chapter 38

-What’s wrong, Citrina?

Gemma asked cautiously.

-In my original memory… There was also a remote alley here, but now, it’s so clean.

The former Citrina often came in and out of here to sell some of the Baron’s belongings. There was a memory of rats wandering around in the back alley.

Now, even those alleys were clean, and the streets where patrols roamed were quiet.

Citrina smiled in her head.

-For now… First of all……let’s take a good look at what’s in fashion these days. I’ll show you a lot of jewelry.

-Okay!

Citrina walked around Dartrin Street and gathered some pretty useful information. It was all thanks to a merchant in front of Datrin Street.

The merchant who introduced himself as Jeffrey knows a lot of rumours that were quite useful than she thought.

She looked at the jewelry display case and seemed very happy with what she heard.

“I think the streets have become a lot cleaner.”

“Yes, it is. Whoo-hoo.”

He didn’t say much. Citrina looked up and looked at him. The man smiled as he added more explanation.

“The duke helped this peasant once! It was a great deal!”

Duke?

If it’s the duke of the empire, then…

“Yes. The Duke of Pietro. The Duke of Pietro gave his full support in this area. All of this area was cleaned and signboards were erected. The alley was also cleaned up.”

“You must be happy.”

“I really am happy. I don’t know why it happened, but I’m very happy.”

Gemma was also looking at the jewelries with sparkling eyes.

“He’s even supporting me.”

‘It was a project sponsored run by the Duke of Pietro. Come to think of it, who was it that became the Duke of Pietro?’

The merchant who heard Citrina’s words said with a big smile.

“Yeah. I heard that it’s not only our street that was supported, but also Elent Jewel Street and Faen Street were sponsored. Thanks to them, everyone has their mouths in their ears these days. Haha”

“That’s a great thing.”

She had a subtle smile on her, but Citrina’s mind was in a turmoil.

The contents of the book must have changed, and she had no knowledge of the changed course. So she had no choice but to ask other people.

‘Who is the current Duke of Pietro’, if she asks directly, she won’t get any answer. Since it’s a question only known by high-ranking nobles. So Citrina decided to inquire about rumors regarding the duke.

“I think Sir Pietro is a good person.”

However, at the end of her sentence, the merchant closed his mouth tightly.

“I’m not sure about that either. I can’t say anything about high-ranking nobles.”

Citrina bit her lips.

What does it mean exactly when you have good faith in the Duke of Pietro, but can’t say that the Duke was a good person?

Citrina, who had come to this conclusion, asked the merchant who was looking straight in her eyes.

“Is there any problem?”

“Not at all.”

A pair of eyes avoided hers. Even his voice was crooked.

There’s definitely something here…

There seemed to be nothing more to dig. Thinking it’s better to shut one’s mouth.

Citrina bowed her head and said her thanks.

It would take a few days for the weakened Adilak to recover and for the reconstruction of the atelier to be completed. So she had to do what she had promised to Olso.

The next day, Citrina wrote a letter. The recipient was Count Haley.

It was a letter as Oslo’s representative, containing the information about signing a mining contract and asking for help to inspect the land for him.

The way of obtaining sponsorship was sure to be smooth. It was the perfect opportunity to announce that she was the disciple of Oslo, and present the contract.

In fact, there were few spirits in this world, and even more rare were alchemy that was done by a spirit. So, she had to reveal it at the time with the greatest impact.

-Citrina, have you finished writing the letter? People are coming.

-People are coming?

-Un!

As soon as Gemma finished speaking, Citrina heard footsteps. The footsteps slowly approached from outside the door.

Citrina glanced at the bedroom door that was firmly closed. Adilak had been sleeping around the clock to make up for the lost sleep.

-Are they Adilak’s family?

-I don’t think that’s it, Citrina!

*knock, knock*

A knock was heard outside the door.

“Yes, coming.”

Citrina opened the door after making eye contact with Gemma. The man in front of her was in a uniform of a knight.

“Lady Citrina Foluin, right?”

“… Who are you?”

When she heard the man said Foluin, she hardened her face.

‘Not the Baron, Baroness nor Elena know of her whereabouts. There’s no way they know she’s back in the capital… Why is he looking for me? What’s going on?’

No one was looking for Citrina. The Baron family would be the one at best. There was no reason to send a knight from Baron Foluin. He wasn’t exactly in a position to hire a knight.

“This is the first time we’ve met. I am the Vice Captain of the Spear Knights in the Imperial Palace, Arte Pianan.”

His introduction was pretty neat and clear, Citrina thought.

She remembered hearing about the Knights of Spear. It was a spear-wielding unit, an elite military force in the Imperial Palace.

He was a person who became the vice president of such a place.

Originally, Citrina was not a qualified person to meet such kind of person.

Such a man… Why did he meet her?

“Can you prove your identity to me?”

“I have brought my Knight’s medallion.”

The man shook the round jewel through a small opening of the open door. The blue fluorite sparkled like a burning fire.

However, it was the sword placed next to his hand that took Citrina’s attention. She could recognize the sword at a glance.

“That’s… It is a sword made by a dwarf.”

“… Oh yes, that’s right.”

The man readily agreed. His face was full of pride as a man with a sword made by a dwarf.

‘That’s my own sword.’

So that sword went to that person.

Her vigilance quickly diminished.

Looking at Arte, Citrina opened the door a lot wider.

Arte entered through the open door. With steady steps, the man who walked to her living room smiled and bowed his head.

“This is our first meeting.”

“… Yes.”

Having delivered a stiff reply, Citrina slowly grabbed the sides of her dress and bends her knees. It was a simple courtesy to his greeting.

“I came to give you an invitation.”

“Invitation?”

“Yes. This is an invitation to a summer ball at the Lection Pavilion.”

The knight gave her the invitation. It wasn’t a courtesy a knight would show to his lady, but it was still a very polite attitude.

He didn’t have to. Besides, the weight of this…

“I’m invited…”

As she accepted the invitation, Citrina tilted her head. No matter how much she thinks about it, she can’t understand it.

The summer ball at the Lection Pavilion was a place for high-ranking nobles. Citrina Foluin was a young lady of a baron house, and although this is the case, the name was virtually unknown.

This is an uncommon situation.

Citrina quickly pursed her lips. There’s no way someone would trip her since she is still at the bottom of the pyramid.

But she still needs to deal with this seriously as this may still possibly be a trap.

Citrina asked carefully, “… Who was the invitation from?”

The knight’s face stiffened a little. As Citrina faced him, the words that came out from the knight’s mouth were unexpected.

“His Majesty sent it directly.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes, that is so.”

Citrina glanced at the knight’s face. He doesn’t seem to be telling a lie. It would be a felony punishable by the royal family.

Arte was met with Citrina’s mysterious gaze.

He was unskilled with managing his facial expressions. He, too, did not know why he had to come to this townhouse. He said with a vague look.

“As his majesty’s knight, I just follow orders.”

“I understand, sir.”

An invitation to the Lection Pavilion came to Citrina, who was just a young lady from a baron’s house.

Citrina smoothly hid her embarrassed expression. She does not dare become an aristocrat who doubts the Emperor’s intentions.

“The dress and accessories will arrive soon.”

“Is that also from His Majesty?”

Arte’s gaze strangely avoided her. He spoke without affirming her previous question.

“I don’t think it’s a question I can answer, Lady Citrina.”

“… What could you possibly mean? I’m very curious.”

Citrina’s gaze looked at him.

“I’m curious…”

There was tension in the air.

However, it was easily broken by the knight’s next words.

“I’ll go back now. When it’s time to go to Lection Pavilion, I’ll come and escort you.”

Arte bowed his head with a troubled face. It was hard to speak out in a hurry, as if he couldn’t speak anymore.

*Bang*

The door closed.

Long after the door closed, Citrina slowly opened the rat invitation in her hand.

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