Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Don't Give Me Even a Shred of Your Attention
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"What could those fools possibly do!"
Sending a letter to the merchant group and receiving a reply along with the delivered goods took a full month.
It was a bit late, but the investment in the Elpis Merchant Group paid off handsomely.
For the Emperor, this was only natural. He was a man who had never once failed to get what he wanted.
"By the way, the weather's awfully hot this year. What's the reaction from the nobles?"
"They're all lining up at the merchant group even today, desperate to snag just one more."
"Is that so? We've bought up more, so tell them to stock extra. Oh, and raising the prices might not be a bad idea..."
"Understood. I'll pass it along to the merchant group."
"But once we sell all that, won't we run out of stock?"
That was what the Emperor had been pondering for the past few days.
In truth, he was certain the Elpis Merchant Group would bow to the inevitable once they realized there was no hope left.
Yet that cat-like woman, brimming with wariness, seemed determined to cling to her last scraps of pride. She hadn't budged an inch.
The Emperor's acquisition terms had been flatly rejected, which confirmed it.
Even with such generous offers, her refusal proved his first impression hadn't been wrong.
"She could've just handed it over smoothly and everything would've ended well... Does she really need to paint me as the villain to feel better?"
That insolent woman had been ignoring his gracious offer to come crawling back whenever she changed her mind—for a full month now.
The Emperor clicked his tongue softly, resting his hand on the armrest of his chair as he mulled over his next move in the audience chamber. That's when a knock echoed through the room.
"Your Majesty, the head of the Elpis Merchant Group has come to see you."
"What?"
At the unexpected news, the Emperor straightened up with a smile. Surely, even that woman had finally realized she couldn't hold out any longer.
Still, he found her youthful struggle to shoulder responsibility rather endearing. Deciding to show some magnanimity, he said,
"Let her in."
"I come before the sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor."
"Ah, you've come. I thought you might not after rejecting my proposal."
Esther glanced at the Emperor's face—wearing a smug smile tinged with reluctance—before speaking.
"I apologize for only now visiting, as the merchant group has been quite hectic in many ways."
"No need. These things happen. You're so young to be bearing such burdens. So, what brings you? Have you decided to hand over the merchant group after all?"
Esther quickly reined in the sinking feeling at the Emperor's brazen mention of her home as if it were his to claim.
"I've come regarding the investment you mentioned to me before. I have a few words on that."
"...Investment?"
"It reminded me of your offer to support our trade ships if we continued trading."
"Ah, yes, I did say that."
The Emperor leaned forward, his upper body tilting toward her as he asked,
"So, what are you trying to say?"
"As you know, I'm not in a position to respond to that proposal. The merchant group is in dire straits..."
"Yes, I'm sorry it came to that. I only bought your goods to help you out, but I never imagined your group wouldn't even glance my way. I figured you'd go for your own cheaper prices."
Esther had neither the time nor leisure to endure his insincere lies. She let the words flow in one ear and out the other, bowing her head.
"No, it was my own shortcomings."
"I'm glad you see it that way. Now, get to the point."
The Emperor wagged his hand at her, as if urging her to speak.
"Our merchant group no longer has the funds to trade with Inda. With our poor sales, we can't possibly ask for your investment, Your Majesty—and there's no gain in it for you anyway. But we do know a safe route into Inda."
"And?"
"Don't you need that method? I hear buyers are lining up."
Esther's provocative gaze met the Emperor's squarely. At her unforeseen words, he slammed the armrest and burst into hearty laughter.
"...Hahaha! Brilliant! So, you'll trade me that route?"
"Yes. It's information we no longer need, but it's exactly what you require now."
"Fine. How much?"
Reading the naked greed in the Emperor's eyes, Esther subtly lifted the corner of her mouth.
The Emperor must have realized he could no longer trade through her.
What he needed next was obvious: a safe, reliable route to import goods.
And without it, he'd pay dearly. Esther still held the upper hand.
"I want 100,000 gold."
"100,000 gold?"
The Emperor's eyes widened. That was enough to build a castle on provincial land and still have change.
"It's exclusive knowledge to us, and you've already profited handsomely from those goods. You know it's no loss for you. Plus, I can connect you with the locals we traded with in Inda."
"..."
The Emperor pondered deeply, but the answer was already set. Esther knew he couldn't refuse.
And soon enough, he spoke.
"Very well. I accept your request. Shall we draw up the contract?"
"It's an honor."
Esther's instincts had been spot on.
As Esther left the audience chamber and walked down the corridor, she clutched a document envelope—the contract she'd just signed with the Emperor.
Turning a corner while mulling over how to use the 50,000 gold advance,
"What's this?"
"I see the little sun of the Empire, Crown Prince Your Highness."
Helios blocked her path without stepping aside, leaving them frozen in awkward silence.
Then, he broke it.
"Are you all right?"
"Pardon?"
Helios, scanning their surroundings vigilantly, offered those cautious words—and nothing more.
It was a brief question for someone acting so guarded, as if they were being watched.
"...That's how it turned out."
At his words, sounding like he knew everything, Esther's expression chilled.
"Judging by the pitying looks from those I've passed in the palace, it seems I'm truly in a pitiful spot."
Seeing Helios's evident fluster at her emotionally charged retort, Esther composed herself.
"That was rude. My apologies."
Silence again.
She'd expected him to chide her for insolently mocking the Crown Prince, but astonishingly, he issued no rebuke.
No, he simply gazed at her with a wounded expression.
"You..."
"..."
Helios finally spoke, his words sounding like a plea directed at someone, making Esther flinch and step back.
"You did nothing wrong. Why apologize to me? You must know what was done to your merchant group. If anything, the one who should apologize is..."
As Esther retreated, Helios hurriedly continued, then clamped his mouth shut before finishing.
But Esther neither wondered nor cared what came next.
"Your Highness."
"..."
Helios snapped out of his thoughts at her call and looked at her.
"I'm just a commoner with little education, so I don't know if it's proper to say this, but may I speak a word?"
It was time to sever ties with this man completely. Esther knew the moment was now.
Helios's heart burned black with anguish.
He couldn't fathom why Esther was the one apologizing.
Nor why she always sought permission just to speak to him.
"Don't say that. Speak your mind freely. I have no intention of wielding my status as Crown Prince over such things. When I said I wanted to befriend you, it wasn't about our stations."
At some point, whenever Esther drew a line between them, she thrust their status difference in his face.
Damn that status. Helios's jaw clenched tight.
"Then I'll speak."
"..."
For a fleeting moment, as Esther met his eyes squarely, Helios felt the distance shrink—only for his heart to plummet again.
"It feels improper for someone of my station to face Your Highness like this. I can't know if your goodwill is genuine, but..."
"I didn't approach you for that contract...!"
"What power could I possibly hold? But if you truly care about me..."
"..."
Locking eyes with her, Helios realized no denial would work. The fury and resentment swirling in her gaze told him as much.
"Don't say things like wanting to get close to me. And don't give me even a shred of your attention."
Helios squeezed his eyes shut.
He shouldn't have come this way. If seeing her daily wish ended like this, he shouldn't have wished for it at all.
"I know full well what grave sin it is to speak to Your Highness this way. But if your intentions were truly pure, then please..."
"..."
"Grant me just this one request."
Esther bowed her head and brushed past him like a lie.
Helios couldn't even muster the nerve to grab her. Who was he to dare?
"..."
"Your Highness."
Baron, whom he'd secretly assigned to tail Esther, approached, but Helios shook his head and ordered,
"Protect her, no matter what."
"Understood."
Watching Baron vanish into the shadows once more, Helios finally dragged his reluctant feet toward his chambers.
As Esther had predicted, an unprecedented summer scorched the Empire.
Merchant groups supplying temperature-sensitive foods went into full alert amid the sudden heat. The Imperial Palace was no exception.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"What is it."
The Emperor frowned at his aide's frantic entrance, clicking his tongue. But the aide had no time to mind.
"It's a disaster!"
"What the hell is all this commotion about!"
The Emperor's fraying patience snapped, barking at the aide. But his words left even the Emperor stunned.
"The goods we bought from the Elpis Merchant Group last time—they've all spoiled."
"What?"
"Even stored underground, the heat was too much; the oil's all gone bad. We promised 2,000 more bottles in a week—it's a crisis!"
"What nonsense is this! What were the managers doing? There were still months until expiration, weren't there!"