Chapter 29
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Chapter 29
That's why the Kelofeld Family's tutors didn't teach conventional academics—they emphasized the importance of money, money, and more money.
The trading company had a reputation for teaching money before speech, addition before language, and how to spot swindlers before physical training.
"The head of the trading company once visited our house."
I had a memory of catching a glimpse of his face back then.
The current owner of the Kelofeldt Trading Company was far from an easygoing man.
Unlike the company's public image as a penny-pinching miser obsessed with money, he refused to engage in dirty dealings, and he particularly despised anything involving slave trafficking.
Long before The Emperor formally abolished the illegal slave trade involving non-human races, the Kelofeldt Trading Company had never touched black market dealings.
As a result, while the Kelofeldt Trading Company earned a reputation for lacking flexibility compared to other trading companies of the time, their goods carried no stigma of being stolen or low-quality—instead, they cultivated an image as a prestigious establishment catering to the nobility.
That brought considerable long-term profit.
"Kelofeldt merchandise? Then it's trustworthy."
A perception had formed that the Kelofeldt Trading Company was reliable.
In merchandise trading, trust is paramount.
For novice merchants struggling to guarantee the quality of their own goods, they became the most desirable trading partner.
'And as a major trading company, settlements happen quickly too.'
I wondered if there was any information about the Kelofeldt Trading Company...
I went to the desk and rifled through the documents. A newspaper I hadn't seen earlier lay on the desk as well.
"The newspaper—still no scandal about The Emperor today."
As always, the newspaper contained nothing I was hoping to find.
"And this is— wait? Emma sent a letter? When did she send it?"
The letter had been standing neatly in the corner of the mailbox, so I hadn't noticed it had arrived.
"A letter, all of a sudden?"
[Miss, are you doing well? Emma feels lonely and forlorn without you. By the way, you mentioned that the S-rank Mercenary you're staying with is incredibly handsome, didn't you? After hearing your stories, I've been thinking. Perhaps it would be better if you just settled down for real with that handsome man there...]
Crinkle.
I folded the letter halfway and read it again.
[...because it seems like a serious matter.]
A serious matter?
The moment I unfolded the letter completely, my eyes widened.
[The Duke is said to be heading to the Harbor to inspect supplies arriving by ship, but it seems he'll be traveling by land. Emma happened to overhear that while heading to the port, he mentioned he'd visit the fiefdom he hasn't been able to see in some time.]
A chill ran down my spine.
Who was visiting where? Surely not...
[Since Grunvalt happens to lie directly along his route, there's a high probability the Duke will stop by the young lady's territory! So miss, if you've perhaps started a household with some handsome man there, you should really come back now...]
I bolted upright.
I immediately rushed into the house.
This was an unforeseen variable. Father might actually pass through here?
Why would he forgo the convenience of teleportation magic?
"Grunvalt is vast, so as a mere fiefdom resident here, I shouldn't have any reason to face the Duke..."
Something felt wrong about this.
I went straight to Lord's Castle to verify the facts.
"My Lord, has Duke Lockhart perhaps decided to visit Grunvalt?"
"Ah yes, indeed! But how did you know, miss?"
So he really is coming.
I paced back and forth, troubled. Father was coming to Grunvalt. And if we happened to meet...
'What if he chose the overland route just to see where I've been hiding?'
It was a plausible scenario.
Because every move Father made carried intention.
"...What day is it today?"
Back at the house, I forced myself to think calmly. If Father's arrival was certain, then to eliminate as many risk factors as possible...
'There's only one way.'
Just then, the door opened and Dale entered the house.
"Dale, I have something to tell you."
He looked at me with a tense expression. His golden eyes wavered strangely.
"Would you go to the Capital with me?"
Dale tilted his head in surprise.
"Isn't that the place you must be most cautious about, Miss Enya?"
"It's just... Father is coming."
"Your father-in-law is visiting?"
Dale continued, still looking surprised.
"When it's just the two of us, you don't need to use that kind of title. Just call him Duke Lockhart or the Duke."
"..."
Dale's expression became uncomfortable.
"So what I'm thinking is, we were planning to go to the Capital in winter anyway. What if we go a bit earlier?"
I spoke while looking at the calendar.
It was around the time the winter training would begin.
The Emperor would join the knights at the start of training to boost their morale, then return to the Capital around the middle when the actual war games commenced.
"The timing when Father leaves the Capital and when The Emperor vacates the Imperial Palace—they align almost perfectly."
I drew an elongated circle on the calendar.
"During this period, we can remain in the Capital. It's actually safer that way."
"However, you may encounter people Enya once knew."
"That's not a concern. I have a disguise elixir."
I kept a disguise elixir on hand at all times.
Though not potent enough for daily use, I'd been conserving it for occasions like this.
"Unless someone possesses the caliber of Father or The Emperor, no one will find anything amiss."
"You truly intend to go to the Capital?"
"Does Dale dislike the idea?"
He hesitated, his expression clouded with deliberation.
I drew the heavy curtains to block the wind seeping through the windows.
"Winter is approaching—I can feel it. The weather has grown considerably colder, and with no surrounding buildings, this house will suffer from severe drafts."
The house built upon the Hillside was beautiful, but therein lay the problem.
It offered poor protection from the wind.
"If we commission repairs to the house, it would be ideal. But that requires us to vacate it, doesn't it?"
I persuaded Dale.
"Right. By year's end, the Capital puts on grand tree decorations. Have you ever seen them?"
"...Yes. Once or twice."
"Those trees are decorated with luminous stones, aren't they?"
"Most of them are."
By year's end, it was customary to adorn every tree throughout the Capital's Shopping District and bustling streets with luminous stones, celebrating the safe arrival of the final season of the year.
However, the supply of luminous stones would fall significantly short this year.
'Because frequent rains mean minerals must absorb groundwater, but they haven't.'
Yet Grunvalt held considerable deposits of luminous stones.
Marquis Kidland had primarily mined raw gemstones that commanded high prices, selling those resources.
Luminous stones were hardly profitable goods.
But currently, luminous stone prices had risen 1.5 times compared to previous years.
"The Kelofeldt Trading Company certainly recognizes profitable items, but hoes have limited production methods and aren't essentials or military supplies—hardly something to covet immediately."
And it was winter.
Who would concern themselves with farming tools in winter?
This season demanded cold-weather supplies and food stockpiling above all else.
Agricultural implements like hoes only became useful come spring.
"As year's end approaches, luminous stone prices will climb higher."
The Kelofeldt Trading Company monopolized the supply of luminous stones to the entire Capital.
Even under the Previous Emperor, they hadn't held the unrivaled top position.
The current Emperor elevated the Kelofeldt Trading Company to that immovable first place.
Among countless trading companies, only the Kelofeldt Trading Company had refused to pledge loyalty to the Previous Emperor.
I regarded Dale.
"If luminous stones run short, the Kelofeldt Trading Company will attempt to import resources from abroad."
"Then I'll bring it at a higher price."
"Starting about ten days from now, preparations will begin to decorate the streets. Everything must be ready by then."
I glanced at the calendar.
"I think a transaction around eight days from now would be ideal. By then, prices should have risen two to three times over. If we wait too long, they'll have already placed orders with other kingdoms. I should inform The Lord about this."
"Enya."
That's when Dale called out to me.
He looked at me with a worried expression.
"It's a good method, but it won't help you at all, Enya."
Dale seemed unable to understand why I was going to such lengths to help Grunvalt.
"Your health is precious to me. I hope you won't overexert yourself."
"I appreciate it, but I'm not doing this purely out of goodwill either."
"Then...."
"In the place I sometimes dream of, there's a method to sell off even useless items."
Dale's eyes widened at my words.
"When selling something of great value, you persuade the buyer to purchase items they don't actually need along with it."
Dale's eyes grew round as if hearing this for the first time.
"You end up having to buy something you don't really want just to get the item you desperately desire."
"Such a method existed?"
"When dealing in luminous stones, I'll subtly include a hoe. I'll tell them they can't buy it unless they purchase this as well. In exchange, I won't artificially inflate the price of the luminous stones."
I smiled softly.
"It's commonly called bundling."
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