Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Eldest Daughter of the Rozier Family is Crazy (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Speaking frankly, I still don't fully trust Lady Rozier.
This is just a procedure to verify if her words truly hold any credibility.
'Among the duchy's merchant companies, there's one called Carbia Trading. That's the outfit Baron Barrel's tied up with right now. Order the top-grade black obsidian magic stones through them, and from a month later, keep tabs on the shipments clearing customs for Baron Barrel's side.'
'Even if we order through Carbia Trading, won't they catch on once they realize it's a commission from the kingdom? Baron Barrel doesn't strike me as that sloppy.'
'Of course you'd have the Shadows handle it. You have agents who've been operating in the duchy since before you were even born.'
…Just how much does she know?
When she brought up the 'Shadows'—a top-level royal secret—I nearly choked on my words for a moment.
'Should I tell you who to deploy too? Among the agents active in the duchy right now, the one who could place the order directly with Carbia Trading would probably be…'
'…No, that's all right. You don't need to say.'
Hearing too much information would only complicate things in my head, so I cut her off at a reasonable point and proceeded with the plan exactly as she'd instructed.
Importing black obsidian magic stones through an overseas merchant company, mapping the routes into Baron Barrel's territory, confirming export dates.
And the final step… on-site apprehension by me personally.
'Wrap it up with the on-site bust if possible. He's probably already bribed a few customs officials and inspectors. Send people you can truly trust from your inner circle. Like Hadi, for example.'
'What if we attempt the bust and it turns out Baron Barrel's innocent?'
'That's on you to clean up. You're a prince—do I really need to spell out every little thing?'
'…I'm asking about accountability if your claims prove wrong, Miss Elena.'
'Whatever, handle it however. Annul the engagement, take the reprimand. On-site busts always carry risks. Whining about responsibility already? Seriously.'
-Crunch.
'Nom nom nom. I told you—if you don't like it, just pretend you didn't hear. Treat it like the ravings of a madwoman.'
The nonchalant way she tossed out an issue that could threaten a noble's standing and potentially spark a diplomatic dispute.
…Well, if the bust fails by some fluke, I can just cover it with a surprise audit and call it even. Offer Baron Barrel suitable compensation and wrap it up.
'If Baron Barrel really isn't involved in the smuggling, that's good in its own way. Even if he doesn't get caught, he'll lay low for a while, which isn't bad.'
Either outcome wouldn't be terrible.
Whether Lady Rozier had thought it through this far, I couldn't say.
"You've arrived, Your Highness."
"How's the situation?"
"After checking export trends from the past week, we've confirmed several black obsidian magic stones leaked to the Natri Duchy. Not through official channels."
…So Lady Rozier's words were true.
It's not uncommon for border nobles to skim profits through petty smuggling… but hearing that the 'black obsidian magic stones' she mentioned were indeed being smuggled sent chills down my spine.
It was too precise to chalk up to coincidence.
"What about the top-grade ones? I hear they entered Baron Barrel's territory a week ago."
"Actually, a carriage is approaching now. Black horses emblazoned on the side."
"……Hoo."
A single carriage slipping into another convoy, attempting to cross the border.
"This is a surprise inspection. All carriages passing from now on must declare their cargo contents and submit to search."
The investigation wrapped up anticlimactically with the discovery of black obsidian magic stones Baron Barrel had secured for 'personal research.'
…At this point, it was getting hard to dismiss her words lightly.
A month after exposing Baron Barrel's corruption.
Lady Rozier visited the palace again and, as usual, brazenly lounged sideways on the sofa.
Clutching what looked like a magic tome borrowed from the royal library at some point.
"Why do you keep summoning me like this? It's been two months since I last saw you—such a hassle."
"…Your insight was correct, Miss Elena. Corruption was afoot in the Barrel family."
"Not insight—Storage. So, how'd you handle it?"
"Kept his noble title but stripped him of trade authority and reassigned him to another territory. Considering the territory's special nature, the crown will manage it directly."
"Handled it smoothly. Cleaning it up before he gets promoted to count means Barrel won't mount much counterattack. Crown management should block the hallucinogenic herb smuggling too."
-Crunch.
"Nom nom nom. Plus, snagging a merit at your young age should keep the throne race rolling nicely…"
-Slurp.
"……."
…That this woman, who seems endlessly frivolous in speech and manner, truly knows the future.
Honestly, I don't want to admit it.
Even when I try to raise my opinion of her, seeing her buried in a book with cookie crumbs spilling everywhere keeps dragging me back to the petty reality.
"Hey, didn't you say you were good at magic too?"
"…I practice occasionally. Still young, so mostly theory classes with little practical experience."
"Then interpret this part for me. It's a circulation method to boost mana efficiency…"
…At least she's building intellectual refinement by reading a magic tome instead of some romance novel. I'm trying to see it positively.
Getting absorbed in a book during a meeting with her fiancé is a bit much, but I get her grumbling since it's the first summons in two months.
'Still, for a prince like me to have to tiptoe around calling my fiancée to the palace.'
Now that I know she's not just some lunatic, gaining her trust is key.
I no longer want her as a mere cover fiancée—I want to make her my real one.
"…So, routing mana through specific paths minimizes loss."
"Ah, okay okay. Hey, you're good at explaining? Why don't you just come to our house and tutor?"
"…I'm the kingdom's First Prince, Miss Elena."
"Getting all serious over a joke."
…Joke or not, that was no way to speak to a prince. I reacted in earnest without realizing it.
But she ignored my reaction entirely and turned back to her magic tome.
"Are preparations for the Autumn Harvest Festival ball going well?"
"I'm not handling them. My family is."
"…Only a month left, Miss Elena."
"Doesn't matter to you or me anyway. Harvest Festival my ass—just dragging out a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears kids to bow and curtsy and pick engagement candidates. Filthy, mundane hassle."
"…I understand your sentiment."
Truth be told, my feelings weren't much different.
Just recalling last year's festival made my head throb. At least this year, she'd serve as my shield, which eased my mind considerably.
"Shall I send a dress for the festival, Miss Elena?"
"No need. It's just clothes I'll wear a few times and toss once they don't fit."
"Matching with me could deflect some unwanted attention, no?"
"Couple dresses? Ew. Save that for your real wife later."
…Did she have to look that repulsed?
If her claim about being a man in a past life was true, I could understand—but it still stung a little.
"Oh, and this. Took it from the palace library—can I borrow it? Wanna read it at home."
"Fine by me. Return it at the next festival."
"Cool, thanks."
Watching her lighthearted antics, I worried something might happen on the festival day…
'…Should be fine.'
At least publicly, she played the perfect noble lady.
And a month later.
Nobles gathered at the palace amid the festive buzz for the annual Autumn Harvest Festival ball.
Normally, there'd be no such thing as a 'protagonist' at the Harvest Festival, but this year was different. My fiancée Lady Rozier and I, engaged earlier this year, were essentially the center of the event.
Waiting in the VIP lounge for our separate entrance, Lady Rozier entered with her maids.
"Greetings, Prince Cedric."
"You look even more beautiful today, Miss Elena."
"Our servants put in some extra effort. I'm glad if it catches Your Highness's eye."
Her face flushed as she bowed demurely with a shy expression.
Behind her, the maids squealed 'Kyaa~!' in exaggerated excitement.
'Seriously, I can't get used to it.'
No matter how perfectly she acted the refined noble lady, I kept flashing back to her when we were alone in the drawing room.
Outwardly polite, but inwardly she was surely thinking, 'This festival's a drag—hurry up and end so I can rest.'
'If she'd just stay quiet, she'd be a pretty girl.'
The problem was she never showed that demure face when we were alone.
Her usual dresses weren't plain, but today's outfit clearly had extra care—a challenging crimson gown embroidered with golden thread, which she pulled off admirably.
"I'm looking forward to my first Harvest Festival with Your Highness."
-Smile.
"…Yes, me too."
Lady Rozier approached slowly, flashing a bright smile that matched her red dress.
Thinking maybe now was okay, I cautiously took her hand…
-Smack!
"……."
A slight wrinkle at her eye corners as she firmly shook off my hand—yep, that was the Lady Rozier I knew.
"Kyaa…"
"……."
"S-Sorry, Your Highness. I-I got nervous for a moment…"
"…It's fine, Miss Elena. I'll wait until you're ready."
"Th-Thank you for your understanding, Prince Cedric…"
Lady Rozier continued her natural act, voice even trembling slightly.
The maids watched adoringly, seeing her as a cute, shy young lady.
"Hey, shit. Forgot the contract terms? Why grab my hand out of nowhere?"
"…I thought it'd look more natural."
"We're breaking up later anyway—what's natural gonna do?"
"……."
"Anyway, it creeped me out for real, so don't grab suddenly. Scared the hell outta me…"
Her muttered curses, low enough for only me to hear, left me sinking into needless bitterness alone.