Please Support My Revenge - Chapter 38

Lobelia nodded gently in response to Marlon’s words. She had already made up her mind that if he wanted her to portray a budding entrepreneur, she was more than willing to play along.

“Don’t worry so much. Merdanion is a place where people live, after all,” Marlon said with a reassuring tone as if he believed Lobelia was on edge and unable to provide even a simple response.

As her conviction solidified that her disguise wouldn’t be uncovered, Lobelia’s heart found solace. She nodded in agreement as Marlon casually continued his conversation, offering the appropriate responses.

As the mundane chatter continued, the spectators gradually lost interest and dispersed. When their attention waned, Marlon finally steered the conversation towards its core.

“He’s offered to buy that Menihi mine for 700 million,” Marlon stated.

At this point, Marlon wasn’t expecting an answer from Lobelia; he was merely articulating his thoughts aloud.

“You’ve truly thought this through!” he exclaimed.

Marlon’s hand gently patted Lobelia’s shoulder, a gesture of encouragement. Lobelia suppressed a shiver at the touch, managing to maintain a smile.

“Some individuals claim there’s nothing of value there, but don’t believe them. Who’s to say, when you start digging, you won’t unearth a vast amount of gold?” Marlon’s tone was playful, one that could easily be interpreted as him teasing Lobelia. Indeed, Viscount Rohan’s expression paled at Marlon’s overtly taunting demeanor.

With a graceful twist, Lobelia subtly disentangled herself from Marlon’s touch.

“There will be gold. More than you anticipate,” Lobelia affirmed, her gaze locking onto Marlon, who grinned mischievously.

“Grant me your immediate permission! Viscount Rohan, fetch the documents swiftly. I’ll sign them here,” Marlon declared.

Guiding Viscount Rohan and Lobelia, Marlon led them into a small lounge adjacent to the party hall.

Although being confined in close quarters with Marlon was unsettling for Lobelia, she exercised patience, enduring it to obtain the contract. Viscount Rohan presented the contract, and Marlon signed it with a flourish.

At that moment, one of Marlon’s most valuable possessions transferred into Lobelia’s possession.

“Once the payment is settled, legally, the ownership of mine number 9 will transition to Catherine Hayard,” Viscount Rohan elucidated.

Attentively listening to Viscount Rohan’s explanation, Lobelia absorbed the information about the payment process while clutching the contract.

“Then, I shall depart now.”

“Absolutely! Go on, and take care.”

With Mine Number 9 matters resolved, Marlon’s interest in Lobelia waned. He bid her farewell, the two men remaining in the lounge.

Lobelia stepped out of the snug lounge, leaving behind Viscount Rohan and Marlon, and entering the expansive world beyond.

Whether it was due to the conversation with Marlon drawing attention or not, some nobles did cast fleeting glances her way. However, none ventured close enough to strike up a conversation.

Lobelia, without hesitation, opened the doors to the party hall and stepped into the garden.

That’s when she spotted Aina.

“…!”

In the corner of the garden, shrouded in darkness, Aina stood like a ghost. Seeing Aina standing there, Lobelia was momentarily startled, nearly dropping the contract she held.

“What’s she doing here?” Lobelia wondered.

Placing a hand over her heart, which was beating wildly, Lobelia took a deep breath. She then greeted Aina.

But Aina merely stared fixedly at Lobelia, not acknowledging her greeting.

An eerie silence hung between the two women.

Lobelia bowed her head slightly after waiting long enough not to breach politeness, then continued on her way. In doing so, she exposed her back to Aina.

“… Unni?”

A shiver raced down Lobelia’s spine at the sound.

Pretending not to have heard, Lobelia kept walking.

But with a light step, the sound of Aina treading on leaves reached her ears, followed by Aina gripping Lobelia’s wrist from behind.

“Unni, it is you, right?”

Anxious without realizing it, Lobelia jerked her hand away roughly. Startled, Aina stepped back, her eyes watering and trembling as she stared at Lobelia.

Seeing the unsettling intensity in Aina’s gaze, Lobelia momentarily held her breath.

“I think you might be mistaking me for someone else,” Lobelia said in a low voice. Aina leaned closer, her gaze unwavering.

“But…”

“Please step back.”

Pushing Aina away with both hands urgently, Lobelia spoke in haste. Aina’s body stiffened at the fear she read in Lobelia’s eyes.

“I don’t know why you’re acting this way, but I am not acquainted with you.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Aina stammered in response to Lobelia’s strong rejection.

“I thought… I thought you were someone I knew…

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

Lobelia pressed her hat down low, shielding her face from view.

“I shall take my leave now,” she stated, leaving the garden without waiting for a response.

As she hurried to the carriage and came to a stop, a cool sweat broke out on her forehead.

Aina… Her cousin was far more than Lobelia had anticipated.

“Lady Lobelia?”

Joachim approached from where he had been waiting by the carriage. His expression showed surprise when his gaze met Lobelia’s.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. What happened inside?” Joachim asked with concern, and Lobelia shook her head.

“It’s nothing.”

She had almost been exposed to Aina, but eventually, she had to admit to herself that she had simply mistaken her for someone else.

Taking a deep breath and calming herself, Lobelia handed Joachim the contract.

“You’ve done it! Congratulations!”

Joachim’s face brightened. Lobelia, too, made an effort to dismiss her thoughts about Aina and smiled with him.

“Now, all that’s left is to extract the gold. Let’s head back to the hotel.”

Lobelia suggested.

****

The next day, Lobelia instructed someone to pay 700 million Menihi as the payment to Viscount Rohan.

Fearing Lobelia might change her mind, Viscount Rohan swiftly handled the remaining paperwork. Mine number 9 was now entirely under Lobelia’s ownership.

“I hope you’ll do well with this mine.”

Meeting with Silvestone once again and personally visiting Mine number 9, Lobelia spoke.

She took the map of the mine that Viscount Rohanzai had given her and marked the precise locations where the gold was found.

Silvestone gazed at the mine entrance with a complicated expression.

“I am aware that people speak of this mine being barren.”

Lobelia said, meeting his expression.

“But trust me. There is gold within these walls.”

“No, I don’t doubt you.”

Silvestone hastily shook his head.

“It’s just…”

He looked at Lobelia with eyes filled with a poignant longing for the past.

“Venturing boldly into places everyone else has abandoned, just like Mr. James…” Lobelia easily discerned that he was seeking traces of her father in her demeanor. She cast her gaze down at the crude map in front of her.

She had no inclination for small talk with Silvestone. She didn’t entirely trust his loyalty either. But still…

“Was my father a reckless person?” She was curious about her father, James.

Silvestone smiled at her question. He seemed delighted to be asked about James.

“In terms of recklessness, there was no one in the world who could match Mr. James. However, he was never one to fail. Even when unexpected outcomes arose, he had the power to turn them into success.”

Lobelia still kept her gaze lowered as she listened to Silvestone’s words. He continued, looking at her with a warm expression.

“He was truly a businessman. Moreover, he had a charm that drew people in. Anyone who saw him ended up on his side, just because they were captivated by him! Not for any other reason.”

Lobelia lifted her head. Her eyes held complex emotions.

“He was entirely different from me.”

“Really?”

Silvestone was taken aback by her unexpected response.

“I don’t move unless things are certain, and I bind people with contracts. I lack any such charm.”

Lobelia spoke with a bitter smile.

“Lobelia Miss…”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to console me; I don’t have a savior complex.”

She was just stating a fact. Apart from some odd men with a savior complex, no one had ever found her charming.

“Well, even they didn’t find me charming, not really. They were just intrigued by my situation.”

Lobelia shook her head, dispelling her musings, and started marking the locations of the gold veins on the map again.

After finishing the task, she handed the completed map to Silvestone.

“How long would it take to excavate the parts marked on the map?”

Taking the map, Silvestone pondered for a moment before answering, “For the nearest location, it should take about a week.”

A week!

So, that’s why Marlon and the people of the Evenlentia Merdanian branch discarded Mine Number 9 without realizing that they could uncover a gold vein within a week.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

With an improved mood, Lobelia smiled as she spoke, and Silvestone nodded earnestly.

“Just leave it to me, Miss Lobelia.”

Thanks to Silvestone’s quick organization of workers, they were able to start the excavation immediately.

Lobelia observed Silvestone skillfully directing the miners while being assisted by Joel. Afterward, she returned to the hotel with Joachim.

“Now, all that’s left is to wait.”

Changed into comfortable clothes after taking off her outdoor attire, Lobelia settled into a cozy armchair in the living room and spoke.

Checking the time, she realized it was lunchtime. Having been to Mine Number 9 with Silvestone since dawn, Lobelia’s stamina was already depleted.

“I don’t feel like going down to the restaurant.”

“Shall I cook something for you?”

Joachim proposed after overhearing Lobelia’s mutterings.

“You know how to cook?”

“I know a bit.”

“I’ve never heard of a knight who’s good at cooking.”

Knights, especially those born into noble families and turned into knights, had no time to learn anything else due to their rigorous training since childhood.

Lobelia narrowed her eyes, thinking that Joachim would likely be the same. Could Joachim’s cooking be any good?

“Don’t worry.”

Joachim replied confidently.

“Our family wasn’t that wealthy. So, while always having to look after my siblings, I got quite good at cooking out of sheer necessity.”

“Does that mean I’m becoming Jeremy’s sibling today?”

“… Huh?”

Joachim seemed bewildered, unsure how to respond.

“It’s a joke, Sir Jeremy. You don’t have to answer that seriously.”

Lobelia said with an unconcerned expression, her recent joke failing utterly.

Joachim stood there in silence, seemingly unsure how to react, then finally spoke after a while.

“I didn’t think Lobelia Miss would crack jokes.”

“Well, I am human too.”

Lobelia arched an eyebrow.

“Yes, Lobelia Miss is human too.”

Joachim mumbled, blushing, and then hurriedly left the room as if escaping.