Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Helene's Caravan
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Juliet was on the road from Robel to Carcassonne. More precisely, she was crossing the mountains.
She had bid a reluctant farewell to her great-uncle, Lionel Levatan. Lionel had told her she could stay longer, but Juliet had refused.
She had left Robel alongside her cousins Isaac and Grey Theo, heading for Carcassonne.
She planned to meet her aunt Helene and spend a few days at the headquarters of the Marigold Merchant Guild before parting ways.
Thanks to Isaac's prior message via communication orb, they had arranged to meet at the midpoint between Robel and Carcassonne.
Or so they thought—
"Impressive."
Juliet murmured her honest impression.
The endless procession of carriages and wagons stretching out before her eyes left her with nothing else to say.
Grey and Isaac grinned at her reaction.
*She must not be surprised since she ran into Waterpure Merchants so often in Robel.*
Juliet had forgotten. The Marigold Merchant Guild was famous enough that they would have known about it long before she ever came east.
"Juliet!"
As she was taking in the massive procession, someone called her name.
Before she could even identify the voice, someone pulled her into a tight embrace.
Then let go. It was as casual as greeting someone she had seen just yesterday, leaving Juliet a bit dazed.
"I'm so glad we finally get to meet, Juliet."
The woman greeting her so warmly with a beaming smile had short blonde hair that was her striking feature.
Juliet had heard stories about Helene beforehand and imagined some charismatic beauty or a bold heroine. In reality, though, she was petite yet somehow gave off an air of spirited determination.
"First time heading to Carcassonne?"
Helene's eyes sparkled as she cheerfully promised.
"We're going to have so much fun!"
Her voice rang out bright and lively.
She shared a bunch of exciting plans for the time they would spend together. Juliet already liked her a lot.
Helene, with her sparkling short blonde hair and kind brown eyes, was so vibrant that it was hard to believe she was the mother of two grown sons, Grey and Theo.
Her light steps carried her nimbly through the merchant guild's carriages. Her small stature and cropped golden locks made her look like a boy from a distance at times.
Yet she was the undisputed leader of the Marigold Merchant Guild.
The Marigold Merchant Guild was one of the three largest in the East.
Juliet suddenly recalled the people from the Waterpure Merchants who had been especially kind to her back in Robel.
"What about the Silverthorn Merchant Guild?"
The Silverthorn Merchant Guild divided the eastern markets alongside Marigold, and there were rumors that Waterpure was actually Silverthorn's sister guild.
It might have been overthinking, but something about Waterpure setting up a branch in Robel felt off.
"Ah, hmm. Well..."
When Juliet asked, Helene touched her forehead as if pondering, then winked slyly at Juliet.
*Ah.*
Juliet immediately caught the hidden meaning in the gesture.
In the end, two of the continent's five great merchant guilds belonged to Lionel.
*Now that's truly impressive.*
She hadn't expected those rumors to be true.
There had been all sorts of talk about what happened to Lionel Levatan after he suddenly vanished one day, but in truth, he still controlled half the continent.
Not with the notoriety of old, but in a faster, wealthier way.
*Ah...*
Juliet came to a sudden realization as her thoughts reached that point.
*The Red King's treasure.*
All those thrilling rumors about the treasure were clearly nonsense.
The Red King had found the world's most efficient and secure way to preserve his treasure.
Juliet smiled faintly.
Creating a merchant guild had definitely been a smart choice.
"The guild won't run without Mother."
Grey had said that just before they came to meet Helene, letting out a sigh of unclear meaning.
Juliet had thought it was a son's respectful admiration for his capable mother. But after meeting Helene herself, she understood.
It wasn't flattery or mere courtesy.
"Guild Leader!"
Just watching the guild members calling out to Helene from all around made it clear.
Helene led Juliet along on a casual stroll, weaving through the guild members.
"Those fools were bothering you?"
Juliet smiled faintly.
"Not at all."
"I told them not to."
Helene sighed.
"I definitely tried to stop Isaac.
I begged him not to."
Helene wanted to make that point clear.
From what she heard, the awkward play back in Robel had been the idea of her great-uncle Isaac.
"He said you'd find it suspicious, that you might get scared and run off. But Isaac swore it would never happen."
Juliet chuckled lightly at Helene's words. She hadn't been scared or run off. It had been suspicious enough, though.
"Your uncle can be a bit immature."
Helene sighed deeply and shook her head.
But the affection for her husband shone through in her tone, making Juliet smile a little.
True to her role as leader of the Marigold Merchant Guild, Helene had a knack for naturally steering conversations.
Without realizing it, Juliet was soon following Helene's lead, touring the guild procession and exchanging nods with the members.
"Zachary already knows, right?"
Helene asked cheerfully from up ahead.
"Yes."
Zachary, who had been playing with his daughter Lizbel, spotted Juliet and Helene and gave them a smiling nod.
"Sis!"
Lizbel, in her father's arms, waved her tiny hand cutely at Juliet.
Zachary was accompanying the guild caravan since his wife was at the Carcassonne branch.
Juliet had imagined some tragic backstory upon seeing Lizbel never mention her mother, but now it felt like one mystery had been solved.
*They must be the weekend-couple type.*
That was Juliet's rough guess.
"That's our accountant Shirley.
And next to her is Layla, then Kite."
As she walked briskly past, Helene pointed out the guild members one by one with brief introductions.
"That's Felix, our veteran wagon driver. Oh, Marvin! Marvin's my personal secretary."
It went something like that.
Helene darted between the carriages, introducing Juliet to each member she saw by name and role in order.
She never hesitated or stumbled once.
*To memorize the names and faces of such a massive group...*
Juliet marveled inwardly.
That was when it happened.
Rumble!
A loud roar echoed from somewhere, followed by a burst of chaotic screams.
"It's collapsing!"
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
Looking toward the noise, part of the cargo stacked on a carriage was crumbling.
"Damn it!"
The guild members who grasped the situation quickly dodged. But several people in the path of the collapsing pile were still floundering, unable to escape.
"What are you doing? Move!"
"Grab the rope! The rope!"
But it already seemed too late to avert disaster.
As everyone shouted in alarm and rushed over—
Snap-crack!
The snapped rope went taut again.
The people bracing for tragedy blinked in confusion.
"Don't worry, Helen! I got it!"
In the distance, Isaac could be seen gripping the rope with one hand and cheerfully waving his other.
She had no idea how, but Isaac had dashed to the opposite side just before the cargo collapsed and yanked the broken rope tight.
While Isaac held the rope steady, the people who had nearly been crushed escaped unharmed.
The panicked guild members rushed to help Isaac without a second thought.
"V-Vice Guild Leader!"
"Yeah?"
"Let go of that now! No, wait...!"
"Lower it slowly!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Can't believe him..."
Juliet, standing right beside her, clearly heard Helene mutter while clutching her head.
"But that's what makes him cute."
Helene sighed and shook her head. Juliet smiled faintly, thinking she now understood the couple's dynamic.
"Essel!"
As guild members reloaded the fallen crates, they called for someone, and a man popped out from between the cargo piles.
He was slender and tall. After hearing some explanation, he nodded and extended his hand toward the cargo.
Flash!
A white light flickered briefly from his fingertips. Juliet's eyes widened at the sight.
Then someone called him from the other side.
"Esselrid! Check over here too!"
"You're the one who complained that applying reinforcement magic one by one slows us down, Vice Steward."
"That was then!"
The somewhat irritable-looking Essel seemed to be going around the procession, applying reinforcement magic here and there.
*Ah.*
Juliet tensed up and stepped back before he was even introduced.
*A mage!*
The moment their eyes met, the butterflies in her mind grew wildly excited, their frantic fluttering echoing in her head.
Forgotten Juliet