Please Support My Revenge - Chapter 34

“How did she know my name?” Joel murmured absentmindedly.

Lobelia pulled out a chair across from him and sat down, with Joachim standing behind her.

“I told you. I am a friend of your father’s.”

Joel’s eyes widened. Belatedly, he seemed to grasp a little of what Lobelia was saying.

“Your father’s name is Silveston Pramer. The Pramer family has had a lineage of miners for generations. Your father used to work in the northern copper mines until the discovery of a gold mine in Merdania forty years ago. He was hired by James Evelentia to start gold mining operations here.” Lobelia’s eyes sparkled.

“And he was dismissed as soon as James Evelentia disappeared. Normally, you should have become the heir in place of your father, but you…” Lobelia’s gaze briefly touched on his disability and then looked away.

Joel bit his lip.

“Is this enough proof that I am your father’s friend?”

“…What do you want?”

“I told you. I want to meet your father.”

“Father doesn’t trust people. He would be more wary of you than me.”

“Are you asking to meet him without any means of persuasion?” Joel’s mouth opened in response to Lobelia’s softly spoken words.

“You said you were our family’s savior. If you allow me to meet my father, what will you give to our family?” Now, communication began to flow. Lobelia smiled satisfactorily and opened her mouth. “Employment.” Desire flickered in Joel’s pupils. It was the longing for a job that a man who had not proven his worth for a very long time inevitably harbored.

“And an income that can sustain the livelihood of seven family members.”

Joel forgot his caution towards Lobelia just a moment ago and swallowed hard.

“Is it really true?”

Lobelia nodded earnestly, her face serious. Then she took out a pre-prepared check worth one million manihi from her pocket.

“This is an advance payment.”

Joel’s eyes trembled with compassion. For him, who had the obligation to feed one sister and three younger sisters but couldn’t work due to his uncomfortable leg, one million manihi was an enormous sum of money.

“Allow me to meet your father, even if it means being deceived.”

Joel nodded as if possessed.

“You can take this. Take it. I said it’s an advance payment.”

Joel quickly grabbed the check, thinking that Lobelia would snatch the money away again.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?” Joachim asked.

“Obviously. Father will be at the Evelentia branch today.” Joel stood up from his seat, his face bitter.

“At the Evelentia branch?” Lobelia’s expression darkened.

“No way…”

“What you’re thinking is right. We’re going to plead with that bastard—no, with Earl Evelentia.” Joel placed a 1-manihi coin next to his beer glass and called the owner.

Joel grabbed his coat while the owner picked up the beer glass and the coin. Putting on his coat and pulling up his boots, his disability was hidden. Joel furrowed his brow and glanced at the concealed disability under his boots and coat. Then he started walking with steady steps. Lobelia and Joachim followed him. They left the commercial district of Merdania and headed towards the prosperous street filled with mining companies established by nobles. Unlike the commercial district, which was filled with the clamor of merchants and covered in filth on the streets, the company street was clean and pleasant.

Soon, Lobelia’s group arrived in front of the company’s most prosperous and tallest building. There, they found a burly old man engaged in a struggle with the employees.

“Oh, well. It’s not possible.”

The employee frowned arrogantly at the old man.

“No matter how much you plead, reemployment is impossible. How do you expect to work as a miner with that old body of yours?”

“I didn’t ask to be re-employed. I’m asking you to give a chance to the young ones who used to work under me. Because of your interference in finding work, they can’t do proper jobs.”

The tone of the old man’s voice was polite. Anyone could tell he was restraining his anger and behaving gentlemanly.

“We are not philanthropists. We are entrepreneurs!”

However, the employee was extremely rude, unlike the polite old man. He pointed his index finger and poked the old man’s chest, forcing him to step back.

“In addition, it’s not just anyone, but you, Mr. Primer, saying such things! Didn’t you embezzle company funds 15 years ago!”

“That’s a false accusation!” The old man shouted with a hoarse voice. Sparks of anger flickered in his eyes. The employee took a step back in fear, but he didn’t clear the way.

“It’s still not possible! Go back!” The employee shouted loudly and disappeared into the building. The old man clenched his fist tightly, breathing heavily as if trying to suppress his anger.

“Father!” Joel called out to the old man. Silveston, the old man, turned his head towards Joel.

“What brings you here? And who are those two behind you?”

“They are Father’s friends, so I brought them.”

“I don’t know them.” Upon hearing that, Joel looked at him suspiciously. Before Silveston could ruin the situation, Lobelia quickly approached him.

“We came from Evelentia.” Lobelia extended her hand.

Silveston was taken aback by her handshake gesture. Lobelia kept her arm extended, waiting. After looking at her for a while, Silveston finally shook her hand.

“Where did you come from? I was just chased away from there.”

“Can we talk in private?”

Silveston nodded at Lobelia’s question.

“I don’t know how my son deceived you, but don’t play unnecessary tricks. If it’s true that you came from Evelentia, then the woman must be their spy, trying to discourage me.”

Instead of denying it, Lobelia smiled silently. Then she reached into her embrace and took out Julia’s pendant.

“I don’t know about others, but… Mr. Pramer should recognize it, right?”

“…!”

Silveston’s eyes widened. He stared at Lobelia’s face with an incredulous gaze.

“When you were born, you had silver hair…”

“This is a wig.”

As Lobelia brushed her cheek with her finger, the freckles drawn with makeup partially disappeared.

“I’m currently in disguise.”

“Ah…”

Silveston let out a sigh. Tears welled up in his somber eyes as he slowly kneeled before Lobelia.

“Miss!”

Joel and Joachim were taken aback by Silveston’s changed demeanor. But Lobelia remained calm. ‘Silveston Pramer.’ He was her father’s close aide and confidant, James’s right-hand man.

‘He worked for Father, but after Father’s death, he was driven away by Marlon’s treachery.’

Even the miners who worked under him as foremen were falsely accused and lost their jobs. They tried to find employment in mines other than Evelentia, but Evelentia hindered their prospects, making it difficult to secure proper jobs. For those who had families to support, Evelentia’s interference was devastating.

In the end, most of the miners under Silveston’s command left Merdannion with their families. But those who had no means to leave—those who had only learned to work the land and couldn’t fathom any other occupation, remained in Merdannion. Since then, Silveston has repeatedly sought out Marlon, begging him to at least rehire those who were under his command. But he was humiliated and rejected every time.

‘In the original story, Aina persistently sought out Aina to expose Marlon’s corruption in the mining business.’

But Aina would never have taken actions that would cut off the livelihoods of innocent people.

‘And… he came to me.’

Disappointed by Aina in the original story, Silveston seeks out Lobelia. He pleads for her help in reclaiming Evelentia’s mining business through legitimate means. He was one of the few who believed that Lobelia was an enemy of Evelentia. But in the original story, Lobelia turns him away. To her, who had already become a villainess, Silveston’s approach seemed too mild. In the epilogue of the original story and its sequel, the truth about Lobelia’s lineage is revealed, and Silveston’s innocence is proven.

But Aina utters ignorant words, saying, “No matter how unfair it is, you shouldn’t interfere with someone else’s business.”

“This man never bowed down to Marlon, even when Father was alive and after Father passed away. Moreover, I know a way to give him what he wants.”

So, if he asks for cooperation, she will help him. Indeed, when Silveston recognizes the pendant Lobelia presents, tears fill his eyes.

“How did you come all the way here? I heard you were in the capital.”

“I came to see you, and I want to start a new business in my name.”

A single tear trickled down Silveston’s cheek at Lobelia’s words.

“I need your help for that, Silveston Pramer.”

“I’ll do my best. I apologize for not coming to see you earlier. Truly…”

“Apologies are unnecessary. I understand that you didn’t have the means to find me.”

Lobelia, knowing that Silveston had dependents to take care of, spoke up.

“I’d like to have a private conversation. Is there a suitable place?”

“Of course.” Silveston led Lobelia and her companions to his house without hesitation.

His home was an old cabin on the outskirts of Merdannion.

“Darling? We have guests. Oh, Joel, what brings you here?” A gentle-looking elderly woman, who seemed to be Silveston’s wife, greeted them.

“Very important guests. Is there any tea left at home? Bring out the best you have.”

“Of course.”

The lady replied in a soft voice and guided them to the kitchen. Soon, a steaming cup of tea, exuding warmth, was placed before Lobelia.

“Joel, you go outside.”

Silveston addressed Joel, who couldn’t hide his curiosity and was staring intently at Lobelia. Joel, feeling disappointed but without uttering a word, left the kitchen.

“Sir Joachim, would you mind giving us some time alone?”

“Of course.”

Joachim followed Joel, leaving the two of them alone. Finally, as they were alone, Lobelia removed her wig and took off her lenses. After dampening the fabric that had wrapped her hair, a thin silver strand, shining like silver thread, cascaded down her shoulders. Silveston, gazing into Lobelia’s green eyes so reminiscent of James, his tears once again.

“Truly, truly, you’re Lobelia, my lady. When I last saw you, you were wrapped in chains.”

“Mr. Silveston, you might have guessed, but I…”

“Call me Silveston. That’s sufficient.”

“Alright, Silveston.” Lobelia let out a long sigh. “You may or may not have heard, but my mother has passed away.”

“Julia Madam said that?!”

Silveston trembled as if overcome with a sense of despair, and Lobelia waited until he composed himself before speaking again.

“Before my mother passed away, she revealed the truth to me—the truth that everything Marlon took in Evelentia originally belonged to me.”

Rather than explaining her own knowledge retrieved through an enigmatic sorcery, Lobelia expressed that she had realized the truth through Julia’s last words. It was a much easier way to convince Silveston.

“Now that I have realized the truth…”

Lobelia tightly clenched the pendant she had placed on the table. The sharp edges of the pendant familiarly dug into her delicate skin.

“I have decided to seek revenge against Marlon. Once I reclaim everything in Evelentia, I will bring upon a tragedy more dreadful than death.”

Lobelia spoke, looking directly into Silveston’s eyes. In her blazing irises, he glimpsed the soul of James, whom he cherished, and almost shed tears once again.

“The first venture to reclaim is the mine, and to recover the mining industry, I need your help.”

Lobelia offered a faint smile.

“Silveston, I will help you regain everything you’ve lost. So, cooperate with me.”

“Miss!”

Silveston stood up abruptly. He stood before Lobelia and knelt down on the floor.

Then, with unwavering loyalty and sincerity, he looked up at Lobelia and spoke.

“Do not ask me to cooperate. I am already devoted to you, my lady.”

Silveston declared.