Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

‘So, this is what makes being to possess someone else’s body exciting.’

Originally, this information broker’s shop was a place accessible to only a select few. Even in the original novel, very few people knew about it.

The heroine, Chloe, had been deceived and manipulated by Flaria, to the point where her life was even put in danger.

It was then that someone approached Chloe—the owner of this information broker’s shop. Concealing his identity, he helped Chloe, became her close friend, and gradually revealed his story to her.

In the end, Chloe finally figured out his true identity.

‘Thanks to that, I was able to come here.’

Because I had read the original novel, I could come to this information broker without any effort.

The man flinched at my satisfied smile and turned his head.

“T-this way, please.”

With a hand as large as my face, he pointed to a door inside the shop. His fingers trembled slightly, making it seem like he might have a tremor.

“Alright.”

With light steps, I opened the door he pointed to, revealing a staircase leading to the second floor.

“Ah… I miss elevators. Escalators.”

Looking up at the steep stairs, I let out a deep sigh.

What’s the point of being a noble if there’s no elevator? I still have to climb these stairs myself.

The stairs, clearly designed without any consideration for the user, were steep enough to send someone straight to the afterlife if they slipped. Practically crawling, I managed to climb them.

“Ugh, with all that money, you’d think he could move to a better place.”

Finally reaching the second floor, I dusted off my hands and caught my breath. It seemed this body was clearly lacking in stamina.

And at that moment, a stranger’s voice came from right beside me.

“I haven’t earned enough to buy a new building yet, so I can’t move.”

“Huh….”

Not expecting to run into him so soon, I gaped at the man.

His face was hidden behind a white mask, and he wore a red wig. He looked exactly as described in the novel.

“What brings you here? This isn’t a place fit for a lady to visit.”

“Could we speak privately?”

“My time is very expensive. Are you sure you can afford it?”

“Of course. What I have to say is just as valuable.”

The curiosity in the man’s red eyes, visible beneath the mask, began to shine.

Though he hid his hair with a red wig, it seemed he hadn’t bothered to conceal his eyes.

“Please, come inside. A valuable story from a lady of the Leon family sounds intriguing.”

As expected, the man already knew my identity. It was only natural for someone known as the empire’s greatest information broker.

The room he led me to was just as it was described in the novel: a large table and a few chairs sparsely furnished the space.

Like with Chloe in the novel, he kindly pulled out the chair closest to the door for me. Preferring to keep his distance from clients, he took a seat in the chair opposite mine.

“So, what is this valuable story you have, my lady?”

“Actually, it’s less of a story and more of a proposal.”

“A proposal? What sort of proposal?”

The man leaned back against his chair. His posture made it clear he wasn’t particularly interested in what I had to say.

It wasn’t surprising.

As the man with access to the most information in the empire, he could make money with what he already knew. In fact, he made so much money that he didn’t accept just any request. He only took on cases if the information was beneficial to him.

In the original story, the reason he approached Chloe was that he predicted she would end up with the crown prince.

“You’re aware of the frequent fraud cases occurring in the empire, aren’t you?”

At the mention of fraud, the man glanced at me briefly and gave a small nod.

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

“The empire’s laws don’t fully grasp the severity of fraud. That’s why the Knights prioritize capturing fraudsters last. As a result, fraudsters are rarely caught, and even when they are, the punishment is light. But the most important thing is…”

Talking about fraud stirred emotions within me. Memories of being scammed by Jiwoo came rushing back, along with the helplessness and anguish I had felt.

“And what’s the most important thing?”

“No one cares about recovering the victims’ losses. After being scammed, victims are left feeling helpless and blaming themselves. Everyone just points fingers, saying the victim was foolish for falling for it.”

The man let out a deflated laugh.

“For a noble lady to say such things, you almost sound like someone who’s been scammed yourself.”

“Do you think I’ve been scammed?”

“Who knows? Maybe a naive lady handed over her jewels and money to a man in the name of love.”

The man also seemed to know about Sebastian.

‘This is exactly the kind of person I need to work with.’

I couldn’t tell what his intentions were in bringing up Sebastian, but I couldn’t help smiling, satisfied with his capabilities as an information broker.

“Well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. That’s not why I’m here today.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I’d like to start a business with you.”

“A business?”

“Yes. On the surface, it would appear to be a legitimate business. Something a typical noble lady might get involved in—like a perfume or tea-related business.”

“And beneath the surface?”

“Beneath the surface, I want to help victims of fraud.”

“Help fraud victims? Are you suggesting we create a charity?”

“Yes. But it must remain a secret.”

“So, a charity that no one knows about?”

The man tilted his head, clearly confused.

“Yes.”

“That would mean spending money without gaining any reputation in return.”

“I’m aware.”

“Ha, my lady. That’s a foolish dream. Unlike you, I’m not someone overflowing with altruism. I don’t engage in ventures that lose money. If that’s all you have to say, please leave.”

The man flatly rejected the proposal and stood, signaling he had no intention of continuing the conversation.

“You, more than anyone, understand how helpless a fraud victim feels.”

At my words, the man stopped in his tracks.

“Isn’t that right, Count Kidne?”

Hearing my next words, the man had no choice but to sit back down.

His true identity was Robert Kidne, a Count.

No one knew that this upright Count secretly earned money through shady businesses like pawnbroking and information dealing. Only readers who finished the novel to the end would know this.

“I’m not Count Kidne. Don’t make assumptions.”

Robert tried to deny it, likely thinking I had guessed his identity.

“There’s no use pretending. I already know you’re Count Kidne. Count, please think carefully about the proposal I’ve made.”

“As I said earlier, I don’t engage in ventures that don’t make money.”

“It will make money.”

“How exactly does a charity make money?”

“Because I’ll donate, and at the same time, I’ll scam the scammers.”

“Ha, scam the scammers? Are you saying you’ve already scammed that man? The one currently detained by the Royal Knights?”

I shrugged.

“I won’t answer that. What do you think?”

The man fell silent, clearly lost in thought.

He was likely weighing the risks and potential profits of the business I had proposed.

“As expected, I won’t do it.”

It wasn’t going to be easy. Reluctantly, I played the card I had hoped to avoid using.

“Then, how about this? I’ll tell you where the person you’re looking for is.”

The room fell silent.

Without a word, the man stared at me. His crimson eyes were trembling, just like his thoughts.