After doing his work for the day at the plantation, Matias again took the time to meet his best friend, Rodrigues.
"Look at this Matias! I rented the equipment to take pictures. I rented it to help my cousin take pictures of the wild trees behind my house. He needs it to fulfill an assignment from his college institution. Bring it, in case you need it!"
"Your cousin has finished using it?"
"Of course. We used it yesterday. You still have five days to use it, before I return it to the documentation center kiosk."
"Alright Rodrigues! I'll take it with me first. Thank you."
It was evening by the time Matias left his best friend's place. On his way home, he was still thinking about what Nivea had said this afternoon. Now he knew, that Prince Edmund was actually jealous when he saw himself and Nivea wearing clothes with the the other day.
Matias sighed, competing with His Majesty's son was not something to be afraid of. He would not take a step back. He would face whatever risks might occur in the future.
Time spun back, the morning had arrived.
The Lawrence family had finished having breakfast together. And just like usually, they still had a little time to talk.
"Tell me something mom."
"Huh? What?" asked countess Victoria frowning uncomprehendingly.
The girl gave a code with her eyes, which in a matter of seconds made the mother understand.
"Ah, that. Hmm. I wanted to say that Martha and the son of duchess Valerie are in a relationship." countess Victoria concluded her sentence with a nod and a smile.
"What???" count Antonio and Matias both widened their eyes.
"Hahaha. You? Martha?"
"Hmm. That's right, brother! Mom said the right thing."
"Since when Martha?" her father asked curiously.
"Since we returned from the dinner the other day at the palace."
"Ah, you should have danced with him!" said her brother.
"So, did you formalize the relationship when you danced?" her father asked again.
"Hmm. You're right dad!"
"Congratulations Martha! I'm always rooting for you!"
Matias' congratulations had made her blush. A reddish hue on her beautiful face.
Again, Matias accidentally caught Mr. Benedict talking with the one-eyed man. But now, he caught them having a conversation in front of the tax office building. Immediately Matias asked Mr. Luigi to drive his carriage more slowly. And Matias had managed to take several pictures of the two men several times. Of course what he saw made him even more curious, even he did not hesitate to investigate the matter of tax fraud plantation.
Until finally he had spent half a day on the plantation, this afternoon Matias met Rodrigues and expressed his intentions. They decided to also move to investigate the one-eyed man, Mr. Keith. After strategizing, Matias and Rodrigues had arrived at the tax office.
Rodrigues disguised himself as someone who seemed to have known Mr. Keith. By believing that Mr. Keith was a worker there, Rodrigues did not hesitate to ask one of the counters.
The man asked, "Miss, is Mr. Keith in the room?"
"Yes, Mr. Keith is in his room. Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"
"I would like to meet him, miss. I would like to discuss with him regarding the taxes for my factory business."
"Ah, please go up the stairs in the corner, sir! Mr. Keith is in the bill printing room, third floor. Oh yes sir, that room is quite sterile. Wait for him to come out after you knock on the door!"
"Ah, alright miss! Thank you."
The counter girl looked down again, doing her work at the desk after being delayed for a few minutes delay. Until the girl did not see Rodrigues who did not actually go up the stairs in the corner.
The information provided by the girl was enough to answer the curiosity of Matias and Rodrigues about who the man really was. And of course the man could easily manipulate the tax bill. Printing a piece of paper with the name of the tax authority on it, is not a difficult thing for him. Mr. Keith did not hesitate to commit fraud.
"What information did you get, Rodrigues?" asked Matias when Rodrigues approached him in a safe place, not far from the tax office building.
"One of our suspicions was correct, Matias. Mr. Keith works there. He does works as a tax bill printer."
"Hmm. A bill printer usually not only prints, he is also the person who made it."
"But, there's another possibility that he's being protected by someone above him. If he's been manipulating bills for a long time and it hasn't been uncovered, then surely someone above him has protected him enough. Even though he knows he often falsifies bills."
"You're right, Rodrigues! And it seems that we should also find out whose position is above Mr. Keith's. We will continue this tomorrow, Rodrigues! I will immediately print out the images from my portrait this morning."
***
Nivea and Seri were on their way to the palace. Of course both would be present at the girls' party.
"The prince will choose you, miss!"
"Don't scare me, Seri!"
"Is being a match for a prince something scary, miss?"
"Hmm. For me, it's more than just scary."
"If the prince chooses you later? What would you do? Will you reject him in front of everyone there?"
"I don't know Seri! Even if I am forced to accept it, it is only because I don't want to cause any more trouble with my father. And I won't embarrass Prince Edmund in front of everyone. I will accept it. Yes! But, it's only temporary."
"Ah, I see what you mean, miss. Eh? When did you wear that necklace miss? You put it on without my help." Seri's eyes caught a white gold necklace with the initials N pendant, perched on her lady's neck.
"Of course I put it on myself, before leaving the room. You know, Seri? This necklace was a gift from Matias."
Seri covered her mouth with the palm of one hand and rounded her eyes. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. The journey on that cool evening, still continued. The distance from duke Eduardo's residence to the palace was quite far.
Nivea and Seri were also still talking about other things. But in her heart, Nivea actually wanted this night to end quickly. Or if possible, she would run to another planet right now.
She just didn't want to disgrace her family name for the second time in front of His Majesty's family. The girl would do everything she could to not return home with any more problems. Although maybe on another day she would make trouble again.