Chapter 58: Erian Foundation (3)
"Are you aiming for Freya, the Grand Duke’s eldest daughter's textile factory?"
Helena stood facing beneath the elephant statue.
Dressed in white slacks and a uniform shirt, she was actually seated near .
"Yes. That’s right."
And in front of her, I spoke confidently with the baron.
As if it didn’t matter who heard.
"In a way, we’re competitors. Are you sure you should be revealing your future plans like this?"
A pair of black glasses was tucked into the pocket of her uniform shirt.
The Grand Duke’s daughter picked them up with an elegant hand and perched them on her nose.
"There’s no reason I shouldn’t."
Helena said nothing for a mont in response to my composed attitude.
Then, perhaps understanding my true intention, she gave a faint smile.
"You’re planning to leave the Grand Duke’s house."
I didn’t deny her words.
With that, Helena hooked her glasses onto the tip of her nose and narrowed her seductive eyes.
"So that’s why you called out here today. You wanted to hear that conversation with the baron just now."
"That’s right."
Together, we silently admired the elephant sculpture.
The Western Grand Duke’s daughter clasped her hands behind her back and asked leisurely.
"You’ve been avoiding , but it seems you’ve had a change of heart."
Helena stood close beside , with a mature gaze that defied her age.
There was a soft scent of green grapes wafting from her.
"So, what is it that you want?"
I knew.
Even if I were to leave the Northern Grand Duke’s house, I shouldn’t side with a historic rival.
But that only applied if I were to enter her embrace.
"I heard the Western Grand Duke’s house is also participating in the current Luton Hall construction project."
"Yes. We're supposed to supply natural marble from our western region."
Despite always clashing, the two families had worked together on business when necessary.
There was no law saying I couldn’t do the sa.
"Have you signed the contract already?"
"No, it’s still in the preliminary agreent stage."
At my interest in her business, Helena imdiately wore a serious expression.
And with it, the chilling gaze befitting one of imperial blood surfaced.
"How much per kilogram?"
"Two hundred thousand gold."
Hearing her reply, I closed my eyes for a mont.
"Don’t finalize that contract just yet."
I dared to interfere in the business of a Grand Duke’s daughter of imperial lineage.
I thought Helena might respond with a cold glare.
But—
True to her standing as the likely heir of the Grand Duke’s house, she asked calmly instead.
"Why?"
One reason Helena had seized control so quickly was that she listened to everyone’s opinions, regardless of background.
"Right now, raw material prices are set quite high."
"In a week, you’ll understand what I an."
The blonde woman placed her elegant index finger under her chin.
Then, with the gaze befitting a princess, she fell into silent thought for a mont...
"A wave that would cause a major disruption in marble prices is coming in a week, is that it?"
"That’s my trade secret."
Helena didn’t ask about the source of the information.
Instead, she plainly spoke of the risk she’d face if she followed my suggestion.
"But adjusting the price right after the marble crisis hits… that wouldn’t look good."
It wouldn’t be a good look.
Right now, Helena was expanding her business into other territories, so she had to be mindful of the local families’ resistance.
She wouldn’t want to pour oil on a fire already sparked by the swordsmithing rivalry.
"I understand. But even if you sign the contract at the sa price, doing it then would put Luton in your debt."
I rubbed my thumb and forefinger together with a sly grin.
Like a fox well-versed in these petty tricks.
"After that, you simply switch the fixed interest rate to a variable one."
One week after Luton Construction and the Leonil mines signed the contract—
An incident occurred where the trading ships of the Eastern Island Union, which had been supplying marble to the continent, sank.
The cause of the incident was pirates.
Until they were eradicated, the East halted all trade, and during that ti, all demand shifted to the Empire’s western region.
I rember it clearly because even the household had felt great relief at having already signed with the Leonil family.
On the other hand, the Western Grand Duke’s house reportedly regretted it deeply.
"You’re really determined to pad my allowance, aren’t you?"
So even if Helena seed calm on the surface, she was probably whistling on the inside.
True to form, she placed both hands on her hips and asked confidently,
"Alright, I like it. Then let’s hear why you’re trying this hard to give such a profit?"
Once we began to connect, the Western Grand Duke’s daughter stepped even closer to face .
Then, with her signature blue eyes, she looked up at and spoke.
"I’d like to know why a fox of a man like you is flattering ."
I decided to answer her honestly.
In business, solid reasons are more persuasive than vague silver-tongued talk.
"I'm going to make Lady Freya sell the Luton Textile."
"That factory’s practically a burden, isn’t it? If a buyer shows up, won’t she just sell it right away?"
Helena spoke with a puzzled look as she removed her jet-black glasses.
But when she grasped my true intention—
She let out a dumbfounded chuckle.
"Recently, Lady Echina has been given a chance in the family business. The other heirs, feeling conscious of that, won’t let it go so easily."
This was all part of the setup for my lord.
"So you an to pressure them, make them put out the fire on their feet before they start questioning anything."
"That's right."
Helena let out a short breath at my firm reply.
Then, she looked up at the elephant statue with half-closed eyes.
"Echina must be lucky. To have such a ticulous secretary by her side."
There was a hint of envy in her tone.
Still, she wasn’t soone who would back down so easily.
"Then, once you leave the Grand Duke’s house, you’ll need a new master."
The Western Grand Duke’s daughter unbuttoned her uniform jacket.
It revealed the graceful line of her shoulders beneath the shirt clinging to her form.
"Shall I tell you sothing I couldn’t say before?"
"What do you an...?"
Helena tied the jacket around her slender waist.
"Once you leave the Grand Duke’s house, co work under . I’ll make sure you never have to worry about money for the rest of your life."
"No, thank you."
I shook my head calmly.
At that, she crossed her arms and gave a confident imperial smile.
"Why, because you already know how much I’d offer?"
She looked at like a beast inviting into her territory.
But soon, she realized too—
"No matter what you offer, I’m confident I can earn more than that on my own."
That a fox, too, was a beast.
"……."
Helena stayed silent for a mont in the face of my resolve.
Then, she parted her red lips in the Western Grand Duke’s characteristically laid-back voice.
"I see. So even I’m a competitor in your eyes."
She lightly placed her hand on my shoulder, her jacket tied at the waist.
And between her golden hair, her cold blue eyes sparkled.
"Then I’ll have to conquer you myself and take you."
My face was reflected in her lake-like eyes.
In the depths of what I thought was just clear water, a deep abyss had settled.
And that abyss was drawing into her arms.
"We’ll see who conquers whom first."
I gently took her elegant hand.
Then, after politely lowering it, I turned toward the hotel entrance.
Helena, seemingly also ready to leave, walked alongside unhurriedly.
"Do we have any carriages left?"
I asked the staff mber waiting at the entrance.
The young male staffer apologized with an awkward expression.
"I’m sorry, sir. We have a full house today, and no carriages are currently available."
To think it was this busy even on a weekday afternoon.
It was both pleasing and inconvenient.
"This is a problem, especially if there’s roll call before dinner."
Despite owning the largest hotel in the hottest city of the Empire, here I was worrying about evening roll call.
At that sight, Helena blinked her golden feline-like eyes.
"And tonight’s dinner was stir-fried sausage."
"If it’s sausage, we can’t miss it."
The flustered staff mber visibly relaxed at my casual, friendly tone.
Helena smiled faintly at the way I had effortlessly eased her subordinate’s tension.
"I’ll give you a ride. Looks like we’re headed the sa way anyway."
"To soone else’s Grand Duke’s house...?"
I asked, baffled, as Helena walked ahead.
She replied with a haughty look and a single remark.
"Compared to a cadet stabbing the other heirs in the back, this is nothing."
The prized steed Echina had gifted was still in the dormitory stable.
So, just this once, I ended up sharing the platinum-colored carriage of the Grand Duke’s daughter.
The mont I climbed aboard, her escort knight, who also served as the coachman, looked at wide-eyed.
But at the Grand Duke’s daughter’s command, he had no choice but to turn his head toward the horse.
"Let’s go, to the territory of the Northern Grand Duke."
Helena opened the carriage window.
Then, she gently brushed back her golden hair, gleaming like a sun-drenched wheat field.
"The breeze is nice. I like how the North isn’t humid."
I silently watched the imperial princess as she soaked in the midday sun and the autumn breeze.
And for a brief mont, I thought—she had a girlish side, too.
By the ti we reached the sign marking the Grand Duke’s territory,
I figured it was ti to get off, since there were bound to be eyes watching.
But—
"Go in further."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The platinum-colored carriage proudly drove right up to the Grand Duke’s mansion.
"Lady... Helena...?"
"You finally look flustered for once."
The Western Grand Duke’s eldest daughter glanced back at .
With a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, she flashed a playful smile.
"What do you think? I brought you right to the doorstep."
Soon, the carriage ca to a stop exactly thirty paces from the mansion.
Just shy of where the knights guarding the Grand Duke’s house would raise their guard.
Only then was I able to finally disembark.
"I’ll have to be more careful next ti not to get kidnapped."
I shook my head with a helpless smile.
At that, Helena gestured for to co closer to her window.
Thinking it was for a final goodbye, I leaned in.
And in that mont—
"Yes, be careful."
The Western Grand Duke’s daughter slipped a finger into my black necktie.
Then, gently pulling closer to her noble face, she whispered,
"Because I might just grab you and take you away."
With that sharp-edged joke, Helena softly released the tie.
Then, seated on the carriage bench, she gave her knight an order.
"Let’s go. If I stay too long, that child might get in trouble."
――――――
After the Grand Duke’s daughter’s carriage departed, I leisurely made my way into the mansion alone.
Thanks to her, I had still arrived on ti.
As I approached the main gate, I spotted soone entering ahead of .
A noble silhouette, with elegant black hair swaying gently.
"Lady Echina...?"
Just as I called her na,
The Northern Grand Duke’s daughter walked inside without a glance.
‘Did she not hear …?’
Tilting my head in confusion, I followed her into the lobby.
Then, after Echina passed by, I noticed my fellow cadets standing around with visibly tense expressions.
"……."
I walked past them and stood at the edge of the line.
Standing right next to , Lucun quietly whispered,
"Did you do sothing to offend the Grand Duke’s daughter?"
"No. I didn’t even see her today."
I frowned slightly at the cryptic question from soone who was usually quiet.
At that, Lucun added with a serious expression,
"She looked pretty deadly when she ca in just now."
I nodded, as if to say I understood.
After that, I waited silently at my spot until Debier returned.
And in the midst of this chilling tension, one person caught my eye—grinning to himself.
"So, you finally ssed up. I was wondering how long you’d last."
Tobang nodded knowingly, clearly thinking I had fallen out of Echina’s favor.
Windsor and Brook, who had always kept an eye on my movents, thought the sa.
Had we not been inside the mansion, they would’ve already drowned in snide remarks.
"……."
But by now, I no longer had the slightest interest in any of them.
Because my target was no longer the poisoned chalice that was the Chief Secretary’s position.
――――――
Footsteps echoed from the circular staircase.
Those who had just been smirking at quickly straightened up at the sound, shifting smoothly back into proper posture.
Tobang still wore a smug smile on his face.
But—
That smile vanished completely with just one sentence from the person who had co down.
"Roger, you made it back on ti."
Baron Obi, President of Luton Transport.
An executive of the Grand Duke’s house, and the one who greeted first.
"Baron, it’s an honor to see you."
"The tea I had earlier had a very pleasant aroma."
And this—before he even acknowledged Windsor, whom he had been supporting.
"I’ll have it specially prepared next ti you visit the hotel."
"Much appreciated. I should drop by now and then."
Until now, the conversations cadets had with the baron had been extrely brief.
‘The Grand Duke is upstairs.’
‘Hold onto my coat.’
But now, this was a conversation between equals.
It didn’t just leave Tobang dumbfounded—it made the muscles beneath his eyes twitch.
"By the way, the second daughter seems to be waiting for you."
"Ah, is that so? I’ll head up right away."
I responded to him with a serene smile, like an old soul in a young body.
In return, the baron gave my shoulder a light pat.
"Alright then, let’s have a al together at the hotel next ti."
Judging by his cheerful tone, he clearly believed I’d succeed in acquiring the textile.
As expected of a man in power—his intuition was sharp.
After the conversation with the baron, I turned to head up the stairs, leaving my dazed peers behind.
Then, from the first-floor corridor, Debier erged with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Julius Roger. Where do you think you’re going during assembly?"
"I’m on my way to see Lady Echina."
I had dared to head up to the second floor on my own, without permission.
My peers assud the chief secretary would reprimand on the spot.
"……."
But Debier’s expression remained calm.
As though my behavior were completely natural.
"Go ahead."
He dropped his hands from behind his back.
"You’re already performing the duties of a full secretary, whether it's official or not."
His gaze no longer saw as re prey.
As if finally acknowledging , he allowed to go up alone.
"So do the work that’s yours to do."
Ten years ago—
He was the chief secretary of the Grand Duke’s house, and I hadn’t even dared to et his gaze.
I never imagined there would co a day when I’d earn his recognition.
I had only set things in motion to leave the Grand Duke’s house, and yet I now felt closer to him than ever.
"Understood."
But I didn’t dislike that feeling.
I simply climbed the stairs, savoring the sense of being acknowledged by a great senior.
Heading toward the only family who had ever truly recognized .
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