Chapter 34
“No. Don’t ask.”
Isaiah froze in place, eyes wide, as if my response was unexpected.
He had quickly become friendly with everyone in Winterford except me, and I decided not to answer his question out of principle.
“W-wait! Why are you suddenly planning to make Kissity?”
I thought he’d give up, but no. He quickly caught up, closing the distance by a few steps.
“I said I wouldn’t take questions.”
“The oak barrels Dudu mentioned… Valerbo oak barrels. I think I can get them for you cheaply…”
“I’ll allow three questions.”
I stopped immediately and held up three fingers toward Isaiah.
“No, one is enough.”
Isaiah shook his head slightly.
“Why suddenly alcohol… are you planning a business?”
“Yes.”
He tilted his head at my serious expression. After all, it wasn’t unheard of for a noblewoman to run a business in Livelyden, but a Grand Duchess doing so was unexpected.
“As you know, Winterford needs money. A lot. Very much.”
Isaiah flinched at the word “money,” and flinched again at “very much.”
“Kissity is a delicious drink, and people in the capital, especially nobles, can’t live without alcohol. It will definitely make money.”
Whether the Kissity business would succeed before I left this place was uncertain, but if the foundation was set, it could become a major venture to support Winterford later.
Isaiah’s golden eyes looked upward, lost in thought.
I silently observed his handsome, pensive profile, then took a step closer.
He didn’t notice me approaching, still lost in thought.
“Valerbo oak barrels.”
“Ah! You scared me!”
Startled by my voice so close, Isaiah jumped in surprise.
“I’ve answered your question, so you must keep the promise about the Valerbo oak barrels.”
He stepped back, gripping a pillar, and nodded vigorously.
I didn’t entirely like his cautious attitude, but in a way, he was a lucky guest — one who paid for his lodging and even solved the oak barrel issue.
I gave Isaiah my brightest smile.
As he trembled and hid deeper behind the pillar,
“Hey, what are you two doing here?”
Kylen appeared with Dillon.
“K-Kylen!”
Isaiah ran toward him, tears in his eyes as if meeting a savior.
Kylen easily sidestepped him and approached me.
“Did Isaiah cause trouble again?”
I wondered what Isaiah meant to Kylen.
Without questioning him further, Kylen assumed it was Isaiah’s fault, and I shook my head.
“We were just talking.”
Kylen frowned but seemed to accept the truth. I smiled faintly at Isaiah, who had hidden behind Dillon.
“Disappointing, friend.”
Ignoring Isaiah, sulking because Kylen hadn’t saved him, Kylen quickly checked the letter Caspian had delivered from the capital.
There had been a small change in the distribution rights for topaz from the largest mine the Empress owned — the Rozdina Mine.
The change was subtle and easy to miss.
Among all the Empress’s mines, only Rozdina had a change. It needed verification.
The Platterus family, the Empress’s in-laws, held 35% of the distribution, minor families had 20%, and the rest belonged to the crown.
Now, the Platterus family’s share had dropped by 3%.
Though small, Rozdina was a major mine, and 3% equaled the topaz output of a small mine over three months.
Where had that 3% gone?
To the Ferbecker family.
Rumor had it that years ago, the Ferbeckers monopolized the import of Barva Kingdom porcelain and became immensely wealthy.
On top of that, their real estate investment business in the capital had also been hugely successful, making them one of the richest people in the capital.
If 3% of the distribution went to the Ferbecker family, Adam’s claim was likely true.
“The Empress seemed to need money!”
The Empress needs money.
But why?
I couldn’t immediately answer that. I had to investigate.
Kylen would have Caspian discreetly track the Ferbeckers. Very discreetly.
While writing notes in code only they could understand, Isaiah, who had perched on the edge of the desk, spoke:
“Friend… I’ve been thinking. The Grand Duchess seems… a little strange.”
“You too.”
“That’s true, yes… no, wait! Not that!”
Isaiah straightened up, voice rising as he protested what was “strange.” I ignored him and folded the letter Kylen had finished writing, passing it to Dillon.
Once Dillon left to send it, Kylen began reviewing documents that needed to be finished by today.
“Hear me out.”
Isaiah grabbed the papers Kylen was reading, leaning back in the chair, frowning.
With his chin raised, he spoke seriously:
“She’s… unusual. Not like a typical noblewoman.”
Kylen nodded, crossing his legs.
I had known Eliana was unusual even before the marriage, and she seemed in no way to want to hide it.
“Isn’t this a contract marriage?”
Isaiah knew the backstory. Kylen rested his elbows on the armrests, frowning.
“Why?”
“Well… they’re supposed to divorce in a year, but she’s trying so hard.”
Kylen glanced at the documents Eliana had submitted that morning — meticulous as always.
Greta and Benjamin said she had even had a nosebleed recently from overwork.
“I hear she’s seriously planning the alcohol business too… you knew?”
Kylen nodded; he had received the reports and had no reason to deny it.
Isaiah glanced at Kylen, unable to read his friend’s thoughts.
“Could there be another motive?”
Kylen looked at Isaiah, eyes deepening. Isaiah looked away.
“No… why would she put so much effort into a marriage that has an end?”
“What motive do you mean?”
“Well… that is…”
Isaiah trailed off, crossing his arms and letting out a nasal sigh.
“Could it be… she secretly has a crush on you?”
Snap. Kylen burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
Isaiah pouted at Kylen mocking his serious speculation.
“That’s impossible.”
“Impossible? No, after thinking about it, there’s no other explanation.”
Had he already forgotten Eliana had proposed the contract marriage, not Kylen? Kylen shook his head at Isaiah’s still-serious face.
Impossible.
She had told him not to look for her after a year. From their first meeting at Ferdinand’s birthday banquet to now, she had never shown such a sign.
Still, I was curious. Why did she put so much effort into Winterford? Just as Isaiah had said.
I thought about subtly testing her, when Dillon rushed into the office.
“Duke. You need to see this.”
Dillon placed an envelope on Kylen’s desk — a letter from the royal family.
Early morning at Winterford Castle was busy.
Kylen and the knights were ready to leave before sunrise. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and watched them depart from the window.
I stood by the window until the carriage and mounted knights disappeared.
Their destination: the train station — the last station to Winterford.
Shivering in the cold air slipping through the window, I drew the curtains. I longed to return to bed after waking so early, but I had work to do today.
April Livelyden — the only princess in the Empire.
Kylen had left at dawn to fetch her; I had to prepare to receive the guest remaining at the castle.
