Episode 11 - The Day of the Blue Mountain
After finishing her morning workout, Martha unfolded the list of creditors again. The remaining two. The Bank of Willen and Merkel. She was to finish both of them today. As she folded the list, Marta called out to Lucy.
"Lucy, get ready."
Lucy came in holding a notebook.
"Are you going to both places today?"
"Yes."
"The Willen bank and Merkel Chamber of Commerce?"
"That's right."
Lucy said as she took notes in her notebook.
"Isn't Merkel Chamber the place with the guaranteed debt? The original debtor is someone else."
"Yes."
“Did you find him?”
Martha said as she buttoned her dress.
“I know.”
Lucy stopped.
"You know? Since when?"
“From the beginning.”
Lucy looked at Martha. Martha tidied her hair while looking in the mirror. She saw Serena's face in the mirror. It was neat and cold. 'So I'm meeting that woman today,' Martha thought to herself.
Recall.
It was when Serena was nineteen. It was a time when her engagement to Leon Ashford was beginning to falter. The way high society viewed Serena was starting to change. Whispers grew louder. People began to turn their backs on her. That was when Baroness Clara Muller appeared. The wife of Baron Muller. She was in her mid-thirties and held a respectable position in society. Neither flashy nor shabby. Just someone who was there. She was the first to reach out to Serena.
"Miss Serena, I will be your friend."
Martha remembered that moment. When she saw the scene from behind Serena, a chill ran down the back of her neck. Something felt off. Someone reaching out first at a time when everyone else in society was turning their backs—the timing was all too perfect. Martha was about to tell Serena, "Miss, be careful of that woman." But Serena was overjoyed. It was the look of someone who had been lonely for a long time, finally meeting someone to hold their hand.
Martha swallowed her words and watched. Clara was kind. She listened to Serena's stories. They went shopping together, drank tea, and went to parties together. Serena leaned on Clara. She relied on her.
In the meantime, Clara extracted information from Serena. The internal affairs of the Valois family, the status of her engagement to Leon Ashford, Serena's weaknesses, and immediately after the broken engagement was officially announced, Clara disappeared. Contact was cut off. Even when they ran into each other at parties, she pretended not to see her. The extracted information gradually leaked into high society. Serena's dark past spread one by one. It was only then that Serena realized. Martha had watched the entire process. Stand behind her. Watch Serena be betrayed. And that woman made Serena vouch for her, only to saddle her with debt.
Martha looked at herself in the mirror. 'You bitch, so I'm meeting you today.'
She went to the Willen Bank early in the morning. As expected, a young person in charge came out. He looked to be in his early thirties. He had the stiff demeanor typical of a man of principle.
"Lady Valois, our bank contract does not have a clause for maturity extension."
"I'm not suggesting we create a clause that doesn't exist."
The person in charge looked at Martha. Martha unfolded the contract.
"Article 14, Paragraph 2: If the debtor has paid interest without arrears, the terms of the contract may be reviewed at the discretion of the Bank President."
The person in charge froze. Martha continued.
"The Valois family has never defaulted on interest payments since the contract was signed. This falls under Article 14, Paragraph 2."
"That is at the bank president's discretion, so I cannot decide."
"You just need to call the bank manager."
The person in charge looked at Marta. Martha spoke while drinking tea.
“I’ll wait.”
It took twenty minutes for the bank manager to come out. He was a man nearing sixty. His name was Hermann Bauer, and Martha knew him as well. It was a face she had seen a few times at the Imperial Palace.
"I see that Princess Valois has come in person."
"I'm here regarding the maturity extension."
Hermann looked at the person in charge, then looked at Martha.
"You are familiar with Article 14, Paragraph 2."
"I read the contract carefully."
Hermann looked at Martha for a moment, then sat down.
"How long do you want the extension period?"
"One year."
"And the interest rate will remain the same?"
"I have no intention of negotiating that. It is already on the low side."
Hermann thought for a moment and spoke.
"One-year extension, maintaining the interest rate. How about the condition of prepaying 10 percent of the principal instead?"
Martha calculated. 10 percent of the principal of 15,000 gold was 1,500 gold. It was an amount achievable given the family's current situation.
"Good."
Hermann nodded and instructed the person in charge to handle the documents. While the paperwork was being processed, Hermann spoke.
"I didn't expect the Princess to come in person."
"You would only know if I came in person."
"It seems the rumors that the Valois family has changed are true."
Martha said while drinking tea.
“Now is the start.”
Lucy said as she left the Willen Bank.
"Princess, how did you know about Article 14, Paragraph 2?"
"It was in the contract."
"I read it too, but I didn't know that clause existed."
Martha said as she got into the carriage.
"You shouldn't just read. You have to read while looking for what you can use."
Lucy said as she took notes in her notebook.
"I read while looking for something I can use..."
"Lucy, you try it next time."
Lucy stopped while holding her notebook.
“Me?”
"Yes."
“There is still a long way to go.”
“That’s why you practice.”
Lucy looked out the window while writing something more in her notebook. The carriage departed. Next destination: the Merkel Trading Company. Martha took a deep breath while looking out the window.
Let's go.
The Merkel Trading Company was located in the middle of the aristocratic street. It was a luxurious building. Since it catered to the nobility, great care had been taken with its exterior. Martha looked up at the building before entering. Johannes Merkel, the representative of the Merkel Trading Company, came out. He was a man in his mid-fifties with a pot belly. He was skilled at smiling.
"Welcome, Princess Valois."
"I'm here regarding a guarantee debt."
Johannes's smile stiffened slightly and then relaxed.
"Yes, that matter is a bit complicated. The original debtor, Baroness Muller, currently can repay..."
"Baroness Muller will be here today."
Johannes stopped.
"Yes?"
"I contacted her directly. At two in the afternoon."
Johannes saw Martha.
"Did the Princess contact her personally?"
“Yesterday.”
Johannes looked at Martha for a moment and spoke.
"Even if the Baroness comes, if she cannot repay..."
"She's capable. She's just pretending she's not."
Johannes could not speak. Martha spoke while drinking tea.
"Let's talk at two."
Baroness Clara Muller entered at exactly two o'clock. Martha saw her face. She looked slightly different from her memory. The Clara Martha remembered was in her mid-thirties, but at this moment, she was about twenty-five. She was still young. Her eyes were big, and her smile was gentle. That gentle smile froze the moment she saw Martha.
"...Princess Valois."
“You’re here.”
Clara looked at Martha as she sat down. It was a wary look. Johannes spoke while standing between them.
"Since the two of you are here, let's discuss the guarantee debt matter."
Clara spoke first.
"I am currently unable to repay. I am sorry, but from the Valois family..."
"There is."
Clara looked at Martha. Martha looked at Clara. Calmly. Without showing any emotion.
"Baron Muller has considerable wealth, and the Baroness also has a bank account in her own name."
Clara's eyes narrowed.
“How do you do that...”
"Oh, and I've been seeing you a lot in social circles lately. With a young bachelor."
Clara stiffened.
“...What do you mean?”
"He is the third son of the Count of Corso, twenty-three. I heard he recently received many gifts from Lady Clara."
Clara's face turned pale. Martha continued.
"That gift was quite expensive. Do the Baron know where the money came from?"
Clara placed her hand on the table. Her fingertips trembled slightly.
"...Is this a threat?”
“I’m telling the truth.”
"The Princess acting like this..."
“Lady Clara.”
Martha quietly cut off the conversation. Clara looked at Martha. Martha looked at Clara. She lowered her voice.
"It was the lady who reached out to Serena Valois when she was a loner in society."
Clara stiffened.
"Do you know how happy that child was? That she finally had someone on her side, someone she could trust."
Clara avoided eye contact.
"So she acted as a guarantor as well. You asked her to, and because Serena trusted you back then."
"W-Why are you talking about yourself in the third person?"
"That child...it's me! Being innocent is different from the fact that you used me."
Clara closed her mouth. Martha looked at Clara for a moment. Something welled up inside her. It wasn't anger. It was something older and heavier than anger. The silence she had endured while watching that child betray her, unable to say a single word, was surfacing at this very moment. Martha pressed it down firmly. Now was not the time for anger. She had to deal with it.
"If you repay today, this conversation ends here. If you don't, the Baron will find out."
Clara looked at Martha. Many things passed through her eyes: anger, confusion, fear. Martha raised her teacup as she met those eyes. Silence fell. Clara was the first to lower her gaze.
"...How much is this?"
Johannes cautiously handed over the documents. Clara looked at the documents, then at Martha, then at the documents again. Then she signed them. She left the Merkel Chamber of Commerce. Clara came out with her. At the entrance, Clara looked at Martha. Her gaze was complex. It was a look of resentment and embarrassment.
"I didn't expect the Princess to act like this."
Martha did not answer. Clara turned and walked toward the carriage. Martha also turned and walked toward the carriage. Lucy followed cautiously beside her.
Martha placed her hand on the carriage door and stopped. She heard Clara's footsteps from behind. They were not far away yet. It was the sound of someone about to board the carriage. Martha lowered her hand. She turned around and walked toward Clara. She heard Lucy call from behind, "Princess?" Clutching her dress, Martha ran toward Clara's carriage and slapped her back just as Clara was about to step in.
Slap.
Clara almost screamed and turned around.
“W-what!”
Martha looked at Clara and spoke.
"Live well, Madame."
Clara stiffened.
"Divorce and start a new life."
Clara could not say a word. Martha turned around. Walking toward Lucy, she brushed the hem of her skirt. Lucy looked at Martha with wide eyes. Her mouth opened and closed. As Martha walked past Lucy, she spoke.
"Ride in the carriage."
"... Yes."
Lucy followed behind and boarded the carriage. The carriage door closed. It set off. Lucy looked at Martha. Martha was looking out the window. Lucy opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. After a long while, she finally managed to speak.
“Princess.”
"Why?"
"Just now."
"Yes."
“On the back.”
"Yes."
"You slapped the Baroness on the back."
"Yes."
Lucy was silent for a moment.
"...Why?"
Martha looked out the window and said.
"Just."
Lucy had a look on her face that showed she could not accept the answer. Martha looked out the window at the street passing by. Inside, something still remained.
Neither anger nor relief, just a heavy feeling. Miss Serena, Martha thought to herself. Still, I punched her. I wonder if she liked it at that moment.
On the way back to the mansion, Lucy took out a notebook. She began writing something intently. Martha watched her and spoke.
“Write it all down?”
"Yes."
“Write something.”
Lucy looked at her notebook, then looked at Martha.
“The back.”
Martha looked out the window.
"...Yes."
Lucy began writing again. The carriage was pulling into the mansion. Martha mentally reviewed the tasks she had handled today. The maturity extension for Willen Bank was complete, and the debt guaranteed by Merkel Trading Company had been repaid directly to the original debtor. All five creditors were settled. Martha looked out the window and thought quietly. Now the real work begins. Maxim was waiting at the entrance of the mansion. As Martha stepped out of the carriage, Maxim spoke.
"What happened?"
“It’s done.”
Maxim stopped.
“Everything?”
“All five places.”
Maxim looked at Martha. He looked at her for a long time. Something filled his eyes. Martha looked at that and spoke. Maxim nodded and spoke in a low voice.
"...Thank you for your effort."
"Butler Maxim, too."
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 11]
Today, all five creditors were finally dealt with.
Shock No. 1: At Willen Bank, the Princess brought out something called Article 14, Paragraph 2. I had read the contract too, but I didn't know that clause existed. The Princess said, "You have to read it while looking for what you can use."
Shock No. 2: The original debtor of Merkel Trading Company was Baroness Clara Muller. It was later discovered that she was someone who pretended to be friendly with Princess Serena, then used and betrayed her. Even though the Princess knew this, she showed no emotion and handled the matter while having tea.
Shock No. 3: After leaving the Merkel Chamber of Commerce, she was about to get into a carriage when she suddenly turned around.
Shock No. 4: The Princess slapped Baroness Clara on the back. With her palm.
Slap.
And she said, "Live well, Madam."
The Baroness froze. I froze, too.
When I asked the reason in the carriage, she said, "Just."
Just.
Princess.
I can't get that scene out of my head today.
I felt scared, yet for some reason, gratified, and strangely choked up. It seems the Princess knows everything that happened to Princess Serena.
I don't know how you know.
All five creditors are finished.
This house is coming back to life.
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