Chapter 83
Gustavo left behind the Duke of Sheton’s unreasonable demands and the insult he had received from Delina, heading straight for the Jeckin Trading Company. Barus was already there.
“How did it go?”
“That old fox of a duke only thinks about his own gain. One day, I’ll make him pay for this humiliation.”
“Before that, we need to think about expanding the business. At this rate, we might have to shut down. You know how much money I’ve invested here?”
“We need to find a new business item. Kermos, come here.”
At Gustavo’s call, Kermos, who had been organizing the ledgers, quickly stood up and came over to the table where the two were sitting.
“Did you look into what I asked?”
“Of course. Just as you said, I’ve been searching diligently for any promising ventures.”
“What did you find?”
Kermos gave a concise report on the potential opportunities he had investigated.
Though Kermos was the head merchant of the Jeckin Trading Company, in truth, it was essentially Gustavo’s business. Gustavo’s word was law—his command, absolute.
Despite claiming to have searched hard, the ideas Kermos presented were disappointingly shallow and unremarkable.
“There’s not a single decent one here. I told you to look for something new. Isn’t there anything more innovative than what the other trading companies are already doing?”
“Trade is all the same, my lord. Unless we invent new goods ourselves, our best bet is to secure higher-quality merchandise and win through better products.”
Despite Gustavo’s criticism, Kermos replied calmly.
Kermos was the one actually doing the legwork and handling day-to-day business. Unlike Gustavo, who only dreamed of big, quick profits, Kermos was practical and cautious.
“Enough scolding him. Big business should be handled by those who play in bigger waters. Kermos, step out for a moment. I have something to discuss with Gustavo alone.”
“Yes, please talk freely.”
Once Kermos left, Barus leaned forward across the table.
“You said you’re acquainted with Lady Dana of House Essel, didn’t you?”
“I have some connection with her, yes.”
He conveniently left out the fact that Dana had ignored him completely at the recent royal ball.
Because the scandal between him and Letisa had faded from public interest—overshadowed by the affair between Tirchen and Elicia—Barus didn’t seem to know about it, and Gustavo saw no reason to bring it up.
“What if you tried to open trade with Sir Caleb, who’s close to the Marquis of Essel?”
“Sir Caleb? You mean the head of the Bolsher Trading Company in the Kingdom of Kahn?”
“Yes. Many trading companies want to work with him, but it’s not easy. However, he’s said to be quite close to the Marquis of Essel. If you use Lady Dana as a bridge, you might be able to make contact.”
“Bolsher Trading Company, huh…”
Gustavo smacked his lips thoughtfully.
If he could strike a deal with Caleb, Jeckin would soon become one of the most influential trading houses in the entire Nétor Empire.
“What? You gave her what?”
Roena was just about to pop a piece of golden-brown grilled pineapple into her mouth when she dropped her fork with a loud clang.
When she told her brother he should give his girlfriend flowers and thoughtful gifts, Tirchen had taken it… in the worst possible direction.
He had gifted Elicia a book titled The Founding Ideology and Governing Vision of the Nétor Empire — a text so dull that even most men refused to read it.
Her brother wasn’t paving the way for marriage—he was marching straight toward a breakup.
“She liked it.”
“She pretended to like it! Do you really think anyone would be happy to get something like that?”
Roena’s frustration boiled over. Because of her clueless brother, her stomach churned as if her food had turned to lead.
“Tirchen, no woman on earth would be happy receiving that kind of gift from her lover.”
Even Kais, sitting nearby, chimed in to scold Tirchen.
Tirchen raised one eyebrow.
“Elicia is going to be the future Crown Princess. It’s a useful book for her to read. It makes perfect sense she’d appreciate it.”
“Becoming Crown Princess comes after you marry her, brother.”
“She’s going to be one anyway. Better for her to start reading now.”
“Brother! Do you even want to marry her?”
“I told you already—it’s been decided.”
Roena smacked her chest in exasperation. Her brother wasn’t just unromantic—he was utterly oblivious. There was no cure for him.
Annoyed by Roena and Kais’s nagging, Tirchen left for the study once the meal ended.
When he had given her the book, Elicia had indeed looked pleased. She had even recognized instantly that it was a rare volume.
“Those fools… giving me useless advice. How pathetic.”
Thinking of how Elicia would read the book with joy, a satisfied smile curled on Tirchen’s lips.
The book Tirchen had given her was one any future Crown Princess would need to read at least once—but it was unbearably dry, and her progress was painfully slow.
‘I’d rather be reading something fun—like a novel!’
Throwing the book aside, I flopped onto the bed and kicked my feet in frustration.
Aside from that tedious gift, life had been peaceful lately. Letisa was out and about nearly every day, and the Duke and Duchess Mares were still away on their trip.
A soft knock sounded. I turned my head to see Lucille entering with a tray of fruit.
“My lady, I’ve brought you some fruit.”
I sat up from the bed where I’d been sprawled.
Lucille set the plate on the table—it was a generous portion.
“Where’s Mervel?”
I had told her to always bring enough snacks for the three of us—hers, Mervel’s, and mine. Judging by the amount, Mervel was clearly expected to join us.
“She said she had something to check on and would come up a little later.”
“Ah, she must be looking for what I asked her to find.”
“Did you… give her a secret mission or something?”
Lucille’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
‘For someone who looks so gentle, she does love this kind of thing.’
While the Duke and Duchess were away, I planned to search the Duke’s study.
The last time I’d run into Letisa outside the library, she’d looked utterly flustered. The room next to the library was my foster father’s office—and that was the only other place Letisa had access to.
She had claimed she was in a rush on an errand for the Duke, but her movements had been suspiciously hesitant.
I’d tried to follow her quietly, but just as I turned the corner, I’d run into the Duke and Duchess returning home with a guest—so I couldn’t confirm which room she’d entered.
Still, I was certain she hadn’t gone into the library.
Since the Duke had gone on a trip, he’d locked the office door. I had asked Mervel to find the spare key, which the butler Ortega likely kept. It wasn’t easy, though, so she hadn’t succeeded yet.
“It’s true—I gave her a confidential task.”
“Ooh! What kind of task? Can’t I know too?”
“It’s like a treasure hunt, so it’s a secret for now.”
I pressed my finger to my lips and whispered, and Lucille nodded seriously, as if sharing a great secret.
While we were chatting and eating fruit, Mervel finally came in.
“Mervel!”
Lucille greeted her even more eagerly than I did, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
But one look at Mervel’s face told me she’d failed again.
“Don’t worry. There’ll be another way. Come, have some fruit.”
I slid the plate I had set aside toward her.
Lucille stared between us, wide-eyed.
“Are you two… talking without saying anything?”
Mervel and I both burst into laughter at her expression, like a startled rabbit. Mervel’s eyes regained a bit of life from the laughter.
“Mm-hm. You’ll reach that level someday too.”
“I hope that day comes soon! I want to be able to anticipate what you need before you even ask, my lady.”
“You’re already doing very well. It’s good to have goals, but you have your own strengths too—no need to overreach.”
“Hehe, yes, my lady.”
Lucille smiled shyly and popped a piece of melon into her mouth.
Then Mervel pulled an envelope from her apron pocket and handed it to me.
“A messenger just came from the Grand Duke of Berato’s residence. He asked that I deliver this to you.”
“From Roena?”
Tirchen brought me a flower every morning without fail, so it was unlikely he’d send a letter too.
Opening the envelope, I confirmed it was indeed from Roena.
“She’s inviting me for tea—and says this afternoon works. I’d better get ready. Luc—”
“Yes, my lady! I’ll prepare the carriage right away!”
Lucille leapt to her feet before I even finished speaking and dashed out of the room.
At this rate, I had a feeling she’d soon be as quick at reading my mind as Mervel.
This time, when I met Roena, I planned to ask her something I’d long forgotten amid all the recent chaos.
She was very knowledgeable about plants—maybe she could finally solve my curiosity.
Delina was not as clever as her father, the Duke of Sheton. She was impulsive and emotional, prone to acting before thinking things through.
Right now, her mind was consumed with a single idea: she had to separate Elicia from Tirchen.
She wasn’t entirely foolish—she at least had the sense to make a plan.
Before taking action, she even conducted some “background research” on Elicia.
“…And when comparing the two of you, it’s clear that in every respect, Lady Sheton is far more suitable to be Crown Princess.”
“Understood. Good work. Here—this is a bonus for doing well.”
Delina handed the man a pouch of gold coins and scanned the report he’d prepared.
It was a detailed comparison of her and Elicia—each category carefully selected to highlight why she, not Elicia, was the ideal candidate for the crown.
“Now, it’s time to open the Grand Duke’s eyes to the truth.”
Tucking the report carefully into her bodice, Delina headed for the Grand Duke of Berato’s mansion.
The position of Crown Princess was, in her mind, already as good as hers.
