# Chapter 42
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Episode 42
[It's impossible for me to check completely by myself anyway.
I intend to choose just a few large holes.]
[If we go to Hicksen, we will save people immediately.
It's not that urgent.]
[No, in my experience, this transition period is the most important.
They will try to get more of your assets arbitrarily before the books are completely turned over.
Because it is difficult to withdraw money that has already left.]
[I have a lot of money.
Just do it more or less.]
[This money is all yours, right?
You have to manage this carefully!
This won't work.
Before saving the person, if you are going to lose a lot of money, ask me to confirm.
Understand?]
Lancelot looked at Anita with strange eyes and nodded slightly.
'Anyway, nobles don't manage their assets completely.'
From the next day, Anita received a small study.
Furthermore, things I had never seen before began to accumulate in the office.
These were medicinal herbs said to have come from the East.
[Lancelus, what is all this?]
[Yes, about.
My body is weak, but I can't help but care because they make me work.
Eat well so you don't get sick.]
[Ha, but this is too...
.]
[Eat it even if it doesn't taste good.
Foods that are good for health are inherently tasteless.]
[It's not tasty, it's not tasty, but it's so...
.]
[Wait even if you use it.
The medicine can't be good.]
Yuck.
Anita endured the pain and took medicine.
Somehow, like he said, I felt like I was getting healthier...
.
Edenbahir's wealth, which was roughly confirmed by the ledger, was beyond what she had imagined.
'If that's enough...
I think I understand why Lancelot's economic concepts were so mild.
Even for her, who had helped her father in business, the account books of a rich person like Edenbahir were impressively huge.
Furthermore, as expected, the hole was huge.
Huge sums of money were leaking in various ways everywhere.
'As expected, most of them are godparents.
Let's see, what draws the most attention is the operational cost of Eden's sponsorship administered by the grande dame... what?
300 leads per candlestick?
'Even if it's made of pure gold, doesn't it cost that much?'
It's really too much.
The reason I didn't want to give up the ledger was clear.
From then on, I looked back and started collecting items related to the great lady.
As expected, immediately after the Duke's passing, a large sum of money was immediately withdrawn.
The item appears to be the purchase of a work of art.
Where to buy...
.
Casa Milena?
When I asked Jill to confirm, she said that Milena House is a social gathering place where young artists gather and discuss.
[Milena House is a place that has produced many notable painters.
It is very famous and has a significant impact on the cultural world.]
[In the past, one of my father's clients was a person who ran the 'Clark House' in Hicksen, which supported artists.
The place went bankrupt after two years...
.]
[As Casa Milena's fame spread around the world, replica houses appeared here and there.
Most of them are operated at the club level and disappear without ever seeing the light of day.]
From what I heard, the grand lady also founded the 'Patronage of Eden', similar to Casa Milena.
I felt like I couldn't give the name House out of pride.
Furthermore, it seemed like Eden's sponsorship was being handled well, but Anita was even more skeptical.
'Why did you buy a work from Casa Milena, which is almost a rival, when you directly supported the young artist?
I looked at the list and there was no record.
Someone was sent to Casa Milena to check one by one the authors of the works that the great lady had acquired.
Surprisingly, they were all paintings by one person.
I contacted Dona Milena to find out who it was, but there was no response as she was busy everywhere.
So Anita went to Milena House in person.
A paradise for young artists, full of people crazy about painting and the smell of oil.
[Mr.
Gray Holmes.]
None of the painters showed any interest in Anita, not even Gray Holmes.
Anita, who recognized Holmes out of curiosity, called his name again, but he did not turn his head.
He focused all his attention on filling his screen with colors.
'It's just like I heard from Jill.'
It is said to be a place where high-ranking nobles rush to visit, and they don't even close their eyes without making noise.
Anita rummaged through her bag and pulled out a newspaper article she had clipped out.
And then he handed it over to Holmes.
[I'm that kind of person.]
The title of the article was simple.
Holmes' thick head finally turned to Anita.
His eyes were surprised.
[That...
?]
[Are you interested now?
So can you give me a moment?]
I don't think that even a painter with great self-respect would be able to tolerate the visit of the Duchess of Heaven.
Holmes led her to an open space that appeared to be a living room.
[I came to ask about Madame Veronica Edenbahir.
He recently purchased six of your works, right?]
[...] That's right.]
[Is the image you are drawing also intended for Ms.
Veronica Edenbahir?]
[You're right.
What is your business?]
Anita responded with appropriate words.
[This is the first time that Madame Veronica has successively purchased an artist's works.
He asked me to take care of it and told me to keep it well as it was a precious item.
I was surprised because it was such a rare occurrence.
I came to see if you had anything special to say.]
Is it because he emphasized that 'you are special'?
Holmes could not hide his suspicious expression, but continued to share the story with the great lady.
[I don't know about works that have already been sold.
However, I heard that the work I'm designing is being presented to the royal family.
That's all.]
A real gift.
'You are sending it as a birthday present to Her Majesty the Queen.'
But why Gray Holmes?
I looked closely at his seventh work, but I didn't notice anything special about it.
Maybe it's because I don't have an eye for photos.
'A painting gift, a painting gift.'
...oh.
I had a good idea.
[Mr.
Gray Holmes.
I would like to ask you a favor.]
[I'm sorry, but I'm busy drawing, so I don't have time to fulfill the Duchess's request...
.]
[Please sell me the same work you are drawing now.
Within ten days.]
Holmes's eyes grew cold.
The emotion reflected in the gray eyes was one of contempt.
[...] I don't understand.
I'm asking out of curiosity, are you telling me to paint a fake of my work?]
[It's good if it looks like a fake.
But it must not be a fake.
If there is a very subtle difference that can only be seen by looking closely...
That's not a fake, right?]
A work that appears to be a forgery but is not actually a forgery.
Were you interested in her explanation?
Holmes did not leave immediately.
[I have never heard such a request in my life.
What is your wife's purpose?]
[Mr.
Don't you know me well?
I recently heard that there is no bigger celebrity than me...
.]
Anita knew she needed to keep an eye on Holmes when he showed interest.
'This is one of the few methods that can safely summon Georges Pager.'
And to achieve this goal, Anita was even able to use her own family history.
[I want to find my father.]
[...] Are you talking about the father?]
[I don't know how much the newspaper revealed about my personal history.
My father is missing.]
Holmes responded in a noticeably calmer voice.
[I know that.
Your wife's story is quite famous in the house.]
[I think Ms.
Veronica is to blame.
Gray Holmes, we need your help to reveal the truth.]
If I'm not mistaken, Holmes' eyes appear to have shone.
[Duchess, if it's not rude, could you tell me in more detail?]
Anita explained her plan in detail.
There is a lawyer who must be found, and the power of the king is needed as a last resort to summon him.
He explained step by step without rushing, including how to use Holmes's paintings to use the king's power.
Should I say I'm lucky?
Holmes showed considerable interest in Anita's plans.
[Okay, I accept the offer.
Instead, there are conditions.]
[What if it's a condition?]
[Please allow me to write the Duchess's story as a play.]
[...] Pardon?]
It's a play that isn't about money or connections.
Anita, who maintained her composure to the end, broke down for the first time in front of Holmes.
[pole?
Aren't you angry?]
[I'm a painter and playwright.
As I felt in the article, the wife's story contains great elements to move the audience.
Limitations of social status, sad family history, family romance...
Are you not sure about the villain?]
An unprecedented vitality blossomed on his face.
Is this what we call the soul of an artist?
Holmes sincerely tried to persuade Anita, using hand and foot gestures.
[The power of stories is so great that a good narrative can even dominate the public's reason.
If this play is successful, people from outside the Montebbio Kingdom and around the world will support you...]
[great.
Do it like this.]