Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 1.6

[Red Thread Information Guild]

“Phew. It’s neat.”

After finishing painting the sign, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with satisfaction.

When Wit returns from distributing flyers in the city, I should ask him to hang this in front of the house.

I left the sign outside to dry and went into the house.

As I was about to head to the kitchen, I saw Adriel still sitting like a stone in front of his food.

He’s so stubborn.

Ignoring Adriel, I went to the kitchen and excitedly brewed some tea.

“I’ve hit the jackpot. It won’t be long before I’m rolling in money. Hehehe.”

“Seeing your greed for wealth, it’s clear you’ve been corrupted by the demon, My Lady.”

…What’s he saying?

“You have sharp ears. So you can hear my voice from there. But what’s wrong with liking money? All people like money.”

“Don’t be too attached to worldly things.”

“…Boomer.”

“Boo…? I don’t know what that means, but I find it unpleasant.”

I poured tea into a pretty teacup engraved with flowers.

Then I sat down opposite Adriel, who was frowning as if displeased.

“Listen, naive Sir Knight. Do you know how important money is for us to live? Without money, we can’t get treatment when we’re sick. It’s hard to even eat proper meals every day.”

I quietly looked down at the reddish brewed tea.

“…And we can’t protect our family.”

As I spoke, memories of a past I’d rather not remember came to mind.

After staring blankly without even blinking for a while, Adriel broke the heavy silence and called out to me.

“My Lady.”

I hurriedly lifted my head.

Ah, right. I’m supposed to be a noble lady with no money worries.

“Ah. Don’t mind what I just said. I’m tired, so I’m just spouting nonsense.”

Even though I waved my hand telling him to ignore it, Adriel just stared at me intently.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under his red eyes that seemed to be trying to see through me, I quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway. Are you really not going to eat? I went to the trouble of preparing it for you. It’s going to get cold.”

Adriel, who had been staring at me, turned his head away.

“I won’t eat until you release me.”

“I told you I’d release you if you just signed the contract, didn’t I?”

“I have no intention of returning until I eliminate the demon.”

Are you a robot or something?

How can you give the same answer every time, really.

“Fine. Do as you please.”

I sipped my tea.

Let’s leave him be. After starving for a few days, he’ll probably eat in a frenzy when he loses his mind.

Thinking that, I was humming a tune and looking out the window when…

“Huh?”

A strange sound came from somewhere. As if a carriage was approaching…

“Gasp.”

I jumped up from my seat and grabbed Adriel’s shoulder to make him stand.

“Go inside, Sir Knight.”

“What are you… Don’t touch me.”

“No. Ah, okay, just go in quickly.”

“Why are you suddenly…”

Adriel’s eyes flashed.

“Someone has come.”

Ah, this is bad.

Of all times, someone comes when Wit is not here.

As I was biting my lip…

“Master! I’m back!”

“Wit…!”

***

Click.

I put down the teacup and observed the woman sitting across from me.

Although her face was hidden by a wide-brimmed hat and an ornate fan, the expensive-looking dress, elegant gloves with lace, and shiny shoes made my heart flutter at first glance.

To think the first customer would be a wealthy noble.

A capitalist smile had already formed on my lips.

“How did you know about this place and come to find us?”

The woman, who hadn’t touched the teacup I offered, answered while fluttering her fan.

“I saw the servants whispering secretly as if they were conspiring, and when I looked, they were holding some kind of flyer.”

Oh. The flyer promotion is more effective than I thought?

I should tell Wit to distribute them more diligently.

“I was curious about what the Red Thread Information Guild was, and I came just in case… But, proprietor.”

The woman who had been answering indifferently suddenly stopped moving her fan.

“Don’t you have any manners in greeting customers? Wearing a shabby hood and even a mask. And why is your voice like that?”

As she pointed out, I was wearing a brown hood pulled over my head and even a gray mask.

Moreover, I was using a voice modulation magic tool to produce a voice like a child before puberty, so it was understandable that she was suspicious.

“I apologize for the inconvenience to the customer, but please understand. I have personal reasons why I cannot reveal my identity.”

The woman stared at me intently as if measuring something.

Surely she won’t just leave because she doesn’t like it?

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Whatever your identity is, as long as you do the job well.”

Fortunately, contrary to my anxiety, the woman started fluttering her fan again.

“So, what brings you to our shop…?”

“Right. I don’t want to stay in a place like this for long, so I’ll get straight to the point. This is my request. I want Marquis Berto to fall head over heels for me.”

“Yes, I see. Marquis Berto… What?”

I paused as I was writing down the customer’s concern in my notebook.

What did she just say?

“Didn’t you hear? I said I want to have Marquis Berto. I hate repeating myself, so don’t make me say it twice.”

No, I heard it perfectly well.

The problem is that I know exactly who this Marquis Berto she’s talking about is.

Lucian Berto, the Marquis.

None other than the female protagonist’s older brother.

“No, I heard you clearly, but… As far as I know, Marquis Berto is known to have rather unique tastes.”

Marquis Berto had a distinctive setting, unlike other supporting characters.

That he had quite, no, extremely sadistic tendencies.

Whether it was family, friends, lovers, or even just passersby, it didn’t matter.

To my cautious question, the woman scoffed as if it was ridiculous and said,

“You’re thinking unnecessarily. Do you think I would have come here without knowing the rumors about the Marquis?”

And then, the muttering to herself was clearly audible.

“Does he think I’m that naive Rosemary?”

Rosemary? Why am I suddenly mentioned here? Do they know each other?

I was curious but couldn’t bring myself to ask, so I had to focus on what the customer was saying.

“People’s personalities can change, you know? Unlike other women, I can change the Marquis with my love. No, even if he doesn’t change, it doesn’t matter. He’s so perfect from head to toe. Can’t I endure just one aspect of his personality?”

I pretended to listen intently, but inwardly I was shaking my head.

Crazy. They’re all crazy.

It was clear that this person, like Rosemary, had lost her senses, bewitched by a man’s face.

I fell into contemplation as I faced the woman praising Marquis Berto’s appearance.

If I accept this request and somehow get involved with Marquis Berto?

One thing was certain: there would be absolutely nothing good about catching his eye.