‘Does that mean that she is now the wealthiest monarch on the entire continent?’
But what he wanted to put in her hands was…
Worth more than that.
Power over money.
In the world that Johann himself would have, he and Berylia wouldn’t have to buy anything with money.
The whole world would bow down before her. Of course, it was only possible by his side.
“Say as many words as you want.”
Johann smiled gently. The friendly eyes were curved as if they were genuinely happy.
“Oh, I think I’m going to fall in love with the Queen’s wealth.”
“I’ll reward you with that wealth. Sell me ‘Margot’s Pendant’, Archduke.”
“It’s a bit difficult…”
“Why…?”
Berylia’s eyes shook for a moment, like water that had a stone thrown in.
There was no way Johann’s wicked eyes could have missed that brief moment.
He read Berylia’s earnestness.
‘I haven’t figured out what she’s going to use Margot’s Pendant for, but…’
One thing was accurate—
She was in a predicament far greater than when she wanted the ‘Fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone’ in the past.
Although she had a confident and calm expression and attitude, her earnestness was evident from the fact that she had already offered to pay up to twenty times the price.
In this state, she was more likely to accept whatever he wanted.
Johann was not one who would miss that opportunity.
Widening his black jaws, he prepared to swallow her.
“Because what I want from Her Majesty the Queen is not ‘just’ money…”
“….…”
“Didn’t I say. I don’t do business with friends.”
Johann said seductively.
“Actually, I can give it to you. Out of pure favor.”
Berylia looked at him cynically.
“Archduke, I do not believe in unconditional favor.”
……It didn’t work.
“For the fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone, it’s worth giving as a gift as a favor. But I know for sure that it isn’t the case for this.”
‘She’s really quick, and I like it.’
“Is there something you want?”
“Actually, there is…”
As if he was hesitant, Johann touched his lips, then glanced at her.
“But it’s hard to give.”
“What is it? I’ll listen and judge.”
‘Strangle your husband and marry me.’
‘And give birth to my child’
‘Stay in my trap for the rest of your life.’
‘Writhe in my grasp, cry only in front of me.’
……He seemed to know very well what expression she would make.
Of course, he would be thrilled to see that expression on her face.
Though, not yet.
“I’d like something else instead.”
Johann smiled and showed just three of his fingers.
“Three meals.”
“……Archduke.”
Berylia called without realization. The price of such a holy thing was only three meals?
“Right now, an auction for a meal with Her Majesty will cost tens of billions of ferring.”
“…….”
“I’m turning the holy relic into the time of the highest-ranking one in Spinel and Aktoum.”
Johann looked at her, resting his chin on his interlaced hands.
“I think it’s worth that much, the meals with Her Majesty the Queen.”
“….…”
Berylia looked into his eyes quietly.
What the ‘jewels’ with different colors on both sides were thinking, Johann was very excited about.
As if she had finished her judgment, her lips parted.
“It’s good.”
As if Johann had been waiting, he spoke quickly.
“Then, please write a contract. A contract that you will eat with me three times.”
“…It’s the first time I’ve written a contract to eat.”
“If Your Majesty the Queen merely takes the holy relic and shuts your mouth, isn’t it only me who loses?”
“I’ll write it.”
Despite Berylia openly sporting a troubled expression, Johann swiftly pulled out a piece of paper and placed it in front of her.
It was a very ‘colorful’ paper with the sentiment of writing a love letter.
“…Do you usually write contracts on papers like this?”
“It’s my preference.”
……Was the madman attribute inherited from the Aktoum family?
Seeing Johann looking happy, Berylia reluctantly picked up the pen and wrote the contract.
With an excited expression, Johann pointed to the last signature line with his index finger.
“Write a promise to Johann Marquis, use ‘With love’.”
“…I’ll say that it’s friendship.”
“Then please use ‘With affection’. Don’t nobles use that kind of expression? Please.”
He was so annoying.
Beryllia roughly scrawled ‘With affection,’ then gave him the contract as if he was a beggar.
Johann looked very proud.
“Somehow, I didn’t even serve tea, so please have a cup of tea before you go.”
“No. I’m busy.”
Berylia coldly refused and made Johann promise that the holy relic would be handed over to an imperial servant within three days. Then she exited the drawing room.
And where she walked out, Johann found something in an envelope.
“?”
When he opened the envelope, there was a check of some sort. The amount was not fixed.
‘……She left it on purpose.’
It meant that she would not accept favors that she did not know.
“You are so accurate that the calculations are thrilling.”
Slightly upset, Johann looked out the window with a chilly face.
Berylia was preparing to return in her carriage with her escort.
Meanwhile, Melfis, who approached him like a shadow, asked,
“Where does she plan to use ‘Margot’s Pendant’?”
‘Right.’
Johann looked out the window with darkened eyes.
“I’m curious about that too, I’m going crazy…”
Berylia’s carriage leisurely passed through the gates of the mansion.