Chapter 63: Do You Understand Music?

Vera arrived at the entrance of Anke’s office room, only to hear voices coming from inside—Anke and another unfamiliar woman.

So Vera didn’t rush in. Instead, she waited by the door, using the Mimic Beast’s super hearing to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Inside Anke’s office room.

“Your Highness is quite impatient. There’s so much cargo here—I can’t possibly take it all in~”

Count Pauly offered Anke a polite smile.

“But I believe Count Pauly is capable. When it comes to controlling shipping and trade, there aren’t many people in the entire Hanover Province, or even the whole Black Cross Kingdom, who can match you, Count.”

Anke looked at the countess’s smile and continued.

“I appreciate Your Highness’s praise. I can agree to the cooperation you’ve proposed. However, I’ll need to take some samples first and see how they sell. If there’s a market for them, I’ll take all of Your Highness’s cargo at a price you’ll find most satisfactory.”

“Of course. Let’s sign an agreement now, so we don’t forget later.”

Anke pulled out a ready-made agreement.

“Your Highness is truly pragmatic. Signed. See if everything’s in order, right?”

Count Pauly wrote her name on the agreement and pressed a seal over it with her ring, which bore the family crest pattern.

“Good. Let’s wish for a smooth cooperation.”

Anke took back the agreement, gave it a careful look, and said.

“Smooth cooperation. I’ll send ships to pick up the first batch of samples as soon as possible. Your Highness, remember to repair a port for loading and unloading cargo. Otherwise, the ships won’t be able to dock, and I can’t do anything about it.”

After giving Anke this reminder, Count Pauly turned and left the room with her maid.

Stepping out, she happened to meet eyes with Vera, who was waiting by the door.

Seeing such a rare, spirited female knight, Count Pauly stopped in her tracks and took a good look at Vera before speaking.

“Red hair. You’re Vera, the chief knight by Anke’s side?”

“Yes, Count Pauly. You know of me?”

Vera nodded in response.

“Of course I do. After my daughter returned last time, she told me about you. Said she saw many new and exciting things at Your Highness Anke’s place, and also a very beautiful red-haired female knight. Now it seems my daughter wasn’t lying—and her vocabulary is too limited to truly capture your charm, Vera.”

Count Pauly looked Vera up and down carefully before saying.

“I’m grateful for your praise, Count Pauly. I’m just an ordinary female knight.”

Vera replied modestly. As a knight of her background, it was better to stay humble and not draw too much attention in front of a noble.

“You’re too modest. By the way, are you interested in joining my Pauly family? I can offer you at least five times your current pay and benefits.”

“Join the Pauly family? Are you trying to recruit me into your household, Count?”

“Yes. Because the Pauly family is female-dominated, with most members being women. When forming our guard knight guard and recruiting retainers, we prefer to hire female knights or retainers to avoid any issues. When I come across a suitable candidate, I extend an invitation directly—like I’m doing with you now, Vera.”

Count Pauly explained and then pressed Vera again.

“So, how about it? Willing to join my Pauly family? I promise to fulfill my offer and handle your relationship with your prince, leaving no loose ends.”

“Thank you for your invitation, Count Pauly. But as a knight, having chosen Your Highness Anke, I won’t abandon him for someone else. So, I cannot accept your kind offer.”

Vera lowered her head in refusal.

“Good, good. As a knight, you’ve done well, Vera. Since you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.But remember one thing: the Selection of the King your prince faces is brutal and difficult. If… I mean, if, in the future, you have nowhere to go, come find me.”

Count Pauly left the sentence unfinished, but Vera understood her meaning.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“If you get the chance, visit Maritime Cliff City and Siren City.”

With that, Count Pauly walked past Vera.

Vera watched the countess leave, then approached and knocked on Anke’s door.

With his permission, Vera pushed the door open and entered.

“Vera? You’re here? Did you hear anything about the First Prince’s plans from Count Oka?”

Anke immediately asked upon seeing her.

“No. Count Oka didn’t mention anything about the First Prince. I discovered something else.”

Vera shook her head.

“Something else? What?”

“The one who arrived today and was invited into the meeting room as ‘Count Oka’ is actually a body double. The real Count Oka has been in the guard knight squad the whole time, and only now swapped back with the double.”

Vera then fully explained everything she had seen through her familiar.

“A body double? Count Oka plays games like that? But what’s the point? He still agreed to my money-making plan in the end.”

Anke said in confusion.

“Maybe he was worried Your Highness might harm them directly after inviting them here.”

Vera guessed.

“That old fox is quite cautious. But this isn’t a ‘Hongmen Banquet’—he’s just causing trouble for himself.”

Anke mocked Count Oka’s unnecessary precaution.

“Perhaps. But having a body double gives an extra life. Your Highness could also prepare a few doubles in the future, to prevent anyone from harming you when I’m not around.”

Vera suggested to Anke.

“That won’t do! A body double… double… sooner or later, you’d become the body double yourself.”

Anke waved his hand in refusal.

“Alright. If Your Highness finds it unsuitable, I won’t bring it up again.”

Vera could roughly understand the meaning behind Anke’s words.

Maybe it was like the excuses people used when hunting Mimic Beasts—the fear of being replaced by a substitute.

But even Mimic Beasts couldn’t fully replace a person—how could a human body double do it?

“Vera, do you understand music?”

Anke suddenly asked Vera.

“Music? Does Your Highness want to hear me sing?”

“No, can you come up with a piece of music for me? I read in stories that you White Dragons are all versatile, and music comes easy to you.”

Anke added.

“Stories are fake, Your Highness. How would a White Dragon understand human music? I can only hum a lullaby or two.”

Vera denied it, thinking to herself, even if those White Dragons did know music, she was a Mimic Beast, not a real one—how could she possibly produce a musical score? She’d better find an excuse to refuse.

“That’s a shame. It feels like without that piece of music, it just lacks soul.”

Anke sighed.

“If Your Highness really wants a musical score, why not go to Kaxier? She’s a priestess; she must know music.”

“Really?”

“Really.”