Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Famous Count Family's Third Son
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“Ah, Julian. You're here?”
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he was trying to act like nothing had happened, but the disheveled front of his clothes and his fiancée's flushed face were impossible to hide.
“Yeah, I'm here, you damn brother. Why didn't you answer when I knocked?”
I gave a quick glance to signal Sion to take care of his fiancée, then strode over purposefully to harass my second brother—our family's resident punching bag.
Casian Everglow
The second son of our Everglow Family and my older brother, since I'm the youngest, Julian Everglow.
A talented mage who receives support from the Magic Tower in the capital and even has his own research lab... or so they say, but at home, he's nothing but a hopeless fool.
Ever since his academy days, he's boasted a playboy history with more women chasing him than not.
At least after graduating and joining the Magic Tower, he seems to have come to his senses, quitting his flashy womanizing ways to get engaged to his childhood friend.
I vaguely remember seeing her a few times when she visited as a kid, so it checks out.
She seemed like the shy type who didn't warm up easily...
Thinking about that, it was definitely this guy who seduced her first.
I gave a subtle nod to his fiancée, whom Sion was swiftly helping tidy up, by way of greeting, and pondered how to chew out this walking disaster of a brother.
“Seriously, with the wedding so close, couldn't you hold out?”
“Hey now, nothing happened, I swear. We were just... you know, confirming our affection as fiancés do.”
Seeing him deny it so vehemently made me think he'd finally learned a thing called shame.
“This time it really wasn't anything. I'm not dumb enough to make the same mistake twice.”
“This time?”
“Hahaha, my little brother's sharp as ever.”
His sheepish nose-rub and laugh only made my blood boil more.
I already had a meeting coming up soon, and now my head was starting to ache.
Getting worked up here would just hurt me in the end, so all I could do was sigh.
“You're a perfectly normal guy at the Magic Tower, so why do you turn into this at home...”
“Because the Magic Tower's my workplace?”
“Then act at least half that professional here at home.”
“Why should I? Those stiffs live all uptight, so can't I loosen up at home?”
As he spoke, he casually draped an arm over my shoulder.
I shot him a look that screamed, What mischief are you plotting now? He waved it off and whispered softly.
“Still, she seems to like your taste. Help me decorate the room later, yeah?”
“...If that's it, of course I'll help.”
"You know what my room looks like."
"That just makes it... never mind. Yeah, no one's perfect at everything."
He knew he had zero talent for interior design, which explained why he was asking for help.
He'd been the one with the most dramatic reaction when he first saw this 'model home' I'd set up, after all.
“Speaking of, how's the wedding prep going?”
“What prep do I even have? I just tag along wherever and spend money when needed.”
He'd been so swamped lately that he came home less often than not, making this face-to-face rare.
If you think of the Magic Tower as basically a graduate research lab for mages, it made sense.
When I learned I had no magic talent, I was a bit disappointed at first, but knowing the reality brought relief.
Even this promising prodigy they'd pinned hopes on had lost some weight since I last saw him properly.
“Ahem...”
Glancing back, his fiancée—who'd been neatly redressed while we talked—still fidgeted with her face beet red.
It was our first proper meeting since the engagement ceremony, so it was understandable.
Sion, ever reliable, broke the awkward air.
“Young Master, you need to head out soon for your scheduled meeting.”
“Time's up already?”
“The location's a bit far from the estate.”
“Better to arrive early and wait than cut it close.”
Especially since today's meeting was with a merchant guild run just as meticulously as our noble house—not some run-of-the-mill client.
“I'll head out first due to the schedule.”
“Yeah, see you later.”
“S-see you... Young Master...”
“Oh, and Father wants to see you—don't forget.”
“Hey! You should've led with that!”
“Who told you to be in here instead of your own room?”
I handed his still-flushed fiancée my card and left the room swiftly with Sion.
Business is all about connections, after all.
Soon-to-be family counts as potential clients too.
We rode the prepared carriage along the decently paved road for quite a while.
Even in the capital, the land was vast, so travel time was inevitable.
At least carriages made it possible.
“Seriously, I should repave the roads someday.”
“Can't you do it now?”
“No spare cash. Maybe invest in the route to the hotel?”
Stretching my sore back from the jolts as I stepped down, a sleek building greeted us.
Rosenheim Merchant Guild
In this politically stable empire with booming external trade...
Put simply, the best time to make money.
Ask anyone on the street where the real fortunes are piling up, and most would point here.
The guild run under the Rosenheim family's own name.
“Guess I had to end up here after all...”
I'd hoped to do my coming-of-age ceremony first.
But life's plans don't always pan out.
Sighing lightly as I approached the door, the guards recognized us and rushed to open it.
“Welcome!”
I waved casually at their booming bows and entered with Sion.
“Hmm... we could learn a thing or two from this.”
The interior was flashy yet tasteful, screaming 'merchant guild' without excess.
The Rosenheims were a baronet family.
Not as politically influential as our Everglows, but they held more wealth.
That might explain their aggressive business expansion.
Though my ventures had started widening the gap again.
“So, what do women think? I'm not big on flashy stuff.”
“Well, surely Second Young Master knows his fiancée's tastes?”
“True. He knows what the woman he likes prefers.”
We passed time in the reception room until the click of heels and a knock announced her arrival.
With their resources, they could've soundproofed perfectly, but they'd left it audible on purpose, probably.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. First time meeting in person, I believe.”
In walked a beauty with cascading golden hair.
Emerald eyes sparkling under the chandelier's glow.
Not just from beauty—those were the eyes of a merchant her age, running her own trading house.
“Arselia Rosenheim, handling this deal. And you are...”
She extended her hand confidently.
I stood, shook it, and greeted her.
“Julian Everglow. So you're the merchant from Rosenheim Guild scooping up all the cash lately.”
“Nothing compared to Young Master, succeeding in ventures since childhood. I've been curious, meeting only proxies...”
Her light smile and crinkled eyes were charming, but my mind raced coldly, sharper than with other partners.
She handled major guild deals and ran her own house by rumor.
You don't climb there on looks and skill alone.
Talent, ambition—prime talent worth coveting.
“Yeah, I delegate most things to my agent, so I figured no need to show up.”
“This one's bigger scale than our past deals.”
“Not the only reason, right? I hear even minor points are mostly settled.”
“Exactly, Young Master.”
She shook a small bell from her pocket, signaling silent servants to reset the table as we entered.
I eyed the steaming refilled teacups, gesturing to hear her out.
She was the one who'd dragged me here; I wasn't rushed.
Despite chit-chat, I held the reins.
She'd worn a figure-hugging outfit, clearly prepared...
Glancing at Sion, she tilted her head innocently, as if to say anything to add?
Her master in a meeting, she wouldn't speak first.
Having a stunner like Sion at my side blunted Arselia's play.
Had I been unused to beauties, she might've gained the edge.
Noticing, she exhaled softly, dropping the softness for a steely merchant's gaze.
“Doesn't work on you, huh? As expected from a 'merchant' who's shone since youth.”
This was closer to her true face.
And easier for me to deal with.
I preferred crisp business over clingy haggling for extras.
Clean, professional relations—best.
“As long as it works on others. Merchants thrive with more weapons.”
“Thanks for understanding. Straight to the point.”
Her hands interlocked on the table.
“We want in on this deal—my personal house.”
Pumpkin? No, a gem rolling in.
Leaning forward, I replied.
"Looks like this meeting's running long."
I smiled back at her grinning lips.
Thus began a marathon session.
Not the guild, but inserting Arselia's personal house into our ongoing deal.
No guild staff meant no interruptions; servants dismissed.
We talked tons; Sion refilled empties multiple times.
We found common ground.
Hook set deep—now reel slowly.
“We'll fine-tune details in writing later. That's it for today, 'Big Sis'.”
The sharp predator's gaze from moments ago vanished as the tall, handsome young man flashed a bright smile and waved.
With his apparent exclusive maid—a beastkin hybrid—he left the room.
Arselia rose to see the young noble entrepreneur off to the first floor.
“I'll be in touch.”
“Yes, whenever convenient.”
No need for others to overhear, so their talk ended there.
But like those hiding secrets, they locked eyes, watching the carriage vanish from sight.
“Come again!”
Hearing the guards' loud farewell, Arselia finally exhaled deeply, feeling it was over. “Phew...”
After the marathon meeting, she passed the tidied reception and returned to her office, sinking into her seat.
Her day wasn't done, but focus eluded her.
Her heart raced; fingertips tingled—like her first plunge into this path as a child.
“Cancel the rest of today's schedule. Digesting just this meeting's gains will take time.”
She ordered no interruptions, massaging her stiff neck and slumping into her relaxation chair—not the stiff work one.
Draining tension, nearly reclining, she clenched and unclenched her still-trembling hands.
“Seriously, that kid's younger than me?”
Chuckling incredulously, she checked the door was shut and vented.
“Aaaah, for real! How's that punk not even of age yet?! What kind of presence is that?!”
Recalling the youth who'd sat across, negotiating the soon-to-launch 'hotel' venture, she fumed.
The instant she entered and saw his face, she'd known.
This meeting won't be easy.
His mere appearance here already hit her initial goal.
Years ago, a comet-like nouveau businessman appeared.
Never showing his face, he launched ventures via legal proxies, investing heavily everywhere.
Some flopped, but successes outnumbered—and swept not just the capital, but the empire.
Losses? Chump change.
Touch turned to gold: the 'Golden Hand.'
Such meteors draw eyes from entrenched players, all hungry for his identity.
But he hid completely—no face, no voice, proxies for everything.
Rumors flew:
Scarred face keeps him hidden.
Enlightened elder can't move.
Shady underworld ties.
Yet all knew Everglows backed him.
Small fries maybe, but big money trails couldn't hide.
What house were the Everglows?
Count Siegmond's—the victor in the empire-shaking love scandal twenty years back.
Details fuzzy, but many nobles entangled—even Imperial Family whispers.
Crowds craved his identity; tails followed.
All failed; trackers dumped battered before guard posts.
Curiosity killed the cat, eh?
Nosy strays 'cleaned' for prying into a count's shadow.
Just as folks pondered partnering via connections and dropping the chase—the mystery man revealed:
Julian Everglow, third son of the famed Everglow Count family.