Chapter 1 – The Pauper Noble Hailey

Most nobles are wealthy. Especially in the Mart Republic, this premise is even more absolute due to the nation’s history of survival.

The Mart Republic was built by driving hundreds, thousands of stakes into tidal flats above the sea. Naturally, they could not farm, and hunger was a constant companion. They fished to survive today, but that alone could not guarantee tomorrow. The pioneers of Mart looked to the open sea for a better future, launching ships onto the turbulent waves that threatened their survival.

Mart, the maritime trading nation that commands the Wibad Sea, took its first step toward the golden path.

As victors in the gamble for survival, the nobles of Mart were naturally masters of trade and investment, some great houses possessing wealth rivaling entire countries. Though they had no fiefs, they had gold and riches to match. It was said that what they passed down to their heirs was not titles, but a sense for money and talent as merchants.

For a noble of the Mart Republic to be ‘poor’ was nearly impossible.

Yet now, Hailey Perlo, who had earned the shameful title of the Republic’s first ‘pauper noble’ in its 300-year history, was trembling as she held a letter from Panama Academy.

“No way!”

Though it was written at length, in short, it was a notice of dismissal. The reason: it was burdensome to keep her employed because she was a noble of the Mart Republic.

Hailey tore her eyes from the letter and looked up.

Before her was a mismatched wooden chair, a creaky bed, and thick curtains that made it feel like winter even in summer. Though it was said to be a mansion near the grand canal favored by servants and maids, not a single servant was present.

She rubbed her stinging eyes with the back of her hand. But only briefly, for she soon stood up. For the desperate, even time to despair was a luxury.

* * *

The grand canal running through the city shimmered gently under the blue waves. The air was stickier than usual, thanks to the humidity blown in from the sea. Hailey fanned herself as she hurried along.

She arrived at ‘Star of Arahi’, a restaurant on San Sieta Square. Recently, its popularity seemed to be soaring, and today was no exception—it was full. As Hailey approached the bar, a middle-aged man greeted her warmly, busily polishing wine glasses with a white linen cloth.

“You’re here? Shall I prepare your usual today?”

“No, something cheaper… I’ll have the tomato stew and black bread. Can I put it on my tab?”

“Of course.”

“…I’ll pay soon.”

The man smiled and disappeared into the kitchen, and Hailey leaned against the bar.

Her gaze naturally turned toward the square. Flags welcoming the return of the regular merchant fleet fluttered in the blue sky. The red satin with a golden lion and silver serpent was the Mart Republic’s, and the green satin with a large tree was the Port family’s, a noble house of the Republic. Seeing the flags, Hailey felt uneasy. She remembered when the Perlo family’s flag fluttered above, just like the Port family’s now.

The Perlo family had once been as prestigious as the Port family, entrusted with the Republic’s regular merchant fleet. That such a house could fall in just two years! No matter how unlucky, it was strange.

She wanted to uncover the truth behind the Perlo family’s downfall. Of course, such things required a price—and that price was usually money. Lots of money.

With resolve, Hailey clenched her fist. Inside her coat was a resume detailing all her personal information. She planned to eat breakfast here and then knock on the doors of any noble house. Surely, even with some awkward conditions, a navigator could find work in Mart.

…Probably.

As if mocking her determination, a clattering sound came from one side of the square.

A broken wine glass rolled at the feet of a man sitting alone. Clicking her tongue, Hailey glanced inside the busy restaurant, but the staff seemed too occupied to notice the tables outside. Annoyingly, she spotted the wine glass the owner had just polished and set out. Hailey picked up the glass and approached the man’s table, nudging the broken glass aside with her foot and placing the new glass on the table. Feeling awkward, she added as an excuse,

“I’m not a staff member here, just a regular customer. The place is busy today, so the staff must be occupied. This glass is clean, so please use it…”

As she looked up, her eyes met the man’s, and she froze.

The man with jet-black hair was strikingly handsome, enough to hold anyone’s gaze. The sharp eyes, straight nose, and graceful jawline were aesthetically flawless.

It was as if the Creator had finished pondering what a beautiful man should look like, and settled on this face. The only thing out of place was the glasses he wore—the gray lenses seemed to obscure his impression a bit. Hailey thought that if he took off those odd glasses, his already impressive looks would shine even more.

“Thank you.”

The man replied in a flat voice, lowering his eyes. Hailey, who had been staring at his face, hurriedly looked away, and at that moment, she noticed what he was holding. It was definitely a navigator’s route chart.

This might be a chance sent by the heavens. Quickly gathering her thoughts, Hailey spoke up.

“Are you looking at the Abiteran route passing through Ilrid?”

“…Yes, I am.”

“It’s dangerous.”

At Hailey’s words, the man looked up from his papers. His eyes, visible through the lenses, were a clear green.

“If you don’t mind, may I take a look?”

The man readily handed over the papers. Hailey smoothly pulled up the chair beside him and sat down.

“This part is dangerous. If you go this way, it’s safer and faster…”

Trailing off, Hailey cleared her throat and, interlacing her fingers on the table, put on the most confident face she could muster.

“What I mean is, if you hire me as your navigator, I can give you even better and safer routes than this.”

The man listened to her words and blinked. Then, with a deflated sound, he laughed.

“What’s this new trick?”

“I’m an as-yet-unemployed, fresh navigator. I studied abroad at Panama Academy, and as you can see, I’m especially skilled at route analysis.”

As he poured wine into an empty glass, the man nodded with a neutral expression.

“Graduated from the Academy and confident enough to say you’re a skilled navigator, yet here you are, asking a complete stranger for a job?”

“Well… I have a bit of a unique situation.”

“What’s so unique? Are you a pirate or something? Did you plunder a Mart merchant ship and end up wanted?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what? If you haven’t robbed a merchant ship and you’re not a pirate, there’s no reason a navigator should be struggling to find work.”

“You’re getting a bit informal.”

“Neither of us are really in a position to worry about formality, are we? We look about the same age.”

The man lifted just one corner of his mouth in a smile. Strangely, his arrogant grin and naturally casual manner suited him well. Hailey awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck.

“What’s your name?”

“What do you need that for?”

“It’s just, calling you ‘excuse me’ is a hassle. And if we get closer, I’d have to change it to ‘hey you,’ which is even more trouble.”

The man gave a short laugh, his shoulders shaking for a moment before his cool eyes softened.

“Call me Rick.”

“Judging by the way you say that, it’s not your real name, is it?”

“Sharp. And you?”

“Hailey.”

“Now that introductions are out of the way, let’s hear what this great reason is. Only then will I consider recommending you or not.”

Hailey glanced around, covered her mouth with the back of her hand, and leaned forward. Rick, quick on the uptake, leaned in as well. Hailey whispered cautiously.

“The truth is, I’m a noble.”

She thought Rick might at least be a little surprised, maybe even stand up in shock. But Rick remained completely calm.

“That’s it? Just because of that?”

“Yes. What Mart noble would work under someone else? I guarantee, no one’s ever asked to be hired, and no one’s ever actually been hired.”

“Even nobles who aren’t the heir often work under the head of the family.”

“That’s only within their own family.”

“Same difference.”

Rick tilted his wine glass to his lips. The purple wine swirling at the bottom slipped between his elegant lips.

“So you want me to recommend you to the family I work for? Because it’s a tricky hire for an employer?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Impressive. Both your skill and your nerve.”

“My nerve…?”