A Taste of Heaven (2)
The crushing debt bearing down upon House Riversong had begun with the previous head of the family.
Gambling debts!
A squandered fortune that did not warrant a shred of sympathy, amounting to tens of millions of Cel. With monthly interest alone surpassing one million Cel, their finances had long since tipped into utter ruin.
The only saving grace was that since the current patriarch, Albert Riversong, had inherited the mantle, their ledger had gradually, agonizingly begun to stabilize.
'If only this transaction goes through, we'll finally be able to pay off at least ten percent of the principal.'
It was not merely money the former patriarch had gambled away. Along with the family fortune, he had dragged House Riversong's honor and standing straight through the mud. A father in name only, he had left behind nothing worthy of respect. Even so, Albert had strained every nerve and bone to pull his house back from the brink, and now he stood on the threshold of this venture's first major payout.
A mining enterprise.
After endless deliberation, the gold mine in which they had invested had yielded exceptionally promising assessments of profitability, and a buyer had stepped forward eager to purchase House Riversong's equity stake.
'Please, let nothing go wrong.'
The equity transfer contract had been loaded onto a carriage yesterday. Only if it reached the prospective buyer in the capital without delay could the family survive. The sale proceeds had to return on time to honor the promissory notes and cover the interest due immediately on the horizon.
Albert was truly doing everything in his power.
And while he still could not forgive what his son had done in a misguided attempt to help the family…
'He is still my boy.'
What father could abandon his own blood? True repentance remained a long journey, and paying for his sins would take even longer. Caught between collapsing finances and a wayward child, the gray hairs multiplying across Albert's temples seemed to sprout anew with every passing hour.
Yet today, above all days, required impeccable preparation.
It was the day of the home visit.
'He said he would arrive around midday.'
Instructor Xiel Steelheart—savior to his son, Yon, and benefactor to the entire house—was coming in person.
To tell the truth, Albert had been caught off guard when he first received the formal notice.
'Does Edelbein really have such a policy?'
Even setting aside whether the system officially existed, he had never imagined an instructor would bother undertaking something as tedious and exhausting as a home visit. But because it was Instructor Xiel, it somehow made strange, perfect sense.
"Father, you're awake."
"Ah, Yon. Up already?"
Yon had risen even earlier than usual to prepare for the morning. Albert regarded his son, a lingering chill still clinging to his gaze.
"Yon. Your instructor is visiting today, so see that you are properly prepared. Do not neglect your morning training."
"Yes, Father."
Blood or not, Albert had not fully forgiven him, nor did he intend to anytime soon.
As Yon bowed and withdrew, Mrs. Riversong spoke up softly from his side.
"Yon still seems so dispirited. Couldn't you show him just a little warmth?"
"My lady, it is precisely because of that that I must remain severe. If he is pardoned so lightly, he may well make the exact same choice when he next finds himself standing at a crossroads."
"Yet he has already shown sufficient remorse—"
"Remorse has no finish line, my lady. I know your heart, I truly do. But what Yon did could have brought about the complete extinction of our house. It is a weight he must carry and repent for every single day of his life."
At those words, even Mrs. Riversong fell silent.
It was the unvarnished truth. Had Xiel not unraveled the full conspiracy, the blame for everything would have fallen squarely on House Riversong. The wrath of Great Lord Kundel, the empire's preeminent titan, would have descended upon their heads. Though Kundel had mercifully let the matter pass without retaliation, House Riversong had come within a hair's breadth of being erased from imperial history.
"Therefore, I do not intend to grant him forgiveness yet."
"…Forgive me. I spoke without thinking."
"No. Any parent would feel the same. Whenever I see the boy hanging his head, my resolve wavers dozens of times a day. But I ask you to understand my duty as the head of this house."
Financial collapse.
A wayward son.
And now, a home visit.
Albert's mind had never felt so tangled.
Just then—
"My Lord! My Lord!"
The head butler's frantic shouting came bursting through the door from outside. Sensing that something had gone terribly wrong, Albert stepped briskly out into the corridor.
"What is the matter?"
"Y-You must come out front immediately! The carriage we dispatched yesterday…"
The carriage? If he meant that carriage…
"You mean the one carrying the contract?"
"Yes, My Lord! The carriage, the carriage has…"
Had an accident occurred?
'Did it go missing?'
Just as the strength began draining from Albert's knees—
"It has returned…" the butler finished in a stunned daze.
The carriage that should have been rolling toward the imperial capital had indeed returned.
Its inexplicable return was shocking enough, but inside lay four retainers of House Riversong, reduced to cold corpses. That alone was horrifying beyond measure, and yet…
"Th-These men are…"
"The mercenaries who ambushed your carriage."
"Then why are they…"
Stowed alongside the dead were several heavily injured bandits, bound and breathing.
"Instructor Xiel… you drove this carriage here?"
Holding the reins of that very coach was none other than the man scheduled for the home visit: Instructor Xiel Steelheart.
"I encountered them on my way."
"Pardon?"
"They feigned kindness and attempted an ambush. I retaliated."
He spoke with the absolute detachment of someone explaining he had picked up a stray stone off the road.
Albert stood frozen, desperately trying to make sense of the scene.
"S-So… what you are saying is that these men attacked you, Instructor?"
"Precisely. You are quick on the uptake."
He was not quick on the uptake at all. He was still miles away from comprehending what had transpired. Struggling through a mountain of rising questions, Albert managed to voice one.
"Why on earth would these men… attack you?"
"They stated they had orders to eliminate all witnesses. After neutralizing the mercenaries, I checked the interior of the carriage and discovered retainers bearing the crest of House Riversong. Therefore, I drove the carriage here."
Xiel offered a brief, flat conclusion.
"It was on my way regardless."
"……."
Xiel had just performed an astronomical feat. He had recovered a carriage that could have vanished into thin air, lost forever, and delivered it back into the family's hands. Yet what was with this deadpan composure, as though he were simply handing over a pebble he had kicked up along the path?
"First… permit me to express my deepest gratitude, Instructor. That carriage was carrying documents of vital importance to our house."
"You must be referring to this."
No sooner had the words left Albert's mouth than Xiel extended an object: an unsealed document case.
'It was undeniably sealed with a specialized mana imprint.'
That was not a ward that common mercenaries could easily unravel. It meant this raid had been planned with meticulous precision.
"…Who could possibly have done this?"
"According to one of the mercenaries, they were hired by the Tollen Merchant Guild."
"The Tollen Merchant Guild…"
Albert felt the blood drain from his veins, cold as ice water.
"My Lord… if it was the Tollen Merchant Guild…"
"……."
Countless dreadful possibilities collided within Albert's head. The Tollen Merchant Guild had orchestrated this ambush?
'Then could they possibly be after…'
House Riversong was obligated to repay the principal borrowed from the Tollen Merchant Guild within seven days. And the collateral tied to that debt was none other than House Riversong's truffle venture.
"…They ambushed us to ensure the truffle rights fall into their hands."
Make the carriage vanish, stalling the equity deal until the deadline passed. Then, swoop in and devour the truffle groves that had sustained House Riversong for generations. The truffle trade was the one sacred asset that even the gambling-addled previous patriarch had never dared to touch!
"Those despicable bastards from Tollen…"
White-hot fury flared in Albert's chest. But propriety came first; he had to properly thank his benefactor.
"…Thank you, Instructor Xiel. If not for you, I cannot fathom what ruin would have befallen our family…"
"It was merely something I handled on the road. Had they not attacked me, I likely would have walked past without second thought."
Overwhelmed by what he took to be profound humility, Albert bowed his head deeply.
"Your humility leaves me utterly humbled."
"I have stated nothing beyond the facts."
Xiel had indeed spoken the absolute truth. Still, he could plainly tell that the cargo was precious enough to warrant such intense gratitude. Furthermore, observing the grim expressions and the unfolding chaos around Lord Albert, Xiel quickly deduced that this was hardly an ideal time for an educational home visit.
"It appears difficult to proceed with the home visit under these circumstances. I shall return at a later date."
Naturally, that statement sent Albert into an even greater state of panic.
"No, you cannot! How could you possibly turn back now? You have come to our rescue once again, and we cannot simply send you away!"
Albert hurriedly barred Xiel's path. Xiel tilted his head slightly.
"Is this not an inopportune moment to conduct a home visit?"
"That does not matter, Instructor Xiel! Regardless of the situation, allowing our savior to depart like this would violate every rule of honor and duty!"
Honor and duty.
Lord Olton Sophen had used that exact sentiment just recently, and now Albert Riversong was echoing it.
"It seems honor and duty carry great weight among nobles."
In other words: face and obligation.
"I believe it is vital regardless of whether one is a noble, Instructor. And for us… it is a duty we must uphold toward you above all others."
If they failed to show proper respect to Instructor Xiel, who in the empire ever would?
"Please, do not leave like this. Grant us the privilege of hosting you properly, Instructor. Above all, you have pulled our family back from the precipice of ruin once more."
Xiel looked faintly puzzled.
"All I did was retrieve House Riversong's carriage."
"That deed alone was our salvation. Had it not been for you, we would have fallen victim to the Tollen Merchant Guild's conspiracy without ever knowing why. You have become our benefactor a second time over. If we fail to repay such grace, the entire world will point at us in disgust."
Moved by the earnest plea, Xiel relented.
"I suppose a meal would be acceptable. However, I will accept nothing beyond that. I am an instructor, after all."
Albert breathed a sigh of relief and stepped back with a respectful bow.
"We shall serve you the finest feast our house can muster. Please, allow us to guide you inside."
Turning to his head servant, Albert issued swift orders.
"Guide Instructor Xiel to the drawing room at once. Then inform the kitchens to begin preparing a meal immediately."
"Understood, My Lord."
Little remained in the family treasury, but even if they had to take out another loan, now was the time to spare no expense!
As Xiel followed the head servant into the manor, the head butler returned to Albert's side to deliver his report.
"My Lord, it appears certain that this was orchestrated by the Tollen Merchant Guild. In this case…"
"At the very least, we now hold the means to defend ourselves should Tollen attempt an aggressive foreclosure on the principal."
The Tollen Merchant Guild had deliberately sabotaged their ability to repay the debt on schedule, employing hired cutthroats to carry out the deed. With four surviving mercenaries in custody, they had all the evidence required should the matter turn into an official dispute.
Yet their adversary was the Tollen Merchant Guild.
"Given the rumors regarding their underhanded nature, we cannot let our guard down, My Lord."
"Indeed. Scurrilous as they are, they would shamelessly deny everything and dig their heels in. For now, dispatch a messenger to the buyer in the capital with the utmost urgency to explain our predicament. We must negotiate a slight delay for the transaction."
"However, if the sale is delayed, the repayment of the principal will…"
"We still have the family heirloom. We will sell that."
The butler's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
"A-Are you serious, My Lord?"
"If we are to repay the principal within seven days, we have no other choice."
"But that is…"
"I understand your grief. But this is no time to cling to foolish pride. We must sever all ties with the Tollen Merchant Guild once and for all."
In past days, they might have turned to neighboring southern houses for temporary aid. But after Yon's blunder, relations with the nobility of the South had grown almost completely severed. Everyone was walking on eggshells, wary of drawing the ire of House Kundel. And Albert could hardly place the blame on Kundel for that.
'This is the only path forward.'
Amidst these calculations, another sharp concern crossed Albert's mind.
"More importantly, the Tollen Merchant Guild will soon realize what transpired… and that leaves me deeply worried for Instructor Xiel."
"They may very well attempt retaliation. What if we assign an escort to accompany him when he departs?"
"A sound idea. See to it. Though our knighthood has dwindled to a handful, their prowess is beyond question."
Though their fortunes were slowly mending, House Riversong's order of knights, small to begin with, had practically dissolved. Years of financial strain had made it impossible to pay their wages on time. The few knights who remained were stalwart men who had stayed purely out of loyalty to the family. They could certainly be trusted.
"Thanks to Instructor Xiel, whom you have praised so lavishly, My Lord… our house has survived once again."
"We will likely owe him far more before all is said and done. For now… prepare the funerals for our fallen men. Lock the mercenaries in the deepest dungeon and post a tight watch to ensure none can escape."
"At once, My Lord. However, there was one rather peculiar detail."
"Peculiar?"
"My medical knowledge is modest, but… the mercenaries' injuries were remarkably severe, yet every single wound had been perfectly staunched and treated with astonishing skill. Could Instructor Xiel have done that?"
"Hmm. It is quite possible. Just how thoroughly were they treated?"
"Under ordinary circumstances, those men should have bled to death several times over."
"…Could he have served in the military?"
"Judging by the precision of the field dressing, his skill far surpasses an ordinary combat surgeon. Stemming such massive hemorrhaging without delay is no simple task…"
A man who grew more enigmatic the more one learned of him.
"Ah. That reminds me."
An idea struck Albert.
"Instruct the kitchens to bring out the truffles."
"My Lord, you mean…?"
"It is the absolute best our house can offer to our benefactor."
Truffles.
The crown jewel of House Riversong, the one heritage the previous patriarch had refused to part with even in the throes of his gambling addiction!
"Tell them to prepare a taste of heaven for the instructor."