IPPCB 03

Chapter 03

3 Years Later

Three years later.

With her red hair tied tightly into a single ponytail and dressed in a simple cotton dress that allowed for easy movement, Judith energetically pushed open the doors of the Gray Information Guild.

The receptionist had been reading a newspaper, but the moment he saw her face, he jumped to his feet.

“You’ve arrived.”

He greeted Judith with a friendly smile.

“The Master has been expecting you.”

The treatment she received now was completely different from what it had been three years ago.

Back then, Judith had marched into this place and demanded to see the Master immediately. Since then, she had become one of the few important clients granted direct access to him.

Well, of course. Every piece of information I’ve sold so far has turned out to be correct.

Since the original story had not yet begun, there wasn’t much she could actively interfere with. Still, she was able to scrape together information to sell.

After thinking carefully, she realized that the novel often contained brief references to past events mentioned in passing by the narrators.

There were no jackpot business opportunities or investment secrets, but there were occasionally useful tidbits like these:

[Baron and Baroness Palena have had unresolved conflicts since before their marriage. They’ll probably divorce someday.]

This information had been inspired by a line in the novel:

“The Baron and Baroness Palena eventually divorced due to conflicts that had existed even before their marriage.”

Or:

[The Aten Count’s estate contains a secret rose garden. It’s the Count’s private hobby, and it contains many rare varieties.]

This had come from another passing line:

“Count Aten had maintained a secret rose garden in the estate since childhood.”

Of course, Judith was extremely careful whenever she sold information.

If she altered the flow of the original story even slightly, her plans might go awry. So she only leaked trivial information about insignificant extras whose actions would never affect the plot.

As a result, her information was highly accurate but not particularly expensive.

It was just enough for her to barely pay off the interest on her debts and survive.

Still, because her information was so reliable, the Master always met with her personally and paid a respectable price.

“Welcome, Baroness.”

As Judith confidently entered the Master’s office, the Master himself greeted her.

He handed her a large bouquet of roses and spoke gently.

“Congratulations on reaching adulthood.”

Today was Judith’s twentieth birthday—the day she officially became an adult.

“Oh my, thank you.”

The lavish bouquet looked entirely out of place with her modest clothing.

Accepting the flowers happily, Judith smiled brightly.

“But I don’t remember ever telling you my birthday.”

“One needs to know things like that to run an information guild.”

The Master replied calmly.

“Especially after milady already discovered my age.”

The Master of the Gray Information Guild.

Judith didn’t know his name and simply called him “Master.”

He always wore a mask, so she had no idea what he looked like.

He also wore gloves, hiding his hands, and his hair color changed every time they met, making her suspect he wore wigs.

The only things she could say with certainty were that he had a lean frame and a well-trained physique.

The Master quietly watched Judith holding the bouquet before suddenly asking:

“So, how exactly did you discover my age?”

“I told you, I just guessed. How was I supposed to know you were actually a minor?”

Making a doubtful sound, the Master sat down.

In truth, Judith didn’t know his exact age.

She had merely deduced that he had been underage three years ago.

The reason was a line that would appear much later in the original novel:

“When the fire broke out, the head of the Gray Information Guild had only recently come of age. He died far too young. Had he survived, the course of events might have unfolded very differently.”

Her intuition had proven correct.

She still didn’t know his exact age, but at most he could only be two years older than her.

Either way, the fact that he had built an information guild and risen this high while still a minor spoke volumes about his abilities.

Too bad he would eventually die in an accident in the original story…

“When we become closer someday, I hope you’ll tell me.”

Completely unconvinced by her claim that she had guessed, the Master smiled gently.

“How you know all those remarkably accurate pieces of information as well.”

“I already told you. I learned things while traveling around trying to pay off my debts. That’s really all there is to it.”

Shrugging casually, she sat across from him.

Then she looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“Today I have information to sell—and information to buy.”

“Oh?”

The Master sounded intrigued.

“This is the first time you’ve ever wanted to purchase information from me.”

“That’s right. And the information I’m selling today is very expensive, so it should cover the cost.”

“Of course. The moment you said ‘expensive information,’ I became interested.”

His voice was smooth and pleasant.

It was low, sweet, and strangely memorable in one way—

Or rather, forgettable.

The moment one walked away, it became impossible to recall.

He was definitely using some kind of magical item.

He’s truly dedicated to hiding his identity, Judith thought as she inwardly shook her head.

“What information are you seeking, milady?”

The Master’s voice flowed smoothly.

Judith blinked.

“Ekian Mayeus.”

“…Pardon?”

“I need information on Ekian Mayeus.”

Ekian Mayeus.

In the original novel, he was merely known as the villain’s older brother who ran away from home and disappeared.

The younger son of the Duke of Mayeus and a man renowned for his talent and brilliance.

No one knew why he abandoned such a promising future and ran away.

No one knew what he had been doing after his disappearance, either.

The novel never revealed it.

The only thing that was certain was that the Mayeus Ducal House had become obsessed with finding their missing eldest son.

Even his younger brother—the future villain, still a child at this point—desperately waited for his return.

“Hmm.”

The Master paused.

“You mean the missing young duke of House Mayeus… the one who’s been gone for nearly five years?”

“Let’s be precise. Not five years yet—almost five years.”

According to Imperial law, a person missing for five years could be officially declared dead.

Once that happened, the title of Young Duke would automatically pass to Ekian’s younger brother.

If Ekian ever returned afterward, reclaiming the title would be difficult.

Not only would both brothers need to agree, but the vassals’ council would also need to approve it.

And since his disappearance was clearly voluntary, there was a high chance the council would reject him on the grounds that he lacked any desire to inherit the duchy.

“Anyway, yes. That Ekian Mayeus. I’d like information about him.”

The Duke and Duchess of Mayeus desperately wanted to prevent the death declaration.

For reasons Judith couldn’t quite understand, they refused to give up on their runaway son.

Yet time continued to pass, and the five-year limit was approaching.

As a result, the couple came up with an absurd plan.

They intended to find a woman who could pretend to be carrying Ekian’s child and acknowledge her as their daughter-in-law.

The direct descendants of House Mayeus all possessed a unique aura.

The family head could supposedly recognize that aura even within an unborn child.

If such a child appeared, it would serve as proof that Ekian had been alive recently.

That alone would allow them to postpone the death declaration.

I should take that fake daughter-in-law position.

Judith reminded herself of the plan she had spent years considering.

In the original story, they assigned the role to a malicious maid, who ended up helping shape the future villain’s rotten personality.

But I really will just quietly take the money and leave.

It was a lifeline that could erase her crushing debts all at once.

For Judith, the Mayeus Ducal House was incredibly important.

At the same time, she was curious about Ekian himself.

If I’m going to claim I’m pregnant with his child someday, it’d be nice to know something about him.

As Judith stared at him with bright, eager eyes, the Master let out a long sigh.

“Why are you suddenly interested in that man?”

“Ah.”

Since everyone would learn the truth eventually anyway, Judith decided to reveal a little.

“I’m interested in him.”

“Naturally. Otherwise you wouldn’t be asking for information. What kind of interest are we talking abo—”

Judith immediately cut him off while he calmly sipped his tea.

“Romantic interest.”

Since she planned to claim she was carrying his child someday, it wasn’t technically a lie.

“I have romantic interest in that man.”

“Pfft!”

At that exact moment, the Master sprayed tea everywhere.