Chapter 92

“Fifty thousand gold…? Wait, are you sure you calculated correctly? It’s just started, but if it’s like this now, then going forward…”

“Yes, Your Grace. If this trend continues, the profits will keep increasing like this.”

Fabian looked at the formulas he had calculated and wrote even more numbers on a blank sheet.

Fifty thousand. Seventy thousand. One hundred ten thousand. One hundred fifty thousand…

Lionel stared at the growing numbers and quickly reached an answer.

“At this rate, won’t all the debts be paid off within the year? No need to wait until next year.”

Fabian nodded enthusiastically and smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right. As long as things keep going smoothly, there should be no problem.”

‘Smoothly.’ It was a pleasant word, but Lionel found the optimism oddly unsettling.

‘The start is good. But there’s no guarantee everything will keep going well.’

He turned away from the rosy outlook and faced reality with a cool head.

The reason the business turned a profit in the very first month was because the tin tubes and the two types of paint were so innovative.

‘But the tin tube was only hard to come up with; once you know how, it’s not hard to make. There are plenty of nobles with tin mines in the Empire. So others will quickly copy this.’

In the long run, only Marina Blue and Clarette, the two colors, could be expected to carry the business.

‘But even the colors aren’t completely safe. Someone could make something similar, or the trend could fade, or someone could invent an even better color.’

In other words, it was too early to let his guard down. Lionel gazed at the numbers on the paper, deep in thought.

For now, by July, he could reduce the remaining debt to seven hundred thousand gold…

“I guess paint alone won’t solve everything. Paying off debts is one thing, but I can’t rely on this business forever. I’ll need another source of income.”

Fabian stared at the duke, surprised by his drive to find new ideas.

‘What a force of will. Honestly, when he talked about tin tubes and paint, I wondered if it would ever make money… Yet His Grace succeeded brilliantly and doesn’t even toast his victory.’

From Fabian’s experience dealing with many nobles, this business’s success was entirely due to Duke Valentin’s personal ability.

‘He checks everything himself from the ground up, and attracts the right talent perfectly. Quick decisions, but always cool judgment.’

Perhaps the Rosenta Empire’s army had lost a truly excellent captain. Fabian remembered the disappointing management skills of the previous duke and young master Victor, and felt the huge gap.

“Well, sitting here worrying won’t produce any answers. Let’s call it a day, Fabian. Good work.”

Lionel briskly tidied up and stood. Fabian liked his efficient, no-wasted-time style.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I’ll contact you if I think of any good solutions.”

“Good, anytime.”

Lionel’s confident smile had a power to make others feel good. Fabian admired the duke’s business skills, enhanced by his looks, and smiled.

After finishing their important conversation, the two men went down to the main hall of the main residence together. While the waiting footman guided Fabian to his carriage, Oliver reported to the duke.

“Your Grace, your guest is waiting in the tea room on the first floor. He arrived an hour early.”

“Really? That’s diligent. He must have waited alone for quite a while.”

“Oh, fortunately, he wasn’t alone.”

Lionel, about to hurry to the tea room, paused and looked at Oliver. The butler calmly explained.

“Miss Sollier wanted to do some sketching in the tea room, so she asked to practice there for a few days. She’s been painting there since morning.”

“So, right now my guest and Clarette are alone together?”

“Yes. He’s a man, of course, but as you know, there’s no problem with those two being together. Both agreed to it.”

“Of course. No problem.”

It just meant Clarette had made another friend. Lionel imagined the scene of his guest and her together, smiled, and walked down the corridor.

When he knocked and opened the door, the expected scene unfolded before him.

“Oh, Duke Valentin! Are you already finished with your business?”

The red-haired boy sitting beside the small tea table, Jeremy Elderin, quickly stood up and saluted. Lionel, seeing the still disciplined sixteen-year-old, turned his gaze to Clarette.

As Oliver had said, she had brought her easel to the tea room and was sketching in her notebook. Clarette, who had been sketching Jeremy sitting in the chair, looked up and smiled at Lionel.

“Welcome, Your Grace. Should I leave now?”

“No, Clarette. We’re leaving. Let’s go, Jeremy.”

“Yes! But, um…”

Jeremy stopped in front of Clarette, his face flushed. He shyly spoke to her.

“That drawing… could you send it to me when it’s finished?”

“What? You mean send it to the Elderin Marquisate?”

Clarette asked kindly, and Jeremy nodded eagerly.

“Yes, it’s the first time anyone’s drawn me… Oh, but I’m not asking you to hurry. Take your time. If it’s a bother, I can come pick it up myself…”

Clarette looked at him quietly, and Jeremy’s voice grew more nervous.

A teenage boy flustered before an older woman—a rare sight that Lionel pretended to ponder, covering his mouth to hide his amusement.

Meanwhile, Clarette smiled kindly and answered.

“It’s just a sketch, so I’ll finish it soon. A week should be enough. If you compare the finished piece to the real thing here, it’ll be fun. Are you coming to the ducal residence again, Mr. Elderin?”

Jeremy was startled by the adult-like title ‘Mr. Elderin’. He replied enthusiastically, face red.

“Yes, I’ll come again. I’m learning boxing and shooting from His Grace. Shall we meet here in a week?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Clarette smiled cutely, and Jeremy looked embarrassed, as if he’d asked her on a date. Before the innocent boy could fall further for her, Lionel began his rescue operation.

“Jeremy, should I wait outside for you?”

“Oh, no, Your Grace! I’m ready now!”

Jeremy, remembering the duke’s presence, quickly turned to leave. Still, he added to Clarette, who was picking up her brush again,

“By the way, you can call me by my name. So I’ll call you by yours, too…”

“Yes, I’m Clarette. See you again, Jeremy.”

Clarette greeted Jeremy gently. The boy smiled happily and left the tea room.

Meanwhile, Lionel watched Clarette return naturally to her work and smiled.

She had surely captured many men’s hearts—without even realizing it.

‘It’s lucky today is Jeremy, but I could never leave her alone with another man.’

For example, someone like Thiago Salto. He thought he might have seen him at the hunting tournament.

‘Did Thiago talk to Clarette while I was away that day? Since she hasn’t mentioned it, maybe nothing happened.’

The proposal Thiago made to Clarette that day was something Lionel couldn’t even imagine. He shook off the unpleasant thought of Thiago and spoke to Jeremy.

“We shot together last time, so today let’s practice boxing. How long have you been learning?”

“I started at twelve! My punches are pretty fast.”

Good confidence. Lionel told Oliver to clear a room for boxing practice.

While the furniture was being moved, Lionel chatted with Jeremy and noticed the pendant on his chest.

“I didn’t see that last time. What’s inside?”

“Oh, it has a letter from my sister.”

“You must be very close.”

“Yes, it’ll be hard to see her again. She became a nun in the Ensila Order.”

“Really? That’s a rare path for a noble.”

“Yes, she’s been through a lot…”

Jeremy, looking at the pendant, suddenly turned to Lionel as if he remembered something.

“By the way, Your Grace. You’re going to Genoa this fall, right? For Saint Hubert’s festival.”