“Well, anyway, I apologize, madam.”

“It’s nothing.”

Wilt gave a perfunctory nod to Pendlore and the general manager before turning away. He walked out on his own feet without further protest.

Radilt’s shoulders, which had stiffened with tension, relaxed with a sigh. Pendlore turned to look at her. A faint light of unexpected surprise filled his blue-gray eyes.

“To be honest, I thought you would blindly sympathize with that man.”

Pendlore said as they boarded the carriage. Radilt looked at him with wide eyes.

“Of course I felt sympathy.”

“For someone who felt sympathy, your words were quite resolute.”

“I was simply stating the facts. Also, I didn’t think it was my place to intervene. I know nothing about the grain association or the employees’ situations.”

She couldn’t make important decisions while clutching only the bias of sympathy despite being so ignorant.

“You spoke to me about the importance of information. It was in the context of choosing a location for a shop or making investments, but this situation didn’t seem much different.”

A distinct smile formed on Pendlore’s lips at Radilt’s measured voice.

“You’re an excellent student.”

“You flatter me.”

Radilt quietly answered, trying not to show how pleased she was by Pendlore’s praise.

“Regarding Wilt, I’ve arranged for it to be processed as a voluntary resignation rather than a dismissal. It’s true that he left on his own feet.”

“That’s good.”

Regardless of the reason, she didn’t wish misfortune upon someone who hadn’t done anything terribly wrong.

“Whether small or large, the biggest headache in running a shop is people. And the Radilt Brill I’ve observed hasn’t been strong with people. You’ve been particularly cautious when dealing with the employees at my mansion.”

“Well, for me……”

Because I don’t have the right.

Radilt swallowed the words that were about to follow. There was certainly embarrassment and unfamiliarity. But if she had to name the biggest reason, it would be precisely that.

Radilt wasn’t really the count’s lover. How could she comfortably order around Duston household employees?

“A employer’s generosity, consideration, and trust are essential virtues. I also believe there’s a duty to provide ample compensation for work done and ensure employees don’t live in poverty.”

Pendlore said that creating an environment where employees can focus on their work benefits the employer as well.

“But at the same time, one must be firm. Lady Brill, there are as many unworthy people in the world as there are good ones. Also, one could say it’s a sad instinct of living beings to weaken before the strong and strengthen before the weak.”

It’s an instinct for survival. Although it’s proper for humans to go against this and live righteously, it’s an innate quality difficult to eradicate as long as one breathes.

“A bag of sugar in one hand, a leather whip in the other. Of course, in this day and age, one shouldn’t freely exercise violence, but one should know when to cut ties, as you saw today. That’s also for the benefit of society.”

“Society?”

“If kind employers who care for their workers can’t dismiss people like Wilt because of that very kindness, and if they end up being looked down on and disrespected, then in the end the shop may wither and close.”

If good workplaces disappear one by one, even diligent employees will eventually have no choice but to work in bad ones.

“But if a kind employer also has firmness, then worthy, good, and passionate employees will gather around them, and the business will thrive. As a result, opportunities for good workers will grow.”

It was a simple and basic theory, but not easy to practice. However, Pendlore had been putting it into action steadily and surely. The result must be his remarkably expanded business.

Enchanted, Radilt gazed at Pendlore as he spoke calmly with clear principles and conviction. It seemed that at this moment, she understood a little more deeply why this man could be so confident in himself.

“Unfortunately, things like family and blood ties often ruin good businesspeople.”

The calmness from earlier disappeared, and a bluntness mixed into Pendlore’s voice.

‘……For Lord Duston, women issues are truly far down on his list of priorities.’

Radilt couldn’t really understand his insistence on not marrying or having children. At first, it seemed like the whining of a man with excessively high standards.

But now it was clear. For Pendlore, such things were truly just bothersome cobwebs. Thin, powerless, meaningless threads of connection that he would remove immediately if he could.

Radilt lowered her eyes slightly.

Indeed, there was no place for her by Pendlore’s side. At the same time, the fact that there would be no place for any other woman either came as a selfish and sad relief.

Woooooo-

The next place the carriage headed was the port. White seagulls flew above, riding the waves like the undulating sea, as the ship’s horn sounded loudly.

“This is my first time seeing the ocean.”

Standing on a high balcony for ship owners, Radilt opened her eyes wide. Pendlore was surprised by her words.

“Haven’t you been in the capital for quite some time?”

“Yes. But the port is far from where I live, and people said it was dangerous. In particular…… they said sailors who’ve been starving for months wander around……”

Radilt said with embarrassment. She had been told it was a place teeming with strong men who hadn’t even touched a woman’s hand during their long voyages. She had heard so many warnings that a woman should never wander there alone that she never even thought of visiting.

“It’s natural for young men to desire women, but that doesn’t suddenly turn them into beasts.”

“Is that so?”

“……Let me correct myself.”

After a moment of silence, Pendlore shook his head.

“Not all young men are beasts, but many are worse than beasts, so never think of approaching alone.”

Pendlore thoroughly cut off sailors who caused unnecessary problems, but it wouldn’t be good to let Radilt wander around the port lightly believing his words. There were indeed several sailors of poor quality.

“I have no intention of wandering the port alone. Above all…… even those big ships themselves are a bit scary. They’re very impressive, but too large.”

Ships as large as several houses combined floated on the endless blue sea. The sight was fascinating and magnificent, but at the same time made her shrink back.

Radilt stepped back a couple of paces with a slightly nauseated expression. Unconsciously, she grabbed Pendlore’s clothes as if seeking support.

“Is the sea…… truly endless? Is it bottomlessly deep?”

“It has a bottom. Right in front of this port, it’s deep enough to swallow several people like you, Lady Brill, but beaches with white sand are shallow. Just enough for waves to splash around your ankles.”

His blue-gray eyes looked out at the distant sea, the long-stretching horizon.

“Everything in the world has an end.”

“……”

Radilt aligned her gaze with his. Everything has an inevitable end. Those words engraved deeply in her heart.

“There’s a saying that even a rolling stone becomes gold if it crosses the sea.”

Today, no ships bearing the Duston family crest were arriving. But another merchant company’s trading vessel had just docked and was busy unloading cargo.

“Once you discover safe sea routes and equip sturdy ships, from then on, it’s impossible to become poor even if you try. Though you must risk your life in the preparation process.”

All sorts of precious goods brought from distant foreign lands were in overwhelming demand not only within the Empire but also in other countries on this continent. If one chose only what didn’t grow on the continent, even in the worst case, they would make three to four times profit, and with luck, more than a hundred times.

“Were you not scared when navigating the sea?”

Two green eyes filled with worry looked up at Pendlore. He didn’t turn to look at her. Instead, he wore a bitter smile.

“Since the moment I accepted that my father would never return, I’ve never been afraid of the sea. To fear something, one must have something to lose.”

When he finally recognized and accepted reality at his mother’s grave, Pendlore’s small hands were empty. All that remained of him was a body his relatives would gladly laugh to see vanish.

“……Is that still true now?”

“Now, well. I do have more to lose. However, even if all of that disappeared, I’m confident I could regain it.”

His voice was calm yet imbued with clear pride in his own abilities.

“I’ll answer that I’m still not afraid.”

“I……”

Radilt’s voice trembled faintly.

“Even though I have almost nothing to lose…… why am I still afraid of so many things?”

Her husband who had already left. Her burdensome in-laws. Even the house in her hands wasn’t truly her own to do with as she pleased.

Nevertheless, Radilt was afraid of many things. She would tremble and fear at even the slightest rough wind.

“That’s fine too.”

Pendlore turned to look at her. Feeling something warm in his eyes as the sea breeze brushed past, Radilt wrinkled her nose slightly.

“Not everyone needs to be strong. I think you’re fine just as you are.”

It might be a light remark without much meaning. It might mean don’t do unnecessary things and just quietly accept protection.

But Radilt felt comforted by his words.

She nodded quietly, naturally wearing a smile that emerged.

* * *