I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

It’s Count Nemir… I definitely thought that if we helped him, we would be able to save many people suffering from diseases. It costs a lot of money, but there wouldn’t be any problems as more profits would be returned in the future, and as expected, this project should proceed without any problems, so why did it suddenly come here? Was there a problem with his business? Did he need more money?

 

“…Lady Ajstain.”

 

The door opened and I turned my head when I heard a voice calling me.

 

“Ah, Count Nemir.”

 

I said hello to Count Nemir, who appeared in neat clothes today as well. But why is your expression so depressed? What’s really wrong? After inviting him to sit on the chair, I sat across from him and looked at him. Count Nemir folded his hands like an anxious man and did not open his mouth. Fievel brought his tea and set it down on the table. Laurencia offered the Count tea.

 

“Drink it. This is a very rare black tea grown by the Grandia family.”

 

For some reason, I remembered the spring flower garden with Ian and smiled brightly. Count Nemir saw my smile and hesitated, saying thank you and raising the teacup. And after he took a sip he took a deep breath. What was he trying to say? I thought it would be better to wait rather than press on, so I just stared. Count Nemir moved his lips for a moment with a hesitant look on his face, then opened his mouth with a deep sigh.

 

“…I’m sorry for coming to you so suddenly.”

 

“It’s not a problem.”

 

Silence again. The eyebrows narrowed. What is it? I wish I had said it sooner, but it seems like I was just pandering for no reason. He bit his lip slightly. Just as I was wondering if I should ask first, he spoke again.

 

“Lady Lawrence Ajstain… I’m sorry, but I think I should apologize first.”

 

“What is this about?”

 

Apologize? He hesitated and continued speaking immediately.

 

“Business… seems a little difficult.”

 

“You mean the pharmaceutical business? Why are you doing that? I can provide you with sufficient funds. If you need it more than now, I can do it…”

 

“It’s not a question of funding.”

 

I looked at Count Nemir, who shook his head as he interrupted me. It’s not a money issue? then? Is it a matter of ability? He is clearly a man who revolutionized medicine, but why? Count Nemir continued to sigh.

 

“Actually, I had a friend with whom I exchanged opinions while doing research. He was an important friend who together came up with the research results I told you about.”

 

“So?”

 

“I made it sound like I ran the business alone, but that wasn’t true. All the key ideas for creating this medicine came from me, but it was that friend who personally conducted the complicated research.”

 

It was my first time hearing this story. So what is division of labor? That friend produces results through actual research, and Count Nemir comes up with ideas and provides funds?

 

“He was a friend I depended on a lot for funds. Oh, of course, thanks to Lady Aztain’s help, I no longer need help from that friend. The problem happened a while ago…”

 

“How long ago?”

 

He bit his lip and thought for a moment. He waited for a moment to say something, and opened his mouth just in case.

 

“Did he run away with the research results?”

 

“No. I have the research results.”

 

“Then did you suddenly run away at night?”

 

“That would be nice, but that’s not the case either.”

 

“Then…?”

 

Count Nemir took a deep breath, covered his eyes, and spoke quietly as if he had finally given up.

 

“He informed me that he could no longer proceed with the research and that he would be withdrawing from the study.”

 

Missing? I guess it’s not as big a deal as I thought. Of course, from Count Nemir’s point of view, he has lost his business partner and it will be difficult to redo the work he had done with his old friend, but he has the funds, time, and research results. Moreover, the core ideas all came from his head. What’s the problem?

 

“So?”

 

“I asked him again why it was like that, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t show up for a few days, and I sent him a letter, but there was no response, so I went to see him in person… but there was no answer at that house. No one lives there anymore. It’s completely gone.”

 

“…That’s too bad.”

 

Too bad. But that had nothing to do with the fact that the business could no longer proceed. Not only one or two scholars, but also researchers were available if needed. But I couldn’t be too cold-hearted, so I offered comforting words. Then Count Nemir continued as if he knew what I was going to say.

 

“Of course, it’s sad, but there’s no problem in continuing the research because I just need to find another partner. The problem is that all of those researchers have shown their intention to refuse me.”

 

“…Everyone?”

 

That was a bit of a problem, shaking his ass. As I leaned my upper body forward, my hair, which had been tied together, fell down.

 

“Everyone?”

 

“Yes. Everyone.”

 

“How many…?”

 

“Anyone who can make contact and anyone who has the capacity to do so.”

 

Did that make sense?

 

“What about university institutions? What about academies?”

 

“It’s hard to say, but you can’t conduct experiments with people who do this kind of research. They think that a cure is God’s water of life.”

 

Although it was a time when religion was losing its color, belief in God was still treated as noble and noble. Surely this type of business is no different from heresy in some way.

 

“Then…?”

 

I contacted people who had knowledge similar to that of scholars but were criticized in the world for being unfaithful… that is, witches and alchemists. 

 

“My friend was also an actual alchemist.”

 

An alchemist? For some reason, I felt uncomfortable. The image of the alchemist was not that good. Count Nemir hurriedly opened his mouth, probably because my expression was distorted.

 

“That friend was not an alchemist who studied life and created chimeras, but a guy who purely focused his efforts on medicine. So, I hope you don’t see him as an alchemist walking the path of an apostle.”

 

“…what… I’ll skip that. Anyway, you said that all those people rejected it. Did you find out why? Wouldn’t they come if we offered them a huge amount of funding?”

 

“I thought so too. I offered to provide an unimaginably large sum of money and then provide ample compensation. I would make it twice as much as I could make in my lifetime. But they refused. I was curious and listened to it many times, but I always refused. It’s back.”

 

Why…

 

“I didn’t understand, so I asked an alchemist with whom I was acquainted, and he said there was pressure.”

 

“Pressure? Who?”

 

My brows narrowed at the mention of pressure. It’s funny that they put pressure on me, but who would do that…

 

“It was the Alpensia family.”

 

Not only did the eyebrows narrow, but the expression became wrinkled. I never thought that that name would come out of Count Nemir’s mouth. It’s funny that the Alpensia family was involved in this, but why did they put pressure on them? When I looked at him as if demanding an answer, Count Nemir sighed and continued.

 

“It is said that many alchemists and witches urged people to participate in the work because they needed it.”

 

A bunch of alchemists and witches? Something felt strange, so I closed my mouth and thought carefully. Why did the Alpensia family need them?

 

“Because they urged people to participate without any information, many alchemists protested, and it is said that bloodshed occurred in the process. Moreover, I heard this in secret…”

 

Count Nemir looked around, lowered his voice and opened his mouth.

 

“It is said that the Alpensia family is very interested in my research. In a bad way. Each temple and religious organization sponsored by the Akpensia family is officially raising issues with my research. The alchemists shed their blood. Immediately after what happened, my research was put on alert. As a result, my friends naturally dropped out, and it seems like other people didn’t ask for it either. I think that’s probably because they get scared and run away when we even meet them.”

 

I bit my lip. Although it was unexpected, Count Nemir succeeded. Huge success. In the process, there was a backlash from the religious community and pressure was put on him, but the already enormous public support and the profits several times that amount were enough to silence all nobles and businessmen. But why this time… I pushed my head up and placed my hand on my temple. Complicated things came flooding back in an instant, making my head pound. Headaches follow me no matter how young I was. I closed my eyes and exhaled. What was the problem? Count Nemir’s ability goes without saying. I’ve already seen him succeed, and the report he put out recently showed that it was definitely worth the investment and had the potential to succeed. He just invested money… but what was holding him back?

 

Large-scale sponsorship was something that could not be hidden even if one tried to hide it. In other words, no matter how hard they tried, the Ajstain family’s support for Count Nemir was lost. Beralt had already declared war on me and was gone a long time ago. He was also a sad man whose greed, greed, and possessiveness came second. Beralt, who was strangely possessive, seemed to firmly believe that I was his property. For that reason, there have been several recent formal objections raised by the Alpensia family to the Verdian family. Of course, it was all dismissed, but is it now our business? They were dumbfounded by Beralt’s intention to cut out everything that did not suit their tastes. My teeth chattered as I tried to suppress my twitching nerves. I opened my eyes and looked at Count Nemir, who was hesitant. However, research on drugs that will be responsible for people’s health and safety in the future cannot be stopped. In many ways. Then, I saved the alchemist. I had to…

 

“But why did the Alpensia family mobilize alchemists and witches?”

 

This was a question. I suspected that there might be some connection between the Board Bethel and his gang, who were believed to have been sent by Beralt, as they had counterfeit currency discs, but could it be that their relationship was real? Counterfeit money and a bomb using the essence of fire that the children of the Marquis of Bepis and Pierrot are secretly making. There was a reasonable doubt that the enormous number of manufacturing personnel required for it, namely alchemists and witches, would flow down the fire and create a puddle. I could taste the thick blood between my lips. I wanted to believe it wasn’t, but the circumstances were too appropriate to think so. If all of this is correct, how many means are there for creating and distributing counterfeit currency? If you only use one or two people, you won’t have enough time. In that case, a large merchant or guild was useful. In that sense, the business and merchant run by the Marquis of Alpensia family were perfect. What if Beralt was involved in this matter? What happens if you engage in treasonous acts such as circulating counterfeit currency and making bombs with the essence of fire? I called Count Nemir again.

 

“Yes?”

 

“…Are you in touch with that friend?”

 

“It’s been a while since we lost contact.”

 

Then they’re in trouble.

 

“Then, the friendly master who told me this story…?”

 

“I will send you a letter if you need it.”

 

“No, you don’t have to. Is it far from here?”

 

“It won’t even take half a day.”

 

After hearing Count Nemir’s answer, he immediately stood up. He unfolded a piece of paper and told him to write down the address, location, and identity of the alchemist in detail, then blanked out.

 

“Did you call me?”

 

“I’m going out. Please get ready.”

 

“All right.”

 

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Translator Note: