FOR A PERFECT YOUNG MISS (8)
Raw provider: Tsalispark
Translator: Rhyme_Bean
Editor: SilverAndGold
Truth be told, she hadn’t expected things to work out this easily. But Beth never expected it to succeed in the first try.
Beth wove different plans and stacked them up in her brain. Seeing these noble ladies’ relations fissure just because of a missing invitation, it could be deciphered that there was no honest friendship among them, where one could speak up about what was on their mind.
In the future, just don’t grow up like them, the rest is all good.
Beth wished Claire would not grow up like those noble ladies. No, if she is to grow up and become a villainess, though she won’t have any real friends, it was for sure that Beth would do her best to assist Claire, so the chances for her to become like them were very low. Also, if Claire was to make a bunch of friends, the chances for her to take the route to a Villainess would certainly be lowered. In other words, Claire needed to make friends.
What she needs is not ‘just’ friends. A real friend who would put you before status or gains. Such friends are difficult to obtain even in my previous world.
Was it because they were noble ladies? As she thought about it more and reminisced about her previous life she realized that this was not the case. In her previous world too, it was difficult to have an honest friend. Though she was not sure about others.
It was way too easy to lie. To tell the truth, it was full of loopholes, and she didn’t even do much, but everything worked out this easily. Was it okay for her to eat for free?
She felt doubtful. However, the world she saw and lived in was a materialist world in the first place, so she decided to leave it as it is and move on.
Eh?
But in between, she felt another element of doubt. Does this world come first? Or the novel? If not, is it the original manhwa in the novel?
A frown formed between her eyebrows. Warm but a somewhat uneven emotion was suppressed in those eyes.
She heard a soft voice, “Don’t frown.”
A mug of steaming hot lemon tea was held out towards her. A guy with amazing looks that matched the aromatic green tea was seated before her.
“James.”
When Beth saw the blue hair, it reminded her of the blue lemonade from the convenience store. A long time ago, she had once bought it, as she wondered whether it tasted any different from the usual lemonade.
It tasted just like the usual lemonade….. Pink lemonade was also the same. If that’s the case, then why the hell do they sell in different colors?
Thinking that it might be because it’s sold in the convenience store, Beth shook her head. But there can also be another possibility. The possibility of her being obstinate. Beth stopped here and leaned her head slightly and slowly blew the hot lemon tea.
“What were you thinking so deeply about?”
“It was just some useless things, don’t mind it.”
“It will be I who will decide its worth.”
“Since it’s my thoughts, it’s up to me to decide its worth.” Frankly, speaking her thoughts on why the blue lemonade is blue, was really worthless.
The place of their meeting was among one of the buildings in the vicinity of Earl mansion. According to his character it was natural for him to ask her to meet him secretly, and now it seemed like he was also considerate to Beth’s situation as a servant who couldn’t stray away far from the perimeter of the mansion.
Though he talked in his usual twisted manner, when Beth saw him greet her when they met, made her lemon tea on his own, and felt her cold hands and was curious of her random thoughts, Beth was certain.
James trusted her and was suspicious of her at the same time. He believed that Beth had her hands on the information that even his guild was unable to obtain, there was also an indescribable distrust as he was unable to find where she got all this information.
It was natural for him to have some distrust. James’s character was good at hiding his emotions, but from the point of view of Beth who was very much fond of this novel, she was apparent on what he would do at what point of time.
“James.”
“What?”
“Next time don’t brew tea. It tastes horrible.”
“.………”
It was just like she said. It was true that he didn’t have any talent in brewing tea. There is no one that is perfect and he had flaws in his personality. And now it seemed that James has more flaws other than just character.
Contrary to the shabby looking exterior of the building, the interior was splendid. James, who sat on the fancy, long red sofa, with one hand supporting his chin and a mug on the other hand, slowly put down the mug and said in a haughty tone.
“I decided to trust you.”
“Didn’t you already say it in the letter?”
He even wrote when and where to meet. Did he forget that? If he really did forget, then this building would have been empty……. Beth looked at James dumbfounded.
“I did some investigation after sending that letter. That whether you are plotting something.”
“Hmm, then if I really did plot something and after further investigation, you find that I am a spy from a foreign country, or an illegitimate bastard of royalty or conspiring a grand coup d’etat with some corrupted aristocrat, were you planning to hand me over to the kingdom to gain a better position for yourself or were you thinking of getting a better connection for Brian-nim?”
“Wait…..”
“If that’s not the case, then in order to get the other information I hold, do you want to lock me up in some unknown or remote place, completely cutting off from the outside world either to brainwash or to torture?”
James felt his head hurt when he saw Beth expressionlessly spit out words that could be said either by a frantic or a savage. Of course, it was not that he didn’t have such thoughts even for once – though he had never sold out someone in reality.
“If you continue to give me such ideas, I will become eager to do it.”
“I was joking.”
Even when they met for the first time, this woman’s tongue was so hateful. But one day out of the blue moon, she also laughed arrogantly as if she held the upper hand. James gestured to Beth to stop and opened his mouth, “This time I will give you some information rather than receiving what I want from you.”
“Is that ok?”
There was nothing free in this world? Beth looked at James with doubtful eyes. James, who knew what she was thinking, chuckled and said, “Didn’t I receive a payment in advance? That the Crown prince will fall from the horse.”
Also in addition to that, Beth disclosed such high-level information, James advised not to say it out carelessly even if it was to bait him.
Was that such high-level information? Though it can be shocking news from the point of view of citizens even to give them a heart-attack, but according to Beth, it was not of any use. Though it was the nearest to her among the small but events of great importance, it was also useless.
“Since I received some advance payment, it is not acceptable to just receive information without giving.”
After considering all the odds and ends of his words, without further asking him where he used it, Beth just nodded her head. James understood the meaning behind her consent and only then did he come to the main point.
“You can ask for anything. If the information is not within the guild, I will find it out for you.”
“‘Anything’…….. Do you have enough confidence to find me whatever I want?”
“I only came to you because I am confident that I can find whatever you seek for.”
He was speaking the truth. If there was something that even James was unable to find, then, the belief of the whole of Inomore, Diarman will be the only one to know it.
Though she was an atheist, Beth knew from the novel that he was an excellent information dealer. So Beth opened up the information regarding the person she wanted to find.
“There used to be a boy with rosy brown hair and green eyes. He looked very pretty….. His name used to be Aiden.”
“Brown hair and green eyes? Did you have a brother?”
“Probably an only child.”
“What, probably?”
“Because I cut my ties with my family.”
“.……..”
She had many siblings. Beth was not a transmigrator in the first place. She just remembered her previous world on the brink of her death. Even so, strangely she felt her last life was more clearer than her current. The more she tried to remember the memories as Beth, it became more blurry. As if someone was obstructing her.
It is weird.
Maybe 1 or two older sisters and an older brother and probably 3 younger siblings. She could be wrong about 1 or 2 as there were lots of members in the families of the village where she used to live, so if a child went missing, they could do nothing but just be confused.
James was unaware of Beth’s tranquil thoughts, as his expression turned more subtle. When he saw Beth who spoke in a composed tone about her cutting off her ties with her family, James as if he wanted to say something, opened then closed his mouth.
Her face looked blank. Though James said that he did some digging on her, however he tried, he couldn’t find from which village she really came from. Beth grew up in a mountain village, where she didn’t even know the name of the country she resided in.
Nowadays even commoners were allowed to read books. But our village was 100% illiterate.
It was something that she couldn’t help but find strange. Thinking so, Beth unconsciously took a sip of the awful lemon tea and her face became crumpled.
It was a taste that really made her experience it herself how creatively awful it was. The taste was so terrible that even her thoughts were left behind. James was well aware that Beth was not easy to show her emotion on her face, but now seeing her face crumpled up, clearly showed her emotions, James’ mood became subtle.
Was it so terrible? Beth pushed the mug as far as she could away from her in order not to drink it on habit and said. “I don’t know much other than that. I am also not sure if he is currently called by another name….. But he must know that he is Aiden. And within 2 years he will be sold in the Auction House.”
“Beth, it’s illegal to auction people.”
“I am aware of that. But it’s not the law which creates people, it’s the people who create law. And there are many that are good at utilizing it in the wrong way.”
If he was expected to be sold in the auction house within 2 years, then the scope was much shorter. But with only this much, it was still vague. With a frown he asked, “Nothing more? It’s that there are many with the name Aiden, and furthermore, brown hair and green eyes are too common.”
“For the most notorious information dealer of the country, this should be nothing,” Beth said as she stood up from her seat. She hurt his self-esteem without batting an eye. In a nonchalant manner she added, “I was just joking. You will know him as soon as you see him. He is too beautiful a child. You will know when you see.” Then, she left the room.
It was a deal that James usually never made. Till now he couldn’t say it even once. Unlike the current him, when he was insignificant, he was treated worse.
But after getting his current position, there had been many situations where those who had met with him in person would tremble with fear than to even face him and say out their conditions.
The maid of the Earl mansion, who came in a horse carriage all of a sudden, he really couldn’t understand what she was aiming for. A girl who is excellent at planning and putting these plans into practice.
Above all, a person who holds information that even he doesn’t know. James felt happy as he found a bountiful treasure.
* * *
Beth calmly returned to the Earl Mansion in a horse carriage arranged by James, but felt the garden side a bit bustling.
At first she ignored it and went forward to meet with Claire. But suddenly she wondered whether Claire was subjected to humiliation in her absence and fear crept in her all of a sudden. She decided to take a look at the garden for a moment.
If it’s Claire then I must get her out by any means, if she is not then I will just leave.
Though she was recognized as a young lady of the mansion long ago, Beth was the only one who stood up for her sake. Even the Guard was the result of much sophistry from Beth. Still, she felt relieved as there was at least a guard. Though Kedrick was assumed to be shallow, he was many times better than those who follow the Earl.
He seemed to be doing a much better job acting as Claire’ guard. Thanks to him, I feel much relieved.
If not for Kedrick, she would have needed to use the night time to go out and make her plans unlike now. Frequent night outs would only create unnecessary rumors or suspicion. Though she hadn’t yet experienced it, she was sure that it would be very annoying to do.
She carefully headed to the garden as she guarded against the eyes of others and there was no child in sight. So she is not here. Beth felt relieved. The moment she turned to head back towards the top floor of the mansion, a hysterical voice of a middle aged woman resounded.
“Effie! How dare you?!?”
What, what, what is it? What did the Viscountess do? Did she commit something when I was not here? With that thought, she hid herself and concentrated her gaze towards the crowd.
Some sort of box laid on the floor, broken into pieces. Laced gloves.
The same gloves which the Countess lent to the Viscountess to show her acquaintance towards her and later she just gave it to the Viscountess.
It seemed like the Viscountess returned the gloves box without any letter and the Countess looked extremely angry with it. It was natural to become angry seeing her token of sincerity being ignored and discarded.
Why is that? Maybe these aristocrats were more delicate than she thought. It was ridiculous to be so angry as if someone murdered her family for such a silly thing. Beth felt glad that she was just a commoner.
“Be . . .Beth?”
A man called out from behind her.
“Ah…..” He seemed a bit familiar, who was he? Beth couldn’t remember his name, so she just looked up at him from her squatting position.
At her confusion, he replied, “I. . . I am Tom.”
“Ah.”
Tom, I have heard the name Tom somewhere? Who was he? It seemed someone talked to me about him…. Beth tended not to remember unnecessary things. Seeing Beth think silently, Tom said with an awkward smile.
“It, it’s not that….. The April informed that the ordered costume is ready and when will be available to collect it. So I came to ask you when will you have time to get the dress and inform it to the April!”
Aaahh, errand. So he took over things like a carrier pigeon. Beth stood up as if she understood the context then only and dusted her clothes. What an awesome timing.
“I will be able to go there tomorrow at 11.” The timing was too good.
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