Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Don't Do It, If You Don't Want to Regret It
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"Not only did that brat propose a deal to the Elpis Merchant Group, but now he's been hanging around demanding to see Esther?"
Helios von Evgenia ground his teeth as he questioned Baron, the guard he'd assigned to stick close to Esther.
"I couldn't hear exactly what they talked about, but it seemed like she took an interest in him."
Bam! The desk in Helios's office shook violently with the sound.
"So, nothing happened to Esther, right?"
"Fortunately, their conversation didn't last long. And even though it was nearly dinnertime, the Guild Master sent Youngsik away without offering him a meal."
Helios's lips curved into a soft smile, as if he'd never been angry at all, pleased by Esther's satisfactory behavior.
He'd felt a bit hurt thinking she was drawing lines only with him, but it was a relief to know she was doing it with everyone.
"Keep a close eye on Esther to make sure nothing happens to her. Report to me immediately if anything does, Baron."
"Understood."
Baron bowed his head and vanished into the shadows.
Helios watched him go, then poured liquor into the glass on his desk. The moment he took a sip, a burning heat scorched his throat.
Even as he drank, his thirst only grew. Helios knew exactly how to quench it.
"I miss her."
Even the way she'd bristled at him, wary and sharp, now seemed endearing.
With the Emperor's surveillance intensifying, he couldn't ask Esther to come here anymore. If she fell into that man's clutches, she'd be ruined.
"If only I'd grown stronger..."
You wouldn't have made that choice, Esther.
His heart raced with anxiety, and his head throbbed. Helios grimaced, pulling open the drawer with trembling hands to pop a painkiller into his mouth—a motion that had become all too familiar.
Moments later, the headache tormenting him began to fade. But the unease only grew day by day.
"Damn, it feels worse every day."
Helios snapped the pill bottle shut irritably and shoved it back into the drawer. He rose and walked to the darkened window. The thick fog outside seemed to mirror the fog in his mind.
Standing there silently for a while, a sudden sense of déjà vu hit him from the thought he'd just had.
"That choice...?"
Why had he said that?
Lately, Helios knew something was off with him.
The headaches coming more frequently, the strange words slipping from his mouth, unfamiliar yet familiar memories flooding his mind, and uncontrollable mood swings.
Clutching these unanswered questions, Helios settled in to endure another dark night. It was just past midnight.
After that, neither Noel nor Helios came looking for Esther. Thanks to that, she could focus on the mounting tasks at hand.
"Guild Master, it's Garan."
"Come in."
Garan handled exchanges with merchants in the commercial district, so he was often out on business. He spent so little time at the guild that Esther pointed curiously to the chair in front of her desk.
"Would you like some tea? You look exhausted, Garan."
"Isn't it good that the guild is getting busier, even if just a little? Anyway, Guild Master, there's a strange rumor making the rounds in the markets."
"What is it?"
Garan accepted the teacup Esther offered with both hands and continued.
"They say the Imperial Palace is recruiting merchant groups to invest in farmers' crops, claiming to help them out since times are tough. Word is, they've been preparing for a while and have a hefty budget."
"The Imperial Palace is offering support to commoners?"
Esther echoed in disbelief—this was something she'd never heard of in her previous life.
"It's already common knowledge among the palace servants. Even with the rumors spreading, the palace hasn't denied it, so they think it's true."
"What's the reaction like?"
Esther couldn't yet uproot the seed of suspicion sprouting deep in her chest.
He was the man who'd used a merchant group as a front to bankrupt it without losses, then reaped the profits. There was no way he'd suddenly do good deeds out of kindness.
"They see it as stable since it's backed by the palace. Plus, several major merchant groups are clamoring to join. Even in the commercial district, some merchants are showing documents stamped with the Emperor's seal, saying they've been approached anonymously."
It didn't add up no matter how she thought about it. If it was that profitable, the Emperor would've handled it himself long ago.
The moment she decided she needed to verify it, Esther set aside her busy schedule and stood.
"Guild Master?"
If Garan was bringing it up like this, it was no small rumor.
"I need to go out and see for myself. I want to look at those documents personally."
"Pardon? You, Guild Master?"
Garan's eyes widened at Esther's firm words as she donned a black cloak without hesitation.
But Esther was too focused on uncovering the Emperor's scheme to notice his expression.
"I'll lock the door. Is that okay?"
"Ah, yes! Of course."
Garan, who'd been pouting and tapping his foot on the floor, suddenly jumped to his feet at her words.
Only then did Esther glance at him, realizing his mood, and speak up.
"Garan, this isn't about doubting your abilities at all. What I'm suspicious of is..."
Esther barely stopped herself from blurting out "the Imperial Palace." Speaking carelessly could put Garan in danger.
"Suspicious of what?"
"Well, anyway, something feels off. I'll go check the documents myself."
"Understood. Who am I to question someone as flawless as you?"
"Garan."
Esther smiled softly at Garan, who grumbled in a way that belied his age.
Still, she was happy to have a family that told her straight when they felt slighted.
"I'm always grateful for you. Without you all, I would've given up long ago. You're that precious to me. That's why this guild that binds us is so dear to me too."
"Yes."
"I know one signature from me can change this place's fate. As the one bearing that weight, I'm just verifying it myself. I've known since my father's time how capable you are, Garan."
"...Do you really think so?"
His voice a bit brighter, as if eager to show his improved mood, made Esther nod.
"Guild Master, shall I come with you?"
"Your face is too well-known; they'd spot you right away. I'll sneak a look alone since I'm less exposed."
"B-but..."
"Don't worry. I'll be back before sunset."
Esther finally cut off Garan's fatherly nagging—his attempt to fill her late father's absence—pulled her cloak's hood over her head, and bid farewell.
"I'll be back."
"Take care."
A place that always welcomed her—her home. And her family.
Esther vowed once more to protect it all as she set out.
"Whoa, this is no joke."
The moment she entered the commercial district, a crowd drew her eye.
Amid the murmurs, a few people passionately pushed their points.
"That's why if we all join in, we'll all get rich!"
Esther sidled up near the most boisterous man.
"A guy from the Imperial Palace came to me talking contracts and such—look, it's real! The Emperor's seal is right here."
Esther focused on the paper flapping in the air, but from the distance, she couldn't make out the details. She couldn't very well snatch it from his hand either.
After pondering, a sudden idea made her smile. She stepped forward without hesitation.
"Is that real?"
She challenged the man like she was picking a fight.
"W-what?!"
"How can anyone tell if it's the Emperor's seal when you're waving it around from over there?"
"You've probably never seen a document like this, miss! As if you have investment money anyway. You look shabby!"
The arrogant man, oozing superiority for being chosen and baseless confidence, bristled at her touching his pride. He stormed up to her, shoved the document forward, and barked.
"See for yourself! You'll know if it's fake!"
Esther took the thick stack and scanned it.
The Emperor's seal was real, and it was indeed conditional on investment. There were so many clauses in dense legalese that she couldn't parse every detail right then.
Her eyes stopped at one spot as she skimmed.
[The Imperial Palace will lend 80% of the costs for promotion, etc., under the name of investment funds, without interest for 24 months.
In return, the Imperial Palace reserves the right to priority purchase a certain quantity of related goods. The investment funds may be used as agreed between the merchant group and producers, with no interference from the palace.
However, if prospects seem poor, the Imperial Palace reserves the right to negotiate the investment funds at any time.]
At the very bottom, in tiny print easy to miss unless looking closely—and only after flipping through pages.
She'd seen this clause before. No, she'd signed it herself. She couldn't forget it.
"There, you done? You probably don't get it anyway, miss."
The man snorted, pushed back into the crowd, and shouted loudly.
The emotions from her past life crashed over her like they'd been waiting. Commoners who rarely signed contracts wouldn't read such lengthy documents.
As Esther walked deeper into the commercial district, she overheard men sitting on rum barrels, smoking cigars.
"Hey, your group is in on it too, right?"
"Yeah, the terms are good. With the palace approaching merchant groups and producers separately for contracts, it seems pretty serious."
No doubt about it. Even the contract method matched.
It was the same tactic: insert ambiguous clauses interpretable differently for commoners and merchant groups, sow confusion, then pin the blame on the merchants.
The very scheme that had trapped her.
Dazed as she listened, a shadow suddenly fell over Esther from behind.
With it came a familiar voice whispering close to her ear.
"Don't do it."
Esther whipped around in shock.
Two tall men in identical cloaks stood before her. But she could never forget that voice.
The uninvited guest absent from her life for a while had appeared before her again, on his own terms.
"...Your Highness?"
"Follow me. It's dangerous here."
Helios stared at her with his deep navy eyes and said.