A beautiful carved carriage stood in front of me, pulled by two huge horses.
"Wow."
With Letty's help, I sat down in the velvet-covered seat.
'Well, I could get used to this.'
Smiling, I smoothed the soft fabric of the cover all the way.
"Oh Letty, before I forget… I need a book of ethics… from the basics… is there one in the library?"
"You'll find all the material you need for that in the family library, Miss. As soon as we get back, I'll take it to your room. "
"Great, thank you."
The young maid was no longer surprised that her perfectly educated woman wanted to read an ethics book.
Well yeah…
Although Ashley sincerely loved Christian, the main reason she clung to him with every fingernails she had, was that her life depended on him.
The two young heir's covenant was still handled by the old head of the Kerrington family, and a serious mining contract was behind the engagement. Christian was 1 year old when Ashley was born, and as soon as it turned out that the first child is a girl, the Count and the Marquis immediately shook hands.
That's why Ashley had to live… she had to marry to the Mcrowan family, because the Kerrington family would have been ruined with the withdrawal. Thanks to this, she was pursued at an outstanding level in terms of her studies, and no one was interested in her appearance and feeding… since Conrad and Miriam promised a marchioness… not a beauty, the goal was to make her be able to do her job properly.
'And here comes into the picture the loophole… the contract doesn't mention Ashley's name, but the fact that the Kerrington family is providing a girl child… so Kelsey is just as fit for the job as I am, all I have to do is to find a more prestigious applicant than Christian, and what gives God? The villain of the story just has a duke title… '
"We're here, miss!"
Letty's voice waked me up of my thoughts. As I looked out the window I saw the street of the bustling city in front of me. The cobblestone road was crowded with people of different financial circumstances.
"This is the pawnshop."
Letty pointed to a golded black gate.
"Then let's do business!"
I walked in confidently.
"Good afternoon!"
The weasel owner greeted me. He was a thin man with greasy hair around the age of 40.
"How can I help you, my lady?"
He asked after making eye contact with me.
"Good afternoon! There would be 17 pieces of clothes, and I would like know their value. "
Letty and the coachman carried the 3 clothes bags.
" Immediately, my lady."
While the man surveyed the goods, I walked around the store. Unchanged values were displayed in showcases, labeled with prices.
'Hmm… a thin gold wedding ring with zirconia stone is 10 silver coins… it would be about $100 at home… so 1 silver is about $ 10, then 1 gold coin can be worth $ 1,000. The clothes we brought… are sewn with gold and silver thread, some also have gemstones… if I buy a piece on average it can't be less than 1 gold coin… considering it's a pawn shop and he wants to get profit from it, he gives half the original value at best, but if that guy offers less than 8 gold then this is simly robbing and he thinks…'
"I can give you exactly 4 gold for this, my lady."
'I am stupid ..'
I laughed to myself.
"Letty put the clothes together, the gentleman certainly didn't professional."
"Well, my lady! You can't expect fortunes for used clothes! I offered a very good price! "
"Good price? The gem on the clothes is worth more than 4 gold! Maybe you are blind? "
I looked at him with a cynical smile on my face.
"We're talking about used clothes - they don't give more for it anywhere else."
"Let's see, 17 pieces of 1 gold worth of clothes do you think, even if used, can't be easily sold for at least 75 silver? I would first ask for another opinion, because I am obviously dealing with robbery here. "
As we headed for the door, the pawnshop owner shouted after me.
"6 gold!"
'He still don't know who is he dealing with, but at least it became clear that I guessed the value of the goods well.'
"8."
I turned around.
"7."
He negotiated further.
"7 gold and 50 silver."
I held out my hand. The man sighed heavily, then shook hands with me.
"All right."
I walked out of the pawnshop with a wide grin on my face and a small fortune in my hand.
"Oh my, Miss! Where did you learn to bargain like this? "
Letty hugged me enthusiastically. I almost told her that at the market… but then I managed to pronounce a better answer.
"Born talent?"
I smiled.
"So… now I'm going to need a store… which isn't expensive, I don't need quality things… but it's solidly fashionable… hm…"
I said my thoughts aloud when Letty shouted.
"I know a place!"