The carriage rattled along.
Elaine and I sat facing each other.
Her eyes were different now. When our gazes met, a faint blush would creep up her cheeks, and she would quickly look away. Elaine seemed like a girl who had fallen in love late in life.
We had to maintain our act whenever others were around.
To outsiders, she was the Countess and I was the younger heir under her care, even though we shared no blood ties.
If the truth about us were exposed, the clan's reputation would plummet. We would likely face severe punishment Antion would either execute us or exile us.
If I didn't have Yuria...
Yuria's martial prowess far surpassed Antion's.
If necessary, killing Antion and forcibly seizing the Count's title was another option. Any vassals who resisted could simply be eliminated.
If I use Yuria and modern weapons effectively, I might actually succeed in a rebellion...
But that was only one of the worst possible choices. I wanted to acquire the Count's Household intact, if possible.
The carriage came to a halt.
It was lunchtime.
The servants were the ones bustling about during the break.
I ordered Yuria and Melissa, who were seated on either side of me, "Go help the servants and come back."
"Understood."
They exited the carriage.
Elaine also instructed the maids beside her, "Check for any injured knights or soldiers and ensure the supplies are in good condition. We'll be arriving at the Royal Capital soon, so conduct a thorough inspection."
"Yes, Madam."
The maids withdrew.
Inside the carriage, only Elaine and I remained. Her gaze deepened as she looked at me.
I extended my right hand to her, as if inviting her to dance. She took my hand and leaned into me.
"Yujin... mmm..."
We kissed. My hand slowly slipped beneath her dress.
We arrived at the Royal Capital.
As befitting a great noble family, the Prucus Family maintained a mansion in the Royal Capital. Though located far from the Royal Palace, the mere fact that they owned a residence here despite not being nobles who actively participated in the capital's affairs was a testament to their power and influence.
The mansion was impeccably clean, as if the servants had been diligently maintaining it. While not as grand as the Main Family estate, it was still far superior to most noble residences.
"Ha ha. You've arrived, Mother. It's been a while, but you're as beautiful as ever."
Gent had arrived at the mansion first.
It was clear that Gent's acting skills had improved significantly. In the past, he had always worn a sullen expression around Elaine and avoided conversation with her.
"Gent, you haven't changed either. Where is he?" Elaine asked, her face impassive as she sought Antion.
Neither Antion nor Gent could possibly know how that cold, aloof expression transformed when she was in bed.
"Father hasn't arrived yet. He's expected in about three days."
"I see... Very well. Gent, you must be tired from the journey. Go and rest."
"I arrived yesterday and have already recovered from the journey. I have a dinner appointment with the Western Nobles tonight, so I won't be able to return. I'll see you again tomorrow."
"Understood."
Elaine brushed past Gent. Her destination was obvious: the study. Escaping the Main Family didn't mean escaping work; in fact, it only increased. With most nobles gathered in the Royal Capital, there would be plenty of strange requests from nobles and merchants alike.
"So you finally came..." Gent muttered, glaring at me. I casually ignored his hostile gaze and greeted him politely.
"It's been a while, Lord Gent."
I used formal language since the servants were watching.
"Indeed, it has. Baron Yujin."
"I hear you're attending the Western Nobles' banquet. Is that wise? The nobles in the South might misunderstand your actions."
The Prucus Family was located at the southern tip of the kingdom. Though too remote to be considered the heart of the south, their influence was far from negligible.
"We're all nobles of the same kingdom. What misunderstandings could there possibly be? And even if misunderstandings arise, they have nothing to do with you. You must be tired from the journey here. Go inside and rest."
I knew why he was associating with the Western Nobles. Gent's fiancee was the daughter of Marquis Heollis, the central figure among them.
Gent tried to brush past me and head outside.
"Lord Gent, may I join you at the Western Nobles' banquet?"
"...You?"
"Yes, I'm curious about them too."
"...I'm sorry, but you're of House Prucus, and you're also the Baron of Tevra. Bringing you along without notice would be disrespectful to our hosts."
"If you're so concerned about etiquette, why did you barge into my mansion without any prior notice last time?"
My sarcastic remark twisted Gent's face into a scowl as he glared at me.
"...That was a mistake. I was in such a hurry that I didn't have time to send word."
With that, Gent turned sharply and climbed into the carriage waiting outside the mansion.
"Yuria, I'm leaving. Have the carriage prepared."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Yuria hurried toward the elderly butler who managed the mansion.
Melissa, standing beside me, smiled mysteriously and said, "Looks like you're planning something interesting, Master."
"Melissa, you're welcome to join me."
"I'd love to, but I'll stay at the mansion and tidy up your room. I don't mind meeting commoners, but I'm not fond of nobles."
Melissa was originally the eldest daughter of the ancient Argent Duchal Family of the Cobalt Kingdom. She had since fled the kingdom and, as a result, disliked meeting people, especially nobles.
"Alright. Just keep my bed warm for me."
"...You're incorrigible, Master. If you cared about your reputation, you'd be more discreet in the Royal Capital."
"Don't worry, don't worry. As long as we don't get caught."
"Master should always be grateful to the Head Maid. If it weren't for her, you would have been caught hundreds of times by now. You and the Countess have been walking on such thin ice on this journey, you wouldn't even realize how close you've come to disaster. ...Truly, if the Head Maid weren't so extraordinarily capable..."
"Alright, alright, enough nagging. I'm always grateful to Yuria."
"This isn't nagging, it's a warning to be careful."
"I get it, I get it."
I rode in a carriage toward the Western Nobles' residential district.
I couldn't attend the banquet Gent had mentioned. I hadn't received an invitation, and forcing my way into an uninvited banquet would only earn me the nobles' scorn and damage my reputation.
The place I sought was Marquis Heollis's mansion in the Royal Capital more precisely, his villa. Though I hadn't made an appointment, it wasn't considered rude. I simply needed to mention the Kozline Merchant Guild, which had contacted me before my arrival.
As an executive of the Kozline Merchant Guild, Marquis Heollis couldn't afford to treat me coldly. He undoubtedly wanted to profit from the Korea Merchant Guild I controlled.
After identifying myself to a servant at the mansion's entrance and waiting briefly, a middle-aged butler emerged to greet Yuria and me.
"Baron Prucus, Marquis Heollis is awaiting you in the reception room. I will escort you there. But who is this beside you?"
"She's my personal maid," I replied. "I'd like her to join us. Is that acceptable? She's deeply involved with the Korea Merchant Guild."
"...If that's the case, it should be fine."
The butler seemed to have noticed that Yuria wasn't an ordinary maid. Well, with her extraordinary appearance, who could mistake her for ordinary?
Master.
As I walked down the corridor, Yuria's voice echoed in my ear. It was a Telepathic Transmission. They say you can infuse sound with Mana, but I've never had the knack for it. Yuria, on the other hand, treated Telepathic Transmission as a useful, if somewhat trivial, skill.
The mansion's security is tight. Not only are there knights stationed throughout the estate, but assassins have also been deployed in various locations. And that butler... he's a high-grade Aura Expert.
Given Marquis Heollis's position, it was natural for him to have guards. But the presence of assassins was unexpected.
The butler guiding us is a skilled warrior on par with a Knight Commander...
I subtly turned my head and mouthed the words. I couldn't use Telepathic Transmission, but Yuria could read lips.
If you were to act, could you kill everyone in this mansion?
-Yes, Master. Of course. Just give the order, and I will collect the lives of everyone in this mansion within ten minutes and offer them to you.
I shook my head slightly. I simply wanted to gauge the difference in power. There was no reason to massacre them all.
At least, not yet.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Baron Prucus."
"It's an honor to meet you, Marquis Heollis. I came to see you as soon as I arrived in the Royal Capital. I hope I haven't been too presumptuous."
"Impolite? Not at all. We've been looking forward to your visit. I've been eager to speak with you personally, and besides, our clans are destined to become in-laws in the future."
"It puts my mind at ease to know I'm welcome."
"Please, take a seat. This conversation might take a while. But who is the maid beside you?"
"She's my personal maid, and also my hands and feet. Thanks to her, the Korea Merchant Guild has flourished. She knows the guild's details better than I do."
"...I see. A beautiful young lady with such a sharp mind? The Baron has truly found a gem. But..."
Marquis Heollis narrowed his eyes, studying Yuria intently.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No. It's nothing. I was just reminded of a certain clan. Even so, she couldn't possibly be related to them."
The clan he was thinking of was almost certainly House Helbrit. Yuria's silver-blue hair and azure eyes were characteristic of the Helbrit lineage. However, House Helbrit was known for its obsessive cleanliness, leading him to dismiss any connection to Yuria.
"You've come to me about joining the Kozline Merchant Guild, haven't you? Does the Korea Merchant Guild intend to join?"
"Yes. Which merchant guild in the Rapelli Kingdom wouldn't want to join the Kozline Merchant Guild? It would be an honor to join."
"Of course, I welcome the Korea Merchant Guild. However, I can't speak for the opinions of others. As you know, our Merchant Guild is deeply intertwined with the Magic Tower. There are quite a few who view the Korea Merchant Guild with suspicion."
"...Do you doubt the Korea Merchant Guild?"
"Well, yes. The Korea Merchant Guild's products are simply too revolutionary. While you claim to have invented most of them, is that even plausible? The Kozline Merchant Guild believes there are other nations and the Magic Tower backing the Korea Merchant Guild."
"It's unfair, but I understand."
"Hmm?"
My calm acceptance seemed to surprise him. Young people my age usually panic or get angry when faced with such suspicions.
But I remained calm. I had anticipated his criticism, thanks to Yuria's earlier guidance.
Yuria had warned me: The Kozline Merchant Guild intends to find flaws in the Korea Merchant Guild, criticize them, and devalue their worth to acquire them. Their ultimate goal is to uncover the Korea Merchant Guild's secrets.
I refused to be manipulated by their schemes.
"Even I find it hard to believe that a genius like myself actually exists in this world. How could others possibly accept it? Of course they'd be skeptical."
"...Ah, I see," Marquis Heollis replied awkwardly.
"Your Excellency, I have a business proposal I'd like to discuss with the Heollis Merchant Guild, which you oversee."
"Hmm... A business proposal from a genius? That sounds intriguing. What kind of business is it?"
"A war supplies business. It could be incredibly profitable, I guarantee it. Originally, I planned to pursue this venture alone, but... aren't the Marquis Heollis and Count Prucus Families about to become one family?"
"Ha ha... You seem to be mistaken. Most Upper Rank Masters are already preparing for war, myself included. Who doesn't know that war is imminent?"
"I see. Then let's cut to the chase, Your Excellency. I have some intriguing information. Would you care to hear it?"