Chapter 2: What’s the amulet price? (1)
The Kingdom of Proren had a vast granary area, as 20% of the continent possessed the grain production by extensive plains, constant precipitation, and gentle daily temperature range.
Due to this, the Kingdom had always suffered from threats of looting and war, but the important thing was that the Kingdom of Proren was also quite famous for their military power.
Countries located in the center of the continent were unable to avoid the damage of war that swept the continent 30 years ago, but the Kingdom of Proren was different.
There was no case where people starved to death even if the gate was locked and the country's borders were closed. Secure military forces could still confidently carry out a castle defense even if they declared neutrality.
As such, the Kingdom of Proren was facing a peaceful era at times of war, and the mighty Empire was split up, and in the end, it was difficult to find its name.
But not all territories were like that, even in the wealthy Proren Kingdom.
There was a noble family in the Kingdom of Proren, named Robinheartz, who had not been able to establish their position and even keep their territory in a dignified manner.
Among them, the youngest daughter of the Robinheartz family was a very famous figure, but her behavior was bizarre, even though her outstanding looks were second to none.
Once she was out to earn money for her low-income family, she used to stay out for three to four days, but whenever she came back, she brought back quite a lot of money.
People doubted her behavior, and there were suspicions that the aristocrats' daughter did something that shouldn't be done.
But Julia revealed what she was doing herself, and that was enough to shock them.
"So, Miss Julia. Is my husband really here?"
"I told you so! Ma'am, you're talking about the Mister who got sick two years ago and died, right?"
"Oh my, you're right. How come?"
"He's still in pain behind you. That's why you should hurry and send him away."
"Oh, how can I send him away?"
Julia grinned as she looked at her anxious eyes.
"If you take this home and stick it on, he'll go on his way. Then, you won't have to worry about your children being sick at home like they are now!"
When she handed over the strange-looking paper, her doubtful eyes looked at Julia again.
Julia spoke while pointing at the amulet on the woman's hand.
"It works very well. You don't believe me, do you?"
The woman immediately shook her head while looking at Julia with her eyes slightly slanted. Julia smiled at her. Her red, wavy hair matched her red eyes very well.
"This time, Count Hergetz told me that after he took the amulet, he no longer had nightmares and had no discord in his family. Don't tell me you haven't heard that news yet?"
It was famous in this neighborhood. When Julia visited Count Hergetz, who had been lying sick on his bed in his troubled household, and handed over the talisman to him, everyone knew that his illness and all the bad things in the family disappeared.
"It's the talisman from that time. You know, right?"
"R- really?"
This time, her eyes were full of anticipation. Julia pulled her red lips together and smiled. Then, the woman bowed her head as if she was grateful and took a large pocket out of her arms and handed it to Julia.
"Is this enough?"
Julia's eyes glistened slightly. Julia snatched the pocket from the woman's hand, looked inside, and soon made a sour face.
Julia handed over her pocket again and stretched out as if asking for the amulet back, and the woman, startled, took a paper from her arms.
Julia glanced at the paper and smiled contentedly.
"You have to come out like this."
Blank checks were always good. Anyway.
"Anyway, thank you, Ma'am."
Standing up with a bright smile, Julia took the pocket and the check, then left home after putting them in her arms.
Her knight escort, Patrick, who followed Julia, quietly opened his mouth beside her as she walked.
"But, is it true, Miss?"
"What?"
"That her husband, who died because of sickness, was still staying there."
"Ah…"
Julia glanced at his face, opened her mouth slightly, and shook her head. Patrick creased his forehead slightly.
"A lie?"
"Rather than a lie, it wasn't a fact. It's just that he can't go because he has resentment."
"Resentment, you say?"
"Isn't it obvious that his wife poisoned him?"
"P- poisoned?"
Patrick's eyes opened widely at the words that came out of her mouth. Then Julia looked at him strangely.
"It's the rumor going around here. When the primary owner died, his wife took a great fortune. I've also heard rumors that his wife cheated on him. Look. How much money do you have to give me this blank check?"
The fluttering blank checks didn't suit her very well. It was because Julia, who was just a little over 20 years old, still looked younger than me.
"Well, that's how we're able to get paid this much. Then it's all set."
"…But if you keep doing this, your life will be in danger. And you're old enough to think about getting married."
"Getting married?"
She was sick and tired of it. Julia, who was muttering, looked back at Patrick and spoke.
"I'm not getting married. I haven't even been in a relationship yet, how can I get married? No way! Never!"
*
"Julia. This is the Duke of Ephesia. Say hello."
"The Duke of… Ephesia??"
Julia looked up at the man standing in front of her. A magical blue hair and blue eyes with a white glow. He was a handsome man with an excellent image. Everything about him was bright. His white skin also added an attractive vibe.
But it didn't matter to Julia right now. Julia tilted her head, looking at the sudden visitor in wonder.
A figure suddenly came to mind beyond her memory. The successor of the Commander-in-Chief Duke of Ephesia, and the one who would inherit the Duke's throne this year.
"What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Julia looked at him with a wary look. Julia's family was exceptionally poor even though they had a viscount title because Julia's parents believed in people too quickly.
Because of that, it had been more than once that they had been deceived, so she would never trust such a sudden visitor. As a result, wariness was the first thing that greeted the guest.
"What do you mean, what? It means you don't have to go around doing those things anymore."
Julia's eyebrows were slightly distorted as she glanced at the pocket of gold coins on the table.
"Long time no see, Julia."
"Ju- Julia?"
She looked at the man who comfortably called her by her name with surprised eyes.
"When did we meet? You said, long time no see."
The man gave a gorgeous smile. His white lined teeth were so beautiful as if to prove his attractiveness.
"It seems like you said that, too, at that time."
"That time…?"
Julia looked him in the eye vacantly. A familiar face. Familiar lips. Familiar voice. The gap between her eyebrows narrowed. Then a piece of memory flashed through her mind.
'There are lots of evil spirits hanging on you—so many. You must be guilty of something, but if you keep living like that, you will die young. So take this amulet and keep it in your arms. You get me, right?'
It reminded her of a vivid memory. And those blue eyes that looked at her interestingly. Julia's eyes slid down.
Then the man took out a small red pocket from his arms and soon pulled out a talisman. Julia's expression became strange.
'Then I can live if I have it in my arms, or something?'
'Of course. Well, you can take it and go!'
'How much is it?'
'What do you mean how much? You look like you have a lot of money, so you can give me something you think is worth your life!'
Her confident self shouted proudly with a grin on her face.
'I don't have anything with me right now, so let's meet soon.'
'No! Give it to me now, now!'
'Now…'
The man was thinking for a moment and soon took a blank check out of his arms, handed it to her, and then spoke.
'This is a prepayment.'
'Pre… payment?'
The blank check, a symbol of enormous wealth that has no limits in the amount, valued as far as one can reach, was offered as a prepayment. Julia's lips widened.
'If this talisman really works, I'll come back with the rest of the money.'
'Really?'
'Yes. That's why accept it for now.'
Julia's point of view shifted back to the man as she remembered her smiling face after receiving the man's blank check that was given without hesitation.
"Ah! The prepayment at that time?"
"…It seems like I told you my name as well."
"I met so many people… but I didn't know you were the Duke of Ephesia."
"It was before I was given the Duke's throne."
"Ah… Right."
He was the young Commander-in-Chief and the Duke of Ephesia family, which had recently become an issue and had always been people's talk.
Julia nodded her head, and she looked at him with gleaming eyes.
"How is it? Have you seen any of the amulet's effects?"
"Of course. It's excellent. I don't have any nightmares, and I like it very much."
"Is that so? Then did you come here to pay the rest of the payment? It's worth your life, so please be generous."
Julia smiled widely. What's there to hate when he came to give her money? The wary mind disappeared, and the man looked at Julia's hand that was stretched out as if she was asking for money then spoke softly.
"Right. I should pay for it."
Julia looked at him, who suddenly held her hand and bent over. The elegant pose and classy behavior made him more gleaming.
But a strange feeling. Strange atmosphere. The pose that she had been seeing a lot somewhere…
"My name is Rio Sirius Ephesia. The Duke of Ephesia and the current Commander-in-Chief of the Proren Kingdom."
His eyes opened slightly and looked at Julia. The corners of his mouth slid up a little. And finally, the climax was his lips touching Julia's hand.
"Will you marry me?"
"…"
The man, no, what came out from Rio's mouth was like a bolt out of the blue, and Julia, who was staring at him, slowly opened her mouth without control.
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