Hush Now, Saintess!

I’m asking about how to sell the jewelry this time because I’m still… in shock from being nearly swindled with nine million shillings.

‘It’s better to study the market value of the jewelry first anyway, or try to get help from others until I can do it on my own.’

In that sense, I set up a criteria on who I should be asking for help.

First, someone who had no reason to steal my money.

Second, someone who had an eye for luxury goods such as jewelry.

Third, someone who didn’t look like a pushover who’d get swindled willy nilly.

Amongst everyone around me in this place, the person who fit the bill the most was the duke.

That’s why I was going to ask him for a favor today, but…

‘There’s someone else here who meets the criteria.’

Indeed.

“Graham!”

“Yes, Milady.”

“Never mind Father, can I ask you instead?!”

At my impassion question, Graham’s eyes went wide.

“Me?”

I nodded vigorously in response.

However, Graham’s reaction was not very positive.

Suddenly feeling quite intimidated, I timidly spoke.

“Is it going to be difficult?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then, please, I’d like to ask for a favor. Mister Graham, you definitely look reliable, and you have a better eye for jewelry than I do. Above all, Father seems to be very busy, so—”

At that moment.

“Graham.”

The duke’s imposing voice cut me short.

‘Oh god. I was too noisy.’

Feeling pressured, I instantly shut up.

But unlike me, Graham replied as he usually did, unphased.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Have you finished filing the documents I assigned to you three days ago?”

“Three days ago, sir?”

“Yes. Those documents.”

“If Your Grace is talking about those documents, I haven’t filed those yet, no.”

“Then take care of them. Now.”

“……?”

“What are you doing? Are you not going to move?”

The duke raised one eyebrow.

Then, Graham smiled and nodded.

“Ah, yes, of course. But then what about Her Ladyship’s request? Huu… I don’t think I’ll be able to help with that.”

“If you’re busy, there’s nothing we can do…”

I was going to say that it’s fine if Graham couldn’t, but then.

“Ke-hum. Then, there’s no other choice. Graham’s busy, so I will have to help you.”

Announcing this haughtily, the duke stood up from his seat.

“Pardon? But Father, aren’t you busy as well?”

“No? I just finished my tasks. It’s all thanks to the hard work until now.”

Aha. So you’ve just finished your tasks, huh.

…But why’s Graham busy now while the duke’s free?

Was that right?

I was terribly confused, but unlike me, Graham only smiled pleasantly and responded.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you, Your Grace.”

Plop.

The duke sat opposite of me.

With his long legs crossed, he bobbed one foot up and down.

‘…Oh. What long legs.’

All I could do was stare blankly at the new, unfamiliar situation I now found myself in. On the other hand, the duke’s brows were furrowed to the fullest.

“Why. You don’t prefer that I help you with your request?”

“Ah. No, it’s not like that.”

Given the atmosphere now, I was seriously contemplating whether I should take back the plea for my request, but I quickly shook my head.

Right. It wouldn’t matter anyway who I’d ask.

Anyone was better than me at this point.

With that in mind, I took out my pouch full of jewelry.

“Here. Please help me sell these jewelry pieces.”

“All this?”

He asked after checking through the pouch.

I nodded.

When I considered the jewelry I had, I eventually thought that they weren’t important to me either.

So, I picked up everything except a few decent pieces.

“Yes. All this.”

“What are you going to use the money for? Don’t tell me, you’re going to spend it on other luxurious things? Or yet another investment?”

“No, not at all. If you remember the wishing fountain I told you about before, I’ll be using the money as funds for its construction.”

I had already told the duke about the wishing fountain.

I’ve yet to come of age yet, so I needed the consent of my guardian to construct any sort of structure.

“Funds for the fountain?”

“Yes. I want to raise capital for it with my own money, but I’m ashamed to say that I don’t have any money saved. That’s why I’m going to sell all of these jewelry pieces.”

“……”

The duke remained silent.

It looked as if he was lost in thought.

…Maybe even questioning the sincerity of my words.

“I know that you must be busy. Is my request too bothersome?”

“Enough with that. Didn’t I say that I’m free? I’ll take care of it, so leave these here.”

Feeling relieved, I brought a hand over my chest.

‘Huu, what a relief. I thought you’d say no.’

Thus, the problem of the fountain’s capital was finally solved.

It was always such a refreshing feeling when any money problem could get solved.

Since I lived at the bottom of the barrel all my life, I was inherently born with the trait of feeling suffocated whenever money was scarce.

“Thank you, Father. Oh, and another thing.”

I took out a small box and handed it over.

“You’re going to sell this, too?”

“No. It’s my gift to you, Father.”