Chapter 2.1

“Sotherin auction?”  

Although Kazen was a novice when it came to art, he knew what Sotherin represented. The Sotherin auction was a market for the top 1%, dealing exclusively in the finest artworks, antiques, and jewels. There was no way such a bizarre sculpture could be submitted there.  

“Do you really think that’s possible?”  

“It’s possible. I’ve already spoken with the director. They won’t ask difficult questions about the origin or value of the piece and will allow it to be registered.”  

Ariana shrugged and tapped the sculpture lightly with her fingers.  

“And then, a week later, at the auction on the date written in the invitation, I’ll purchase the sculpture for three thousand. You’ll get the money. However, payments will be suspended until the task is completed.”  

“Why go through such a complicated method? Do you need… money laundering or something?”  

Rowen, who had been silently listening to the conversation between Kazen and Ariana, picked up the ugly sculpture and examined it from different angles.  

“I’d rather not get involved in anything shady—money laundering or fraud, for instance.”  

“It’s amusing to hear that from a detective agency. Isn’t solving strange matters with money the very essence of a detective agency?”  

Ariana chuckled as she looked at Rowen.  

“But I promise you this. You won’t get tangled up in anything strange. And I’m not trying to do anything illegal like money laundering.”  

Ariana’s golden eyes met Rowen’s blue ones in mid-air.  

“……”  

Faced with Ariana’s unwavering gaze, Rowen furrowed his brows and turned his head away first.  

“…… I can’t jump into something without knowing what’s going on. If it’s not something shady, explain what you’re trying to do, and we’ll accept the task.”  

“W-Wendy!”  

Kazen jumped in surprise and poked Rowen’s side. He seemed flustered by Rowen’s decision made without consulting him. Ariana quickly realized that Rowen held the decision-making authority between the two.  

“Well… it’s not particularly grand. I just want to try my hand at business.”  

“Business?”  

A Countess who had lived her life oblivious to the workings of the world?  

Ariana burst into laughter, reading Rowen’s thoughts clearly from his expression. It wasn’t an incorrect assumption. No one would believe that a noblewoman could engage in business with a calculating mindset. In the minds of ordinary people, noblewomen were naïve, ignorant of the world, and incapable of doing anything on their own.  

To earn significant profits, one must first shatter such prejudices.  

“Before starting business in earnest, I want to use that auction to make my presence known. I want to prove that I’m someone who can handle business properly.”  

“… With this ugly sculpture?”  

It seemed more likely to prove that she would ruin business entirely. Rowen held the sculpture up in front of Ariana’s eyes, urging her to take a closer look.  

“Yes, with this ugly sculpture.”  

Ariana snatched the sculpture from Rowen’s hand and placed it back on the table as she asked,  

“Now that I’ve explained what I’m trying to do, will you accept the task?”  

***

Ariana drank a refreshing glass of water and returned home. Even while drinking water, she complained about the dust and the need for ventilation, the chipped rim of the cup, and the lukewarm temperature of the water.  

“Dealing with a noblewoman is truly exhausting…”  

Kazen sprawled out on the sofa, sighing deeply. It was the same sofa Ariana had immediately suggested replacing with her payment.  

“Wendy. What are you thinking? You ended up accepting the task.”  

Kazen ruffled his hair in frustration as he interrogated Rowen.  

“You should’ve found a way to refuse!”  

“You were the one who first mentioned the payment of three thousand, weren’t you?”  

“Well… that was because I panicked suddenly…”  

Kazen faltered for a moment after Rowen pointed out his mistake, then raised his voice to press Rowen further.  

“Anyway, we could’ve listened to the task and then made up some excuse to refuse!”  

“How, exactly? Should I have said that this isn’t actually a detective agency but a secret organization created by His Majesty the Emperor, and we’re undercover agents who can’t accept tasks?”  

Indeed, this place wasn’t a detective agency.  

It was the headquarters of the nameless knight order, a group without glorious names like “Dragon” or “Unicorn.” It was a secret unit created by Emperor Hector, and those here were knights affiliated with it.  

“Who said you had to reveal the truth? You could’ve made up some excuse!”  

Kazen pounded his chest in frustration.  

“Besides, how did Ariana Astaroth even know about this place?”  

“It’s obvious. Winslet must’ve bragged about it.”  

“Ugh, that guy. If he weren’t the second son of the Etzel Ducal House, I’d smack him on the back of the head.”  

Kazen stomped his feet in anger. Winslet Etzel was also a knight of the nameless order stationed here. It was well-known among the knights that Ariana and Winslet were childhood friends, and they were aware of each other’s circumstances.  

As knights of the nameless order, even their families couldn’t know their true identities. Naturally, Winslet wouldn’t have told his friend that this was the headquarters of the knight order.  

‘Instead, he must’ve added some ridiculous lies to his bragging.’  

Winslet’s exaggerations were infamous among the nameless knights. But of all the lies he could’ve told, why a detective agency? And why did that childhood friend come here? On top of that, the task she brought was to investigate her cheating husband? The situation was absurd.  

Kazen sighed and offered a solution.  

“We should wrap this up neatly. Let’s investigate and say we found nothing. It’s unfortunate, but we’re not an actual detective agency, and meddling in someone’s family affairs doesn’t benefit us.  

The complicated inner workings of a noble family… Ugh, it’s exhausting. We’ll say we didn’t find anything, refuse the payment, return the sculpture, and cleanly wash our hands of this.”  

“Well… that might not be possible.”  

“What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t it be possible…?”  

“The list we obtained yesterday.”  

Rowen calmly interrupted Kazen’s words.  

“Earl Astaroth’s name is on it.”  

“What?”  

Kazen, who had been slouching, immediately straightened his posture.  

“Don’t tell me… you mean the list from ‘that case’?”  

“We need to investigate. With the help of a Countess who wants to dig into her husband’s affairs, the investigation could be easier and more thorough.”  

Rowen glanced at the sculpture sitting on the table as he spoke.  

“Besides, it’s suspicious that a refined noblewoman wants to start a business with something like that.”  

“So then…”  

“We’ll need to keep an eye on her while pretending to assist as detective agency staff.”  

***

Having successfully found the detective agency and entrusted her task, Ariana returned to the Astaroth estate with a lighter heart. However, the estate was in chaos, in stark contrast to Ariana’s mood.  

“Madam! Why are you only arriving now?”  

“Huh?”  

As soon as Ariana entered the estate and removed her gloves and hat, the maid Helen rushed to her, stomping her feet in frustration. 

Normally calm and composed, why was she so flustered? 

Ariana tilted her head in confusion, only for Helen to bite her lip in anger and glare at the staircase leading to the second floor.  

“The Earl has ordered that Alena, that wretched woman, be given the guest room on the second floor!”  

The pleasant mood Ariana had upon returning home instantly plummeted.  

No matter how special treatment was given to a noblewoman’s close maid, a servant was still a servant. It was absurd for a servant to stay in the guest room. Moreover, Alena was no longer even a close maid.  

‘He’s acting this way because he’s confident I won’t divorce him.’  

Ariana was dumbfounded by her husband’s audacity and shamelessness, but she tried to remain composed in front of the servants. Expecting rational behavior from a man who had an affair with his wife’s wet nurse was unreasonable.  

“… I didn’t know my husband was such a generous gentleman to give a maid the guest room.”

“Everyone tried to intervene, but… I’m sorry.”  

“Why apologize? If the Earl decides to dunk his sense into soup and act disgracefully, how could you possibly stop him, Madame Helen?”  

“That’s right. The Earl dunked his sense into soup and acted disgracefully… wait, what?”  

The maid, naturally agreeing with her elegant tone, blinked in realization at the crudeness of her words.  

“Madame Helen, don’t take it personally. My husband has completely lost his mind, and thanks to him, I’ve gone a bit mad myself.”  

As Ariana grinned at Helen’s stunned expression, an older woman with golden hair styled in an updo descended the stairs, fanning herself lightly. Her brows were deeply furrowed, clearly displeased by Ariana’s words.  

“My goodness. Saying your husband has lost his mind—what kind of irreverent nonsense is that? How dare you speak about the Earl like that?”  

The older woman’s voice carried an air of authority, laced with sharp disapproval.  

“No matter what the Earl does, you, as his wife, must support him wholeheartedly. Speaking so recklessly in a place with so many eyes watching—tsk.”  

It was Madame Green, Rowen’s mother.