Quietly Hiding that I am a Man chapter 59- Fake Evidence

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“But first, I want to ask you something. Is there a way to artificially create mana stones?”

The Duke narrowed his eyes at my sudden mention of mana stones, as if wondering why I brought it up.

But I had a clear plan.

Duke Carlotte was not only the Imperial Treasurer of the Kaisar Empire but also the head of its magic research institute.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that almost all magical tools used in the empire were developed and distributed by his institute.

To the Duke, magical tools were a type of business asset.

To melt the heart of this miserly Duke, I had to approach him from this angle.

The Duke, still eyeing me with suspicion, stroked his chin.

“In theory, it’s possible. But with just one or two samples, research isn’t feasible. Using mana stones as samples, even low-grade ones, is absurdly expensive.”

“So, if there were enough samples for experimentation, would it be possible to create artificial mana stones? And if so, what would their business value be?”

Mana stones have a flaw: the more you use them, the lower their mana absorption rate becomes.

Even if you buy them at a high price, you’d have to sell them later for next to nothing.

In short, like pearls, their value drops significantly when used for more than just display purposes.

That’s why mana stones were often used as luxury items for nobles or awarded symbolically to very skilled magicians.

The Duke hesitated at my serious expression.

I was incredibly anxious, but I tried to remain calm, waiting for his response.

He finally spoke in a measured tone.

“If we can produce artificial mana stones, they could be supplied as essential magical tools for magicians, not just luxury items….”

“….”

“It would be a business so lucrative that putting a number on it would be meaningless.”

Hearing the Duke’s answer, I smiled quietly to myself.

I strode over to the desk and flipped over the leather pouch.

The Duke shot to his feet at my sudden action.

“What is this disrespectful behavior?!”

The Duke, who had been yelling, suddenly fell silent.

Dozens of mana stones spilled onto the desk, sparkling brilliantly.

“This is….”

Even Cedrick, who had been indifferent the whole time, looked astonished at the sheer quantity.

Although they were of lower quality compared to high-grade mana stones, there were enough to be valuable for research.

“A few days ago, I went to Maron’s Spring. I heard a legend that there was a huge deposit of mana stones there.”

“….”

“I thought that if I could find them, it would be beneficial for your magic research institute, Duke. But I was too scared to go alone, so I asked Jerome for help.”

The Duke stared at me with a look of disbelief.

‘He’s taken the bait.’

Well, how could he not?

If he succeeded in creating artificial mana stones, an enormous fortune would be his.

Right now, I was practically offering the prototype for a business that would grow into something colossal.

Sure, I could have kept the entire fortune for myself, but I lacked both the technology and the capital to produce artificial mana stones.

Instead, I figured it was better to use this as a trump card to win the Duke’s favor.

I let out a small sigh, covering my cheek with my hand.

“Even though I was chased by heretics, sprained my ankle, and encountered terrifying ghosts in the process….”

I exaggerated the story a little, hoping to make my hardships stand out.

The Duke, who had been filled with disappointment earlier, now looked at me with growing affection.

His expression was like that of a parent who had just watched their troublemaking child unexpectedly ace their exams and get into the top university.

‘Time for the final blow.’

Even Jeanne, incompetent as he was, had one redeeming quality: his breathtaking beauty, which could charm anyone—man, woman, child, or elder.

Jeanne’s beauty often surprised even me.

I had adorned his character with every flattering description I could think of, emphasizing the contrast between his outward beauty and his inner ugliness.

Conversely, it meant that a beautiful, kind-hearted Jeanne could persuade just about anyone.

With a smile I had practiced in front of the mirror hundreds of times, I spoke softly.

“I would like to donate all these mana stones to your magic research institute, Duke. If you succeed in creating artificial mana stones, they will undoubtedly cause a sensation among magicians.”

“….”

“I deeply regret causing such a scandal out of a desire to help. I’ll take some time to reflect over the next few days.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Cedrick, who had been watching me with folded arms, raised a corner of his mouth.

It was clear what he was saying with his eyes.

Not bad.

“…Cedric.”

The Duke, who had been silently watching me, turned toward Cedric. Cedrick bowed his head respectfully.

“Yes, Father.”

“The young lady seems to have lost a lot of weight. Go tell the head maid to prepare a meal immediately.”

While I stood there in shock at the Duke’s sudden change in demeanor, Cedrick frowned, as if wondering why he was being dragged into this.

“Me? Why me?”

“Do you see any other Cedrick here?”

The Duke glared at him.

Cedrick, looking exasperated, pouted as he turned to leave.

As he passed by me, he whispered incredulously.

“I guess I was worried for nothing.”

I responded with a polite, businesslike smile.

Cedrick let out a dry laugh as he left the reception room, leaving behind an awkward atmosphere.

I glanced at the Duke cautiously and spoke up.

“Duke, I noticed earlier that the flowers in the garden are in full bloom… Would you care to take a walk with me?”

My heart pounded with fear that he might refuse.

The Duke hesitated briefly before setting down the papers in his hand.

“Very well. Let’s do that.”

✽ ✽ ✽

As I walked with the Duke, my thoughts kept returning to Jerome.

The situation had taken a favorable turn, and it was all thanks to him.

Of course, I felt grateful, but I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that I now owed him a debt.

‘When I see him again, I should at least thank him. No, just saying it might seem too insincere. Maybe I should give him a small gift….’

But why won’t I see him for a while?

Could he really have a secret lover?

Not that it mattered to me, of course—I didn’t care one bit.

Still, if he were fooling around behind my back after everything we’d gone through, it would annoy me.

“How’s your health?”

I was lost in thought when the Duke’s voice interrupted.

I quickly pushed Jerome from my mind and smiled awkwardly.

“Hm? Oh, I’m fine. Jerome helped me a lot. As the rumors say, he’s quite the brave man.”

“Is that so? So the rumors that his madness has subsided must be true.”

I smiled, deflecting the question.

If I told the Duke what really happened with Jerome, he would surely faint.

After a long silence, the Duke spoke again.

“I’ve heard that you asked Duke Michael to help you enroll in the Imperial Academy. Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Why?”

The Duke seemed more genuinely curious about the reason than angry.

In fact, noble daughters didn’t necessarily have to attend the academy.

At least in this era, marrying a man from a good family at a young age and taking care of the household was considered the highest virtue.

The Duke seemed determined to find out why Jeanne, who had no talent for magic, was choosing to walk such a thorny path.

He stopped in his tracks, and I paused alongside him, giving a slight smile.

“Why do you work so late into the night, Duke?”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it to protect the Efilia family?”

The Duke pursed his lips. Just then, a white butterfly landed on his shoulder.

When I held out my finger near the butterfly, it climbed onto the tip.

As I watched the fluttering wings of the butterfly, I spoke.

“Since coming to this mansion, I’ve experienced many things. If there’s one thing I’ve realized through that time… it’s that just wanting to protect something isn’t enough to actually keep it safe.”

Lily’s bright smile flashed through my mind.

Even the advice Jerome had given me inside the heretic’s stomach.

“No, Jeanne. No one can save you now. You’re too weak to be self-reliant at this moment.”

At the time, I had denied it, but Jerome’s words had some merit.

Just wanting to protect something wasn’t enough to safeguard it.

To protect something precious and to protect myself, I needed a corresponding strength.

I took a deep breath and spoke with a sincere expression.

“Duke, actually… I don’t want to be someone’s wife or an adult.”

“….”

“I think those things are just superficial. Like you protect the Efilia family, I want to be someone who can protect something precious too. And for that, I need strong power.”

A cool breeze tousled my hair.

The Duke’s gaze met my eyes. With trembling hands, I gathered my courage.

“So please, allow me to enroll in the academy. I beg you.”

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