## Chapter 350 – 350. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
350. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into the Baek Family
Click, click.
Sitting in the garden, Vivi couldn’t hide her impatience, biting her nails. It wasn’t a good habit for a noble lady.
I spotted Vivi from afar and approached her leisurely.
“What’s the matter, Sister-in-law?”
“Baron…! You’re here! I’ve been waiting!”
From the day Vivi borrowed money from me to buy earrings, her vanity grew rapidly over time.
I sold her all sorts of luxurious things, not just jewelry, but also dresses, food, perfumes, cosmetics, and more. I even threw in the bait of a special 50% discount since she would become family.
And at some point, she started asking me for money first. The reasons were varied. There was a trendy dress that she would be ignored if she didn’t wear, a merchant from the far south was selling high-quality tea that was essential for tea time, and so on.
I smiled like a pushover and lent her money without interest. I made sure to draw up all the contracts.
“Sister-in-law, please calm down and tell me what’s going on. You seem very anxious… Is it perhaps because of the King’s birthday celebration at the royal palace tomorrow?”
“No! Actually, I’m supposed to go on a picnic with some noble young ladies this afternoon.”
“That sounds lovely. Perhaps you don’t have a dress to wear to the picnic?”
“I’ve already chosen a dress to wear. The problem is…”
Vivi glanced at my face. I sensed it was a money-related issue.
“The problem is?”
“……Haa. Baron, please listen to my story. I need your help.”
“There’s plenty of time until the afternoon, so please speak comfortably.”
I listened to Vivi, giving appropriate responses.
Vivi had met a nobleman at a banquet she was invited to yesterday.
Basiv Meikeld. A young, handsome man with the title of Baron. According to Vivi, he was mannerly and witty. He was a fallen noble whose life goal was to rebuild his family.
Recently, the topic of conversation among young ladies was about Baron Basiv Meikeld.
And I also knew him. He was a character from the original story. Well, he was just a passing extra, so I didn’t pay much attention to him.
To put it bluntly, Basiv Meikeld was a swindler.
‘There’s no reason for me to reveal Basiv Meikeld’s true identity. In fact, this is a good thing for me.’
I continued to listen to Vivi.
“Baron Meikeld is preparing a business. And I and a few other young ladies have decided to invest in him. But… I don’t have any money.”
“Why don’t you ask the Marquis?”
“Father would never allow it. There have been many nobles who have come to our family, but none of them have ever received investment funds. It will be the same this time.”
“Investment funds… So you’re trying to get a loan from me. Don’t forget that you already owe 320 million Ner, do you?”
She flinched.
She trembled slightly at the specific amount of her debt. But she soon regained her composure.
She was a noble, a noble of the Heolis family. She thought 300 million was okay. In fact, the Marquis had the ability to pay it off in an instant. She would get a huge scolding in the process, though.
“I know. And according to the contract, there’s no interest, right?”
“Yes. We even wrote a contract. I have no intention of charging interest, so please rest assured. No, it’s impossible because of the contract.”
When I said that with a smile, she relaxed and said to me.
“I need 500 million Ner.”
“……500 million Ner… That’s a much larger amount than I expected.”
“But you can lend it to me, Baron. You’re such a big shot that you even do business with my father.”
“You flatter me. But lending 500 million isn’t difficult. If I have about two weeks…”
“What? Two weeks!? Can’t you lend it to me right now?”
“It’s not like I carry around 500 million in cash.”
Vivi’s eyelids widened. Her body trembled slightly.
“But two weeks…! I’m supposed to sign a contract with Baron Meikeld this afternoon! You have the Korea Trading Company, don’t you? If this investment is successful, I can pay off all my debts to you within half a year! Can’t you do something?!”
“It’s not like I can use the Korea Trading Company’s money recklessly. I need to sort things out to take money out of the company. Well, I’m not officially the owner of the Korea Trading Company…”
“Please… I beg you, Baron. I’ve already told Baron Meikeld and the other nobles… If this goes wrong, I’ll become a liar. My reputation will fall, and I might be forever ostracized from society… Please…”
Vivi was on the verge of tears. She wouldn’t be ostracized from society for such a small thing, but she didn’t know the world well, so she seemed to genuinely believe she would be.
“Haa. I have no choice. I’ll somehow get 500 million Ner.”
“Thank you! Baron Prucus!”
“But there’s a condition.”
“A condition…?”
“What is the investment that Meikeld mentioned? It’s hard for me to give 500 million without clear information.”
“Th-that’s… Baron Meikeld told me not to tell anyone…”
“Is that so? Then forget about the money.”
I turned away without hesitation. I wasn’t the one who was desperate, it was Vivi who didn’t have money.
“W-wait a minute! Baron! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”
I turned back to look at her.
“Tell me, Sister-in-law.”
“It’s a medicinal herb cultivation business! He said he found land that’s good for growing medicinal herbs. I saw and tasted the medicinal herbs that Baron Meikeld brought, and the effects were amazing. Baron Meikeld’s business is bound to succeed!”
I was relieved to hear her words.
‘That bastard is just like in the original story. He hasn’t changed at all because of me.’
In the original story, a few years from now, this guy would commit fraud by talking about medicinal herb cultivation. At that time, he would boldly approach Kyle, who had become Count Prucus. Kyle would expose the swindler’s fraud and confiscate his assets.
“But you said you tasted it yourself?”
“Yes! It was so bitter that it brought tears to my eyes, but as soon as I ate it, I felt energized.”
“Oh, that’s amazing.”
Amazing my ass.
He must have mixed in a bit of drugs. And it must have been a drug that wasn’t well known in the Rapelli Kingdom.
‘You might think it’s ridiculous to fall for something like this…’
Even in reality, there are people who fall for absurd things. I vaguely remember seeing an internet news story that more than 100 people in Korea are scammed by voice phishing every day.
I reached out to Vivi. I grabbed her small shoulder with a thud. Vivi flinched, but she didn’t shake off my hand. She knew she shouldn’t upset me. I rubbed her shoulder and said.
“I’ll be back in an hour. It takes time since it’s a large sum of money.”
“Yes, Baron. Please.”
“Let’s write a contract. But are you sure you don’t want to tell the Marquis? If you’re uncomfortable with the Marquis, I can do it for you…”
“Oh, no! Father can’t find out! He’ll be furious like a demon! Baron, you absolutely can’t tell my father!”
“If you say so… I understand.”
“Your hand, Baron…”
“Ah! I accidentally touched your armpit, Sister-in-law. I’m sorry!”
“I-it’s okay.”
I moved away from Vivi and headed towards the area where the carriage was parked. Yuria, who had been secretly following me, revealed herself.
I gave money to the coachman I was managing and asked him to buy various kinds of fruit, and then looked around. There was no one around.
I pointed to a large tree next to the carriage with my hand. Yuria immediately understood my intention and leaned against the tree with both hands, sticking her butt out.
I lifted her skirt and pulled it up to her waist. Her white, lewd underwear, which covered her large buttocks, was visible. The center of her panties was split, revealing her anus and vagina.
I touched her vagina with my finger and asked Yuria.
“Yuria, you have 500 million Ner, right?”
“Ugh… Yes. It’s in the shadows. I can use up to 3.1 billion Ner immediately. Ahh…”
“Good. Then let’s kill some time for an hour.”
One hour later.
I handed Vivi 500 million Ner.
“Thank you! Baron! I’ll pay off all my debts within half a year!”
“It’s 820 million Ner. Don’t forget that it’s not a small amount of money.”
“Don’t worry! Baron Meikeld’s business is bound to succeed!”
That was what Vivi said to me before she left for the picnic. I couldn’t understand how she could trust a swindler so much.
‘Anyway, the plan is all set now.’
•••
The birthday of the 8th King, Corocalis Rapelli, was a festival for the capital. The royal family provided wine and meat to the commoners, and the commoners celebrated the King’s birthday.
I headed to the royal palace with my father, Ention, my mother, Elaine, and my brother, Gent. We could bring servants, but the number was limited, so we could only bring two knights, one of Elaine’s maids, and my personal maid, Yuria.
This banquet was said to last for three days and nights.
“……”
“……”
Just before entering the banquet hall, Gent and I made eye contact. Gent glared at me as if he wanted to devour me, and I leisurely twisted the corners of my mouth.
‘That guy must know that I’ve been going in and out of the Heolis family every day.’
I looked at the banquet hall. It was crowded with hundreds of nobles. The palace butlers and maids were moving with precision, and the nobles were gathered in groups, talking.
‘Less than 30% of these nobles are worth paying attention to.’
I looked around and noticed a group of young nobles. The young nobles were gathered around someone.
It was a young man with a short beard on his chin. He was tall and had a kind smile on his face. He was exuding an aura of being kind and gentle.
‘The original description said that looking at him made one think of a hero from a story… He doesn’t look like much in person.’
Basiv Meikeld.
On the surface, he was a fallen noble, but in reality, he was a swindler named Rohad who was using the identity of a dead noble.
‘Should I take a good look at the swindler’s face…’
I was about to walk towards Meikeld when someone approached me.
“Baron Eugene Prucus. I’d like to have a conversation. Do you have time?”
A middle-aged man with blue eyes and silver hair approached me. He was wearing white attire and had a cold, handsome face.
Makellos Helbrit.
The Prime Minister of the Rapelli Kingdom and a Duke.
Yuria’s biological father and the target of her revenge. Facing him head-on, he was exuding a sharp aura.
I tensed up slightly. He was looking at me, but there was no way he didn’t know that his target was Yuria. Yuria was looking down. Even with her enemy in front of her, she didn’t lose her composure.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, Ention, who was nearby, intervened.
“Prime Minister Helbrit. What business do you have with my son?”
“…Count Prucus. It’s a personal matter. It’s none of your business.”
“……”
“……”
Their light battle of nerves began. The tense atmosphere quickly spread around them.
I quickly intervened between them.
“Father. I’ll go talk to the Prime Minister for a moment.”
“……Alright.”
Ention nodded heavily. However, he didn’t take his eyes off Makellos. It was unexpected. I never thought Ention would be so wary of Makellos.
“Baron Prucus. It’s too noisy here to have a quiet conversation. I’ll guide you to the reception room. Follow me.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
I followed him. I checked Yuria’s face, who was following behind me. She had the same expression and atmosphere as usual.
But I noticed that she was on edge. Yuria’s gaze, which usually followed me, was directed at the back of Makellos’s neck, not me.
