I gave a signal.
Dereck, who understood what the signal meant, drag Kainston to a vacant room.
A dagger appeared on his hand which is now at the throat of the prince.
"Hey, why are you pulling that out of nowhere? Don't kill him"
He removed his hands on Kainston's collar and hid the dagger somewhere on his clothes.
"You are too sensitive. Calm down a bit"
"I'm sorry but can one of you explain why you are doing this?"
This is my mistake to begin with so I should clean it up.
"Long story short, Dereck and Roman like each other but can't communicate since it is quite complicated, position-wise. And I am engaged with him to act as their messenger or cupid of some sort"
"Are you not afraid of me telling this to everyone?"
Dereck once again pointed his dagger at Kainston's throat.
"Of course not. Two years ago at the great river of Rainilda. I know what happened that day as well as evidence. So do try to reveal our plan to the public and I will do the same"
"..."
"..."
We were staring at each other, frozen in place.
But then, someone has to make the first move or people would suspect something was going on when two-high ranking noble and the prince are missing.
"Fine. I promise that I will cooperate with you all"
Dereck's eyes went back to its normal jolly state. It was amazing how his expression can change so fast.
Kainston too. He was totally unfazed the whole time.
Just like in the novel, he really is used to be one step close to deaths door.
We went back to what we were originally supposed to do.
Kainston see us off as we went back home as if nothing happened.
...
"Dereck"
"Yes?"
"Pay me"
"For what you did?"
"Yes"
"How much?"
"A hundred gold coins"
"Why is it so expensive?"
"So you would rather stay here with me for three months than spending time with Roman everyday for two months? Wow, your love for my brother is only amounts to that much, huh"
"That's not what I meant"
He pulled a cheque and started to write the amount I said.
"Thank you very much for your patronage"
"You leech"
"Hey, people are bound to misunderstand if you leave your fiancé alone with nothing, you know"
Now that I have two hundred gold coins I should be able to treat myself to something nice.
After getting back, I decided to stay at my room and enjoy the cozy bed against my back.
That reminds me.
"Anna"
"Yes, milady?"
"Here"
I put a gold coin on her hand. I still feel indifferent to the money used here but to them to hold a gold coin is a dream come true.
"Milady... I cannot possibly..."
"This is my reward for you. You've been working hard and was able to accomplish all of my errands flawlessly. This is my way of showing how grateful I am"
Anna, who is my personal maid, earns about ten silver coins a month while other servants earns about three to five silver coins depending on what they do and how long they work.
A gold coin is equivalent to a hundred silver coins. Means that Anna just receive ten months worth of her salary.
"Milady, thank you so much for this!"
"Its okay, really"
...
The day where the delegation would go to the empire came.
Two and a half months have passed since then.
I have been enjoying my leisure life as I obtain information about baron Klein with Anna's help.
Baron Klein is the one who manages the land which is used greatly for the transport routes that merchants uses that connects the capital to the Nesta county to the south.
If I am to dispose of him in the near future I will also have to find a replacement who will be on my side.
At the dining table, as we eat our breakfast just like any other day.
"Father, mother"
"Yes, Bea~?"
"Will it be alright to have a lady-in-waiting?"
"Cough... you want a lady-in-waiting?"
"Yes, father"
"Why so suddenly?"
"Because I am planning on making a business"
"No"
"But I haven't-"
"No. You are too young"
Ugh, this overprotective father.
"Mother first made her business at the age of twelve. While father became businessman at the age of nine. I don't see any reason why age matters here"
"You were in a coma for a year. You will need proper education"
"But did I not pass all of the teachers tests that you sent? Because of that, I successfully became the youngest scholar in the history of the kingdom of Loaten"
"Connections are essential in business"
"That is why I want to have a lady-in-waiting as well as to experience what business really is"
"It is not a game"
"I know"
"You will need money to start your business. How exactly are you going to do that? Just so you know I won't be giving you even a single copper coin"
"That is okay. Sir Dereck gave me a hundred gold coins before going to the empire as a part of the delegation. I have also finish making the framework for my business after obtaining information"
"So you have been ordering your maid to run errands for you"
"No. I was able to go out at night and go to an information guild since the security was quite lax"
I actually don't since it is too dangerous for me to go out with such a weak body.
Splat.
Father's cup fell and shattered.
The maids quietly and swiftly took the glass shards by hand.
"I supposed the knights of my duchy will have to be disciplined once more"
"Please do not change the subject"
"....."
"I am okay with it"
"Honey!"
Mother agreed to my request.
She was listening to our argument this whole time on the side and finally made a decision.
"Sweetie, Bea is already old enough to start her own business. We can keep her on watch so that nothing dangerous would happen to her. Remember, both Roman and Nicholas made their own business at ten and eleven, right"
"Well, yes, but... fine"
I won the argument with mother's help.