“I know. I thought you would bring that up from the moment you said you were coming. It’s true that we recently discussed joint mining rights for Braxa during a private audience with His Majesty.”
At the Empress’s words, Akitez cleared his throat with a “aheam,” making no attempt to hide his displeasure.
Braxa was an imperial-owned iron mine that supported the Empire’s largest steel industry and was the primary business that helped Hikkerman expand his influence and firmly establish his position.
Although mining rights were periodically auctioned off to nobles for operation, they had been consecutively awarded to Hikkerman so many times that it was virtually a monopoly.
But now, as that time came around again, the Emperor had mentioned joint mining rights for the first time.
Akitez already knew who this was intended to benefit.
It was likely meant to strengthen the Romdie Marquis family, who had recently arranged an engagement ahead of Prince Ryan’s investiture as Crown Prince.
Akitez couldn’t help feeling displeased since he had been making contributions all this time to maintain his monopoly on the operating rights.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already thought of a suitable position for Avidera Romdie, so you’ll be awarded the mining rights without any issues this time as well.”
“You’ve relieved my concerns, Your Majesty.”
Both the Empress and Akitez smiled so brightly that wrinkles formed, but Lexiard’s face remained stiff.
*** 
“Grandfather.”
Lexiard called out as he was about to leave again after returning to the mansion.
Having kept his promise, he was now free to go.
Even though something unpleasant had occurred.
“What is it?”
Akitez glanced at him while removing his coat.
Seemingly pleased that Lexiard hadn’t caused any trouble, Akitez’s face looked refreshed.
“Leave my uncle alone.”
“…Are you going there again? Then go and tell him.”
“……”
“Tell him to bring the necklace if he wants to protect that pathetic guild.”
“Uncle won’t listen to me.”
“He will bring it.”
With those words spoken with a smile, Lexiard gritted his teeth and stormed out.
His footsteps down the corridor were heavy with anger.
Though his grandfather had acted like a loving father in front of the Empress, Lexiard, who knew the whole truth, found him nothing but disgusting.
Hikkerman’s two sons.
Far from being affectionate, his grandfather disliked Lexiard’s father just as much as his uncle.
Even though many of those days were from when Lexiard was much younger and his memories were unclear, he could still feel it.
It was because his father’s weak and soft nature made him unsuitable to be Hikkerman’s successor.
Neither Katiron, who was born as the legitimate heir but was inadequate, nor Eclise, who was born with talent but from a Cortizan, met his standards.
In the end, whether it was what his grandfather wanted or not, he had practically lost both of them, but Lexiard hated how his grandfather only treated his uncle as a son when it was convenient, after not even considering him a family member before.
At times like this…
He wondered if inheriting the Hikkerman name was really the right path.
He was also confused about whether repaying his uncle, who had saved hi,m was the right thing to do.
The news might reach his uncle’s ears even before he arrived, but he couldn’t let himself be manipulated.
‘I should hurry first.’
With each step driven by that thought, Lexiard’s expression gradually softened.
It was such a dramatic change that even the servants who usually whispered about how scary and creepy his completely emotionless expression was were surprised as they passed by.
*** 
First, let’s tie them down.
“Hello, mister.”
Rodi approached with tiny steps and blocked the path of the two men.
The two young men who had been hurriedly moving the boxes stopped.
The moment they saw Rodi, the fierce-looking young man with dark greenish-black short hair on the right, involuntarily broke into a grin.
Then, startled by his own reaction, he shook his head and composed himself.
“Hello- Huh? But who are you? Why is there a child here?”
“Who are you?”
This time, the skinny young man with short auburn hair beside him asked.
Instead of answering, Rodi said something else.
“Excuse me, mister. I said you were handsome, but he says this mister is handsome. Whose opinion is correct?”
“W-what?”
“Huh? You’re asking who’s more handsome?”
They exchanged bewildered glances.
“Sorry, but could you move aside? We’re kind of busy.”
Rodi looked surprised but didn’t budge.
Instead, she moved closer with big kitten eyes like when she used to beg.
Then she rummaged through her pocket earnestly and pulled something out.
It was the candy that Horas had given her to feed to bad guys.
She hadn’t expected to use it today.
Rodi held one candy in each hand and smiled broadly.
“I’ll give you these if you tell me, handsome misters!”
At those words, a mushy smile spread across the short-haired man’s face.
Seemingly forgetting that they needed to move quickly, he stopped completely and shrugged.
“R-really? Hey, she’ll move if we just answer this. I’m the more handsome one. You’re completely right.”
As he answered quickly, trying to hide his fierce aura, the skinny man beside him frowned.
“I’ll answer you, but why are you saying you’re more handsome? If we’re going to tell the truth, I’m the more handsome one, little one. It’s obvious just by looking. Okay?”
“But I have to choose just one…”
Rodi made a troubled expression with a “Hmm,” then sighed heavily as if she had no choice.
“Then both of you can be handsome misters! These are gifts for you!”
Rodi extended both hands.
“Oh, thanks.”
“Yeah, me too.”
As they received the candies in bewilderment and were about to put them in their pockets, Rodi stopped them again.
“Those are really delicious! You should eat them right away!”
“Now?”
“Ha, we’re dying of busyness here.”
“They melt super quickly… Right!”
Rodi, who had been looking at them with big eyes, suddenly turned around and asked the boy who had been standing blankly behind her all this time, startling him.
“Yes, that’s right!”
“I won’t bother you anymore if you just eat these!”
When she pleaded earnestly with her tiny hands clasped together, the two men looked at Rodi and smirked.
Any lingering suspicion vanished as this doll-like child, who barely reached their waists, called them handsome and begged so earnestly.
“Alright, alright.”
“Then this handsome uncle will eat it~”
His speech was becoming increasingly childish.
“Yes!”
As she smiled brightly again, the two men grinned back and unwrapped the candies, putting them in their mouths.
“It’s more delicious if you bite it!”
“Pfft, got it. You’re really cute.”
With a crunch, the sound of candy breaking came from the skinny man’s mouth, followed by the same sound from the short-haired man.
“It’s fruit-flavored? It’s really delicious!”
“We’re really busy now, so could you move aside?”
I should keep them here a bit longer.
But if she detained them any further, they might get angry.
Having been scolded while begging before, Rodi knew exactly where that line was.
They smile and call you cute at first, but if you persist too much, they get annoyed and angry.
Horas had hinted that the effect would appear immediately after eating, so she decided to trust that.
“Okay! Goodbye, handsome uncles!”
Rodi politely stepped aside while saying something she didn’t mean, and the two men suddenly quickened their pace.
“Oh, goodbye. Thanks for the candy.”
“Handsome uncle is leaving. Bye-.”
“Yes, wonderful uncles-!”
1 second.
2 seconds.
3 seconds…
How long was that short time Horas had mentioned?
After counting to 5 with no reaction, Rodi watched their backs and took a deep breath.
By now, several minutes had passed while they were talking, so it should be fine to call Ekision.
“Ekisi…!”
“Ah…”
Crash!
Suddenly, a box fell to the floor.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Why does my stomach hurt all of a sudden? Ah, wait.”
The short-haired man stopped in his tracks and suddenly clutched his stomach.
“Ah, it’s urgent! Quickly, um… huh?”
Then the skinny man beside him suddenly dropped his box and clutched his stomach in the same way, hunching over.
Crash! The remaining box tumbled to the floor, and documents with black covers scattered with a flutter.
“Wait, bathroom, bathroom!”
“Hey, me first! Take this and go ahead. I’m more urgent!”
Rodi, who was about to call Ekision, turned around in surprise.
‘It must be working!’
Whatever it was!
The two men were suddenly crawling on the floor, clutching their stomachs.
They were desperately looking for a bathroom with visible cold sweat streaming down their faces.
“Wow… It really works well.”
I should ask Horas for more later!
Seeing that they were in no condition to escape, Rodi reached out to the boy this time.
“I’ll help you get out of here.”
“What?”
The boy, who had been used without understanding what Rodi was doing all along, was startled.
“I’ll help you leave without getting scolded. If you keep those men from escaping. If you fail, I’ll make sure you get punished twice as much, so make sure to hold them!”
Then she ran without hesitation to the room where Ekision had entered.
From behind, she heard him shouting, “Hey! Hey! You’re serious, right! You’re not lying, right!”
“Ekision!”
Rodi ran and flung the door open.
“Heup.”
Then, seeing the scene before her, she gasped.