Chapter 7 – Progress (Part 7)

At the Haas Trading Company’s office, Ronan was contemplating the implications of the information he had received about Marquis Orga’s movements, which had come from the southern regions.

The places Orga had visited were streets known for producing high-end alchemical products. All the major workshops on that street were trading partners of the Haas Trading Company.

“Is he trying to establish new trades? But it doesn’t particularly benefit Orga. He might have something that could secure exclusive deals. Any news on the southern Kingdom’s royal family?”

“So far, aside from the second prince having a new lover, there are no significant changes or issues in the southern Kingdom’s political landscape. Their amicable relationship with our Kingdom remains unchanged.”

Ronan tapped his fingers on the desk as he pondered.

‘On the surface, it doesn’t seem like the Marquis is doing anything significant. However, he’s definitely up to something. If it’s related to that matter, it’s not something the trading company can handle alone.’

Ronan stood up from his seat.

“I need to go home and change clothes.”

His secretary looked at him in surprise, prompting Ronan to explain.

“I really didn’t want to do this, but I have no choice. Submit an urgent audience request to the royal family. Mention that it’s related to the supply of alchemical materials for the highest-level academy, not a regular delivery matter. That should make it easier. I’ll head home to prepare and leave immediately.”

Hearing this, the secretary ran out of the office to summon a messenger.

***

Cassius was in the mansion’s office, staring at a private noble gathering invitation sent by Earl Kumaran, lost in thought. He intended to report to King Clois after attending the noble gathering, but the recent information Aaron had obtained was troubling him. It was the fact that Marquis Orga had visited the southern Kingdom for leisure.

Brunchia had been importing magical minerals from the southern Kingdom for alchemical purposes and, in return, exporting high-quality grains to the southern Kingdom, where the land was barren and farming was challenging.

This exchange had seen a dramatic increase when a daughter from a collateral branch of the southern royal family came to Brunchia and married the late king, becoming the late queen. Since then, the two countries had become practically allied.

Building on the abundant materials and workshop products from the southern Kingdom during the previous reign, Brunchia had accelerated its research, leading to the current status of the Royal Academy of Advanced Studies.

However, while Brunchia appeared peaceful on the surface, there was a tension akin to walking on thin ice.

Due to the sudden death of the previous king, Clois, who had unexpectedly ascended to the throne, had to work hard to compensate for his lack of experience as a king.

After barely stabilizing the political situation, the untimely death of the first Minister of Administration, Duke Aisar, led to Cassius, who was even younger and less connected than King Clois, inheriting the position.

Neither lacked ability, but they couldn’t surpass the older, more experienced high-ranking ministers overnight. This created gaps for aristocratic supremacists to exploit, and both King Clois and Cassius remained vigilant against this.

In such a situation, Marquis Orga’s trip to the southern Kingdom was a cause for great concern.

An immediate audience with the king was necessary. Cassius hurriedly left the office to find Aaron.

***

At the training grounds, Aaron and several knights were showcasing swordplay that was almost like an art form. They caught swords tossed into the air, juggled three swords, and performed swordplay akin to a dance.

Even Elysia, who usually wasn’t interested in watching the training grounds, clapped and enjoyed the knights’ tricks. Millie applauded until her hands turned red, as if she were watching an extraordinary theater performance.

The knights and Aaron, who usually only engaged in mundane sparring, were excited to have an audience for the first time in a while and showed off various skills.

“When did the training grounds become a rehearsal space for a circus troupe?”

However, the Duke’s icy words suddenly froze everyone, including the knights. Elysia, turning around in surprise, approached Cassius and greeted him, then tried to explain.

“I was bored while walking and ended up here. I asked them to show me something fun, so please don’t scold them too harshly.”

“I don’t know how it was at the Serenze family, but this place wasn’t made for playing with swords for fun. I’d appreciate it if you take your walks elsewhere and don’t disrupt the knights’ training.”

At Cassius’s mention of the Serenze family, Elysia replied coldly.

“Thank you for reminding me of my family’s shortcomings. I will make sure not to come here again.”

With that, Elysia turned sharply, her skirt fluttering, and headed toward the mansion’s entrance. Cassius realized he had gone too far the moment he spoke his last words, but the situation had already unfolded.

After hearing Elysia’s inner voice crying out to return home when she met her family, Cassius had been avoiding facing Elysia properly, fearing he might inadvertently probe her true feelings. This unexpected encounter and his nervousness led to his slip of the tongue.

There was another reason for his excessively harsh words. Elysia had shown a genuinely bright expression in front of the knights, one she had never shown in front of him. For some reason, seeing that scene made him momentarily very upset.

Realizing he had misspoken, Cassius couldn’t follow Elysia with the knights watching, and he urgently needed to head to the palace due to the information about Marquis Orga. With a darkened expression, Cassius ordered Aaron.

“Aaron, prepare yourself. I have something urgent to report to His Majesty, and we’ll be leaving for the palace immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

Aaron was worried about the Madam, but he had no choice but to respond to the Duke’s command and ran into the mansion. The Duke, casting another cold glance at the knights, left the training grounds.

***

Aaron didn’t know whether to curse his birth into the Haas family or his decision to become the Duke’s secretary. He was waiting with the Duke in the antechamber for an audience with the king when, of all people, his brother Ronan appeared.

Fortunately, Ronan, unlike his usual disheveled appearance, was dressed in a sharply tailored suit with his hair neatly combed back, displaying proper manners. However, from the moment Ronan and the Duke locked eyes, a sharp tension seemed to arise between them, as if they had already begun a battle of nerves.

“Duke, are you aware that I have dealings with the Serenze family?”

“I am already aware that Tobias von Serenze, the head of the family, acts as an intermediary between the Haas Trading Company and the nobility.”

“Still, you probably don’t know the Serenze family’s customs as well as I do. After all, you’ve never stayed long at the Serenze residence.”

Ronan gave Cassius a bright smile, as if he meant nothing by it. On the surface, Cassius showed no change in expression, but Aaron felt as if the air in the room had grown colder.

Aaron couldn’t understand why his brother always seemed to deliberately provoke the Duke whenever they met.

“Sometimes when I visit the Serenze residence for business, I receive hospitality there. The atmosphere exuded by that house is so warm and free that it seems like a place where anyone’s heart could find peace. Perhaps because Miss Elysia grew up in such an environment, she has a similar disposition?”

“Ronan Hass, I would appreciate it if you would be clear about what you want to say.”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. I was just wondering how a young lady raised in such a household would feel entering a strict, solemn, and serious family where she knows no one overnight.”

Aaron thought he would love to sew his brother’s mouth shut and shot a fiery glare from behind the Duke, signaling him to stop. However, Ronan continued to smile brightly, though to the Duke, it likely appeared provocative.

Worried about how angry the Duke might be, Aaron glanced at his face. To his surprise, Cassius wore a sarcastic expression that Aaron had never seen before in all the time he had served him.

“If the head of the Haas Trading Company is so concerned with other families’ affairs, he must have plenty of free time. A young lady raised in such a harmonious environment would probably think it better to enter a solemn family than one where the head changes women without principle.”

Aaron was so startled that he dropped the pen he was holding. The Duke, who typically only refuted attacks from senior nobles with facts, was engaging in verbal sparring for the first time.

Ronan’s smile faltered for a moment in response to the Duke’s unexpected counterattack. Just as the tension between them seemed about to escalate into a physical confrontation, the door to the audience chamber opened, and permission to enter was granted from inside.

“Duke Cassius de Grendel, His Majesty will see you now.”

The Duke gave Ronan a sharp look before rising from his seat.

“Ronan Hass, head of the Haas Trading Company, His Majesty grants you an audience.”

With that, Ronan also stood up, wearing a triumphant expression. However, both the Duke and Ronan Hass looked at the king’s secretary. They were puzzled as to why they were being admitted together.

“His Majesty wishes to discuss matters with both of you. Please come in together.”

Though puzzled, they had no choice. The Duke, Ronan, and Aaron entered the audience chamber.