Gabriel’s questions didn’t end.

“Let me ask directly. From the fact that most people don’t look up to the list written by the Marquis—how do you know all this?”

Daphne pretended to consider for a moment, then said:

“Six times?”

Nnngh.

Gabriel groaned before nodding.

“I promise not to act like a merchant with you, at least.”

As if.

Seeing Daphne’s face still indifferent, Gabriel boldly exclaimed:

“Fine! I’ll do ten free tasks for you.”

Only then did Daphne smile with satisfaction.

Gabriel had to clench his jaw to keep it from dropping.

Truly worthy of being called the “Sunshine Smile.” The bright energy radiating from her smile penetrated to his core, making him mirror her expression with a foolish look.

Meanwhile, Daphne seemed to understand completely and waited for him to finish his appreciation.

“Now, may I tell you how I knew?”

Gabriel blinked twice and nodded. Daphne stroked her hair.

“You mean the trace of spirits? But that’s just a legend.”

“Is it really?”

Daphne smiled enigmatically.

“You buy and sell based on demand, not truth.”

She didn’t miss the unusual gleam in his eyes, colder than a winter lake.

Having secured plenty of free tasks, Daphne decided to be generous.

“After you successfully complete five tasks, I’ll tell you the secret about the spirits.”

Daphne extended her hand. Gabriel gently took her delicate fingers and lightly kissed them, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

“From now on, call me Gabi.”

His permission to use a nickname carried significant meaning.

As long as his counterpart had money, he wouldn’t betray them. In other words, with enough payment, one wouldn’t be backstabbed by the continent’s greatest guild master.

Daphne was extremely satisfied at obtaining what she wanted faster than expected.

“Gabi?”

“Yes, at your service.”

“My first free task is about Anaïs Benoit. Focus on her past, not recent activities. Everything from birth until now—her position in the royal family, who sent her to study abroad, and who she exchanged the most letters with.”

“Planning to cut it out before it grows?”

Daphne nodded at Gabriel’s question.

“Weeds flourish if left alone. Better to pull them out early.”

⁕⁕⁕

Marquis Werner Armin arrived at the first port. He needed to load the final trade goods before heading into the ocean.

However, two pieces of news awaited him at the port.

One was from the Emperor, containing just a single sentence:

「Return immediately.」

When God created her, He apparently forgot to include courtesy or common sense, so Werner didn’t expect greetings or closing remarks.

But even so, considering the interests at stake in this trade, not even the Emperor should command so casually.

‘Returning without explanation? Could something have happened to her?’

Worry suddenly gripped him.

He sent his aide to gather news from the homeland immediately.

He read the Emperor’s letter repeatedly but gained nothing new. It was too brief to extract any information.

The captain couldn’t be trusted either.

“She must have completely lost her mind now.”

When Marquis Werner shot him a sharp glare, the captain turned pale and shut his mouth.

The Marquis picked up the second letter while contemplating how to persuade the Emperor.

He froze when he saw the sender.

「Daphne Armin」

He inhaled sharply.

He had never received a letter from his daughter before. Receiving her first letter before a long journey somehow made a corner of his heart flutter.

‘Could something urgent have happened?’

A flash of concern crossed his face.

But if that were the case, Christine would have written first.

Since he wasn’t in the habit of corresponding with his daughter, he felt somewhat confused.

Werner was a one-dimensional man.

If his interpersonal skills matched his combat abilities, he could have conquered the continent and more.

During his active naval service, he spent his years eradicating pirates. After retiring due to a shoulder injury, he focused entirely on his neglected territory.

To revive his economically devastated lands, he decided to do what he did best.

His experience and skills from chasing pirates were considerable. Few knew the sea better than him. He accumulated wealth by traveling faster and farther than others via maritime routes.

True to his character, Werner never employed shallow business tactics. His honest and diligent reputation attracted more and more merchants.

None of them even dreamed of cheating him. His trading company was filled with former naval officers. Crossing them would be like confronting an army more powerful than the imperial forces.

His straightforward personality was advantageous for accumulating wealth but not for relationships.

His heart was so full of Christine that there was no room for anyone else. Consequently, he neglected his children.

To what extent? Besides Ludwig, whom he kept close to pass on the family business, he barely remembered the ages of his other children.

In short, he was a pathetic father.

His brow furrowed upon seeing Daphne’s handwriting. Was this really his daughter’s penmanship? The neat script seemed very characteristic of her.

「To my dear Father and Brother Ludwig,

Mother and I light a lantern on the study windowsill every day, praying for your safe return…」

This was a conventional phrase to begin a letter.

Though nothing particularly remarkable, hearing it from Daphne for the first time made it feel somehow different.

‘Mother and I…’

Noticing Zenos’s name was missing, he worried whether that boy was troubling her again.

He had warned Zenos before about tormenting Daphne, but the unpredictable boy still concerned him.

‘No, Christine is devoted to the children. It will be fine.’

Werner was completely unaware that this applied only to their three sons.

「…Leonhardt visited recently.」

As Werner’s eyes moved down the letter, his expression grew increasingly grim.

「…I’m very sorry to deliver such unpleasant news. But please remember that Mother and I can only be at peace when you and Brother are at peace.

With growing longing each day, Daphne.」

There was a postscript, but Werner’s gaze remained fixed on the closing greeting.

He read it repeatedly.

That her father’s peace meant her peace too. This was also a conventional closing from classical literature, but it struck him differently.

If he had to describe it, it was like a tingling in one corner of his heart.

Christine had said Daphne adored her fiancé, following him around like a puppy. He couldn’t even imagine how hurt his daughter must be.

Though generally insensitive, his love for Christine had taught him how intense romantic feelings could be, allowing him to somewhat understand Daphne’s state of mind.

Yet the letter’s matter-of-fact tone, as if discussing someone else’s affairs, while wishing for her father’s peace—it showed consideration, urging him not to get too excited and to return safely.

Paternal anger he didn’t know he possessed began to bubble up.

His daughter…

Honestly, he couldn’t be certain she was his biological daughter. But he believed the parent didn’t matter as long as she was the child of Christine, whom he loved.

Yet receiving this letter made him realize how much he had neglected her.

His sons would survive even if thrown into a mud pit. Just as he had.

But a daughter was different. Especially in situations like this, he should have been her strong shield.

Moreover, this happened right after he departed on a long voyage, which made it even more infuriating.

‘Gustav, Leonhardt… just you wait.’

Werner gritted his teeth.

Was it betrayal by an old friend? Or self-reproach for his neglect of Daphne? Whatever it was, he suppressed his rising anger and read the postscript.

「P.S.: Her Majesty the Emperor also summoned me separately and comforted me greatly…」

‘As if she doesn’t have enough troubles, she bothered her again?’

He was always irritated by how the Emperor frequently summoned Daphne to make her smile, treating her like a pet. And now to call in a child who had just experienced such hardship.

The letter crumpled in Werner’s hand.

「Her Majesty mentioned several times that he would summon you immediately. But I understood it as words meant to comfort me.

The greatest trade since the Empire’s founding couldn’t possibly be canceled just because of me.

However, Her Majesty worried that you might refuse to abandon the trade and instead appoint Brother Ludwig as temporary leader to continue.

He mentioned that pirate movements have been unusual lately, trailing off ominously. Forgive my presumption, but I hope Her Majesty’s concerns remain just concerns.」

Hidden within the innocent noblewoman’s worry for her father was a crucial clue.