Chapter 21
Getting straight to the main point, huh.
Ash deliberately shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
-Playing dumb. You wouldn’t keep her, Raecy, by your side for no reason.
“I think I’ve given you enough reasons.”
-A single contract is reason enough? You might fool the involved parties, but you can’t fool me.
You shouldn’t underestimate a merchant’s intuition.
Their eye for reading market trends is close to the primal instinct of a wild animal.
That instinct-like sense occasionally proves useful in other areas, or so they say.
-How dare you… take in someone who looks exactly like the girl you killed…
What a headache.
“Shouldn’t you get a grip yourself? No matter how much of a traitor she was, referring to a kingdom’s princess as ‘that girl’ seems rather presumptuous, don’t you think?”
-You killed her because she was a traitor? That girl who was supposed to live out her life confined to the tower?
So that’s what he’s fixated on.
-Just you try to lay a finger on Raecy too.
Blake bared his fangs like a threatening beast.
Now it all made sense.
The reason why the Tavela Merchant Company had unilaterally suspended all trade for the past three years.
I thought it was a protest over the expulsion from the capital and let it slide, even tolerating the outrage of being punched right upon meeting again.
But knowing the real reason, it was just… unbelievable.
Irrational and barbaric.
It was so unlike Tavela.
While annoying things were a constant, perhaps I should give a piece of advice or two?
“What should I do about this?”
No. I had no such obligation.
My relationship with Tavela was strictly for trade.
Any conversation would be solely about business.
“Due to the recent incident at the castle, that child will also face punishment.”
Though very rarely, there were exceptions.
-I won’t just stand by if you do anything to Raecy.
The expression distorting through the magic tool was a sight to behold.
Seeing that expression didn’t exactly make Ash’s mood pleasant either.
“A Tavela underling leaked information about Raecy,” huh.
Well then, I should duly return the favor for committing treason.
Ash withdrew his hand, which he was about to place on the magic tool, and crossed his arms.
“What are you going to do about it? What can you, who’s completely left the Gray Desert, possibly do?”
-That’s…
The initial reason for suspecting the spy’s presence was very trivial.
Bringing items not ordered and pretending it was a coincidence, or coming up with absurd reasons.
How could a human who can’t even read minds…
It was also suspicious when they suddenly expressed a desire to resume trade.
It was full of questionable points, but since it kept benefiting Canis, I just watched quietly.
But it was because of the dead princess, huh.
This wasn’t something to laugh off.
“Blake Tavela. Overstepping your bounds ends here. The punishment authority over my maid, guaranteed by the Yupello Bank, lies entirely in my hands, so keep your interference to yourself.”
If you want to formally enter Canis and even get a glimpse of Raecy’s face, you’ll have to step back quietly.
-Then it’s a deal.
“A deal?”
So that’s how it’s going to be.
And with that heated face.
Maintaining a cold rationality is of utmost importance.
Especially for those about to make a contract, including merchants.
“Have you already prepared the 3.8694 billion gold?”
The Tavela Merchant Company recently had a major deal they were focusing on.
The Fedeluk Mine, surrounded by the Gray Desert of Canis, the Yupellian Kingdom, and the Yenenhafte Empire.
Rumors spread that besides precious gems, a mineral was discovered.
Namely, magic stone, a material for magical engineering.
Even though the Tavela Merchant Company built its reputation through various luxury goods businesses, would they let such an enticing property slip by?
Once the Yupellian Kingdom recovers its royal seal, the bidding auction for the mine’s excavation rights will begin.
To secure the largest share, they need to hold as much capital as possible.
Amidst this, they can’t possibly squander an absurd amount of money to hire an unproven art appraiser.
The amount Blake could put forward now
-What do I need to offer for Raecy to avoid punishment?
Planning to act as her guardian now?
An investment without return.
There’s nothing quite like blind love.
It was also the least fitting choice for a Tavela.
“That’s an answer I like.”
Although the punishment is just a ban from accessing the Ritual Chamber.
“The Euryphus Statue.”
-What?
I had no intention whatsoever of divulging detailed circumstances to an outsider.
After all, in deals, the hurried side usually loses out.
“That should be sufficient.”
As the price for planting a spy in Canis, you should bear this much loss.
* * *
As expected, the hurried side becomes the weaker party.
“Another bust today?”
At Daniel’s question, my head nodded on its own.
“It seems like not just the Ritual Chamber, but a ban on accessing the floor with the office has been issued too.”
“There’s no way. Maybe they just suddenly got really busy?”
“Suddenly busy, my foot.”
Seeing his troubled smile, the boiling anger in my chest subsided.
It felt like talking to my father.
Looking at Daniel’s calm face slowly brought my rationality back.
He was right.
The statue worshipped by the Canis family was shattered.
Even if it’s not shown outwardly, imagine how much internal turmoil there must be.
As circumstantial evidence, the Head Maid hasn’t shown her face since that day.
There were many voices of concern. Since it involved the Maid Department, perhaps the Head Maid had to take responsibility.
Yet, the only official communication was:
‘Until further instructions, work at yesterday’s assigned duty station.’
That was all.
Well, I was assigned no afternoon duties, so I was incredibly bored.
“Daniel, is there anything I can help with?”
“Huh?”
I looked around.
Grooms were constantly leading horses in and out of the stables without rest.
It seemed Ash Canis was planning to go on another inspection or something soon.
No wonder I was getting impatient.
More than half of spring had passed, and not only had I failed to imprint my utility value on Ash Canis, I couldn’t even get close to him.
I was banking on situations where I’d run into him when he came to see Victor, purposely clocking in at the stables. How could he not come even once?
Every time I think about it, Blackie’s owner seems truly heartless.
Poor thing, I should bring carrots again.
Though I couldn’t get any from the dining hall today because the Carrot Maid wasn’t there.
Come to think of it, she wasn’t there yesterday or the day before either.
Was she deliberately avoiding me?
My suspicion that she was Blake’s accomplice grew stronger.
“Raecy, work I could ask of you…”
Daniel’s glance briefly swept the ground.
“…shouldn’t put a strain on your ankle.”
“Ah…”
Daniel scratched his cheek awkwardly.
‘Found out?’
…was written all over his face.
I put strength into my eyes and conveyed my will.
‘If you try to send me away too, I won’t just stand by.’
Now, Daniel nodding was just a matter of time.
Since yesterday, compared to the day before, the stables had been unbelievably busy.
He must be desperate for even a cat’s paw.
“Can’t be helped, Daniel! I’ll just have to make do with Monerosa for dinner again today!”
“Again?”
Oh. Perfect supporting fire.
Monerosa was a food I first saw yesterday. It was said to be perfect for quickly staving off hunger in a pinch.
Being a dish made only from plants, it felt inadequate preparation for hard labor, but…
“I’ll do it! Let me do it!”
“…Can you cook?”
No.
I’ve never cooked even once in my life.
Being a princess by birth and all.
But I had long since realized the necessity of cooking.
After Father collapsed and support to the detached palace was cut off, I learned by watching the maids’ attitudes change as if flipping a palm. Courtiers originally parasitize power.
Still, not giving food was too much. Especially to a growing girl in her developmental years.
Even when I appealed to the Queen, she ignored me, and when I protested to the Head Lady-in-Waiting, I only got empty promises of correction.
I was left to fend for myself.
I immediately slipped out of the palace and headed for a food shop.
If I hadn’t secretly played outside the palace with Father when I was young, I would have just sucked my thumb and died.
That’s when I personally learned the necessity of survival cooking.
“I watched you do it yesterday! I can do it too!”
“…”
He looked completely unconvinced.
“Raecy, are you serious?”
“Yeah! I’ll call you when it’s time to season!”
I waved my hand, turning my back, and went outside.
Going behind the stables, a pot filled to the brim with clear water was already boiling vigorously.
“With everything prepared like this, what’s there to worry about?”
Monerosa was simply made by blanching the edible plant Neros in boiling water and then seasoning it.
The recipe was embarrassingly simple to call it cooking.
Humming a tune, I dumped the mountain of green plants into the boiling water.
“Huh? The color…”
Was it this color when Daniel cooked it yesterday?
“Hey-! Raecy!”
Just then, a middle-aged man came around the corner. The manager in charge of the stables.
“Hello, Manager.”
“Have you decided to transfer to the stables permanently now…”
He started a joking remark but stopped abruptly. His trembling finger pointed to the spot where the Neros had been piled.
“Wh-where did all the plants that were here go?”
I pointed to the pot. The manager’s mouth silently fell open.
Why is he acting like this?
Did I put in too much at once?
Careful not to let the water overflow, I pressed down on the plants with a ladle.
As the submerged plants grew darker, the manager’s face also turned pale.
A moment later, I got to learn what an ear-splitting shout truly was.
