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This is it.
I continued the conversation with the astonished Count Bonetta spontaneously.
“You may not have known this because the Bonita Guild's information is limited, but the Christie family is good at drawing.”
Of course, the information I spoke was from the book 'Masters of World Art' which I read yesterday in the carriage.
Of course, the fact that the Christies were good at drawing was not an outright lie.
Even if it was just a painting on a gambling card.
“A-You're amazing, ma'am.”
The Count's expression changed in an instant.
I answered in a very elegant voice.
“I grew up surrounded by art.”
“I didn't recognize you.
I didn't realize you were such a person...”
Hmm, Christie, could it be Antarctica Christie?
The Count muttered to himself, his face clearly confused.
He misunderstood me and thought I was the daughter of a wealthy commoner.
It was understandable, after all, that for someone to immediately name these works of art and their authors is something only a highly cultured person would do.
My smile widened when his expectations were shocked.
“I heard that the Count's watches are as valuable as works of art.
That's why I thought of starting to collect them separately.”
I can tell you from personal experience that the greediest people are the ones who smell money.
In other words, they change their position the moment they sense a potential profit.
The Count may not have known, but in my past life, I was a brilliant businesswoman.
This meant that I was confident that I could exploit his weakness better than anyone else.
“Sure, sure!
I will accompany you to my office immediately.”
Bingo, my plan worked.
The Count, who hastened to admit us, had an expression on his face as if nothing had happened, and his manner was very friendly and courteous.
'Follow me quickly,' I whispered to Marquis Spencer and Archduke Richard, who were still standing there dumbfounded, and I quickly followed the Count.
Finally, when we entered the Count's office, the Count rubbed his palms and bowed.
“The clocks hanging here are the most requested in our rooms.”
I tilted my head, looking at the wall where it had been hung for five hours.
“Hmm...”
“Is there something you don't like?”
The Count watched me.
I narrowed my eyes arrogantly and shook my head.
“I think five hours would reduce their memorial value.”
“Do you mean you need more, more hours?”
The Count's voice trembled with joy.
Those five hours alone were enough to buy a modest mansion, and he seemed to see this as an opportunity to gain great wealth.
“You're a great collector, so I'm sure you know what I mean.”
“Of course, of course.
I have a lot of other pieces to show you.
I will make samples and show them to you as soon as I can.”
“But I am busy with my schedule and will leave the kingdom soon.”
I brushed my frizzy hair away from my ears with a hint of remorse as I said that.
The Count's fingers trembled nervously, as if he was afraid of missing out on the huge sum I was about to pay him.
Finally, he spoke hesitantly.
“Even if it's not a sample, there's a way I can show you.”
Keep it up buddy!
I exclaimed secretly, watching the Count fall into my trap.
But I suppressed my inner joy and feigned ignorance.
“Hmm, what do you mean by ‘show it to me’?”
“Bonita Guild will show you the blueprints for every watch we make.
You will be able to choose what you like.”
"truly?"
I managed to suppress my smile from trembling with joy at the answer I was waiting for.
Finally, the Count approached one of the walls of the study room and pushed hard on what appeared to be a bookshelf.
Then the wall opened, revealing a secret space.
“……”
Even though Archduke Richard and Marquis Spencer had come this far because of my insistence, they looked completely surprised as they exchanged glances, as if they had not expected to actually see the blueprints.
“This is the blueprint storage room.
However, you are only allowed to see the blueprints; you are not allowed to take them with you.
Just in case, the use of pens and paper is also prohibited.
Would you please follow the rules?”
The Count, with a serious expression, requested my commitment to the door.
Of course, I agreed immediately.
I wasn't going to take planners or pens and paper.
"certainly."
“Okay.
I’ll take you inside.”
The Count walked into the dark room.
Excited by the thought of a huge sale, he didn't notice my eyes, which were staring like a hyena behind him in the dark.
***
After a few hours.
“Then I'll go look elsewhere.”
I acted like a customer in a clothing store, tried on a bunch of clothes, asked where they came from and their washing instructions, and then pulled out her card to purchase them.
Finally, she put her rumpled clothes away and said she would go take another look.
Of course, these watches are sold exclusively by Count Bonetta's partners, so it didn't make sense to go elsewhere.
“Yes... yes... come back and visit us.”
We bade farewell to the Count with a somewhat confused expression.
He must have felt as if a gift had just arrived, only for it to disappear for some strange, disturbing, but unexplained reason.
Because he showed me dozens of watch designs from his store of blueprints, and every one of them was inexplicably rejected.
“Hmm, the design doesn't look symmetrical.”
“It does not suit the atmosphere of the Archduke’s house.”
“Maybe this watch lacks some uniqueness?”
“It's a work of art, but it's so vulgar.”
At the same time, the diagrams of the hours he had shown me were imprinted on my mind.
After we achieved what we wished for, we immediately headed to Archduke Richard's house.
The Archduke tried to sneak into the carriage, but Victor pulled him reluctantly, shouting that he could not pull two horses at the same time.
Finally, only Marquis Spencer and I remained in the carriage.
During the arduous return trip, I read the report Victor had brought.
I had secretly asked him to investigate this matter during my visit to the Count's residence.
○ The empire's exclusive trading company for the Kingdom of Grace has been renamed Hayden Trading Company, managed by Baron Hayden, the father of the Crown Princess.
○ Hayden Trading Company has reportedly raised brokerage fees to exorbitant levels, leading to growing dissatisfaction among merchants within the Kingdom of Grace.
○ Intelligence reports indicated that information about Baron Hayden was secretly circulating in the Kingdom’s Intelligence Syndicate.
○ After the death of Baron Hayden, the Hayden Trading Group was closed.
I tapped my fingers on the documents, lost in thought.
The late Baron Haydn seemed to have many enemies, both internal and external.
Count Bonetta even subconsciously complained that Hayden Trading Group was difficult to deal with.
This meant that there were quite a few people who wanted the Baron gone – those who might have been potential murder suspects.
Then, young Marquis Spencer suddenly spoke to me in a low voice.
“Honestly, at Count Bonetta’s house… I admired you.”
I looked up from the documents I was reading, and looked at the young Marquis Spencer.
“Hmm...in what way?”
“First, I didn't realize you were so good at art, ma'am.
I'm embarrassed to have you recommend books with my limited knowledge.”
“The book the young marquis lent me was of great help.”
His green eyes quickly sparkled, full of curiosity.
He wondered if I really knew everything about art, or if I had mastered all the books he recommended in that short period of time.
I smiled slightly, unaware of his curiosity.
The young Marquis leaned towards me.
“I arranged a meeting with the Count as you requested, but I did not expect you to ask Count Bonetta to see the plans.”
"Is this correct?"
“I have dealt with many merchants, but the Count is not easy to please.”
“I was lucky.”
He smiled, his smile fading.
He tilted his head and rubbed the edge of his book
⟨World Art History⟩ Slowly.
“But… is that really enough?
We only spent about two hours in the blueprint storehouse.”
“Are you worried?”
The young Marquis's eyes narrowed gently at my question.
"No, I'm looking forward to it.
Ma'am, you always surprise me.
In a good way, of course."
I nodded slightly in response to his words.
Then my gaze moved to the documents Victor had brought, and then I returned to look intently at the young Marquis.
“Do you have anything to say, ma'am?”
“Yes, I have an urgent request to make of you, Young Marquis.”
The young Marquis raised his eyebrows, apparently surprised, and then smiled.
“Something you want to ask me?
I’m very curious.”
“That...”
I slowly opened my mouth to face him.