back to the past (4)
“Please wait here for a moment.”
At the words of the servant, George Hegmes nodded with a stiff head.
and soon.
rattle-
“Whew.”
When the servant left and the door to the drawing room closed, he let out a big breath he had been holding back.
Is it because of the tension given by the name of the royal palace? My stomach felt like it was slowly getting sick.
No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t think I would ever get used to this situation.
“… … .”
Even if you look around, everything is covered in gold.
Commonly rolled ornaments were of immeasurable value, and the sofa he was sitting on was much better than any other chair he had ever sat on in his life.
In a nutshell. It was truly the first sight I had ever seen in my life.
The same was true of the fancy clothes he received.
“Oh Mr. What the hell is this?”
For what reason is the proud First Prince, His Highness, looking for me?
I was born in the countryside and lived a normal life.
‘No. I can’t say it’s an ordinary life in my conscience, but… … .’
Rather, there were so many stabbings that I couldn’t guess.
It was at that time when I was thinking mixed thoughts.
rattle-
Suddenly the door to the drawing room opened and someone walked in confidently.
Silver hair and red eyes. And a sleek body like that of a nobleman.
However, the beautiful appearance gave off a strong impression that I dared not look at, and the antique-looking uniform matched the atmosphere of the palace perfectly.
Because of this, despite meeting him for the first time, I was able to guess at once that he was the first prince.
“uh… … .”
As he stood up to pay his respects, George’s body froze in an instant.
He must have learned courtesy toward the royal family from the servant.
However, when he faced the same red eyes as those of a beast, his mind turned white and he could not remember anything.
“That, that… … .”
Her red eyes were clearly shining more brilliantly than expensive jewels.
However, if you look closely at those eyes, they are a brutal dark red color like hardened blood scattered across the battlefield.
How on earth can human eyes be so cruel?
Is this how a deer facing a lion feels?
Just by looking into his eyes, his mind was dominated by the thought that he might die.
It was a primal fear.
‘sh*t!’
I didn’t like the word insulting the royal family anymore.
I felt like I would really pass out if I stayed like this.
George closed his eyes tightly as he felt dizzy.
* * *
‘You’re young.’
It was the first thought that came to my mind as soon as I saw George Hegmes in the drawing room.
It wasn’t that I was young.
Because Baron Vidor knew the same age as me now.
but. I thought that because his behavior was quite different from the forged feeling I saw before returning.
He still looks like a clumsy guy.
It was almost unbelievable to say that they were the same person, but it could have been natural since 20 years is a time when mountains and rivers change twice.
‘Nevertheless, it already smells like a cheater.’
The reason he ran away as if he was kicked out of Esteban’s kingdom.
It was because he was caught scamming the nobles.
In a really big way, George Hegmes stabbed the lord of his estate and his acquaintances in the back.
A total of eight major scams. It was an amount equivalent to 10 million gold.
And that wasn’t all.
He secretly embezzled the money and goods from the top he worked for since he was young, and he used to embezzle extra money by arbitrarily modifying the budget.
Even if the fraud had not been discovered quite by accident, the amount of damage would have increased.
There may have been various circumstances, but it was certain that Esteban was a fraudster who would go down in history.
‘Perhaps that experience melted into the fact that he rose to the top of the enemy country in an instant.’
A genius swindler from commoners.
Bringing such a guy under me is obviously risky.
But I had the confidence to hold it in my hands and move it however I wanted.
Because that wasn’t the only reason he ran away.
If I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have pursued the work.
No need for long words.
“Sit down.”
I took off my uniform and sat in the seat of honor.
Then she handed the overcoat to Baron Vidor, who had entered the parlor together.
But George was still just staring blankly.
“Can you hear me? George Hegmes.”
“yes? no. sorry.”
Then he sat down with an expression that looked like he was about to cry.
However, the impostor’s instinct hiding between the faces could not be hidden.
It was an intentional expression.
‘I was sure I wouldn’t hurt him.’
The stance change is really fast on the topic that was hardened until just now.
By showing such a weak side, it seems that he is trying to give me the impression that he is a weak person.
I’ve already been through all of them, but that’s it.
Arguments that don’t make any sense.
Okay then. Where should I start talking?
I slowly opened my mouth while reading the document containing the personal information of George Hegmes.
“Do you know why I called you?”
“I’m sorry. I have no idea.”
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue and narrowed my brows.
“Say it straight-forward. I need a competent aide. Someone who can fill in the parts that I don’t even care about.”
“… … .”
“That’s why I chose you as a candidate for my aide.”
“… … yes?”
This time, he seemed genuinely astonished. He said with a surprised expression.
“Are you talking about me?”
“okay.”
“A cow, a cow is a guy who was born in the countryside and has never learned anything. Why do you say that?”
His eyes go round and round at the unexpected suggestion.
It was disgusting to roll my head while saying that.
“An eye that reads trends and sets trends. The ability to triple the sales of rural branches in a short period of time. Lastly, even in front of the prince, he remains humble. Are you saying that my eyes for seeing people are not accurate?”
“That, it’s not like that!”
“It would be a great honor for you, a commoner, to become an aide to the first prince. Of course, a lot of money will come along with it.”
George’s eyes widened.
Then he narrowed his eyes and lost himself in thought.
Perhaps he is weighing the future of being an aide and the future of not being one.
‘It’s already saying that money doesn’t matter.’
If he was an ordinary commoner, he would have lowered his head and shed tears.
Becoming an aide to the first prince meant a reversal in life.
It was a contradiction in itself to be thinking about this for a commoner subject.
As expected, the boy shook his head.
“I know that I am not permitted to even express my disapproval. However, I am not a person who dares to be an aide to the first prince. Please reconsider your decision.”
“Ohh. Do you really think so?”
“… … sorry.”
can’t do it
I waved to Baron Vidor, who was glaring at George with a searing gaze.
Baron Vidor, who soon recognized my intention to live alone, left the drawing room with a reluctant expression.
So, that was the beginning of the main topic.
“George Hegmes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“To refuse an offer like this, it looks like you’re full from spending too much money on the guild’s budget.”
“yes?”
did i hear it wrong? The guy’s expression changed into a question.
I said, raising the corner of my mouth.
“I was going to appoint you as an aide because I highly valued your ability to handle things… … It’s a pity that it goes wrong like this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hear you embezzled because of your mother’s incurable disease?”
In an instant, his poker face broke and his true expression was revealed.
It was a look he couldn’t believe.
“Uh, how?”
“Did you think you would go unnoticed for the rest of your life? From the eyes of the Great Esteban Kingdom?”
“… … .”
“I heard that the holy water for recovery sold in the temple is expensive, but it will take quite a while to pay back the money.”
Then, as if he was deliberately emphasizing, he continued to talk behind his back.
“Assuming you don’t go to jail.”
George’s face turned to embarrassment. It seems that he never dreamed that he would be caught.
It was a lie, of course, that I was caught by the intelligence department.
If it was so easy to get caught, I wouldn’t have thought of hiring him as an aide.
With enough whipping, it was time to give the carrots.
“But serving the people is the fate of all princes. Even if you don’t want to be mine, I promise to make you a cure other than holy water.”
“… … remedy?”
“It is a cure that will completely cure your mother’s incurable disease.”
“Is that really true?”
“It’s not my taste to hold my family hostage. However, in that case, you will have to repay all the money you have embezzled so far to the company.”
tall-
His body stiffened.
What is your intention? Are you really going to give the cure without any conditions? The question in his eyes.
Of course it was sincere.
The death of his mother, one of the other causes of his transfer.
If that and the reason for the embezzlement can be erased from him, if he can prevent him from becoming an adviser to the Carrot Federation Empire, then it’s a good trade.
‘It would be nice if I could recruit a guy with both sides.’
Because the talent that baffled me is unbearably coveted.
I smiled leisurely when I saw that, and took out a contract.
“If you say you will follow me, I will treat you without regret. Of course, you will have to do more than an aide.”
He personally held the contract in front of George.
Then, with trembling hands, he barely took the contract.
1. George Hegmes becomes the shadow of the first prince.
2. In return, Prince 1 pays back the money embezzled by the Merchant Merchant. In addition, an annual salary of 1 million gold is promised.
3. This Agreement is effective immediately upon signing.
4. However, even if the contract is not signed, the 1st Prince provides a cure that will cure George’s mother’s illness.
A contract with only four lines.
The meaning implied in it was also simple.
I will give you and your family a prosperous future.
“Chi, treatment… … mother… … .”
At that moment, the pocket in my hand collapsed on the table, and gold coins that were dizzying enough to catch my eyes poured out.
An amount of money that a commoner family could not even look at even if they collected it in their lifetime.
I said, staring indifferently at the gold coins filling the table.
“It is an advance payment. Use this money to bring your family to the capital.”
“me… … What do you want to believe? I am the body that embezzled even from the store I used to go to. Isn’t there a law that says I won’t betray you?”
to be in a hurry
I am clearly delighted with the hope that has bloomed, but even in this situation, I am trying to get my head around me and try to fight my eyes.
‘But that’s all.’
From noble mtl dot com.
An inexperienced con man never escapes my clutches.
“At that time, I will say that my eyes are wrong.”
Either go back to your hometown and live a normal life, or become an aide to the first prince.
The options have already been decided.
George calmed his twitching head and grabbed the fountain pen.
“Good.”
I swept my bangs as I watched him sign the contract.
With this, we succeeded in securing reliable talent.
It is safe to say that it was the first harvest after returning.
“Welcome to my person.”
“… … I will show my allegiance.”
It’s still just a sham loyalty.
but. Even if he is a con artist, he is sincere in his love for his family.
Seeing her in good health will show her loyalty from the heart.
I took the contract he had written, put it in my pocket, and called Baron Vidor, who was waiting outside.
rattle-
“Your Highness the First Prince. Did you call?”
“He decided to be an aide.”
“Is that true?”
“hmm.”
No, you said you wouldn’t do it earlier?
Baron Vidor’s gaze seemed to say so.
However, there was no way George Hegmes, who was already dying, could answer.
“Take him and tell him where to stay. And for the time being, follow me and tell my aide what to do.”
“All right.”
“Get out of here.”
Baron Vidor, who was in tears at the unscheduled overtime, dragged George outside.
The guy literally moved as if he was being dragged.
rattle-
I was left alone in the drawing room filled with tension.
I liked the cold silence, so I decided to stay like this for a little longer.
I moved my steps and approached the window.
“Now take one step.”
The struggle to change the future that had been dislocated finally began.
And this time it will never fail.
smart tock-
“majesty. There was a call from His Highness the King.”
I was awakened by the voice of the maid knocking on the door.
The time was already pointing to 6pm.
I had something to say to my father, and it just went well.
Now that self-reflection was over, it was time to start moving.
“Let’s leave now.”
However, I still haven’t gotten used to being called by someone.