
Hearing that the Grand Duke of Arteum was embarking on a secret project, they put aside all other work and rushed over.
However, contrary to expectations, the Grand Duke of Arteum's project seemed insignificant.
"I thought you'd be doing something more meaningful."
"I didn't come all this way to build toilets."
"I took a long vacation for nothing."
Their thoughts varied, but ultimately, they were all the same.
They had no particular desire or expectation of participating in the Grand Duke and Rose's project.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense. The Grand Duke of Artaeum stared blankly at those he had gathered. Then, he quickly drew everyone's attention.
Knock, knock.
The Grand Duke lightly slammed the table.
"Don't overthink it."
The Grand Duke leaned forward and continued.
"If you think about it simply, you could think of it as developing a flush toilet. But this project will bring about a new revolution, not only in the Artaeum territory, but across the continent."
He glanced at Rose beside him.
'If Rose weren't here... I wouldn't have had to say such a thing, even if it hurt.'
The Grand Duke's style was to demand that anyone who didn't want to die follow orders.
However, he wanted to show only his good side in front of Rose. The Grand Duke was deeply disappointed that he couldn't pressure them.
“I guarantee you this project will mark your careers. That’s why... I want you to be the ones to undertake this undertaking.”
His eyes were cold, but his voice was filled with a deep appeal.
“I want this achievement to go to you. You, who have been looked down upon as people from the outskirts, now have a chance to demonstrate your potential as citizens of Artaeum. To those of you who have not given up, I will allow you to participate in this project first.”
He looked at the scholars and magicians, citing Rose’s speech at the conference.
They found the Grand Duke's offer, rather than his threats, quite unique.
“I will pay you generously.”
The ears of those who had previously viewed Rose and the Grand Duke project negatively perked up. However, it wasn’t an easy decision.
“You must have had a hard time coming from such a long distance. Why don’t we have a meal and a chat?”
The Grand Duke rang the bell on the table. As if they had been waiting, the servants entered in unison.
They quickly finished setting the table and began serving various dishes.
The scholars and mages' eyes widened as rare foods, unfamiliar to ordinary people, were presented.
"Please eat as much as you want."
The Grand Duke spoke softly, the corners of his mouth slightly quirking up.
"I will fully support this project. I will cover all research expenses, so you don't have to worry. If necessary, I can even find accommodations for you."
The Grand Duke smiled faintly, watching them devour their food without paying attention to his words.
"And, the meals are free. If you get hungry while researching, you can enjoy as much of the same food as you want."
The Grand Duke's seduction didn't stop there.
"I'll even open the library in the mansion if you so desire."
The scholars flinched at his words, their interest piqued. His study was filled with ancient books not easily accessible to the general public.
"I can also procure you as many magic stones as you like. I can even set up a temporary laboratory so you can conduct personal research during your free time after researching the project."
While the scholars had reacted earlier, this time it was the mages who were responding.
"I can research freely with the magic stone?"
"Isn't this a great opportunity?"
The dreary atmosphere began to revive. Everyonegathered here expressed a positive attitude toward participating in the project.
The people were all grinning, while the Grand Duke, watching them, wore a wicked grin.
Among them, Rose was the only one who couldn't smile.
'These people... They seem to be completely fooled?'
Why? It felt like I'd experienced this situation before.
The Grand Duke smelled like a graduate school professor. Rose glanced at the Grand Duke.
'It's like a professor trying to seduce naive undergraduates.'
The evil look in his smiling expression couldn't have been her imagination.
In her previous life, she had resisted the professor's tricks and gotten a job, but this wasn't the case for them.
The innocent sheep simply smiled brightly, completely unaware of what lay ahead.
Rose looked at them with pity.
'Somehow... I can picture their futures clearly.'
A fate to be driven relentlessly, seduced by sweet talk.
For Rose, who had to keep the business going, it was a welcome development, but she found it difficult to rejoice easily.
'Everyone... Cheer up.'
Rose encouraged them inwardly and nodded.
"I'll go first. Let's talk."
She whispered to the Grand Duke and quietly rose from her seat.
A maid greeted Rose as she emerged into the hallway.
“Ah, you’re here.”
The maid, carrying a package in her hands, handed her a letter.
“It’s from Count and Lady Serviat.”
“Really?”
She felt puzzled, having recently met them.
“A letter? What’s going on?”
Rose tilted her head and opened the letter. Her expression, as she quickly read the words, hardened.
Her hand holding the letter began to tremble. Her eyes, unfocused, trembled slightly.
Rose glanced around and hurriedly folded the letter in her hand, as if she didn’t want anyone to see it.
Rose hurriedly walked away. Neruan, who was approaching, called out to Rose.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
Rose passed Neruan without a word.
“...What is it?”
Rose's behavior seemed a little different than usual. Neruan couldn't take his eyes off her. The moment he was about to follow her,
"Neruan, you're here,"
Gwen approached him.
"I've laid out the route like this. What do you think?"
He unfolded the department store blueprint and asked Neruan for advice. Neruan, unable to keep up with Rose, turned his gaze to Gwen.
Rose had already left the Arteum mansion. She carefully unfolded the letter she was holding, looking around.
The letter instructed Rose to leave the mansion alone.
If she wanted to save the Serviats, she should come out alone.
She had found her way here, following the simple map written in the letter. This deserted place was incredibly shabby.
"...Is this the right place?"
Who on earth would do something like this! Cedric? Or... Doana?
If they harbor ill feelings, they'll take them out on themselves. She had cowardly taken her parents hostage.
The letter she received wasn't from Count and Lady Serviat.
It was a letter she didn't even know who sent. Disguised as if it were from Count and Lady Serviat.
'Please... please, nothing has to happen!'
She didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her. Especially not if it was her parents. As Rose looked around anxiously, a familiar figure entered her field of vision.
A man with a haggard appearance approached her.
Eric de Wence. It was her ex-husband.
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