chapter 37

“What kind of curse?”

“That’s actually the mansion of the blood-crazed duke, the Duke of Pietro.”

Okay. When she remembered the familiar appearance, it was actually the place where she lived four years ago.

The broker stuttered and Citrina had wrinkles on her face.

Does he still believe the curse of the twins? The curse that continuously made Aron suffer.

For her, Desian and Aron were childhood friends. Anyone who hears bad things about their friends would be offended.

“What age is it now, you still believe in curses?”

Hearing her reply, the broker’s face turned red.

“… You have a strong heart.”

-What is the Duke of Pietro. What’s all the fuss about? Curse. This Gemma can protect you!

As she heard various thoughts of three people, no, one spirit and two humans. She looked at the broker.

“Is it why you hesitate to release the house, because of the curse?”

“Is there any other problem besides that? Oh, people also say that only this house is strangely cold…”

As an insincere real estate agent, he had sold a lot of houses from this to that. However, when the Duke Pietro tried to sell the townhouse next door to their mansion, he felt his conscience stabbing him.

‘You don’t have to say that Duke Desian Pietro was possessed by a demon.’

But the woman in front of him seemed unwilling to refuse, even if he gave out various clues.

“It’s only warm here.”

“It’s definitely warm, Citrina! Just like my cute white puppy, Summer.”

It was a modern and simple house, the atmosphere was warm and the price was reasonable.

Citrina knew very well that the mansion nearby was not cursed.

“If there is no other problem, if you’re certain…”

“Haa…”

“Please contact the owner who put this house up for sale.”

The broker nodded with an undetermined expression. Citrina had it cheap.

“Then can I wait here?”

“Yes, yes. You can wait and take a closer look at the house.”

The decision was made that it would not be bad to meet the landlord first and proceed with the contract.

The broker walked out the door and gave a short glance at Citrina, before visiting the landlord.

As he walked out the door, he shook his head.

‘Wow, how could she live next door from the House of Pietro?’

Back then, nobles would go running away with their blue complexion, but a woman, whom he believed was a commoner, turned up. He trembled.

‘Duke Desian Pietro is said to be the incarnation of an infamous great devil, and was cursed by a magic sword, killing everything he sees!’

In fact, Desian’s notoriety was even more well-known than the “Curse of the Twins” she knew.

The mind of a broker who was thinking of the Duke of Pietro, to be exact, Desian Pietro, blacked out.

The prevailing assessment he had for him was that he was an extraterrestrial being who killed and eliminated all those who were against his will. Didn’t he punish the Dark tower?

‘She’s a strange woman. If she didn’t live far away, she would have heard about the rumours.’

Nevertheless, the Duke said he would live in a nearby townhouse.

‘Should I have tried harder to stop her?’

However, the broker’s mouth did not open. It was because he knew the latest steps of Duke Pietro, who had been indifferent to everyone.

He was told that he had once concussed a nobleman, who was talking about him.

‘Yes, let’s just shut up.’

The broker who went out to the yard, looked around. He remembered the landlord saying he lived nearby, so where was it?

He probably needed to go to the office that manages the whole townhouse and ask where the owner was.

“Mr. Potter.”

At that time, someone stepped into the yard and called his name. It was a tall man who was wearing a uniform. It looked like a knight’s uniform.

The broker, Potter, looked at the man with hazy eyes.

“Oh, yes.”

“I am the owner of that house. Nice to meet you.”

In the midst of the real estate cold wave that struck the capital, he was the only landlord who put up a sale.

“Oh, come to think of it, you’re the same face you had last time, Mr. Rayner. She wants to check the contract.”

“I see. Really, really, truly fortunate.”

The man called Rayner said and bit his molars. There were dark circles under hus eyes. It’s a face that has suffered a lot from somewhere.

Potter said while looking at his face, “Yes, I feel the same way as a broker.”

“Ah, yes… Here’s the contract I have prepared in advance. Let’s go in with the contract. As the owner, I will provide all the conveniences for the tenant. Please take note of that.”

“Oh, yes. I understand.”

“Please tell them they can move in right now.”

“Yes.”

For a broker like him, it was enough to receive the fee. Potter accepted the contract. As such, he seemed to be able to receive a contract fee. It was a bit awkward, but he said it was okay.

Real estate cold wave that strangely struck the capital. But fortunately, Citrina acquired a house.

It’s not a bad thing, but ever since Citrina bought the house, the real estate market has normalized.

***

‘Finally, I have bought my own house.’

Citrina was lying side by side on the sofa with Adilak. Adilak must have been tired since she had no trouble sleeping.

Citrina closed her eyes. The real estate sale contract came as quickly as roasting beans with lightning.

The owner of the townhouse did not show up, but she was told that he would make the most of Citrina’s convenience.

‘Everything went well. For the atelier and for the house.’

The monthly cost was also low. It didn’t take long to sign the contract and bring her luggage from the inn.

-What are you going to do now?

-Well…

Citrina cupped her chin. She opened her mouth with a blush.

-Come to think of it, Gemma, do you know how to do alchemy?

-If I become an intermediate spirit, I can… All I need is the finest Silmaril to train! Then this Gemma-sama will become invincible.

Her transparent wings drooped. Citrina smiled at the gem spirit. Looking at such a Citrina, the little spirit pouted her lips.

-Okay. Your current ability is also cool, but if you become an intermediate spirit, it will be even more amazing, right?

-Right!

She rose from the gem she was lying in and slowly revealed herself. Little by little, her beautiful form gradually took shape at the hands of her master.

-I could turn stones into gems, you can look forward to it!

As Citrina looked at Gemma, her eyes squinted as she smiled.

-If I give you a Silmaril, you will fulfill our contract, right?

-Un! (The sound of agreement. Like what Aron usually use. En, um, un. U know.)

Citrina’s sincere laughter rang brightly. The spirit who had been asleep for such a long time was pure like a child.

Citrina was currently satisfied with this simple life. With the remaining money, she can pay a down payment for the atelier, design and sell jewelries and gems given by Oslo.

It has been a long time since she looked forward to the future.

‘I’m still upset and worried about rumors of the duke’s curse. Perhaps… I’m worried that it’ll be the same again.’

Should I hear the rumors regarding the Duke of Pietro?

While Citrina was looking at Gemma with her chin on hand, Adilak approached. She had called in a maid who lived in the house and arranged all their luggage.

“Citrina, what are you thinking about?”

“I heard a bad story… About a close friend.”

“I see.”

Adilak sat by her side and agonized about it with her. After a few minutes had passed, Adilak came up with a small solution.

“Still, rumours often have no substance. If you believe the rumour, won’t you see him with prejudice?”

“Prejudice…”

Adilak’s words pierced her heart like a sharp knife.

“Yeah. My mother heard a rumor that there was a gold mine at the southern estuary of the Patrosia Empire, when she visited it, it was full of trash, let alone gold bars…”

Citrina nodded moderately to Adilak’s long, long words.

‘Okay. If we see each other later, I’ll judge him when I meet him.’

At least on their last day, Desian, whom Citrina faced, was kind.

‘He definitely improved. I believe in my judgment.’

But to confirm her thoughts, should she go to the Duke of Pietro?

She doesn’t know if she’ll be able to meet him just because she went.

She closed her eyes, her mind in disarray.

The next day, she came across an unthinkable situation.

***

Leaving the fast asleep Adilak behind, Citrina headed for Datrin Street. It was the place where the atelier named ‘Citrina and Oslo’s Atelier’ was to be built.

“There’s a sign erected.”

With the renovation, the space has been remodeled, albeit small.

Datrin Street was a commercial district where various commercial activities took place. She heard that many jewelry shops are nesting there.

It will be an essential place for Citrina to search and inspect in order to set up the atelier and to obtain information about the gem mine.

She headed for Datrin Street.

Colorful signboards, beautiful statues, fountains in the middle of the street, and perfectly painted marble buildings.

Citrina looked around in small admiration.

However, she felt a little uncomfortable.

‘Has it been four years? But something’s weird.’

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