Chapter 25

“John.”

When Catherine arrived, even Hugo’s back was clearly smiling.

So John expected a very comfortable day.

But after sending Catherine away, Hugo was as gloomy as could be.

John’s comfortable day silently flew away.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

John quickly stood up.

“I need you to find out something.”

“Yes, anything you say.”

John had already finished his day’s work and had planned to spend some time relaxing, but he threw those plans away and waited for Hugo’s words.

It’s beneficial to humor the master when he’s in a bad mood.

Especially when the master pays well.

“I need to know about Catherine’s financial situation.”

“Uh, that’s an investigation, you know?”

“Isn’t there someone who can move quietly on our side?”

“The Raven Mercenaries have black rats. But why do you want to investigate Catherine?”

Information was very important in war.

That’s why the Raven Mercenaries had their own information hunters.

John and Hugo called them black rats.

People who could go anywhere without being noticed.

But Hugo didn’t use them often. The war was over, and Hugo didn’t have any business that required investigating others.

But now Hugo wanted an investigation, and it was on Catherine! Even knowing Hugo’s mood was low, John couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s not an investigation. It’s her financial situation. The investigation is for Countess Bedwig.”

“So you want me to put someone on Countess Bedwig too?”

“Yes.”

“To what extent should I investigate?”

“Find out what she’s doing to Catherine. And anticipate any problems Catherine might face.”

“By when?”

“Before I go to bed. Of course, you should be back before sunrise.”

“What?”

“For reference, I plan not to sleep until I hear the report. Time is not abundant.”

John quickly calculated the time in his head.

Contact the head of the Raven Mercenaries, the head contacts the black rats, gather the information they bring, and anticipate the events…

“Is it impossible? If it’s impossible, I’ll move myself…”

“No, it’s possible.”

John sat Hugo back down as he was about to get up.

Hugo was also excellent at being a black rat. Before he acquired the Raven Mercenaries, he had taken on the role of a black rat himself.

But now it was different from then.

Hugo was a Duke. If Hugo got caught doing such a thing, it would be a huge embarrassment.

It was not only Hugo’s problem but also a matter of honor for John, who assisted him.

“I’ll be back before sunrise.”

“Sooner would be better.”

John pretended not to hear Hugo’s last words.

***

Hugo’s words that he wouldn’t sleep until he heard John’s report were true.

Past midnight, Hugo was still awake.

“Time was tight.”

And John, who cherished Hugo’s body like his own, still had no news.

Hugo sipped his cold coffee and fixed his gaze out the window.

As the darkness receded, the sun began to rise. The red light turned orange and then into a brilliant golden light.

Hugo loved this time when the light was clearer than ever.

Because the sunlight always reminded him of Catherine.

That yellow light, just like her hair, even the warm sunlight like her…

So Hugo could generously forgive John for being late.

“Huff, huff, Your Grace, it’s done.”

The door burst open, and John, holding a bowtie in his left hand and documents in his right, ran in.

“Good job. Report.”

Hugo didn’t give him a moment to catch his breath.

“Huff, so, Catherine’s financial situation is, whew, very good. Ha, it seems she made good investments, ahem.”

I knew it. She’s smart and wise.

“I expected that. More importantly, Countess Bedwig.”

“Countess Bedwig, ahem, has been meeting various people lately. Lawyers, judges, and people from the Tigris family, whew.”

“That’s also predictable. What’s next?”

“Catherine’s assets are under provisional seizure, and the one who applied for the seizure is Earl Bedwig.”

“I know that.”

“The problem is the Tigris family.”

“What about the Tigris family?”

“The Tigris family has close ties with financial lawyers. The lawyer who applied for the seizure was introduced by the Tigris family.”

“Ah!”

Hugo let out an annoyed sigh.

So it was the Tigris family that hinted at pressuring Catherine?

Those damned guys.

Hugo’s brow furrowed deeply. It ruined his good time.

“Sorry, John.”

Please, if you’re sorry, don’t make me do more work.

John pleaded with his eyes, but Hugo was relentless.

“We need to investigate the Tigris family too. And call the lawyer who applied for the seizure.”

“What? What are you going to do?”

“What else? I need to make them withdraw it.”

“Are you going to threaten them? This isn’t a battlefield, Your Grace. Breaking arms, poking eyes, that won’t persuade them. You know that, right?”

“I know. So call them. Before I go there myself.”

John prayed to all the gods in the world that he would work all night but Hugo wouldn’t cause any trouble that he couldn’t handle.

For the record, he was an atheist.

***

Brooke, Riena, Lillie, and Catherine gathered in one place.

“How about the concert hosted by Madame Pisha?”

Riena, who loved music, moved Madame Pisha’s invitation to the center of the table.

“I think it’s good too. It’s not too big, and the level of music performance is quite high.”

Catherine agreed and moved the invitation to the right.

“Catherine, what about the ball hosted by Madame Tullin?”

Lillie fiddled with the invitation from Madame Tullin.

Catherine was skeptical about Madame Tullin’s ball.

Too many people and Madame Tullin liked to divide people.

“Let’s think about Madame Tullin’s ball, Lillie. We’ve already chosen four places.”

Four parties, big and small, to attend in a week.

Catherine wondered if her feet would endure.

“Should we get comfortable shoes made?”

Lillie looked at Catherine. Brooke and Riena also glanced at Catherine.

The three knew that Catherine had trouble with money at Ermei’s dress shop.

Although Ermei spoke carefully, it was easy to infer from Catherine’s behavior and destinations.

Moreover, the women gathered here were specially chosen by Catherine for their intelligence.

There was no way they wouldn’t notice.

Catherine sighed lightly and smiled.

“I know what you’re worried about, but it’s still okay. I’ve lived a pretty decent life.”

Ermei said she wouldn’t charge for the dresses until Catherine’s situation improved.

She had already contacted the shoe store. It seemed that side would be resolved well too.

The problem was the jewelry, but Catherine thought she could manage with what she had bought so far.

‘There won’t be an immediate problem.’

She couldn’t wear the same dress to every party, nor the same necklace and earrings, but if she rotated them, she could manage one season…

Catherine closed her eyes tightly.

She couldn’t endure one season.

Catherine was fine, but the reputation of the young ladies who moved into Catherine House with high hopes would plummet.

There were already rumors that the residents of Catherine House were good people but from humble backgrounds, making things difficult.

‘Should I go back to Hugo and tell him I’ve changed my mind…’

There was an easy way. Yet Catherine hesitated.

Just then, there was a knock.

“Come in.”

At Catherine’s permission, Elbert entered. Seeing the wrinkles around Elbert’s eyes, it seemed a welcome guest had arrived.

“Who is it, Elbert?”

“You’ll see when you go.”

For Elbert to be playful, Catherine felt pleased even before knowing who it was.