Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Gathering People (1)
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“It really feels like it’s been ages since I last came back.”
As we entered Banheart territory, Maria, who had been quietly gazing out the window, spoke up.
‘Well, yeah, we’ve been constantly on the move without a break.’
I felt the same way.
It had been a little over a month since we left for Aintban, but it felt like several months had passed.
“I wish I could at least rest properly for a while…”
Up until now, with the war against the Kainzel Kingdom, the Imperial Founding Festival, and all sorts of other events, I hadn’t had a proper break in ages.
But this time wouldn’t be any different. Resting would be tough.
Not only did I have a pile of territory affairs to handle, but there was also a massive problem looming just ahead.
‘Rugal Necris’s resurrection is about a month away now, huh?’
When it was said to be half a year off, it felt like plenty of time, but it had flown by like an arrow.
[At least you can use up to the fifth form now.]
‘Yeah, that’s a relief. I got lucky.’
[Exactly, be grateful for that luck! You wouldn’t have made it without my help.]
I nodded unconsciously at Gransesia’s confident words. She was right—if I’d tried to master the fifth form on my own, it would’ve been tough.
“Clay… Oh, no, I suppose I should call you Count now?”
“Just call me whatever’s comfortable. Honestly, the title ‘Count’ still feels a bit burdensome.”
Being a young count was nice, but there was something about formal titles that carried weight.
Besides, I preferred when people I was close to used my name.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Of course, you should use proper etiquette in formal settings.”
“Got it.”
Maria nodded with a faint smile.
Considering her usually expressionless face, this was her putting in full effort to smile brightly.
“But why’d you call me?”
“Oh, no, it looked like you were talking with Lady Gransesia.”
“How’d you know?”
Right now, the only ones in the carriage were Maria and me.
Lutia, with her free-spirited personality, had found the carriage stuffy and was riding a horse alongside us instead.
“You give it away subtly.”
“Really?”
“How should I put it… Your face looks incredibly relaxed, unlike usual.”
I couldn’t deny it.
Talking with Gransesia was genuinely the most comfortable time for me. She was the only one who knew all my secrets.
With her, I didn’t have to hide anything or hold back—it meant no unnecessary worries.
‘Guess I need to be more careful around others?’
Riya had picked up on something before, so it seemed like it showed more than I thought.
Well, it wouldn’t cause any real problems, but I didn’t want people giving me weird looks.
‘More importantly…’
As the carriage drew closer to the Banheart mansion, one worry gnawed at me.
‘Should I just let Maria go like this?’
Once we arrived at the mansion, she’d head straight back to the Timons Merchant Group.
And after that, meeting her would be tough. She was the type to throw herself into work.
‘It’d be a shame to let her go like that.’
[Why? Isn’t it good if the merchant group grows bigger?]
Of course, the Timons Merchant Group was practically mine, so her expanding it would benefit me.
But…
‘I won’t be able to train in my dreams anymore.’
[…What? No, that’s normal for a human!]
Sure, I had cheat-like special abilities.
But Fabian was a genius with innate talent that overshadowed even that. To catch up to him, I had to scramble with every means possible.
Maria’s ability to let me train in my sleep—under Gransesia’s direct guidance, no less—was a desperately needed boost for me.
‘…It’s regrettable, but unavoidable. I can’t just drag her to the mansion on my own.’
[Yeah, don’t block a grown woman’s path. Let her be.]
‘Ugh.’
Clunk.
The carriage stopped, the door opened, signaling our arrival at the mansion. I shook off my reluctance and stepped out.
“Young Master, it’s such a relief to see you return safe and healthy.”
Dorian was the first to greet me, bowing neatly in his pristine butler’s uniform.
“And the young lady from the Timons Merchant Group is here too. I hope nothing unfortunate happened?”
“Yes, no issues. Where’s Mone?”
“Mone is inside preparing lunch.”
Dorian directed the other servants to unload the luggage from the carriage.
“Then, Count, I’ll take my leave here…”
Maria glanced at Dorian before bowing gracefully.
“Lunch? Would it be okay if we joined you?”
“Mother!”
But at that moment, Lutia hopped down from her horse and called out boldly. Maria startled and tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Dorian looked to me for permission with a glance. There was no reason to refuse, so I nodded.
With my approval, Dorian chuckled heartily.
“Of course. Mone always makes plenty.”
“Th-then… I’ll humbly accept.”
In the end, Maria bowed to me again, as if she had no choice. Behind her, Lutia stuck out her tongue and winked with one eye.
‘This feels ominous for some reason.’
Lutia was unpredictable—maybe it was her racial nature. She’d seen a precognitive dream and even considered her own sacrifice, so she wasn’t thoughtless, but…
“Welcome back, Clay. I’ve been waiting… Huh?”
As we entered through the mansion door, Riya greeted us in a light dress.
She smiled brightly at me, but her eyes narrowed slightly at Maria and Lutia following behind.
“Isn’t that Maria from the Timons Merchant Group? And next to her…”
Her face was smiling, but her eyes had turned icy.
It didn’t feel good at all.
“Princess Riya, you can’t do that!”
Just then, Mone came running up with quick steps and whispered something in Riya’s ear.
Whatever she said made Riya frown faintly, sigh softly, and nod.
“Yes, you’re right. Anyway, Clay, there are some people I don’t know. Could you introduce them?”
The atmosphere lightened in an instant, letting me finally breathe a sigh of relief. Riya was someone I always found a bit overwhelming to deal with.
[Mone’s already buddies with that lizard girl? When did that happen?]
‘No idea.’
Mone wasn’t just lucky—she had incredible affinity too. She was like a lucky capybara.
Taking advantage of the improved mood thanks to Mone, I quickly introduced the group.
“This is Lutia, Maria’s mother.”
“Oh, hello. I’m Riya Asktalin. Nice to meet you.”
Riya smiled prettily at her words. Lutia’s lively face, which had been cheerful on the way in, stiffened completely.
Then she sidled up to me and whispered softly.
“Wait, why is the empire’s princess here?”
“Circumstances.”
“Is that all you have to say about it?”
As Lutia leaned in close and whispered, Riya’s smiling eyes began to cool again.
Noticing the ominous vibe, Lutia turned to Riya.
“Hm? Don’t tell me…”
Sensing something from Riya’s gaze, Lutia made a strange expression. She scurried over and whispered something to Riya, who was looking at her displeased.
Riya, initially wary of the sudden approach, gradually focused on her words, then spoke seriously.
“…Is that really true?”
“Of course. I’m a succubus, after all. A love expert.”
Seemingly convinced, Riya nodded. Watching her mull over Lutia’s words seriously gave me a subtle feeling.
‘What on earth did they talk about…’
First Mone, now Lutia whispering suspiciously to Riya—it was hard not to wonder what they were saying.
* * *
Right after finishing a rough meal, as Maria prepared to leave at last, Lutia casually tossed out.
“Oh, right. I heard the son-in… I mean, the Count, hasn’t been sleeping well lately.”
“Huh?”
Maria turned to me at Lutia’s sudden remark, as if asking if it was true.
Of course, I hadn’t had a single sleepless night recently. If anything, I’d been sleeping soundly…
“Oh, yeah, definitely. After all these events, I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. Maybe insomnia?”
But I smoothly followed Lutia’s lead. I’d instantly figured out what she was aiming for.
“So, Maria.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“The Timons Merchant Group swore loyalty to the Banheart family, so wouldn’t it make sense to station someone here for smooth communication?”
“Huh? What’s this all of a sudden…”
“Yeah, I’ll help Rabin, so Maria, you should stay and assist the Count.”
Maria blinked in confusion at Lutia’s words, at a loss for what to say. It must’ve been bewildering for her.
[Didn’t you give up on this?]
‘I couldn’t force it without a good excuse.’
But with Lutia providing one, there was no reason to refuse.
[You know what her angle is, right? That lady wants to set you up with Maria!]
‘Well, that might be part of it… but not the whole story.’
When Lutia and I were alone, she’d told me this:
She wanted Maria to live more age-appropriately.
But if she stayed with the Timons Merchant Group, Maria would just keep burying herself in work.
‘Maria’s been handling Lutia’s absence since she was young.’
She’d learned the world too early.
It wasn’t a bad thing, but it must’ve weighed on Lutia, who’d left her as a child.
So Lutia wanted to keep Maria away from work as much as possible.
Of course, how long that lasted would depend on Maria’s will, but that was Lutia’s intention.
‘If things click during that time, it’ll work out somehow, I guess.’
[That’s why succubi are…]
Even Gransesia, who didn’t care much for demons, sounded relatively mild.
“What do you think, Maria? By the side of such an excellent Count, you’ll learn a lot.”
“I…”
Maria glanced at me, hesitating as she fell into thought.
And after a moment, she opened her mouth.