Chapter 4

The clinking of cutlery broke the silence of the dining room. I glanced at the middle-aged man sitting across from me, cutting his steak with a knife.

With his blonde hair and violet eyes, he was clearly Lord Baimery, Lilithia’s father. As I stared at him blankly, my heart suddenly sank.

‘Our eyes met…’

I subtly rolled my eyes away.

“Lilithia.”

“Yes…!”

My shoulder flinched at the Baron’s call.

“I was told you were feeling unwell last night. Are you alright now?”

“Unwell…?”

“I heard that you went to bed early after feeling unwell following the banquet yesterday.”

Seeing me look confused, the Baron narrowed his eyes and asked,

“Lilithia. You haven’t been up to mischief again, have you?”

What on earth had the original owner of this body done that the Baron would look at me with such suspicion? Confused about what to say or whether to tell the truth, I couldn’t hide the frantic wavering of my eyes.

“Ahem.”

Just then, a clearing of the throat sounded. I shifted my gaze to the source of the noise, and Norman winked at me.

I immediately realized this was an excuse to cover for my not having returned home the previous night. I quickly spoke to the Baron.

“Of course. I felt unwell after the banquet, so I went to bed early. The strange thing is, I feel completely better after waking up!”

The Baron, still unconvinced by my answer, loudly set down his knife and fork. Then, he asked Norman, who was standing nearby.

“Norman. Did Lilithia really go to bed early?”

“Yes, my lord. I personally confirmed that the Miss had fallen asleep.”

“Is that so…? If Norman confirmed it, then it must be true.”

The suspicious gaze was finally withdrawn. The Baron returned to cutting the steak in front of him.

“Eat. Your food will get cold.”

“Yes, Father.”

I subtly checked the Baron’s expression and let out a small sigh.

‘Phew… I’m going to get indigestion trying to eat.’

After the meal was finished, tea was served. The Baron, with his hands clasped together, spoke to me.

“Lilithia. I actually had something I needed to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the Trade Guild’s operations haven’t been in a good state lately. I haven’t talked to you much about these matters…”

I blinked slowly at the Baron’s words.

“So, I must urgently travel to another country myself to handle trade issues as the Guild Master. It will likely take a few months.”

The Baron paused his speech and looked at me.

“Because of this situation, I need you to temporarily manage the capital’s Trade Guild.”

At the Baron’s words, my vision momentarily swam, and I stammered.

“M-Manage the Trade Guild?”

Even though I was just an extra, having transmigrated into the body of a noble lady, I had a small hope: ‘I won’t die from overwork this life! I can finally live a comfortable life!’ But managing the Trade Guild, which completely crushed this expectation, was not part of my plan.

‘I don’t want to die from overwork again…!’

I absolutely must say no! Absolutely. I vehemently waved both hands.

“I’ve never done anything like this, and what if I make a mistake…? Father, I think it would be better to find someone skilled in guild affairs!”

“I have considered that worry…”

The Baron clenched his fist and said,

“Lilithia, sometimes you act like a tomboy. But you are the spitting image of me, so I trust you will handle the assigned task well.”

The Baron rose from his seat, walked over, and took hold of my shoulders.

“Don’t feel burdened. I’ll be leaving in a few days, so I’ll teach you about the guild’s work before I go. And even when I’m gone, you can discuss complex matters with me through the communication device. Just protect the Trade Guild, and don’t worry.”

My eyes shook violently at the Baron’s gaze, which was full of trust in Lilithia. My resolution to live this life like a grasshopper was instantly shattered.

‘What a disaster.’

***

The next day. Expecting a somewhat grand building for a trade guild located in a busy district, I was instead disappointed to arrive at a humble building.

Doubting if this was the right place, I examined the building. The sign, [Baimery Trade Guild], was proudly attached to the wall. The hastily written letters looked cocky. Winnie asked me as I stared blankly at the building.

“Why aren’t you going in, Miss?”

“Oh. I should.”

It was a small building, small enough that “shop” felt more appropriate than “trade guild.”

‘You never know. Maybe the inside is different from the outside!’

I entered the building, holding onto a thread of hope, and felt a slight reduction in my worries.

‘It’s better than I thought.’

The tables and display cases on the first floor, where goods were sold, were filled with numerous items. The guild staff seemed to be diligently sweeping and polishing.

“Let’s go up to the second floor.”

Stepping onto the second floor via the stairs, my jaw dropped. The ceiling I looked up at was covered in cobwebs. The old wooden floor squeaked with every step I took. As I inhaled, the dust tickled my throat, and I had to cover my mouth to keep from coughing.

“Winnie, this looks like a storage room, doesn’t it?”

In response to my question, Winnie pointed her finger at a desk cluttered with dust and countless documents.

“Looking at that desk… it seems like the Guild Master’s office?”

“No way. How could this be an office?”

I tried to deny it, but upon seeing the nameplate that read [Guild Master Percival Baimery] on the desk, my eyes went dark. I couldn’t believe this filthy place was the Baron’s Trade Guild office.

“Unbelievable…”

“I did hear that the Baron hasn’t been visiting the guild often lately due to his schedule.”

Winnie, who was surveying the surroundings, covered her mouth with both hands, likely due to the dust.

“We definitely need to clean. I didn’t know it was this bad.”

“L-Let’s go down first.”

The tickling sensation in my throat made me want to escape the dust. As I took a step toward the stairs to go back down to the first floor.

Clang-

I heard the sound of something breaking on the floor. Looking down from the second floor towards the sound, I saw a green-haired girl wearing glasses frozen in place, staring at the floor with an ashen face. Unaware that anyone had entered, the girl muttered to herself.

“The Guild Master said he wouldn’t forgive me if I made another mistake. What should I do?”

With a desolate expression, as if she had lost the world, the girl gripped her head.

“My last month’s salary was all used to pay for the mistake…”

Winnie’s face brightened as she watched the girl’s monologue.

“It’s Carri! I haven’t seen her since she quit working at the manor after her younger brother was born. She must have been working at the Trade Guild.”

The fact that she worked at the manor meant that I, Lilithia, knew the girl named Carri.

I naturally walked down the stairs. When the creaking sound echoed, Carri, who had been making a miserable face, snapped her eyes open and looked up. A look of delight crossed Carri’s face when she recognized me.

“Miss Lilithia? I didn’t see you come in, so how are you coming down from upstairs?”

Carri tilted her head.

“There was no one when we came in, was there?”

“You must have arrived when I was in the storage room! But did you come because you needed something?”

“No, Father just put me in charge of the Trade Guild business.”

“I heard the news that an acting Guild Master was coming. So that was Miss Lilithia. Wow! I’m so happy.”

Carri looked awkwardly between the broken item on the floor and me, then smiled sheepishly.

“Did you see it…? You wouldn’t believe an excuse like ‘the wind blew it over,’ would you?”

Carri looked miserable as she spoke to me.

“Please deduct the cost of this item from this month’s salary… Oh wait, I don’t have this month’s salary… Then next month’s salary…”

Figuring out how to run the Trade Guild was more important than calculating the cost of the item. To do that, cleaning the Guild Master’s office and checking the documents inside was the priority. I looked at Carri, who was on the verge of tears, and said, “Well, how about we let this matter go if you help me clean the second floor?”

***

Freyer stood before what looked like an ordinary tavern. But this shabby exterior hid the empire’s only intelligence guild: Silverton.

Freyer hid his expression and carefully entered the tavern. A bartender asked Freyer, who naturally sat down near the bar.

“May I take your order?”

“I’m looking for the fruit of the golden flower that blooms in the darkness.”

The bartender narrowed his eyes and looked at Freyer.

“It’s unexpected for a first-time guest to choose such an item. Could you please wait a moment?”

“I will.”

While the bartender was briefly away, Freyer looked around. A few people inside the tavern glanced at Freyer.

‘A newcomer who knows the code. They are on edge.’

Since his main purpose was not a test of wills with these people, Freyer waited for the bartender with a calm demeanor.

“I have prepared a private room for you. This way.”

Freyer followed the quickly returned bartender and moved to another area. Passing down a gloomy corridor, a door disguised as a wall opened. A man with long, amber hair covering one eye stood before a table.

“Please have a seat. I never expected to meet such a distinguished person in this humble place.”

The man smiled faintly, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed.

“I am Bilion, the Guild Master of Silvertone. Please call me Lon. Your Imperial Highness, the Second Prince.”

There was no need to ask how he knew he was the Prince.

‘Of course, he would know, being an information broker.’

Freyer sat down in the chair opposite him and got straight to the point.

“Guild Master Lon. I’m looking for the owner of the name engraved on this item.”

Freyer took the black ribbon from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of Bilion.

“Looking for the owner of an item… May I examine it?”

Bilion picked up the ribbon on the desk, examined it, and frowned subtly. Then, he placed the black ribbon back on the table.

“I regret to tell Your Highness that it will be difficult to find the owner with just this.”

“I heard there is no information you cannot find?”

Freyer’s eyes sharpened as he stared at Bilion. Bilion cleared his throat and avoided his gaze.

“The writing engraved on the ribbon is not a person’s name.”