Chapter 51

What are you talking about, tax collection!

You’re a thief!

Even though I thought so, I looked at the property collection list step by step.

You’re saying that I can bring the ones on this list anytime, right?

“Wow, it was a lot.”

Can I just bring all of this?

I thought so at the moment, but it would have been a headache if it was known that Count Yosenheim’s assets had disappeared in large quantities while he was trapped in prison.

‘But the slush funds are okay, right? No one knows there was something like that so they wouldn’t know it was gone.’

Now this slush fund is mine. I can use it however I want.

“What if Count Yozenheim dies?”

[It’s already been taxed. The Arendwell Empire doesn’t deduct taxes just because they’re dead.]

“Wow, this is why the emperor is a real tyrant.”

It was the completion of a probability that I did not know when I was reading a novel.

“Even if the ownership is transferred?”

[The ownership of this item is already in the hands of the tax collector]

Right.

Someone else can’t take it because there’s already a mark of differential pressure tag.

I don’t know about others.

That means I can summon it even if someone else takes it.

‘Then there are countless ways to use it.’

First of all, a noticeable movement did not seem to be good.

If there is a problem with Count Yosenheim’s private property while in prison, Duke Paeraton may be suspected.

But it’s a shame that I won’t take anything like this.

First, I wanted to use my abilities.

Just in time, there was an item on the list that caught my eye.

Daphne’s necklace?

Daphne.

Isn’t this Nymph’s name?

In fantasy, many people use names after Nymphs.

The most famous one is Nias, the spirit of water.

“Then is this also a ghost’s necklace?”

That’s so cool!

It’s a romance fantasy itself!

My heart was pounding.

‘There are many more expensive ones, so this will be okay, right?’

I don’t hear any refutation.

I really want to have a necklace for the spirit of fantasy.

“I’ll only collect Daphne’s necklace this time.”

[Collecting Daphne’s necklace]

I thought the light would flash, but a necklace appeared in my hand without any sign.

Old and a little discolored but had an antique charm.

It feels like a real spirit was asleep here.

I looked at the necklace, pressing my beating heart.

“This······.”

***

I walked hard toward the eastern annex.

The eastern annex is a place where servants usually work, and today there is a meeting of elders.

‘Elders are also part of the Senate, so it’s a perfect opportunity for me.’

Unfortunately, the Senate said it would not hold a political meeting for a while due to the absence of the head.

‘Hmm, so maybe that’s why there are many vassals as well as elders?’

I didn’t go inside the annex, but peeked over the windowsill with my tiptoes up.

I saw the grandfathers I saw at the New Year’s banquet last year.

‘There will definitely be a story about the treatment of Count Yosenheim. It’s about the head of the Senate, so they couldn’t help but come.’

I waved at the maid sisters across the garden.

The maid sisters ran to me smiling brightly.

“Unnie, please open that window a little bit.”

It was too much to open the window because I could barely peek inside by lifting my tiptoes.

“Are you going to eavesdrop? You can’t do that.”

“But I’m curious. Grandfather Yosenheim is in trouble because of me. What if he get punished for me?”

“It’s not your fault. It’s all about him paying for his sins.”

But when I grew sulky and looked at the ground with tearful eyes, the sister eventually opened her mouth.

“Okay. Then you have to give me two of them.”

“Two?”

“Give me two and I’ll look after you.”

“Okay.”

I slipped the trading product out of my arms.

The older sister checked every inch of the item with solemn eyes and smiled broadly.

“Sigh, you’re so cute. This is a girl, right? This····· Explosion·····? Did you draw an explosion?”

“It’s a flower,”

I said sadly, and my sister muttered,

“It’s a flower, a flower. Cute,·····.”

That’s rude!

“If you want me to do it again next time, please call me.”

My sister, who fellinto my charms, opened the window and turned around the corner of the annex.

‘Phew, I’m glad I drew two just in case.’

Why are the employees, maid sisters and my older brothers, use my paintings as currency?

“Such a letter from the imperial palace?”

At that time, I heard a voice from the inside.

I crouched down on the lawn and stood my ears up close.

“Hmm, what do you all think?”

“Look at the size of the family of Duke Paeraton? I can feel the absence of a hostess everywhere.”

Duchess?

‘So you’re saying you’re going to bring in a stepmother?’

Or is it a matter of diplomacy between nobles?

The letter may be about mediating between Paeraton and other nobles.

Maybe because diplomacy is simply the subject, the story of the duchess came out.

Usually, the hostess is in charge of diplomacy here.

“Hmm, let’s discuss this one step by step and in fact, there is no most important issue.”

“What about Count Yosenheim?”

“Yes. How can a man named the head of the Senate communicates with another family to threaten the safety of a direct princess? This can’t happen!”

“Of course, it’s wrong for Count Yosenheim to receive a bribe. However, it is hard to say that the count was involved in the work. It could have been a set up without us knowing what they were doing!”

“Huh? Does that make sense? The auditor hasn’t changed for three years, but the words haven’t come out from the top!”

“I don’t know if it’s just because they asked him to take good care of it or if the count ordered it himself!”

Several people’s voices were heard, but there were two voices that were heard the loudest.

I raised my tiptoes again and looked inside the room.

‘Those two uncles must have the strongest influence. Wow, they are fighting as if they are going to eat each other.’

Rather, they speak louder than the Senate, so they can be said to be the influential figures among the elders.

‘Is it a fight between the next generation It was interesting. But I’m not interested in the ‘next generation’.

‘If I’m going to make them on my side, I’d better choose the best person now!’

At that time, the door of the conference hall opened and an old man appeared.

‘Cranky Grandfather.’

Neat suit, flowery waist, and trained appearance could never be said to be an old man.

He quietly entered the back door, but the conference hall became quiet at once.

Even the next generation of influential people, who were fighting with red faces, stopped talking and bowed their backs.

‘Yes, that’s all I want.’

‘I just came to see what was written in the letter from the imperial family.’

“Don’t mind me and finish what everyone was saying.”

Thud, thud.

In the silence, Count Candor crossed the conference hall.

I was amazed to see no one resume the meeting and wait for Count Candor to take his seat.

“Huh?”

But why does it feel like it’s coming this way?

I curled up.

I held my breath by pressing down my nervous chest, but I couldn’t hear anything.

As soon as I looked up,

“Didn’t I get caught?”

“······!”

My eyes met sharp silver eyes.

Yikes!

At the same time as I covered my mouth, Count Candor pushed the open window.

The window closed with a rough sound.

The shadow by the window gradually drifted away.

I couldn’t move.

I didn’t say it out loud, but it was a clear in my head.

I thought, “I have to stand up,” but I didn’t feel any strength in my body.

It was then.

There was a long shadow above me.

Is Count Candor here?

Then I don’t want to see it.

As I bowed my head deeper, I heard a blunt voice.

“A bunch of cotton.”

I looked up and saw Ixion’s face.

He has a chubby face, but his eyes that look at me are filled with warmth.

“What are you doing here?”

A clear but warm voice.

“Carry me!”

“What? What is it? Are you sick?”

“Carry me on your back.”

“········ You’ve really enjoyed it. Who do you think I am? Am I really just here to give you rides?”

Even though the corners of his mouth are going up.

Ixion grumbled and carried me on his back.

As he moved slowly, I felt a pleasant vibration.

Hard and wide back.

I leaned hard on my body.

“You’re really bad at drawing.”

“No, I’m good at drawing.”

“You’re not good at drawing. Hmm. You’ll get better if you draw a lot, right?”

“I’m good at drawing. Everyone wants my drawing. I’m a genius fifth-generation painter.”

“What genius? Even if I drew it with my feet, I would draw it well. Draw more! Draw a lot! So I····!”

“You?”

“………but you won’t be able to draw better than me.”

“Ixion fool!”

When I pulled Ixion’s hair, he shouted, “Argh!”

“As expected, my sister only says the right things.”

Ares smiled softly as he looked back at the voice he heard behind his back.

“Why are you here?”

“Keep your mouth shut, fool.”

Ares, who approached me, stroked my head.

“Don’t worry too much about what that fool says. You drew so well, my sister.”

Twinkle twinkle.

The face like that smiling with its eyes bent was too hard to look at.

‘What is this? What’s wrong?’

I think it’s a sentence with a lot of meaning.

‘……Do you want me to draw your picture instead of touching the family’s affairs?’

I know Ares accepted me and likes me quite a lot, but my move now would be an obstacle to him who wants to be a successor.

I bowed my head sullenly.

Ares reached out to me, wondering if I was satisfied with what I was told at once.

“Do you want to eat snacks with me? There’s also pudding that my sister likes.”

“What? This cottonball was going to look at the painting with me.”

Ixion turned around and prevented Ares’ hands from reaching me.

“Huh, looking at the painting, what are you going to do?”

“When looking at it, inspiration naturally comes to mind, and what······.”

“You just didn’t say it directly, but it’s like you’re begging. Well, you’ll have to beg, so you’ll get it.”

“What else would you have prepared there if you, a naughty boy seduced her for a snack? Isn’t it also begging to give you all the masterpieces?”

Ares and Ixion suddenly glared as if they were going to kill each other and raised their fighting spirit.

‘No, what’s wrong with you again?’

It was then.

Swoosh.

The magic gently covered my body and floated it into the air.

“My daughter was going to put medicine on me.”

When I came to my senses, my dad was holding me tightly in his arms.

“I’m carrying her on my back. You can’t just take it away!”

“Is my daughter an item? I’ll take it away.”

Dad smiled and pressed my head against his chest.

“Luatisha will be more comfortable hugging me than small things like you.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to be with someone you like than that?”

“Then she would be more comfortable and it would feel even better.”

What is this childish argument?

***

Yu-bi visited Zhuge Liang three times and made him look elegant.

(tl: idk wtf this is. i think she was saying a plot of a movie or a book. idk the reference sorry.)

But I will make you come to me!

I will present a picture of a golden arrow and a lead arrow to the feisty Count Candor.

“I’m the spirit of capitalism! Give me the price!”

Of course, the delivery boy was Hermes Tweet.

I sent a whole jar full of chocolate chip cookies and macaroon.

There was no response from Count Candor.

I then drew a laurel tree and presented it as a gift.

“Since it’s the 3rd time, you can call me by my nickname. Good, tweet!”

“If we meet more than three times, won’t you allow me? There’s one more time left.”

“You, you trampled on the pure heart of the spirit!”

“……. You said you were the spirit of capitalism.”

I had to give all the snacks to Hermes Tweet, who was angry that day.

Anyway, Hermes Tweet was a really competent messenger.

‘So it’s slowly time for a bite.’

I sat in a greenhouse flower bed and looked at the flowers.

“Oh, it’s a balsam flower!”

I wanted to have it dyed with balsam.

There was a shadow over my head while humming and picking petals.

I slowly raised my head.

Sharp silver eye.

Straight nose bridge.

Stubborn mouth.

Even though he is an old man, he has wide shoulders, straight waist, and a trained body.

It was a feisty grandfather, Count Candor.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” he said quietly.

“I don’t intend to be someone’s dog.”

It was a low but very daunting voice.

“You definitely suit the nickname of an untamed wolf.”

“I don’t know where you’ve heard that story and just playing another joke, but I’d rather you quit right away.”

“Really? Do you really want me to stop contacting you?”

When asked while staring, Count Candor frowned.

“Of course.”

“Really?”

I opened my hand that I had put in my pocket.

There was a faded silver necklace.

Count Candor’s eyes, which had only been sharp, shook like a candle in front of the wind.

“H, how, how,” he was speechless.

I hurriedly took a necklace from my hand and opened the rocket.

On one side of the rocket was a portrait of a young woman, and on the other side was a········.

A sharp silver eye, a straight nose, and a stubborn mouth- Yes, this man who would have looked like Count Candor when he was young.

“Where the hell did you get this?”

Count Candor shouted at me with his trembling hands full of rockets.

“Tell me!”

He asked me fiercely, but I wasn’t scared.

Because I felt his desperate nervousness.

“Grandpa, my legs hurt. I’ve been crouching down for a long time waiting for your answer.”

“…… Is it a deal? What do you want me to do?”

“Carry me.”