The new hideout of the Peregrine Liberation Group was hastily built and looked shabby. Black flags commemorating those who had died were hung everywhere, making it look even darker.
“We’ve lost many comrades. We must not let their sacrifices be in vain.”
People took a moment of silence at the words of the elder, who was their information merchant and leader. Breaking the silence, someone else asked.
“Do we really need that woman? What if we assassinate the emperor instead…”
The elder shook her head. A magician standing next to her answered instead.
“Those mixed with Peregrine’s blood cannot harm the emperor who is controlling our guardian, Serpiente.”
“That’s why all our attempts to assassinate the emperor have failed so far.”
A sigh passed at the elder’s remark.
“Let’s stop regretting here. Noah. Is there still no contact from Ciello?”
“Yes. Not yet…”
“Since we’ve thrown a stone into the relationship, there must be some shaking. She’s not like a back-alley kid, she trusts people well, she will definitely react.”
“That’s right. We pushed too hard, it was our mistake. We need to coax and soothe.”
“Well, Noah should be fine.”
At the words of the other executives, the young man called Noah asked with a puzzled face.
“What should I…do?”
The executives shrugged their shoulders.
“Why do you think we asked you to hand over the dragon’s scale? Among us, aren’t you the only one who can win the favor of a young woman?”
“Eh? You don’t mean that, do you?”
Noah’s eyes widened. The information merchant trying to lighten the mood, spoke in a playful tone.
“So, do your best. Got it?”
“What, what should I do…!”
“How to do it? Should I teach you? Back in my day…”
“Ah, stop it. Do you want to ruin the plan? Noah, first of all, with women…”
“No, everyone, just stop it!”
****
Quite some time had passed since that day, but Ciello and Estribal hardly saw each other. The fact that they could live together in a large mansion without seeing each other’s faces left Ciello flabbergasted.
Ciello subtly asked the servant about his well-being, but the only response was that he had been out on busy work.
‘…Doesn’t he even care? It’s annoying.’
Ciello had been rolling around in her room for several days. Then, there was a knock.
“Miss Ciello, the Duke is looking for you.”
Ciello jumped up. Her heart pounded. But then, it felt like she had been waiting for him all day.
‘…This is really funny.’
Ciello, with a deeply furrowed expression, flopped back down and asked.
“Why?”
There was no answer. She hadn’t expected one, so she wasn’t upset. Ciello responded curtly.
“It will take some time for me to get up now.”
“I will convey that.”
Sigh. Ciello sighed deeply and got up again. Ciello changed her clothes and finished her makeup while grumbling. Then she asked in thin air.
“Where should I go?”
“I’ll go invite him over.”
Ciello slumped onto the bed. A moment later, the door opened and the Duke entered.
“Have you been well? I heard you were busy.”
“…Thanks to you.”
Awkward and formal greetings were exchanged. When the Duke nodded, a servant who had followed him politely handed Ciello a bundle of documents.
“What is this?”
Ciello took the documents in surprise. She casually flipped through the papers, but most of them were difficult for Ciello to understand.
“The plan has progressed quite a bit, so I’ll give you half of the promised 600 million first. I’ve opened a secret vault in the Ponz Kingdom where you’ll be going and put it in there. If you want, you can check it yourself.”
“Wait a minute, Duke. I am…What is this…”
The servant handed her a second bundle of documents. A picture of a grand mansion was on the front page. The interior layout of the mansion, furniture, and a list of servants were behind it.
“This is the mansion in Ponz where you will live. My people, who I treat like my own family, have checked the real thing, so there should be no problem.”
Ciello’s hand gradually lost its warmth and became cold. Whether he knew this or not, Estribal quickly poured out what he had to say.
“There are also servants in the mansion, so you can use them as they are. They will think of you as Duke Trepe’s mistress, and the source of your funds is also under the pretext of alimony paid by the Duke, so there should be no suspicion.”
He finished speaking and nodded. Another servant put a bag at Ciello’s feet and opened it wide. The bag was full of bills. It was the largest amount of money Ciello had ever seen in her life.
“First of all, I will pay you in imperial currency, so use as much as you need. Do you have any more questions?”
Ciello’s hand, holding the documents, clenched with force, crumpling them.
“Anything else you’re curious about?”
Ciello laughed bitterly. It was clear that she was not curious about such things.
“…No. Not at all.”
Ciello glared at him with all her might and said,
“So, if I finish the plan or whatever quickly, you’ll give me the rest of the 300 million, right? I just need to live off that?”
Estribal did not answer. Ciello pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled brightly.
“Well, money is the best. I’ll definitely help you. Don’t worry!”
Estribal could see Ciello’s bright smile and her eyes, which were bloodshot red. But he couldn’t say anything else.
“…Yeah. Thank you.”
“You, shit…”
Ciello’s forced smile finally distorted. Ciello bit her lip, stuffed a handful of bills into her pocket, and got up roughly from her seat.
“Then I’m going to go spend money. Wow, I’m so happy I could die!”
Ciello stomped out of the mansion. As he blankly watched her leave, one of the servants cautiously opened their mouth towards Estribal.
“Duke. May I speak frankly?”
“No. I won’t listen.”
The Duke spoke coldly and got up from his seat. The servants followed him in silence.
****
“Reposa! Are you in there?”
Ciello was heading for Reposa’s lab. Ciello flung open the lab door haphazardly. A startled Reposa popped out.
“Goodness! Without an appointment…”
Whether she was conducting some experiment alone, Reposa’s glasses were cracked and her hair was disheveled. Regardless, Ciello strode in like a general and slumped down in a chair.
“Why do you look like that? Our experiment, has there been no progress?”
Reposa took off her glasses and dropped some magic potion on them. Soon, the glasses slowly recovered. Reposa put on the restored glasses and asked.
“Of course, it’s going well. But why do you look like that?”
“What about me?”
Ciello turned her head sharply. Reposa hummed, stroked her chin, and chuckled.
“…You had a fight?”
“No? I’m doing very well!”
Ciello glared at Reposa and raised her voice. Reposa shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t even ask who you fought with.”
“Ah, shit, really…”
Ciello clenched her teeth. Reposa chuckled.
“I knew it wouldn’t last long. At most, two and a half months?”
“What are you to say that?”
“That guy, he never touches you.”
Reposa crossed her arms and answered. Ciello protested with an aggrieved expression.
“There’s a reason for that, even for the Duke…!”
“Ah, sister, please don’t unnecessarily take a man’s side? It looks disgusting.”
Reposa cut off Ciello’s words and fired back.
“Normally, when a man sees a woman he likes, he only thinks about falling for her. But he doesn’t even try to touch? It’s obvious.”
‘There’s really another reason.’
Ciello was upset, but she swallowed her words and asked.
“…Hey. You talk like you’ve had a lot of relationships?”
“No… That’s… Anyway, what, do you have any evidence? Solid evidence that he likes you!”
Ciello paused for a moment in thought.
The fact that he saved her was obviously for Serpiente, and giving her a name was for the sake of working smoothly. Other evidence…
“…He took me to a garden.”
“How big of a garden? His garden? What did you do there?”
Reposa’s eyes sparkled sharply. Ciello grumbled in a sulky mood.
“It’s the Duke’s garden. It’s really big, and we just talked…”
“What kind of evidence is that! Didn’t he give you a single flower?”
“Uh…”
“That guy is really funny. I don’t accept that.”
“What are you to accept or not?”
Ciello asked with a frustrated expression, but Reposa waved her hand.
“Ah, anyway, next. What else, did he give you any gifts?”
“Clothes, and…”
Ciello hesitated for a moment and then answered.
“…He gave me money first.”
“How much?”
“First, 300 million gold…”
“What?”
Reposa jumped up.
“Sister! With that money, is love the problem now? You’ve made it in life!”
“You… You think I’m doing this for the money?”
Ciello glared at Reposa. But Reposa was adamant.
“It’s better for him to give money than to be bad at dating! And, after all, if you date, you’re nothing more than a mistress?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Sister, you don’t really love that guy, do you?”
“I don’t know, I…”
Ciello sighed deeply. Reposa also sighed deeply as if she was frustrated. Reposa tapped the table and then voiced her opinion.
“Sister. Then how about pretending to date another guy? Guys hate women who cling.”
“Where and how. What man would be crazy enough to date the Duke’s lover?”
“That’s right. That’s true…”
Reposa stuck out her lips. Ciello sighed, “Ugh,” and flicked Reposa’s mouth with her finger.
“I’m the fool for talking to you. You better get to work. I’ll go get the rest of the money.”
Ciello frowned, stuffed her hand into her pocket, and got up from her seat. Then, something was caught in Ciello’s hand.
[It’s the magic tool that leads to our hideout.]
The face of a young man flashed through Ciello’s mind.
