Ten in the morning. Too early a ti to et Cider Claiborne. Esperanza, who had been habitually heading to the reception room, stopped abruptly upon discovering Cider.
"You're already up?"
Then, feeling a strange sense of incongruity, she narrowed her eyes and asked.
"Don't tell
you didn't sleep?"
"I slept. You, on the other hand, seem to have slept very well."
The eyes that could only half-open last night were quite clear today.
"Yes, well."
"Could you see
for a mont?"
Esperanza nodded without understanding why.
The study was the sa as always. While Cider turned off the overheated interpretation engine from the night and ventilated the room, Esperanza chose an appropriate book and sat facing Cider on the long sofa. Since Cider was sitting in a single armchair, for Esperanza to face him, she had no choice but to lean against the sofa armrest and sit with her legs stretched out.
Cider shook his head in exasperation. The sight of her putting her bare feet, taken out from under her white skirt, on the sofa and lounging around was no longer surprising.
"What is it?"
"I heard what you talked about with the Duke."
Esperanza's face hardened. The recording from staying at Pinent House wasn't just an hour or two worth. But if he had listened to all of that...
"You said you slept."
"Is that important right now? Why didn't you tell
you almost got frad as a thief? And you're still thinking of having more talks with Galliston?"
"If you heard, you know. He said it wasn't his doing either, and I resolved it well. I got an apology and he said he'd compensate ."
"Whoever planned it, it's sothing that couldn't even be planned without being determined to completely ruin your reputation, and since the Duke brought Duchess Sherbury along, the Duke should take responsibility."
Esperanza chuckled and rested her chin on the cushion. She didn't really care about reputation in this place, but the feeling of having soone worry about her wasn't bad.
"So, Esperanza."
Cider, having said everything he wanted to say, suddenly spoke in a subtle tone.
"Did you just let that slide?"
At least the Esperanza that Cider knew wasn't that kind of person. Compensation was compensation, but there was no way she would have co back without giving them a blow on the spot. As he expected, Esperanza grinned and waved her hand in the air.
"Of course not. Look at this. A royal necklace."
A necklace appeared over her empty hand. Twelve radiant-cut sapphires surrounding the neck and small diamonds decorating the surroundings. Esperanza smiled mischievously.
Cider couldn't help but burst into cheerful laughter. For a while, only his laughter echoed in the quiet study. It was laughter that made even the observer feel good.
After stopping his laughter, Cider moved to the seat next to Esperanza and examined the necklace closely.
"It's the Lesser Sapphire Set."
"Do you know this jewel? If it's too famous, it might be a bit burdenso."
Cider briefly explained the necklace's origins and several episodes involving the royal family. They were all stories of interest, and the conclusion was simple.
"Since it's royal property, it's sowhat famous and a good piece, but it's not to the extent that there would be trouble if this one thing went missing."
And as soone who had burst into laughter upon seeing the necklace, he proposed an even more wicked plan.
"Want to sell it? If it's royal property, there are quite a few collectors among the Old Paolun royalty who would buy it even if it's stolen goods. Or the Kalindi Commonwealth side would be good too."
"Are you serious? ...Didn't you say you don't know much about dark routes?"
"I don't know much."
He blinked cheekily. Was he really not familiar with such things? It was impossible to figure out.
"I really don't know much. I have no interest in that side either. Among the things I collect, the only mineral-like thing is magic stones, and the rest are just out-of-print books or machines that are problematic to deal with anywhere."
"Then how would you sell it?"
"Still, if I tried to find a way, it's not like I couldn't find one."
When Esperanza seed to waver, Cider approached close to Esperanza's knees and whispered.
"How about it, want to try being rich?"
It was too tempting a proposal to refuse. From the content of the proposal to the proposer's strange voice and sparkling eyes. Esperanza swallowed dry saliva and averted her eyes. Cider seed about to co closer, tilting his head slightly, but when Esperanza unconsciously pulled her knees back, he retreated refreshingly.
"It's a good idea, but... honestly, I really want to do that, but I think this has a separate purpose."
"For example?"
"Duchess Sherbury's leash?"
Cider frowned.
"What would you use Duchess Sherbury's leash for?"
"Wouldn't there be uses for it sowhere? The Duchess is in a position where she has to pay compensation if she can't get the necklace back imdiately."
Not only compensation, but the Queen's criticism and rebuke were also important issues. Being banned from entering the royal castle was one thing, but she wouldn't be able to borrow royal jewels for a while.
For Duchess Sherbury, who was from refugee royalty and had no husband or children and was treated as half-royalty, royal jewels were proof that she still received royal treatnt. So Duchess Sherbury had no choice but to cooperate. But what use would the Duchess's cooperation be?
"Let's hold onto it for now. Anyway, even if we tried to sell it off, it would take ti."
"Do as you like."
The necklace returned to a corner of the inventory.
"Oh, and as you heard, the Mabelwood incident was indeed caused by the Duke. Then wouldn't there be a high possibility that the Duke has the Golden Claw? If we could just make a deal with the Duke and get the Golden Claw..."
"He wouldn't easily hand over such an item to soone else."
"Then we beat up the Duke and take it."
"You really have a lot of bad feelings toward Galliston."
Wouldn't I? Esperanza pouted. Rude dance manners, threats, false theft accusations... there was nothing to like about him. Esperanza swallowed all the rising thoughts and summarized them in one sentence.
"I like people who like ."
"Ah, is that so?"
It was a smile that seed sohow delighted. Esperanza tilted her head without knowing why.
"Anyway! I think we need to negotiate with the Duke again. The Duke seems to want sothing from , and he looked quite desperate, so if we do well, it might be possible."
"It seems that way on the surface. So you decided to accept the Duke's invitation?"
"This ti he said you could attend too. He won't pull the sa tricks as last ti."
Just from the voice, it seed the Duke had quite acknowledged Esperanza, so that would probably be the case. But... looking at Esperanza's clear face that seed without doubt, Cider thought.
'Is the Duke really behind the Mabelwood incident?'
The Duke seeking Esperanza's help was because of Esperanza's force. But if he was soone who could create dungeons wherever he wanted, there would be no reason to want Esperanza's force.
When he said that, Esperanza also stopped laughing and nodded seriously.
Cider suddenly thought. Did I speak unnecessarily? She looked happy.
Esperanza fell into thought. Certainly that speculation had many flaws. Fortunately, Esperanza had a way to confirm the speculation, albeit uncertainly.
[Quest: Find the Golden Claw!]
Progress: (25/???)
Completion Rewards:
—Title: Master of Ti
—Items: Golden Claw, Return Ticket (Ho)
'It didn't go up much.'
It was 15 before, but if she had directly contacted the owner of the Golden Claw, shouldn't it have gone up more than 10? Looking at the other Golden Claw quests as well.
Still, the Duke was a big clue. By digging into his proposal, she felt she could find the Golden Claw. At least that she was going in the right direction.
"First, we need to confirm how helpful the Duke can be to us, and then decide whether to accept the Duke's proposal."
Having said that, Esperanza suddenly rembered the necklace she couldn't sell and grinned as she added:
"Or we could decide based on the compensation amount."
"I'm looking forward to how much sincerity the Duke will show."
He might not know we're thinking like this, but if the Duke knows his fault, he'll probably give us our proper share. Esperanza suddenly glanced at Cider. Co to think of it, she had only received from Cider.
What kind of gift would this man like? Esperanza pretended to read a book while glancing at Cider, who went back and forth between the study and laboratory drawing complex circuits. Cider knew about her gaze but pretended not to know and left it alone.
It was three hours later that Esperanza took her gaze off Cider. Even that wasn't of her own volition.
"Miss Esperanza, Duke Galliston has sent gifts. They're on the first floor, but there's quite a lot."
How much could there be? Cider and Esperanza followed Millen down to the first floor. From the transport steam carriage that the Duke's attendant, Henry Beyman, had personally brought, automatons ca carrying armfuls of gifts. Light-looking boxes, one heavy and small box, and...
"His Highness has sent these."
Esperanza blankly received two white envelopes from Henry Beyman's hands. The envelopes were strangely thick and clean without any seal. What usually goes in things like this is...
'Money.'
Even though he said it was compensation, did he really give cash in envelopes? But it was real. Cider also frowned when he saw the cash that ca out of the envelope.
"Cash so ungracefully—has the Duke gone mad since I last saw him?"
That was exactly right. The Duke wouldn't have done such a thing unless he had gone mad. Then, Cider, who had been examining the bills with the Queen's face on them, suddenly hardened his expression.
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