Chapter 115
"I don't understand why Baron Olbia is going through all this trouble by messing with me. Right, Chloe?"
Chloe, sitting at the small desk next to me, put down her pen and answered:
"I guess he doesn't know that nothing good comes from messing with you, Young Master. Our Young Master isn't someone who draws his sword carelessly unless someone picks a fight first."
It's extremely foolish to talk about family secrets to a mere maid.
Especially when trying to live a black curtain life that requires even more attention to confidentiality, even with special security secured.
However, only these two, Chloe and Chris, are always exceptions.
They're my women, but also because Rossi, newly appointed as our family's information officer, thoroughly vetted them without leaving a speck of dust.
He submitted a report saying 'There's no possibility of betrayal from Lady Chloe and Lady Christina' with such high credibility.
Especially Chloe, who likes me so much it seems like her reason for living might be fangirling over me.
The probability of security being breached through Chloe is 10 times lower than being struck by lightning and then getting in a traffic accident while being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
It's stupid to worry about leaks.
"But if someone messes with me, I have to make them pay the price. To protect Chloe, Chris, and our family."
Even if it's still an attempted crime, if they actually tried to carry it out rather than just joking around.
It's natural to give them re-education (they don't even know why they're being punished) to prevent terrorist acts, right?
"So I looked into Baron Olbia's family's weaknesses. More diverse things came out than I thought, and I'd like to report them myself, but that seems a bit difficult."
It was just words I said to Chloe like pouring out my thoughts.
But she answered as if she fully understood why I said this:
"Unless you were directly harmed, if you step forward first to report without being harmed, you'd become the target of punishment instead, right? Moreover, if questioned about how you obtained the information, people criticizing you would curse that you're eavesdropping on other families' secrets like a rat."
This is why people need to study and learn.
When I first took her in, she was a child who couldn't even write her own name in letters, let alone the alphabet.
Now she understands and analyzes the ecology of nobles.
Except for me, the high-ranking people of the Tuscan Empire tend to look at people with the prejudice that if their status is lowly, their innate abilities must be trivial too.
But that's just a problem arising from the difference in educational opportunities.
'I should take Chloe and Chris on a trip to the suburbs in 3 days.'
I'll say it's a reward I'm giving because they studied hard.
"You've studied a lot."
When I patted her head, Chloe smiled as if she had the whole world.
"Then what do you think I'll do now?"
"The head butler taught me before, he said in times like this, it's best to send an 'anonymous letter' to a judge you know at the high court."
If you hire a suspicious person to send an anonymous letter, there's no way to trace who sent it in this era. They're saying you can't follow the tail even if you want to.
And there's no particularly great reason for sending a letter to a judge you know.
Just like how countless people gather through school ties, regional ties, and blood ties, it's handing over 'results' in the sense of helping and pulling each other up among acquaintances.
Since it's completely anonymous, they won't even know I sent it.
'If you want to be anonymous, you have to accept that much.'
Also, if my acquaintance gets promoted, the probability of me getting a reduced sentence when caught in a criminal trial goes up that much, so it's good for both sides.
"That's the most moderate and certain way. You really studied a lot."
But that's behavior that goes against the aesthetics and spirit of the black curtain, to speak coldly.
Letters can have their handwriting traced, so tails can be caught.
The black curtain shouldn't even give room for 'guessing' to anyone.
As Chloe said, if it's discovered that I plotted this, fierce attacks from Duke Sforza's faction would pour on me.
Why? Because it's a noble virtue to pounce on political attacks from opposing factions together.
"But tails could be caught through handwriting analysis and such."
This can also minimize the probability of detection by having someone else write it, but there's an even more certain and safe method.
"So I'll spread rumors this time too."
Chloe pricked up her ears to not miss a single word I said.
"Rumors that there's a lot of corruption in Baron Olbia's family. Just spreading this one will make everyone at the high court go crazy trying to bite."
My friend who majored in Korean history said this:
In Joseon, to become a prime minister, you must take on a censorate position (performing some of the opposition party's check and balance role), and you have to get 2-3 high-ranking people dismissed or fired by putting your own position on the line to become prime minister.
It's dizzying just hearing it.
In company terms, little guys at the deputy manager to manager level have to impeach executive and president level personnel to get promoted?
But a similar principle applies to our high court too.
Blowing away a noble with clear criminal charges is a very big plus for promotion.
Chief Justice Mancini and Associate Justice Aldente also got promoted by blowing away high-ranking people belonging to the social establishment.
If we spread appropriate rumors, there will be more than a few people who will be tempted to investigate and inspect for tax evasion.
Because the high court is a place gathered with people who would even sell their souls for promotion.
"Moreover, rumors don't leave evidence originally."
In any country, placards saying the country will be ruined and ominous rumors always follow.
But cases of catching the real culprit are surprisingly few.
Moreover, since in many cases the real culprit essentially 'confessed' and revealed themselves, the arrest rate can be considered practically non-existent.
'If the source of the rumors is worthless servants?'
No one will care.
"If we do this, everything will be neatly wrapped up. Those who tried to touch the Rothschild baron family will tremble in fear without even knowing who did it to them."
Since they don't know who the criminal is, others won't fear our family.
That's the only regrettable point...
But it's a problem to expect too much in a situation where it's possible to eliminate enemies sharpening their knives to antagonize without revealing your identity at all.
'If people are too greedy, they get punished.'
Just like it's impossible to take care of your health while eating samgyeopsal with fried kimchi.
"Young Master, you're really meticulous."
It's important to be as meticulous as possible when handling work.
That way you won't experience the terrible situation of having to do work twice.
No, you shouldn't experience something that would be fortunate to end with just doing it twice.
And I ordered the spies to spread rumors in 'appropriate places'.
**
Associate Justice Andante of the High Court.
He was always obsessed with advancement.
It's not particularly special since there's no judge working at the high court who doesn't put their life on the line for success...
'My wife started having morning sickness?'
Unlike other nobles from similar law nobility viscount families, since they married because they really loved each other to death, his thoughts towards his wife were very special.
"Hah, Baron Rothschild said he'd use whatever means to get her admitted to Medici Hospital for childbirth... If it's a boy, I should prepare a feast for my wife's postpartum care."
It's impossible from the start to stick close to his wife and help.
So he wants to at least feed her well, and hopes she'll get healthy quickly and feel the joy of raising a child while holding the baby with a bright face.
"I should do my best at work today too."
The lifeline of Baron Rothschild he's holding onto now is a blue-chip stock no less than a decent count.
His own ability, the Emperor and Duke's favor, even taking a petit duke's official wife's granddaughter as his wife while being a baron.
'Baron Rothschild will definitely rise to count at least.'
If such a person pushes him, if he really tries his best for life, perhaps...
He can sufficiently aim for a law nobility baron.
His current status isn't low, but it's a father's heart to want to pass down a better title and status to his beloved child.
While thinking that and about to start work today with a do-or-die spirit...
He heard the sound of investigators chattering in his ears.
Thinking they seem like they're not working hard as expected of trash, while considering whether to shout at them...
"Did you hear that? They say Baron Olbia's family servants have become very well-off these days. Can you believe they're giving those expensive Cafe Medici cakes to mere servants?"
Hearing those words, Judge Andante quietly listened to the gossip.
Because the experience gained from nearly 10 years of life as a judge whispered to him:
'If you shake those guys, they'll fall like apples from an apple tree.'
"And they say the coachmen are even wearing armor and carrying swords?"
Andante grabbed the investigator saying those words and asked:
"Tell me more in detail."