Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 54: Negotiating with Emma

Chapter 54: Negotiating with Emma

《Cerios’ Side》

After what felt like an eternity, the dark guild finally made contact.

Kanon and I arrived at the tavern that served as their hideout, the air thick with the stench of alcohol and secrecy.

“Took you long enough.”

“Yeah, well, this time, the situation was a bit more complicated than usual.”

“What about your so-called little brother, Kiru?”

“Oh, he’s off handling a different investigation.”

“I see.”

I eyed Emma with suspicion, urging her to get to the point.

“To put it simply, the reason Lady Clarice is being confined is because King himself ordered her disowned. Duke Everett is now searching for her next potential marriage partner, since her engagement has already been annulled.”

“So it’s true. She was stripped of her title and had her engagement broken off.”

The rumors had been confirmed, but that only raised more questions.

Why was Clarice disowned in the first place? And just how did the Duke plan to find her a suitable husband?

“From here on, any more details will cost extra. Want to hear them?”

“You actually have more information?”

“This is a dark guild. When we investigate something, we go all the way.”

“How much?”

“100 gold coins.”

“I’ll pay.”

“…Huh?!”

Emma looked completely caught off guard.

She had clearly expected me to haggle.

But in a place like this, trying to bargain wouldn’t do me any favors. Instead, by showing that I had the wealth and confidence to pay without hesitation, I gained the upper hand in this negotiation.

“Are you serious?”

“Kanon, hand over the payment.”

A leather pouch filled with gold coins was placed on the table.

But instead of just the original fee, I added another pouch on top of it.

“I’ve been thinking about gaining control over the dark guild operating in Egrid’s territory for a while now. So, Emma—let’s negotiate.”

“W-What are you saying?”

“Become mine.”

“Wha—!? What the hell are you talking about?”

“You suddenly slipped into a dialect. So that’s how you really speak?”

“Yeah, so? What exactly do you mean by making me yours?”

To be honest, I just didn’t want Liese and Kiru crossing paths again. If I could keep the guild under my control, I could ensure that wouldn’t happen.

Besides, the reason the dark guild had been able to operate in Egrid’s territory was because, as a frontier land, it wasn’t under strict surveillance from the royal capital.

If that was the case, I might as well take advantage of it.

“I’ll officially recognize your guild’s activities within my territory. However, you will prioritize my requests above all else. As the Lord of Egrid, I’ll formally acknowledge your existence.”

“What?! A noble recognizing a dark guild? That’s practically treason against the kingdom!”

“Only if we get caught. If you ever make a mistake that puts us at risk, I’ll cut you off without hesitation.”

“…Haaah, damn, you really are crazy. But I like it. I’ll gladly take these 100 gold coins as a start.”

Emma accepted the deal, grabbing the pouch of gold without hesitation.

“If I spill everything we know without filtering it, then… it seems like Prince Edward’s defeat in the duel was the trigger for everything.”

How did my victory over him lead to Clarice being disowned?

“As far as the king is concerned, all the blame has been placed on Gald, the Marshal’s son. Since he interrupted the sacred duel midway, they made him take full responsibility. But before the duel even started, Lady Clarice made a statement that favored her opponent, which was seen as an act of undermining the prince. That was labeled as treason against the kingdom, making her unfit to be his fiancée.”

What kind of nonsense was that?

In order to absolve Edward of any blame, they cut Gald off like a disposable pawn—and on top of that, they pinned a crime on Clarice.

Was something like that even possible?

I tried to recall Cerios’ memories, attempting to picture the king’s face… but I realized I had never actually seen him.

“There’s more. Duke Everett plans to marry off Lady Clarice while she still holds her noble title, using her as a bargaining chip in foreign negotiations. Age doesn’t matter. He’s already sent letters to kings from other nations, offering her as a bride—even to royals over twenty years her senior.”

Hearing all this, I knew things had taken a serious turn.

Duke Everett had spent years grooming Clarice to become a queen.

And now that this path was closed to her, he had immediately shifted gears—using her as nothing more than a political tool to strengthen ties with foreign powers.

“Getting intel on the royal family is a huge advantage.”

“Well, that’s my job. Worth the 100 gold coins, right?”

“Yeah. I understand a lot more now… and I think I finally know what I need to do.”

“And what’s that?”

“First, I’m going to meet Duke Everett.”

Maybe if I had gone straight to him from the beginning, I could have learned everything firsthand.

But having this information beforehand changed everything—it meant I could prepare and control the situation better.

“Emma, I have another job for you.”

“You sure know how to push people around.”

“It’s business, isn’t it? Or do you need a vacation?”

“Nah, I’ll take it. I’m already involved anyway.”

“Appreciate it.”

After leaving Emma with her next assignment, I stepped out of the dark guild’s hideout.

Waiting outside, Kanon raised an eyebrow, her expression tight with concern.

“Lord Cerios, are you sure about this? Siding with a dark guild… you never know when they’ll betray you.”

I understood her concerns.

But with how few allies I had in this kingdom, I couldn’t afford to be picky. Even if it meant buying loyalty with gold, I needed every resource I could get.

“I’ve already factored in the risk of betrayal. But right now, my priority is doing everything I can for Clarice.”

“I see… You’ve got a lot on your plate, don’t you, Lord Cerios?”

“At least I have the information I need now. We’re heading to Duke Everett’s estate. Can I count on you for protection?”

“Leave it to me.”

Finally, I could make my next move.