Step by step, Randolph approached. Every time the jet-black cloak fluttered, the red linings on his clothes would vividly peek through. His face line was so sharp that one might probably get cut from touching him. He was expressionless as if his visage was stamped there.
His appearance was truly that of a grim reaper. Connie thought, totally absorbed by the sight.
=====
[Let me ask one thing, just in case.]
Randolph Ulster narrowed his cold, deep blue eyes, and opened his mouth.
[Were you involved in any way in human trafficking?]
[ā¦No.]
Connie shook her head, although she doubted that he would believe her in this situation.
[Well, I thought as much. Then there is no need to place you in restraintāāāyet.]
Connie looked up at Randolph, not expecting him to relent so easily. Yet his face remained the same emotionless visage.
[However, after three times, itās hard to consider this a mere coincidence. So letās have a good long talk, shall we?]
No, I canātāāāConnie turned to Scarlet, begging for help. But, the latter simply threw her face away uncaringly. Perhaps upset that Connie didnāt just run away as advised.
[Unfortunately, as things stand, it would be difficult to bring a case against you for thieving in Marquess Orlamundeās manor. We donāt even know what was stolen in the first place. But, the Marquess has an image to uphold after all.]
Since Scarletās help wasnāt available, then Connie had no choice but to do something about this herself. She secretly clenched her fist and tightened her bowel. Then she recalled Scarletās words.
[That said, Iām sure you wouldnāt want to be known as someone suspected of thieving, would you? In that case, can you tell me what you are trying to do? If you have a convincing reason, I wonāt pursue it any further. I donāt think itās a bad condition for you either.]
āāāAll you have to do is threaten and blackmail them so thoroughly for your own benefit.
Randolph Ulsterās parents belonged to Duke Reuchelieuwersās familyāāāa noble family that is on par with the Castiels. In short, they are filthy rich. Connie gulped hard.
Of course, she didnāt know where to even begin. She didnāt even know the weakness of this scary person, and letās not forget that this person seems to be fully capable of turning her into minced meat on the spot as soon as he realized that she was trying to blackmail him. Even so.
Surely, it should be possible to negotiate with him.
Randolph wanted to know the situation. Even if she canāt tell him everything, she can at least withhold the most important partāāā
Before she knew it, Randolph Ulster was looking at her with furrowed eyebrows.
Perhaps because Connieās face looked upset while she was thinking.
[ā¦..Whatās wrong? Did you hit your head in the confusion?]
[No, um, le, le, leā¦!]
[Lelele? No good, you really hit your heaāāā]
Connie shook her head rather desperately. She then took a big, deep breathāāā
[Le, letās make a deal!]
[ā¦A deal?]
Scarlet rolled her eyes in surprise.
Hearing Connieās words, Randolph put his hand on his chin, seemingly giving it genuine consideration. After a while, he said [Ah, right] with a nod.
[Iāve heard that the Grail family is struggling with their debt. So you want money in exchange for your information. Am I correct?]
[Ye, yesā¦]
He saw through. He saw through it almost immediately. Connie was teary-eyed.
Of course, Connie thought to herself. She knew that she was being outrageously impudent here. But itās not like my relationship with His Excellency Shinigami could deteriorate any further, and no matter what my opponent thinks of me, if there is even one chance, I would like to take a chanceāāābut who is she kidding with? Sheāll be minced meat soon.
Will I be interrogated for knowing too much? Or will he start looking at me as if heās staring at maggots?
The thoughts only made Connie shiver more. But on the contrary, Randolphās reaction was anything but what she imagined.
[Well, I donāt really mind it in particular.]
[āāāYes?]
While her mind was in chaos, an entire unexpected answer came out. Whatās with this man?
[That said, I cannot simply pay you like I would some information brokers in the slum, as you are a nobleā¦ And it will raise suspicion if I were to hand out a large amount of money in the guise of a loan, wonāt itā¦what to doā¦]
Randolph seemed to be pondering something with his finger on his mouth, but he seemed to come to a conclusion shortly after.
[āāāConstance Grail. Are you willing to bear a scandal?]
The sharp glare in his eyes made Connie involuntarily stiffen. But she has made up her mind, thus she looked back into his eyes and spoke.
[ā¦..Itās too late to worry about that] As she had decided to set aside honesty, Connie had nothing to fear. She steeled herself in preparation to accept whatever ridiculous request he was about to fork outāāā
[I see. Then the easiest way to handle this isāāā]
Connie was so embarrassed and occupied, that she nodded reflexively without even waiting for Randolph to finish.
[āāāwith engagement.]
[Thatās fine by meāāāeh?]
She inadvertently agreed, only to realize in the end.
[Then as you wish. Weāll go with that.]
[ā¦Eh?]
[Of course, once the money problem is resolved we can break the engagement at any time. That way the Grail family can safely pay off their debt. Moreover, it will provide me with an acceptable reason to keep an eye on you as well. Not the best of solutions, but it seems to be acceptable for both of us.]
[ā¦Eeehhh?]
[Ah, right. About those loan sharks from Elbadia company.]
The topic changed again. Connieās poor head was having difficulty keeping up. What is it with those unscrupulous loan sharks?
[There was a report from the Grail territory. Their practice was inexcusable, so I dealt with them before coming here. I doubt that theyāll be forceful again in the future. I ended up roughing them up a bit, hoping theyād have more information on you. But they knew next to nothing, I feel sorry for them.]
[That is, um, thanksā¦?]
Randolph tilted his head slightly.
[For what?]
[Wellā¦ I just felt like I shouldā¦?]
Connie didnāt know either. Her mind was still preoccupied with the current situation.
[Iām not happy to say this, but you only recently broke off your engagement, and itās only been two years since I became a widower. So I suppose it would be best if you could draw out the engagement as much as possible, if only for the sake of how people will see it. But, I will not force you.]
He said all that in a very official tone as if he was giving his subordinate a mission briefing. What he said is not wrong. And it was not like she disagreed with itāāā
Thatās not it.
Things just went in a direction she didnāt expect, at all.
Behind Connie who couldnāt really hide her confusion, was Scarlet, holding her head.
ćAhh mouu, I still canāt figure out what this man is going to doā¦..ļ¼ This is exactly why I could never deal with this manāāāļ¼ć