Chapter 13 : A Proposal at the Edge
Chapter 13
The idea that I could negotiate with loan sharks—
That was nothing more than wishful thinking.
No, the moment I assumed we could have a civil conversation, I was already wrong.
The first thing I did was check the authenticity of the stamp on the loan agreement. Unfortunately, it was real. No room for forgery.
“There’s something I need to say first. A 50% interest rate? That’s insane.”
I brought up the most absurd part right away.
“But your father signed the contract that way. Unfortunately, you’re now in a position where you’ll have to repay it. There’s nothing we employees can do about it.”
The answer was consistent. Finn Schneider looked at me with a pitiful expression and continued.
“Why don’t you take a look at the terms we’ve prepared? I hope you’ll see that we’ve done our best to be considerate.”
He slid a sheet of paper across the table, still smiling as if nothing was wrong.
I picked up the contract they handed over. As soon as I saw the contents, I scoffed.
“…Sell my body or sign over the house.”
So I had to pick one of those.
My expression hardened as I stared at the two men in turn. Finn glanced at the standing Pavid with an amused smirk.
“Pavid, how much do you think she’d go for?”
He gestured at me like I was merchandise. Pavid’s beady eyes scanned me up and down.
Greed flashed across his eyes for a second. He licked his lips before replying.
“Well, I can’t say for sure until I see her without clothes, but from the outside? Top class.”
His gravelly voice grated on my ears, and I couldn’t help but frown.
“You heard him.”
Finn Schneider locked eyes with me. His sharp eyes crinkled slightly.
“So either pay up now or choose one of the two options.”
“…”
“The choice is yours.”
I wanted to protest, to shout at the absurdity of it all, but no words came out.
And who knows what they’d do to me if I resisted.
I never should’ve let them into my home.
I had been in a rush to leave for work and made a reckless decision.
“As I said before, we’re just employees too. We need to show results. Something to bring back.”
I tried desperately to think of a way out.
If I gave up the house, I’d have nowhere left. I couldn’t just hand over the place I once shared with my father.
But I had no way of repaying over 100 million Verks either. Choosing one of the options…
Should I scream?
“Miss Prim, from your expression, it seems you’re considering shouting. But do you think this is our first time doing this?”
“…”
“The more uncooperative you are, the worse your options will become.”
Finn Schneider’s gentle smile vanished as he gave an order.
“Lock the door.”
Pavid stomped toward the door, each step shaking the floor.
I clenched my teeth so hard they made a sound.
“You threaten and deceive people for a living?”
“Most of the time, yes.”
Finn chuckled.
“Still, we’re the gentlemanly type. Classy and nice. Good looks like mine aren’t so easy to come by.”
A small laugh escaped me.
This man was spewing nonsense.
Drenched in vanity, he clearly had no idea what being a real gentleman meant.
Johannes Schultz…
Come to think of it, I’d only seen him during work or in uniform. He must be even more refined in everyday life.
Compared to him, Finn Schneider wasn’t even remotely close to a gentleman.
“Did you just laugh at me?”
“No. Of course not.”
I quickly wiped the smirk from my lips, but Finn’s mood was already foul.
“You laughed. We have a little method for this kind of situation.”
His expression was twisted in irritation.
I must have hit a nerve.
“Pavid! What’s taking so long! Pavid!”
Finn turned with a sharp voice and glared at the door.
“Stay put. If you run, I’ll sell you off for real.”
His bony finger pointed at me like a threat.
I was scared, but this was my only chance.
I had to get out—head for the back alley or Madame Pensler’s house. Or maybe catch a carriage to the Duke’s estate…
As soon as he turned away, I sprang up and dashed for the back door.
But when I opened it, I froze in place.
“Duke Schultz…?”
“Pavid! Pavid!”
Finn Schneider ran to the front door, brushing his hair back in panic. The moment he saw what lay outside, his face went pale.
“W-What the hell…!”
Pavid was flailing, held by the back of his neck. His face had turned a frightening shade of purple.
In front of the house stood a group in white naval uniforms—Dothilia’s navy.
The navy?
The police weren’t an issue. A bribe or a drink solved most things.
But the navy was different. They had no flexibility.
And they had never taken such direct action before.
Finn bit his lip nervously and began to back away—until a looming shadow stopped him.
“Damn it.”
He slowly turned and looked up at the man blocking his path.
His face turned from fear to horror.
“Johannes Schultz…? Why are you here…?”
His voice trembled uncontrollably.
Wasn’t he supposed to let me off the hook?
‘How far do I have to overlook your actions?’
That icy voice echoed in my head like a hammer.
Finn Schneider was the illegitimate son of Count Schwaben, born to a courtesan.
A half-noble who couldn’t even use his father’s name.
He tried desperately to emulate the gentry, but his filthy upbringing clung to him like a curse.
Naturally, he had only one goal:
Live as lavishly as he could, with all the privileges but none of the titles.
He founded Banux, seduced women, drank himself silly—until the day the navy burst into his bar.
He’d heard someone say “Colonel Schultz,” glanced over, and accidentally locked eyes with him.
Johannes warned him then, told him he knew about the scams and that Count Schwaben wouldn’t protect him forever.
Since then, Finn had tried to stay under the radar.
But now?
He didn’t know why this was happening. All he knew was—he was screwed.
“Duke Schultz…?”
I stood frozen, then turned to see the navy outside. I didn’t know why he was here, and I didn’t care.
All I felt was relief.
Without a word, I followed behind him into the house.
He stood in front of Finn Schneider.
“Johannes Schultz…? Why are you here…?”
Finn’s face twisted in disbelief. I couldn’t help but frown.
Then I laughed.
His hand flew to his forehead in shock—a pathetic sight I’d never seen from him before.
Just then, Pavid collapsed onto the floor. Finn’s trembling intensified.
Incredible. That revolting face no longer scared me.
He was clearly trying to think of something.
And then, with a sudden spark, he blurted out:
“I-I heard the royal family stripped the Duke’s family of emergency powers… didn’t they?”
“Your eyes must be decorative. How unfortunate.”
Johannes chuckled.
“That’s why I’m here as a colonel.”
Finn, sensing the shift, dropped his pride and fell to his knees.
“Please, just once. If I’m arrested, my father will kill me.”
“That’s your problem.”
He grabbed at Johannes’s trousers, only for the naval soldiers to kick his shoulder and send him sprawling.
“I didn’t expect you to still be playing dirty tricks. Didn’t I warn you?”
Johannes said coldly, then turned to face me.
His blue eyes locked onto mine, unreadable.
Finally, his lips parted.
“At the moment, I can’t offer you any help, Miss Prim.”
His voice was softer than I expected. I had braced myself for something cold…
Still, my hope that things could go back to normal vanished like a puff of smoke.
Of course. He had no obligation to pay off my debt.
For a moment, I felt ashamed of my selfish expectation.
With a nod from Johannes, Sir Fret stepped forward.
“To be precise, they’ve committed a crime. Now’s not the time to explain, but this is a common tactic.”
“Then…!”
“But it’ll take time to bring them to court. Until then, you’ll be legally obligated to pay—unless you want to lose this house.”
Sir Fret looked around the room. When he saw my devastated face, he sighed.
“The law is truly dirty. Even Colonel Schultz has limits. Legally, he can lend up to 50 million Verks to someone.”
“But if he were to help without expecting anything in return… the story changes.”
Johannes cut in.
I pressed my lips together.
I knew exactly what he meant.
He was proposing marriage again, after pretending like he never had.
Why now?
I looked up at him in confusion. He stepped closer.
And quietly asked:
“Do you want help?”
“…”
“Real help.”
His piercing blue eyes gleamed for a moment. I almost laughed.
‘Real help.’
He was throwing my own words back at me.
A dry, practical proposal—yet somehow more romantic than any other.
Who else would throw away 135 million Verks for a penniless woman?
Especially someone like Johannes Schultz, the man every lady in high society longed for.
A small laugh escaped my lips.
I had to protect this house. I couldn’t afford pride.
It wouldn’t be free.
But whatever conditions he placed, I was already the one at a disadvantage.
If he proposed, he wouldn’t sell me or take the house.
So I looked at him firmly and said:
“Yes. Desperately so.”
