Romeo and Juliet (1)
The sobs finally burst free.
Huck couldn’t speak for a long time.
His head stayed bowed low.
“I’m sorry. Today I… I don’t even know what I should say… *hic*…”
“Ah, it’s fine. That can happen.”
“Tomorrow… Could you possibly spare me some time tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
The reaction I had been hoping for had arrived. And it had shown up loud and clear.
“Thank you. Then I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Huck bowed once more in farewell and left the warehouse. From the way his shoulders still shook now and then, it was safe to assume the immediate crisis had been put out.
“See? I told you it would work.”
“Tch…”
Lucia stared after the man who had just left—still dripping with tears and snot—while offering the most polite bow imaginable. She kept biting her lip, as if she still couldn’t accept the scene that had unfolded right in front of her.
“Hey, you have to admit it at this point. I had a plan the whole time.”
“You’re all insane. What kind of nonsense makes someone cry like that…”
“You’re the one with zero emotions. That’s why you can’t get a boyfriend.”
“Hey!”
While Lucia and I traded our usual pointless banter, the warehouse emptied out until only the servants cleaning up remained.
Thud.
“Russell?”
“Aah, it’s nothing. I used a ton of illusion magic and now there’s barely any mana left in my circles.”
“Hey! Last time you did that you collapsed—”
“Wait, are you actually worried about me right now?”
“N-no, I’m not!”
“Then what was that poetic little line just now?”
“T-that’s because if you collapse, I won’t have anywhere to go. Even if this territory is worthless… um… anyway!”
“Worthless? That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“If you need magic this badly, you could at least ask me for help!”
“Oh!”
To be honest, I had completely forgotten she was a mage.
Maybe it was because she spent every day carrying around ledgers and documents, nagging me nonstop. At some point I had started thinking of her as the territory’s secretary instead…
“Not ‘oh,’ you idiot. Anyway, if it’s needed to save the territory, I’ll help too. Just say something.”
“Wow, I’m actually a little touched.”
“If you’ve got the energy to be touched, go inside and rest already!”
“Got it, got it. So you’re saying you’ll help if I ask, right?”
“I’m not saying I’ll help with absolutely everything, you know?”
“Come on, I know that much. Still, you’ll help with anything you can do that the territory needs, right?”
“Well… yes, but…”
“Perfect.”
“Your expression looks extremely suspicious right now?”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, I’ll be counting on you from now on, my dear junior!”
I had no memory of returning to the castle and collapsing into bed.
“Wake up already and at least wipe the crust from your eyes!”
When I opened them, the sun outside the window was already high in the sky. Lucia—neatly dressed with her hair tied back—shook me awake.
“Is it already morning?”
“It’s not morning. Lunchtime is already long gone, you know?”
“No wonder I was starving.”
“Huck the merchant coalition leader will be here soon, so get up and at least try to look like a proper lord.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. Stop nagging!”
After hurriedly finishing my preparations under Lucia’s scolding, I reached the reception room only to find Huck already waiting.
“Good day, my lord!”
It was the first time I had seen Huck’s face so bright. Today, however, he had brought company.
“Who’s that beside you?”
“Ah, this is my son, Burke. What are you doing? Greet him at once.”
Only then did the young man rise from his seat and give a polite bow. His face still carried a youthful innocence—he looked no older than his early twenties—yet a sly smile played on his lips.
“So this is the famous heir known as the future of the Huck Merchant Coalition. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Lucia offered a warm, gentle smile with an incredibly sweet tone. The sight was so sickeningly affectionate compared to how the two of us usually acted that goosebumps rose all over my skin.
“I heard your son was the one who strongly pushed for the coalition’s relocation to the capital.”
“Ahem, well, our coalition was simply struggling to survive in any way possible. Haha.”
Burke smoothly deflected even Lucia’s barbed remark with a shrug, then sat back down.
Now that the introductions were over, it was time for the real conversation.
I looked at Huck, who had his mouth firmly shut while staring at the ceiling.
“Huck, why did you ask for time today?”
“It’s because of the performance Your Lordship showed us.”
Huck answered with a smile.
“Thank you for granting my final request.”
“Ahem…”
“By the way, wasn’t today supposed to be the day you left the territory?”
“It was.”
After that short reply, Huck drew in a deep breath and continued.
“The play you showed us yesterday… do you plan to continue performing it in the future?”
His eyes sparkled. It was obvious he had spotted potential in yesterday’s show.
“Of course. I intend to revive the territory with these plays.”
“In that case, our Huck Merchant Coalition would like to—”
The long-awaited words were finally about to leave Huck’s mouth when Burke, who had been sitting with a thoughtful expression, suddenly cut his father off.
“Just a moment, Father.”
“Burke!”
“Before investing, we must thoroughly verify the product.”
“You are in front of the lord. Do not be rude—”
“It’s fine. Burke, was it? Go ahead and speak. What are you curious about?”
Burke looked slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to actually listen. But he quickly put his sly smile back on and began firing off questions.
“My lord, yesterday’s performance used that famous illusion magic, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“And you personally prepared the magic and used it during the show.”
“Correct.”
“Ahem… This may be presumptuous, but I heard a rumor that after the performance ended, Your Lordship collapsed…”
“Who the hell is spreading that!”
“Haha, there are quite a few friends working in the lord’s castle, aren’t there? Information is lifeblood in business… Hah.”
A sharper observation than I expected. A performance that relied solely on me pouring in my own mana was definitely not sustainable.
“That is something I can help with as much as needed.”
Lucia’s desperate attempt to seize this precious opportunity. She wasn’t wrong—she was a fine mage who had reached the sixth circle.
But yesterday’s show had been completely free. No one would complain even if it was short, yet selling five- or ten-minute performances for money felt a little awkward.
“She’s right. We obviously can’t keep doing shows like yesterday’s.”
“Hmm… I thought as much.”
Burke’s face showed clear disappointment.
“However, yesterday’s version wasn’t the finished product.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. It was more like a prototype.”
“A… prototype?”
“It was a test to see whether it would make money and whether people would actually enjoy something like that.”
“Then is the finished product different?”
“Obviously.”
“Could we possibly hear a little more detail?”
The kid looked mildly intrigued now. Huck kept glancing back and forth between his son and me, fidgeting restlessly.
“Ah, no, my lord. For now we will provide whatever support is necessary for preparation—”
“No. I’ll tell you my plan first.”
Hey, what are you doing, making such big promises?
Lucia approached me with a perfect poker face and whispered.
I always told you.
Huh?
I’ve got a plan.
Rustle.
Lucia clutched the hem of her skirt tightly. It looked like she had a lot to say. But right now, persuading the merchant coalition leader and his son to invest in the play came first. Dealing with her could wait.
“I’m going to create a play for the noble young ladies and wives from the academy in the capital.”
“Oho… Is it different from yesterday’s performance?”
“It is.”
“It’s a tragic love story between a young lady and a young lord born into families that have been mortal enemies for generations.”
“...?”
“And I already have a beautiful actress ready to double the sorrow and heartbreak.”
“Oho, are you saying there will be another actor besides yourself on stage?”
“Of course.”
I wrapped an arm around Lucia’s shoulder and pulled her close.
“Indeed. If it is Lady Lucia, she would undoubtedly be a rare and lovely protagonist no matter where she went.”
Burke wore a very satisfied smile, but Lucia’s lips were trembling with barely contained fury.
“And there are other clear advantages as well.”
“There are more?”
“Naturally.”
The next play would be based on a very famous story.
Romeo and Juliet.
It was a tale that could easily win sympathy even in this medieval-like world. On top of that, it was character-driven and didn’t require a huge amount of illusion magic. Aside from a few special effects and a duel scene, it was structured so it could be performed repeatedly.
“Hoo, I see. This definitely has investment value…”
The more Burke heard about the target audience, the personnel involved, and the resources required, the more his face flushed with excitement.
“Then first we should properly renovate the warehouse to create a cleaner environment and—”
“That’s enough.”
Huck calmed his overly excited son and looked straight at me.
“My lord.”
“Yes.”
“If there is anything you need, please tell us. Whether it’s the stage, chairs, or manpower—our coalition will help.”
“Thank you.”
“And…”
Huck paused for a long moment.
Then, with an expression that said he had made up his mind, he spoke again.
“We will also put our plan to relocate the coalition to the capital on hold for now. Please take good care of us!”
The sentimental merchant coalition leader appeasement operation.
It was a huge success.
Click.
The reception room door closed as Huck left.
And then…
“Hey. We need to have a little talk, don’t we?”
A voice dripping with murderous intent.
I carefully turned my head. The same Lucia who had been smiling warmly just moments ago was now glaring at me like she wanted to kill me.
“What the hell were you thinking…”
“You said you’d help me yesterday.”
“...!”
Her eyes trembled.
She looked completely lost for words at my shameless attitude.
“Yesterday you clearly promised. If it would help the territory and it was something you could do, you’d help with anything.”
“T-that was…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you acting step by step.”
“...”
“I’ll be counting on you from now on. I’m going to turn you into a superstar. Kya-ha-ha-hat!”