Chapter 87

Before meeting the Rhenia Trading Company, Liliana parked the Empress’s carriage at the Liston Marquisate.

When she removed the bluish cloak that had covered her entire body, a dark, mature, and somewhat provocative dress was revealed. Liliana carefully covered her cleavage, which was only partially hidden by the sheer fabric.

Watching this, Agrina burst out laughing, and Sophia also covered her mouth to hide a smile.

Liliana timidly asked Lady Liston, “Does it not suit me?”

Lady Liston shook her head with a smile deep enough to show her dimples.

“No, it suits you much better than I had imagined. Wearing this makes Your Highness look quite mature. Your slender waist accentuates the outfit even more. However…”

“However?”

“You look so awkward that it’s quite adorable. Don’t worry too much; your face will be covered by a veil anyway.”

Liliana sighed deeply and nodded. Sophia came over and placed a finely woven veil hat over her head.

The veil slightly obscured her vision, making her feel a little less embarrassed. When Liliana released her grip from her chest and straightened her back, Agrina clapped her hands in satisfaction.

“You look fantastic, Your Highness. No one would ever think that the current you is the cute princess from the Imperial Palace.”

Since it was Agrina who said this and not someone else, it didn’t seem like mere flattery, which reassured Liliana.

Liliana traveled a bit in one of the Liston Marquisate’s servant carriages before switching to another carriage. This one was as black as charcoal, as if burnt to a crisp.

Liliana got in first, followed by Sophia and Agrina, dressed in black veils and dresses like Liliana, and then Lady Liston.

The black carriage arrived in front of the primary residence of the Rhenia Trading Company.

When she first saw it, it looked rather desolate, having been focused on practicality. However, it seemed to have undergone some improvements and now appeared quite impressive.

Lady Liston’s influence was evident, as it leaned more toward an elegant, old-fashioned charm than the latest trend.

“My lord, we are here.”

Lady Liston stayed by Liliana’s side, attending to her.

As she stepped inside, Liliana suddenly worried about what would happen if the person from the House of Gabriel recognized her voice.

Sensing Liliana’s concern, Lady Liston received a small item from the steward waiting at the building.

“My Lady, please wear this under your veil.“

“What is this?”

“It is a magical tool that slightly alters your voice. It should not feel too strange.“

“I was worried about that, and as expected, you thought of everything.”

While Liliana expressed her admiration, Lady Liston carefully fastened the magical device under Liliana’s veil to hide it well.

When Liliana cleared her throat to test it, her voice sounded slightly lower.

“To think a trading company that deals with Spirit Stones would use a magical tool, it’s somewhat amusing.“

“If necessary, one should use whatever is available.”

Lady Liston’s voice was also slightly different, perhaps because she was also wearing a magical tool.

Feeling more confident with the device on, Liliana took slightly more enormous strides and walked into the reception room.

An elderly man sitting inside did not rise even when he saw Liliana, remaining seated with his legs crossed.

Sophia seemed displeased by his lack of manners, her fingers twitching slightly, but she did nothing more, and the others didn’t react.

Liliana, who was entirely used to such a lack of courtesy, smiled under her veil and walked further inside.

“I heard we have an esteemed guest. Welcome. I am the head of the Rhenia Trading Company.”

Liliana lifted one side of her dress and curtsied, and the man nodded in acknowledgment. Clearly, he considered his own status higher.

“I am Baron Forman, visiting on behalf of His Grace, Duke Gabriel.”

It was amusing to see a mere secretary acting arrogantly, especially when he wasn’t Duke Gabriel himself. However, Liliana maintained a gentle demeanor and sat beside Baron Forman.

“Why would someone like you, who serves the esteemed Duke Gabriel, seek out my humble trading company?”

She hoped he hadn’t heard anything related to the Spirit Stones. Perhaps the heavens listened to her wish, for Baron Forman brought up a different topic.

“You may be new to the trade business, but surely you’re not ignorant of war?“

“Of course not.“

“I don’t know how long this war will last, but a small conflict is bound to happen soon.”

Liliana nodded. Before any major battles, a minor conflict would likely occur in the Gathis River’s lower reaches, where the two armies were currently facing off.

There would probably be few casualties and not many wounded, but war was war.

“You must know there is no family as great and honorable as the House of Gabriel. And their knightly order’s might is unmatched.“

“Yes, of course.“

“Isn’t it too much of a loss for such an honorable order of knights to deal with a mere small kingdom on the frontier?”

The moment Baron Forman posed that question, Liliana understood his intent. He wasn’t here because he had discovered anything about the Spirit Stones.

“You want to conscript our spirit summoners in our company.“

At that, Baron Forman scoffed and looked her up and down.

“Quicker on the uptake than expected.”

Liliana could feel that her two close maids and her godmother were displeased.

Liliana herself wasn’t in a good mood either. However, none of them would be provoked by such a petty taunt.

Besides, Liliana had spent her entire life hiding her abilities and appearing insignificant to survive. Instead, she smiled serenely.

“The spirit summoners employed by our trading company have not received any combat training. It would be difficult for them to fulfill their roles in a war.“

“We’re not asking for the entire knight order. Just a few would suffice. I wouldn’t have come this far if the battlefield weren’t at sea. Spirit summoners would be better than some mercenaries who’ve never seen the sea, wouldn’t they? They could fire ships from afar with spirit magic or attack with water. It’s not as if we need actual combat skills, right?”

Liliana dramatically opened her purple fan and brought it to her lips. She was even more displeased now than when he had been scrutinizing her.

Helio had resolved to go to war himself, and Lucia was willing to sacrifice her life to prevent it. In contrast, Duke Gabriel wasn’t even willing to send his own knights.

Pushing spirit summoners who hadn’t even undergone combat training into a war zone meant their lives couldn’t be guaranteed.

The so-called honor of Duke Gabriel seemed hideous, in direct opposition to his arrogance.

While Liliana kept her mouth shut to hide her disgust, Baron Forman seemed to find something amusing and snickered.

“You don’t think we’re lacking in money, do you? We’re the House of Gabriel.”

Baron Forman exuded confidence, like a fox puffing up its chest before a tiger.

Looking at his graying hair, an amusing thought popped into Liliana’s mind. She crossed her legs and leaned back.

“Well, I heard you recently fell out with the Kurd Merchant Guild.“

“What? How dare you!“

“This isn’t high society; this is business. It’s not about honor; it’s about money. You need to show a contract, not just throw around the name of the House of Gabriel.”

Liliana gestured behind her, and Sophia brought a blank contract and a pen.

Liliana extended the blank paper and met Baron Forman’s gaze.

“Please write down the amount. Then my spirit summoners will become excellent sailors for a group that can’t even kill a bug.”

After much back-and-forth, Baron Forman wrote down an amount much more significant than Liliana had anticipated.

His pride seemed wounded by the suggestion that the House of Gabriel lacked funds. He must have written down the maximum amount Duke Gabriel had mentioned.

As soon as Baron Forman left, Liliana threw off the stifling veil.

Though they quickly managed to draw out the maximum amount for the contract fee, the problem was the penalty fee.

Liliana insisted that a large penalty fee could ruin the trading company, and what if the House of Gabriel tried to profit from it?

Thanks to her persistence, the penalty fee, which had been more significant than the contract fee, gradually decreased to half its original amount.

While Liliana smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the contract, the three people who had witnessed the entire negotiation looked exhausted.

“It’s clear they don’t intend to honor the contract, but I wonder what they’re counting on to even bother writing it up,“ Agrina said with disdain.

As always, Lady Liston calmly explained, “After Count Kurd, a close ally of Duke Gabriel, fell from grace, all sorts of corruption arose as people tried to fill that position. Duke Gabriel, who was fed up with it, brought back the former duke’s secretary, but as you can see…”

“He’s senile,“ Sophia said in a regretful tone.

“He was once a very shrewd man. Even now, he appears to be quite spry, but age has clouded his mind,“ Lady Liston said with a smile, despite sounding as if she pitied the man, having known him in his prime.

“This situation works in our favor,“ she added.

Lady Liston was right, and everyone nodded in agreement.

However, Agrina, with one hand on the sofa, tilted her head in confusion.

“I understand that Your Highness plans to break the contract. The penalty fee is regrettable, but it’s not unmanageable.“

Liliana had substantial financial backing from the Liston Marquisate and Lackl County.

“But if we do that, the strength of Duke Gabriel’s forces will be significantly reduced, putting the Empire at a disadvantage in the war. You’re not planning to sabotage Duke Gabriel like that, are you? Even if it is just a minor conflict, the common people won’t be affected…“

“Absolutely not,“ Liliana replied firmly as if the suggestion were unthinkable.

“While Duke Gabriel fumbles due to the lack of reinforcements, the Sagreen Kingdom’s forces will grow overconfident, thinking they’re facing an easy opponent. That’s when we’ll strike the Sagreen forces from behind.“

“Who will do that?”

Liliana looked directly into Agrina’s eyes and said,

“Vail Gabriel. Your brother.“

Agrina’s face instantly crumpled.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.