Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: When My Revenge Against You Begins
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“I'll be waiting!”
Unlike when he'd entered, Viscount Hogun displayed a friendly attitude as he quickly vanished into the distance.
Carter, who had been watching the scene, approached Esther and casually asked,
“Do you really think the viscount will spread the word?”
“Yes, I'm certain of it. He won't be able to resist.”
With his urge to flaunt his possessions to everyone around him, his nosy tendency to stick his nose into everything, and that loose tongue to boot—Viscount Hogun had every quality needed to circulate rumors about the merchant group.
“He'll definitely head straight back to that shop from earlier.”
“What a tiresome way to live life.”
Oilie, who had approached unnoticed, clicked his tongue and waved his hand dismissively in annoyance.
“How's business going? What's Mail up to these days?”
“Well, at this hour, he's probably inspecting the oil extraction machine.”
Their ability to produce both the oil press and the storage bottles within a single month was nothing short of remarkable.
Esther gazed admiringly at Oilie, who responded with a nonchalant shrug.
“You're incredible. Still, it must be tough shuttling back and forth like this. You just got back today, and now you're caught up in all this—I'm sorry.”
Esther's concern for the two men, who commuted between Rolli and the merchant group for work, led her to check Oilie's complexion.
Noticing her worry, Oilie flashed a grin as if it were no big deal.
“Don't worry about it. We'll take good care of ourselves. Besides, I reeled in a catch for you, so you'll have to make it worth my while.”
“Of course.”
Esther couldn't deny that Oilie's sly charm had made it easier to bait Viscount Hogun.
Oilie scratched his head vigorously at Esther's earnest response to his teasing, muttering under his breath.
“You said 100 bottles, right? That's nothing—I can just grab them from the warehouse over there. It won't take long, so we could even deliver them straight to the viscount's place.”
“Then I'll leave it to you until Thursday.”
“No worries. I'll be off now.”
Oilie gave a quick nod and turned, disappearing down the alley.
Watching him go, Esther also turned toward her office.
It was time to send word to the increasingly anxious emperor.
“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the Elpis Merchant Group.”
“I told you not to bring me any more trivial matters for a while.”
The emperor's eyes flashed with irritation—he'd been racking his brains over the oil issue these past few days.
His aide, cowed by the menacing aura, barely suppressed a gasp and gauged his mood.
“It's regarding Dran Oil...”
“What?”
In an instant, the emperor snatched the letter from his aide's hand.
He tore open the envelope almost violently and scanned the contents.
[We have heard that Your Majesty is facing difficulties due to the poor quality of oil in circulation. We are also saddened by the growing dissatisfaction among the nobles with each passing day, which prompted us to reach out.]
The emperor let out a hollow chuckle at what he saw as pity from Esther, who could barely manage her own affairs, but his expression quickly hardened.
It was because of the unexpected bombshell that followed.
[After continuous research, our merchant group has succeeded in cultivating Dran within the Empire and extracting Dran Oil.]
“That wench...!”
Gnashing his teeth, the emperor read on.
[Thus, believing the Imperial Palace to be the customer most in need of our product at present, we are contacting you. We understand that the palace-run merchant group is short on stock.
If you trade with us, we will grant you priority purchasing rights for up to 1,000 bottles of Dran Oil per month.]
The more he read, the angrier the emperor grew at realizing he'd fallen right into Esther's trap.
[In exchange, we request exclusive rights to the Dran product for our merchant group.]
Yet at the same time, he knew this was his only option left.
Rumors about the palace were undoubtedly already spreading under the radar. Even if the ships returned safely in three months to quell the situation, any recurrence would just repeat the crisis.
[Should you accept our proposal, we will have fewer customers available for trade, so unlike before, prices will inevitably rise. We kindly ask for your understanding.]
“Hah, even in this mess, she secures her own profit?”
The emperor crumpled the edge of the paper in his grip.
[1 gold per bottle. Knowing our merchant group's hardships, we hope for your understanding.]
He was all too familiar with that price—it was exactly what he'd offered the merchant group himself.
“So she knew.”
The emperor quickly realized this was Esther's revenge and burst into hearty laughter.
“Hah, amusing. What an entertaining woman.”
He'd recognized her boldness before, but he'd never imagined she'd maneuver herself into dealing with him as an equal. A glint of interest sparked in his eyes.
“...What to do.”
Should he pull this clever woman into his fold, or eliminate her since she could block his path?
His prolonged deliberation ended as he halted the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the armrest.
“Summon the head of the Elpis Merchant Group to the palace—at a time convenient for her.”
The emperor decided to keep this shrewd woman close by his side a while longer.
Around that time, Elick entered Helios's room and swiftly reported what he'd learned to his lord.
“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Elpis Merchant Group. It seems related to Dran.”
Helios paused briefly at the words before nodding and waiting for more.
“And here are the results of the investigation into those you ordered.”
“Report.”
Helios lifted his lake-blue eyes to Elick, no longer able to hide his agitation.
“The newcomers to the Elpis Merchant Group are men named Oilie and Mail. There's a paper submitted under their names—upon review, it's about Inda's climate and the grains grown there.”
Helios's eyes trembled faintly, mirroring the anxiety that had kept him on edge for days.
How much had he fretted over the fear that she might harbor ill intentions?
“Ha... then it was just my unfounded worry.”
Elick continued his report, watching Helios's small sigh of relief.
“Also, Viscount Hogun—the one who visited the Elpis Merchant Group last time, as I reported—is spreading word of their goods, boasting about acquiring them at a cheap price.”
Helios's lips curved upward at the development favorable to Esther. Now he understood why she'd brought those people into her group.
Elick, sensing the possibility himself, added,
“It seems they recruited them to research Dran production and extraction methods. The young lady is remarkable in every way.”
“...Indeed.”
Esther had always been an extraordinary woman—something Helios knew better than anyone.
“However, I'm worried she's properly provoked His Majesty's ire. If it leads to any backlash...”
At Elick's concern, Helios brushed back his hair and smiled languidly.
“Don't you understand why she deliberately targeted that viscount?”
“Pardon?”
“The rumors stem from that man's own volition, not coercion. The emperor has no direct pretext to touch her. Besides, do you think an emperor who values his reputation so highly would punish Esther—the only key to restoring it—when he's at the center of those rumors?”
“...”
“He can't touch her. That's more accurate.”
Helios found himself captivated by Esther once more for so effortlessly landing a blow on the emperor, who was too preoccupied with suspicion toward him.
At that moment, someone approached Helios, who was lost in a mix of happy yet anxious thoughts about her.
“Your Highness.”
Startled by the unexpected arrival, Helios widened his eyes more than usual and asked urgently,
“Baron, why are you here?”
Baron had been assigned to guard Esther, so he had no reason to be here.
That alone conveyed how bewildering the situation was for Helios.
“What is it? Has something happened?”
“No, it's just...”
Helios clenched his fist in unease, waiting for Baron's words.
“Lady Esther is heading to the palace right now. The moment she received His Majesty's letter...”
Helios rose from his seat without hesitation.
The emperor's mood was surely foul at present. Whatever her business, meeting him now would surely draw trouble her way.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
As Elick called out, Helios threw on his outer coat and replied swiftly,
“To the audience chamber.”
Whenever unpleasant matters arose, the emperor's habit was to dismiss the servants, claiming he disliked the fuss—leaving the corridors sparsely populated.
Desperate with the conviction that Esther must not meet the emperor today, Helios quickened his steps.
“Are you sure you'll be all right?”
Carter had insisted on following Esther out of worry. She understood his concern—if their positions were reversed, she'd react the same.
“Should I come with you after all...?”
“No, I'll go alone.”
But being seen by the emperor's eyes was a risk she was willing to take solo.
Esther pushed Carter back into his seat as he tried to disembark and stepped down from the carriage alone.
“Please be careful.”
Drawing strength from Carter's unwavering concern, Esther took a deep breath and proceeded.
No one approached Esther to speak—perhaps her arrival had already been announced to the emperor.
“Makes it even easier.”
She shrugged as she traversed the unusually deserted corridor leading to the audience chamber.
“Wha...!”
Suddenly, the door beside her flew open, and a hand from within yanked her inside.
The abrupt force dragged Esther into the room in an instant.
“Let go!”
Panicking, she struggled and shouted, causing the hand gripping her to release.
At the same time, she reached back for the door behind her. Just as her fingers brushed the handle, someone seized her hand and whispered,