𝕴 𝕭𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖒𝖊 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕺𝖋 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖁𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖎𝖓

006

It was funny to see her embarrassed face as soon as I poked her weakness

“What do you mean? There’s no problem—as soon as our ships arrive carrying goods from the East, we will be in the black again.”

“Well, if you want to come from the East to the Empire, you have to go through the Kent Strait, and by this time of the year, the Kraken often appears in the Kent Strait. Don’t tell me you didn’t even have that basic level of common sense?”

“….”

Rachel’s face turned pale.

No way. I knew they were stupid, but I really didn’t think it was to this degree.

I said, holding back my laughter.

“It doesn’t matter to us because we aren’t in the trade business but to your family that does… it’s going to be a big blow.”

I pretended to be apologetic and concerned. Rachel’s face twisted even more.

It was ugly and distorted.

Rachel, who was struggling to find a proper retort, eventually just shouted.

“It doesn’t matter! Because the Prince is interested in me, not in my family! Do you know how many times he has asked me to dance with him at the ball?”

It was a fact that Rachel’s appearance was so beautiful that the Crown Prince showed interest. That’s why she thought the Prince would propose to her.

I decided to enlighten her about the cold reality.

“His Highness wants the daughter of a powerful and wealthy family to support his bid the throne. But I don’t know if your family will be enough in his eyes,” I said with a big smile. “His Highness has no intention of taking you in as his fiancée anyway. So why don’t you give up now?”

Rachel’s eyes were burning with rage, and her hands on the hem of the dress trembled violently.

But I didn’t care. If you were going to provoke a tiger first, you had to be ready to accept the consequences.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll go first.”

I decided to put an end to this childish exchange. I got up from the drawing-room couch.

“Where are you going? I’m not finished talking!” cried Rachel ferociously.

“As I said, I’m busy. If you have any business, send a calling card first and ask for an official meeting.”

“No. What am I supposed to do if you don’t meet me next time?” (Wtf chica ever hear of boundaries???)

Rachel was a petulant child.

Right after I called the knights to escort this immature girl out, someone knocked on the door.

“My apologies for interrupting, ladies.”

It was Albert, the butler, who showed his face as soon as he was allowed in. The fact that he took the liberty of cutting in meant that something important had happened.

“What’s the matter, Albert?”

“The Duke is requesting your presence.”

“Daddy?”

Prince Ashford suffered a sudden stroke two years ago and withdrew as head of the dukedom.

He knew that his health would not recover and appointed me as acting Duke.

After that day, documents requiring the approval of the Duke poured on to me.

Fortunately, Olivia has been trained as a successor since she was young. The use of her knowledge did not impede my practice.