'It's been a long break.'
Ran smiled with satisfaction while thinking about it. However, the effect of the picnic lasted less than a week.
Two consecutive visitors were the cause, and the first person to visit was Haresh.
He complained as soon as he arrived at the green arch.
"How the hell do humans live in this place? Don't you feel uncomfortable when you're standing close to each other like a doggie?"
And he sighed looking at the garden.
"But it's better here. I've burned my hands too much."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"I brought the things you asked for. Stop using me as your personal matter."
Haresh said so, but carefully handed out a long box. When Ran opened the box, there was a delicately crafted sword inside.
Ran ordered it for Eustaf's birthday. Ran swallowed and lightly scattered it's surface.
The pure white scabbard is made of wood, but it is an elf tree, and its texture is different from that of ordinary trees. It felt like an ivory mineral rather than wood.
There was an elegantly engraved pattern, and on the handle side, the Lazia crest was painted.
Ran carefully lifted the sword out. The white-silver blades flashed.
Even for Ran, an outsider, it was a beautiful sword that looked very good. Ran said, swallowing deeply and putting the sword back in.
"Thank you, Haresh."
"I don't care if you pay me right. And the man-made work is quite well-received. The technology of iron handling is not very advanced on our part."
"Isn't this black iron?"
When Ran asked by surprise, Haresh frowned.
"You seem to know us well, but you don't know us at all. Elves don't deal with iron, the mineral we deal with is Chevroix. It's a mineral that needs magical processing."
"I see."
So cheap, high-quality human-made railway tools that don't require magical processing are selling well?
Well, it would be annoying if you had to use magic to make a pot.
Ran nodded her head.
'Then, isn't it possible to buy cheaply iron for elves?'
Ran suddenly thought of that, but I shook my head soon. This alone is already too much for me. There was no need to increase the work.
"Isn't the deal with the bunnies going well?"
At Haresh's words, Ran smirked.
"Yes, the Dwarfs are rough-spoken, but they're good people."
"Hung."
Snorting, Haresh took a small parchment from his pocket and handed it to Ran.
"It's a list of the price of goods."
"Thank you for your transaction all the time."
Ran received a list politely. Many of the workings from the Elves were made of wood from the Elves tree. Or glass and jewelry were often introduced, all sold at a huge price. The Elves' magic tools were still negotiating, but if they came in, the repercussions would be great.
Haresh ignored Ran's polite words to stay and leave as always.
Then less than a week later, a second customer arrived.
Unexpectedly, it was Count Illuminati himself.
********
Ran headed for the third drawing room. He was a count with the highest rank among Lazia's servants, and he deserved. As always, the count, who seemed to have swept away the red hair like a lion mane, politely greeted when he saw Ran.
"I see the Lord."
"Long time no see, Count."
After speaking, Ran peeked into his face and asked.
"Can I speak comfortably?"
"Of course."
Count Illuminati replied without even touching an eyebrow. Ran offered a seat in vain.
"Sit down, Lord Falton."
Count Illuminati looked at Ran for a moment and sat down and said.
"Comfortably speaking means calling my name."
"Should I pull it if you don't like it?"
"The Lord is always the Lord."
'You mean what I'll be saying, you're going to follow thru?'
Ran laughed and sat down.
"But I don't want to upset Lord Falton. I'd rather you call me Ran than Lord."
"Then, Miss Ran."
Then the Count of Illuminati crossed his legs. Ran shook the bell and asked after ordering tea from the maid who came in.
"Did you get the tea leaves I wanted?"
"The tea leaves. Why are you looking for the tea leaves?"
Stuck, Ran flinched and grabbed the armrest and released it. She made a quick thought.
I never thought the Count would dig in. It was embarrassing to dig in because I believed we would properly deal with his identity and shake our hands.
But now why?
"Are the tea leaves in bad condition?"
Ran's brows gathered slightly and had a serious face, and Count Illuminati looked at her face and replied.
"It's in condition, but it's because of the quality. Did you have any memories in that tea leaf?"
Ran pounded on the armrest. Maybe what the Count of Illuminati hinting is...?
'Wait, it's the new year, right? Oh, my God. Was he taken to an illegal dumping ground? I thought I still had time.'
She swallowed a moan.
Various thoughts went through her head. You can just close your eyes here. Anyway, Lumiere will come to Lazia after going through all the hardships.
He's not going to die.
'It's just a waste of life.'
Breathe in deeply and Ran looked straight at Count.
"There is, so you have to get it."
Falton Rudd Illuminati briefly looked at the Patriarch, which was much younger than him. She saved her daughter's life and it was natural to pay for it.
If Ran asked for it, that's all. However, what Ran asked for was a 'favor', and what is moving himself now is his favor toward her.
So Falton thought about it.
"Do you know what the tea leaves are like now?"
"It's in an illegal circulation."
"So, you know."
"Yes."
"You mean, still?"
"Still."
Ran shrugged her shoulders.
I came all the way here because I didn't want to die, but I don't want to live simply for that reason.
I wanted my hands to be as pretty as I could. The count sighed with determination.
"I see, but I don't think it's going to be easy. It's like you're making a lot of money out for that tea leaf."
Ran thought it over and added.
"The tea leaves have flowers on them."
"Flowers?"
"Yes, leaves and flowers grow from one stem, right? What will happen to the leaves if I get that flower back first?"
One of the reasons Lumiere was dragged around and rolled like that was his sister.
The only blood left.
His weak little sister was taken hostage, so he couldn't escape and rolled down the floor.
However, his sister died because she was not properly cared for, and even after she died, his owner asks Lumiere for a more brutal fight.
Later, Lumiere finds out that his sister is dead, he kills his owner and runs away from the floor, and it is true that he rolls there...
'Because I thought it was before he went to the arena, I couldn't think of his sister.'
But now his younger sister is important.
At Ran's words, Falton rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. Ran said in a sudden nervous state.
"If your connections are insufficient-"
"No."
The Count rose from his seat, looking straight at Ran.
"Actually, they said they wanted to meet the tea leaf buyer in person."
Ran slowly opened her mouth.
"Buyer? Why?"
"They think you're trying to catch one of the dirty spots that you've put your feet on that side. But with that flower...
I'll look into that side as well."
"Thanks."
Ran also stood up and greeted, and Falton looked down slightly and asked low.
"The young master doesn't know, right?"
"Yes."
Ran answered quietly, too. Falton left the drawing room without a response.
The maid, who brought the tea set in late, was embarrassed, and Ran shook her hand to let the tea set put down. Somehow, I needed to organize my thoughts.
Tell the maid to go away, and Ran poured tea into the teacup and added plenty of sugar and cream.
While enjoying the luxurious milk tea, Ran pointed at the problem with her fingers.
1. My survival
2. Life After Survival
3. The Crown Prince's dog
4. The Duke of Miro
5. Lumiere
6. Triangular trade between Elf and Dwarf
7. And etc.
'Once survival is okay. I made an appointment with Eustaf.'
Ran folded one finger.
'After survival life.... Even if it's a fake identity, it would be nice to have one. Should I ask Levery for this? If she's at the top of Golden Rose, she'll be able to get my identity cleaned.'
And Levery is unlikely to yield to Eustaf's pressure. The risk of being robbed later is low.
'I'll talk to Levery when she's not busy.'
And the prince and the Duke Miro. The problem was that the two were tied together.
'Prince motherfucker. He's annoying.'
Ran swallowed the moan thinking so. I don't know why he's so concerned about myself. Thanks to this, it was troublesome to receive attention in society in a different sense.
'I'll have to meet the Emperor.'
I should say, 'Please crack down on your son.'
It's not a good rumor for the royal family that the Crown Prince even talks to the Duke of Lazia.
'Or I can just run away to Lazia.'
No matter how much you're the Crown Prince, he won't follow me to Lazia. When only the Mana Stone was placed in the market, Ran was going to go back to Lazia like a rabbit.
'The Duke of Miro·····'
Devan or Olivia are troublesome enemies. Maybe you're thinking the same thing.
'Besides, I'll be cheering for the assassination of the Crown Prince, and I wouldn't oppose it.'
However, it can cause suspicion if you act friendly for no reason, so it depends on how the other side comes out.
'Lumiere ······.'
Lumiere ······
'Let's think about it once we get him.'
Since illegal dumping are illegal, so why not stab them by the Metropolitan Police and destroy the arenas?
Of course, even if the Metropolitan Police knows, it is highly likely that they will be closing their eyes, so we have to put pressure on it....
'Do I have to do it myself?'
There is no one else who can turn it around politically and put pressure on it. Even if you ask someone, political transactions always come and go. It is also the same with losing light.
'If I can't save his sister...?'
Ran sighed.
'Let's see and think about it then, too.'
There was no way to do anything about the triangular trade between Elf and Dwarf, or about the events that would take place when the original story began.
Especially the events after the original.
'I still have to leave a letter.'
I couldn't let him be defenseless.
"Oh, I really feel like throwing up."
"Would you like a pat on the back?"
Ran jumped from her seat in a sudden voice. The glass in her hand shook and milk tea spilled on her clothes. Even more embarrassed, Ran got up from her seat.
Eustaf, who came quickly, lifted up his napkin and wiped her clothes.
"I didn't expect you to be so surprised. I'm sorry."
"Can't you give me some sign?"
"I've been standing for quite a while, but you didn't know."
"Don't just stand there, talk to me."
Ran said so and looked at the hem of the stained dress. Eustaf took the glass from her hand and wiped her wet fingers with a handkerchief.
"Let us be careful from now on."
Somehow Ran crouched her fingers in embarrassment. Eustaf gently let go of the hand and called the maid to clean up the Tea set. Ran looked down at the dress and said, "What should I do? It's going to stain."
"Throw it away. Isn't it your mother's clothes anyway?"
"How did you know?"
I thought it was a really good fix this time. ·····?
Ran looked seriously at her sleeve. She put a lace over the stitched traces, so she can't even see it herself.
"I know when I see it. The color doesn't match. Noonim is a little more-"
Eustaf looked at her face for a moment and said, "A soft color suit you."
"Is that so..."
Ran spit out a groaned.
No, no matter how, how do you recognize it at once. Are the nobles' eyes different?
I was thinking about it, but Eustaf said.
"Noonim, what did you talk about with the Count?"
"Huh?"
Surprised, Ran flinched her shoulder.
"Did you have a personal conversation with him?"
Ran swallowed breath without realizing it. She looked at him and said,
"Well, it was personal."
"...."
Eustaf stared at her without answering. Turning her eyes from those blue eyes, Ran said.
"It's nothing strange. I'm just curious about something-"
While making excuses, she raised her head and said.
"Oh! I'm not planning a strange scheme with the count! For real!"
Holding hands with Baron Lindbergh and Count Illuminati were different matters.
Ran said desperately in case he misunderstood. Eustaf's eyebrows were slightly frown.
"I didn't think of that."
"...huh? Really?"
As surprised Ran murmured, Eustaf made an prickly remark.
"Yes, it would be a real surprise for Noonim."
No wonder it was a prickly remark and Ran said awkwardly again.
"But, that's it, me and Eustaf..."
Ran murmured, not knowing what she meant.
Isn't he close to her? Even objectively, it is a relationship that threatens each other by location.
Power was not shared with other, and she knows how precious Lazia is to Eustaf.
So Eustaf will also clean up Ran if it threatens Lazia. Ran thought so.
Eustaf sighed when he saw the mumbling Ran. When he saw her flinching at the sigh, he spoke lightly.
"All right."
"Huh?"
"It's personal, so I won't ask you any more questions."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He nodded his head. This time, Eustaf grinned because Ran's eyes were suspicious.
"What...?"
When he saw Ran panicked, Eustaf shook his head.
"It's nothing. You'd better change your clothes."
After saying that, Eustaf left the drawing room. Ran sighed and called in the maid to bring the clothes. I can't walk around the house in stained clothes.