“Marquess. The young lady has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
The door opened. Inside, the Marquess and Marchioness of Ingrave were seated alongside a somewhat familiar-looking envoy.
‘That person was probably the Duke’s aide.’
The aide, Gix, rose from his seat and bowed.
“Greetings, Lady Ingrave. I am Gix Emello, aide to Duke Valencia.”
“Hello, Sir Emello.”
“Please feel free to call me Gix.”
Rachel looked at Gix, who was seated opposite her parents, before taking the single-person sofa beside him. Her parents’ faces looked displeased on the surface, but.
Having been their daughter for so long, Rachel knew. They looked like people who had just heard some good news.
“I suppose I should explain this to the young lady as well. This is the compensation for the broken engagement that Valencia will be paying Ingrave. And this is the document for the broken engagement.”
Rachel examined the documents Gix handed her. Duke Valencia had generously sent compensation covering every expense incurred for the engagement and wedding, along with an entire ruby mine.
In addition, there were various rights and business deals that would benefit the Ingrave family’s enterprises.
‘So this was it.’
From Valencia’s perspective, it could certainly be said that they had made a great show of sincerity. Gix handed over the document for the broken engagement and opened it to the final page.
“Please look it over and sign here.”
“Yes.”
As Rachel carefully examined the document, a voice filled with unmistakable displeasure rang out.
“Compensation is all well and good, but does the Duke really intend to let things end like this? I expected him to come in person, at the very least.”
It was the Marquess of Ingrave. Gix, the aide, politely bowed his head.
“As you know, His Grace is extremely busy because of this matter. Once everything has been properly resolved, he will arrange a meeting with you.”
“Hmm, it can’t be helped. Still, at least mention it to the Duke. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the relationship between Ingrave and Valencia ended like this? Especially since I hear our Rachel played a tremendous role in uncovering this incident. It would be unfortunate to simply let that go unacknowledged.”
“…….”
Rachel paid no attention and carefully checked the broken engagement document. Everything was perfect. All she needed to do was sign the final page and submit it to the Imperial Family.
Paris Valencia
“…….”
Beside the familiar signature.
Rachel wrote her own name and stamped it with her seal. She pushed the completed document toward the aide.
“I’m finished.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
After checking the document, the aide gathered everything and rose from his seat.
“Then I shall take my leave. His Grace instructed me to complete the broken engagement proceedings by the end of today.”
The Marquess nodded.
“Yes. Matters like this are best handled quickly. Good work, Sir Gix.”
“Yes, then.”
Just as the aide was politely bowing, Rachel felt as though his gaze had landed on her. She rose from her seat.
“May I leave as well? I woke up early this morning and haven’t been feeling well.”
The Marquess stared at her for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. Go.”
Rachel gave a slight bow before turning around. Becky and the aide, Gix Emello, followed behind her.
Once outside the reception room, Rachel turned toward the aide after the butler closed the door.
“Since you’re already leaving, Sir Emello, may I see you out?”
“It would be my honor, my lady.”
Rachel did not avoid the hand he offered. Valencia still made her uncomfortable, but.
……After repeatedly entering and leaving the Valencia estate and meeting not only the Mercenary King but also her parents, she seemed to have become just a little accustomed to it. Even though being close to him made her stomach churn slightly, it was still bearable.
Rachel slowly crossed the estate under his escort. When she glanced back, she saw that, aside from Becky, the escorting knights and the knights of the Valencia family were following at a considerably greater distance than usual.
“You’re quite perceptive, my lady. To be honest, I had considered the possibility that you might not notice.”
Gix spoke to her then. Rachel briefly looked up at him before returning her gaze forward.
“It’s only natural for a noblewoman who has made her debut into high society. Besides, the Duke mentioned that he would soon send an aide.”
“I see. Then this is what His Grace ordered me to give you.”
He took a thick document envelope from inside his coat and handed it to her. Rachel naturally released his hand and took out what was inside.
「Deed of Transfer for the Estate」
「Deed of Transfer for the Diamond Mine」
「Diamond Trade Agreement」
The aide added an explanation.
“The distribution and sale of the diamonds from the mine are currently being handled by a merchant guild under the Valencia family. You may change to any merchant guild you prefer at any time, and if you have difficulty finding one, our side will discreetly continue to assist you with everything from distribution and sales to settlement. You can collect the settlement payments from the merchant guild whenever you wish. This is the contract.”
As he spoke softly, Rachel examined the documents. The diamond mine was a large-scale mine with several times the reserves of the ruby mine she had seen in the reception room earlier.
The merchant guild handling everything from distribution to sales was the Cheshire Merchant Guild, one of the most prominent merchant guilds in the Empire.
The contract was flawless as well. It was entirely in her favor, with not even a single fee being deducted.
But.
“……What is this?”
Rachel lifted the deed to an unfamiliar estate.
Its location was in the southeastern corner of the Empire.
Judging from the attached illustration, it was a magnificent two-story mansion, but it was a strange sort of compensation. The aide quietly whispered.
“It is a message from His Grace for you to use should you ever need to hide yourself. In that case, simply leave word with the merchant guild.”
“……!”
“Of course, if you have no need for it, you may simply use it as a vacation home or dispose of it. The mansion is located on a cliff overlooking the sea, so the scenery is quite beautiful, my lady.”
For a moment, Rachel remembered the subtle changes in Duke Valencia’s expression whenever she made a request.
The compensation she had asked for without her parents knowing.
The fact that she did not seem to have a particularly good relationship with her parents, while at the same time trying to distance herself from Valencia despite owing them a favor.
Had she appeared to the Duke as though she were preparing to run away?
“…….”
……It certainly might come in handy.
But if things ever became bad enough that Rachel had to abandon her life as a noble and flee, she would not be able to accept Duke Valencia’s help. Besides, even if such a situation arose, she did not want to rely on Valencia.
“Perhaps the Duke misunderstood what I meant. That wasn’t what I intended.”
“Is that so? Then I will relay that to His Grace.”
“Yes. Please tell him I’ll make good use of the vacation home.”
They had reached the first floor and were now standing in front of the entrance. Rachel handed the gathered documents to Becky. Outside, servants who had been informed in advance were bringing out the horses of the Valencia family.
A natural silence fell. The knights had returned to their usual distance, and Rachel did not bother going outside the entrance.
“Shall we say our farewells here?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
The aide standing opposite her bowed deeply.
“Lady Ingrave. You are a benefactor of Valencia. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to repay this debt.”
“Well, I think it would be better for me if there were never a reason for that.”
“Haha, I suppose that’s true. Then I wish you continued peace.”
As the aide was about to turn away, Rachel quietly added one more thing.
“Please contact me before that man is transferred to the Imperial Palace. I think it would be better to see him at the Duke’s residence.”
“……Of course, my lady.”
The man paused for a moment, then politely bowed his head before leaving. Rachel stood there quietly for a while, then saw an Ingrave carriage arriving just as the others departed. She turned around.
Today, more than ever, was a day when she did not want to see her younger brother.
“Let’s go.”
“You must be hungry, my lady. I’ve already told the kitchen to prepare a meal so you can eat as soon as we return.”
“Really? Becky, you’re the best.”
Rachel smiled as she climbed the stairs. And the back of her retreating figure was watched with trembling eyes by Illya Ingrave, who had just stepped down from the carriage.
At the time Rachel returned to her room and was eating a freshly prepared, steaming luncheon alone.
The Imperial Palace of the Olshire Empire was filled with an atmosphere as tense as thin ice. Duke Savanio, who had been summoned since dawn, had been left kneeling in the main hall for several hours.
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