Chapter 39
At first, Julian Duke Johannes treated Justav with a friendly face and utmost care.
Justav, who had been tense due to his notorious reputation, was momentarily relieved.
He had a strange belief that all handsome people had terrible personalities.
'Because my personality is garbage.'
But Julian shook his belief.
Julian always took care of Justav's convenience with a polite attitude.
Even if he made a mess of the lab, everything was neatly organized when he came to work the next day.
Compared to the past when he was so engrossed in research that he couldn't eat properly, he was now served well-balanced meals on time.
If he tried to skip a meal, a servant would rush over and even spoon-feed him.
It was also a diet consisting of fresh seasonal vegetables that took his taste into consideration.
'Is this heaven?'
Justav couldn't believe the luck that had come his way.
As Rebecca suggested, he once told the Duke that he would bring in a Vampire Plant, thinking that he really wouldn't interfere.
"Not difficult."
Julian signed the document without a word, and a few days later, the plant Justav wanted arrived via direct delivery.
'It's good to have money.'
Justav looked at the fresher-than-ever plant and decided to be buried here.
But then...
Thump-
It was the day he had finally fallen asleep after taking care of the Devil's Claw until dawn.
Julian burst into the room, violently throwing open the door.
"Now! Do you have time to sleep leisurely?"
He grabbed Justav, who was sleeping, by the collar without warning.
"Two months. Grow the Devil's Claw to be usable within two months."
Justav, who had been struck by lightning while sleeping, screamed at the sight of Julian's fiercely shining golden eyes.
'Damn it. I should have run away back then.'
After that day, the Duke visited the lab every day.
'Still not done? I seriously doubt your qualifications.'
'It seems I've been too lenient since you have time to eat.'
'Are you talented at killing plants? How can a sprout that was fine yesterday be dead?'
Julian Duke Johannes was completely insane. Justav was going crazy because he kept urging him every day without knowing anything about plants.
He didn't know why he suddenly changed his attitude, but Justav couldn't live like this, so he handed him his resignation.
"I can't stand it anymore! I quit!"
But Julian tore up his resignation in front of his eyes and smiled slyly.
"You must have a lot of money? Do you know how much investment has gone into you? Leave if you're confident you can pay it all back. You should have been careful with the contract."
But Justav was also someone who had a knack for dealing with crazy people.
"I knew you'd say that. Fine. I'll grow the Devil's Claw within a month instead of two."
"You should have said that from the beginning."
"But!"
"But?"
Justav slammed a huge file onto the desk.
"This is a list of the abusive language you've hurled at me, Duke."
"What?"
Julian flipped through the papers one by one with a dumbfounded look.
The words Julian had said to him were neatly organized by date and time, without missing a single syllable.
It was a list that felt strangely insane.
"Please pay close attention to the part where you grabbed my collar. It's been twenty times so far. Twenty times!"
"So, you want me to kneel down and apologize?"
"No! What am I going to do with an apology that can't even be made into jam? Just give me money for those times. "
"What...?"
"Judging by your personality, Duke, it seems impossible for you not to use abusive language, so I'm saying you should pay me to swear. Then I'll gladly accept the swearing. It's 10 bronze per swear! And 1 silver for grabbing my collar!"
Julian looked at Justav with eyes that said, 'What kind of crazy person is this?'
But Julian frowned and reluctantly nodded at his words that he would grow the Devil's Claw within a month.
Justav smiled bitterly.
"Wahahaha! I'll be rolling in money soon! Hurry up and swear at me. Duke!"
Justav was happy after counting the money he would earn in his head when Julian agreed more easily than he had expected.
But after that day, Julian never swore at him.
However, he came more often than before and watched Justav's every move obsessively.
Justav felt a surge of annoyance because that was even more uncomfortable.
"So you don't want to spend money. But what can you do? I succeeded in less than a month, so you'll have to pay for the abusive language you hurled at me before."
Justav smiled brightly as he counted the money he would receive.
* * *
"The Devil's Claw is ready?"
Julian rushed over as soon as he heard the news.
Justav proudly held out the pot containing the Devil's Claw.
Julian stared down at the Devil's Claw in silence for a moment.
He looked somehow choked up.
Julian ran a hand over his face and asked anxiously.
"What's the dosage?"
"Just chew on the freshly picked leaves. By the way, is the boy who visited our house back then the subject of the experiment? He looked fragile, I wonder if he can withstand the experiment..."
"Don't worry about her."
"Her? Was that boy a girl? I knew she was pretty."
Julian immediately showed discomfort when Rebecca was mentioned. Then he even made a slip of the tongue.
Justav excitedly poured out questions as if he had caught something.
"But why was she dressed as a man? She looked like a boy back then. Now that I think about it, you suddenly urged me on, Duke, could it be...?"
"Could it be what?"
"Isn't she your hidden lover? A tragic love that couldn't overcome her background...?"
"I guess you're not that smart."
"What nonsense! Can't you tell by the fact that I grew the Devil's Claw in a month? Everyone in the world knows how brilliant I am except for you, Duke!"
"Shut up and take this."
Julian threw a bundle of gold coins at Justav's broad chest as if to shut him up.
Fortunately, it worked, and Justav began counting the gold coins in a daze.
"I'm a man who keeps his promises. I added some more money as a bonus. And..."
"Yes, yes. I think I deserve that much of a bonus, so I'll skip the thank you. And?"
"Sorry."
"Pardon?"
Justav raised his head, wondering if he had misheard.
Julian frowned and said, meeting his silver eyes full of bewilderment.
"Pretend you didn't hear that. My personality is terrible, so I can't speak nicely. Especially when I'm excited. I won't be using that much abusive language in the future. Well, I can't promise, but if that ever happens, I'll compensate you with money like today."
Justav, who had never heard an aristocrat apologize to him, stared blankly at Julian.
"Stop looking!"
Julian, who was scratching the back of his head with a slightly flushed face, looked a little cute.
'Maybe he's a nicer crazy person than I thought...'
But Justav folded that thought neatly and sent it flying into the sky at his next words.
"Now, let's get back to work."
"What? Wasn't the Devil's Claw research over?"
"What are you talking about? You have a lot to research. Next... well, Rose Grapes would be good."
"Are you talking about that variety patented by the Devonshire Earl?"
"It's convenient that you understand quickly. Yes, research how to make those grapes sick. The deadline is one week."
Justav screamed.
"You have to give me a break! I'm not a machine!"
Julian chuckled at his words.
"I said I'd give you money, but I didn't say I'd give you time to spend it, did I? Instead, I'll hire more researchers to help you meet the deadline."
'He's a devil! That man is a devil!'
Justav trembled, imagining devil horns sprouting above Julian's head as he turned around with a sly smile.
* * *
Rebecca was enjoying unprecedented popularity in the mansion.
This was because the employees stuck to her and chattered wherever she went.
"Rebecca, this is freshly made apple juice. Please try it. By the way, my father is thinking of investing in the transportation business, what will happen?"
"Rebecca! My child is entering the academy this time..."
Among the gathered crowd were also the Hounds. Taking advantage of Zeppelin's absence, they were cautiously talking to Rebecca.
The rumor that she was a Saintess with divine foresight had already spread among the employees.
Rebecca accepted the refreshments offered by the employees and gave minimal answers based on the future information she knew.
Just as she was about to take a breather after a barrage of questions, she heard whispering from behind.
"But why didn't we know about Rebecca's abilities until now?"
"They said being with the Count is a trial... so her abilities are only manifested when the Count isn't around."
They nodded with quite serious faces, as if they were convinced by the fact that Zeppelin was a trial.
It was understandable since it was rare for Zeppelin to be away from Rebecca for so long.
Rebecca almost burst out laughing.
Her abilities are only manifested when Zeppelin isn't around.
Robert said he added some seasoning to the rumors, but she didn't know he would do such a commendable thing.
Thanks to him, she didn't have to step forward and explain.
Everyone was busy guessing and spreading the word even if Rebecca didn't do anything.
The problem was when this story didn't stop inside the mansion and reached the temple.
Impersonating a Saintess was a serious matter, so if an investigator was dispatched, it was only a matter of time before she was caught.
Then she might be tried for blasphemy.
'But why am I not worried at all?'
Rebecca was surprised by her very complacent attitude, but she wasn't anxious.
Somehow, she felt like everything would be resolved on its own.
'Did you forget? Luck is on my side.'
Rebecca smiled quietly, remembering Julian's confident words.
'You shouldn't trust people.'
In fact, even if she was dragged away for blasphemy, it wasn't like there was no way out at all.
Zeppelin would definitely come to find the stolen item, so she thought there would be plenty of opportunities to escape.
Rebecca hoped that if such a thing happened, the card to save her would be Julian, not Zeppelin.
* * *
It was late at night, but Rebecca was awake.
She was sitting upright at her desk, waiting for a visitor.
Since the rumor that Rebecca was a Saintess spread, occasional night visitors would secretly come to her room.
Canna quietly prepared refreshments and placed them in front of Rebecca. A teacup for the guest was placed on the tea table.
Rebecca sipped her tea and muttered.
"It's about time."
Knock knock-
No sooner had she finished speaking than a hesitant knock was heard.
