Chapter 22 Saintess Olga’s Heart (3) (2/2)
Cedric suddenly remembered Artizea’s words and smiled.
「Your Grace, you must set aside your honor, so that you may gain the honor of the Western Army and protect the Grand Duchy Evron… And yet you will throw it all away for personal reasons?」
If Artizea had not said that, he would have considered the offer an insult and would have been furious.
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“Soldiers must receive the treatment they deserve, and I will not avoid it for fear that my honor will be stained.”
“Your Grace.”
“And that’s what Lady Artizea made me understand.”
Freyl said nothing else, and remained silent, wearing a strange expression.
‘Just because of that?’
He was tempted to ask him that question.
Besides, if it were a simple marriage of convenience…
He could have sent her just a wedding dress. It would have been a good way to make it look like a love marriage and make the Emperor let his guard down.
With this in mind, was it really necessary to buy her a jewel?
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‘I don’t think so. However, he doesn’t seem to be aware of it at all… Will I have to tell him so that he realizes it?’
Freyl became distraught.
Could Cedric understand this concern? Honestly, he was worried about having to serve Miraila’s daughter as the Grand Duchess for the rest of his life.
As he thought about this, they arrived at the address that the jeweler Odorov had given Cedric.
Cedric had doubts as he got off his horse. A black cloth was hanging over the front door.
It was a sign of mourning.
“Oh no…”
Hearing his lament, Freyl said.
“I understand your concern, but we should go inside. It’s not like we can take the time to come back another time, right?”
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“You’re right.”
Cedric sighed deeply.
Freyl knocked on the door.
Out of the gloomy house, carefully opening the door was a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties.
“You look like important people, why have you come to this place? My father has died.”
The girl said with a face of suspicion and exhaustion. There were dark rings around her eyes.
Freyl quickly took out the letter of introduction Cedric had given him and handed it to the girl.
The girl opened the seal on the spot and read the contents. Then, she looked at Cedric puzzled. Soon after, and in a hurry, she knelt on one knee,
“I am honored to meet Your Grace.”
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“No. Please do not kneel. There is no need for you to act with such courtesy…”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
The girl spoke with a polite but tired voice, and then stood up.
She led them into the living room.
It was already night, so the house was dark. The girl lit a candle to illuminate the place.
Then she appeared carrying a tray with three cups of tea, sat down and put it on the table.
“I apologize for the lack of hospitality. We don’t even have good tea leaves in our house. But since my father’s soul has not yet left this house, let me give you some tea, so that my father may feel honored and rest in peace.”
“It is us who should apologize for having come at a difficult time.”
Cedric was not very thirsty, but he drank the tea slowly until the cup was empty. Freyl did the same.
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“Thank you very much. I’m sure my father will be very happy.”
The girl bowed her head and said,
“Your Grace, Mr. Odorov’s letter of introduction mentions that you are looking for a jewel. My father passed away, but the ledgers from his days as a jeweler are still intact, so I will try to help you in any way I can.”
“I apologize in advance for the inconvenience caused during your mourning. I am looking for a diamond called Saintess Olga’s Heart. Mr. Odorov told me that your father has ownership of that jewel.”
*Clink-clink*
The woman’s hands trembled. This caused the cup of tea she was holding to shake and make a noise as it hit the saucer.
Cedric carefully took the cup of tea from her hand and placed it on the table.
The girl stared at him with a pale face. She held not just an angry expression, but also one of disgust and hatred.
He just wanted to buy that jewel.
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But the girl’s face clearly showed that there was a story behind that jewel.
“That jewel is not in our house.”
“Who was it sold to?”
After thinking about it for a moment, the girl got up and went to the study.
Her behavior was so unusual that Cedric and Freyl looked at each other.
The girl soon returned to the living room with a document envelope.
“Here is the contract for the transfer of ownership of Saintess Olga’s Heart.”
She handed the contract to Cedric. The name of the buyer of the jewel in the contract was Baron Yetz.
“This is a promissory note issued by the Baron when the contract was drawn up.”
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She also handed him the promissory note. The date on the promissory note indicated that it was made seven years ago.
“The rest are responses to letters my father sent him to pay for the promissory note. My father had been writing letters to him for seven years, but he only received about 10 replies. In all of them, he requested a delay in payment.”
The girl gritted her teeth, then said, “In the last letter the Baron wrote, ‘I will pay when I have to. Don’t you trust me?’”
It was clear what had happened. The nobleman had deliberately delayed payment; he was purposely ignoring then.
Baron Yetz had practically stolen the diamond by means of a piece of paper signed with his identity. In fact, this was not unusual.
After reviewing the contract, Freyl remarked,
“According to this contract, ownership of the diamond will only be transferred when the promissory note has been paid.”
“Yes, that condition was put in place to prevent any fraud .”
“If you had sued, you could have won.”
The girl sobbed.
“How could we have done that? That diamond has been given as a present to the Marchioness Camellia.”
Cedric and Freyl looked at each other again.
The Marchioness Camellia was the sister-in-law of the Grand Duke Roygar.