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Chapter 36

"Sigh...." ‌‌
It was one of those mornings when the sunlight ‌‌‌‌streamed through brilliantly.
"This bed is far too soft!"
I felt like ice cream melting away. I dragged my sluggish body upright and stretched luxuriously.
"Hmm, Dale is still here? Didn't he say ‌‌‌‌he was leaving?"
I reached ‌‌out to shake Dale awake, then froze.
Dale's face, bathed in the morning light.
Was so beautiful.
"Wow...."
Could a person really look like this?
That's when I noticed his nightshirt hanging open. I clicked my tongue at the sight of Dale sleeping so peacefully.
"You're ‌‌‌showing too much skin."
I carefully buttoned up his shirt.
Leaving himself exposed like that was like placing a fish right next to a cat.
"What would have happened if he'd been like this in ‌‌front of someone else?"
The bright morning light made Dale's features even more striking.
His character and appearance were too pure and untainted for this harsh world. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.
Instead of waking him, I lay back down and admired his beauty.
"Isn't it unfair to be both kind and handsome?"
I moved closer to observe him better.
With looks like his, he was practically a subject of study. I couldn't touch him carelessly, yet admiration spilled out naturally.
I leaned in and gazed at Dale.
"Beautiful eyes, lovely lips... and a great physique. Dale really has it all."
It seemed the gods had poured all their finest gifts into creating Dale.
"What do Dale's parents look like?"
I found myself suddenly curious. What was their secret? Had they been blessed by some fortunate place?
I stared at Dale intently.
A husband this considerate, this affectionate, and this handsome would be difficult to meet again after our contract ended.
"We've already been through dozens of days, Dale."
So many days had already vanished from the original 364 we'd promised.
"Please stay with me until then... wait?!"
Tilt.
Just as I was trying to get up, ‌‌‌‌my calf caught in the blanket.
My body lost its balance and tilted to the side. I was about to tumble off the bed when— ‌‌‌
Whoosh!
Dale caught me before I fell.
My heart was pounding—I'd nearly crashed to the ground. Dale, equally startled, pulled me into his embrace.
"Are you all right?"
"Thank you... I would have fallen without you, Dale."
As I thanked him, I suddenly noticed something odd.
Did that just happen? His reflexes were far too quick.
'Wait...?'
I parted my lips, which had gone pale and frozen. ‌‌
"You were awake? ...How long have you been awake?"
Dale's face flushed crimson ‌‌‌‌as he avoided my gaze.
He'd heard all my nonsensical rambling, hadn't he?
'Oh no... this can't be happening...'

* * *

"This major issue still hasn't been resolved?" ‌‌
"We're investigating every avenue, but it appears we'll need more time."
"Winter is approaching fast. Have we secured secondary locations in each nation?"
The headquarters of the Kelofeldt Trading Company in the Imperial Capital.
Within the deepest chamber of that establishment, the company's master held his aching head in his hands, running ‌‌calculations.
"I ‌‍never thought the lack of rain this year would become such a problem."
The procurement of luminous stones was an extraordinarily critical matter.
After the year-end decorations were taken down, the luminous stones were collected and distributed freely to ‌‌those in need, allowing them to light their homes at night without expensive kerosene.
Luminous stones ignited easily and burned long without extinguishing—they were also excellent as fuel.
They were far more than mere ornaments.
They were essential supplies for enduring the harsh winter ‌‌cold and a form of welfare that the Imperial Palace provided annually to the ‌‌‌common people.
"His Majesty the Emperor has not yet spoken, but the first ‌‌inspection ‌‌‌date approaches."
"We've inquired elsewhere, but they've all caught wind of the situation and are demanding prices far exceeding market value."
"How much?"
"Four times the normal rate."
"Merchants are truly something else."
Even a genuine merchant would shake his head at such prices.
"What about the cheapest option?"
"Around three times the price, but upon inspection, the quality was poor."
"Is there truly not a single source within the Empire itself?"
The Branch Manager of the Capital, an executive of ‌‌‌‌the trading house and overseer of domestic distribution, shook his head at the question.
"We consumed substantial quantities during the recent monster subjugation, making it difficult to secure sufficient reserves. However, Count Kidson's family has proposed ‌‌‌conditions."
"Conditions?"
Deep furrows formed across Jack Kelofelt's brow.
The Kidson family, with whom they'd conducted regular business, had begun reducing their cooperation with the Kelofeldt Trading Company—a clear sign they'd found another supplier.
Count Kidson's House was one of the central forces of the Old Nobility Faction.
In other words, Duke Hexagon's house arrest would be lifted.
This was preparation for that.
The overall circumstances within the Empire were converging toward a single point.
"It was a condition that didn't require consideration, so I didn't report it."
The Branch Manager handed over the documents.
"In exchange for the luminescent stone, we would transfer the Trading Company's Southern Branch to their fiefdom, ‌‌‌‌along with three thousand roots of Remicillin—used as a treatment for seasonal ailments—and tiles for ‌castle repairs...."
"Stop."
Jack, exasperated, clicked his tongue.
"A stray dog passing by would laugh at this."
But how did they know about the plan to transfer the Southern Branch?
Jack's brow furrowed.
"First, secure luminescent stone from abroad. His Majesty desires superior quality."
"But if ‌‌that happens, our Trading Company will suffer losses rather than gains."
"Even at a loss, ‌there's someone we must secure."
That was the current Emperor.
I could never afford to lose him.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
The office door opened, and an employee came looking for Jack.
"What is it?"
"A distinguished guest has arrived."
Jack understood the signal.
His Majesty the Emperor had come. ‌Personally.
But without advance notice?
"Are you certain about this distinguished guest?"
The Emperor I've ‌‌observed over the past decade was not the type ‌‌to do such ‌‌‌‌a thing.
If word of the ‌‌Southern Branch had leaked, someone might be attempting to impersonate him, knowing of our dealings.
Jack briefly considered whether he should summon his private soldiers.
Then he heard footsteps approaching. As Jack narrowed his eyes and looked toward the door, he ‌was startled by ‌‌the unfamiliar face revealed without a mask.
"It's been a while."
Is ‌‌‌that His Majesty the Emperor?
But His Majesty has blonde ‌‌hair. This young man had black ‌hair. Yet those eyes—commanding and extraordinary—made me believe this was indeed the Emperor.
The voice was identical to His Majesty's as well.
But why....
"It's ‌‌good to see you again, Master of the Trading Company."
Is he speaking in formal language?

* * *
‌‌
"I almost didn't ‌‌recognize you. Ha, ha... ha."
"As I mentioned ‌‌before, I've come to see you again."
Jack focused all his attention on the man's voice.
He couldn't understand why he suddenly revealed ‌‌‌his face and used formal speech. He wondered if this was a new test, but if so—
"Dale. We're indoors, so take off the robe."
There was no way he would appear with some young lady at his side.
Yet the access pass he possessed and the voice were unmistakably The Emperor ‌‌‌himself.
No, let me think ‌‌about this differently.
He might have revealed his face precisely ‌‌‌to bring this young lady here. My merchant's instinct was guiding me in that direction.
If that were the case, who exactly was this woman who commanded The Emperor so casually? Just how ‌‌‌much did he cherish her?
Jack caught the scent of money and ‌‌his eyes darted rapidly.
No, something ‌‌‌‌far greater than money.
The ‌‌future.
"Ha! You mean that matter. I understand. I've been remembering and waiting."
Truth be told, I had no idea what he was talking about. The last time he came, ‌‌all he said was—

"It's about ‌‌‌‌time to prepare luminous stones in quantity."

There was nothing but ‌‌‌that kind of pressure, wasn't there?
I would never let slip what an important client had said.
But my instinct, honed by forty years of ‌trading, told me this woman held a crucial key.
'Is she his lover?'
"Let's start with that story." ‌‌‌
"Yes. That story."
"..."
"...?" ‌‌‌
Jack quickly deduced what Dale was referring to.
"You mean the luminous stones, sir."
He leaned back heavily in ‌‌his chair ‌‌‌to hide his bewilderment. Was there some kind of surveillance device in this office? ‌‌‌He appeared at precisely the moment we were about to discuss that very topic.
Jack deployed every instinct he'd cultivated ‌‌‌through his years as a merchant.
'She's not his lover.'
He tried to recall where he'd seen that face before. Thousands of unofficial biographical entries flipped through his mind like pages.
'A noble lady of the Lockhart ‌‌Family.'
Enya Lockhart.
Her eye color and hair color were both brown, which made me uncertain, but there was only one woman who could be this close to The Emperor—the noble lady who had been formally proposed to by him. Only her. ‌
The fact that she ‌‌‌‌came in disguise meant she didn't want her identity revealed.
Jack had completed all his calculations.
"Might you happen to possess a large quantity of luminous stones, madam?"

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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