Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: #15. You Won't Know How Long I've Waited for This Day
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No matter what you might be thinking, none of it is true.
Denial. That was the best choice Helios could make.
He knew it all too well. He could never defy the Emperor. The brutal scene he'd witnessed as a child whispered to him now.
Did he want to relive that catastrophe? Did he want to feel his own powerlessness all over again?
No. Helios had no intention of that. He had to protect Esther, no matter what. Each word of denial he uttered made his heart ache.
"If we at least pretend to be close, wouldn't it help us secure even better deals?"
Esther. Spread your wings like that free bird you once were. No matter where you fly.
"So, there's no need for concern at all, Your Majesty. Everything will go according to your will."
I'll cast aside everything as I always have, so just keep smiling like that.
Ripping out his heart would hurt less. Helios had to push her away from deep within himself. The moment those words ended, the Emperor burst into loud laughter.
"Well, if you say so, I suppose I must believe you. Oh, right—your twenty-first birthday is coming up soon. I'll have preparations made for the banquet."
"Thank you."
The Emperor swiftly changed the subject, chatting about other matters before finally ordering him to withdraw after a long conversation.
"I wish you a peaceful night, Your Majesty."
"Yes, you too."
Helios felt a deep sense of relief, believing he'd successfully diverted the Emperor's gaze from Esther to something else. He turned to leave.
"Ah, but wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
As he turned back at the sound of the Emperor calling him, Helios met the Emperor's eyes. The man was stroking his chin with an amused smile.
The Emperor continued in a languid tone.
"You still need practice hiding your emotions. A true sovereign must know how to conceal his heart... Acting so obviously like that? How could anyone not notice?"
Helios, who had been barely managing his expression, frowned at the sudden wave of despair.
The Emperor erased even the faint smile from his lips at the sight and clicked his tongue.
"Tch, what a useless fool."
Those words echoed in his mind.
Familiar memories and emotions from a first-time glimpse flooded into Helios, sharpening his vision. At the same moment, a physician rushed into the audience chamber.
"Your Highness, another headache?"
There wasn't a single person in this palace he could trust. He couldn't speak of the memories that had surfaced.
The Emperor's ears were everywhere. All he could do was request painkillers.
It's fine. This was a weight he had to bear.
"I'm all right now. Leave us."
"But your complexion is terrible..."
"I said leave."
Helios glared with gritted teeth, his jaw clenched tight. His eyes were utterly ferocious. The physician was certain he'd face dire consequences if he stayed.
"U-understood. Th-then... I'll withdraw."
Those seated around Helios rose hastily from their seats as if on cue and hurried out of the audience chamber.
He had no idea what these memories were. But one thing was certain.
"Are you truly free of any issues?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for the disturbance."
The man before him would act the same way toward him if a similar situation arose in those memories.
Helios regretted his carelessness. In the excitement of reuniting with her after so long, he'd forgotten those memories and lost sight of what he was truly facing.
"You'd do well to watch your behavior."
"Yes."
The Emperor, looking at the pale-faced Helios, waved him off as if he'd lost even the will to press further.
It was a clear signal to leave. Helios had no reason to stay longer.
"Your Majesty, I pray your day remains peaceful."
"Yes, go."
The moment those words ended, Helios left the audience chamber, his expression utterly terrifying.
Replaying those resurfacing memories, he arrived back at his room before he knew it and stared blankly at the stationery on his desk.
"A chance I barely seized..."
Helios ground his teeth until they ached, pondered for a long while, then tossed the letter bearing Esther's name into the fire.
"I won't put you through that again."
He muttered unconsciously, then paused.
...Again?
Unaware of his inner turmoil, the words 'Esther Elpis' at the top of the letter he'd thrown in burned away in the flames.
Esther swatted away the endless influx of work today as well, then lifted her coffee cup to soothe her parched throat. The bitter taste strangely only worsened her thirst.
"Guild Master, someone just returned from the marquis household. I'll leave the order forms and contracts here."
Dana entered through the door and unceremoniously plopped the thick stack of documents onto the barely remaining space on the desk.
The House of Marquis Micarus had reached out, insisting they truly wanted to do business.
She knew they held all the power to refuse, but with the shallow connection to Noel dragging on against her will, Esther let out a soft sigh.
"Good work. No other messages?"
"They said they were disappointed not to see your face and speak with you directly. But they promised to honor the agreement to meet in person next time."
No reply had come to the letters she'd sent Helios over the past two weeks.
She thought it a relief, yet anger flared anew toward Helios, who had proven he was targeting her merchant group.
"Thank you."
"It's only what I should do."
Esther sighed faintly.
Truth be told, she had no desire to do business with them. But securing even one more stable contract right now would make handing over the position to Carter easier.
Esther suppressed her emotions and finalized the contract.
"Still, it's a relief. Who'd have thought the marquis household would propose a deal like this first—and even accommodate you not being able to go in person? They seem like decent nobles, don't they?"
Dana beamed at Esther.
In response to their request to meet for the contract, Esther had sent a somewhat impertinent reply saying it would be difficult for her to step away.
Getting an 'understood' in return had been unexpected.
At first, she'd briefly suspected whether they were truly investing based on the merchant group's potential. Though that doubt vanished with their follow-up words.
"Doesn't it feel noble-like, insisting on meeting me somehow?"
"Ha ha, well... It's something to get away with this much."
Dana hesitated at Esther's somewhat pessimistic words, then gave an awkward smile.
"So, these are all the ordered items? No special changes?"
"Ah, nothing like that. They said they'd proceed with this quantity first and decide on more later if satisfied."
"Got it. Thanks, Dana. You must be tired— you always work so hard. It must be tough."
"Oh, come on, you're the one suffering more, Guild Master. I'll handle these orders swiftly and responsibly!"
Though Dana grinned brightly, the dark circles under her eyes suggested she was suffering from the same late nights.
"I'm always grateful. Thanks to you all helping out this lacking me, we've come this far. I can only feel thankful toward everyone."
Esther spoke without meeting the eyes of Dana, who was even smaller than her, out of guilt.
"Oh, no need. Just give us a raise later! And I've been here since the beginning, so handling this much is a given."
Noticing Esther's guilt, Dana joked lightly and winked.
"Well, I have more to handle, so I'll head out."
"Sure, keep up the good work."
"Yes! You too, Guild Master!"
Dana headed for the door with her affable smile, then let out a small 'ah' and turned back.
Wondering if she'd forgotten something important, Esther looked her way.
"Guild Master."
"Yes, Dana? Forget something?"
Dana's gaze shifted to the coffee cup beside Esther. As her expression soured, Esther unconsciously gripped the paper she held, tensing up.
"Why not brew some tea instead of coffee? How many cups is that? You emptied it and refilled again? It'll ruin your stomach."
Esther let out a soft 'pfft' laugh at the sudden scolding delivered with a serious face, her tension easing.
"Got it. I'll finish this one and switch to tea."
"It's good the guild is busy, but seeing you like this breaks my heart."
Dana eyed the mountain of documents still piled on Esther's desk with a sullen look.
"Don't worry. I'm fine."
"Understood. Then I'll really go now."
Dana glared at the coffee cup once more as if it were her mortal enemy, then opened the door and left.
As the door closed, Esther pulled the documents Dana had brought toward her.
"What on earth are you thinking, Noel de Micarus?"
Did he have to drag her in like this? It bordered on obsession.
She knew he wasn't on good terms with Helios, but what good could come from drawing the imperial family's attention like this?
"And yet, the contract seems properly done."
Esther skimmed down the listed trade items, irritably pressing her throbbing temple. Having quickly read through the thick stack, she opened a desk drawer and pulled out a letter inside.
[Understood. However, for the next transaction, I would like to visit in person to meet and speak with you. Would that be acceptable? House of Marquis Micarus hopes this deal continues.]
"Is that your true intention, Noel?"
No answer came to her fleeting question toward her old friend. Esther silently checked the clause at the end of the contract.
[Party A and Party B agree to determine increases in trade volume or other needs through periodic meetings as required. However, Party A and Party B must meet in person for the second transaction.]
"You never change."
From past to present, arbitrarily shaking up her life and trying to drag her down to ruin.
Esther sneered lowly and resumed handling her piled-up work.
She had no intention of just taking it anymore.
"Welcome, Heir of House Micarus."
"Good to see you."
Exactly one month later, Noel visited the merchant group as promised. He approached Esther with a smile as if drawn from a portrait and spoke.
"You won't know how long I've waited for this day."