Chapter 235: Entering the Capital and Heading to the Ambassadorial Residence

That day, Rudolf and I went around the government offices as usual. The previous ambassador’s debts were already public knowledge, and whenever we met someone, that topic would come up naturally. We’d get the line "How rough it must be for the new ambassador!" paired with "Make this a lesson for you!" every single time.

"People enjoy other people’s misfortune. As long as the splatter doesn’t hit me, I can look down on the person in front of me and say cruel things. There’s no more delightful story than that."

Rudolf said it with the face of a man chewing a bitter bug. There was nothing we could do about it now. We’d just have to pay it back slowly and steadily.

"Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. But we really need to think of a way to return the debt as fast as possible."

It was too good to be true, but we could at least speak brightly about it.

"Lord Robin, please do not consider returning the debt all at once. Steady and reliable repayment is the first priority."

"I know. But is there really nothing I can do? Somewhere I can actually work and help a little with the repayment."

I knew that, but I had to say it anyway. Otherwise Rudolf would get angry.

"There’s nothing like that at all. Even the Ministry of Internal Affairs laughed in our face."

I’d asked about part-time work there once. They flatly refused, saying even if a job existed, they couldn’t make the ambassador do it. They mocked me while saying it. After that, I never brought it up again when I visited the Foreign Ministry for greetings.

"So work while hiding your identity. Rudolf is working while hiding his, right? I wonder if there’s some night job I can do while hiding mine?"

"Thank you for the consideration, but I’m afraid that’s impossible. Even if you have the skill of a bodyguard, I cannot acknowledge it. It’s almost as if the previous ambassador’s scandal has made me think it’s a miracle my own head is still attached. If anything like that happens again, I doubt my single head would be enough. Please, absolutely do not."

He said it strongly, strongly. Was his eye bloodshot? Did he think I’d do something like that? For me, I wanted to join some security force, but it would be cheap. It’d just become a hobby, not real work.

That day we finished our greetings and went home early. We were told to rest for the night. Honestly, I’d been scared off by the previous night’s Lily, so I thought maybe I should hold back a little. But how long would this last anyway?

The next morning we did the greetings again. When we returned to the embassy around noon, a maid came forward.

"A messenger from the Duchess has arrived and brought this."

She handed over a sealed letter.

"What’s this? Rudolf, have you thought of anything?"

I asked, but Rudolf shook his head.

"I don’t know. Nothing at all."

Rudolf opened the seal. Inside was one letter that simply said the messenger would come after noon.

I almost jumped out of my seat. I showed the letter to Rudolf and called Lily. Lily grinned with a wicked little smile. Rudolf tilted his head, completely confused.

"In any case, cancel today’s outing. I don’t know when she’ll arrive, but prepare immediately to welcome Lady Elle."

At my words, Rudolf bowed.

"Understood."

We’d come back to the embassy to save lunch money, but (because Rudolf said we had to eat at a decent restaurant if we were going out and show off a bit), this turned out to be a good result instead.

"Lord Robin, the messenger from the Duchess is coming to ask for medicine."

Lily declared it confidently.

"So it is?"

I asked.

"Of course. She must have seen the medicine’s effect the very next day. Otherwise she wouldn’t have come so quickly. If the effect was bad and she’s complaining about the results, that could be it too."

There was no way that line of complaint was completely off the table, but Marie Kingdom was testing it on only about ten samples! On young Stevie it was one thing, but among the older participants it worked wonderfully (though that was my subjective opinion).

Thinking that way, she had to be here for medicine. Then—

"There’s no stock left, right? What do we do?"

Lily said calmly.

"We’ll just have to make it."

She answered without a flicker of concern. Mmm, should I ask Lily to help me make it? Or make it myself after lunch? Which one was it?

I wanted to ask Lily, but I had a feeling she’d snap at me: "You think I can make medicine for Lady Elle? That’s rude! I can’t do that!!"

My heart was in turmoil while I calmly ate lunch. The embassy lived on the motto of frugality. Even the ambassador’s lunch was as simple as the staff’s meals, Rudolf had said. In this poor household, the ambassador’s patience had been lectured at us in the carriage as the key to the repayment plan.

I wanted to eat a big plate of cheap food at a plain street stall. I missed the pudding and cafeteria rice from Marie Kingdom.

"A messenger from the Duchess has arrived."

Right after lunch, the maid announced it. Already? So soon? I didn’t have time to make it with Lily! Could I really ask Elle for help!? Nooo, bad me~♪

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[A/N: For all the duplicate Chapters that I accidentally uploaded, I’m marking them all with duplicate tag so people won’t buy it because it’s not my intention to cashgrab, it is purely just an error and I’m trying to fix it properly. Please notify me if I make any mistakes further ahead in the upcoming Chapters and I’ll attend to them sincerely. That said I hope you guys are enjoying reading the current Chapters :D]