Chapter 74: Competitors of Gold Lane (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: Competitors of Gold Lane (1)
“I’ve only just returned from training, so the smell of sweat might be unpleasant for you.”
“I didn't smell any sweat at all. When I leaned against you earlier, all I smelled was a wonderful scent.”
It was the truth.
When my face had pressed against that firm chest, the pleasant warmth combined with the cool, earthy scent had made my heart flutter quite a bit.
At my words, the tips of the Grand Duke’s ears turned a deep crimson.
“Still... my body must be dirty from the dust.”
Turning his face away, the Grand Duke spoke while pressing down on his bangs as if embarrassed.
“My face is a mess, too. It feels disrespectful.”
I let out a small snort and stepped closer to him.
“Grand Duke, aren't you being a bit too much? If your face is a ‘mess,’ how are other people supposed to live?”
“That’s enough. Come over here and sit for a moment.”
I took one of his hands and led him toward the table in the parlor. Though he hesitated, he followed me obediently.
“I’ve been thinking. Renovating Gold Lane is all well and good, but I was wondering if we should take this opportunity to create an entirely new shopping district.”
Like a seasoned salesperson, I carefully set the proposal down in front of him.
“I’ve put together a rough concept. Would you mind taking a look?”
“Are you saying you organized everything we discussed last night this quickly?”
With a look of surprise, the Grand Duke picked up the document titled <Valpid Lake Commercial District Proposal>.
“Valpid Lake... You’re suggesting we build a shopping district there.”
As the Grand Duke slowly read through my proposal, I watched his reaction with bated breath, feeling like a student waiting for an interviewer to grade an exam.
He simply flipped through the pages one by one, his expressionless face giving nothing away.
As he reached the final page, a slight frown creased his brow.
‘The last page is the budget section. Did he find something he didn't like?’
To be honest, I had only realized it when I was nearly finished with the document yesterday, but there was one fatal flaw in this plan.
Valpid Lake was the private property of the Blenheim family.
‘I had a naive hope that he might willingly give up the land for the sake of Blenheim’s development, but...’
If he gave me a polite refusal right here, this plan would be headed straight for the trash.
Finally, the Grand Duke set the proposal down and looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
“Did you receive heir training back at the Marquis’s estate?”
I let out a sigh of relief at his words, my tension melting away. Fortunately, the Grand Duke had a good eye.
“I don't think so?”
The Grand Duke looked down at the documents with a face mixed with bewilderment and admiration.
“Did you truly come up with all of this overnight?”
“Is it alright?”
Seeing the high expectations written all over my face, the Grand Duke nodded slowly.
“To be honest, I can find no fault in it. It is perfect.”
Yes. That was exactly what I’d rushed here at the crack of dawn to hear.
The Grand Duke let out a hollow laugh as he watched me grin foolishly.
“Setting aside the level of completion, I doubt a thousand administrators combined could come up with such an ingenious idea.”
Does that mean my proposal passed?
I was looking at him with eyes full of anticipation when he spoke again.
“However...”
The Grand Duke’s lips parted slightly.
“Is there a specific reason you thought of a new shopping district instead of focusing on Gold Lane?”
“Ah, that’s...”
Because I can't stand to see the President of the Merchant Association succeed... I probably shouldn't say that, right?
When I couldn't come up with an immediate answer, the Grand Duke added cautiously.
“Gold Lane holds symbolic significance in Blenheim.”
“...That’s true.”
“Time is short. Wouldn't it be more efficient to renovate Gold Lane rather than starting a new district from scratch? The administrators will likely raise questions about that as well.”
I blurted out the first counterargument that came to mind.
“Well... Gold Lane is missing the most important thing.”
“And what is that?”
“Competition.”
It’s not entirely a lie.
The North was a closed-off place.
Aside from the Kingdom of Rondoris, which sat by the port, even famous merchant guilds from the capital and across the Empire found it difficult to enter.
The territory was wealthy and overflowing with money, but because the supply of goods was limited, the market had naturally grown stagnant and lazy.
“Renovating one or two shops won't change Gold Lane. The merchants will only make an active effort to change if they feel the fear of losing their commercial dominance.”
When I added the explanation that an entirely new district would serve as a check against them, a look of agreement finally crossed the Grand Duke’s face.
“So you’re saying this is also a way to save Gold Lane.”
“Of course. If we link the two commercial districts later, won't Blenheim’s commerce become even more vibrant?”
I felt a slight pang of guilt, but I nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
“And you want to show that Blenheim’s commerce is just as attractive as Rondoris’s, don't you?”
It wasn't as if I’d greased my tongue, so why were the words flowing so smoothly today?
“The delegation is likely already familiar with Gold Lane. It would be difficult to impress them with just a few renovations.”
“You are right.”
The Grand Duke nodded as if fully convinced.
“The shopping district the Grand Duchess has envisioned certainly has a freshness that anyone can see. I will review this with the administrators at today’s meeting immediately. By the way...”
Having finished his thought, the Grand Duke let out a small sigh as he looked at me.
“Surely, you didn't stay up all night, did you?”
“I slept... a little.”
In truth, I’d barely slept at all. Now that he mentioned it, a wave of exhaustion suddenly crashed over me.
“Try to get some sleep before breakfast. I will escort you to your room.”
“I want to sleep in your bed.”
The Grand Duke’s pupils shook violently.
“I have to tie your cravat for you anyway. It’s a hassle to go all the way to my room and come back.”
“B-but...!”
“I can, right?”
I brushed past the speechless Grand Duke and crawled into the large bed in his bedroom.
“I’m going to sleep for a bit, so feel free to wash up. Make sure to wake me up when you’re getting dressed later.”
“W-wait a moment...!”
Ah, it smells so good.
Leaving his panicked voice behind, I closed my eyes as I pulled the cozy blanket, infused with the Grand Duke’s scent, over me.
*
Adem, a trainee administrator, walked down the second-floor corridor of the East Wing with heavy steps.
The central conference hall, located just past the ribbed vaults, was a place of dread for the administrators.
The fact that the massive hall was being opened outside of the regular meeting period meant that an issue important enough to make every aide and administrator rack their brains had surfaced. It also meant they would be stuck inside the castle for days until the matter was resolved.
‘Will I even be able to go home today?’
Today’s sole agenda was the renovation plan for Gold Lane.
Gold Lane was riddled with a mountain of problems; there was no way a proper solution would emerge from just a day or two of meetings.
Adem, who had stayed up nearly all night reviewing the suitability of the budget requested by the Merchant Association President, entered the hall with a sigh.
As he found his seat, Oswick, a fellow trainee administrator sitting next to him, greeted him with a look of recognition.
“You look terrible.”
“We’re in the same boat.”
Oswick, who was in charge of diplomacy, looked slightly more relaxed since the delegation’s schedule was in its final stages.
Oswick lowered his voice so those around them couldn't hear.
“Renovating Gold Lane... Honestly, isn't the real problem that we need to replace the Association President first?”
“Watch your mouth.”
Adem whispered back, glancing warily at their surroundings.
“There are quite a few of Count Arbor’s people among the administrators.”
Besides, was replacing the President the only issue?
Adem clicked his tongue and added, “Unless we completely overhaul Gold Lane, is there even an answer?”
Just as Oswick was grumbling about how he’d already told his wife he wouldn't be coming home, the Grand Duke entered the conference hall.
But for some reason, he wasn't alone.
‘Is that Her Highness the Grand Duchess?’
The person the Grand Duke was carefully escorting by the hand was definitely the Grand Duchess.
When her eyes met Adem’s, she recognized him and gave a small smile. The trainee administrators sitting here and there exchanged glances of pleasant surprise.
“We greet His Highness the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Consort.”
After a brief murmur, everyone in the hall rose to offer their greetings.
‘Why is the Grand Duchess attending the meeting?’
‘Did she stop by to offer encouragement?’
While everyone was having similar silent conversations with their eyes, the Grand Duke scanned the room and spoke in a commanding voice.
“Originally, we intended to discuss the renovation of Gold Lane today, but the Grand Duchess has provided her input regarding an entirely new shopping district.”
At those words, the seated administrators tilted their heads in confusion.
Wasn't the point to fix up Gold Lane to show the delegation? A new shopping district all of a sudden?
However, the nuance of his words wasn't bad.
“A new shopping district?”
Adem, who had muttered the words unconsciously, turned his gaze toward Perel, the Chief Aide. Perel, who seemed to have heard something beforehand, was nodding and looked unusually pleased.
“The Grand Duchess has personally brought a proposal she envisioned, so let us all listen.”
Then, to everyone’s surprise, the Grand Duchess stood up and began to explain the proposal herself.
As she described the big picture of the shopping district, she looked incredibly vibrant.
Everyone in the hall was quickly drawn into her explanation.
“...That’s as far as I’ve thought for now.”
The Grand Duchess, her cheeks slightly flushed, finished speaking.
Clap, clap, clap.
In the silent hall, the Grand Duke began to clap with heavy, deliberate strokes, and the administrators soon followed suit in a hurried rush.
An aura of pleasant shock permeated the room.
‘Did a noble lady really write that proposal? Not a veteran administrator?’
Adem clapped with his mouth hanging open.
The Grand Duchess’s proposal had clear intentions and specific details, and above all, it was filled with fresh ideas he had never seen before.
“I knew she was someone special ever since she created ‘Today’s Menu,’ but...”
Oswick, who was clapping beside him, wore a stunned expression as if he couldn't believe it.
Looking around, the shock was evident on everyone’s faces.
“What are your thoughts?”
The Grand Duke asked, partially hiding his mouth with his hand—though the corners were turned up significantly.
He looked unable to hide his pride and satisfaction, as if he were the one who had raised the Grand Duchess himself.