Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: I Know My Place Well Too
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"It would be rude to leave you standing outside like this, so please come in."
"Thank you."
Noel followed behind Esther as she led the way into the merchant group headquarters.
Gazing at her fluttering red hair, Noel suddenly thought he wanted to touch it just once.
"Our parlor may be humble compared to the marquis household, but I hope you'll forgive us."
Esther personally held the door to the parlor open so Noel could enter first.
Noel didn't like the way she was acting. He was displeased by that wary gaze directed at him.
Her eyes were warning him. Don't cross this line.
A desire to cross that line surged within him. That might be why he stepped behind her and held the door himself.
"I can't commit such rudeness to a lady a second time."
Esther flinched at Noel's sudden approach. Noel let out a small chuckle at this new side of her, different from the constant wariness she'd shown before.
"Please go ahead, Lady Elpis."
Burying his face in that red hair and inhaling deeply, he imagined it would smell like sweet flowers.
That rose-like red hair kept stirring vulgar thoughts in him.
"There's no need to elevate me like that. Just call me the merchant guild master. Then, if you'll excuse me."
Esther quickly composed her flustered expression and slipped out from Noel's reach behind her. Noel felt an odd sense of regret at how she pulled away without hesitation.
"Please come in."
"Then I'll do so."
At the same time, the escorts who had followed Noel began filing in. Noel's eyes sharpened for a moment.
"Wait outside. I'm fine here alone. Stay by the door."
"But, this place..."
Assassinations targeting nobles during outings were rare but did happen. The escort knights had a duty to protect their employer from such dangers.
"Get out. I won't say it twice. You wouldn't dare disobey me, would you?"
"...Understood."
The knights left and closed the door at Noel's firm command, leaving only the two of them in the parlor.
Noel rested his hand on the armrest of the sofa as he watched Esther pull out the pre-prepared documents one by one.
"So, what else would you like to purchase additionally..."
"Have you been well?"
Esther's businesslike talk cut off abruptly at Noel's sudden question. But she looked up and answered nonchalantly.
"Yes, it's an honor you ask. I've been well."
"You seemed quite busy with work. Is that why you look so tired?"
"I'm sorry to meet you in this state."
"No, I didn't say it expecting an apology. It's just..."
Noel uncrossed his leisurely legs, leaned forward, and drew closer to the seat opposite where Esther sat.
"It worries me that we're adding to your burdens when you must already be struggling. I said it out of concern that someone as delicate-looking as you might collapse."
"How kind of you."
"...That said, taking on not just our dealings but also those with the Imperial Palace must be quite taxing."
As expected, Noel subtly brought up the palace. Esther smiled at his obvious ploy and replied.
"Yes, but I've just handed that off a bit, so I've caught my breath. My guild members are so capable that I'm almost ashamed of my own skills."
"Ah, is that so? Still, His Highness the Crown Prince seems to favor your group, since you stop by during deliveries. For such a discerning prince to meet you personally and establish trade speaks volumes about how impressive this merchant group is. You two even seemed quite close."
Noel tried his next move on Esther, who wasn't easily swayed.
It was undoubtedly a question probing if there was some deep connection with Helios.
"That's why I could entrust it to them with confidence."
Her response was so bold and direct that Esther wondered why she hadn't noticed it sooner.
In the past, she might have unwittingly poured out her troubles at such kind words, but not now.
"I had no idea that paying respects as the new guild master would lead to such a major deal. I must have used up half my life's luck there."
Esther already knew Noel's true nature, and compared to her, his limited experience made this feel like child's play.
"Luck? It must all be your skill. For His Highness to keep someone so close, when he chooses so few..."
"No, His Majesty wouldn't keep a mere commoner like me by his side. After my father passed, His Imperial Majesty inquired about the new guild master, so I met him while entering the palace. I'd heard he had a good relationship with my father, but it was my first time meeting him in person."
"Is that so?"
He said that, but Noel's flashing eyes made it clear he didn't believe her. They were still searching for an opening to press her.
"Yes. I only visited the palace twice. It's not a place where people like us can come and go freely. And that was just to discuss additional purchases they were curious about."
Esther firmly denied it with a smiling face.
"For someone he seems to hold in such high regard, though. When I made a mistake, His Highness reacted more sensitively than usual, so I thought you two were quite close."
Even at those words, Esther maintained her composed demeanor without a hint of disturbance. Noel added one more line, but it still didn't faze her.
The situation not going his way must have irked Noel.
"For a moment, I thought His Highness was interested in you romantically..."
"Excuse me, sir."
In the end, Noel couldn't hold back his emotions and crossed the line.
Esther, who had been waiting for that opening, cut him off decisively.
Noel stared at her with wide eyes, caught off guard by her unexpected reaction.
"I won't hear whatever comes next. But His Highness and I share no such relationship—he was merely showing basic courtesy to the daughter of an acquaintance."
"..."
"His Highness is not so foolish as to trifle with a mere commoner, and I know my place well too. It's ridiculous to explain it like this, but..."
Esther erased even the smile she'd kept on her lips and spoke to Noel.
"Please don't insult my father anymore, nor His Highness who showed me that final courtesy."
"..."
"I apologize for my rude words. I understand if you wish to cancel the contract. Consider it the price for a mere merchant daring to defy House Micarus."
"..."
"But I have nothing more to say. My only interest is protecting this merchant group."
Esther knew that even if she said this, the man before her would never cancel the contract.
Her relationship with Helios was now essentially out in the open, as if she'd stated the facts.
In truth, Helios seemed to have lost interest in her as well. The letters had stopped, and he hadn't summoned her to the palace since.
"..."
"..."
Esther closed her mouth as Noel continued his silence.
He was probably thinking of ways to salvage the situation while keeping the merchant group as insurance.
Now that he knew she was connected to the Crown Prince, he couldn't touch her recklessly.
Mentioning the palace ties under the guise of courtesy was like an insurance policy to prevent House Micarus from acting rashly.
"My apologies. I seem to have been quite rude. I've been discourteous to you from the start, guild master."
"No, it's fine. I'm glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. If only His Highness would find a good match soon, these misconceptions would vanish."
Noel felt confused by Esther's utterly straightforward attitude as she placed the contract before him.
The displeased expression she'd shown the moment he tried linking them was genuine. She acted like she'd never felt such emotions for the Crown Prince even once.
"Then, shall we discuss this part a bit more?"
"Ah, yes. The goods have really been to my liking."
This woman truly had no interest in the Crown Prince whatsoever. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say her focus on the documents before her was greater. She wasn't even giving that attention to Noel.
"I noticed you ordered a lot of these parts last time. If you need more, would you let me know?"
"Ah, yes, please."
Esther's hands moved swiftly over the papers before her, not even meeting Noel's eyes.
She was sincere. Her heart was truly only in running this merchant group. Her attitude made that clear.
"...Unrequited love, perhaps."
That arrogant, haughty man—who seemed born clutching perfection itself—was in love with a mere commoner.
Noel muttered to himself, faced with what he believed was Helios's first weakness.
"What was that? Is there something you don't like?"
"No, please proceed."
Strangely, knowing that eased his mind, while gaining a new card to shake the Crown Prince filled him with joy.
Noel nearly let out a hollow laugh at his own duplicitous feelings but barely swallowed it.
"Then take care on your way back."
"Ah, I hope you stay safe as well, guild master."
The sun had already set, and Esther didn't even offer dinner, so Noel withdrew quickly.
As the carriage departed, Noel peered out the window at Esther turning away without a hint of lingering.
"What on earth has her so captivated?"
He wondered what had brought her despair, what had ignited her anger. And he was curious about the smile she showed him as her wariness melted away.
"That might be rather nice."
Noel closed his eyes with a lazy smile.