“Lady, it’s been a while. You’re late for our appointment.”
The Viscount glanced deliberately at the man standing behind her.
Though she had promised to come within a few days, it had taken her five days to return. As a result, that unfamiliar man had also stayed at the Viscount’s house in the meantime.

“I’m sorry. There was something I had to take care of at home. So, I can take the painting now, right?”
“Yes, the painting has been safely stored here.”

Seeing her cheerful smile, completely unaware of anything, the Viscount flashed a victorious grin.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow at the imperial banquet.”

The Viscount leisurely stepped into the lobby to send her off.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

“Viscount!”
The butler in the lobby, upon seeing the Viscount, rolled his eyes nervously before cautiously approaching him.

“Who is that?”
The Viscount’s gaze turned toward the woman standing in the lobby.

“Well, that is…”
“I am Babin Melchaski, a descendant of Melchaski.”

Babin Melchaski.
The Viscount remembered that name. She was the previous owner of this house. He had heard that she was recuperating in some rural area on the outskirts due to health issues.
Unable to handle the contract herself because of her condition, she had signed through an agent.
And yet, here she was, standing before him, looking perfectly fine.

“Ah, you’re the previous owner of this house. What brings you here?”
“Well… I heard a rumor that you’ve been selling the remaining paintings of Melchaski…”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, perhaps because she hadn’t fully recovered. The Viscount immediately sensed danger.

“Why don’t we step inside to discuss this further?”

With a glance, he ordered the butler to escort the Lady from the Leon County family out. It was best that she didn’t hear this conversation.
However, whether she was perceptive or entirely clueless, the Lady from the Leon County family merely smiled and observed the situation unfold, seemingly amused.

“No, I’d prefer to talk here.”
“Please, come inside. I can’t host a guest in a place like this.”
“I only came to confirm a few things. Did you happen to find any of Melchaski’s paintings in the attic?”
“Ah, haha. This is a long story. Please, come inside.”
“Just tell me here. I have unpleasant memories of this house, so I don’t want to go inside. I’d rather talk here.”
“Oh dear, I suppose we’ll have to talk here then. Trauma can be so difficult to endure.”

The Viscount glared at the butler, silently urging him to get rid of the clueless Lady already.

“Lady, the carriage is ready. Please, let us escort you.”
The butler, catching the Viscount’s intent, tried to guide her out, but she didn’t budge.

“This house used to belong to Melchaski, right? And they discovered his remaining works in the attic. I even bought one of those paintings. Is there a problem?”

Her loose tongue caused the Viscount’s face to twist in frustration.

“You actually sold those paintings?”
Babin looked at the Viscount in disbelief, her lips trembling, a clear sign her health was still fragile.

“Sigh…”

The Viscount knew exactly how to handle such frail women. After taking them to his private room, he would intimidate them with a few shouts, then coax and soothe them. Women like her, who were physically weak, would usually comply with his demands out of fear.
But there was a problem: that Lady.
Espin didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.

“I’ll explain everything inside. Please, step in.”
“Wait. Is there a reason he shouldn’t sell those paintings?”
“Lady, this is a personal matter. Please leave at once.”

It was rude to outright ask someone to leave, but the desperate Viscount couldn’t afford to care about such things.

“Those paintings… please return them. All of them.”
Babin’s trembling voice rang out, and everyone present was left speechless.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”
The Viscount erupted in anger, his instincts telling him he couldn’t let her take control of the situation.

“I sold the house, not the paintings. The paintings are mine.”
“How can those paintings be yours? They belong to me.”
“No, if you look at the contract…”

Babin pulled a document out of her bag. Recognizing it as the contract for the sale of the house, the Viscount slapped the paper out of her hands.
The papers were scattered across the lobby.

“This house is clearly my property. That means everything in it is also mine. Stop spouting nonsense and leave immediately! You there, throw this crazy woman out!”
“No, if you look at the contract, it clearly states that all movable property within the building, excluding the structure itself, belongs to Babin Melchaski.”

Babin began to cry, her tears spilling from sheer frustration.
But seeing those tears only made the Viscount’s irritation boil over. The fact that the Lady was witnessing all of this spelled trouble.

“Ah, it does say that here in the contract.”
“Lady, this is none of your concern. Please leave at once.”
“No, it is my concern.”

When Espin extended her hand, the man accompanying her produced a contract.

“This contract here specifies the compensation I’m owed if there’s an issue with the painting.”

The Viscount was rendered speechless. Espin was subtly implying that she expected compensation for the painting being problematic.
Five times the 300,000 litas price—1.5 million litas.
That was far more than everything the Viscount had earned so far.

“It seems I have something to discuss with the Viscount. Should I wait inside?”
Espin’s face lit up with a bright smile, like a child who had just discovered something amusing.

***

The Viscount felt like his head was about to explode as he sat across from the two women. He couldn’t think of a single way to navigate this situation.
If he admitted the painting was his brother’s work, he would have to pay Espin the penalty, and rumors would spread.
If he claimed the painting was Melchaski’s, he would still have to pay Espin the penalty and hand over all the paintings from the upcoming auction and the previous one to Babin.

After racking his brain for a long time, the Viscount finally made a decision.

“The truth is, the painting is a forgery. There are no works by Melchaski.”
“What? Then this painting…”
“I’m sorry, Lady. My sick brother wanted to sell paintings, claiming he was Melchaski. I simply helped him. I apologize.”
“Ah, but where’s the proof that it’s a forgery? Are you trying to deceive me?”
“If you look here, you’ll see.”

The Viscount removed the frame from Espin’s painting. His brother had secretly included his signature on it. He probably thought the Viscount didn’t know, but he had been aware of it all along.

“Here, this is my brother’s signature. Melchaski’s works don’t have this.”

Babin fell silent.

“Ah… so it’s a forgery?”
“Yes. But it’s not exactly a forgery—it’s my brother’s work, inspired by Melchaski.”
“Well, isn’t that the same thing?”

Babin awkwardly laughed as she stood up, and the Viscount called for the butler.

“Butler, come here.”
He whispered in the butler’s ear.

“Lock her up. We can’t let her spread rumors. Just until the day after tomorrow. No exceptions.”
“But…”
“I’ll take full responsibility. Just do it.”

He couldn’t risk her going around and talking about this. She had to be confined.

“Yes, sir.”

The butler led Babin outside, leaving only Espin and the Viscount in the room.

“This painting is a forgery? All the ones you’ve sold so far?”

Espin’s lips curled into a smile.
It was now the Viscount’s turn to offer something.