In the past, when I was deeply immersed in learning accounting, Lope, who was an officer at the time, used to say, “When you’re feeling down, count your money!” And that advice turned out to be true.
After returning from my outing, my melancholic mood was completely lifted.
Of course, when Allen, who had returned from the palace, saw me devouring the ruined cake, he teased me, saying I deserved it for going out with you and Diana and ended up getting into trouble, but it also helped to lighten my mood when he bought a new cake.
“But dragging us to the training ground forcibly was really not cool.”
Just as I managed to calm my heart, memories with the master became even more vivid the moment I arrived at the training ground.
So, feeling annoyed, I ended up showing off my skills unintentionally.
Fortunately, thanks to the duke leading the regular training with elite knights like Taze and Lexion, there were only a few trainee knights and squires tidying up the warehouse in the training ground.
Of course, I felt a bit regretful after the spar with Allen, but… honestly, I didn’t care much.
“Who would believe that a small, skinny guy like me can handle a sword well.”
Even if Taze was impressed, it was no use. As I had said many times, if I didn’t learn, it was pointless.
Anyway, a magic stone is a magic stone, but since I also handed a separate investment list to the duke, now all that’s left is to make money.
“I wonder if I’ll become the wealthiest person in the Empire at this rate?”
It wasn’t just about the upscale residences near the palace; if things went well, I might be able to buy a castle in other regions too.
“Then I’ll invite Diana and everyone and treat them to luxurious and delicious food.”
And if I could give good gifts, I would be really happy.
“Hehe.”
“Sis?”
As I chuckled foolishly, Diana, who was holding my hand, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you laughing? Danah wants to laugh with you too!”
“Well, I… was just feeling happy thinking about spending a happy time with you.”
“Me too! I’m so happy to be with you today, sis.”
Diana bounced up and down, and her braided hair moved with her.
“Miss, your hair is a mess! Be careful.”
“Oops! No!”
As I urgently tried to prevent her carefully done hair from getting messed up, Diana quickly grabbed her hair with both hands.
“Oh, you’re so adorable! How can you be so cute, Miss.”
“I’m naturally cute!”
“Yes, you are. Miss, you’re the cutest in the world since you were born.”
“You’re the prettiest in the world, sis!”
“Aw, stop it. You two are too sweet.”
As we sat on a small sofa in the hall, enjoying a pleasant time with Diana, a disrupter appeared.
It was the chubby-faced Allen.
“Lord, really. Are you sulking because you couldn’t go to the palace with Miss today?”
“Sulking, sulking!”
As I teased him, Diana laughed and teased Allen.
In no time, Allen’s face turned bright red, and he grumbled with embarrassment.
“Why do you think I’m sulking for no reason?”
“Then why are you like this?”
“Well, that’s… um…”
“Why are you picking a fight for no reason, Allen.”
At that moment, the duke and duchess descended the stairs.
“I’m not picking a fight!”
“That brat, where did he run off to?”
Even as he spoke, the duke gently stroked Allen’s head, who looked cute despite his pouting lips.
I approached the duchess.
“Madam, are you alright?”
She seemed paler than usual. Despite being elegantly dressed and well-made up to appear as bright as usual, I, who observed her closely every day, could tell.
“I’m fine. Just feeling a bit restless.”
“A bit restless? You couldn’t even sleep a wink last night.”
At that moment, the duke furrowed his eyebrows and spoke.
“If you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to go.”
“Can I really? On a day like today…”
I grimaced at the duchess’s words.
Of all days, today was the Empress’s birthday.
And just yesterday was the anniversary of the parents of the Empress, the former Duke and Duchess of Fairunt.
During the days when the former Duchess of Fairunt was still a young lady, the former Duke and Duchess of Fairunt met with a carriage accident on their way from their estate to the capital to celebrate their daughter’s birthday, resulting in their deaths at the same moment.
Since then, the former Duchess of Fairunt’s birthday became a day of mourning rather than celebration.
But as the Empress of the Empire, she couldn’t pass quietly, so instead of hosting a grand celebration on her birthday, she gathered the noble ladies for a light tea party like today.
And this was an event that no noblewoman or court lady in the capital could afford to miss.
“Even the Duchess of Fairunt, who isn’t active in society, had to attend.”
“But if your chest is hurting, didn’t you say? It’s unnecessary to go if you’re in pain.”
I was startled by the duke’s words.
“Madam, is your chest hurting? To the point where you couldn’t sleep?”
“Well, it’s a bit stuffy.”
Looking at the duchess speaking as if it were nothing, I felt strangely anxious.
The duke, looking worried, spoke again.
“Why don’t you rest instead of being stubborn? Last time I saw, Her Majesty seemed quite favorable toward you.”
“Favorable? Do you remember how it was last time?”
When the Duchess asked, the Duke grinned.
“It was quite alright, wasn’t it? Oh, right. At first, it was a bit awkward knowing that Lucio didn’t come. As expected, when the prince…”
At that moment, the Duchess lightly jabbed the Duke’s side.
Seeing the bewildered Duke, the Duchess whispered softly, “You don’t have to say unnecessary things.”
I cautiously asked, “During the last palace banquet, didn’t the Crown Prince attend?”
After asking, I felt embarrassed that it was an off-topic question, but fortunately, it didn’t seem unnatural in the flow of conversation.
“Yeah, Lucio didn’t come. Probably tired from academy classes. But still, it doesn’t make sense that he can’t even come home well, let alone to the palace.”
I grinned at the Duchess’s answer.
Since the academy was practically adjacent to the palace, it was much closer than the Elard ducal estate.
“Still, it would be nice if he came home once every two weeks, or at least once a month. Isn’t it?”
After the end of the vacation, the fact that Lucio hadn’t come for months seemed to disappoint the Duchess.
She smiled faintly and nodded, “Yes,” but then suddenly seemed to realize something.
“I see! It would be nice if Lya could visit more often too!”
“….?”
The Duchess suddenly looked pleased, but I just nodded vaguely.
And then, I immediately got lost in other thoughts.
After returning from the outing that day, I was too preoccupied with seeing the master that I didn’t thoroughly investigate the visit to the palace.
“But Lucio didn’t go to the palace on the day I went out…”
* * *
Darel’s headquarters, the Guildmaster’s room.
Lucio, who was sitting at the table flipping through documents, suddenly paused.
“Something feels… off.”
He felt a chill run down his spine, for no apparent reason.
Just as Lucio was about to raise his eyebrows at the inexplicable sense of unease, the door suddenly burst open, and a man wearing a robe rushed in.
“Tell me, tell me, tell me! I can’t sleep because I’m so curious!”
“…Was it this?”
“What are you talking about? Just tell me already. Who on earth sold that magic stone? Huh? Who was it? Tell me!”
Though the man shouted as if in agony, Lucio just chuckled.
He couldn’t believe he felt so threatened by this person’s arrival.
But the man was persistently stubborn.
It had been a month already, and he came every day without fail, pestering endlessly.
“I cannot disclose that information, as I’ve already informed you, sir.”
Nicholas, throwing off his robe and sitting down on the nearby chair, spoke confidently.
“But if the Information Guild doesn’t sell information, what’s the point? I’m willing to pay for it. Honestly, isn’t it something I should know? It’s good to build rapport in advance too!”
“Wasn’t it mentioned that not revealing identities is a condition of the contract?”
“Wow… I don’t have to go anywhere to say this…! Even so, am I not the one who had a significant impact on founding this guild? I made it with the promise of making you an emperor!”
“While that may be true, don’t you think it’s important to separate public and private matters?”
“Geez, you’ve really turned into a full-fledged businessman! No one would guess. Even the esteemed Elard Duchy’s young lord is such a shrewd businessman!”
Ignoring Nicholas’s sarcastic remark, Lucio asked, “But weren’t you supposed to go to the palace?”
“I was supposed to. I just showed my face and left. That’s normal. Honestly, do you think the Empress would want to see someone like me on her birthday? Anyway, as a member of the royal family, I just have to observe the rituals.”
As Nicholas finished his sentence, his expression changed dramatically.
“You’re just like a slug! You’re quick to change the subject, aren’t you?”
“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“Since when have you cared about my palace visits… Ah! Speaking of which, the Elard Duchess and her youngest daughter also visited the palace today.”
As if suddenly realizing, Nicholas smirked slyly, rubbing his chin.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
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