4. The Maid
“The newly discovered tunnel will be difficult to mine for the time being.”
The Baron Belpharos, seated at the head of the table, spoke cautiously to the man occupying the seat of honor. All eyes in the dining room turned toward them.
“For what reason?”
The man glaring sharply at the baron with a displeased expression was Mercier, the true owner of the Scren Mine, who had arrived in Exangciras only yesterday. He was a middle-aged noble with a slightly lean build, brown hair, and narrowed green eyes that accentuated his gaunt cheeks and high cheekbones, giving him an air of arrogance and aristocracy. Though the same age group as Baron Belpharos, he appeared a bit older. His overall impression was one of sharpness.
“A raise vertically connecting the upper and lower sub-tunnels beneath the main tunnel is causing trouble. After the large and small headings, we have to transport through there, but the fragile ground poses a high risk of collapse.”
Baron Belpharos furrowed his brows in embarrassment.
“What about the interior? Is the section below the raise intact?”
To the count's question, the baron replied politely.
“Yes. Upon inspection, the tunnel newly excavated below the raise appears to have existed for a long time. It's reinforced with magic artifacts in various places, so there's no worry of collapse.”
“Magic reinforcements?”
“Artifacts are installed throughout the interior. We suspect ancient mages used them long ago. After all, the Scren Mine is a magic mine.”
Count Mercier stroked the slightly blunt tip of his nose, lost in thought.
“...With an adamantite vein there, it makes sense. Then what about the section below that?”
To the follow-up question, the baron calmly opened his mouth. He had been agonizing over this issue for a month, so Mercier's visit was most welcome.
“We sent in an exploration team, and deeper in, a lateral tunnel flattened out to reveal a stope.”
“And your opinion?”
To the coldly snapped question, Baron Belpharos gauged Count Mercier's expression.
“We need to reinforce the raise or dig a new one. In its current state, the collapse risk is too great.”
As the overseer, he stated his professional opinion, and Count Mercier's eyes narrowed.
“Reinforcement would mean...”
“Requesting help from Exslon would be the wisest course.”
Finally voicing the conclusion he'd wrestled with for a month, the baron felt a weight lift from his chest and raised his wine glass to wet his throat.
Count Mercier silently fixed his gaze on the main course before him, deep in thought.
“Of course, with our current finances, either option would be a stretch. But it's essential. To stably mine the adamantite vein inside, we must choose one or the other.”
The baron cautiously added his thoughts.
Count Mercier frowned, slowly moving the hand holding his utensils. The main course for tonight's dinner was beef steak. Prepared with care by the overseer's cook, the steak came from a large sirloin hung in the cool, well-ventilated kitchen for nearly a month. The darkened outer layer had been trimmed away, and the thick inner meat seared on a red-hot grill. The crispy charred crust encased tender flesh brimming with juices, infused with the deep aroma of aged cheese.
When Count Mercier sliced into the center, crimson juices oozed out in a trickle.
The knives on the table, which had nearly halted to avoid interrupting the count and baron's conversation, now busily danced across plates again.
Excluding the seat at the far end, Baron and Baroness Belpharos sat side by side, with Olens and Olivier opposite them, quietly focusing on their meals. Emily stood motionless against the wall, refilling Olivier's grape juice glass whenever it emptied.
“I heard that Lord Mercier has been accepted into Stonas this time.”
The baron smiled, broaching the topic to soften the stiff atmosphere from the mine discussion. Count Mercier wrinkled his nose slightly. He wasn't fond of talk about his son.
“Ian, you mean? The boy's no help, just buried in his books. It'd be better if he came here to assist with the mine. I'm swamped with new field surveys myself.”
A hint of complaint about his useless only son laced the count's words.
Baron Belpharos chuckled good-naturedly.
“Admission to Stonas is an honor in itself. Congratulations. My own son aims for Stonas entrance too. Isn't that right, Olens?”
The baron pointed to his son across the table. Olens quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin and replied politely. Sharing a table with the mine owner, notoriously strict Count Mercier, he was on his best behavior.
“Yes.”
“Your class at the Academia is the ordinal mage track, was it, young Olens?”
Count Mercier's interest prompted Olens's eyes to light up.
“Yes. I'll graduate in a year.”
Olens answered courteously toward the count.
“If you prepare thoroughly, it should be no problem. Ian only switched to the advancement path at the end of his year too.”
The count encouraged him with a kindly gaze—a father's heart for a son of similar age.
“Lord Ian was in Eximia, wasn't he? We can't simply compare him to my boy, Count.”
At Baron Belpharos's words, Count Mercier furrowed his brow.
“He spent his entire time at the Academia mooning over women and couldn't get his act together, so Eximia is just a hollow title.”
The baron and baroness recalled the rumors swirling around Lion. It concerned the pink scandal between Count Mercier's only son and the eldest daughter of Viscount Ropiyetre, which had blossomed after the debutante ball at the imperial founding festival a few years back.
“So, any good news? Rumors say something about the lady of Viscount Ropiyetre...”
The baron smiled as he spoke, but Count Mercier pressed his lips in displeasure.
“Who knows. No one can predict how things will go with young men and women.”
The quietly listening Baroness Belpharos chimed in.
“Lady Haineu's beauty is renowned throughout Lion. Her mother, Viscountess Ropiyetre, is exceptionally beautiful, after all.”
“Hmph.”
Count Mercier gave a noncommittal grunt, shaking his head slightly as he cut into his steak.
“Who knows. I hope for a match that benefits the family business.”
With his feelings plainly revealed in a flat tone, the baron and baroness fell silent. House Ropiyetre was a border noble with a minor fief and meager assets. Better off than House Belpharos, which had lost its lands and taken employment as overseers in the western continent, but to high nobles, they were much the same.
The rest of the meal proceeded in quiet.
When apple pie was served for dessert, Count Mercier rose first, declining it, and headed to the drawing room. Baron Belpharos hurried after him.
Mercier was just passing through; he would stay the night in the guest room and depart early next morning with his business partners for the northern western continent. Key decisions on mine management needed approval tonight. Usually handled by correspondence, his rare personal visit meant urgent matters long held in abeyance required immediate resolution.
Left at the dining table were Baroness Belpharos, Olens, and Olivier.
Olens pushed his apple pie aside and lifted the wine glass the baron had left, tilting it. Olivier shot him a displeased glance, and he returned a cold stare.
The baroness addressed the two with a reluctant expression.
“Lady Loren is visiting tomorrow. Olens, refrain from drinking tonight—no wine breath in front of her.”
Though winter break had just brought her son home not even a full day ago, and she disliked nagging him so soon, she couldn't tolerate unseemly behavior before Lady Loren, future pinnacle of high nobility.
As the baroness admonished gently, Olens tilted his wine glass obliquely and spoke.
“The granddaughter of the Loren count family that acquired the Soren Mine in Aujesiras?”
“Yes. A goddess-like beauty. She'll soon be the Duchess of Kingston.”
At the mention of duchess, Olens whistled in surprise.
“To think we can see an Ashton imperial here in this backwater. Astonishing.”
“A few days ago, she sent word via messenger that she wants to meet Olivier tomorrow. Lady Loren is studying Eximia at the Ashton Academy—a year younger than you. She's exceedingly polite and noble-like.”
The baroness sent her son an affectionate look.
Olens nodded and set down his glass.
“A lady with beauty, lineage, intellect, and grace—I'm looking forward to it, Mother.”
He rose, kissed Baroness Belpharos's cheek, and left the dining room.
Olivier looked at the baroness, let out a short sigh, and nodded to Emily. Emily swiftly approached, pulled back the chair, and smoothed the wrinkles from Olivier's dress as she stood.
“Mother, I'm heading up to rest too. Insomnia's been hitting hard, so I'll be staying with Emily for a while.”
The baroness nodded, sipping her wine. Olivier jerked her chin toward the room, signaling Emily, and started walking. Emily bowed politely to the baroness and followed.
Thank you for reading ^^*
Dialogue Summary (3 lines):
1. Mine at risk of collapse
2. Olens returns home
3. Evril appears next chapter
You don't need to worry too much about the dialogue details. Fans of Desire might notice a brief mention of the dark history of Liz's family.