Chapter 175
Chapter 175: Master of the Trade Route (12)
While Chief Secretary Tir dealt with the investigation team,
Edward, his hair a disheveled mess, stepped out onto the streets without even fixing his appearance.
He, who usually rode in a carriage, was now riding a horse alone.
His necktie, once a symbol of his polished appearance, fluttered messily in the wind.
But he didn’t care in the slightest.
Because right now, his mind was filled with just one man.
Roger Julius.
Ever since that bastard appeared, Edward's life had hit a turning point.
He had simply intended to cling to Eric for life and live off his scraps.
Yet somehow, that man had started instilling “change” in him.
A newfound confidence—one that whispered, you could do it too.
Even Echina, who had once been clueless about the world, had jumped into the family business and, to top it off, devoured Freya.
Watching his relatives, Edward began to believe he also had a shot.
But what if all of that had been a delusion?
No—maybe it wasn’t a delusion.
Perhaps this had all been a trap laid from the beginning by that damned fox of a man.
The bastard had tossed out a half-chewed, crippled herbivore as bait.
And Edward, picking up that prey, had strutted around as though it were his own achievement.
Drunk on that false confidence, the place he ended up in was...
Here—Bern, a land full of traps set by the fox.
“So this was why there was no reaction, even after I handed over the mithril...”
The second son urged his white horse forward, soon crossing the ridge.
Then, suddenly, his anxious, darting pupils locked onto something.
"...!!"
While he’d been basking in the mithril and investment funds he’d secured, he hadn’t realized the state of another city at all.
But the moment he came face-to-face with the scene—
He immediately understood how ignorant he’d been.
“No way... How could they make this much progress in just a month?!”
From afar, all he’d seen beyond the ridge was the spire of a cathedral poking out.
But now that he was up close, its scale was unimaginably massive.
「Saint Istina North Cathedral.」
A grand, solid cathedral made of marble and granite, towering seven stories high.
Below it lay a beautifully landscaped park and a statue modeled after the First Saint.
“Did the main church sponsor this directly or something...?”
He had known about the connection with the Saint, but he never imagined the main church would build such a massive facility with its own hands.
He’d assumed they wouldn’t allow it, especially since one of the bishops sided with Eric.
The cathedral was crowded with architects and laborers dispatched from the Silver Truth Church.
On top of that, there were healers helping manage their condition, and even mages levitating and moving stones directly.
“……”
Edward forced himself to pass the magnificent cathedral and the developing park.
The countless residents gathered to admire the buildings only added to his irritation.
“Out of the way!!”
In the end, the second son barked irritably and forced his way through them.
With a completely different expression from the one he had shown to the boy who provided him with mithril.
But even after pushing through the crowd, what greeted him was still the bustling city.
「Yekaterina Royal Kitchen.」
「Yekaterina Noble Square.」
As if mocking the delays in his own construction project, countless commercial buildings were already nearly completed.
Among them stood the grand restaurant of Archduke Harriet, now a landmark, welcoming the second son.
――――――
Before the grand opening, a party offering free meals to the residents was in full swing.
The fact that such a large-scale event was hosted by the Western Grand Duke’s house, yet handed over to Echina, the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter—
It was an unbelievable occurrence between two families who couldn’t get along even if they killed each other.
“Haa…”
Soon, Edward stopped his horse in front of the fountain in Angde Square.
There, familiar faces were gathered, sipping wine.
“Must be nice for you, Echina. Gaining control over this commercial district.”
Helena didn’t even glance at Edward, who had dismounted from afar.
She simply enjoyed her warm mulled wine, draped in a thick coat over her dress.
“You hold a significant share in that district now, so you’ve got no complaints, right? Same goes for you.”
“Oh my, what do you mean by that? Isn’t it standard practice, by canon law, for every city to have its own cathedral?”
Istina, clad in a silver dress with a black coat and hood, responded with a bright smile.
Only Echina looked displeased, eyeing the two women who had subtly inserted themselves into the conversation.
“Well, just this once, we’re forced to collaborate. Don’t even think about having any further ‘ambitions.’”
The Northern Grand Duke’s daughter issued a haughty warning in her usual regal tone.
She then took a sip of mulled wine from the table set by the fountain.
The tea had been personally brewed by Istina, and it seemed the taste roughly matched the Grand Duke’s daughter’s finicky palate.
“Ambitions, huh—specifically, what kind are we talking about?”
“Indeed. Seems like you already harbor some wicked desire for Roger, don’t you?”
At the deep, knowing gazes from the two women, Echina gave a dry cough.
She claimed it was because of the cold from the Nord mountain range and covered her lips with a handkerchief.
“You’re asking because you really don’t know? Let’s refrain from wordplay with a knight.”
“Hmmm… I really don’t know. In that case, shall I take a guess?”
Helena shrugged.
Then, gently stroking the coat draped around her shoulders, she said,
“For example, that my family has officially ‘granted approval’? I’m sure you know what kind of approval I mean.”
“……!!”
Echina, who had been listening nearby, was visibly startled.
She herself was only just about to undergo the bishop’s ceremony.
Yet this sharp-tongued blonde woman had already received her family’s blessing?
“Well, same goes for me. Our bishop even said he would personally officiate the ceremony.”
Istina placed a hand on her tightly fitted saint’s robe and spoke with confidence.
Realizing that the saintess had made just as much progress, Helena shot her a guarded, wary look.
However—
Amid all this, Echina alone wore a perfectly serene expression.
Sensing something, the two women simultaneously turned their gazes toward the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter.
As if to say, So, what have you accomplished, then?
“How utterly simple-minded you all are.”
What followed was shocking.
For the first time, the usually curt Grand Duke’s daughter spoke with the relaxed tone of a queen.
“None of you have considered the other’s position. You’re all selfish.”
Selfish.
That word clearly didn’t sit well with Istina, whose once-gentle gaze turned sharp.
“And you’re saying you’re different?”
“Out of all of us, aren’t you the one at the greatest disadvantage, with that uptight father of yours?”
Helena didn’t look pleased either, crossing her arms.
They paid no mind to Edward, who was approaching from afar.
Even Echina, as a knight who could sense energy, paid him no attention.
――――――
They saw each other as far more formidable enemies than the man standing before them.
“Hah.”
Echina raised her hand in a sharp, poised motion.
Then, with a contrastingly elegant touch...
She softly brushed her bangs aside.
“He’s the one who personally patted my head.”
Between strands of her black hair, her golden eyes shimmered with life.
The blend of conviction and warmth in her expression resembled a radiant gemstone.
“It was very sudden. That gesture almost shook my resolve.”
The Saintess and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter saw the sincerity in Echina’s face.
They instinctively sensed there was no falsehood in her words, and their red lips began to tremble.
“What… did you say?”
He patted her head.
On the surface, it could seem like a casual display of affection.
But considering their relationship with Roger, this was no trivial matter.
“Roger... patted your head?”
He had always kept a clear distance, likely out of awareness for the difference in status between them.
He had never once voluntarily shown affection or trust.
And yet, the first meaningful act of physical closeness—he gave it to the most aloof of the three, Echina?
“How ridiculous… all this fuss over a little head pat…”
“Right? I was wondering what incredible thing he must’ve done!”
Though the two women outwardly maintained their composure, their fingers had started to sweat.
And just then, as if to scrape at their already fraying nerves, Edward finally approached the table where the three were seated.
“Echina!! Where the hell is Roger right now?!”
His looming figure cast a shadow over the Saintess and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter.
Perhaps it was because of that shadow—because their eyes, now turned away from the light, glinted far more coldly than usual.
“Edward? When did you get here?”
Echina asked in a flat voice.
“I said, where the hell is that bastard Roger?!”
The second son bellowed repeatedly.
At that, both the Saintess and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter raised their heads at the same time.
Their expressions were like hyenas eyeing a jackal that had just intruded into their territory.
“Prince Edward, you’re being loud.”
“And just who do you think you’re raising your voice to?”
The mustached man blinked in disbelief under the fierce pressure from the two women.
He was certain he was the angriest person here.
“…?”
But the women before him looked just as—if not more—displeased.
“Find Roger yourself. Don’t stand around here whining and annoying us.”
“What the…?”
For the first time in his life, Edward was rendered speechless by such an open scolding.
With an awkward expression, he backed off slightly and glanced around.
And then, something caught his eye—a banner promoting a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
「Yekaterina Royal Kitchen – Angde Branch, Grand Opening Celebration.」
This restaurant was a prestigious establishment that had received the top Red Ribbon rating in the capital.
Moreover, it was run by the Western Grand Duke—Helena’s older brother—the very same woman who had just glared at him moments ago.
Given all that, Edward was now certain the bastard would have shown up for such a high-profile opening.
He headed straight for the restaurant mentioned on the banner.
Since it was located in the heart of the square, he didn’t even need to mount his horse again.
――――――
Applause thundered all around.
Dragging his exhausted body, Edward finally reached the scene.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of Yekaterina Royal Kitchen was well underway.
I had just finished shaking hands with Harriet and took hold of the ceremonial scissors with him.
Countless reporters and patrons crowded in front of the restaurant.
In the midst of them, I smiled with my long eyes curving gently…
Click.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony announcing the prosperity of the Angde Plains came to a close.
“Lord Roger, thank you so much for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”
“You’re too kind. I should be the one thanking you for expanding your business all the way out here.”
Veteran reporters from Gold Morning raised their hands.
“Everyone, please move in a bit closer.”
Perhaps because I stood next to the dashing Harriet, the Northern nobles of the Empire had followed him all the way to the Angde Plains, like fans chasing an idol.
Thanks to that, I was also able to promote the newly completed Erian Hotel – Angde Branch to them.
“Alright, let’s all smile—!”
This historic moment would be immortalized in tomorrow’s papers.
Afterward, Harriet and I patted each other on the shoulder and stepped down from the stage.
At that moment—
“…!!”
I turned my head at the sudden sensation of someone grabbing my wrist from behind.
“Stop right there, Roger!!”
Edward’s burly hands clutched my collar.
We were behind the stage, so the reporters couldn’t see, but Harriet, who had stepped down with me, watched the scene unfold with a startled expression.
“You bastard, how dare you drag the Imperial Palace into a fight between noble houses!!”
The man shoved me against the wall.
His disheveled mustache made him look like some deranged scientist.
“The Imperial Palace? I’m not sure what you mean.”
I tilted my head with the most innocent expression in the world.
That must’ve made me look even more loathsome, because I heard the sound of his teeth grinding.
“This is your doing…! The Imperial investigation team—how could they suddenly be dispatched like this?!”
“Well, you were going around bragging about a city built out of mithril. Of course that would attract the Empire’s attention.”
Thinking I was playing dumb, Edward shouted even louder.
As if it no longer mattered whether others heard or not.
“Construction audits were always quietly swept under the rug between the ducal houses and the Empire!! But ever since you got involved—!”
“Ahh—so you’re saying all the other buildings were illegally constructed too?”
As I continued replying with a cynical tone, he started tightening his grip on my collar.
But—
“Guh—!!”
With a short, sharp cry, he was forced to let go.
At last, the moment had come.
I had no intention of holding back any longer.
“Hey, Edward. Just because I’ve been speaking politely to you all this time… did you think I was one of your servants?”
I twisted his wrist with one hand.
And as he let go of me, I used that same grip to shove him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.
――――――!!
The second son of the Northern Grand Duke’s house, once as unreachable as the sky, now felt unbelievably light.
He slumped to the floor and glared up at me like he wanted to kill me.
“You’re mistaken about something. Just because your father’s a duke doesn’t mean you’re one.”
I dusted off my dress shirt indifferently.
“On the other hand, I’ll soon be receiving a barony.”
Then, I looked down at the second son—whose value and competitiveness had long since dwindled—like one would a bug.
“So try showing some manners, Edward.”
I no longer addressed him with honorifics, nor did I look at him with eyes that submitted.
There was no need for that anymore.
――――――