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 3/4 🎉)

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

“You say you know about that person?”
“Yes. The person who scammed the late Count Kidne. I know about them.”

A deflated laugh escaped Robert’s lips.

The late Count Kidne, Robert’s father, had been a victim of fraud.

One day, a swindler appeared before the late Count Kidne, offering him a suspicious investment proposal. Deceived by the swindler’s words, his father handed over his entire fortune. Naturally, the swindler took the money and fled without looking back.

It wasn’t until much later that his father realized he had been scammed. Overwhelmed with guilt, he took his own life, leaving behind only a suicide note filled with self-reproach: “I’m sorry for being scammed. This is all my fault.”

Having inherited the Count’s estate at a young age, Robert had lived with relentless determination.

On the surface, he acted like a carefree noble, but behind the scenes, he operated pawnshops and information brokerage businesses—things no noble would typically do—to recover his father’s lost wealth piece by piece.

“How does the lady know about this?”

Even Robert, the empire’s greatest information broker, hadn’t been able to uncover the swindler’s identity. That the seemingly naive lady of the Leon family claimed to know was even more baffling.

“It’s my trade secret. So, Count, why don’t you attend tomorrow’s banquet at the temple? I’ll be waiting for your answer then.”

Espin glanced at the dazed Robert before standing up and leaving the room.

“How am I supposed to get down these stairs? Should I just roll down?”

Hearing Espin’s voice from outside the door, Robert let out an exasperated laugh.

Not only did she know his identity, but she also claimed to know the swindler’s identity.

“Can I trust her?”

Her information had no discernible source. For someone like Robert, who valued the accuracy of information above all else, it was a claim he couldn’t easily believe.

And yet—

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I almost died!”

Seeing the foolish woman struggling to descend the stairs properly, he found himself wanting to trust her for some reason.

The woman who had looked him straight in the eye and declared she would scam the scammers somehow inspired confidence in him.

“I should investigate this further.”

There was undoubtedly something about her that he didn’t yet know.

***

“Can someone bring me some ointment?”

The carriage arrived at the Leon estate.

Having scraped my foot while descending the steep stairs of the pawnshop, I limped as I got out of the carriage.

“Yes.”

The maid who had accompanied me in the carriage walked past me without any intention of helping me.

“Hey, can you help me walk?”

“Ah, I don’t think I have the strength to support you… I’ll go call someone else.”

“What?”

Her absurd response made both the coachman and me stare at her.

She tilted her head innocently, giving the impression she didn’t understand what was wrong, and pointed to one of the knights who had accompanied as the escort.

“Now that I think about it, there’s a knight here. Either the knight or the coachman can help you.”

Having lived as a noble in this world for a few days, I knew for sure that this behavior was unacceptable. Maids and coachmen each had their designated roles. Helping and attending to me was undoubtedly the maid’s responsibility.

Yet this maid just widened her eyes and tilted her head in confusion.

Her unusually white eyes stood out.

‘Ah, so this is what they call a “pure-eyed lunatic.”’

How did someone like her end up as a maid? Well, I suppose it was my fault for hiring people too quickly.

Still, compared to the previous maids who had bullied and ignored Espin, she didn’t seem to have any malicious intent. She just seemed clueless or disinterested in her job.

With a small sigh, I turned to the knight behind me.

“Could you help me instead of the clueless maid?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll go get the ointment, then.”

The maid scurried into the mansion, her steps quick and light, seemingly oblivious to the collective sighs of those left behind.

“By the way, where’s the butler?”

As I entered the mansion, I found myself stopping in my tracks.

“Why is His Grace the Grand Duke here…?”

Inside the mansion, Grand Duke Holt, Haren, and a group of Imperial Knights were waiting for me.

“Greetings, my lady. We’re here to investigate the incident from yesterday. Do you have a moment to talk?”

My heart sank instantly.

From what I’d heard, noble victims only needed to submit a written statement to conclude such matters. The fact that the Imperial Knights had come in person was not a good sign.

And for Grand Duke Holt to come himself? This was far too ominous.

‘Surely Sebastian wasn’t stupid enough to confess everything, including his crimes, was he?’

Claiming to be a prince of the Arcadia Kingdom alone was enough to earn him a life sentence. No matter how foolish Sebastian was, he couldn’t have made such a choice.

‘Stay calm. There’s no way they’ll find out.’

I forced myself to smile, repeating those words in my head like a mantra.

“Then please, follow me to the drawing room.”

***

“The reason for our visit today is to confirm a few things.”

Seated in the drawing room, Travis got straight to the point.

“Of course. Feel free to ask.”

“Commander, I’m telling you it’s all nonsense.”

Haren grumbled from the side, but when Travis remained silent, he quickly shut his mouth.

“The man who caused a commotion at this estate before being arrested—he’s made some strange claims.”

“What sort of claims?”

“Sebastian claims to have given you 50,000 litas.”

Travis carefully observed Espin’s expression.

Despite the absurdity of the claim, Espin remained composed and smiled calmly as she spoke.

“Do you believe him, Your Grace?”

“.….”

Travis said nothing, waiting to see what she would say next.

“Why would I need to borrow or accept money from that man?”

“Exactly, Commander. The Leon family isn’t short on funds. Why would she take money from someone like him?”

Haren immediately jumped in to defend Espin.

“Do you have any evidence to support this claim?”

“There’s no evidence. The man did borrow money from a shady pawnshop, but we don’t know where that money went. He probably squandered it somewhere.”

Haren muttered in response to Espin’s question.

As Haren said, Sebastian had borrowed a large sum of money from a disreputable pawnshop, using his body as collateral. He claimed to have given that money to Espin, but there was no proof that he had met her again.

Sebastian’s story was full of inconsistencies, yet some details were oddly specific. In particular, his description of the drawing room they were currently in was surprisingly accurate.

How could a commoner, who had no reason to enter this drawing room, describe it so well?

And there was one more suspicious detail.

For some reason, Espin had replaced all the staff in the mansion a few days ago. She claimed it was because the staff had disrespected her, but replacing an entire household overnight was not a common occurrence.

It was clear she was hiding something.

Travis sipped his tea slowly, studying her expression. Her face appeared neutral, but her eyes sparkled unusually.

“And do you know what that man said? He claimed the two of you were in love.”

“What nonsense…. Haren, you know I judge men by their looks.”

“See, Commander? Espin’s type is someone dependable and handsome, like a prince. She likes men with a noble aura, like you.”

Travis nearly choked on his tea at Haren’s words.

“Cough. Don’t spout nonsense, Haren.”

Travis glared at Haren as he struggled to clear his throat.

“No, I’m serious. Espin, you once said the Commander was handsome and your ideal type.”

Both Haren and Travis turned their gazes toward Espin.