Episode 61. Two Groundwork
Maxim entered the study early in the morning. His pace was faster than usual. When Maxim walked in quickly, it meant one of two things: urgent news or bad news.
"Princess."
Martha lifted her eyes from the documents.
"The buildings in the alley south of the Imperial Palace."
Maxim looked as if he was choosing his words for a moment.
"I hear that the Marchioness of Deberg purchased a building yesterday. Through the Golden Lion Trading Company."
Martha looked at Maxim.
"And that is not all."
Maxim continued.
"I just heard the news that Her Majesty the Empress also purchased a building in that alley through the Golden Lion Trading Company. And there is also talk that several people close to Her Majesty the Empress are buying up another one."
As she listened, Martha looked out the window. The Golden Lion Trading Company was now involved even in building purchases. It meant that the Golden Lion Trading Company was acting as Her Majesty the Empress's agent for asset management. The connection was deeper than expected. And they were moving faster than anticipated.
"Contact Mr. Becker. Tell him to finalize the contract today."
Maxim nodded and left. Lucy took out a notebook beside her and said.
"Princess, did even the Empress buy a building?"
"Yes."
"Then what happens now?"
Martha said, standing up from her seat.
"What do you mean, what happens? She just stepped in a pile of shit. She just needs to get the timing right."
Lucy stopped writing in her notebook.
"How do you know when that timing is?"
"Rumors spread fast when the Golden Lion Merchant Guild makes a move. Just like Maxim found out the news just now."
Lucy nodded as she wrote. Then, closing the notebook, Lucy looked at Martha with a worried expression.
"Princess, the Empress is getting involved too. Are you okay?"
Martha said, looking at Lucy.
"Who is scarier, an angry Empress or an enraged Emperor?"
It took Lucy a moment to process those words.
"Um... the Emperor?"
"No, the scary one is me! I'm going to show you exactly what a woman is like when she loses her mind about getting ripped off, hohoho."
Lucy looked at Martha's face and involuntarily took a step back.
It was afternoon. Becker had arrived at the mansion. This time, Maxim led them to the drawing room. As Martha entered, Becker rose from his seat. His face was brighter than last time. There was a sense of anticipation on his face that the property would likely sell. As Martha sat down, she said.
"Did you bring the contract?"
"Yes, Princess."
Becker took out the documents. Martha took them and scanned them. Three houses. At market price. One-month term. Martha picked up a pen and signed. Receiving the signed contract, Becker said,
"It really was finalized within a month."
"I told you."
Becker looked at Martha. There was a look in his eyes that suggested he wanted to ask something more. But he didn't. He was a man who had been in business for a long time. As Becker rose from his seat, he said
"Then I will settle everything and send you the commission you previously mentioned separately in a letter."
"I will gratefully accept it."
Becker bowed his head and left. Martha thought as she set down the contract. Becker had said he would send the commission. Since she wasn't selling the property but acting as a middleman, "commission" was the right word. Though she didn't know how much it would be.
Martha muttered to herself. My money is my money, your money is my money. Maybe I should try my hand at the real estate business while I'm at it.
Martha grinned from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Lucy, standing at a distance, saw money in the Princess's eyes for the first time in a long while.
"Princess, please don't glare at me like that; it's terrifying."
Lucy took a step back again without realizing it.
It was the next morning unleash them all at once.
"It will be a diversionary tactic to cause chaos. So they won't even have a moment to collect themselves."
The study fell silent for a moment. Leon rose from his seat. Edward followed suit, looking at Martha.
"I'll hurry and go see His Majesty. It'll be fine."
Martha looked at Edward. Edward smiled and said.
"It's a scheme Serena orchestrated."
Martha looked back and forth between Edward and Leon before speaking
"Stay for a meal."
"I have to go to the Imperial Palace."
"Then at least have some bread... please have it in the carriage."
The two looked at each other for a moment before finally sitting back down. Leon and Edward packed up the documents and bread and hurriedly headed to the Imperial Palace.
As soon as they had an audience with the Emperor, Leon and Edward presented the documents. The Emperor took the papers and began to read them meticulously. The office was silent. Leon and Edward remained silent while His Majesty the Emperor read the documents. The Emperor set down the documents and said.
"Double blueprints, huh?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"So, this is what was happening within the Valois ducal family's hot spring grounds."
Leon said.
"I will secure the physical evidence myself tonight."
His Majesty the Emperor looked at Leon.
"You intend to go in yourself?"
"There is a warehouse in the barriered area. The smuggled materials are likely stored there. Probably, the actual double blueprints are also in the site supervisor's quarters."
His Majesty the Emperor thought for a moment and nodded.
"I grant permission."
Edward said.
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I must tell you."
The Emperor looked at Edward.
"Regarding the buildings in the alley south of the Imperial Palace. We have received news that Her Majesty the Empress's side has purchased several of them through the Golden Lion Merchant Guild. It is said that the Countess Deberg and a few figures from Her Majesty the Empress's side are involved, and Her Majesty the Empress herself purchased one personally."
The office fell silent. The Emperor remained silent. Leon continued.
"Once you demolish the buildings and begin construction, let us start the artifact inspection simultaneously."
The Emperor looked at Leon. There was a long silence.
"Understood."
It was just a single word. Yet, it held so much meaning. To think that he had to strike the Empress, the Mother of the Nation, with his own hands, no matter how much of an enemy she was. The Emperor felt a sense of gratification. It was thrilling. His heart raced with excitement. Finally, I am going to beat this woman down with my own hands. I am still in my prime, yet she is constantly eyeing my position. Just you wait. I will make sure you can't even breathe properly in the palace.
That night. The hot spring construction site was quiet. There was no sound of hammers or the voices of the workers that had been loud during the day. The moon was obscured by clouds. It was dark. Leon was waiting on the outskirts of the site with three subordinate soldiers. They were all dressed in black. They carried only swords as weapons. Since they could not make any noise, they began to walk with short strides and light steps.
Leon quietly said to the soldiers.
"The barrier area first. The warehouse next."
The soldiers nodded. The four of them entered the darkness. The barrier area was a section of the site blocked off with wooden planks. During the day, it looked like just a restricted area due to construction. However, there was a warehouse inside. It was what Martha had noted in her documents.
Leon peered through the gap in the planks to check inside. There was no one there. Leon quietly pushed the planks aside. A soldier went inside first. He signaled that everything was fine. Leon entered. The warehouse was small. It was a makeshift wooden shed. It was locked.
Leon signaled to the soldier. The soldier took out a tool. He unlocked the lock silently. As he opened the door, a musty stench filled the air. It was the smell of sulfur. And mixed in with that, other kinds of smells stung his nose. It smelled similar to gunpowder.
As Leon stepped inside, wooden boxes were piled high in the warehouse. Leon opened one of the boxes. Inside was a powdery substance. Leon narrowed his eyes as he looked at it. It was what Martha had mentioned. Phosphate-based substances. Raw materials for gunpowder.
Leon signaled to the soldier with a hand gesture.
"Take two boxes."
The soldier nodded. Leon left the warehouse and headed toward the site supervisor's quarters. It was a makeshift building. It was a small room connected to the tent where the supervisor used to review documents during the day. Leon surveyed the interior and hurriedly stepped inside. Documents were piled up. Leon quickly scanned them. There were blueprints. Leon unfolded the blueprints. One. Two. It was the same site, but the waterway locations were different. It was the double blueprint that Martha had mentioned.
Leon folded the blueprints and tucked them into his bosom. The soldier spoke in a low voice.
"Young Master."
Leon turned around. The soldier pointed to one side of the site. It was toward the workers' quarters. A single light was on there. There was a worker awake yet. Leon moved toward him this time. He looked through the window of the quarters. One person was sitting there. He was large in build. His face was sun-tanned. It was Mike, who had previously poured out everything to Martha.
Leon knocked on the door. After hearing movement inside, Mike came out. Mike froze at the sight of Leon dressed in black. It was only natural to be scared, with a stranger in black standing at the door in the middle of the night. Leon spoke in a low voice.
"The Princess of Valois is calling for you."
Mike looked at Leon.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why? Who is it?"
Mike was silent for a moment. His eyes were filled with anxiety. A person in black had come at night, saying the Princess was calling for him. He looked terrified, not knowing the situation. Leon explained to Mike.
"She is the Princess who visited the construction site before and made me honey water."
Mike froze for a moment, then blinked.
"Ah, that Princess."
Mike thought for a moment before speaking.
"Just a moment, I'll go put on my shoes."
Leon took the documents, the gunpowder, and Mike to the Duke of Valois' estate. Despite the late hour, Martha was waiting for Leon in the drawing room. Mike entered with Leon. Mike looked around the drawing room with a bewildered expression. It seemed as though he was seeing the inside of a noble mansion for the first time.
Martha stood up from her seat and greeted Mike.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Mike."
Mike looked at Martha.
"It is the Princess."
"It has been a while. Please sit here."
Mike took a seat. Anxiety still lingered in his eyes. Martha poured tea herself and placed it in front of Mike.
"Please have some."
Mike took the teacup and said.
"Princess, why did you call me?"
"You know about the things you saw at the hot spring site."
Mike froze.
"I just did as I was told."
"I know."
"Mr. Mike, you haven't done anything wrong. But the people who gave the orders are committing wrongdoings right now. You saw things, didn't you? What they smuggled out of the fenced area. And that there are two blueprints."
Mike remained silent. Martha continued.
"Can you tell that in front of His Imperial Majesty?"
Mike's eyes wavered.
"In front of His Imperial Majesty?"
"Yes."
"Someone like me?"
"Someone like you."
Mike looked down at his teacup. There was silence for a while. Martha didn't rush him. She waited. Mike spoke.
"If I tell His Majesty, what will happen to me?"
Martha looked at Mike.
"I guarantee that you will suffer no disadvantages. And if you are okay with it, you could even work as the site manager and an employee of the Valois family."
Mike looked at Martha.
"Can you trust me?"
Martha curled her thumbs and index fingers into a circle, clapped her hands together, and smiled brightly at Mike as she spoke.
"The Belt of Faith."
Mike stared blankly, not understanding what the Princess was doing, before mimicking her with his own hand. Marta smiled with satisfaction as she watched Mike follow her lead.
"I don't think someone who treated me like that would lie."
Martha looked at Mike. Hearing those words, she thought to herself. This gentleman is at least earning his keep.
"I guarantee it. And thank you, Mr. Mike. I'll contact you soon. Please rest today."
The night was deep. The evidence Leon had secured lay on the study table. Material samples taken from a wooden box. Double blueprints.
Martha looked at them and said.
"Good job."
Leon looked at Martha. Martha unfolded the double blueprints and examined them. She placed the two side by side to compare. The location of the waterways was different. There was a waterway in the internal blueprint that was not present in the blueprints submitted to the Duke of Valois.
Martha said as she traced the waterway with her fingertips.
"If we control this waterway, we can prevent the hot spring water from flowing in."
Leon nodded.
"It means we can block it at any time, even after it is completed."
"Yes. If we know these blueprints in advance, we can prevent it beforehand."
Martha thought as she put down the blueprints. This was enough. These were the things she had gathered while the Empress was under a delusion. Gunpowder raw materials. Double blueprints. Living witnesses. And the buildings where the Empress's assets would be tied up.
Martha looked out the window. The night was deep. Leon spoke beside Martha.
"Are you waiting now?"
Martha looked at Leon.
"I'll think about it a bit more."
Leon looked at Martha.
"What are you thinking about, Serena?"
"Is there anything else I can extract..."
Martha nodded, calculating something to herself. Leon made eye contact with Lucy, who was behind Marta, and the two of them cautiously glanced at her. Then, Lucy made a gesture to Leon that resembled money. Leon nods as if he understands something.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 61]
Lately, I find myself thinking that the Princess lives and dies for money.
Sometimes, when money is mentioned, or unexpected income comes up, her eyes widen, and it is terrifying.
When Mr. Becker said he was sending money to the Princess as a commission, I saw money in her eyes. For the first time in a long while.
Princess, please stop that terrifying laugh whenever money is mentioned...
And Mr. Mike, the man of the honey water. It is a relief that, thanks to you, our Duke's family will not be in danger.
Princess, please don't cause any major trouble; let's just live a long and peaceful life together.
I want to stay in this spot for a very, very long time.
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