Chapter 4
“So, what’s the name of that child? The Viscount Hippolyte’s son.”
“Whether it's Piero or Pizarro, he's a young man naively enthusiastic about becoming a banker apprentice. He seemed blissfully unaware of his true circumstances, just like his father. Well, within the bank, he's apparently playing both sides. That's how they claim they easily manipulated Miss Sasha's compassionate heart...”
“That’s good. Especially if they’re fooling themselves into not understanding what they’re getting into.”
This sibling duo was turning out to be quite an interesting pair.
The siblings exchanged knowing glances as they peered at the ledger spread out on my desk. Valentina was the first to speak.
"For instance… Something like embezzlement?"
“Embezzlement, document manipulation, illegal lending. What else? One of the collateral families, on the brink of bankruptcy, reconnected with the main family through me, portraying myself as weak and vulnerable. But no one would believe they'd be content with just a bank clerk’s salary. With their lineage steeped in nepotism, they’d naturally assume ownership.”
“So, are you thinking of connecting all of these dots together?”
“No. I'm just creating concealed trails to thwart their pursuits in case of emergencies.”
It was merely my contingency plan, an idea I hatched in case someone attempted to blackmail Python Bank.
The underworld-ruling siblings still regarded me with suspicion.
“As Sasha knows, there’s the Crown Prince behind those Serpentes. Unless the imperial family intervenes, there’s no power that can touch Python.”
“That's true, Noona. Sasha, did something give you the impression that the Crown Prince's side might target us?”
I didn't believe the Crown Prince would stab us in the back. I simply felt it prudent to be prepared for anything, perhaps due to my awareness of the unrevealed settings from the original novel.
At this juncture, Serpente was not just dissatisfied with their collateral family, but also with a few traditional aristocrats, as they embraced numerous talents based on ability and capital, putting aside the conspiracy issues involving the Dallas Club.
Those self-proclaimed relatives of them supported Fibonacci, the original ruler of the underworld, and furthermore, the foolish Second Prince.
It was ironic how their kin, who attempted to evade their children's draft, were now defending the Second Prince in the name of being veterans.
What if the Second Prince, whom I had known as a simple jerk, turned out to be an unexpected variable.
“I'll discuss that later. By the way, what are the two of you planning during the hunting festival?”
Valentina smiled, while Yann frowned.
“Night butterflies have their own festival. I'd like Sasha to experience the festival atmosphere on the streets of Eldora sometime.”
“Because she's allergic to the upper classes... ahem. Well, at least you’ll be safe there. May you reap the harvest you desire.”
Reap the harvest...
After the siblings left, I sat in my chair and tidied up my desk, lost in thought.
Yann had asserted that he wouldn't want me to die, whether it was the collateral family or Fibonacci behind my poisoning. But I still hesitated about contacting and involving him.
At this point, I wondered if…
“Miss Sasha, you have a visitor…”
The guard's voice sounded oddly embarrassed, making me wonder what was going on. The next moment, the door opened on its own, and someone entered.
Only a few individuals had the liberty to casually enter my office in this hotel, even if they were prominent nobles in the imperial capital. Apart from the Serpentes.
And the person who walked in and seated himself on the plush couch as if it was his right was neither Lethias nor Benya.
Initially, I was perplexed, wondering where I had seen this person before. But soon, I recognized him.
He was that impertinent young man from the special room. The one who had audaciously attempted to force me to reveal my identity on the ship as I traveled back from Vibrato to the Empire.
“You've met me. Do you remember?”
Remember? Oh, I remembered...
Neatly styled black hair and deep purple eyes. An elegant suit that hugged his body like a sleek panther, a crest on his sleeve, and the way his shoulders moved.
I hadn't realized it during our previous encounter, but after I returned and met Assad, it hit me.
The reason I hadn't connected the two before was likely that I had utterly forgotten our brief interaction on the ship.
He was the Second Prince.
Knoxus di Romena de Avalonna.
Slightly puzzled that I was facing the younger brother rather than his Hyung, the Second Prince – renowned for his captivating handsomeness – sat comfortably on the couch, flashing me a smile.
“You look quite surprised. You probably wouldn't have been as surprised as me."
It appeared that by now, everyone had figured out the identity of the person I had encountered on the ship. It would be odd if they hadn't.
While I had anticipated encountering him at the hunting festival, I hadn't expected him to seek me out beforehand.
I rose from my seat and offered a respectful nod, casually pushing aside the notebooks I had been arranging on my desk. A mixture of bewilderment and respect colored my expression.
“Your Highness, Knoxus. I am honored to see you again.”
“It doesn’t seem very sincere, considering how you left so coldly last time.”
"Well, that..."
"Let’s call it even. I also didn’t expect you to be the Serpente Princess."
Even if he had known, I doubted our initial meeting would have played out any differently.
I exude the aura of a child who's been let loose in the world, after all. Besides, being a princess feels like my personal space and time are being condensed.
“Given my slight shyness, please forgive me for my impoliteness during our previous encounter. Would you care for some tea?”
“I don't mind the tea, but I had thought that I might get into trouble while consuming something here. Don't you think so?”
My poisoning incident also stemmed from that issue. I offered an awkward smile, meeting his deep purple gaze.
“You were there, weren’t you?”
“I didn’t go, but isn’t it a well-known case? Anyway, I am here because I have something to request of you.”
Oh? Doesn’t it sound like he expects me to decline his request? A man of his stature likely isn't accustomed to hearing "no." It feels like my initial assumption might be accurate.
“You wish to ask me something?”
“I am curious whether it's possible for you to grant me a loan. I understand that this casino primarily caters to the Serpentes. This lavishness comes at the expense of the nation’s treasury. Would you consider lending some funds?”
“If Your Highness requires a loan, Python Bank is more than willing to provide one.”
A grin emerged on his face as he widened his eyes, a smile that already knew I would respond this way. It was a different sort of satisfaction from Assad's, one that seemed more devious.
He was far more twisted and pessimistic compared to his older brother. He bore some similarities to Juan, but his twisted nature seemed even more pronounced.
Still, to think that a man like him was pursuing Princess Parque so ardently in the original story...
“I'm aware of that. However, I've heard that I could secure a more favorable interest rate by requesting this through you.”
“Who told you that?”
"Everybody."
For a moment, the room fell silent.
I struggled to contain the snort that nearly escaped me, while the self-assured man before me, my neighbor from the special room, closely watched my reaction, his thick eyebrows wiggling playfully.
“Aren't you surprised?”
"Well, I suppose it's the first time someone has asked me for such a favor."
“I heard that a request like this would be a trivial matter for a princess responsible for managing the hotel's finances.”
“Rumors are often exaggerated.”
He responded with a tinge of bitterness, casting his eyes downward. Sensing a shadow crossing my face, his purple gaze narrowed slightly.
“Did this request prove difficult?”
“... No, not at all. If it's a personal request from Your Highness, I can certainly accommodate it. I apologize for our previous encounter. How much do you require?”
“Around a thousand ducats.”
I settled back into my seat and retrieved my checkbook from a drawer.
As I picked up a pen and started jotting down numbers, Knoxus fixed his gaze on me as if he were trying to discern something on my face.
An intense scrutiny, a gaze that catches every subtle clue the other person might miss.
Despite my bright smile, my expression held a nuanced shadow, my knees quivered with a hint of nervousness, and my hands moved a touch too rapidly as if chased by something that was hurriedly absorbing every detail.
And what deductions did he draw from it?
“Take this. It was for two thousand ducats. In return, I'd appreciate it if you kept this transaction discreet from others.”
“Thank you. Well, if word spreads and people flock in droves, that could indeed pose an issue. How about a promissory note?”
“Actually, this is coming from my personal funds, so it’s not necessary. Just make sure to repay it by Christmas.”
“You must have worked hard to save it up. Are you sure about this?”
That's the thing, you see. I offered a self-deprecating smile as I met those purple eyes filled with a tinge of embarrassment.
In truth, it didn't matter all that much whether Knoxus paid me back or not.
Whether the money went towards the casino, alcohol, or some other organization's reserves, it didn't concern me greatly.
What I hoped for was that he'd come to a conclusion about me in line with my intentions in the future.
Much like Juan.
“I feel like I’ve inconvenienced you by lending such a large sum without a promissory note, all for the sake of gambling to me.”
“As I mentioned earlier, just make sure to repay it before Christmas. If you can't manage that… well, let's say I donated it in gratitude to the veterans. And as a token of apology for the rude behavior of this young miss towards Your Highness in that cabin.”
His eyebrow quirked, and he grinned. A lopsided smile, as if he found me intriguing.
“If news of our little transaction gets around, it might lead to trouble for you. Well, my reputation tends to be a bit like that.”
I didn't directly address his remark. Instead, I reached for a magnifying glass resting nearby and playfully held it under my face.
Thus, Knoxus looked at my smiling mouth through the large reflection in the magnifying glass.
“Now, Dashing Prince, is there anything else you require from the princess in the tower?”
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