Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Many Hands Make Light Work
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“Freya Callas?”
I recalled what had happened just moments ago.
The two children of the Callas family had shown up out of nowhere.
Under the pretext of celebrating the city's construction.
“They wouldn't have come all this way for nothing.”
And not just anyone, but the key figures of the Callas family themselves.
“Maybe they have a favor to ask?”
If so,
“Could I ask one too? I'd love to borrow some money on short notice.”
I tossed the documents in my hand onto the desk.
“This is no time for that.”
I stepped out into the street.
The festival was in full swing outside.
Slaves and mercenaries alike were eating, drinking, and reveling without a care.
“There they are.”
I headed toward the group surrounded by slave soldiers.
They had to be escorting the Callas siblings.
As I approached them, Russell, who had been guiding them, bowed.
“My lord.”
“I'll take over from here.”
I sent Russell away and stood beside the siblings.
“Is the weather treating you well? The island is colder than the mainland.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Freya answered the question.
In doing so, she smoothly switched places with Jeffrey.
Our original order had been me, Jeffrey, Freya.
Now it was me, Freya, Jeffrey.
“I had no idea Viscount Callas had such a beautiful daughter.”
First things first: build some rapport.
Once I'd established goodwill, I planned to ease into business talk.
“You're making me blush.”
Freya bowed her head and brushed back her hair.
“Shall we head this way? I'll show you around the village.”
“Yes, Elwin-nim.”
We toured the village, chatting quite a bit.
And finally, we arrived at the temple in the village center.
“Is this a temple?”
“It's dedicated to the Goddess of the Earth.”
“It's beautiful. I've never seen a temple this grand even back in our territory.”
Most territories didn't build temples this large.
In my case, it was because I had a guilty conscience.
“It's still under construction. Once completed, it'll be even bigger.”
“I'd love to see the finished temple. May I... come again sometime?”
“Of course. You're welcome anytime.”
After the village tour,
we moved to the restaurant.
I'd done a satisfactory job building rapport.
We were close enough now that I could chat comfortably with Freya.
‘But... why hasn't she brought up the main topic?’
We'd had plenty of preliminary conversation.
It wouldn't feel awkward at all to get down to business now.
And yet...
Freya focused solely on our small talk.
‘I was hoping she'd bring it up first... but no choice now.’
“I'm curious why the two of you came all this way.”
“Oh, didn't I mention? We're here to congratulate you on the city construction, Elwin-nim.”
She was no pushover.
There was no way they'd come just for that.
‘It'd be nice if she'd state her business first... but I can't exactly bow and scrape either... Is this the trials of a salesman?’
I was the one who needed money right now.
For the moment, I'd have to play along with them.
**
**
Clop clop.
Clop clop.
The exclusive carriage of the Vampire Duke's second princess.
“How much longer?”
“We'll arrive in Terra shortly.”
Amid her busy rivalry with Benia, she'd heard one piece of news.
The daughter of the Callas family was visiting Terra.
The moment she heard, she set off immediately.
“Lady Alensia, your face is flushed.”
Alensia calmed her mind.
And another thought crossed her mind.
‘Why did I come all the way here?’
She and Elwin were no longer engaged.
And she'd been the one to break it off first.
Yet here she was, going to see Elwin...
‘No, that's not it. Elwin is essential to the island. I'm just looking out for him. For the island's sake.’
During her time with Elwin,
she'd seen many things.
Like how he always seemed uncomfortable around maids.
Or how he'd try to carry heavy loads for them.
And so on.
Maids were like furnishings to nobles.
They didn't pay them any mind.
But Elwin was different.
Put kindly, he treated maids as equals.
Put harshly, he lacked the dignity of a noble.
‘He even jumped in shock when his hand brushed a maid's.’
Seeing that convinced her.
Elwin was awkward around women.
Elwin was weak to women.
‘But what if a noblewoman set her sights on Elwin?’
“How much longer?”
“We've arrived.”
Moments later, the carriage stopped.
Alensia leaped out.
She headed straight for where Elwin was.
The moment she entered the restaurant,
a man blocked her path.
“Good day, Second Princess. What brings you here...?”
She knew him.
He was one of Elwin's subordinates.
“Russell, was it?”
“Yes, milady.”
“Where's Elwin?”
“Inside. If you're here to see my lord, I can announce you—”
Before he could finish, she strode inward.
“Milady, let me inform my lord of your visit.”
“No need.”
As she entered, laughter rang out.
One was Elwin's voice.
The other was a woman's.
‘He's laughing?’
She quickened her pace.
Turning the corner,
she saw three people at the table.
A woman sitting across from Elwin.
And a man seated beside that woman.
**
**
“Hahaha. It's true. There are goblins on the island stronger than orcs. I saw them myself.”
“Oh my, what happened to those goblins?”
“I took them down with my mercenaries.”
“Elwin-nim, you're incredible.”
I was deep into building rapport when
an unexpected guest appeared.
“Lady Alensia? What are you doing here...?”
She stood silently by my side.
In the meantime, maid Marie prepared a chair.
Only after sitting did she speak.
“Continue.”
“Pardon...?”
“I could hear the laughter from outside. Go on.”
“Ah... yes...”
I resumed the goblin subjugation tale.
But the mood didn't pick up like before.
Alensia was glaring with a stony expression.
An awkward silence stretched on until
Freya's gaze shifted to Alensia.
“Why are you here, milady?”
“I have business.”
“What kind of business?”
“Do I have to tell you?”
Cold. Freezing cold.
It was like standing next to an open fridge door.
“Must be something too important to share? Well, I suppose coming to see your ex-fiancé would warrant that.”
“...”
Freya's words sank the mood further.
Now it felt like the freezer door had been flung wide open.
“Let's all calm down first. Chef! Chef! When's the food coming?!”
Even after the food arrived, things didn't improve.
Freya and Alensia glared at each other.
Caught in the middle, the food went untouched.
The only one at peace was Jeffrey Callas alone.
He maintained noble etiquette impeccably amid it all.
It was the same even after leaving the restaurant.
The two kept me between them, shooting daggers.
It might've been better if they'd just fought outright, but they insisted on sandwiching me.
And so the first day of the festival passed.
The next day.
‘Ah... why are they doing this today too?’
My heart was already heavy from the deficit.
And now this...
‘I need to get straight to the point.’
The reason I'd personally guided Freya yesterday and today was simple.
Money.
Handle whatever they wanted, and borrow funds in return.
I hadn't wanted to broach it first, but...
“Ahem, I believe Lady Freya came all this way for a reason.”
A smile tugged at Freya's lips as her gaze turned to me.
“I don't know what the request is, but I'll do my best to accommodate it. In return...”
Grab.
I stopped and turned my head.
Alensia had seized my wrist from the other side.
“Mind your words if you're a noble.”
Noble.
A word I heard often when we were together.
Act like a noble.
But
this wasn't the time.
I needed money urgently.
Otherwise, we'd run a deficit.
“It's a deal. A trade of what each side needs.”
I looked back at Freya.
“To be frank, I need money. Could Lady Freya provide some funding?”
“Money...? Then...”
Grab.
Alensia grabbed my wrist again.
Even if it was Alensia, if she kept interrupting...
As I opened my mouth to say something to her, she spoke first.
“Just money? I'll lend it to you.”
That changed everything.
“Really!?”
Tug.
This time, Freya pulled my sleeve.
“Elwin-nim, our Callas Viscounty has plenty of money.”
“I see...”
“It's still just a viscounty at best.”
Once more, the two women clashed.
“But we have more money than a duchy, don't we? Duchies have huge revenues, but their expenditures match.”
That was true too.
Population, territory, economic scale—all larger in a duchy.
But pure profit was another story.
Duchies had massive income and outlays alike, while Callas Viscounty had overwhelmingly higher income relative to expenses.
Their main revenue was tolls, after all.
“In that case, to the one offering the lowest interest...”
“I'll do 8%.”
“7%.”
“Even 6% is fine.”
“5%.”
“...4.5%.”
“4%.”
I forcibly suppressed my rising smile.
I'd thought I'd be crushed like a shrimp in a whale fight,
but it turned out I was reaping the benefits.
“Then... 3.5%... I'll make it work somehow.”
“3%.”
“Me too. 3% from me as well.”
I waited, hoping they'd go lower.
But no one bid below 3%.
Freya's initial 8% was considerate enough.
Interest rates here weren't as low as on Earth.
That it dropped to 3% was the utmost concession they could make.
‘Lady Freya seems to be stretching a bit...’
Grab.
Tug.
Both women looked at me.
Hurry up and choose, their eyes said.
‘This is awkward...’