It's only 20% of the total, but it's an amazing amount.
With this amount, it is possible to buy a luxurious mansion even in the capital.
With such a huge amount, he naturally expected some pressure.
For example, giving him a tight deadline or warning him not to make mistakes.
But the princess got up as if her matter was finished.
“I'm leaving now”
Baraquil, astonished, spoke hurriedly.
“What if I take this money and run away...?”
Hearing this, a bright smile spread across her cold face, like a spring shower.
“Then it would be my fault.
I misjudged you.”
As soon as she left, he laughed nervously.
“I couldn't even refuse.
I even accepted the advance.”
Even though he knew better, he couldn't help but blush at the thought of the princess.
“Oh my God, how am I supposed to resist when she's like this?”
Although knowledge was natural, what impressed him most during his conversation with the princess was her ability to persuade and her attractiveness.
“Honestly, even someone like me who is tired of the nobility would be fascinated by this kind of power.”
Barakil was convinced.
If anyone had been in this situation, they would have been fascinated by the princess, not just him.
The store clerk welcomed me with a nod.
“We will let you know when your order is ready.”
I left the workshop and sighed deeply.
“I hope he doesn't run away and really listen to me...”
Because he was someone with a desperate need for appreciation, I deliberately touched that part, but I never knew it.
I have to be prepared in case he tries anything later.
Anyway, if Barakil brings the gun as I ordered, the palace's defense will improve.
At least in the event of a rebellion, they would be less likely to remain defenseless as before.
Then at least I'll be safer than before.
In my past life, traitors not only killed the emperor and other imperial family members in the imperial palace, but also tried to kill indirect imperial family members.
It was just a backup plan.
After assassinating the Emperor, they needed to eliminate the rest of the Imperial Family to ensure that no one would threaten the new Emperor, the leader of the traitors.
“But if Franz ascends the throne, everything will return to square one.”
Trying to change the sun is a risk, but Franz has not yet become the sun.
So I'll make sure he abdicates the throne to a man of higher standing, and then uses the new emperor as a survival shield.
“There is also Reinhardt, and any other noble from the royal family would be better than Franz.”
Thoughts of impending disaster stopped for a moment.
“There is no car.
Did they park it somewhere else because the alley is narrow?”
At that moment, a lone white bird flew into the air.
I unintentionally looked at the sky and spoke.
“Sardine, catch him.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Sardine's arrow quickly shot out.
The person who had been watching me seemed to realize that he was the person I was referring to, and quickly revealed himself.
However, with his agility alone, Sardin was a young champion who defeated powerful opponents in the arena.
Bang-!
After a while, I saw Sardin subdue one of them.
“I've got them, sir.”
With her short brown hair and brown eyes, her face was plain.
At first glance, she may seem ordinary, but her skills make her one of Brant's strongest knights.
I approached her and greeted her.
“So, you've been the one watching me all this time, Janet.”
She gave me a wary look and asked, “How did you know?”
“Oh, where could such a beautiful hawk be common?”
When the white hawk she used for reconnaissance was mentioned, Janet's face flushed and she murmured softly: “I should have used a dove.”
Her reaction seemed a little funny.
“What now?
I already knew there would be surveillance regardless of the bird.”
Lately, Eric had been acting like he saw my actions, so I assumed he was watching me.
But I didn't feel any presence, so I was curious to know who it might be.
I never expected it to be Janet, who was acting as smart as a fish.
“I didn't know Janet's stealth skills were so good.
Sardine didn't even notice.”
Briefly, I addressed Janet, who had a look of worry on her face.
“Continue as you are.
I noticed that before, so there is no need to change anything.”
She changed her expression and stared at me.
“Ma’am, what were you doing inside?”
“Well, what do you think I was doing?”
As I said this, I showed her my empty hands.
Whether or not she understood that I didn't buy the gun, I sighed and asked again.
“Okay, okay.
Since you didn’t bring anything with you just now, I have to inform the Duke of today’s events.”
I knew this would happen.
But I could not accept what she said without objection.
“Okay, then I will use this as an excuse to demand an exorbitant settlement from the Duke and get a divorce.”
“What?”
“Who do you think people will see as the problem: the husband whose subordinates monitor his wife’s every move or the wife who stayed too long in a chemistry workshop?”
Without answering my words, Janet just stood there like a blank slate.
She must be in trouble.
Not only was she arrested, but I was now cornering and threatening her.
I watched her for a moment before speaking.
“If you had done what I say, I would have forgotten what happened today.”
“What do you mean?”
With a raised eyebrow, I answered Janet's question.
“It's simple.
Just tell your master that you didn't see anything unusual today.”
Janet jumped in surprise.
“This is unreasonable!
I would rather resign than do this; I can’t.”
Maybe because she's a loyal subordinate, my threats were of no use.
“Isn't there really another solution?”
At that moment-
Ringing sound-!
The store door opened, and the store clerk approached me with something in her hand.
“Ma’am, please take this.”
When Janet saw what it was, her eyes widened.
“This…cosmetic…”
After receiving what appeared to be cosmetics, I smiled and said to the store clerk, “Thank you for the extra service.”
“No problem.
Since the lady personally ordered the product, I naturally offer it.”
“Yes, you do realize the importance of keeping this a secret, right?”
"certainly."
As the store clerk went back inside, I turned to Janet and said, "Since you've seen everything, we should talk.
The truth is that my skin has been irritated lately, so I came to buy cosmetics secretly, in case someone makes fun of me."
Honestly, it was a lie.
I had already expected that someone was watching me, so I asked the chemical agent from the shop clerk before leaving the workshop.
Ordering this lotion was a plus, part of my plan.
It was a deception and a necessary part of the plan.
However, Janet seemed like she was truly fooled and apologized.
“I'm sorry.
I didn't know...”
If she knew my true intentions, she might have exploded in anger.
I stared at Janet for a moment.
A commoner knight with exceptional skills, and…
She was the only one from the Duchy of Brant who treated me with hospitality.
She even gave me a congratulatory gift when my baby was born.
And the defining moment I felt grateful for.
She was burned while protecting Damian from hot water.
When I asked her why she did it, her answer was...
I felt grateful for her protection, but at the same time, I felt sorry.
I wanted to make it up to her in some way for being my child's caregiver.
But because of those burns, she left her position as a knight, and I was never able to see her again.
So when I realized it was Janet who was watching me, instead of getting angry, I decided to trick her.
With this, even if the truth was revealed later, Eric would not blame her.
When I saw the benefactor I was looking for hovering around me, I decided to take care of her so that I could carry out my plan.
"my lady?"
“Don’t hide and follow me if you will guard me.”
After she was allowed to observe me openly, she expressed her bewilderment.
“Thank you for saying that, but will the Duke allow it...?”
"He will.
It's safer to guard me in public than in secret."
Since I had rejected the knights after visiting the palace, I now only had servants and sardines with me.
Even though there shouldn't be any thieves or bandits attacking carrying the duke's crest, it still seemed vulnerable to a noble carriage.
Well, with Sardine alone, there's no need to worry...but Janet doesn't know his true abilities.
Moreover, she was secretly worried about me.
Indeed, she quickly frowned and said to me:
“Understood.
Then, when we reach the palace, I will ask the Duke for permission.”
“Okay, and what we saw in the workshop today...”
“Sure, it should be kept a secret.”
Of this, Janet was convinced, and the secret was kept.
“Now that it's all over, it's time to go back.”