Chapter 243: Feigning Reluctance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 243: Feigning Reluctance
“Did you see the way His Highness the Grand Duke looked at her?”
Another maid snatched up the linen basket, hugging it to her chest.
“How can he be so romantic?”
“I heard rumors that the Grand Duke was colder and more heartless than the northern mountains, but those rumors were completely wrong, weren’t they?”
“Oh, he’s not cold; he’s just manly,” a veteran maid chimed in. “Whether it’s the Grand Duke or his knights, they don’t whine about trivial things like the men in the capital do.”
Indeed, the maids all blushed, agreeing that while the Blenheim knights might seem blunt and rugged at first glance, every single one of them was the epitome of chivalry.
“Yesterday, Jessie and I were struggling to carry the laundry, and one of the knights saw us. He just lifted the whole thing with one hand and carried it all the way to the laundry room!”
The maid covered her reddening cheeks as she described how the knight had turned away indifferently without saying a single word to brag.
“And they’re all so tall and gallant.”
“Don’t be shocked, but I went to the training ground earlier to drop off some towels. The knights were all shirtless and—!”
“No way! When?”
At the mention of this heroic tale, the maids all shrieked and huddled together.
“What joy will be left in our lives once the knights leave?”
As the maid finished her boast, everyone let out a sigh of regret.
“I wish the Grand Ducal couple would stay at the townhouse for a long time.”
When they had first heard the news that their masters were coming, they had all been terrified.
Everyone’s completely changed in just a day or two.
Feeling a bit awkward, Polly watched the garden where the Grand Ducal couple had disappeared before she started wiping the window frame again. She made a mental note to find a way to help out at the training ground tomorrow, no matter what.
* * *
“This is my first time at the Blenheim townhouse. It’s much larger than I expected.”
Seated in the conference room, the Imperial Crown Princess looked around with a bold, unrestrained air.
Less than a day after the chaos at the Imperial Palace, the Crown Princess had contacted the Grand Duke’s castle. Fearing I might refuse her, she had practically stormed the townhouse, bringing a trail of administrators with her.
In the end, I guided her to the conference room instead of the tea room I had prepared.
As soon as the ritual greetings were exchanged, the Crown Princess got straight to the point.
“There are about two weeks left in the preparation schedule for the Expo.”
I tilted my head at her words. “Do you mean there are two weeks left until the investment deadline?”
“No, until the opening.”
Wait, what did she just say?
Two weeks before the opening should be the point where the venue is fully constructed, all participating merchant guilds are confirmed, and products are arriving one after another. Furthermore, the entire Empire should be buzzing with anticipation.
And they’re only just getting investment now?
Noticing my horrified expression, the Crown Princess made excuses, saying it couldn’t be helped because several major investments had been withdrawn.
“How far along are the preparations?” I asked.
“How far along are we?” The Crown Princess passed my question directly to the administrator beside her.
“Since there isn’t enough time to construct a dedicated venue, we are planning to rent a villa owned by the Charleyn family. As for the participating merchant guilds, we have recruited about forty percent of our target.”
The situation was disastrous, but I remained silent, trying to listen to the imperial administrator until the end. However, the administrator shut his mouth as if that was all he had to say.
“…That is the current status, Your Highness,” the administrator added in a crawling voice, mentioning that the discussions with the Charleyn family regarding the villa hadn’t even been finalized yet.
The expressions of the imperial administrators sitting around the table were grim.
I’ve really stepped in it this time.
I should have listened when Ferdin warned me. But since I had already received my payment, there was no turning back now.
As if reading my mind, the Crown Princess spoke up anxiously.
“As of today, the Gate Blockade Order on Blenheim has been completely lifted. I specifically asked His Majesty to move up the order, so I trust the Grand Duchess will do her best as well.”
I nodded helplessly. Though I wanted to call the whole thing off right now, it was true that I had received the Crown Princess’s help at the palace.
“As promised, the Blenheim family will invest all the necessary funds.”
“Thank you, Grand Duchess!” The Crown Princess let out a deep sigh of relief. “I knew we would get along well.”
“However, there is a condition.”
“A condition?” The corners of the Crown Princess’s mouth, which had been curling upward, twitched.
“Give the Blenheim family the operational rights to the Expo. We will take all profits generated from its operation.”
In exchange for the investment, I was asking for all the revenue.
Hmm.
As the Crown Princess showed signs of hesitation, the administrator next to her quickly leaned in and whispered advice. He was undoubtedly telling her to accept.
Everyone expected the Expo to be a deficit anyway. From the Crown Princess’s perspective, since there would be no profit to begin with, it didn’t matter if I took the operational rights. In fact, she was probably rejoicing inwardly that she no longer had to take responsibility for the investment funds.
If I owned the operational rights, there were two possible outcomes.
First, the Expo fails miserably. Naturally, the investment would be lost, and my administrators and I would be stressed to the breaking point trying to manage it.
Second, the Expo is a massive success.
In that case, well, a very pleasant problem would arise where the Crown Princess would be green with envy.
Of course, that was a slim possibility. Even Ferdin had said the investment would be like scattering money into the air.
As I expected, the Crown Princess nodded readily. “In exchange, the Imperial Family bears no responsibility even if you fail to recover your investment.”
I hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
That’s actually better.
Since there seemed to be zero chance of the Crown Princess working hard to make the Expo profitable, it was better for me to have the right to take charge directly.
“One more thing. Please allow me and the administrators from the Grand Duke’s castle to verify the preparation process.”
In truth, I meant I would be monitoring them. Just as I was adding that detail casually so as not to rouse her suspicion, the Crown Princess’s brow furrowed.
“Verify? What kind of irresponsible talk is that?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve heard so much about how capable the Grand Duchess is. You should use those talents for the sake of the Empire.”
The Crown Princess lectured me, asking if I wasn’t also a member of the Imperial Family.
“Stay in the capital until the Expo is over and take responsibility for helping me. In exchange, I will hand over all decision-making authority for the Expo to the Grand Duchess.”
What on earth was she talking about?
“…I am honored, but I am far too lacking to take on such a heavy responsibility.”
Stay in the capital until it’s over? Do you have any idea how busy I am?
“Don’t worry. I’ll lend you these capable imperial administrators. I’m sure they’ll be a great help.”
The Crown Princess waved her hand toward the administrators sitting around her.
“As long as there are no issues reporting to His Majesty, you can handle all the minor details yourself, Grand Duchess.”
“Your Highness, even if you say that…!”
“There’s no need to be so intimidated. Just think of it as helping me out a little from behind the scenes.”
The Crown Princess winked, saying we were already in the same boat.
I politely declined her request, saying I couldn’t leave my territory for so long, but Cadellina was as stubborn as a child throwing a tantrum.
“I have another appointment, so I must return to the palace now.”
“Your Highness! The Expo is…!”
But the Crown Princess cut me off and stood up.
“I’ll send Teor, so discuss the details with him.”
Teor was the Emperor’s son-in-law and the Crown Princess’s husband.
“I’m counting on you.”
With that, the Crown Princess left the townhouse, leaving behind the bewildered imperial administrators.
I only meant to monitor things a little…
And now I’ve taken over the whole thing.
* * *
“Grand Duchess, that is a sickness as well.”
Countess Asellino, sitting on the sofa across from me in the drawing room, clicked her tongue.
“I came here specifically to warn you to be careful of Cadellina.”
The Countess scolded me, asking why I had taken on such a burden.
“It’s not like I took it on purpose.”
“Do you think I don’t know you?” The Countess said as she elegantly set down her teacup. “A sharp person like you… if you really had no intention of doing it, do you think you wouldn’t have been able to refuse?”
Feeling a bit guilty, I lowered my eyes.
In truth, if I had pushed to the very end, I could have refused the Crown Princess’s request. However, the idea of organizing the Expo exactly how I wanted was quite tempting.
It’s much better than just having vague operational rights.
Above all, the Crown Princess was simply too unreliable.
“To think you’ve come all the way to the capital only to end up working.”
Despite her words, the Countess seemed somewhat relieved that I was helping with the Expo preparations.
“There are many nobles who wish for nothing more than the Crown Princess’s failure. If you help with the Expo, it will be a great strength for Cadellina.”
On the other hand, the Countess gave a bitter smile, noting that the Crown Princess would be of no help to the Grand Duke or me.
“That’s why I wanted to help you avoid getting entangled with Cadellina as much as possible…”
The Countess let out a sigh, saying she couldn’t help but be swayed because Cadellina was as dear to her as a daughter.
“At any rate, be careful. Now that you’ve drawn a line with the Empress, she will consider you an enemy.”
The Countess was advising me to keep a low profile for a while, as the Empress was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to do terrifying things, when her servant knocked on the door.
“My Lady, I have brought them.”
“Come in.”
The servant entered, pushing a trolley loaded with luxurious-looking boxes. A sweet aroma wafted past the tip of my nose.