CHAPTER 93…………………………
From the morning, Duke Mutan was in an excellent mood.
Today, at long last, he was going to sign an official contract with the Kingdom of Eldor.
Heh heh heh, once this deal goes through, I’ll be making over ten million gold a year!
He could almost see gold coins raining down from above, and couldn’t hide his satisfaction.
Coming up with the idea to put a fake in front of Cordelia had been, in his mind, a stroke of genius.
Even if the truth came out later, once the contract was signed, it would be almost impossible to undo.
After enjoying a grand luncheon in early celebration, he waited only for Cordelia’s arrival.
She arrived precisely at three o’clock, as promised.
The duke greeted her with an oily smile.
“Welcome, Your Highness. You’ve become even more beautiful in just a few days.”
Cordelia gave no reaction to his deliberate flattery and calmly took her seat. The duke awkwardly sat down as well.
While he began sipping tea, she didn’t even touch her cup. Instead, she took out a thick envelope and handed it to him.
“These are the prepared documents. Please read them through — if there’s nothing you object to, we’ll proceed as planned.”
“Hrm, I’m rather meticulous by nature, so please excuse me if I take some time reading.”
The duke opened the envelope with an eager expression. Cordelia silently watched him as he read.
Before long, his hands began to tremble as he turned the pages.
His eyes flickered with confusion, and his lips quivered.
“Wh–what is the meaning of this?”
“What do you mean?”
Cordelia replied coolly. The duke slammed the papers down on the table.
“This isn’t a magic herb contract—this is a contract termination notice!”
Indeed, the document stated that the Kingdom of Eldor would be cutting off all business with the Mutan Trading Company.
“That’s right,” Cordelia said, her voice calm and graceful. “As soon as I return, I’ll issue an order for everyone in the kingdom to cease trade with the Mutan Company.”
The sincerity in her tone made the duke’s heart sink.
Everything had been going well—the atmosphere, finding that ‘Pudding’ fellow—and yet, in just a few days, everything had turned upside down.
Unable to accept what he was hearing, he burst out in protest.
“Your Highness! What nonsense is this? Have you forgotten that I helped you find your old friend? How could you repay kindness with cruelty—”
“That’s enough, Duke. I’ve seen all I can stomach.”
Her cutting tone silenced him. Cordelia crossed her legs and gave a cold, faint smile.
“Arnold, thirty-two years old, with more than twenty fraud charges on record—
and all of them targeting wealthy women, using that handsome face of his.”
“……!”
Cold sweat beaded down the back of the duke’s neck.
Arnold—that was the man he’d sent to impersonate Pudding.
Damn it, she found out! But how?!
He wanted desperately to ask, but he forced his lips to stay shut.
The day before, after meeting Franz and learning the truth, Cordelia had returned to her quarters and immediately interrogated Arnold.
“How dare you deceive a princess? If you don’t want your limbs torn off, you’d better start talking.”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness! Please forgive me! I was only doing what Duke Mutan told me to do!”
Exposed earlier than he’d expected, Arnold fell to his knees, rubbing his hands together as he confessed everything.
With that evidence in hand, Cordelia had come today intending to crush Mutan completely.
“You deceived and insulted me, and did you really think your lie would last forever?
Until the moment I signed your contract?”
“P-please, Your Highness, hear me out! I didn’t mean any harm!”
Panicking, the duke tried to steady himself.
“I only wanted to help you find your missing friend… I went too far, that’s all.”
“Too far? You lied to a royal princess for days and call that a ‘mistake’?”
His excuses were so pitiful that Cordelia couldn’t help but scoff openly in disgust.
Fixing him with a sharp glare, she continued,
“Even if I report this to the Trissen Empire, your family’s immunity will protect you. You won’t face real punishment.”
Fraud wasn’t a high crime like murder or treason against royalty—
and Cordelia knew exactly how it would end.
Instead of wasting her energy, she decided to hit him where it hurt most.
“So we’ll take matters into our own hands.
For committing an elaborate fraud against Eldor’s royal family, the Mutan Company will be banned from all legal trade within our kingdom.”
“N-no! You can’t!”
The duke’s face turned pale.
His business had already been struggling; losing trade with Eldor would be devastating.
He tried desperately to placate her.
“Your Highness, please, let’s talk this through—”
“Duke, it’s over.”
Cordelia was not someone who could be swayed by empty words.
Rising from her seat, she gave him one final farewell.
“I hope you choose to live honestly from now on.
As for us and Eldor—today, we part ways forever.”
“……!”
The duke could only stare blankly as she walked away.
His greed had led him to gamble—and lose everything he still had.
Back at the royal palace, Cordelia met with Claire.
She had decided to trade magic herbs with the Minerva Company instead, and summoned Claire to finalize it.
As representatives of their respective sides, the two women drew up the contract.
The terms were the same as with Mutan—at least his proposal had set a convenient baseline.
“I look forward to working with you,” said Cordelia.
“And I with you, Your Highness,” replied Claire.
They smiled and shook hands. Then Cordelia asked carefully,
“By the way… could you tell Marquis Ravello to come see me off on the day I depart?”
The Founding Festival had ended the previous day, and the Eldor delegation was scheduled to return home tomorrow.
It felt awkward asking such a favor of his daughter, but Claire smiled warmly.
“Of course, I’ll tell him.”
“Thank you.”
Cordelia, touched by her kindness, embraced her lightly.
After leaving the palace where Cordelia was staying, Claire glanced up at the royal citadel.
Maybe I should visit His Highness before I go…
After all that had happened, she hadn’t had the chance to thank Theodore for his help.
She made up her mind and turned toward the Crown Prince’s residence—
“Lady Ravello!”
A deep voice called out from behind.
Expecting it might be Theodore, she turned—only to be disappointed.
It was Prince Roderick.
He had the same dark hair and blue eyes as Theodore, though softer and less striking in feature.
“What a coincidence meeting you here! It must be fate!”
“Your Highness,” Claire greeted formally, dipping into a polite bow.
Her tone made clear that she wished to maintain distance.
But Roderick, who hadn’t seen her since the night of the banquet, was overly excited.
Completely oblivious to her discomfort, he spoke with unwelcome familiarity.
“Oh, come now, no need to be so stiff—we’ve already met, haven’t we?”
“Yes, but this is the first time we’ve spoken so closely. What business do you have with me, Your Highness?”
Her courteous tone didn’t hide her guardedness.
The afternoon sunlight glowed softly on her delicate, pale face.
Unlike the lavishly dressed woman he’d seen at the banquet, her simple elegance now made his heart race even faster.
Her golden hair shimmered like starlight, and her clear green eyes drew him in.
“You know,” he said dreamily, “you’re exactly the woman I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Ah… I see.”
Claire’s reply was stiff and uneasy, but Roderick didn’t notice.
Caught up in his own fantasy, he kept talking.
“Up close, you’re even prettier.
It’s cruel for a beauty like you to devote yourself to just one man, don’t you think?”
“……”
“If only I’d met you before my brother Theodore did.
But since you’re not married yet, maybe there’s still a chance for me?”
Without warning, he grabbed her hand.
His words and actions had long since crossed the line—Claire’s face hardened.
“What do you think you’re doing? Let go of my hand.”
