The Only Way to Break the Curse is Through Contact with You - Chapter 34
“The emperor won’t allow it because it will cost a lot of money.”
“You have a lot of money.”
Why are you being so petty? Apart from the diamond mine, I know you’re raising money through trade.
“Of course, the Duke should bear the financial burden.”
Even if the cost of establishing a railway line is huge, it would only be like taking a handful of sand from the desert for the Wheaton, who control the underground economy of the Empire.
“It’s the territory that the Duke governs. Shouldn’t you do that much while regularly collecting taxes? Even though you have a lot of money?”
Without realizing it, I had taken on the role of a commoner in my past life and quickly corrected myself when I saw Diart’s eyebrows shoot up.
“When the railway is connected, the people of the territories will have a wider range of income opportunities in the long run. More tourists will come, and trade will become more active with the possibility of transporting cargo by train. And just having the right to operate the train would be quite profitable for the Duke, wouldn’t it?”
It would be useful in many ways.
After hearing all of that, Diart leaned his elbow on the window and rested his chin on his hand. Even though his gaze looked somewhat dissatisfied, as if he didn’t like what he was hearing, his expression wasn’t bad. On the contrary, he was showing more interest in what I was saying than I expected.
Diart may be a bit of an asshole, an opinionated individual who doesn’t listen to others, a warmonger, and an obsessive psycho, but he’s basically a competent man.
You could tell just by looking at the fact that most of his day is spent in his office, other than the training ground.
“After connecting to the capital, it would be better to slowly expand the rail line to other areas.”
“Then won’t the scarcity value of mutroi decrease and its value drop?”
“That’s why I’m also suggesting restricting the cultivation and sale rights of mutroi grass.”
I presented a solution as if I had been waiting for it. As a businessman, he must have known how to deal with this kind of thing.
“Give priority to the poor who have low income.”
“Not bad. How did you come up with that idea?”
“Well, in the world I used to live in… “
“The world I used to live in?”
I almost stuttered. I gritted my teeth and smiled brightly.
“The book I read.”
“Didn’t you just say the world you used to live in?”
“The book is called ⟨In the World You Used to Live In⟩.”
Diart glanced at me with a suspicious expression. I couldn’t tell if his suspicious gaze was because I quickly changed the subject or because of the part where I said I had read a book.
I subtly avoided his penetrating gaze and continued speaking.
“I didn’t know, but the welfare for the poor is worse than I thought. It would be nice to have systems that support their self-sufficiency. Like sponsoring free education, providing economic support to those who have lost their spouses and are raising children alone.”
I recalled Remida, struggling to walk through the forest path with a heavy load of mutroi. I hoped she could raise her child in a more stable environment without difficulties.
‘Ah, speaking of which, she’s going to give birth soon.’
I imagined a lively child resembling her and didn’t realize that Diart was silently watching me.
“We have arrived at the palace.”
What? Already?
The image of a grinning child disappeared, replaced with me being dragged out of the ballroom filled my mind.
This is not the time for me to worry about this! My nose is itching, my nose!
“Get off.”
While inwardly protesting, I froze when I saw the hand extended in front of me.
“Am I seeing things? Is this Diart’s hand? Not Milto’s?”
With a bewildered expression, I repeatedly confirmed the owner of the hand. His expression seemed to say, ‘What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to hold it?’
“Aren’t you getting off?”
No, what’s going on with this guy?
Although it was regrettable that he was wearing gloves, it was important that he allowed me to hold his hand. Considering his impenetrable fortress-like demeanor, it was truly a tearful moment. I had tried so hard to hold his hand in a way that wouldn’t disturb his psyche.
I cautiously placed my hand on top of his palm, as if cautiously picking up a fork to eat a carefully prepared cake for the first time. Although the gloves prevented any sensation from flowing in, it was enough to feel his warmth.
Seeing that your hand is warm, you are indeed human. Impressed by this, I secretly wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of my eyes and followed him as he walked confidently.
In spite of all these… The Crown Prince and all that nonsense… Today seems to be a good day for some reason.
“Introducing the valiant guardian of the nation, Duke Diart Wheaton, and his beautiful wife, Lady Roeni Wheaton!”
This is so cringe-worthy.
Although I used this greeting when I met Leticia, actually hearing it was a different story. It was even more embarrassing with everyone’s eyes focused on us inside the ballroom.
If I feel this way, Diart’s face after being called by such an embarrassing title would be even more outrageous, right?
I glanced up at him. Surprisingly, Diart had an expression that was completely unaffected. At least he didn’t seem to be frowning, maybe it was because he was also a noble? Or maybe it was because this was a world where magic existed and everyone had high resistance?
“Duke Wheaton!”
A man who was talking with the nobles on one side approached us. Just like Prince Jarvis and Princess Leticia, he had blond hair shining like honey and blue eyes, and anyone could see that he was the emperor.
“I greet the one and only sun of the Empire.”
I thought he couldn’t say even the slightest bit of nonsense, but I was surprised that Diart was so good at it, and I followed suit.
“Do we really need to be so formal between us?”
Diart’s gaze seemed to say, ‘You’re not just anyone.’ but the emperor laughed heartily, either pretending not to know or pretending not to notice. I looked pitifully at the emperor, who clearly thought of him as his only friend.
“I haven’t seen you in a while in a place like this. Show your face more often. Ah, the Duchess is also here after such a long time.”
The emperor turned his gaze toward me. His eyebrows were so furrowed with a good-natured smile that he looked like…
‘He looks like the butcher who lived next door to us?’
I became very curious about how such a friendly and familiar appearance could produce beauty like Leticia or Jarvis. Was the empress a great beauty?
Forgetting my manners, I stared blankly at the emperor, who narrowed his eyes in disbelief and shook his head.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. My apologies.”
“Hmm… perhaps it’s because of the formal attire. It seems like the Duchess looks a bit different…”
The Emperor, who was stroking his chin with one hand, suddenly pointed at me with his index finger as if shooting a gun and squinted one eye.
“You’ve become even more beautiful!”
“….”
So Jarvis is your biological son.
“……I’m flattered.”
Thinking of the saying ‘you reap what you sow,’ I quickly scanned the hall to see if Crown Prince Jarvis was inside.
Judging by the fact that my attendance had been loudly announced and nothing happened, I figured he was either not there yet or he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to me, but it must have been the former.
I breathed a sigh of relief and apologized before leaving the emperor and Diart. Stares followed me as I moved alone. They were completely opposite to the looks of gratitude and admiration I received when I was with Diart.
But with my HP on the verge of depletion, I didn’t want to waste my strength on unnecessary things and headed to a corner of the hall.
As I sat down on the chair, Milto followed me and asked with concern,
“Are you still not feeling well?”
“I’ll be fine if I rest a bit.”
“I’ll bring you some warm tea.”
How can you get tea in a champagne and wine party? If you really care about me, hold my hand once. I reached out my hand slightly.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Milto rushed off like a person on a mission to get warm tea. I looked at his disappearing back and silently shouted in my mind.
‘What I need right now is not warm tea, it’s your hand. You have to dance with me!’
If the dance started while Milto was away, it would be a disaster. Who would be here to dance with the notorious lunatic Roeni…?
“Look who it is.”
A chilling voice came from behind me. Startled, I turned my head quickly, trying to stifle a scream with my hand.
“It’s the woman who dared to reject the Crown Prince.”
Crown Prince Jarvis smiled broadly with crescent-shaped eyes.