CHAPTER 49……………………………………….
A woman with wheat-colored hair leapt from the carriage as swiftly as an arrow released from a bow.
With one hand she clutched the hem of her dress, and with the other she firmly held onto her large veiled hat to keep it from slipping off.
“Guildmaster! You mustn’t dash off like that so suddenly…!”
“Sorry, Gote. I’ll see you at the inn.”
Tilting her head, she scanned her surroundings. With the movement, the gold-and-emerald jewel hanging from her neck swung busily.
“Where is it? The Ruby Market?”
Biting her nail, Guildmaster Helione muttered to herself.
She was anxious. Today was the only day she could see the Ruby Market.
I’ve been delayed more than I expected. We have to cross the mountain early tomorrow morning. If we’d formed a smaller, elite caravan, we could have made it here in three days.
Their destination was the Marno March, located at the southernmost edge of the Empire. They were on their way to secure a very large contract.
Unlike their plan to arrive at Marno within a week, it had already taken a full week just to reach the County of Rubena.
The farther they moved from the capital, the worse the roads became, costing them far more time than anticipated. The large, extravagant carriage and numerous staff had also become a heavy burden for Helione’s party.
In truth, the real obstacle began now.
Between the County of Rubena and the Marno March stood a vast mountain range—the Ride Mountains.
Can we cross it in a single day?
Stopping in her tracks, Helione let out a sigh and looked toward the Ride Mountains.
Beyond its final ridge lay a place she had never visited before—a mysterious march. It was so far from the capital that little was known about it.
Whether it would truly be a gem worthy of the name “Marno” remained to be seen.
There was no knowing how many high-quality magic stones like the sample they had sent would be produced. Naturally, it was right to inspect it in person, but…
Though it was not the most prudent choice for a merchant to invest based on uncertainty, Helione had hesitated for quite some time about traveling to Marno. There was only one reason: it was simply too far.
After finally deciding on the journey, she set two major objectives.
One was to determine whether the mysterious march held value beyond magic stones.
And the other was…
The Ruby Market of the County of Rubena, where she had just arrived.
Rubena’s Ruby Market was the Empire’s foremost ruby-producing region, to the point that it was practically synonymous with wholesale trade within the county itself.
There, one could purchase the finest pigeon-blood rubies at half the capital’s price.
I’m not particularly interested in gemstones, but I do want to properly assess the scale of Rubena’s Ruby Market.
With that thought—who knew when she’d have such an opportunity again?—Helione hurried forward, only to collide with someone who suddenly darted out of an alley.
“Ah! I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
“….”
“I truly apologize.”
Helione bowed repeatedly.
“You dropped this.”
She picked up a small pouch from the ground and handed it to the woman. The woman hastily tucked it into her robe.
“I’m very sorry. I should have been watching where I was going.”
Without a word, the woman brushed off her yellow-brown robe and walked past Helione. As she moved away, Helione called out loudly:
“Excuse me, do you happen to know where the Ruby Market is?”
The woman paused and silently pointed down the very alley she had come from.
“Thank you.”
Removing her hat, Helione gave a polite bow of gratitude. But the robed woman had already vanished as though she had never been there.
“E–Excuse me…!”
Adjusting her clothes, Helione looked around, then turned and called toward the direction the woman had disappeared. At the spot where the woman had fallen, she had discovered a small yellow gemstone.
But there was no trace of her. Picking up the tiny yellow gem, Helione scratched her head.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll leave it with the guards later.”
With a sigh, she headed down the alley the robed woman had indicated.
Gray rainclouds drifted swiftly across the darkening sky.
“Ah, Marquis. We are men with livelihoods as well. No matter that you are the Marquis, summoning your vassals so recklessly…”
As Adamas looked at Onyx Romel stroking his belly with his large, thick hand, he was reminded of a well-fed hyena.
“My apologies. Please wait just a little longer.”
“Well now. I happen to be quite busy.”
“Then at least take some food with you.”
“Who would eat such cold— ahem. As I said, I am busy today.”
With a sneer playing at his lips, Romel gave a crooked bow.
In the end, Hidenite could not stop Romel from leaving the banquet hall. The other vassals, who had been watching the situation unfold, began slipping away one by one as well.
Once Romel and the group of followers who trailed after him had all departed, a deep silence settled over the hall.
Tap—tap.
With a grave expression, Hidenite stomped twice and spoke.
“Clear it away.”
In the few short months Adamas had spent in the march, it was the first time she had heard such a cold voice from Hidenite.
As Hidenite stormed out in irritation, Sappheiros quietly followed.
Adamas shook her head and looked up at the ceiling.
The glittering chandelier shone brilliantly.
Ah… I can still vividly hear the maids of the marquisate rejoicing as they polished that.
The entire hall had been decorated with yellow flowers, the symbolic color of the Heliodor Guild, and green curtains—emblematic of the marquisate—had been hung over the windows.
For tonight’s formal dinner, Hidenite had personally composed the menu.
As an aperitif, fruit grain wine said to have been favored by the first Marno. For the appetizer, desert bean salad—a specialty of Marno—and winter wheat soup. Though the march had no sea, seafood had been chosen as the main course. For dessert, ripe red pomegranates had been finely ground and frozen.
The marquis’s delighted voice asking about the capital’s trending dishes was still clear in her mind…
When Onyx Romel had entered the hall with a sour expression and kicked at the floor for no reason, Adamas had felt a strange thrill of satisfaction.
But it had only lasted a moment…
Gazing at the empty seats and the food growing cold, Adamas’s brow furrowed deeply.
What’s the point of decorating it so beautifully when there are no guests? That blasted guild! Flashy name and all, and they dare make fools of us?!
Grinding her teeth, Adamas headed toward the marquisate’s garden.
Her head burned with anger; she needed to cool it down.
“It’s pouring as if it doesn’t know how we feel.”
Rain was falling outside. Staring at the blurred view where even a meter ahead was invisible, Adamas let out a heavy sigh.
That evening, after narrowly fending off Lobiana Kingdom’s sudden invasion, the marquis had returned with bright news.
He had signed a magic stone supply contract with Heliodor, a guild from the capital, and secured a substantial investment.
That was not all.
“We could have negotiated an even better contract, but I intentionally added another condition—establishing a Marno branch of the guild. Even if small, having a capital guild branch here will invigorate the flow of goods. They’ll be visiting soon to discuss the establishment.”
The marquis had smiled as he said that. And now, as of today, all of it had come to nothing.
“Ah, the worst! And of all days, it has to rain like this!”
Just as Adamas shook her fist at the sky in frustration, something was draped over her bare shoulders—the uniform jacket of Sappheiros.
“Oh? When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“I’m fine.”
As Adamas tried to return the coat, Sappheiros quietly shook his head.
“Keep it on. It’s cold. And it’s raining.”
“I really am fine.”
“I’m fine too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Anyway, how is the marquis?”
At her question, Sappheiros’s expression darkened.
“For now, he’s decided to send someone to the capital to investigate what happened.”
“Right.”
Sappheiros rested his face against Adamas’s shoulder. His black hair brushed against her ear.
“Why does today feel so long?”
At his sigh-like words, Adamas nodded quietly. She prayed this wretched day would end quickly.
The rain that had poured all morning finally stopped past eight in the evening.
Fearing they might simply be delayed, they had waited without even eating dinner, but no guest ever arrived.
As they left the marquisate and returned to their log cabin, a long silence lingered between them.
When the two finally reached the front of their home with weary steps, Sappheiros suddenly stopped.
“Mas, stand behind me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“There’s an intruder.”
Lowering his stance as if ready to draw his sword at any moment, Sappheiros whispered.
An intruder?!
At his words, Adamas quickly crouched and looked around.
Who would dare sneak into the commander of Marno’s knights’ home? There’s nothing to steal. Then could it be—
“A spy from Lobiana?”
“Too sloppy for that.”
Looking at the messy muddy footprints stamped near the entrance, Sappheiros spoke.
He moved Adamas behind him and quietly drew his sword.
Silencing his footsteps, he approached the door and gestured back at her.
When Adamas gave a small nod, Sappheiros carefully grasped the doorknob.
At that moment, the door burst open.
“Gasp! Wh-What is this?!”
A woman came out through the open doorway.
Startled at the sight of Sappheiros’s longsword, she collapsed to the ground and screamed:
“Ahhh! A–Armed robbers! Help!”
“Guildmaster, are you alright?!”
Crash! The sound of someone tumbling echoed from inside the house.
