3 years later.
Judith, her red hair caught in a messy bun and dressed in a simple, practical cotton dress, pushed open the heavy door to the .
The attendant, who had been lazily scanning a newspaper, snapped to his feet the moment he caught sight of her.
“You’ve arrived.”
He greeted her with a warm, practiced smile.
“The Master is waiting for you.”
The treatment was a far cry from three years ago, when Judith had first stormed in, demanding an audience with the guild’s head. Over time, she had transitioned from a desperate nuisance to one of the few high-priority clients granted face-to-face meetings.
*Of course,* she thought, *all the information I’ve provided has hit the mark.*
Since the events of the original story had yet to unfold, she couldn’t take active measures, but she survived by scraping together secrets. Looking back, she realized the original book contained countless asides and footnotes regarding the past.
There were no world-changing secrets or grand investment tips, but there were plenty of useful, buried nuggets.
[The Baron and Baroness Palena have harbored discord since before their marriage. They will likely divorce someday.]
This was gleaned from a fleeting line in the text: ‘Baron and Baroness Palena eventually divorced due to discord that had built up since before their marriage.’
[There is a secret rose garden in the backyard of the Count Aren Family. It’s the Count’s private hobby, and there are many fine breeds there.]
Derived from: ‘Count Aren had kept a secret rose garden in his backyard since he was young.’
Judith was, however, fiercely protective of the timeline. She knew that changing even the slightest detail could cause her plans to unravel. Thus, she only leaked trivial information about secondary characters that wouldn’t impact the main plot.
While the accuracy of her tips was legendary, the payout was modest—just enough to cover her mounting interest and sustain her modest lifestyle. Yet, because her intel was unfailingly precise, the Master insisted on these meetings and paid handsomely for her time.
“Baroness, you’ve arrived.”
As Judith strode into the office with practiced confidence, the Master stood to welcome her, extending a bouquet of roses that nearly swallowed her arms.
“Happy coming-of-age.”
Today was her twentieth birthday; she was officially an adult.
“Oh my, thank you.”
The bouquet was an opulent, vibrant display that clashed sharply with her modest attire. Judith accepted the flowers with a bright smile.
“But I don’t recall ever mentioning my birthday to you.”
“A guild master must keep track of at least that much to run an effective network,” the Master replied, his voice calm. “Especially when you’ve already deduced my age, my lady.”
The Master of the Gray Information Guild.
She didn’t know his real name, and she simply addressed him as Master. He wore a mask at all times, rendering his face a complete mystery. His gloved hands revealed nothing, and his hair color seemed to change with every meeting—a likely wig. All she knew for certain was his slim, steady physique.
The Master watched her, then suddenly asked, “So, how exactly did you know my age?”
“I told you, I guessed. How could I have known you were actually a minor?”
The Master let out a skeptical *‘Hmm’* and took his seat.
In truth, Judith hadn’t known his age with certainty; she’d only inferred it from his stature three years prior. The original book had contained a grim passage:
[“When the fire broke out, the head of the Gray Information Guild had barely passed his coming-of-age. He died at such a young age. Had he been alive, the political situation might have flowed differently.”]
Regardless, her intuition had been sharp. He couldn’t be more than two years older than she was. It was a shame, she thought—to build such an empire as a child, only to die in some tragic accident.
“Please tell me when we’re closer,” the Master said, refusing to drop the subject. “I find myself wondering how you come by such accurate information.”
“I learned to read the room while dodging debt collectors. That’s all there is to it.”
She shrugged and settled into the chair across from him, her eyes sparkling with intent.
“I have information to sell, and information to buy.”
“Ah,” the Master leaned forward, intrigued. “This is your first time requesting intel from me.”
“True. The information I’m selling today is quite valuable, so it should more than cover the cost.”
“Would I ever doubt you? Expensive information is something I always look forward to.”
His voice was sweet yet low, carrying that strange, unique quality that caused the memory of it to fade the moment one turned away. *A magical item,* Judith thought, shaking her head. He was truly paranoid about his identity.
“First, what is it that you wish to know?”
Judith blinked. “Ekian Mayous.”
“…Pardon?”
“I need information regarding Ekian Mayous.”
Ekian Mayous—the brother of the villain, mentioned in the original text only as having ‘run away and gone missing.’ He was the Young Duke Mayous, reputed to be brilliant in every field.
Why he had abandoned such a golden path remained a mystery. What he was doing now, or where he had gone, was never revealed. The only certainty was that the Mayous Ducal House was desperate to find him, and his younger brother was just as anxiously awaiting his return.
“Hmm.” The Master paused. “You’re referring to the Young Duke Mayous, who has been missing for five years?”
“Let’s be precise. It’s not that it *has* been five years—it will be five years soon.”
Under Imperial law, a five-year absence resulted in a death certificate. If that happened, the title of Young Duke would pass to his younger brother, and it would be nearly impossible for Ekian to reclaim it, even if he returned.
“Anyway, it’s that Ekian Mayous. I need information on him.”
The Mayous family was desperate to avoid that legal milestone. She didn’t know what was so irreplaceable about a runaway son, but they were clutching at straws to keep his status as Young Duke.
So, the Duke and Duchess Mayous had hatched an absurd plan: they would present a ‘fake’ daughter-in-law, claiming she was pregnant with Ekian’s child. The direct lineage of the Mayous family possessed a unique aura, one that a family head could recognize even in a fetus.
If successful, it would serve as proof that Ekian was alive, allowing them to stall the death certificate indefinitely.
*And I am going to be that fake daughter-in-law.*
She had been planning this for years. In the original story, a wicked maid had taken that role, and it had ruined the young villain’s life from the start.
*I’ll just stay quiet, take the money, and leave,* she resolved.
It was a lifeline that could erase her crushing debts, making the Mayous Ducal House the most important place in her life. And, if she were being honest, she was curious about the missing man himself.
*If I’m going to pretend to be pregnant with his child, I should at least know something about him.*
She looked at the Master with bright, shining eyes, and he sighed heavily.
“Why the sudden interest in that man’s identity?”
“Ah,” Judith began, deciding to drop a hint. “I have a personal interest in him.”
“Naturally, or you wouldn’t be asking. But what kind of interest…?”
Judith interrupted him, her expression deadpan.
“A romantic one.”
Since she was going to have to lie about being pregnant with his child anyway, she might as well lay the groundwork.
“I have a romantic interest in him.”
“Pfft!”
The Master sprayed the tea he had been mid-sip of, a rare crack in his composure.
Lol