Episode 4
After arriving in front of the room of the late Marchioness, the butler excused himself, saying he’d return after meeting with the Marquis.
‘It’s been a while since she passed away. I wonder if anything is left behind?’
I carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
A room so neat that it felt almost empty greeted me.
You’ve entered the room of the previous Marchioness.
500 cash was awarded as the first entry reward.
Importance: C+
Risk: F
Hidden cash amount: 1500
You found 200 cash beneath the ‘blanket with traces of the former mistress’.
You found 200 cash between the ‘sofa where they chatted’.
You found 300 cash inside the ‘vase where she used to put the flowers she grew herself’.
You found 100 cash in the ‘botanical encyclopedia she read before sleeping’.
Since the late marchioness’ belongings had been organized and distributed according to her will, there was little left besides light fixtures.
Therefore, the importance level remained at C+. and there were no particular clues or cash to be found.
What was unique here though was the amount of books for a bedroom. It seemed that reading might have been a hobby of the late mistress.
While I was turning over some of the stacked books, I found a small diary buried in betweens.
You found 700 cash sandwiched between ‘handwritten gardening notebook.’
Huh? 700 cash for this?
So we’ve already collected all 1500 cash?
‘The higher the cash, the higher the importance.. Is this gardening notebook really worth 700 cash?’
With 700 cash, it’s on par with the letter from the Viscount that I found in Chelsea’s room.
Why would a seemingly ordinary gardening notebook be valued so highly?
I carefully examined the notebook.
“Necessary sunshine, watering amount and time spaces, how to guard rare plants… nothing too out of the ordinary.”
It just told you that the late marchioness was really into gardening.
Collecting this many gardening books and personally documenting them in a gardening notebook…
Her passion was remarkable.
While flipping through the notebook, a note was found tucked inside.
“To my dear Chelsea,
I wish to pass on the greenhouse I’ve cherished and nurtured to you.
All the herbs, flowers, and trees I’ve collected over a lifetime, I give them all to you.
I believe you will be able to care for them better than anyone else.
May this notebook be of help to you.”
‘She must have really adored Chelsea.’
It was said that until she fell deeply in love with the male lead, the only person who welcomed Chelsea at the estate was the late Marchioness herself.
She cared for her kind and affectionate daughter-in-law very much, enough to pass on her beloved garden to her.
Room of the late marchioness of the estate cleared!
Chelsea and the Late Marchioness were as close as mother and daughter.
The Late Marchioness, who was very interested in plants, left the greenhouse as a legacy to Chelsea.
What significance does the greenhouse and the late mistress hold for Chelsea?
– Job Experience has increased.
Just in time, a clear notification popped up.
Regarding the significance of the greenhouse and the late mistress for Chelsea…
If the late mistress’s greenhouse was her lifelong cultivation, it would be on a different scale than ordinary simple flower beds.
There must have been exotic plants more valuable than jewels, precious plants with unheard-of medicinal properties.
‘But did Chelsea really leave all of this behind?’
Sure, she could just take other valuables to run away with. But the greenhouse… Was there someone to look after it once she’s gone?
It’s an inheritance left by someone she followed like a mother, so to abandon it…
Something felt out of place.
In a moment where I was staring into the void and contemplating,
Organization Quiz Time!
You’ve investigated both the protagonist’s room and the late mistress’s room.
Yet, you haven’t discovered anything about Chelsea’s whereabouts.
However, you’ve succeeded in finding a clue about one of the ‘two reasons’ Chelsea ran away.
So what’s the clue?
1. The Greenhouse
2. The Box of seeds
3. Homemade cookies
Suddenly, with a cheerful sound effect, the system window appeared.
A cleanup quiz? What’s this now?
I wasn’t sure what they were aiming for, but the answer seemed simple.
Confidently, I pressed on the option.
2. The Box of seeds
Correct!
500 cash was awarded as a reward.
The greenhouse did not have a negative impact on Chelsea’s psyche, and the cookies were so trivial that by process of elimination, only [2. The box of seeds] was left.
While the details about the seeds weren’t revealed, it was probably one of the two reasons Chelsea left.
“Hmm? Two reasons?”
Come to think of it, why were there two causes?
One was the seeds I found under the bed, so what was the other?
“Excuse me, Detective…”
At that moment, beyond the hallway, a slight commotion accompanied the urgent voice of the butler. The butler, with a perplexed expression, was approaching me.
“Mr. Butler? What’s the matter…?”
“That, right now…”
“Is there really a need to cause the butler to be worried?”
A stern voice came from behind him.
The butler was not alone. He was accompanied by an unwelcome figure.
As soon as I saw his face, I felt like the mystery was solved.
“You said you wanted to see me? My room, I’ll show it to you myself.”
The handsome man with an uncomfortable expression, Marquis Grayden, was looking at me in a crooked manner.
‘Ah, it’s you.’
Found you, you rascal.
The other reason Chelsea ran away!
Certainly, there was no way a regretful male lead wouldn’t have contributed to the heroine running away.
I’m sure he made all sorts of blunders with his tactless actions.
“You’re very carefree.”
The Marquis made no effort to hide his annoyance – he really, really, really seemed dissatisfied.
“Perhaps I gave you too much time? Seeing that you’re wasting it in a place like this.”
“It’s not a waste. It’s essential for inferring the Marchioness’ moves.”
“Hmph, you’re good at talking. Even at this moment, that woman is somewhere unknown, all alone…”
The Marquis’ eyes sank deeply.
Anxiety, worry, anger, longing, affection…
A multitude of emotions gathered and blended in those eyes, creating a massive wave.
‘Well, you should’ve done better while you still had her.’
Instead of threatening her not to go without his permission, couldn’t he have treated her more gently?
“The Marchioness will be safe.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because she’s a smart person.”
And because she’s the main character.
Most likely, about 90% of the escape preparations were probably meticulously taken care of.
The remaining 10%?
I’m leaving that room for the human aspect, for reuniting with the male lead.
“…Follow me.”
As if he’d deemed it more beneficial to show it quickly and finish it instead of wrestling about it pointlessly, the Marquis asked no further questions and promptly led the way.
* * *
The study was unexpectedly ordinary.
Aside from the impressive-looking books on the wide bookcase, it didn’t give off the luxurious feel like Chelsea’s room – perhaps because it wasn’t plastered with as much precious furniture.
“My wife and I mostly spent our time in the study and the drawing room next to it. The bedroom… I used my wife’s.”
He didn’t sleep in his own room after the marriage?
From what I knew, nobles often had separate bedrooms even after marriage, but seeing that he chose to live in his wife’s room, he must have been very fond of her.
You entered the study of the male lead, Marquis Grayden.
Received 800 cash as the first entry benefit.
Importance: B+
Risk: B
Hidden cash amount: 2200
‘The importance and risk level is so similar. Seriously lacking in efficiency.’
I couldn’t help but lament when I checked the location information.
Fine, let’s say the importance is justifiable, but why was the danger level B too?
The risk level encompasses the current state and potential threats from material, social, and contextual perspectives.
Currently, the following peculiarities have played an important role in risk determination:
– Special Note: Accompanied by the owner of the mansion.
…I see. Understood.
It meant one wrong move while I was with the owner meant my neck could fly away. Got it.
“If you have something to find, look for it.”
The Marquis chinned arrogantly with his arms crossed.
Oh, this is bothering me too much.
What if he picked a bone with me for making some simple mistake?
‘If I looked through the documents for no reason, it’ll turn into a S+ threat right away, right? I hope there’s no cash hidden there.’
Suppressing a sigh, I cautiously began the investigation.
You found 100 cash on the ‘sofa where I fell asleep leaning on his shoulder.’
You found 200 cash inside the ‘teapot that I used to brew tea during break time.’
“Did you come to see such things? I would’ve thought you’d come to rummage through confidential documents without even knowing the subject.”
When the Marquis saw me looking around aimlessly, he remarked as if he found me pathetic.
Hey, I wanted to do that too, but I was holding it back in case I lost something in the background.
“Finding traces of Marchioness is important. Was there something she often did or items she cherished?”
The Marquis gazed into the empty space for a moment in response to my question.
He looked lost in memories.
“Chelsea… she liked fruits. She used to enjoy them often.”
You found 600 cash on the ‘table where I was forced to eat fruits I didn’t like.’
…She didn’t like them, though?
No surprise this is a regretful male lead novel.
