Rich Platinum Oldman.
A name Marian couldn’t forget, no matter how hard she tried.
A deal with the dwarves—if she failed, that name was tied to a 15% claim in her jewelry business.
“Is this a reconnaissance mission? I thought the Baron would be coming in person.”
“Baron Oldman is unable to make personal appearances. I am acting on his behalf as his representative.”
Marian looked over the woman in front of her. Mid-20s, carefully styled half-up hair, elegant attire like that of a noble lady, a cynical expression, perfectly upright posture, and a tone that remained even and level.
‘She’s the type who only listens to her master.’
And on top of that—
“You’re a beastfolk hybrid, aren’t you?”
“Yes. One of my parents is a rabbit beastfolk.”
Large, softly drooping ears the color of freshly baked bread rested calmly by her head.
It was considered rude to ask about someone’s mixed heritage upon first meeting them. But even at Marian’s provocation, the representative remained composed.
“What kind of gem has the Baron prepared?”
“I haven’t been informed about that.”
“What is the Baron’s relationship with the dwarves? Are they perhaps personally acquainted?”
“I haven’t been told about that either.”
“Where is the Baron from? I’ve never heard of the Oldman barony.”
“I am under strict orders not to disclose any information about the Baron’s identity.”
Tch. She’s a puppet.
Marian straightened her posture from its forward lean.
She was someone who simply acted on orders. Trying to extract information from this type was a waste of energy.
“Then just tell me why you’re here.”
“I’m here as a customer.”
Marian couldn’t believe her ears.
“…A man searching for the perfect gem has come to my jewelry shop as a customer?”
“Yes. Baron Oldman wishes to purchase a gem.”
Marian twisted her lips in disbelief. How lightly did they take her, to come to her own shop and claim they wanted to buy a gem? It could only be a calculated move to shake her or make a mockery of her.
“Leave.”
With a furrowed brow, Marian issued the command to leave. It was a clear message, she did not consider the person before her a customer. And if they weren’t a patron of her shop, then as the eldest daughter of Count Travel, she had no obligation to speak politely to a mere baron’s servant.
“Baron Oldman wishes—”
But even at Marian’s curt dismissal, the representative remained perfectly composed as she began to state her purpose.
What she said next was utterly baffling.
“He wishes to purchase the pearl earrings from the Shushubia Archipelago.”
“He wants to buy the earrings?”
Marian asked again, flustered. The representative replied.
“He wishes to purchase the pearl earrings that you, Lady Marian, won at the Countess Travel’s charity auction.”
“What… does he intend to do with them?”
“I haven’t been informed.”
She says she hasn’t been told, huh? Marian thought, but…
‘I’ve already figured out her response pattern.’
That representative was giving the same canned answer—’I haven’t been told’—only when asked about matters related to the dwarves.
It wasn’t certain, but—could it be that they intended to offer the pearl earrings to the dwarves?
If that was true—
‘A perfect gem… is a pearl? Are they trying to emphasize unprocessed perfection?’
It wasn’t the worst answer, but if the plan was to offer pearl earrings to the dwarves, there was no way it would be effective.
“If Lady Marian is willing to sell, I was instructed to discuss the price. Since the auction was a charity event hosted by the Countess, and given your generosity in valuing the piece higher than its worth for a good cause, the Baron said he cannot offer the full amount you paid.”
“…And what amount did he propose?”
“He stated that one hundred million Kona would be reasonable. If the price exceeded that, I was instructed to return without completing the purchase.”
“…….”
Marian had originally won the pearl earrings at auction for 1.2 billion Kona.
And now they wanted to buy them for just 100 million Kona?
“That…”
To buy those fake earrings for 100 million Kona!?
“…Ha.”
A short laugh mixed with disbelief escaped Marian’s lips.
The fallout between the Travel family and the dwarves had begun with a scandal—selling minerals with falsified grades. Did they really think the dwarves wouldn’t notice the pearls in those earrings were fake?
She wasn’t certain Baron Oldman intended to give the pearls to the dwarves, but the whole thing was… intriguing.
“Did he say to get the appraisal done at our shop?”
“I wasn’t informed.”
“Of course not. He probably doesn’t trust the appraisals done at our store.”
But too bad for him.
There were only a handful of places in the entire Hayshal Empire that could appraise pearls from the Shushubia Archipelago.
Marian chuckled, genuinely amused now.
***
The tapping at the window had stopped. Instead, another method was chosen.
Waiting blindly.
After dinner, after washing up, after playing with her Dad and finally lying down in bed alone, she had almost drifted off to sleep. That’s when she noticed a faint squeaking sound.
Turning toward the window where the rocking horse was, she spotted something small and white stuck to the glass. She rushed to open it.
“Ack—Jackjack?”
“I waited until you noticed me! Why didn’t you look at me? I was watching you the whole time!”
Shivering with emotion, Jackjack trembled as if deeply wronged.
He had said he’d try another method so confidently, she thought he’d come up with something better.
“I’m sorry.”
Even though he was older than her, guilt overwhelmed her for ignoring such a tiny bird.
She bowed her head in apology. Jackjack raised his wings and spoke.
“Twice.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll only knock on the window twice. That way, I won’t look like a clever little titmouse.”
She nodded. That finally seemed to ease his mood.
Jackjack then reported the results of the task he had assigned to the temporary representative.
“As instructed, the offer was accepted at 100 million Kona.”
“Hooray!”
“Just like we discussed, the appraisal was done at the tower square appraisal office. It’s genuine.”
“Oh-ho.”
The fake earrings had become real ones.
As expected, Aunt Marian had manipulated the appraisal certificate.
‘Heh. Just what I was hoping for!’
The purchase source, the receipt, and even the certified appraisal—all the evidence was flawless.
Even though the pearl earrings Marian sold were fakes, they had now been officially declared genuine. There was no way she could be accused of anything.
And even if someone tried to claim later that the earrings were fake, well—both the earrings and the certificate said otherwise. What could they do?
‘Total win.’
I asked Jackjack,
“When will the earrings and the appraisal arrive?”
Even though the representative had already bought the earrings and gotten them appraised, Baron Oldman himself would want to inspect them in person. That would be the moment to make the switch.
“Tomorrow. They’ll be hidden in the luggage cart coming to the Travel estate. I’ll bring them to your room.”
“You will? Isn’t that heavy? Should I go get them instead?”
“A titmouse beastfolk is stronger than a regular titmouse, so there’s no problem.”
Jackjack, done with his business, hopped out the window with a few playful bounces. But just before he spread his wings to fly away, he turned to me and said.
“Twice.”
His pitch-black eyes were sharp as ever. Jackjack issued his warning.
“I’ll only knock twice.”
“Got it.”
***
Though Theon and Jeffrey always said I was slow on the uptake, the truth was that my awareness level was… pretty normal.
So basically, any ordinary person would’ve noticed if they walked around like this…!
I tiptoed quietly toward the door. Carefully grabbed the handle—and flung the door open.
“…….”
“Ah.”
There stood Theon and Jeffrey—caught red-handed, right outside my door.
“Theon… Jeffrey… don’t tell me… you’re spying on me?”
“N-No.”
“We were just passing by.”
Jeffrey shook his head quickly, while Theon offered an obviously fake excuse.
“Oh really? The day before yesterday. Yesterday. And today, too?”
Both averted their eyes. The reason was obvious—it had to be about when we found those pearl earrings in the hunting grounds.
“You’re watching me because you think I’ll cause trouble, aren’t you…?”
My muttered accusation made them both flinch.
They had gone through their morning training today too. That’s good and all, but…
Theon was supposed to become the crown prince someday. It was important for him to build up well-rounded knowledge gradually.
In fact, ever since my dad accepted Theon as his disciple, he’d been trying to find a private tutor—but it wasn’t easy.
Not for the Travel family, but for someone working at Stone House, commuting in and out. And not to teach a direct family member, but Reytan Quartz Travel’s disciple.
Even if someone bold enough showed up, they never met Dad’s minimum standards—so they got rejected.
That’s why there still isn’t a private tutor.
‘Then I’ll do it myself! I’ll be the tutor!’
I told Theon and Jeffrey.
“Alright, then. If you’re going to watch me, I’ll make it easy for you. Let’s stay in the living room today.”
“What are you planning?”
Theon instantly took the bait. I grinned.
“Reading the newspaper~! You and Jeffrey can read along with me!”
“Reading the newspaper?”
“Ugh…”
“You’re doing it, right? You have to. Since you’re ‘spying’ on me!”
