Chapter 116.

The Gemstone Penelope Wanted …… is a bird’s egg?

I looked at the bird with rusty eyes.

“Beep, beep″.”

The eyes touched and the bird cried once more, making wing motions.

“This time the bird seems to be dead, as soon as I saw you fluttering and puffing, as if recognizing the owner.”

“Don’t bring it to your room again.”

“Because I was going to give it to you.”

I was stunned by the sudden voice and my face turned to Derrick. He looked at the cage that wasn’t mine and rambled on.

“It’s said to be an individual that hasn’t spawned yet, so wait, it will someday.” That means he might have the “Popinue Diamond” that Penelope wanted last year. I couldn’t understand his state of mind at all.

“…Why?”

So without realizing it, it popped up inside.” …… What?”

“You hate me being extravagant.”

“I don’t. Why does Duke Sol always give me stuff like that.” Blue eyes flashed and widened. It didn’t look wrong this time.” Is this payment for not believing me before the trial?” But isn’t that too shameless.

“Without a word of apology, that’s enough?”

I don’t know if it’s because he’s aware of the increasingly twisted thoughts, but the guy just stood stiffly. Then after a while.

“…… Yeah. Bummer.”

Suddenly, he unraveled his stiff expression and revealed a smile that looked a bit deflated.” You’re always making excuses on me.”

“Actually, I don’t know.”

The one who was flabbergasted at that answer was me. Staring blankly at him, he spoke silently.” I was just walking and found this and remembered what you wanted to bring.”

“Since there’s only one that’s a rare breed, I didn’t want to be robbed by anyone else.”

“Is that reason okay now?”

There was no explanation at all. I’m just pissed off to no end. So why remember what I wanted to say last year.

Wanted to press further, but tried to hold back. It wasn’t anything important anyway.” …… Thanks for thinking of me and catching me, but I don’t want it.” I said in a calm tone. The blue pupils immediately colored into surprise.

“What about?”

“I can’t seem to be in charge until I spawn.”

I spoke and also took a witty look at the guy’s eye color. Like last time, the guy in a twisted mood, then throw it, kill the bird, afraid to say the same thing, heart thumping.

“…… It’s like this.”

But surprisingly, Derrick nodded in agreement with my words.” Then continue to take care of it at night.”

Why is this guy like this?”

Looking at him again with round eyes, I quickly figured it out. It’s a bird that breeds precious gems and can’t be killed.

“All the same, come and visit once in a while. Smart bird, it might even find you.”

“Beep beep beep.”

The bird chirped as if answering his words.

“I will.”

I answered dutifully. For liking pretty birds. Of course, there was no indication that it was done without you.

There was an awkward silence in the office for a while after the answer. It was time to think about the occasional bird watching thing and said to go back quietly.

“…… If my father retires in a few years, I’ll take over as Duke.”

Derrick suddenly broke the silence.

“No matter how much preparation and readiness there are always holes in the process.”

“The political enemies won’t miss the gap and will burrow in anyway, trying to backstab Eckhardt.” What an inexplicable vein. He ignored my ridiculous look and continued.

“I’ve always been like this, and I’ll be controlling and preparing for all of these things in the future as well. Because this is my family to guard and be responsible for.”

“And that includes you here, Penelope Eckhardt.”

Suddenly, he lifted his gaze and looked me straight in the eye. Cold, cool, arrogant aristocrat of intrigue, he said word for word.

“I’ll pay a part of it to stop what’s being done to Eckhardt’s reputation, and that’s no big deal. But I don’t want to take the fall for you.”

I realized immediately. He was, now, justifying a conversation that had taken place in jail the day before the trial.

“I’m not going to say what I think is right.”

“But even if I went back again, I would repeat the same choices.”

“Because it’s the fastest way to get rid of the Noble Trial victimizer you’re wearing.”

An inexplicable passion tumbled in the blue eyes. It was similar to when looking at me who was making a statement alone in the trial court.

“But I admit I’m sexually impatient. In the future, I’ll listen to you first and act with caution.”

“You also seem to have ceased to do evil and to carry out your will fully.” You’ve changed, not in the future, a paragraph, he finished. And I understood it.

That is to say, he is the material to lead the Grand Duke’s house, making sound judgments every now and then. Even if it’s wrong, it’s more the thing that pushes his brother Liang, who’s been called out on his ass, to hell.

There wasn’t a single word of apology, but I knew it was the way of the Derrick guy who was raised to be a thoroughgoing great noble to apologize. But there’s always no way to prevent the heart from twisting. Do you still want him to do that now?

“Yes.”

I sneered. What’s the point of all that now. It hadn’t disappeared from the Penelope who really wrote about evil.

“I haven’t changed from what I said then.”

The unneeded words were kicked to the end of my neck, but eventually pressed on. The last guy I saw had a favorability rating of only 32%.

“Penelope.”

He called out to me in an impatient voice.

“What I’ve done, I want to be responsible for myself in the future not looking forward to it ………” I stopped him, took a deep breath and smiled sweetly.” You’re right.”

My words caused his face to twist strangely. The orange goodness in his ebony hair was tiny as it shimmered. Couldn’t see the number, couldn’t tell if it was a plus or a minus. Mentally, he was anxious.

“I’m going to go now. Little Duke, please.”

If there was more, it seemed to have caused another plunge, and I turned around in a panic. Then he tried to walk quickly toward the office door.

Unexpected words caught the footsteps.

“Always use the deacon as a proxy.”

I looked back at him with a strange feeling. Still with his twisted face, he scolded me and spat advice at me.

“If the young lady is made aware of the fact that she is the master, there will be indifferent clansmen and attached impudents.”

“You can utilize the wizards in the clan if you wish.”

The fact that he already knew about the emerald mine scared me so much that I couldn’t speak for a moment.

So what’s the current status of the favorability of the guy who can’t be seen anymore.

***

Early in the morning a few days later the deacon came and told me the news about the mine.” In accordance with the lady’s instructions, the highest grade of raw stone that had not been worked three times was offered at the auction house.”

“But?”

“But, all three times the bidding was won at a top end at nearly ten times the final auction price.”

“…… What?”

I was startled. Because it didn’t make sense to arbitrarily create competition in order to determine the top of circulation.

“Which place?”

“After inquiring, it turns out that it’s not the top end of …… that deals with gems.” Deacon replied with a puzzled expression as well.” Have you ever heard of the top of the White Rabbit?”

“What, what?!”

I opened my mouth. It was the top run by Winter Belldandy. What the hell was that guy doing?

Touched the billion dollar gold and was alarmed at the unexpected development. It was trivial to think it was an interlude in the game.

There was only one person who knew that was the raw stone I was auctioning off,, but it made sense to let the others leak the information. If that was the case, there would be no reason to have to sing the last auctioneer’s 10x and sweep it all up.

It was something that was done in complete secrecy, how did that guy know that I was the owner of the mine and bought the raw stones.

I don’t know if I noticed my instantly serious look, the deacon asked carefully.

“Do you know the place, miss?”

“No? No way.”

I quickly dismissed.

“Shall I make contact with him, then?”

“Put …… on hold for now.”

“On hold?”

“Uh-huh. Because I have to think about it first.”

Deacon cocked his head in surprise. However, in the case of approaching 100% male lead favoritism, it was important to be cautious when meeting with other male leads.

In addition, regarding the mine, Deacon is no different than my agent. It would be terrible if he knew that I had secretly commissioned him and secretly found men in the outer room.

I shuddered at the dreaded family, so I hastened to end the conversation.” Is this the end of what is to be said?”

“Ah, there’s …… more.”

The deacon added that there might be more to say.

“Do you remember the four men you met in the apprentice driver’s quarters not long ago?” Possibly to recall unpleasant memories, Deacon omitted words in the extreme. I answered painfully.

“Uh-huh. Why?”

“All were deposed by the Knights last night.”

“Dismissed?”

It’s unexpected news. Obviously I told you to leave it alone, but it seems you had to get him out.” What, great.”

I twisted the corners of my nose porridge mouth and smiled. It was a surprise that it went so quickly, but it wasn’t at all in the realm of the unforeseen.

A time to be kicked out, a time to regret not seeing their faces.” Also, the young duke commits them to trial for blasphemy against the nobility.” The words that came next were truly unexpected.