Please Support My Revenge - Chapter 33

First class was splendid. Unlike the packed seats in second and third class, where compartments were indistinguishable, the first-class cabin had only two long sofas.

Lobelia sat on one of the sofas, facing Joachim, admiring the pristine glass windows and the ornate patterns engraved beneath them.

When the steward arrived with a bottle of sparkling water and ice, Lobelia couldn’t help but appreciate the opulence of first class. It was truly luxurious.

However, despite the exquisite quality of first class, the journey westward was far from romantic. Lobelia, who had a weak constitution, felt nauseous throughout the trip due to the constant shaking of the carriage.

“The cabin is so… ugh… splendid, but the… ugh… lack of improvement in… ugh… the shaking compared to the early days is… unbelievable… ugh…”

“Miss Lobelia! I brought some cold water. It should help soothe your stomach.”

Joachim nursed Lobelia; her complexion was pale. Nighttime was the only resting period Lobelia had, when she could finally sleep on the bed.

After traveling for three days, they arrived at Merdanion, a mining region in the west.

Lobelia’s first impression of Merdanion was that it was bustling.

The city was teeming with gold seekers, entrepreneurs, hired miners, and merchants who flocked there to sell alcohol and goods to the miners. Merdanion was brimming with energy.

Joachim guided Lobelia to the finest hotel in Merdanion. It was a hotel built for the “true noble businessmen” who owned the gold mines.

Lobelia unpacked her belongings at the hotel and checked her wig and makeup in the dressing room.

Fortunately, despite the arduous train journey, Catherine Hayard still maintained a relatively decent appearance.

“Sir Joachim, you are aware that I have become the Empress’s chamberlain, right?”

After finishing her preparations, Lobelia called Joachim and had him sit in front of her.

“Of course, I’m aware.”

Joachim replied with an innocent expression unmatched in its naivety.

As expected, he knows nothing of the real situation.

Lobelia inwardly shook her head.

While Joachim knew that Lobelia had become the chamberlain, he had no idea that her goal was to seek revenge against Marlon.

He simply believed that the Empress was pleased with Lobelia’s capabilities and appointed her as the Chamberlain, just like anyone else.

Jade had indeed kept the secret thoroughly.

Lobelia pondered how she could convince Joachim to accept the suspicious actions that lay ahead.

Since they had to move together as one in Merdanion, she couldn’t continue hiding her true intentions.

However, the problem was how much she should reveal.

“Although Her Majesty the Empress expects nothing from me, I want to work for her.”

Lobelia put on the most genuine expression she could muster. She contained within her gaze the admiration that a young lady newly entering society would show the Empress.

“So, from now on, I intend to bring prosperity to the Empress’s treasury through the mining business.”

Unlike Jade, Joachim didn’t warn her about the risks of the mining business or ask how she planned to make money.

Instead, his clear, blue eyes widened, and with a trembling voice, he spoke up.

“That… is it to establish a position in society?”

Lobelia tilted her head in confusion. She couldn’t decipher the meaning behind Joachim’s words.

He shook his head, hesitating for a while before finally voicing his true thoughts.

“Is it to be by your master’s, no, the Duke’s, side?”

“Yes?”

Lobelia was taken aback by the unexpected question.

“You have a good relationship with each other. But I’m aware that there are people who make comments about your status. Are you trying to establish a position in society to prevent such remarks?”

Joachim’s guess was quite plausible. It could serve as a suitable answer to those who would question why she worked so diligently as the chamberlain from now on.

“Ah, yes.”

Lobelia forced herself to respond, hiding her uneasiness.

“It’s because I love him.”

Adding the ‘yes’ was an attempt to make her response more convincing, and in that moment, Joachim’s shoulders twitched.

“I see. Indeed…”

Joachim let out a shallow sigh. He seemed to be seriously contemplating something before lifting his head with a determined expression.

“I will do my best to assist you.”

He declared it with a sense of determination.

Lobelia noticed that Joachim’s attitude was slightly different from when he recited his knight’s oath to protect her. It was as if he tightly tied a knot in his heart and exhibited self-restraint to prevent emotions from overflowing.

“Thank you.”

Regardless, it was a good thing to have gained Joachim’s active support, so Lobelia expressed her gratitude with a smile.

His cheeks momentarily flushed before returning to their normal state.

“No, it’s not. It’s something I should naturally do as a knight serving Lady Lobelia.”

After concluding their conversation, they draped their cloaks and walked out of the hotel.

“Where are you planning to go? If you want to invest in the mines, it’s best to go to the branch of Ephlentiana Cockwell, isn’t it?”

Most noble individuals interested in the mines had already started their investments by purchasing stakes in established mining companies.

Joachim assumed that Lobelia would also invest in the mines in the same manner as other nobles.

So when Lobelia mentioned starting a mining business earlier, he wasn’t surprised.

He thought she would choose the safer path.

However, Lobelia shook her head.

“I won’t go to either of those places.”

“Then…”

Joachim looked perplexed at Lobelia’s words.

“I’m planning to establish my own company.”

Lobelia said it with a smile as radiant as a flower.

“…What?”

She had read the original work, but she didn’t remember how much James loved her or what he had prepared for her.

So even though she knew she was loved, she couldn’t fully grasp it. To her, James was an idealistic fantasy, a presence that was endlessly out of reach and impossible to possess, but one that she cherished dearly.

“Is your father is the previous Count of Epherentia?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Lobelia confirmed.

Jade nodded, pondering something deeply.

“Alright, if that’s your intention, I’ll support you. And even if we exhaust all of Her Majesty’s funds, I can cover up to a billion menihi.”

Lobelia faintly smiled, thinking Jade was joking.

“When are we leaving?”

“In a week. I’ll stay at the academy for now.”

“Alright. I’ll send Joachim to the academy in a week.”

From then on, the two of them planned how to discreetly extract Lobelia from the academy and head to the west.

“We don’t have to worry about attendance with the Bridge Nile, so that’s one less thing to think about.”

It was fortunate that Jade had someone in the academy dormitory.

****

The next day, Lobelia left for the academy early in the morning.

And for a week, she played the role of a diligent student. Of course, she didn’t forget to accumulate knowledge by frequenting the library during her free time.

On the day Joachim was supposed to visit, Lobelia woke up early and stood in front of the mirror.

In her hands were various disguise tools, including a wig.

“I have to do well… Maybe I should have just brought Hilda along.”

The owner of the fake identification Lobelia received was a woman named ‘Catherine Hayard,’ the daughter of a middle-class merchant.

Using this fake identity required more than just carrying around the identification card; Lobelia had to wear a wig and change her appearance.

It was to deceive people perfectly.

She had learned the art of disguise from Jade (how did he come to possess such knowledge?), but doing it alone made her nervous.

Lobelia carefully tucked her distinct silver hair into a net, then flipped the wig over and put it on.

Her fiery red hair cascaded down her shoulders.

Just changing the hair color made a significant difference in her appearance. But she didn’t stop there. She used contact lenses to change her eye color and applied freckles with makeup on her face.

After the disguise was complete, in front of the mirror stood a woman who was completely different from the cool and nervous Lobelia. She had lustrous blue eyes that sparkled against her curly, reddish-brown hair and a cheerful smattering of freckles.

“Catherine Hayard.”

Lobelia murmured her fake name aloud and pulled out clothes from the wardrobe that suited Catherine’s identity.

It was an active brown pleated skirt, a white blouse, and a cloak adorned with round crystals and decorative ribbons.

As she sneaked out of the dormitory, she saw Joachim waiting for her.

“Sir Jeremyness.”

Lobelia called out to him in a low voice. Joachim turned around, and upon spotting her, his eyes widened in astonishment.

“Miss Lobelia, is that you?”

Seeing his uncertainty, it was clear that her disguise was well done.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“I see.”

Joachim visibly relaxed upon hearing Lobelia’s voice properly.

“Get on the carriage. I wasn’t able to prepare it secretly.”

Joachim apologized profusely. Lobelia assured him it was fine and not to worry, but within ten minutes, she regretted her words.

“My back… it hurts.”

The sway of the horse as she rode for the first time was no small matter.

Despite Joachim’s careful consideration when driving slowly, she could feel the tingling jolt that reached her lower back each time the horse’s hooves hit the ground.

“Are you alright? Usually, ladies don’t struggle this much.”

Once again, Lobelia realized that her body was weaker than most.

While Joachim was feeling helpless, they arrived at the train station.

Joachim quickly helped Lobelia down from the horse and entrusted it to the station’s stable.

Lobelia exchanged her ticket at the counter. After showing her reservation slip, the staff handed her a first-class ticket.

Lobelia looked around with awe as they ascended to the station, accompanied by Joachim.

“Oh, the ceiling is magnificent, isn’t it?”

Joachim noticed where Lobelia was gazing and asked.

The station’s ceiling was a dome made of countless small triangular glass pieces. The first rays of dawn shattered against the glass dome, scattering particles of light.

“People sometimes call this ceiling the ‘locks of a lady’s hair’.”

Lobelia nodded silently in agreement. Even as she walked towards the platform, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the glass dome.

“It seems to have captured your heart.”

Joachim thought Lobelia was captivated by the beauty of the glass dome. But her admiration wasn’t solely based on its beauty.

“My father built this building…”

James was the one who built this iconic station, representing the capital.

Just like the mining business, the railway business was one of the main sources of income for the Efferentia family.

James, enchanted by the sight of the first train he ever saw, lobbied by presenting large quantities of gold from the mines to the royal family.

As a result, he gained the rights to build the first railway connecting the capital and the industrial zone, along with the Ermang station and the Biograd station.

Since these events took place before Lobelia was born, she didn’t know the specific thoughts and expressions James had when building the Ermang station.

But one thing was certain, James felt a deep attachment to this remarkable station.

And that attachment had been passed down to Lobelia as his descendant.

“Although the Mallon family currently owns the Ermang station, I’m confident we’ll reclaim it someday.”

Lobelia clenched her fist inside her cloak as she pondered.

“We’ve arrived.”

Lobelia snapped out of her reverie upon hearing Joachim’s voice.

Before her eyes stood a massive, gleaming black train. After tipping the crew, Joachim instructed them to stow their trunks in the baggage car, and they boarded the train.

“Please come aboard.”

Lobelia followed Joachim onto the train.

It was the moment when Lobelia’s first expedition for her business ventures was about to begin.