Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Internal Collaborator
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“That guy…….”
Among those who came running at the servants’ screams was one of Romandro’s men. Wasn’t he the one who killed Collin from the Merelrof trading company heading to Sheiron?
“Ian, sir. That man caused trouble in the Sheiron Mountains.”
“That guy? Are you sure?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. Even him killing Collin.”
Ian looked at Lady Merelrof again. She was startled by Ian’s golden eyes for a moment, then started complaining in a shrill voice. Even as she did, her hand didn’t leave Clark’s shoulder.
“I told you, I hate everything about Merelrof!”
“So you sabotaged the trading company?”
“Not only no thanks, but what kind of thing is this!”
“He came at us first. He’s still alive, so stop making a fuss.”
At those words, the lady checked Clark’s faint breathing. Slowly, her own breathing steadied as well.
“How did you know Collin was one of ours?”
“There were mass disappearances at the private gambling den. Right around the time of your raid, Lord Ian. When a guy who worked there went missing and then showed up again, it was only natural to suspect.”
“And the Count?”
“Who cares? He’s a stone-hearted old man. The Count didn’t say a word about investigating the incident. He probably doesn’t even know Collin worked there.”
It was as expected, but even more ridiculous than anticipated. The Merelrof Count had completely ignored Ian’s raid. Even though it was his own territory’s people who did it.
“Are you lovers?”
“…It’s not like that.”
“Hm. Is that so?”
No one would believe it from the atmosphere between them. Romandro just furtively glanced around, wondering what was going on. Ian nodded, signaling his decision.
“Take him to an empty room.”
“Yes, Ian, sir.”
At Ian’s command, the soldiers lifted and supported Clark. Lady Merelrof looked flustered, but she couldn’t object. The servant who had accompanied her on the outing had fainted, and it was certain the mansion would find it suspicious.
“I can’t very well explain the situation and say I knocked him out, can I?”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“Good. Lady, then let’s align our stories in detail.”
Ian smiled and offered her his hand. The lady watched Clark’s retreating figure disappear out the door, then took Ian’s hand and stood. Ian very slowly untied the binding on her wrist.
“You want freedom, Lady, and I want compensation. But as long as the Count’s brother holds out, there’s no guarantee I’ll get paid later.”
If her actions were ever revealed in any way, it would be trouble. She could be charged with ignoring or abetting the Count’s murder.
She caught on to what Ian meant.
“…Slave trading, right?”
Ian gave an affirming smile at Lady Merelrof’s words. He’d noticed it earlier, but having lived a rough life seemed to make her quick-witted and sharp in calculations. No, her mind turned with astonishing speed.
“Yes. I want to pull the profits forward as much as possible from there.”
“And I fan the flames.”
“More like lend your strength to persuading the Count, sir. Honestly, Merelrof has no real solutions right now, does it? The Hwan Kingdom route is blocked, Sheiron’s blocked. Perfect setup to starve to death.”
“By the way, since it came up, were the Hwan Kingdom bandits your doing, Lord Ian? If so, I’d say it was a bit excessive.”
“No. That wasn’t us.”
“Then it must be divine grace. How enviable.”
The lady rubbed her chafed wrist and narrowed her eyes slyly. Then she ordered the servant standing behind her.
“Bring two dry cloths. Clean ones.”
“Yes? Ah…….”
Ian twitched his eyebrow in a gesture of approval, and the servant bowed quickly before retreating. It seemed they planned to repack the drug powder.
“So, until the deal is done, I’d appreciate your full cooperation, Lady.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve waited through winters already. A few days is nothing.”
“You waited through winter?”
“Yes.”
Ian suddenly felt the depth of her hatred. Winter was the season of death. A time when countless people died, and snow and wind made funerals difficult.
Perfect for quietly burying the Merelrof Count’s death.
“Take good care of Clark.”
“…Of course. Ah, we’ll send some Gula when you leave. We can say we sold the guy named Clark and got Gula in exchange.”
It grated, but for now, it was the most plausible plan. No need to explain why the servant fainted, and since they’d paid and brought it, the Merelrof Count would exploit it to the fullest.
In that process, he’d personally feel Gula’s true value.
In market terms, a kind of ‘taste test.’
‘Plus, if problems arise, Lady Merelrof can serve as a hostage to bind her.’
Ian thought that far and quickly instructed Haena. The sky was growing darker. Even leaving now, the lady would only reach the mansion at midnight. Any later, and it might raise suspicions.
“Haena. Bring a small pouch of Gula to the main gate.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Prepare the carriage! The lady is leaving.”
“Yes! Prepare the carriage!”
As everyone went out to ready the carriage, the servant returned with the dry cloths and hesitantly reached for the glass lid. The lady firmly slapped the hand away in refusal.
“I’ll do it.”
One hand covered her nose and mouth, the other carefully transferred the powder. It was meticulous, considering Berik had fainted just from the smell—the narcotic components must be potent.
“But if he dies too quickly, it’ll draw a lot of suspicion in many ways.”
“I told you. One dose won’t kill. It neutralizes with the liquid components, so he won’t keel over like that guy.”
Instead, it would induce fantastical dreams indistinguishable from reality. Like being possessed by a dream demon, it would slowly drain vitality through sleep. Of course, that was the lady’s goal.
Click.
The lady securely closed the packet and tucked it into her inner pocket. Then, as if there was nothing more, she strode quickly down the hall. Ian followed to see her off.
“You won’t see that Clark guy for a while. Sure you don’t want to say goodbye?”
“Do what you want. And… I told you, it’s not like that.”
Ian just nodded once.
“Our people will escort you to the mansion. Please go safely.”
“Hope for good news, Lord Ian.”
She lightly kissed the back of his hand and closed the carriage door. Suddenly, the bruises spreading from her ankle came to mind. If she went back like this, could Lady Merelrof survive the night?
“Lady.”
“It’s fine. For now.”
As Ian tried to add something, Lady Merelrof shook her head, meaning she was okay. She’d thought she bore no resemblance to her mother, but every time she endured her husband’s beatings, she unwittingly recognized the dryad bloodline.
“…It’s bearable for now.”
“We’ll depart.”
Neigh!
Creak.
The lady turned back through the small window, exchanging farewells with Ian to the end. Romandro watched the carriage leave the mansion, rubbing his face vigorously with a handkerchief.
“What the… what just happened…….”
“In exchange for overlooking the packet we saw today, the lady agreed to back the Gula trade.”
“That packet thing, it’s not poison, right? What about Berik!?”
“She said one dose won’t kill. He’s probably having sweet dreams.”
“Huh? Really? He was cursing up a storm earlier.”
“For Berik, well, I can guess what counts as a sweet dream.”
Ian laughed and entered the mansion. Then, loud thumping echoed from upstairs. At this hour, only one person would be causing a ruckus there.
“Open up! What the hell are you trying to do!”
Bang! Thud!
The man named Clark’s wails leaked through the door. The servants grew anxious at the door that seemed about to shatter, retreating. In the end, the Cheonryeo Tribe warriors had no choice but to step forward.
“Want us to knock him out again?”
“Damn noisy in the middle of the night.”
“No need. I’ll talk to him.”
Ian gestured them back and approached the door. He waited for a quiet moment to explain the situation to Clark.
“Your name’s Clark, right.”
“…Lord Ian?”
Rattle!
But Clark’s excited cries came first. Gripping and shaking the doorknob, he begged almost in tears. His last memory of the lady was her bound, so it was understandable.
“Lord Ian, please, please spare us. Lady Rien did it all for us. Without her, more than a dozen of us would’ve died at the master’s hands already…….”
Every time the Count beat a servant to death, the lady willingly took their place. It was known to everyone in the mansion. She wasn’t usually affectionate, but everyone was grateful to her.
Otherwise, this affair would’ve reached the Count’s ears long ago. She probably would’ve been torn limb from limb.
“She did that for you.”
“Yes, yes…. I swear to the gods. So please, I beg you. Open the door, just let me see her safe face…….”
“She left the mansion just now and went home.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Our interests align, and your life is collateral, so just stay quiet and wait. Making a fuss will only burden her.”
Only sniffling came from inside. Ian didn’t expect a reply and simply ordered the servants to guard the door well.
* * *
The atmosphere at the Merelrof mansion was far from normal. The lady, who rarely went out, hadn’t returned even after sunset.
The Count didn’t mention her outright, but he exuded a silent, murderous aura.
“Ah, there!”
Far off in the darkness, a faint light appeared. The silhouette of a carriage pulled by two horses. The servants rushed out to greet the lady, who soon alighted, looking somewhat weary.
“Why so late?”
“Where’s Clark?”
“Did you eat?”
“Ma’am, the master, he…….”
They tried to warn her he was fuming, but the master appeared immediately, silencing them.
“Lien.”
“Sorry. I’m very late.”
“I don’t know what the hell happened.”
“We have a lot to talk about.”
“Tell me right now!”
His throat-tearing shout made all the servants shrink. But the lady smiled nonchalantly and shook her pocket. As if to say, look at this.
“I sold Clark and got Gula. Lord Ian wouldn’t budge on the price, so we argued and that’s why I’m late.”
The Count, heated to the top of his head, paused briefly.
Lady Merelrof’s visit was a prelude to the Gula trade, not the deal itself. Yet she’d brought Gula back right away.
“Dear?”
The beaming Lady Merelrof. She knew well what the first button of fanning the flames Ian mentioned was.
“Shall we have a little taste? We have much to discuss, so with that.”