Chapter 125
Chapter 125: Let Me Give It a Try. (1)
The guard, with a nonchalant expression, spoke according to the work instructions.
“The Marquis is currently at the royal castle…”
“I already found out he’s at home. Hurry up and deliver the message.”
“Well, that is…”
The guard was taken aback.
Marquis Branford was not someone you could simply meet without an appointment. You had to send someone in advance to schedule a meeting and wait for months to finally see him.
Even now, there were dozens of nobles waiting to see the Marquis.
“For now, please leave your name and purpose in the guestbook, and someone will come to you with the follow-up schedule…”
“I came here for something really important, so at least let me send a message inside. If they still tell me to go back, I will.”
“No, wait… Hoo.”
The guard sighed in frustration, resisting the urge to yell, and asked for the purpose of the visit.
“If you could let them know I’m here for Young Lady Rosalyn’s matter. A few days ago, she bought my cosmetics here, and I want to check on her condition and see how I can help.”
As soon as the guard heard the name Rosalyn, his expression immediately hardened.
Once, the Marquis’s household had been desperately seeking any and all beauty products and medicines to improve Rosalyn’s skin condition.
People blinded by greed would come, hoping for a miracle, recommending unproven medicines and even selling outright quack remedies.
Rosalyn accepted them all out of hope, but none had any effect.
Her condition frequently worsened, and she had nearly died from poison on more than one occasion.
And Marquis Branford did not forgive the pests that plagued his daughter.
The guard, knowing this well, could only see Giselle as someone crawling into a place of death.
He cautiously said, “I understand what you mean…but you should just give up. If you’re not careful, you could lose your head.”
“I’m fine, so hurry up and deliver it.”
“I’m not fine! If I let someone in recklessly, I’d be dead too. Just passing on the message could cost me my life!”
The guard begged with a pleading expression that seemed to be saying, “Please spare me.”
Eventually, seeing the guard tightly shut his eyes in despair, Giselle rubbed her head in frustration.
“Then call the butler or something. The person who sold the cosmetics came by a few days ago. The Marquis may not want to see me, but the butler should be able to meet with me, right?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Hurry up!”
Giselle pressured him relentlessly.
Once the Marquis leaves his seat, it could be days before he’s seen again. If there was an opportunity now, it might not come again.
In the end, the guard, pushed by Giselle’s insistence, called the butler.
The butler, with a dry expression as always, asked Giselle, “What is it?”
“Have you tried the cosmetics? How did it go?”
“They were useless.”
Giselle nodded without any surprise.
“Right? I did some digging, and it seems that if we want to treat the Marquis’s daughter, we need to use a different method than cosmetics.”
“A different method? What do you mean?”
“Well… that’s not something I can say here. I need to tell the Marquis.”
Giselle crossed her arms and stood with a crooked smile.
“Tell the Marquis right away. I’m saying that this is the last chance to solve his daughter’s problem. If he still refuses, there’s nothing more to be done. I don’t know who will suffer more in that case.”
The butler hesitated for a moment before warning her.
“If it’s nonsense, it could be dangerous. The Marquis is not someone who will excuse you just because you’re a noble.”
Giselle frowned in frustration.
“Isn’t it true that it’s merely a case of losing nothing? Just hurry up and deliver the message. Don’t regret it later.”
Though her attitude was not very noble, she surprisingly radiated confidence. And that made the butler waver.
Even though the cosmetics had little effect on Rosalyn, the person who created them was someone the nobles praised highly.
If someone that talented was confident they could solve the issue, it might indeed be worth a shot.
“While it may be a case of losing nothing for us, it could be different for the Baron. But if you really want it, I’ll see if I can mention it to the Marquis.”
“Great, great. Finally, we’re speaking the same language.”
The butler turned around and went to find Marquis Branford.
Amidst all the piled-up documents in his office, Marquis Branford tilted his head upon hearing the butler’s report.
“Baron Penris? Who is that?”
“He’s the one who came up with those cosmetics a few days ago. He’s a young noble backed by Count Ailzbur’s wife.”
“Oh, right. That rings a bell. But they just came out of nowhere saying they want to meet me?”
“Indeed. They claim they can cure the Young Lady’s illness.”
Marquis Branford squinted his eyes.
“That’s quite audacious. Does he think this place is so easy to access that he can waltz in unannounced?”
Rather than being concerned about the offer to help his daughter, the Marquis was more irritated by the fact that they came without prior notice.
Did they think his status was so easily challenged that they could just ask him to meet?
“Send him away. Make sure he understands not to come back.”
Despite the Marquis’s firm attitude, the butler persisted and calmly persuaded him.
“It seems he’s a noble just recently arrived from the countryside who doesn’t know much about your Lordship. But he’s so confident about it; perhaps you could give him a chance?”
Marquis Branford momentarily scowled but did not get angry.
Since the butler had served him for so long, there was surely a reason behind this.
Noticing the Marquis was wavering in his opinion, the butler implored further.
“Lately, the Young Lady’s condition has been worsening, hasn’t it? There are rumors that Baron Penris’s cosmetics have been effective. As a noble who personally crafted those products, he might have some unique insights.”
With an expressionless face, Marquis Branford asked, “Well, does that even matter?”
From the start, he hadn’t completely given up.
But even with the full power of the Marquis’s house, they had seen no improvement in Rosalyn’s condition.
While he felt sorrow as a father, the Marquis wasn’t overly concerned.
After all, his daughter was bound to live as the wife of another noble family sooner or later.
It would be inconvenient, but he thought that not seeing the sun wouldn’t severely impact her life.
“Shouldn’t the house be comfortable so that you can focus on outside matters? If it turns out to be nonsense, you can punish him then.”
When the butler spoke again, Marquis Branford chuckled softly.
“Meriel would be sad if I lost my head.”
“Your wife will understand. If it fails, it means you were deceived.”
Marquis Branford had never once forgiven anyone for deceiving him or challenging his authority.
Even if it was someone Meriel was backing, there would be no exception.
No matter how respected she was, she couldn’t outmatch the Marquis.
“Bring him in. I’ll assess whether to keep him or send him away. And also, bring me information on Baron Penris.”
“Yes, understood.”
A short while later, the doors of the Branford mansion swung wide open.
The guard who had been watching Giselle looked surprised.
Such a situation where the Marquis would simply welcome an unannounced visitor was rare.
Giselle nodded, as if it was to be expected, confidently stepping inside.
*
Marquis Branford sat in his high chair, looking at Giselle with a dry expression.
He asked with a mocking tone, “I didn’t expect the talk of the town would come to see me in person. So, you want to help my daughter?”
Giselle, not planning to mince her words, replied boldly.
“Indeed. I can surely help the Young Lady.”
“Your confidence is impressive, but why should I entrust my daughter to you?”
“Didn’t you hear from the butler? I’ve even cured Eternal Punishment before. I’m not like the half-baked charlatans you’ve seen so far.”
Marquis Branford slowly picked up a document sitting beside him and read.
“True, there were rumors about a priest from Raybold claiming such things. But there’s no proof that it was you who did it.”
‘As expected of Marquis Branford. He’s even keeping tabs on the remote territories.’
Marquis Branford continued speaking.
“A delinquent from the North, a basement swordmaster, a liar, friend to fools, a bundle of inadequacy, a lunatic… Would you believe someone with such nicknames?”
Giselle looked down, hiding her expression, and clicked her tongue.
‘How thorough of him to keep records.’
No matter the names thrown at him, Giselle was a direct descendant of the lord. Naturally, they would have gathered information about him, too. Even the negative reputation was a type of intelligence.
She quickly adjusted her expression and raised her head again to meet the Marquis’s gaze.
“I’ve heard that even priests couldn’t cure the Young Lady’s illness. Though, divine power isn’t omnipotent.”
“You casually say something that would make a priest faint if they heard it.”
Marquis Branford leaned back in his chair, his expression revealing intrigue.
“You have never even seen my daughter. How do you know what her symptoms are or how you intend to help her?”
“It’s already been spreading around without our knowing. Let me give it a try. It won’t take long.”
Marquis Branford let out a hollow laugh, propping up his chin with one hand.
“Either you are incredibly brave or just so naive having just come to the capital that you don’t know better. If you say that, you’re ready to stake your life on it, right?”
“Do you need to stake your life to help someone?”
“Why, are you not confident?”
Marquis Branford spoke with a cold grin on his lips.
“Count Perdium is suffering a lot out there on the fringes. Out of consideration for your father, I’ll excuse you this once. But do not overstep and retreat. This is not your territory.”
Count Perdium, though he was poor, was a noble who understood loyalty to the royal family and honor.
Among the Crown Prince faction nobles, there had been discussions about increasing support to Perdium.
Though, it had faltered due to power struggles with the Delphine Duchy.
‘Once should be fine.’
Noticing Count Perdium’s image, Marquis Branford intended to forgive Giselle this time.
He had spared a life beyond the rudeness shown by the son, making it worthwhile to compensate for not increasing the support.
But Giselle disregarded his consideration and retaliated with a question.
“Are you not considering treating your daughter?”
Marquis Branford replied indifferently.
“While it would be nice to treat her, even if it’s not possible, I won’t care. It’s not like her life is at risk.”
“The one involved wouldn’t think so. I assure you I will definitely cure her.”
Giselle remained obstinate, and only Belinda and Claude looked pale beside her.
Glimpsing her anxious subordinates, Marquis Branford chuckled softly.
Despite her followers’ unease, Giselle showed no sign of withdrawing her words.
Seeing that she was so determined after all the warnings only showed she had at least some courage.
“Well then, if you really want it that bad, give it a shot. If you succeed appropriately, I’ll reward you. Butler.”
“Yes, Sir Marquis.”
“Do not hold back in supporting Baron Penris’s treatment. Once it’s over, I’ll personally decide on the Baron’s treatment.”
“Understood.”
“You may leave now.”
With a wave of his hand, Marquis Branford dismissed them. The expression on his face clearly showed his annoyance.
Thoughts of his daughter and Giselle were already being pushed to a corner of his mind.
Just then, as he pondered how to handle Duke Delphine, Giselle spoke up confidently.
“No reward is necessary.”
“What?”
The Marquis, about to leave, turned to look at Giselle.
“You mean to say you don’t want a reward? That’s not for you to decide. Depending on the success of this task, I will make that decision.”
Marquis Branford clicked his tongue inwardly and waved his hand at the butler. It was a gesture indicating to send soldiers to throw her out if necessary.
At that moment, a shocking statement echoed through the room.
“Not a suitable reward, but I want one thing done for me.”
