I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living

Chapter 84

“The thought of my people starving to death made me step in. Most of them would’ve frozen over the winter if I hadn’t acted.”

“I see.”

Elizabeth smiled quietly, as though something had clicked in her mind in response to Penelope’s answer.

What exactly is the heroine trying to confirm with me?

Once again, doubt gnawed at Penelope. She knew too much about the heroine to blindly welcome her kindness.

She doesn’t trust people and uses everything she can to her advantage.

At that moment, Elizabeth spoke.

“I’d like to have a deeper conversation with you, Lady Penelope, but I don’t think I have the time today. Would it be alright if I requested another meeting in the future?”

“...Not tomorrow?”

“It might be difficult for a while. I didn’t come here with formal permission.”

“Pardon?”

Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise. She cautiously observed Elizabeth and asked, “You’re not... Lady Linda, are you?”

“I’ll formally introduce myself when we meet again. Ah, I really must be going now.”

Elizabeth stood up abruptly, her hurried demeanor evident, and swiftly left the drawing room.

Penelope quickly rose to her feet, scrambling to offer parting words, but Elizabeth disappeared from sight before she could finish.

“Goodbye...? What was that?”

Penelope pouted in frustration.

She just came to size me up and left without a single explanation?

It was clear Elizabeth had sneaked in without Ahwin’s permission. There was no other reason for her to leave in such a rush.

She must think she successfully concealed her true identity from me.

Penelope scratched her forehead with her fingertips, her thoughts racing.

I suppose I’ll have to act surprised the next time we meet.

Imagining herself feigning shock upon realizing that today’s visitor was none other than the Empress made Penelope’s skin crawl. Deception wasn’t something that came naturally to her.

Just then—

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” Penelope called out.

At her invitation, the butler entered the drawing room, looking visibly flustered.

“Lady Linda has arrived.”

“...What?”

“I double-checked, and she introduced herself as Lady Linda.”

“...Alright.”

Penelope nodded, keeping her composure. This time, it had to be the real Lady Linda.

I can’t let Penelope fall into the hands of the Academy, of all places.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ahwin dismissed his unnecessary worries with a wave of his thoughts.

“So, when will you introduce me to this brilliant inventor?”

“When the opportunity arises, I’ll introduce you.”

“That sounds like you don’t really want to introduce us at all,” Orlan said, his keen insight into Ahwin’s true intentions shining through.

Feigning innocence, Ahwin replied with a straight face, “When I find the time, I’ll make sure you meet.”

***

Ahwin managed to shake off Orlan earlier than expected.

It was because Orlan had become completely engrossed in the “hair dryer” schematics Ahwin had handed over.

With a determined expression, Orlan confidently declared that he would complete the magical device’s development according to the schematics by the end of the month.

“I might be able to improve upon these schematics a little. Could my name be included in the patent?”

“Do as you please.”

Ahwin gave a half-hearted nod and quickly excused himself, almost fleeing the scene.

By the time Ahwin arrived home, it was nearly lunchtime.

He came to an abrupt halt in front of the entrance.

Hmm...?

Ahwin’s eyes narrowed as he sensed a faint trace of magic. The aura felt familiar, yet it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

There was only one person on the continent who left behind traces of magic like this.

With a face turning grim, Ahwin opened the front door.

“Welcome back, Master.”

Martin greeted him just in time. However, when Ahwin shot him a cold glare, Martin sighed and lowered his head.

“Two people claiming to be Lady Linda visited today.”

“...”

Ahwin furrowed his brows, piecing together what Martin had left unsaid.

One of them must have been Betty.

Ahwin couldn’t decide whether he should be angry at his old friend’s audacity or merely surprised.

In the past, Betty had been the kind of person who would stride into his space uninvited and make brazen demands, knowing full well Ahwin would permit it. But those days were over.

Ahwin had no intention of tolerating such disrespect any longer.

“Where is Penelope?”

“She’s resting in her bedroom.”

Before Martin could finish speaking, Ahwin extended his magical senses, searching for Penelope’s presence. In an instant, he detected her steady breathing and the unchanged flow of her magic, confirming that she was fine.

But there was more.

A faint blue light flickered in Ahwin’s deep-set eyes.