[Activating Ability ?It’s Not Fishery Management! I Can Only See Your Emotions!?]

[Designating target…designation complete. Marquis Tarenka.]

[Marquis Tarenka’s emotional status messages will be displayed for three hours.]

As soon as the notification sounded, Marquis Tarenka’s emotions were displayed.

[Marquis Tarenka is shocked and angry at the reader’s behavior.]

But I could tell his emotions without even looking at them.

His expression was enough.

“You came to collect money?”

“Yes, it’s my money.”

“You…!”

“Please sit down first.”

I spoke as I sat at the tea table in the greenhouse.

Furious at my behavior of sitting down without permission, the Marquis’s eyes twitched.

He’s my prey!

I can’t let him off the hook anymore!

“I don’t have to show respect to someone who stole my money.”

“What? Did I steal your money?”

“You took my money by satisfying your own desires with the child support payments you were given to raise me.”

“You ungrateful girl! I raised you until now without leaving you on the street!”

Marquis Tarenka raged.

[Marquis Tarenka doubts the reader’s mental state. He is curious about the reader’s meal menu.]

‘…All this useless guidance.’

If only I could read Marquis Tarenka’s thoughts like the female lead in ?Seduced Ten Men?.

I shouldn’t have gotten off the carriage.

‘But I need more information, so let me poke a little more.’

“Didn’t you bought a magic stone mine and mining rights with my child support payments?”

“What are you talking about? That’s the investment that the Phaeraton Duke made in me!”

“Anyway, you bought it with Phaeraton’s money, right?”

“Cough…!”

[Marquis Tarenka feels embarrassed at the thought of being talked down by a child.]

I continued with a sly smile.

“This is strange. After all, the money that Marquis used was my child support payments.”

“No! What I received was an investment, and I never received your child support payments!”

Strange.

I tilted my head as I looked at Marquis Tarenka shouting.

[Marquis Tarenka is angry and relieved at the same time. He is in a much more relaxed state.]

‘Why is he relieved and relaxed?’

Like someone who is relieved not to have been caught for what they were most worried about.

‘Ah!’

With a sudden realization, I looked at the list and opened my mouth.

“Child support.”

[Marquis Tarenka feels joy and superiority.]

‘Not this one.’

“…I mean the mana stone mine.”

“Hmph, what does a child know about talking about adults’ business?”

Marquis Tarenka said nonchalantly while grumbling.

But…

[Marquis Tarenka is uneasy.]

‘Bingo.’

By the way, I really didn’t expect this.

‘What could he be hiding about the mana stone mine?’

If he was worried about being caught for cheating under the guise of Phaeraton’s investment, he should have had a stronger reaction to the child support payments.

Anyway, let’s dig deeper.

“He sold Phaeraton’s name while urging other nobles to invest in the mana stone mining business. I thought that was strange.”

“What’s so strange about that? A lot of money goes into mining businesses! It’s natural to receive investments. It’s none of a business to a child who knows nothing!”

Really?

“But why are you so nervous?”

Although Marquis Tarenka was good at controlling his expression, it was useless to me.

“What?”

“—Well.”

[Marquis Tarenka denies the reader’s words entirely and is anxious.]

“—Like someone who is hiding something. Poor thing.”

A ripple ran through Marquis Tarenka’s pupils.

I looked at the guide window that changed so quickly that I couldn’t read it.

That meant that the Marquis was wavering.

‘Well, I shook him up properly.’

“I’ve been watching quietly because of our past relationship, but I really can’t listen anymore.”

He was trying to act nonchalant, but his emotional state was speaking for itself.

“Come to think of it, it’s really strange. The numbers don’t add up.”

Mana stone.

It’s an ore that is commonly found in novels and has mana in it.

But there was something unique about it here.

‘Hollow mana stones come out.’

Despite spending money, time, and labor to sell mana stones, it means that the stones are completely empty of mana.

It wasn’t like that in the past.

In the past, all the mined mana stones were full of mana.

However, about 300 years ago, empty mana stones began to appear.

Recently, the frequency of empty stones has increased, and there are more empty ones than those with mana.

Naturally, the price of mana stones went up.

It’s a high-risk, high-return business strategy.

‘You could use a lot of investment to diversify the risk.’

But why bother?

And why invest in a mana stone mining business of all things?

‘Ah…!’

At that moment, realization dawned on me.

‘Yes, that’s what it was.’

My mouth curled up on its own.

“Come to think of it, there were a lot of people coming to your mansion from last spring to summer.”

“I am Marquis Tarenka. There are always many guests.”

Marquis Tarenka snorted and arrogantly clicked his jaw, but I didn’t lose my smile.

I could clearly see it.

[Marquis Tarenka is shocked by the reader’s words and is in denial of reality.]

That’s when it happened.

With a knock on the door, the butler walked in and whispered something to him.

Marquis Tarenka got up from his seat without even bothering to answer.

[Marquis Tarenka is excited with anticipation, but soon denies it due to slight anxiety.]

“I’m not free enough to listen to your useless talk. Go away!”

He left the greenhouse without waiting for a response.

‘Expectation and anxiety?’

I tilted my head, thinking of the emotions that appeared in the butler’s whisper.

“What on earth is going on?”

No, but if he leaves like this, what am I supposed to do?

‘My quest! If I fail, I’ll be a complete failure!’

With the penalty gone as a benefit of accepting the quest, maintaining perfect rational thinking, I realized how big of a problem this was.

My sanity is precious because I lost it once and regained it.

‘You can’t obtain a mine and mining rights from a nonexistent person… Should I just steal the documents?!’

“I think other nobles are here.”

I turned my head at the old vassal’s words.

Did he hear that? He was farther away from me.

“They said they were waiting for the Marquis to make a decision.”

My eyes widened at his words.

“Let’s go!”

I got up from my seat and ran outside.

“They’re probably investors in the mana stone mine! They must be in the reception room!”

“I think so too, but will you follow me? Miss, stay in front of the Marquis.”

“Sir!”

I quickly turned to the old vassal.

He had no choice but to come along because my dad refused to send me alone to Marquis Tarenka’s place.

“Don’t stop me! Inside the carriage, you promised not to care unless I’m in danger! You even received compensation from me!”

“I stroked your head as much as I wanted.”

“Yeah, so keep your promise. It’s give and take!”

“But I didn’t promise to just stand still in front of the other nobles.”

This old vassal!

“Cheek.”

He spat out.

“This time it’s on my cheek. Just once! Please stroke my cheek.”

I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

Honestly, I was not happy about it.

“This time it’s not a deposit. It’s an advance payment. You even tried to intervene when the Marquis was speaking earlier!”

“But in the end, I didn’t intervene. I did well.”

“So it’s an advance payment. If you don’t disturb me, I’ll stroke your cheek later.”

“…Is there an additional payment if I’m helpful?”

“Of course.”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

“Call!”

It was settled.

I walked confidently. Of course, I knew where the reception room was.

“And miss.”

“What now?”

“I wanted to say something earlier.”

“Just don’t say it.”

“You were cool in front of the Marquis. You’re different from other noble kids.”

Embarrassing.

I glanced at the old vassal.

Even in my four-year-old mind, I knew that wasn’t something a child my age should say.

‘Crap, what if he thinks I’m weird?’

“Indeed, you have the blood of Phaeraton!”

“Huh?”

“I’m more excited than when the third master beat a devil when he was two years old.”

What? A two-year-old beat a demon?

But sir… you were excited?

“To be honest, I’m in the liberal arts, so I’m more excited about excellent eloquence than military power.”

Ah, yes.

I learned information that I didn’t really want to know.

“That eloquence that you can’t imagine from a four-year-old! If Miss wasn’t Phaeraton, I would have thought you were a reincarnator, haha! There’s no such thing as a reincarnation, haha!”

“Uh, yeah. That’s right. If I wasn’t Phaeraton, I would be a reincarnator! Because I’m Phaeraton! So, it’s only natural for me!”

“Indeed, Phaeraton is the best! Honestly, I was disappointed… no, regretful that Miss didn’t have ?Magic?. Phaeraton’s blood is truly unique!”

“Well, well!”

Haha, hahaha, hahahaha!

I awkwardly smiled and asked quietly.

“But sir, what’s your name?”

“Oh, did you like me?”

No, I’m trying to avoid trouble.

Even looking at him rolling around, it’s not normal.

* * *

“Did you like the wine?”

“As much as the Marquis cared about it.”

Marquis Tarenka smiled at that answer.

“There’s no need to drag this out. I heard you made your decision.”

At those words, Duke Delvatren, Duke Iskamil, and Marquis Sherdel exchanged glances.

“Rather than words, reliable evidence is more trustworthy.”

“What does that mean?”

“We will retract the investment withdrawal.”

At the declaration, Marquis Tarenka couldn’t hide his smile.

It’s done!

This is the end of everything!

But at this moment.

“Well, I’m not so sure.”

A sing-song voice poured cold water on the Marquis’s joy.

The three nobles looked at the little girl in the doorway and raised their eyebrows.

“And who are you?”

“Hello, I am Phaeraton’s daughter, Ruatisha, and I greet you.”

“Oh, isn’t she the youngest lady of Phaeraton!”

“I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…”

“She’s a truly cute and lovely lady. It’s hard to believe she has Phaeraton’s blood.”

Ruatisha smiled brightly and entered the reception room.

“What rudeness is this! Even if you’re bored, you shouldn’t interrupt the conversation of adults!”

Marquis Tarenka, who missed the timing because he was taken aback, scolded Ruatisha and bowed his head to the nobles.

“Please forgive the lady’s rudeness.”

“No, it’s not really rude. Honestly, who wouldn’t be curious about Phaeraton’s youngest lady?”

“But what are you talking about? You should think again.”

“It must be what Phaeraton Duke ordered! Using a child like this!”

Marquis Tarenka shouted with anger. It’s all done, he can’t mess it up here.

“Phaeraton’s children shouldn’t be thought of as their age. Don’t you all know that!”

“Wow! My uncle also thinks our family is excellent! Thank you!”

Ruatisha smiled widely and bowed.

The child looked up at Marquis Tarenka, who was momentarily speechless.

“But Uncle, why are you so excited?”

“What?”

“Whether Dad ordered it or not, there’s no need to get so excited. I’m just a kid, as Uncle said.”

Ruatisha blinked her large eyes innocently.

“Dad gets angry like that because he’s sensitive.”

Marquis Tarenka paused for a moment.

He was too shaken by the interruption at the moment he thought it was all over.

‘Now I have to be calm.’

The old men’s gaze changed.

“It’s bad to come between friends. You have to be strict when educating children. If you disturb the vision of the Duke and Marquis who are here by your father’s words, it will be bad.”

“Huh? I heard that Duke Delvatren, Duke Iskamil, and Marquis Sherdel are really great people.”

The three people’s mouths opened wide at the words she said while moving her head left and right.

“Don’t be bothered by what I say. They are adults who can laugh off the vague words of a child.”

Ruatisha looked at the three nobles. Her pale-blue pupils shone low.

“Also, even if it’s a child’s words, if there is reason, those who listen will listen carefully.”

At her words, the three nobles had a moment of blank expressions before bursting into laughter.

“Hoo, hoo-hoo.”

“This is Phaeraton being a Phaeraton.”

“Yes, so what kind of reasonable words will the little lady say?”

“Uncle said that Dad invested in a mana stone mine.”

“Yeah, he said that, but your dad denied it.”

“I have evidence!”

Marquis Tarenka pointed to a cheque.

Ruatisha has no reason to complain about child support payments here, and even if she does, she has no evidence.

“But why did Uncle say that?”

“Because if Phaeraton invested, it’s as good as a guarantee that there is mana in the mana stone.”

Ruatisha nodded her head.

It’s a situation where more mana-empty mana stones come out even if you mine them.

But in the mining business that Phaeraton invested in, mana-filled mana stones always came out.

A 100% win rate.

People thought.

Is Phaeraton a family that uses the mysterious power of magic to check whether mana is in or out before mining?

It’s clear that they’re using that.

“It’s really strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“If my dad invested, then the mana stones must be full of mana, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, if money just pours in from mining, why did you have to get investments from the Duke and the Marquis?”

Ruatisha cocked her head.

“You only need to share with dad, but now you have to give a lot of money to the Duke and Marquis too.”

A low-risk, high-return business becomes a low-risk, low-return business.

Why give up profits?

“That’s why they say kids shouldn’t do this. You don’t know, but a huge amount of money goes into the mining of mana stones.”

Duke Iskamil nodded at Marquis Tarenka’s words.

“It’s amazing that you’ve thought that much even though you’re still young. But Marquis Tarenka is right. If you don’t have enough money, you have to get investment.”

‘Yes, that’s obvious.’

Ruatisha nodded her head.

The nobles here are not fools and would not have thought of such things.

But.

“Did my dad run out of money ??”

“What, what?”

“Bing ?!”