From the moment Elise set foot on the land of Tetris, she pondered repeatedly on how to establish a foothold for Karan.
At the end of her long contemplation, Elise decided to use Rosh as the first stepping stone for Karan to take the throne of Tetris.
After Countess Rosh injured her leg, her power diminished rapidly. All she had left was this territory and the closest vassal, Dex.
Even the Dex territory was barren and had a monster gate, so she was shunned by those who were scared she might ask for help.
‘She’s a lonely person.’
Therefore, she should be easy to capture.
Moreover, she was skilled. Although she can’t act as a warrior now due to her injured leg, the practical experience she has will be of great help in future battles.
Also, as a lord, Rosh has decision-making power in the Tetris council.
If Karan is to become king through proper procedures, the council’s endorsement process is necessary.
If Rosh becomes an ally, then she will cast a precious vote for Karan at that time.
And the Dex territory is.
‘A hidden treasure.’
Elise smiled and examined the report brought by Haltbin.
Considering it was investigated in a short time, it was a fairly thick report.
Elise spent time reading the report.
The contents of the report were really vast and detailed.
From the history of the family to the related events, to the number of forks in the Kram Mansion.
Elise clicked her tongue.
‘His Highness Karan’s information gathering ability is considerable. Does he have a separate organization just for collecting information?’
If he does, she wants to use it too.
‘Then would His Highness Karan know all about my plans? He wouldn’t interfere with my work, but he might have doubts. I need to confirm His Highness Karan’s feelings before that.’
Elise thought about the things she had to accomplish in Tetris.
There were so many things to do that it was hard to even grasp where to start.
How much should she tell Karan, Elise was pondering when she heard a knock.
“Miss, Lord Kram is here. Shall I let him in?”
Regina asked carefully so as not to disturb Elise’s time.
Elise got up from her seat. She was going to greet him personally.
Regina, who realized her intention, cleared away the report that she had left behind.
“Welcome, Lord Kram.”
Kram’s eyes widened, not expecting Elise to greet him personally.
“Please come in, it will be warmer inside than in the hallway.”
“Ah, yes.”
Kram, who did not expect such a welcome, awkwardly wriggled his body and entered the room.
“Regina, prepare the tea.”
Regina, who seemed to have been preparing in advance, quickly brought out the tea.
And before Elise could even speak, she left the room for the two to have a quiet conversation.
“You confidently offered to show me around yesterday. Where has Lord Kram prepared to take me?”
Kram, who didn’t know when to start talking and was just fiddling with his teacup, raised his head.
He lifted his lips and cleared his throat. He looked like a person about to make a presentation to decide on an investment.
“The places you will see today, Miss Elise, are Dex Square and the Central Fountain, and then the Diamond District, and finally the Dex Central Library. These are places known for their beautiful architecture and landscaping. Of course, since it’s early spring, you won’t be able to see flowers or lush trees. But they are very valuable historically, so it will be a meaningful tour.”
Kram finished speaking and puffed out his chest.
He looked like an owl waiting for praise, and also like a male peacock trying to woo a female.
“Hmm. Beautiful and, historical places.”
Elise blurred her words and swirled her teacup.
Kram looked at her for cues at her indifferent action.
“Don’t you like it?”
“Well, I can’t say I like or dislike a place I haven’t seen. However.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“It’s not the place I had in mind.”
“Do you have a place in mind?”
“The Bronze District and the nearby Hell’s Land.”
“Excuse me?”
Kram was startled and jumped.
He asked Elise with an expression, as if to ask if what he heard was correct.
“That’s right. I want to go to the Bronze District and Hell’s Land.”
Elise gave him a firm answer that what he heard was correct.
“Miss Elise, the Bronze District is the poorest and most ragged place in the Dex territory. Even if you go, there will be nothing to see and it will only make you feel bad.”
Elise nodded. Kram took it as a sign that she might change her mind and continued to speak.
“And what about Hell’s Land? In fact, that place has a proper name. But people can’t even remember that name. They all call it Hell’s Land. Do you know why?”
“I wonder.”
“Because of the terrible smell. The land is so soft that you can’t build a house.”
“Ah, I see.”
Elise answered mechanically.
Kram raised his hand to his cravat as if he was frustrated, then politely lowered it.
He seemed to need time to think. Kram’s eyes deepened.
Kram was in the process of coming up with his own answer as to why Elise wanted to go to the Bronze District and Hell’s Land.
It was when the tea had cooled down and Elise was about to ring the bell to call Regina.
“I see.”
Kram raised his head. There was a glint in his eyes.
“You want to put Dex County under His Highness Karan’s influence, right? Even though Countess Rosh has declared she won’t marry, we don’t know about the future. If Countess Rosh marries and has a son as her successor, it would interfere with maintaining the Lysandro dynasty. So you’re thinking of capturing Dex County outright?”
The Dex family had deep ties with one of the three ruling families of Tetris, the Odilon family.
‘Rosh has practically cut off ties since she got hurt.’
Indeed, Kram was smart, albeit greedy.
‘Half right, half wrong.’
“That’s right, capture. And I also want to continue the Lysandro dynasty. What do you think, Lord Kram? Can you work for me?”
What she was planning to do would definitely benefit the Dex territory.
But she couldn’t stay in the Dex territory forever. So she needed someone to push the business forward on her behalf.
Ellis chose Kram as the person to take her place.
“Why me?”
It was a question anyone would have asked if they heard her decision.
“I’ve looked at the history of the Zillester family. And I learned about Kevin Zillester. He’s your father, Lord Cram. What do you think of him?”
When his father’s name came up, Kram’s face hardened. Kevin was the one who drove the glory and honor of the Zillester family into the ground.
“I think he was foolish. He was short-sighted.”
“There’s a reason I chose Lord Cram in the answer just now.”
“Yes?”
“Kevin, who has passed away, colluded with businessmen and caused great damage to the Dex territory. It was an unjust act. Ordinary people say he ‘did wrong’. But you talked about calculation. You see no problem in the act of colluding with businessmen itself.”
“That’s…”
“I don’t intend to blame you. Is there a law that says nobles shouldn’t chase money? As long as it doesn’t hurt others, I don’t think it’s bad. From that perspective, I think Kevin Zillester did wrong. I think you’ll be different. You’re not foolish enough to make the same mistake.”
It was the first time anyone had spoken about Kram like Elise.
After Kevin’s wrongdoing was revealed, people only blamed Kram.
They pointed fingers at him for not properly honoring his father as a son, demanded responsibility, and denied him even the opportunity to make amends, saying he would be the same.
But Elise reached out to him.
Kram, whose nose was tingling, asked.
“What do you want from me?”
“It’s simple. You just need to actively push forward the business I’m going to do.”
Kram swallowed hard. He had a feeling that a tremendous task was waiting for him.
“What kind of business are you going to do?”
“You’ll know once you see the place where the business will be conducted.”
Kram’s mind was racing. Just as Elise said.
Kram loved money and wanted to gain power based on it.
So he thoroughly analyzed why his father had failed.
He was better than anyone at distinguishing the success and failure of a business, and he could also determine whether a businessman was a swindler.
Thanks to that, he protected the Zillester family from hyenas who coveted the remaining property.
The family name and the small but historic mansion, and the maids, butlers, and cooks for his mother and younger sister.
That was all Kram could do.
Restoring the glory of the past was only possible if he gained Rosh’s trust.
‘If I make the wrong choice here, the Zillester family, which is barely surviving, will be ruined.’
For now, Elise is not a swindler. Her eyes and tone proved it.
‘But if I don’t do anything, the Zillester family will eventually be ruined.’
Rosh had no intention of reviving the Zillester family.
He thought this was an opportunity when she called him, but judging by her attitude at the banquet yesterday, it wasn’t.
She didn’t even look at Kram during the entire conversation.
‘The real opportunity was here.’
Kram looked at Elise’s profile as she looked out the window.
“You don’t have to decide right away. But I would like you to guide me. To the Bronze District and Hell’s Land.”
Kram was interested in Elise herself. He was curious about what she could do in a land where not a single blade of grass grew.
‘I had a not-so-bad relationship with Countess Rosh yesterday. If I do well, I might be able to say good things to Countess Rosh.’
Kram made his decision quickly.
“Get up, Miss Elise. You need to be mentally prepared.”
Elise and Kram headed for Hell’s Land.
****
“We have to walk from here.”
The carriage stopped. Kram got off first and reached out his hand.
The first thing that stimulated Elise, who got off the carriage holding Kram’s hand, was the smell.
It wasn’t a stinging stench, but a subtly unpleasant smell similar to the smell of a rotten egg.
Elise fanned her hand to disperse the smell and looked around.
Her vision was not clear due to the faint smoke.
“It’s a bit hot.”
“Yes, it’s the land of death. It’s hot all year round, so plants don’t grow.”
Kram wiped the sweat flowing down and moved forward.
“Be careful.”
The moment Kram gave advice, Elise staggered. If Regina, who was following her, hadn’t quickly caught her, she would have been in a terrible state.
“The road…it’s really rough.”
It was a muddy road.
“At least the situation is better here.”
When Kram tapped the ground, moisture seeped out of the mud.
Even though it was a wide road, it was immediately understood why they had to get off the carriage.
‘The wheels must get stuck regularly.’
It was understandable why the people of this village rarely went outside.
“How much further do we have to go until we reach the village?”
“It’s about a thirty-minute walk. Are you sure you want to go?”
Had they taken ten steps yet? Kram looked back at the carriage and asked.
Elise must have thought he would turn back after seeing the state of the road. Elise spoke with a calm expression.
“Of course. Lead the way, Lord Kram. Let’s not stop unless it’s necessary.”
Elise lifted her skirt. Even though she had dressed lightly, the dress was extravagant.
“Returning won’t be easy either.”
Kram left a warning as his last words and didn’t look back anymore.
The further they went inside, the rougher the road became.
Their feet kept sinking, the smell of rotten eggs intensified, and the sparse grass also disappeared.
Steam often rose from the ground, and the frequency increased the further they went.
“The water is blue.”
The water that was pooled here and there was an opaque blue.
“Yes, it’s undrinkable water. That’s why this place is called Hell.”
At Kram’s explanation, Elise nodded.
“Are you disappointed? Is it more of a mess than it looks?”
“No, it’s good. More than I thought.”
Kram frowned. He couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
“Do you see people over there?”
As Kram said, a village appeared about thirty minutes into their walk.
An old woman recognized Elise and Kram and approached them.
“She’s the village representative.”
Kram whispered to Elise and dusted off his feet. From the entrance of the village, planks were laid on the road so there was no fear of sinking.
Elise also stepped onto the planks.
Before she knew it, the village representative was in front of Elise.
“I’ve been waiting for you. I’m Besti.”
She had been waiting?
Elise looked back at Kram, asking if he had contacted her. Kram shrugged his shoulders.
Besti smiled a very faint smile, but her wrinkles were deeply etched.
Thank you for the chapter and your wonderful translation!❤️🔥