137. The Phantom Trading Company

“Not yet.”

Marquis Argen, after hearing from her about the possible connection between Count Briznay and Duke Anderman, was working with Kali to assist Dean in investigating House Briznay. When he first heard the count’s name, he had recalled the clever young count and kept telling himself it couldn’t be true. Back when he investigated the peasant revolt in the county, he had not suspected the young Briznay in the slightest. But since every possibility had to be considered, Marquis Argen decided to follow Larael’s lead.

“Today, the special envoy led by Grand Duke Vellaus, who went to the Kingdom of Hashiya, is said to be returning.”

“Yes, I heard that as well. Because of that, the noble council will convene again tomorrow. A session for their report, or so I hear. If only we could bring the recording stone there… it would make quite the spectacle. What a pity.”

Marquis Argen slowly nodded with a bitter expression.

“Your Highness, there is something I wish to say.”

“Yes.”

Larael gave a slight nod and looked at Marquis Argen with calm eyes.

“To be honest, I always thought of Your Highness as nothing more, and nothing less, than Her Highness the Empress Consort.”

“Well… that’s true, isn’t it?”

Larael asked with a puzzled look. Considering how he had hesitated as if preparing to reveal something momentous, the words that came out were surprisingly ordinary.

“But after His Majesty fell into this condition, and after serving by your side through this series of events, I’ve come to believe that Your Highness is truly a person befitting the position of Empress.”

Larael silently looked at Marquis Argen. Soon she averted her eyes and lowered her head.

“Such words are best left unsaid for now.”

“Your Highness, I mean it sincerely. I intend to—”

“Marquis Argen, please report to me immediately when new information comes in.”

Larael rose from her seat across from him and walked toward Edward’s bed. It was not because she wished to be seen by others as such that she was running herself ragged. At this moment, such words only felt like a burden.

Her words were little different from dismissing him. Marquis Argen bowed to Larael and left the chamber.

Larael pressed her lips to Edward’s pale ones, then sat by his side and gently stroked his hair. His wounds had nearly healed thanks to the steady treatment of the high priests, and yet he still had not regained consciousness. Clutching her chest, Larael let out a long sigh.

****

Larael did not attend the noble council where the special envoy to the Kingdom of Hashiya was scheduled to present their report. No matter how much she tried to appear composed—practicing her expressions before the mirror—she felt she would not be able to control her emotions.

Instead of going to the council, Larael returned to Abella Palace to wait for Dean and Kali. They had sent word early that morning that they would come to the imperial palace. Larael arrived at Abella Palace slightly ahead of the appointed time, took a light bath, changed into a dress, and sat down on the sofa to rest.

At the sound of knocking, Dean and Kali entered. As they stepped into the bedchamber, Larael’s maids filed out as though it were expected. Dean and Kali greeted Larael and sat across from her.

“Your Highness, has Joy not returned yet?”

When Kali asked, Larael nodded.

“No, not yet… What was the reason you wished to come to Abella Palace today? Have you found some lead?”

At her words, Kali immediately pulled documents from her bag and placed them before Larael.

“The core of it all was the Raico Allied Trading Company.”

Dean flipped through the documents and pointed to a section with his finger.

“The Raico Allied Trading Company?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In the Hallaren region, aside from the portion of harvests owed as tax, the rest is usually sold to other regions through the Hallaren Allied Trading Company. However, for the past three years, Count Briznay’s territory has been selling its harvests not through the Hallaren alliance, but through an organization called the Raico Allied Trading Company.”

So far, there was nothing unusual. Typically, regions formed allied companies for trade, but there were plenty of territories that, finding it unprofitable, established their own companies instead.

“Yet this Raico Allied Trading Company, while it appears on the surface to be a simple firm monopolizing and distributing grain from Count Briznay’s lands, actually has dozens of phantom companies under its umbrella.”

“That is certainly suspicious. I’ve seen major companies operate phantom companies for their own purposes, but a small firm serving only a single county like Briznay’s? Clearly, it’s to make tracing the funds more difficult.”

“Yes, that is usually the case.”

Kali quickly added.

“When the revolt broke out in Count Briznay’s lands, we focused too much on its immediate causes and overlooked this.”

“It must have been difficult to uncover. Even we only identified the existence of these phantom companies through our informants—through Four Seasons. And even then, I heard it was extremely difficult, given how thoroughly concealed they were.”

“Who would have thought a minor company like this could have dozens of phantom firms under it?”

Kali added.

“And most importantly, it comes down to the true nature of this company.”

“Could it be… exactly what we think?”

Larael asked, her voice trembling. A look of certainty lit Dean’s face. From the tips of her toes, a shudder surged through Larael, and goosebumps broke out across her body.

“They were trafficking slaves from the southern regions.”

Dean said this and then looked toward Kali. Kali unfolded the documents resting on her lap and spread them out before Larael.

“And there are indications that the payments from these transactions were funneled to House Anderman through the phantom companies.”

Larael carefully examined the documents that had been laid out before her. What they needed was not evidence of funds flowing to Anderman’s vassals or confidants, but proof that they had gone directly to House Anderman itself. Conveniently, one of the transaction ledgers from a phantom company contained a record of dealings with Duke Anderman. Although the specific goods were not listed, the mere fact that Duke Anderman’s name appeared there so clearly sent a shudder down her spine.

“How did you obtain this?”

“I… paid a heavy price to Four Seasons in exchange for it.”

At Dean’s words, Larael nodded and resumed scanning the papers. After poring over them for some time, she finally lifted her head and looked at Kali and Dean with trembling eyes. Her lashes quivered faintly. Struggling to suppress the surge of emotion, she spoke to them in a voice tight with strain.

“If Joy manages to find something more definitive in Count Briznay’s estate, then there will be no escape. Truly… you’ve done well.”

“N-no, we—”

Dean lowered his gaze as he spoke, but at that very moment came a sharp knock, and Sasha entered the chamber.

“Your Highness, forgive me, but—”

“Sasha! What is it?”

Larael’s eyes widened at Sasha’s uncharacteristic behavior. Her maids would never dare enter while she had guests unless given permission. For Sasha to break that rule meant the matter was urgent.

“Your Highness, Grand Duke Vellaus is on his way here.”

Sasha’s voice was tense.

At those words, Larael shot to her feet, hastily gathering the documents before her and stuffing them into the desk drawer. She moved so quickly that Kali and Dean could only stare, stunned.

“Does the Grand Duke often come barging into Your Highness’s palace like this?”

Dean frowned as he asked, but Larael gave no reply. Instead, she instructed Sir Berser to come into the bedchamber and ordered Lillian to fetch Sir Handelson from his training.

Only after setting these urgent measures in motion did she return to the sofa where Kali and Dean were seated. With a composed air, as though nothing had happened, she sat with poise.

No sooner had she settled than Herwen threw open the bedchamber doors without even knocking.

“Larael!!”

His cheeks were flushed, his breath ragged as he strode toward her with heavy steps.

“Your Grace, stop!”

Larael cried sharply, but Herwen seemed not to hear. The moment he entered the chamber, Dean rose and stepped between him and Larael, blocking his path. He glared at Herwen with fierce eyes.

“Count… Winters?”

Herwen, seeing his face, tilted his head and muttered slowly as if his thoughts had frozen. Then his expression darkened, the focus returning to his eyes with a snap. Looking between Larael and Dean, he quickly worked his mind to piece together the situation.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“And what do you think you are doing, Your Grace? Such conduct is outrageous!”

Dean’s voice was cold as he rebuked Herwen.

“No… Is this what it is? With my brother lying there, you’ve already taken another man into your chambers?”