Chapter 12 : A Visit from Banux
Chapter 12
A sharp, bitter scent of cigarette smoke stung the tip of the nose.
Frett Gunner continued his report, gazing at his inscrutable superior.
“…The next matter concerns Miss Prim.”
Only then did Johannes, whose gaze had been fixed on the documents, lift his eyes with quiet composure.
In the darkness, his blue irises gleamed like starlight.
Those eyes have always been terrifying.
Frett Gunner shook his head subtly before beginning his report on Edith Prim after a brief pause.
“The servants’ behavior toward Miss Prim seems to have improved significantly. It would’ve been helpful if you had explained things earlier.”
Frett subtly reproached Johannes. But the man simply nodded in acknowledgment, offering no further reaction.
A silent signal to continue the report.
Perhaps it was the bond forged over years of service, but as long as one didn’t overstep, he was surprisingly lenient.
“She also asked if you had ordered her dismissal.”
Frett Gunner was not one to pry into matters that didn’t concern him. This time was no exception.
“She seemed more anxious than usual. She insisted she was fine, but her eyes were trembling ever so slightly.”
“The reason?”
Johannes tilted his head faintly.
“I suspect it’s financial. She requested a certificate of employment—presumably for a loan.”
“A loan? Is her salary insufficient?”
Frett Gunner responded without delay.
“Not at all. Her salary is nearly double that of other noble households’ staff. I’ll need to investigate further to determine the purpose.”
“How long will that take?”
“No more than two days, at the latest.”
Johannes seemed satisfied with the answer. He gave a subtle nod.
“And her adjustment?”
A faint shadow of dread passed over Frett’s face. He tugged uncomfortably at the tightly tied cravat around his neck.
“Why ask now? She’s just started to speak with the other servants, so she should adapt soon… There’s nothing particularly troubling in terms of her work.”
Johannes’s face settled once more into one of disinterest.
“Very well.”
It was an exceptionally concise dismissal.
Frett Gunner bowed his head again and gave his final report.
“She also requested that our conversations remain confidential. I must admit, it makes me uncomfortable to report them like this.”
Johannes scoffed lightly.
The joy of receiving the certificate of employment was short-lived.
Even the bank I trusted refused to help.
“I’m sorry, but our policy has changed. Only those employed for more than three months are eligible for a loan.”
The bank clerk wore the expression of someone used to rejecting such requests.
Why is every path lined with thorns?
I stood blankly in front of the bank, staring down at the slip of paper that now felt utterly useless.
Should I just lose my mind and ask for help? No. I’ve already received all the assistance I can expect as an employee.
I didn’t want to be dismissed for being someone who didn’t know her place.
But the repayment deadline was tomorrow. What now?
If the loan agents showed up, I’d have no choice but to calm them down and try to negotiate.
The cold air felt even sharper than usual that day.
“Are you Miss Edith Prim?”
Just as I stepped outside, heading to work at the duke’s estate, a man blocked my path.
He had neatly combed ash-brown hair and wore a sharp, clean suit. Next to him stood a large, intimidating man glaring directly at me.
“Who are you…?”
The suited man quickly retrieved a business card from his coat and handed it to me with a courteous gesture.
“We’re from Banux. My name is Finn Schneider, department director. Feel free to address me however you wish.”
“Ah…”
Banux. The name was familiar.
It was the loan company stamped on the debt repayment agreement.
As I stood frozen, unsure of what to do, the brute beside Finn Schneider stepped forward threateningly. A foul, musty stench hit my nose.
“Hey, if you borrow money, you should pay it back on time. A person needs to have some integrity, right?”
“That’s enough. You’re frightening the young lady.”
Finn Schneider raised a hand to stop him. But the man—Favid—continued grumbling despite the intervention.
He stood in front of the doorway with his arms crossed, blocking the path and continuing to intimidate me.
“We lent that huge sum purely out of goodwill. Isn’t it only fair to repay that favor? How can you just wipe your mouth clean for three years and say nothing? What is this—some kind of gamble?”
Fear surged through me, but I kept my composure.
“I’m sorry, but I really have to get to work. Could we speak this evening instead?”
Though I asked politely, the brute remained obstinate.
He clung to absurd excuses about me possibly fleeing and refused to let me go.
Eventually, he grabbed my wrist to stop me.
“Ah…!”
“Favid, please, enough. We’re not an uncivilized company. If a competitor saw us, they’d laugh.”
“But we’re busy people too. We used our precious time to come get our damn money.”
“Still, this is not the way.”
Thank the stars someone like Finn Schneider existed.
Even so, Favid glared at me like he’d crush me if I so much as thought about escaping.
“If I had planned to run, I would’ve left Moisen the moment I saw this.”
I held up the debt agreement I still had in my hand and spoke calmly.
“I sincerely apologize for not repaying the loan. I didn’t know anything about my father’s debts.”
“I see. That must have come as quite a shock.”
Favid remained firm, stating that ignorance was no excuse—they were only here to collect money. But Finn Schneider brushed him off with ease.
“Pfft! So now you’re acting all smart, huh? Look at you, high and mighty!”
Having been completely ignored, Favid scoffed and shook his head. Yet Finn Schneider never lost his gentle smile.
“Still, we’d appreciate a clear answer.”
I glanced at the clock on the building across the street.
Not much time left before work…
But these men clearly wouldn’t let me leave until we reached a conclusion.
Even if Finn tried to be flexible, Favid would stop me.
Still, it didn’t seem like either of them truly expected me to pay back such a vast amount.
“Miss Prim, if you don’t mind, may we discuss the repayment amount? We’re not trying to demand the money this very moment. But we do have to report back to our headquarters…”
He offered a hesitant smile, asking for understanding.
My guard lowered slightly.
“Then, may I see the promissory note first?”
“What, do you think we’re scammers?”
Favid scoffed, his face twisting into an offended grimace. He shoved my shoulder roughly.
“Don’t do that.”
A primal fear surged through me.
I instinctively stepped back and glanced around.
It was early in the morning—few people were out, and those who were seemed to disappear quickly, pretending not to see.
But would a crowd have changed anything?
Of course not.
If someone called the police, that might help—but everyone knew that loan companies had ties with the authorities.
These incidents happened far too often for them to be pure coincidence.
“Favid, I’m begging you. This is why I hate working with you.”
“Ugh! If I keep showing pity, how are we ever going to do our job…”
Thankfully, Finn Schneider managed to restrain him, giving me the space to raise my head and continue speaking.
“Is it standard practice to demand money without even showing the loan document?”
Favid scowled. His already threatening face grew darker.
“Surely, if you’re not frauds, showing the note shouldn’t be an issue.”
“…Of course not.”
He rolled up his sleeve and pulled out an old, crumpled piece of paper from inside his coat. It was visibly worn and yellowed.
I narrowed my eyes as I accepted it.
“Is this really how you maintain records?”
Below was written the date the money was borrowed, the amount, and the repayment deadline.
It was a document detailing a large financial transaction—one that should’ve been stored with care and dignity.
How could they keep it in such poor condition? And…
I looked up at Finn Schneider.
“Why are you only showing up now? The repayment deadline passed three years ago.”
The gentle smile that had never left his face vanished instantly.
He exchanged a glance with Favid, like someone who had something to hide.
“We’re terribly sorry. One of our employees mismanaged the file. We only just found out and were quite surprised ourselves.”
“Ah…”
That would explain their hesitation—part of this was their fault as well.
With Finn Schneider here, perhaps a proper conversation was possible. Maybe we could even discuss reducing the interest they let accumulate due to their own negligence…
I looked calmly at the two men before me—so starkly different in demeanor—and spoke.
“There’s not much time. Why don’t you come inside?”
