The two continued their stroll through the academy grounds. Eros didn’t bother asking about the "unfinished business" Undine had mentioned earlier. He knew perfectly well there was no such business—it was just a clumsy excuse to drag him away.
After wandering for a while longer, Eros and Undine returned to their private villa within the academy.
Before long, a knock sounded at the door. Eros was surprised; who would be looking for him at this hour? Joanie?
When he opened the door and saw the sea-blue uniform, his eyebrows shot up. It was the Captain of the Punisher team. Has the investigation already yielded results?
As expected, the Captain was there specifically for that matter. Upon hearing the findings, Eros’s expression became... complicated. He truly hadn't expected the motive to be so utterly absurd.
The Captain looked at Eros, a trace of amusement on his face. "The situation is quite simple. The reason Baron Larry Watt attempted to frame you was that he discovered his fiancée, Miss Siphreya, seems to be quite fond of you."
"Earlier, when you were sparring with those two ladies at the training grounds, his fiancée was watching you the entire time, completely ignoring him. Driven by a sudden surge of jealousy and malice while you were battling the monster, he acted on impulse."
"After learning the facts, we contacted the Punisher team in Indiles, who informed Viscount West. Upon hearing of his son's actions, the Viscount offered a settlement to seek your forgiveness: 200,000 Gold Pounds in cash, two manors outside Indiles with a combined value exceeding 60,000 Gold Pounds, and a garment factory in the West District of the outer city."
The Captain couldn't help but let out a whistle of amazement. His own annual salary was only 520 Gold Pounds—a sum that already allowed him to live a very respectable life in the imperial capital. The Viscount’s peace offering was staggering. These nobles are truly loaded!
Siphreya Uriel Kenfeld! The daughter of Viscount Kenfeld. Eros knew her; she was also a classmate. He just hadn't expected the drama to take such a turn. Alas, my damn, inescapable charm...
However, the settlement was indeed generous. The total value was nearly 300,000 Gold Pounds. From what Eros knew, this likely represented a full third of the West family’s total assets. Having lost a third of his inheritance in one go, one could only imagine Larry Watt being "hung up and beaten" upon his return. Whether he’d be hung from the front gates or the ceiling remained to be seen.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Eros’s lips curled slightly as he nodded. "I can accept his apology. As for the transfer of assets and the factory, since my mother, Estelle, is currently not in Indiles, please have him contact my eldest brother, Lord Micheal, to handle the paperwork."
The Punisher Captain nodded. "Then I won’t disturb you further." He gave a polite salute and turned to leave.
Eros saw him out before returning to the hall. More pocket money. How delightful.
He had done his research long ago. 1 Gold Pound in the Holy Chris Empire was roughly equivalent to 1,000 "RMB" from his previous world. In other words, he had just pocketed the equivalent of 300 million? Fantastic. If there are more 'good brothers' like Larry, please send them my way.
In the living room, Undine sat on the sofa, her beautiful eyes blinking as she watched Eros’s good mood. She wasn't interested in the wealth; she was focused on something else.
"Is Mother not in Indiles right now?"
Eros nodded casually. "A few days ago, she took two Temple Guards to escort the Ancestor’s fragment back to the clan."
Undine gave a small "oh" and fell silent. They stayed in the villa until dinner time approached. Eros told Undine to head to the dining hall first, then he made his way with a jaunty step to Ayesha’s dormitory and hauled her out.
Haven’t fed her in days; can’t let her get too thin.
Beneath the "Thomas" mask, Ayesha’s face was the picture of despair. She had thought about hiding, but as a "commoner’s son," she couldn't exactly disobey the summons of a top-tier imperial noble. It would be a massive breach of her persona.
So, for the sake of the mission and her cover, she had to endure the humiliation of daily meals and being "hand-fed" by this pervert.
Eros, of course, could see right through the disguise to her miserable expression. A sudden surge of dark humor washed over him. He looked at the red-haired girl trailing behind him and said with a playful glint in his eyes:
"Hey, brother... how about coming over to my place tonight?"
Ayesha’s body gave a violent shudder. Terror flooded her face. A "homosexual" inviting you over at night had only one implication.
Seeing her stiffen in fear, Eros suppressed his laughter and put on a look of feigned disappointment. "Well, if you're unwilling, then forget it."
Ayesha’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled back down. The tension had been so extreme that she now felt a wave of exhaustion. If he had insisted, she wouldn't have known what to do. Her persona dictated that she couldn't refuse a Prince.
If he had been more forceful, she would have had only two choices:
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Refuse him, which would likely enrage him and lead to him using force. She would have to fight back, exposing her identity, failing the mission, and likely getting captured and locked in a Church containment cell.
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Agree, hoping he wouldn't see through the disguise, and then... sell her "backside" for the sake of the mission.
Ayesha suddenly missed her mother terribly. This mission was far too dangerous. She had considered giving up, but that Sealed Artifact was of paramount importance to her organization. If they didn't get it now, before the academy transferred it to a major Cathedral, they would never have another chance.
Thank the Goddess he gave up. Thank the Goddess!