CHAPTER 84………………………
At my words, Elihu’s eyes turned cold and sharp.
Sensing danger, I crab-stepped sideways and quickly checked his hands.
That remark just now… was definitely thunderbolt-worthy, right?
Fortunately, his hands were empty—no staff in sight.
I sighed in relief, remembering that no weapons were allowed inside the Imperial Palace banquet hall.
“Professor Mackerman didn’t come?”
“He’s over there. I’m stuck without a slave.”
Following Elihu’s envious gaze, I spotted Professor Mackerman standing with Alfeo at his side.
Alfeo was acting the perfect servant, fetching champagne for his professor.
It was as if I could glimpse the three years he had spent as Mackerman’s research assistant.
Just then, a herald in the hall shouted loudly:
“Marquis Blake, entering!”
At that, every noble’s attention turned toward the entrance.
The doors opened, and in walked Marquis Blake—Lenox.
Wearing the black uniform of the Imperial Guard, he looked like a wild wolf.
Under the golden lights, the breathtakingly handsome man strode arrogantly across the hall as if he feared nothing.
The nobles, stunned by the unexpected, murmured among themselves.
“He came without a partner to the banquet…?”
Hearing that, I too realized something shocking: Lenox had become the first man bold enough to ignore tradition.
I watched him with surprise, but soon he was surrounded by nobles, blocking my view of him.
“This is… really unexpected.”
“Exactly.”
I nodded absentmindedly at the voice beside me—then froze a beat later when I realized it was Alfeo.
“Weren’t you just running errands for Professor Mackerman… sir?”
Conscious of the onlookers, I quickly corrected my informal tone. Speaking casually to a prince in public would hardly look good.
Time to row my boat.
The misery of being penniless…
I had felt it over the last five years, and once again at this banquet.
No matter how the old nobles denied it, money was power.
And my next business target was the aristocracy itself. I needed to polish my image.
“Did you happen to meet Ren before coming here?”
Instead of answering, Alfeo asked me a question.
I blinked at him in shock, struck at the core.
“How did you know?”
“Then you got rejected, huh.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
After muttering nonsense, Alfeo glanced behind him and then hastily left.
I followed his gaze and saw Professor Mackerman watching us, calling Alfeo with just his eyes.
Alfeo, recognizing the silent signal, quickly obeyed.
Alfeo, you’ve become quite the perfect servant.
I looked after him with a bittersweet gaze. Seeing how well he adapted, perhaps his lifespan wouldn’t be as short as I’d feared.
Then—someone bumped into my shoulder.
“Oh, excuse—… Your Highness, Grand Duke Andreas?”
The moment I saw the man I had collided with, I nearly cried out.
That unmistakable pink hair…
I hadn’t expected to see the same face I had once glimpsed at the Asteria Temple.
Overall, his features were gentle, but his eyes were far sharper and gloomier than Julian’s.
They really don’t look alike at all.
Perhaps Julian resembled his mother, the Duchess?
Grand Duke Andreas stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“Countess Jacqueline, isn’t it?”
I hadn’t expected him to recognize me. Though inwardly surprised, I hid it and bowed.
“Ah, yes. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“I’ve heard much about you. I always hoped to meet you someday.”
His reply was polite, carrying just the right weight.
“You wished to meet me?”
“I heard you’re the only person my son can recognize.”
“Ah…”
I forced a stiff smile. To be the one person recognizable to someone with face-blindness… it was still burdensome.
“I must have a rather distinctive face.”
At that, the Duke smiled silently. Embarrassed, I felt a flicker of distance—until a new thought struck me.
Forget what I said about it being burdensome. I take it back. Completely back.
This was my chance. Business negotiations were looming.
Casually, I picked up a glass of champagne from a passing tray and handed it to the Duke.
“Would you care for a drink?”
“I was just looking for company. Gladly.”
We clinked glasses lightly and took a sip.
“With the war over, the Duchy of Andreas must expect a surge in tourism?”
The Duchy, often called Leas Island, was the only island territory in the Empire. Its primary industry was tourism.
With its stunning beaches, streets lined with flowers, and rows of palm trees, it was the perfect healing destination.
The Duke chuckled softly.
“There wasn’t much to see before, but now visitors always seem to come back again.”
So he was bragging while pretending to be humble.
As expected, pride glowed on his face. Yet behind that contentment lingered a deep wistfulness.
Puzzled, I quickly realized why.
It was the late Duchess who had conceived the tourism industry to overcome the Duchy’s small population and weak domestic economy.
“Come to think of it, Your Grace’s wife was close friends with my mother, wasn’t she?”
“Ah, yes, they were.”
I had nearly forgotten. The Duchess and Countess Jacqueline were famously close in their day.
That was over fifteen years ago now…
Startled by the sudden mention of my mother, I then realized this was a perfect chance to steer the conversation.
“My mother often spoke of how breathtaking Leas Island was.”
The Duke’s smile deepened at the memory.
Encouraged, I took the plunge.
“Which is why I wanted to ask—have you considered attracting even more tourists?”
“Oh? Do you have a method?”
As I expected, his eyes lit up.
A man famed for loving his wife wouldn’t let her legacy go neglected.
I slipped a brochure from my clutch and handed it to him.
“Oh, this design really catches the eye.”
The Duke admired the flyer with genuine interest, and I couldn’t help but feel proud.
Thanks to my sales training, I had also studied design, so I was confident in my promotional work.
We were deep in business talk when—
“Countess Jacqueline?”
Several nobles nearby addressed me, their faces full of curiosity.
Perfect.
As I predicted, conversing with the Duke had drawn attention.
Though thrilled inside, I feigned surprise.
“Oh, Count Gauthier! Marchioness Allay!”
They were mostly familiar faces—nobles I had occasionally met while visiting Duke Dinero.
So these are Duke Dinero’s chief vassals.
Without their support, my path to a duchy would be impossible.
This was the moment to showcase my abilities.
“I hear you share quite a bond with the Duke?”
“He treats me almost like a granddaughter. I’m always grateful.”
Of course, what grandfather would saddle his granddaughter with thirty million in debt—sixty million with interest?
But his retainers, oblivious to the truth, smiled warmly.
“You must feel very secure.”
Chatting amiably on the surface, I watched keenly for my chance and then spoke with ease.
“Now that the war is over, are you all traveling much these days?”
“Traveling? Hearing you say it makes me want to go.”
“Indeed. My last trip was ten years ago…”
After answering, their sharp gazes made it clear they knew this wasn’t just small talk.
“Well then, would you like to see this?”
With a confident smile, I handed them the brochures I had brought.
My new business, following Tara Transport, was Tara Tourism.
And the first step: luxury cruises.
