Makellos, Prime Minister of the Rapelli Kingdom, led his knights as they stormed a mansion on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, bringing with them the notorious criminal Basiv Meikeld.
"Search every nook and cranny!" Makellos commanded, his gaze shifting sideways. Though his expression remained impassive, his mood was foul. The King's birthday banquet was still in full swing.
He should have been at the banquet, but instead, he was investigating Basiv Meikeld's affairs under the King's orders. It had been an easy task. The fraudster had confessed everything within an hour of torture.
Basiv Meikeld or rather, Rohad, his true name was a commoner who had risen from the ranks of mercenaries. He had stumbled upon the corpse of a genuine noble, the real Basiv Meikeld, while passing through the woods. Rohad stole the Meikeld Family's signet ring and documents from the body and began impersonating a noble.
During the banquet hall fight with Baron Sung Yujin Prucus, Makellos had considered helping Rohad. However, the scam was too flimsy to be worth the risk. Stepping in would only damage his own reputation, so he decided to stay out of it.
What an idiot.
Rohad claimed he had planned to pull off one big score, cross the border, and live lavishly in exile. But Makellos didn't believe him. He had seen countless nobles-wannabe con artists like this before. They were addicted to scams, their mouths spitting out lies more than 90% of the time. Some of the worst cases even believed their own fabrications.
"M-My lord! W-What's happening here?!"
Amidst the murmuring crowd, an old man rushed forward and prostrated himself on the ground. The old man was missing his left arm.
"What do you think you're doing? We're carrying out His Majesty the King's orders. Just because you don't have much time left doesn't mean you can disregard royal affairs and disrespect His Majesty!"
"N-no, absolutely not! I'm Marco, formerly of the Third Royal Knights Order, twenty years ago! This mansion is my own, which I lent to Baron Meikeld. I know it's impolite, but I had to intervene."
"..."
They couldn't treat someone from the Royal Knights Order carelessly, especially since Makellos was being guarded by knights from the same order.
"Baron Basiv Meikeld is no noble. He's an imposter. His real name is Rohad, and he's a mercenary."
"...Ye?"
The old man stared at Rohad, who was bound head to toe in chains. Rohad avoided his gaze.
"Baron Meikeld...! No, Rohad! You promised me five million Neru for renting out my mansion! When will I get my five million Neru?!"
"Enough, Marco. Don't make a scene. You deserve to have your head chopped off for obstructing us in carrying out His Majesty the King's orders. But considering your past service to the Royal Knights Order and your loyalty to the Royal Family, I'll spare you this once. Stay out of this and keep quiet, Marco."
Marco retreated, cold sweat beading on his forehead, under Makellos's chilling warning. Even as death loomed, making him reckless, Makellos still inspired fear.
"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, there's nothing inside. Not a single Neru."
"..."
Makellos turned his gaze to Rohad.
"N-no! Your Excellency! I'm telling the truth! I've gathered all my investment funds in this mansion! Two of my comrades should be guarding the money!"
"..."
Makellos considered the situation.
The likelihood of Rohad lying was slim. The old commoner had recognized Rohad, and Rohad was known to be vulnerable to torture.
The most likely scenarios were that Rohad's comrade had fled with the money, or that someone else had intervened and stolen it.
Makellos believed the latter was more probable.
"Return to the Royal Palace, Rohad. Since you've lied, you'll be tortured until your death."
"Y-Your Excellency! No! I told the truth! Your Excellency! Please, no torture! Spare me the torture! Your Excellency!"
"..."
Through this incident, I had firmly established my presence among the nobles.
Although I had caused a commotion at the banquet, none of the nobles criticized me. On the contrary, they praised me as remarkable. This was because the swindler had impersonated a noble, and the nobles were extremely wary of any challenge to their power.
Vivi Heollis had been deliberately avoiding me. Prime Minister Makellos had just informed the nobles that she had given 500 million Nerda to a swindler, and the money was now unrecoverable.
In reality, the money was with me. I had Yuria retrieve it earlier that day. The total amount was a staggering 1.73 billion Nerda. This sudden windfall filled me with delight.
It was 10 PM, and the banquet's fervor showed no signs of waning.
I instructed Yuria to invite Vivi Heollis to the Royal chamber provided for me. Shortly after, Yuria and Vivi entered the room. Since Yuria had personally handled the invitation, no one would know Vivi had come to my chamber.
I spoke to Bibi, who was fidgeting nervously, with an expressionless face.
"Please sit, Lady Vivi."
"...Yes, Baron Prucus."
Bibi sat down. I scanned her from head to toe. Even in this world, her bright, light green hair was rare, as were her emerald-like eyes and snow-white skin. She possessed extraordinary beauty, though, regrettably, her bust was only an A-cup.
Perhaps sensing danger in my gaze, she shuddered slightly.
"Lady Vivi, you've heard about Baron Basiv Meikeld... or rather, Rohad, haven't you?"
"I heard he was a fraud... and that the Prime Minister said the money had disappeared."
"Since it's late, I'll get straight to the point. 820 million Neru. How do you plan to repay it?"
"P-please wait! I can repay the debt. I'm a daughter of the Heollis Family."
"Do you intend to ask Marquis Heollis for the money?"
If Marquis Heollis were involved, the debt could be repaid in an instant.
"No! I can repay it without my father's help."
"How?"
"I plan to move up the wedding with Young Master Gent. If we marry in three months, I'll become his wife and can divert his assets..."
"I'm sorry, Lady Vivi, but my brother doesn't have much wealth."
"...What? Baron Meikeld said last time that we could obtain funds this way."
"At the time, I didn't know much about Lord Gent. But after investigating recently, I discovered he doesn't possess significant assets."
"Young Master Gent is the heir to Count Prucus!"
"He's merely a leading candidate. I'm also vying for the position. The heir won't be decided for at least three years."
"B-but if Baron Meikeld waits, I can repay the debt. It might take a while, but the contract didn't specify a deadline, did it?"
"True. However, the contract also states that if I believe you have no intention of repaying the debt or are incapable of doing so, I can demand immediate payment. And in the worst-case scenario, I can even seek recourse from Marquis Heollis himself."
"No! I can repay it!" Bibi protested vehemently. I stared at her silently, my gaze unwavering. Feeling the pressure, she averted her eyes.
"You showed no intention of repaying the debt. Yesterday, when His Majesty asked nobles who had been defrauded to come forward, why didn't you?"
"...How could I? My father and other nobles were watching! My life is just beginning. I can't afford to have such a dark stain on my reputation. Imagine the gossip in high society if this gets out..."
I understood Bibi's predicament. Unlike heirs who inherit territories and clans, the value of noble ladies lay primarily in their social standing.
"Did you perhaps approach His Excellency the Prime Minister privately to request help recovering the money from the swindler?"
"There were too many eyes on me. How could I? And if Marquis Heollis were to leak even a rumor to high society..."
Bibi squeezed her eyes shut. Of course, I felt no sympathy whatsoever.
"Hmph. It seems Lady Vivi has neither the will nor the ability to repay her debts. I apologize, Lady Vivi. I will inform His Excellency the Marquis about this matter."
"Wait, Baron! Don't be hasty! I can repay it. I can, I swear...!"
"This is over 800 million Neru. How much savings do you have, Lady Vivi?"
"That's..."
"None, I presume. If you had any savings, you wouldn't have borrowed from me in the first place."
Bibi is a woman consumed by vanity. Even if the Marquis gave her an allowance, she would undoubtedly spend it immediately.
As I rose from my seat, Bibi startled and grabbed my arm.
"Baron! Please give me time! Time...! If I have time, I can repay it!"
"...Can you truly repay it?"
"Yes! I can! Please believe me!"
"...I don't trust you completely, but I'll give you a chance."
Bibi's face brightened at my words.
"Thank you, Baron!"
"However, there's a condition."
"A condition...?"
I reached out and gently caressed Bibi's pale cheek. Her eyelids trembled slightly as she realized what I wanted.
"I want you, Lady Vivi. But only if you want me as well. This has nothing to do with the debt. If you refuse, I won't force you, and we'll settle the 820 million Neru separately."
"T-this is sudden... Are you serious, Baron?"
"I am. I'm being honest about my desire, nothing more. If you don't want this, say so, and I'll stop here."
"If my father finds out, he won't forgive either of us."
"Then no one will hear of it from me. The contract stays exactly as it is, and I won't use it to push you into my bed."
"..."
"Choose freely, Lady Vivi."
"..."
Bibi, the daughter of Marquis Heollis, understood how dangerous rumors could be, and she weighed my offer in silence.
Bibi's breathing grew uneven. My hand slowly traced down her cheek to her neck.
"Stop! I need to protect my virginity!"
"Lady Vivi, by virginity, you mean your hymen, correct?"
"Y-yes. I'm supposed to spend my first night with Young Master Gent right after the wedding. If I don't have a hymen, it will be a problem."
"Don't worry. I have a plan."
"...A plan?"
"We'll use magic to create an artificial hymen. Lord Gent knows nothing about magic, so we can pull this off without a hitch. All you need to do is act naturally, Lady Vivi. I'll help you get through the wedding night safely, so there's no need to worry. If you're uncomfortable, we can end this conversation here. What do you say?"
My hand rested on Bibi's shoulder. Her green eyes darted back and forth as she calculated the pros and cons.
"...If this artificial hymen magic really works, can I truly avoid being exposed on the wedding night?"
In truth, there's no need for magic. Artificial hymens are sold in the real world, and hymen restoration surgery exists as well.
"I assure you."
"...I understand. I will be with you tonight, Baron, because I want to. You must keep your promise."
"Of course. I'll keep my promise. As for the debt, we'll discuss ordinary repayment later; I won't tie it to this."
"..."
After Bibi gave a small nod, I helped her out of her dress. Yuria caught the fallen garment and retreated.
"...That maid has been listening to our conversation since earlier."
"She's a trustworthy maid. You have nothing to worry about."
"..."
I gazed at her upper body. Her A-cup breasts were barely large enough to fill my hand. I reached out and touched the protruding mounds. The pink nipples at their tips gradually hardened.
"Lady Vivi, you smell wonderful. Did you spray perfume on your breasts?"
"...What are you talking about? What woman in the world would spray perfume on her breasts? And please be gentle with my breasts. These small breasts... they're not attractive at all."
"Nonsense. With you being so alluring, how could your breasts possibly be unattractive?"
My head moved toward Bibi's small breasts.