Sign Marigold. (3)

‘It can’t be.’

It wouldn’t be.

Lancel denied it this time. No matter how unpredictable Marigold was, there was no way she could have become the leader of a Bandit in just two years.

Lancel composed himself and tried to enjoy the Harvest Festival again.

But why?

Throughout the festival, Lancel couldn’t focus on the sweet scent of the Fruit wine, the sizzling meat, the dances and music in the fields, or anything else.

It was only when a shadow loitering in front of the notice board appeared before his eyes in the middle of the night that he finally resigned himself.

“Ugh, how many did they put up?”

The nineteen-year-old Marigold, grumbling as she tore down her own wanted poster, was there.

‘I knew it.’

Lancel picked up a wooden stick from the ground and tapped her on the head with it.

“Got you, Bandit leader.”

“Eek!”

She instantly moved about five steps away before falling to the ground.

“Ouch!”

Lancel matched his eye level with Marigold, who was sitting down while clutching her nose.

“The bounty must be pretty sweet, Bandit leader Marigold.”

“T-That’s not it, I’m innocent, it’s all a frame-up, I haven’t done anything bad, I’m just a poor person, please save m— Huh?”

Marigold, who had been muttering with her eyes tightly closed, met his gaze.

“……”

“Aren’t you going to make some excuses?”

She had a blank look on her face and didn’t react at all.

Every time he tapped between her eyebrows with his finger, she would just blink without saying a word.

“Benefactor… Darling?”

Tears like chicken droppings began to fall from Marigold’s eyes.

6.

“Sniff, sniffle, gulp.”

Lancel moved to a nearby inn and waited for Marigold to calm down after she had clung to him and shed tears for a long time.

“Why do I always reunite with Darling in such a state?”

“That’s what I want to say. Why is your life always hanging by a thread every time I see you?”

At this point, it was more surprising that she was still alive.

“Stop crying and tell me what’s going on. Before I drag you to the guards and exchange you for 25 gold coins, you Bandit leader.”

“I-It’s a frame-up! Baron Bake, that, that bad man took my money and framed me!”

“What are you talking about?”

“While taking over the Trading Company, the right to receive the debt came along, but it was Baron Bake and the Trading Company’s scheme, and I was framed as a Bandit without knowing anything…!”

“Explain it step by step.”

Lancel wiped away the sweat as the story poured out like a waterfall in a trembling voice.

Marigold gulped down a glass of cold water to calm herself, then opened her mouth again.

“I made a lot of money a year ago thanks to luck. It was about taking over a shipwreck, but, ah, you don’t need to know about this…!”

She didn’t invest in a pirate ship again, did she? Lancel’s eyes sharpened, and Marigold quickly changed the subject.

“After spending time at the Trading Company, I realized that I had to become the Trading Company owner to make money.”

“The commission you earn just by sitting is quite good.”

“That’s right! That’s right, Darling!”

Marigold’s face brightened as soon as she received sympathy, but her expression soon darkened.

“So, when I heard that a famous Trading Company in this area was being sold as a whole, I bought it.”

“For how much?”

“25 gold coins…”

Coincidentally, it was exactly Marigold’s bounty.

“And while doing so, I also took over the right to receive 150 gold coins from… Baron Bake.”

“So Baron Bake framed your Trading Company as a Bandit?”

“Yes! That’s it! Darling, you, you believe me, right?”

“……”

“You believe… me, right…?”

Lancel was actually sensing it.

From the moment Marigold was suddenly framed as a Bandit leader, he had a rough idea of what it would be like.

‘If you get rid of the creditor, the debt disappears.’

Having lived in this world for hundreds of years, the behavior and tricks of the nobles he had seen and heard directly did not stop at just this level.

Being a Bandit is a good excuse to attach in many ways in this era. Close neighbors, one’s grudges, armies of other countries, just people who are annoying, etc. It was a name that followed everywhere if it seemed plausible.

This was because it was common to just grab anyone, cut off their heads, and hang them up, assuming they were a Bandit without hearing the whole story.

“Darling…”

“Wipe your face first.”

“Mmph!”

Lancel wiped Marigold’s wet face with a handkerchief.

“Do you have the debt document?”

“Yes, yes!”

Marigold, accepting his response as trust, rummaged through her clothes.

Soon, she took out a well-rolled parchment document.

“Here…!”

“I brought food.”

It was then.

The door to the inn began to open without a knock. Lancel quickly pushed Marigold’s head into his robe to hide her.

A short scream echoed from inside the robe. The maid opened the door at exactly that moment.

“…What are you doing?”

The maid looked at Lancel with strange eyes as he was hurriedly tidying up the overturned water glass.

“It’s nothing. Just leave it there.”

Lancel answered while pushing Marigold, who was fidgeting inside his robe, deeper inside.

“Y-Yes…”

Suspicious eyes.

“Is there anything else you need?”

-Sniff sniff.

He grabbed the nape of the neck of the girl who was suddenly smelling from inside his robe and gently pulled her away.

“I’ll tell you when I think of something.”

“The bath service will be ready soon, so just let me know anytime.”

The maid retreated and the door closed.

Only after hearing the footsteps completely fade away did Lancel take out what was in his arms.

Marigold, whose face was full of heat while trapped inside the thick robe, came out.

I think she was resisting coming out for a moment. It must be my imagination.

“Anyway.”

“……Yes!”

He snatched the debt document from the girl who was startled.

“All I have to do is receive this money, right?”

“I-Is that possible?”

“Of course, there’s a way. I’m a noble, after all.”

If I use the Family’s power.

“I’ve come to collect the debt.”

On a spring morning, Lancel went to Baron Bake’s castle.

“I’ve come to collect the 150 gold coins that Baron Bake borrowed. Please open the gate.”

He shouted in front of the wooden palisade for a long time. Soldiers peeked their heads out.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from Mary’s Trading Company.”

“Mary’s Trading Company? Was there such a Trading Company?”

“Baron Bake will know if he hears it.”

“Wait a moment.”

The soldier who disappeared returned not long after. He was holding a bow in his hand. The gate opened and the guards hurriedly chased after him.

“Catch that Bandit!”

“How dare a Bandit shamelessly come to ask for money!”

Lancel quickly spurred his horse and ran away. Several arrows whizzed past him, creating a whistling sound.

“Baron Bake! You made a mistake!”

7.

“That’s what happened.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Lancel, who had visited his hometown, the Dante Family, after a long time, told them what had happened.

Next to him was Marigold, who was restless and kept rolling her eyes around, as if she was uncomfortable in this place.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve brought her home.

“So.”

Viscount Dante began, a deep furrow in his brow.

“You invested money in this Trading Company owner named Mary, and Baron Bake, who was in debt to her, framed this woman as a Bandit? Including you? Not only did he refuse to let you in, but he even threatened you by shooting arrows?”

“You understand quickly. As expected of my Hyung. If the arrows had been a little more accurate, what would have happened to me by now? Imagine it.”

“I would have said it serves you right.”

His mother, Lady Dante, who was across from him, rubbed her forehead.

“I thought you were finally going to get married since you brought a woman, but why are you such a troublemaker unlike your Hyung?”

“A free spirit…”

“Free my foot!”

Marigold flinched at the venomous shout.

“That’s enough.”

Viscount Dante opened his mouth after much deliberation.

“Baron Bake wouldn’t have done that without a reason, you rascal. In my opinion, you must have done something bad. You’re the worst for creating grudges for no reason.”

“You’re being too harsh on your son.”

“Shut up…”

Viscount Dante waved his hand, as if he had a headache.

No matter how justified he was, he wanted to avoid conflicts between nobles.

“That’s enough. Just consider it money lost and forget about it. I’ll send a messenger to clear up the misunderstanding. Then he’ll offer a small token of his sincerity.”

“It’s 150.”

“……”

“Gold coins.”

“……”

“Just the principal.”

“……!”

Viscount Dante jumped up from his seat.

“Who is Baron Bake under?”

“Marquis Chalais, I heard. He’s a reasonable person.”

“Prepare yourselves.”

Viscount Dante began to dress. His wife shook her head next to him.

“Let’s go get the money quickly. Mary, was it?”

“Yes, yes! Viscount Dante!”

“Lead the way.”

.

.

.

“That damned Baron Bake, who dared to frame my precious son as a Bandit and threaten him, come crawling out of the castle right now!”

The thunderous voice echoed throughout Baron Bake’s castle.

From the soldiers to the residents of the territory, everyone watched the uninvited guests with tense eyes.

In the fields after the Harvest Festival, under the clear sky, an untimely group of cavalrymen had gathered, fully armed.

The guards who were protecting the village couldn’t even think of stopping them. As soon as they faced the aura of a traditional knight Family, the guards, who were at the level of a militia, could only fluster and make way. Baron Bake’s castle, which was just a rural territory, was not an opponent they could handle.

“Baron Bake! Can’t you hear me! Come crawling out right now! Or do I have to open the gate myself to feel better!”

Not long after, the gate of the castle opened.

“Huff huff!”

“You’re finally coming out.”

A pot-bellied middle-aged man with sweat dripping down his back ran out in a hurry. It was Baron Bake.

“W-Why would the highly esteemed Viscount Dante come to such a humble countryside…?”

“You shot an arrow at my son, and you’re still pretending not to know?”

“A-Are you talking about your son?”

“Yes. Can’t you remember this guy’s face?”

His finger pointed at Lancel.

Baron Bake’s eyes passed him and went to the woman riding in front of Lancel.

“Mary, you, you bitch…!”

Mary gave him a smug smile as he gaped in shock. Her face seemed to feel that she had a powerful army behind her.

“Please return my money quickly!”

“Y-You damn bitch…!”

“Watch your language, Baron Bake.”

Lancel cut him off.

“Mary’s Trading Company owner is a member of our Dante Family. All the words and actions you have done to the Trading Company owner are no different from those directed at our Family.”

“……”

The spirit in Baron Bake’s eyes was broken. The law of this world was to be strong against the weak.

“Well, then.”

A smile appeared on Viscount Dante’s face.

“Shall we go inside and settle the accounts thoroughly?”

“W-Wait, we, we don’t have that much money either, Viscount Dante. If you give us a little time, we’ll definitely pay in installments…!”

“What are you talking about?”

Viscount Dante looked around. He slowly took in the scenery of the vast Baron Bake’s castle.

“Don’t you have land?”

“……!”

Despair washed over Baron Bake’s eyes.

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.

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—Sudden event success! According to the interest rate (35%) in the debt contract, you have obtained ’30 gold coins’, ‘30% of the area of Baron Bake’s castle’, and ‘2 forests for hunting’! The success of Mary’s Trading Company starts now!

※50% of the shares of Mary’s Trading Company have been transferred to the Dante Family. It’s a bit disappointing, but having a partner is reassuring! (Charm, Sexiness, Sensitivity, Stamina UP!!)

※Mary’s Trading Company is hiring employees from today! The first recruitment quota is ‘100 people’! (Charm, Elegance, Sexiness UP!!)

==========

Started in the frontier.

A Trading Company with a suspiciously large amount of money.

It was the moment when ‘Mary’s Trading Company’ was officially launched.