Creeeak—
When I opened the door and entered, Father glanced up from the pile of papers burying him.
I awkwardly approached Father.
He'd called me over, but he was completely absorbed in his paperwork.
Father didn't look up until he'd finished the papers he was working on.
"You're here."
"Yes."
He set down the quill in his hand and stared at me. His sharp gaze seemed to be probing me.
"You didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Day Festival, did you?"
So that's what this was about.
"I'm not a child. What kind of trouble would I cause? I went and came back quietly, without incident."
"Good."
He gave a short answer and lowered his gaze again.
As I watched him, he seemed much more troubled than usual.
Deep furrows creased his brow, and his eyes were full of fatigue.
"Is Rosenthal giving you that much trouble?"
"It's worse than that."
They were pressuring the merchant guilds and trade routes, tightening their grip on the money supply.
It was the obvious move for Rosenthal, which held hegemony over the South.
"Their pressure has put the people of the territory through quite a lot. I doubt I'll get a decent night's sleep anytime soon."
"So it's money in the end."
Father silently nodded at my blunt summary.
I sat on the sofa and leaned comfortably against the backrest.
"If I told you I had a solution, would you trust me?"
The look in his eyes was dubious. I'd expected his distrust.
Even if the good-for-nothing son had changed, he only knew how to use a sword. Money was an entirely different domain.
I took a breath, paused for a beat, and spoke.
"We should develop the Ashen Forest."
"You little—"
"Whoa, calm down. This is also the fruit of my enlightenment."
"Get out if you're going to spout crazy nonsense."
"Actually, this isn't a request. I'm informing you. I think I can do it on my own, without your support."
"......"
This is terrifying. He's glaring at me like he's going to kill me.
Ahem.
"Of course, with our current finances, even entering the Ashen Forest would be impossible."
Our goal wasn't just to hunt Magical Beasts. It was to develop the forest.
In other words, we wouldn't just need to kill a few Magical Beasts. We'd have to wipe them out completely.
Even then, we couldn't be sure more wouldn't appear, and they might attack our supply routes.
"If we develop the Ashen Forest, I plan to build a fortified distribution network. We'll also establish forward bases and send knights along whenever we transport supplies."
Developing the Ashen Forest would cost far more than anyone could imagine.
If we set up safe supply routes, hire standing troops for the forward bases, form a special defense unit, recruit people for the waystations and mining operations, and even build an independent smelter...
Kardenos's current assets wouldn't come close to covering it.
"I'll raise all the money that takes."
"So what is it you want to say?"
"I don't want any other support. Just trust me and leave it to me. Like you did when I first formed the Ring."
Kardenos was the Black Lion.
You either got tempered in the jaws of death or got abandoned. Those were the only choices.
"Instead, just advance the allowance that's coming to me. You can manage that much, can't you?"
"Why?"
"I want to start a big business. A lucrative business that can't possibly fail."
Information turns into money, and money turns into even more money.
I had several sure-fire businesses that would devour Rosenthal.
Knowing the future and still failing to make money meant having less sense than a chicken.
"Naturally, I'll need some capital. No more, no less—just 10 million Shilling."
"You think running a business is that easy?"
"Of course not. 10 million Shilling is only the minimum startup capital to acquire and operate a workshop right away. I plan to secure the main investment separately."
I leaned comfortably against the backrest and grinned.
"But when the merchant guild grows in the future, I'll need the justification and backing that come from you having invested personally, Head of Household. That's why I called it an advance on my allowance."
The more justification, the better.
I was the heir to the Grand Duke of Kardenos. Not making use of that background would be foolish.
"I don't expect the Black Lion Knight Order or the standing troops for the Ashen Forest Expedition. Just make an investment for appearances."
Of course, the more seed money, the better.
It was a stock that was obviously about to soar. How could I not buy in? It wasn't even at its limit.
It was a foreign stock that would multiply dozens of times. I wanted him to pour everything into it, no matter what.
If I had my way, I would've asked for an advance on my allowance and pulled up the very foundations of the family.
But that would've gone beyond the limits of trust between a father and son.
"With the Ashen Forest and a business, you really do make light of the world."
"Just think of it as confidence."
"Get a grip, Astin. After Rosenthal, are you going to give me trouble too?"
"Don't worry. I'll pay it all back later."
10 million Shilling wasn't that much for Kardenos.
Father rubbed his face with a troubled expression.
"......You did spend that much on what you called a conduct allowance, indulging yourself."
"Right? The fact that I didn't waste the money is already a huge improvement."
"I'll give you that."
Even if it failed, it would be a cheap lesson.
It would be quite a gain if the Legitimate Child of Kardenos learned how wide the world was.
I thought Father would see it that way and readily give me the money.
Father covered his eyes with one hand. With the other, he waved me away as if shooing a breeze.
It meant he'd accept.
Having achieved my goal, I stood up.
"Astin."
Father called me to a stop from behind. His gaze still looked razor-sharp.
"I'll ask one last time. You definitely didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Day Festival, right?"
He really couldn't trust his only son.
Honestly, he had good reason not to. If you looked at my track record.
I turned around and answered brightly.
"Yes! Of course!"
"Good. You can go."
***
After Astin left, Valdemar couldn't hide his troubled feelings.
The Ashen Forest and a business. There was a limit to how far a young man's reckless ambition should go.
Even though he knew it would fail, Valdemar didn't stop him.
"He'll give up soon enough."
Failure in childhood was a good experience.
The failures you accumulated then became the soil that nurtured future success.
If his bold business venture failed, he wouldn't even set foot on the Ashen Forest Expedition.
As he'd said himself, an expedition was out of the question with their current finances.
Even if the business went well right away, the Ashen Forest would remain a distant dream unless it became a genuine success.
To begin with, he couldn't understand why Astin wanted to develop the Ashen Forest.
The bitter cold, Magical Beasts, dense miasma, endless darkness, and constant danger.
There was nothing else to gain from that place.
There might be buried resources, but they wouldn't be worth the expense.
The only things they could gain were honor and glory. The family's reputation in the eyes of the world.
"Haah—"
He shook off his stray thoughts with a quiet sigh.
He'd stop thinking about it now. It only gave him a headache.
'At least he didn't cause trouble at the Founding Day Festival.'
Even if he'd matured a little, he still couldn't control his emotions.
He'd worried Astin might beat up a Young Lady at the Founding Day Festival, just as he'd done to Azelin.
Still, this time, it seemed his worries had been unfounded.
Astin was a boy who couldn't even hide his own feelings.
If he'd really caused trouble, he would've been fidgeting nervously in front of him.
Maybe he'd grown up a little.
Valdemar eased his worries and picked up his pen.
Now wasn't the time to focus on his son. He needed to devote all his energy to managing the territory.
Bang—!
"Head of Household! We have a serious problem!"
Just then, the Butler rushed in, his face pale. Valdemar's brow furrowed.
"Stop making a fuss and tell me. Is it Rosenthal again?"
"That, that's not it! The Partrian Merchant Guild has completely halted all shipments into the territory!"
"......What?"
The Partrian Merchant Guild was a giant guild that dominated the economies of the East and the Imperial Capital.
It had no reason to be at odds with Kardenos in the West.
Then why all of a sudden?
"Why? We haven't had any friction with Partrian, have we?"
"Th-that is..."
Bang—!
Once again, the office door was kicked open.
"Who the hell—!"
Valdemar's mouth snapped shut before he could finish his furious shout.
Hendrickson came in, clutching his stomach and laughing heartily.
"Ha ha ha! You pathetic fool! Your son has turned the whole Empire upside down!"
"...What are you talking about?"
"You're asking because you don't know? I was hoping he'd beat somebody up, but he's gone and caused even bigger trouble!"
Thump!
Hendrickson tossed a crumpled bundle of papers from his coat. It was the Imperial Capital Daily, the fastest source of information.
Valdemar's eyes fixed on the front-page headline.
[An Unprecedented Turn at the Founding Day Festival! The Star of High Society, Lucia, Rejects the Advances of Powerful Men and Chooses Astin of Kardenos!]
[Enraged Crown Prince Zenon, Partrian Merchant Guild Master, and Young Master Winterhart. What Lies Ahead for the Three Men?]
[Astin Splurges 50 Million Shilling on an Old General's Star Sword! Money Laundering in Collusion with the Military—or Just Romance?]
"Did you see this? He snatched a woman right in front of the Crown Prince! Ha ha ha! They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but this crazy bastard's even worse than you were when you were young!"
Hendrickson's boisterous laughter rang through the office.
Valdemar's vision flickered black.
The Imperial Court, the Northern Grand Duke's household, a giant merchant guild, 50 million Shilling......
"That boy......!"
As if Rosenthal alone weren't enough trouble, he'd made three powerful men his rivals in love.
And what was that about money laundering in collusion with the military?
Valdemar's trembling hand clutched the back of his neck. His blood pressure was skyrocketing, and he felt like he was about to burst.
"......Butler."
"Y-yes, Head of Household."
"Right now, right now—no, my son. Go get that boy. Right now."
"Well... the Young Master left a little while ago."
"What?"
"He said he was going to start a business and left for the South..."
KABOOM!!
One punch split the desk in two.
The Butler swallowed a frightened "Eek!" while Hendrickson kept laughing.
"He's your son, all right! He's got a damn good sense of timing too!"
Hendrickson's laughter rang through the office.
A few days later.
Astin, having set foot in the South,
"Now that's perfect weather for spending money."
He set off in high spirits, a broad smile on his face.
He idly wondered if he should buy Celine a present while he was here
***
A private cafe in a busy district in the Empire's southwest.
Bang—!
A crash broke through the gentle classical melody.
A crumpled bundle of newspapers was thrown onto the marble table.
The Imperial Capital Daily's front page. Astin and Lucia's names stood out in bold print.
"Tell me, Lucia. What is this?"
Azelin's voice had gone cold with anger.
"What were you doing with that man at the Founding Day Festival? Do you think it's right that these kinds of articles are appearing everywhere?"
Lucia, seated across from her, stared blankly down at the newspaper.
She'd known a day like this would come, but...
The Empire's information network was far quicker and more blatant than she'd expected.
Lucia took a small breath and set down her teacup.
"There's a lot of people around. Keep your voice down."
"Do I look like I'm going to keep my voice down right now? How could you do this, of all people? How can you get involved with the man who did this to my face?"
Azelin's eyes twisted fiercely.
Lucia could clearly see that Azelin thought her trusted friend had betrayed her.
"Calm down, Azelin. The article's been exaggerated to make it more sensational. And there's something you misunderstand about Young Master Astin."
"Misunderstand? What could I possibly misunderstand? Who's the one who crushed my face and left me scarred?"
"Young Master Astin isn't someone who'd do that without a reason."
"Hah!"
Azelin let out a hollow laugh of disbelief.
"You've already fallen for him. So you're saying I caused it. That I deserved to get hit, right?"
"Let's go see him together and apologize. If you sincerely tell him you're sorry, he'll forgive you."
"Are you crazy?"
Azelin cut her off irritably.
"You want me to go bow my head to that lunatic? Look. You can still see it through my makeup. He did this to my face. If anyone should beg for forgiveness, it's that bastard. Why should I?"
"...You were the one who cheated while you had a fiancé."
Lucia couldn't understand why she'd cheated on a man like that, either.
"Honestly. Is love a crime? And you think you wouldn't have done the same? He was suffocatingly possessive and drove me crazy. He thought money could buy everything. If I didn't go on even one date with him, he'd bang his head on the table. Like this!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Azelin pounded the table with her fist again and again.
Watching her, Lucia doubted her own eyes.
The Azelin she knew hadn't been so violent.
Her one and only friend, kind, understanding, and dependable.
"Why are you only blaming me? Why are you, of all people, insulting me and taking Astin's side? Even though he's my former fiancé?"
Lucia had no answer to that last part.
Lucia silently lowered her head.
At the sight of her, Azelin's lips curled bitterly.
"Ha, I get it. This is what you're into?"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you were so proud, since you turned down the Crown Prince and everyone else. Did you get a bad-boy complex? Or are you more attracted to him because he's your close friend's ex-fiancé?"
Azelin couldn't see anything but rage right now.
Saying things she didn't mean to hurt Lucia wasn't like her.
Lucia didn't read too much into it and tried to calm Azelin down.
"I'm sorry, Azelin. I guess I pushed you too hard. You're right too. I shouldn't have gotten involved with your former fiancé..."
"What, do you feel guilty now? Good for you. A crazy bastard who beats women and a bitch who picks up her friend's ex-fiancé. Still, spreading your legs for trash like that? You're not a whore, but you might as well be. Your life really is pathetic."
Lucia found her so unfamiliar. She didn't seem like Azelin at all.
Lucia finally stood up. She closed her eyes and forced the words out.
"Let's call it a day. Contact me again once you've calmed down a little."
"Honestly. You two deserve each other. A match made in heaven. Go on, switch men and spread your legs whenever you get bored. That's what you're good at."
Smack—!
Azelin's head turned to the side. She froze in place.
Her right cheek stung. Lucia's fingertips trembled.
"Please, please come to your senses..."
Azelin's head, which had been turned blankly to the side, slowly faced forward again.
A vivid red handprint stood out on her cheek. Her eyes had lost all reason and gleamed wildly.
"You're asking for a fight now, aren't you?"
Azelin reached across the table.
She grabbed the teacup filled with hot tea and was about to hurl it at Lucia's face.
Crash—!
The fine teacup hit the floor and shattered.
A strong hand had suddenly shot out and knocked Azelin's wrist aside.
"That pretty face almost got hurt."
Even as shards flew in every direction, the man remained calm.
Lucia's eyes widened when she saw him. Azelin's face flushed bright red.
"After getting beaten that badly, you still haven't learned?"
His sharp golden eyes looked coldly down at Azelin.