Chapter 98

Where Tara is 'the Boss' and Andrei makes a long awaited appearance!

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Episode 98. About a Year (25)

I looked away, then back at Logan. But his face was as expressionless as ever.

Hmm... This felt weird, like there was something... What could it be? Maybe I should find out more about Logan.

Chloe sighed softly and spoke up in a firm voice before the vassals could intervene again.

"Mother, every minute counts right now. We don't have time to be distracted by trivial issues. It's only been a day, and the whole Capital is pointing fingers at our family calling us ungrateful traitors. So, I'm begging you to restrain yourself for now."

Chloe completely turned her back on the Countess whose mouth was agape with surprise, and looked straight at me.

"Now. Say it again, Tara. What's going on?"

The Countess, who was being held back by her maids, was glaring at me so hard her eyes bulged, but had no choice but to stand there under the unflattering gazes of the vassals.

Everyone's eyes focused on me again. Not at my mother or Dylan, Chloe, the vassals or Logan. Even the knight from the royal guard who had come to deliver the message was looking at me with interest.

Hmm.Why had he stayed here instead of leaving? Oh, right he was here to take me with him....

"I'll tell you the exact details when I get back."

"Is it a bad situation?"

"No. It's not as bad as you might think. But we won't know exactly how bad it is until I go to find out, so please be patient."

And, just to be sure, I decided to drive yet another nail into the Countess’s coffin.

"And don't forget what I said earlier, Countess. Despite my mother and I being rightful members of House Elias, you called us 'commoners' in front of the maids. In addition, you also referred to us as 'smelly' and ill-mannered. You will apologize to us unequivocally. I will not move to help Jason until you do! Any chance to end this with a simple plea is gone now, Countess!"

"Argh! Look! Look at that! That bitch! That wench..."

The hall was in an uproar again.

Chloe's eyes narrowed, Logan's mouth hardened, and the vassals frowned and muttered.

‘Oh my God. No matter her common origins, Lady Isabelle is now a true noblewoman. And even to the young Lady.'

‘Dear Lord, to have said they smell in front of the maids... That was out of line.'

Public opinion seemed to be on my side.

I turned around quickly, calculating in my head how to best handle the situation.

"Miss, What you said earlier about the researcher. Did something go wrong?" Dylan called after me, following closely.

My mother walked with me, then nodded and pulled away when she sensed that Dylan was about to have an important conversation with him.

I nodded in return and moved toward the stairs to the second floor as if I were the head of the House.

The dejected Countess muttered curses at me under her breath while Chloe, Logan and the vassals left the hall to return to their duties.

"No. We have four hours until I leave for the Palace. There is a way. It's just a matter of having it delivered to the Second Prince on time."

"Really?"

"Before that, I need to wash up and eat. I'm starving, sir. Let's meet again after we both eat. Then we can discuss this properly, alright?"

Dylan didn't bother to answer, and I quickly ran up to my room. Meeting with the Second Prince required thorough preparations.

"Things aren't necessarily bad. Yes, I’ll be fine. First of all, I know my enemy, the Second Prince, to some extent!" I said it to myself out loud, in part to build up my courage.

Then I entered my room to prepare for battle.

***

Four hours later.

Escorted by Bernard, I made my way to the Palace. The Palace guard also followed to keep an eye on me lest I decided to escape.

And Beth, who had changed into her cleanest going-out clothes, was also present.

From the carriage window, I could see a panoramic view of the Capital in winter. Stately trees and people walking with thick coats. The harsh breath of horses pulling coaches and the gothic buildings beyond. It was exotic.

I'd been gazing out the window for a while when a voice jolted me out of my shallow musings.

"As expected, Lady Isabelle has good taste."

Beth smiled wryly.

"What?"

"The earrings, Miss."

"Oh..."

I must have absentmindedly fiddled with my earrings as I stared out the window. It felt so unfamiliar to have something stuck in my skin that I couldn't help but to reach for it.

[Baby.... take this and go. It's a garnet].

[Oh... Thank you, Mother. I'll wear them when I get back.]

[A noblewoman cannot enter the Palace without any jewelry].

The word 'noble' caught my ear as it came out of my mother's mouth. Even if she pretended not to care, those words must have hurt her.

[You're right Mom. Can you help me?]

I stuck my ear out and she carefully threaded the earrings in.

[I've been waiting to give you this gift. I shouldn't be so happy at a time like this, but I am, and of course I believe you when you say everything is going to be fine, my dear.]

My mother's voice trembled slightly. My heart tickled as warmth bloomed in my chest. I would make the Countess beg for forgiveness.

The carriage turned onto the Capital's busiest boulevard. The street was filled with people. Carts, hired stagecoaches, and noble's carriages mingled.

As in any populated area, street vendors were hawking their wares. They needed to make a living even if the Imperial court was in disarray.

The boulevard was busy, and Bernard had to work hard to stay close to the left side of the coach.

I had no idea how far we had driven, but I caught a glimpse of a carriage from my cab's window.

It was entirely black and came alongside my coach at regular intervals until we stopped side by side at an intersection.

There were so many carriages on the boulevard that I didn't pay much attention.

First, I needed to clear the Second Prince's suspicions and ask him to give me time to meet Andrei in person...

Just as I was planning my future moves in my head

Click.

".....?"

The carriage door softly creaked open.

“...Huh!”

“.... Oh my!”

I gasped, and Beth stopped short of screaming.

"Shhh!"

It was Andrei.

He put his index finger to his mouth, smirked, and entered the carriage as if entering his own room.

Beth's eyes rolled in surprise, and I clamped my hands over my mouth to muffle the scream that escaped.

"... You scared me!"

I wiped the surprise off my face and stole a quick glance at Andrei. He was dressed in the most modest attire I'd ever seen him in since I'd met him.

Black tunic, black pants and black boots. He also wore a black 'sara' (a woven silk scarf with a slightly coarser silk thread base) that fell to his shoulders with long diamond earrings that sparkled from within it.*

A headscarf would have been more convenient, but he couldn’t give up his.... style now, could he?

"Surprise..."

Andrei stopped sitting down when he saw me.

"Why?"

"Oh my God, where did it all go? This is too much!"

Andrei's eyes darted all over my body, he looked incredibly upset.

"What? Anyway, if the guard finds out, we'll be in big trouble!"

"I'm the head of the Black Society, this is easier than snapping my fingers. Doesn't this feel like a little game of espionage? Hmm... But this is too much. You've lost your chubby cheeks!"

Andrei fearlessly pinched and poked my cheeks.

"Will you stop that?"

“Huh. My apprentice's lovely cheeks. You've lost too much weight too fast...."

"It wasn't fast, and I haven't lost much cheek fat."

"Hmm. It's a shame. But I still think you're plump enough, so I'll forgive you."

"There's nothing to forgive. And get away from me please. Do you realize that touching someone like that without their consent is sexual harassment?"

"Heek!"

Andrei quickly pulled his hands away, his eyes wide with genuine surprise.

"I admit it. I was wrong. I'll ask permission next time. I'm so sorry."

"There won't be a next time. Stop dreaming about it because it won't happen. How did you know I was going to visit you today...Oh... You've planted a spy in my mansion too, haven't you?" I asked, glancing out the carriage window.

The cab drove slowly, and the black coach moved up beside us at regular intervals, as if to keep up pace.

Neither Bernard nor the guard seemed to have realized that Andrei had entered. As expected from the head of the Black Society intelligence organization, he seemed very good at keeping a low profile.

"Oh, my God..."

Beth was pinned in the corner, nervously glancing at Andrei. It was the first time she'd come this close to him.

" Are you alright, Beth? I know you're surprised, but he and I just need to talk."

Still stunned by the stunt Andrei had pulled, Beth nodded soundlessly.

"Yes, Miss."

"What a cute little maid."

Andrei winked at her and Beth quickly looked away with a squeak.

"By the way, aren't you going to ask how your Master is doing after all this time?"

"You look much better than your disciple who nearly died from poisoning."

"Tsk. I shouldn't have asked. But I thought a lot about you. I was worried I would miss so much fun if you died."

Even as he spoke, the corners of Andrei's mouth turned up.

"You don't know the meaning of the word 'empathy'."

"Well then. Since we're running out of time, shall we get straight to the point?"

I nodded immediately, crossed my arms, and leaned in closer to Andrei to focus on what he was saying.

"There is only one herbalist's guild in the Empire that supplies Wolfsbane. It's called 'Sanmani' and it's the largest guild in the Empire. Although Wolfsbane is classified as a poisonous herb, it's well controlled and the guilds that supply it record all purchases. Not much is known about this herb and its only recently been mentioned among herbalists. It comes from the East, so there's no shortage and it's ordered in advance, so I looked into it. Only two orders have been placed in the past year. One to the Imperial Garden Department."**

"The Garden Department, I assume, for pest control."

Andrei nodded. Then he hesitated before continuing.

"And the other one is likely to put you in a disadvantageous situation. Huh, it's truly a strange turn of events, that one."

"It's Elias Pharmaceuticals."

"What the...! How did you know? Did you look at the pharmaceutical accounting ledgers before leaving the mansion?"

"No. I asked them to order it for me."

"... Really?"

Andrei scrutinized my face again, as if he were seeing it for the first time.

"Why?"

Editor's Note -

* This is a weird one! While searching to see if a 'sara' had some real life origins I stumbled on This! Now I don't know if this link was the real inspiration for the 'sara' in the novel but it would be fun if it was, because I wasn't able to find anything else on the Net.

** 산마니 or Simmani is a really old Korean word refering to ginseng foragers that have existed for centuries. Nowadays, you can still find the Simmani Brotherhood which is probably the modern association derived from a very old profession. The 'Sanmani' guild mentionned here is most certainly a nod the the Ginseng foragers of old and a great name for a general herbalist guild in this novel. Munirang has such fun doing these little winks to her readers!

On another note, now I do understand this cultural reference in other manwhas, noticeably those dedicated to 'cultivation' or martial arts where often the '1000 years old Ginseng' has such importance!

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