Chapter 13
The idea that I could negotiate with moneylenders had been nothing more than my own delusion.
No—thinking we could even have a normal conversation in the first place had been my mistake.
First, I examined the seal stamped on the promissory note.
Unfortunately, it was genuine.
There was no possibility that it had been forged.
“I have one thing to say first. A fifty-percent interest rate is absurd.”
I started with the issue I wanted to address most.
“Unfortunately, your father agreed to those terms, and now the responsibility has fallen entirely upon his daughter. We’re only employees ourselves, so there’s nothing we can do about that.”
The answer remained exactly the same.
Looking at me with sympathetic eyes, Finn Schneider continued.
“First, why don’t you look over the proposal we’ve prepared? I’d like you to understand that we’ve been as considerate toward Miss Prim as possible.”
He slid a document across the table, still wearing that pleasant, harmless smile.
I picked up the contract.
The moment I finished reading it, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
“…Sell my body… or surrender my house.”
They wanted me to choose one of the two.
My face hardened as I looked from one man to the other.
Finn Schneider flashed a mischievous smile before glancing toward Pavid, who remained standing.
“Pavid, what do you think she’d fetch?”
He jerked his chin toward me as though I were merchandise.
Pavid’s tiny eyes gleamed as he slowly looked me up and down.
For a brief moment, naked greed flashed across his face.
Running his tongue across his thin lips, he answered,
“Well… I’d have to strip her to know for sure, but from the outside?”
“She’d fetch top dollar.”
His rough voice scraped painfully against my ears.
“You heard him.”
Finn Schneider met my eyes again.
His long, narrow eyes curved pleasantly.
“You can either repay the money right now…”
“…or choose one of those two options.”
“The choice is yours.”
…
I should have immediately demanded to know what kind of ridiculous conditions these were.
Instead, I was so stunned that no words came out.
Besides…
I had no idea what these men might do to me.
I never should have invited them inside.
I had been too eager to finish the conversation quickly and get to work.
I hadn’t thought it through.
“As I mentioned earlier, we’re merely employees ourselves. We need results.”
“We have to return with something impressive to show our superiors.”
Desperately, I searched for a way out.
If I gave up the house, I’d have nowhere to go.
I couldn’t simply abandon the place that held all my memories with Father.
But there was no way I could repay over one hundred million Berk.
And the other option…
Should I scream?
“Miss Prim.”
Judging by your expression, you’re wondering whether you should start screaming.”
…
“You think this is the first time we’ve handled a situation like this?”
…
“The less cooperative you are…”
“…the worse your conditions will become.”
Finn Schneider’s friendly smile vanished.
He turned toward Pavid.
“Lock the door.”
Pavid stomped heavily across the wooden floor toward the entrance.
I clenched my teeth so tightly they almost ground together.
“So this is how you do business?”
“By deceiving people and threatening them?”
“For the most part?”
Finn Schneider chuckled.
“Even then, we’re actually one of the more civilized lenders.”
“We’re gentlemen.”
“Gentle.”
“Nice.”
“And it’s not every day you find someone as handsome as me, is it?”
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
This man had absolutely no idea what a real gentleman looked like.
He’d probably never met one.
Johannes Schultz…
Come to think of it…
I’d only ever seen him as a naval officer and as my employer.
Perhaps he was even more gentlemanly in his everyday life.
Compared to him…
Finn Schneider wasn’t even a poor imitation.
“…Did you just laugh at me?”
“No.”
“Of course not.”
I quickly erased the mocking smile from my lips.
Too late.
Finn Schneider’s expression had already darkened.
“I think you did.”
“When that happens…”
“We have a method we often use.”
His face was twisted with genuine irritation.
Apparently I’d struck a nerve.
“Pavid!”
“What’s taking so long?”
“Pavid!”
Frowning impatiently, Finn Schneider turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he pointed a bony finger at me.
“Stay where you are.”
“If you run…”
“I’ll sell you myself.”
A chill ran down my spine.
But…
Now that he’d exposed an opening…
This was my chance.
If I slipped out the back door and ran in the opposite direction…
Or sought refuge at Mrs. Pensler’s house…
Or caught a carriage headed for the Duke’s estate…
I waited until he’d gone farther away.
Then I shot to my feet and sprinted toward the back door.
I flung it open—
And froze.
“…Your Grace?”
“Pavid!”
“Pavid!”
Running a hand repeatedly through his hair, Finn Schneider hurried toward the entrance.
The instant he saw what awaited him…
His face turned deathly pale.
“Wh-What…?!”
The enormous Pavid was suspended by the back of his collar.
His face had gone beyond crimson to a frightening shade of purple as he desperately struggled for air.
Men in immaculate white naval uniforms completely surrounded the house.
The Navy of Dochilia.
Why was the Navy here…?
The police had never been much of a problem.
Bribe them…
Become friends with them…
Everything worked itself out.
But the Navy was different.
They were inflexible.
True, they cared about public order…
But they’d never intervened this directly before.
Biting his lip in agitation, Finn Schneider instinctively stepped backward.
Then he sensed the enormous shadow looming behind him.
His feet stopped.
“Damn it!”
Slowly, he turned around.
The moment he saw the man blocking his way…
His face filled with horror.
“Johannes Schultz…?”
“Why… why are you here?”
His voice shook uncontrollably.
Wasn’t he supposed to have let me off before?
How far exactly do you expect my leniency to extend?
The icy voice echoed through Finn Schneider’s mind.
Finn Schneider was the illegitimate son of Count Schwaben, born to a prostitute.
A half-noble who had never even been allowed to inherit the Schwaben family name.
He had spent years desperately trying to imitate true gentlemen.
Yet perhaps because of his upbringing…
He’d never managed to rid himself of his vulgar, gutter-born habits.
Naturally…
He’d chosen the only path available.
If society refused to recognize him as a noble…
He would still enjoy every privilege of one while living a life of indulgence.
So he founded Banux.
He preyed upon countless women.
He drank himself senseless.
Then one day…
A group of naval officers burst into his establishment.
He’d heard someone mention Lieutenant Colonel Schultz and glanced over in annoyance.
By chance…
His eyes had met Johannes Schultz’s.
Back then, Johannes had been a lieutenant colonel.
Johannes had warned him.
He knew exactly what kind of fraudulent schemes Finn Schneider was running.
He also knew Count Schwaben was protecting him from behind the scenes.
So…
Don’t push your luck.
After that…
Finn Schneider had simply become more careful.
More secretive.
More illegal.
He’d stayed within his limits.
So why?
He had no answer.
One thing alone was certain.
He was trapped now.
“…Your Grace?”
I stood there blankly.
Then I noticed the naval officers surrounding the house.
Shock filled my face.
I didn’t care how he had found this place.
Or why he’d come.
At that moment…
I was simply relieved.
Without understanding what was happening, I followed behind the Duke as he strode into the house.
He stopped before Finn Schneider.
“Johannes Schultz…?”
“Why are you here?”
Watching Finn Schneider’s increasingly foolish expression, I couldn’t help frowning.
Then…
A short laugh escaped me.
Moments later, he pressed a hand against his forehead as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
For the first time…
I saw weakness in the man.
Then—
Thud.
Pavid collapsed onto the floor.
The moment Finn Schneider noticed him, he began trembling even harder.
How strange.
That hateful face no longer frightened me in the slightest.
It was almost as though I could hear the gears frantically turning inside his head.
After thinking for a moment…
His expression suddenly brightened.
He practically shouted.
“I—I heard the royal family revoked the Schultz Ducal House’s authority to carry out summary executions!”
“So?”
Johannes let out a cold laugh.
“Are your eyes merely decorative?”
“How unfortunate.”
“I came here as a Colonel.”
Finn Schneider was quick-witted.
Whatever pride he had left vanished instantly.
He dropped to his knees.
“P-Please…!”
“Please spare me just this once!”
“If I’m arrested…”
“My father might actually kill me!”
“That’s your problem.”
His trembling hands reached for the Duke’s trouser leg.
Before he could touch it…
The naval officers kicked him away by the shoulder.
He rolled helplessly across the floor.
“So…”
“You’re still engaging in these filthy schemes.”
“Didn’t I warn you?”
Johannes’s voice was icy.
Then he turned around.
Standing directly before me, he looked into my eyes with those deep blue ones.
As always…
I couldn’t read what he was thinking.
Finally…
His tightly closed lips parted.
“At present…”
“I cannot directly help Miss Prim.”
His voice was much gentler than I had expected.
I had assumed it would be as cold as always.
The relief I’d felt—that perhaps everything could simply return to normal—vanished like a bubble.
Of course.
Johannes Schultz had no obligation to repay my debts.
Ashamed of myself for having entertained such a selfish hope, I lowered my eyes.
Johannes tilted his chin slightly.
Sir Fret stepped forward from among the naval officers.
“To be precise…”
“What these men have done is indeed illegal.”
“It’s difficult to explain everything right now…”
“But it’s a rather common tactic.”
“Then…!”
“However, proving that in court will take time.”
“Until then, it’s difficult to legally establish their wrongdoing.”
“So before that happens…”
“You’ll still be required to pay the amount they’re claiming.”
“And if that happens…”
“You’ll lose this house.”
Sir Fret slowly looked around the interior.
Seeing the despair on my face, he sighed sympathetically.
“The law is… rather rotten.”
“Even Colonel Schultz has limitations when it comes to helping you.”
“He may only lend up to fifty million Berk to someone outside his family.”
“But…”
Johannes Schultz interrupted at exactly the right moment.
“It would be different…”
“If we shared a relationship in which helping one another required no compensation.”
I instinctively fell silent.
I understood perfectly well what he meant.
After acting as though he’d never proposed to me before…
Here he was…
Proposing again.
Why?
I looked up at him with confused eyes.
Johannes leaned closer.
From the shortened distance, he quietly asked,
“Do you want my help?”
…
“Real help.”
Those vivid blue eyes glimmered for just an instant.
I nearly laughed.
“Real help.”
To think he’d throw my own words back at me.
It was an utterly emotionless proposal.
And yet…
I could confidently say it was more romantic than any proposal in the world.
How many men would throw away one hundred and thirty-five million Berk to marry a commoner who possessed absolutely nothing?
And that man…
Was Johannes Schultz.
The very man every noble lady in high society longed to marry.
His face might not officially be known to the public…
But everyone in high society knew exactly who he was.
A small smile escaped me.
Whatever happened…
I had to protect this house.
I could no longer afford the luxury of pride.
This certainly wouldn’t be free.
But no matter what conditions he imposed…
I was the one at a disadvantage.
At least…
If he was proposing marriage…
He wouldn’t sell his own wife or steal her home.
Meeting his gaze with firm determination, I answered,
“Yes.”
“Desperately.”
