Chapter 24

The next day, a contract arrived from the Crown Prince’s representative. I tried to inform father of the news, but every time I attempted to contact him, the communication orb only flickered uselessly.

 

“Father, are you well? I haven’t been able to reach you because the orb’s been acting strange.”

 

Several days passed before the orb finally connected, allowing me to speak with him.

 

— I’m doing well, Lilithia. I was worried you might be struggling with the merchant guild’s affairs.

 

“Don’t worry! Actually, I contacted you because I have good news.”

 

— Good news?

 

Seeing the curious look on father’s face, I beamed.

 

“We’ve been approved to supply goods to the Imperial Palace!”

 

At the unexpectedly good news, father’s eyes went round—then he tilted his head.

 

— That is good news… but what goods? Our guild doesn’t have anything befitting the palace.

 

“I developed a new product while you were away!”

 

— A product?

 

“Yes! A new fabric.”

 

— How?

 

“By coincidence.”

 

How was I supposed to tell him it was something I studied in my previous life?

 

Awkward, I trailed off. Father’s face still looked doubtful.

 

— I see. A chance discovery turned into an opportunity, then. I’m relieved you’re doing well. Show it to me when I return to the capital.

 

“Of course! When you see it, you’re going to be shocked. I’m confident.”

 

With determined enthusiasm, I raised my fists. Just then, one of the guild members approached father and whispered something in his ear.

 

‘I can’t hear what they’re saying.’

 

I focused on their conversation but couldn’t make out a word. Meanwhile, Father’s face brightened.

 

“Father, what is it?”

 

The guild member bowed and stepped away.

 

— We’ve had a stroke of luck.

 

“?”

 

— I hurried to the kingdom’s capital to fulfill a contracted delivery, but monsters blocked the trade route to Estium. I was stuck in Moles territory in the Shutra Kingdom and missed the deadline, so the deal fell through.

 

‘I was grumbling about not being able to reach him…’

 

I had no idea father had gone through something like this.

 

‘I feel awful…’

 

— But then, by chance, the lord of Moles territory offered to buy all our goods and even suggested trading with the mine!

 

“A… a mine?”

 

— Yes! A mine! As they say, even a mouse hole gets sunlight someday. Hahaha!

 

“Don’t tell me you agreed.”

 

— Of course! I traded our goods for the mine—at a cheap price!

 

He laughed heartily.

 

I pressed my hand to my forehead.

 

‘Now I understand how the guild stayed afloat like that.’

 

The reason the shop shelves were filled with random trinkets.

 

The reason the warehouse was stacked with leftover dyes and all kinds of tea leaves.

 

They were all the result of father’s haphazard bartering.

 

‘And the messy guild office? Also because he wandered around making impulsive trades without organizing anything…’

 

All his solemn dignity vanished the moment he laughed like that. I couldn’t help but groan.

 

‘He’s gullible.’

 

Father looked strict and stoic on the outside, but he was warmhearted—and quick to believe others.

 

— And listen to this. They started digging a few days ago, and just now they said marble was found!

 

‘That does not sound like good news…’

 

If nothing had come out despite several days of excavation, the mine was probably already depleted. Even comparing the goods father traded to actual currency, the price wasn’t remotely enough to purchase a functioning mine.

 

‘He doesn’t even realize he was swindled.’

 

Seeing him laugh so cheerfully made anger flare inside me.

 

“Father!”

 

He blinked in surprise at my sudden outburst.

 

— Lilithia…?

 

“Father. Did you perhaps… make another deal? One I don’t know about?”

 

Grinding my teeth, I managed a smile.

 

— Of course! There’s also a gemstone mine nearby, so I bought that one too.

 

“…What kind of gemstones?”

 

— Who knows? We’ll find out once we start digging.

 

My whole body went limp. I wanted to run to him immediately and drag him back, but I couldn’t leave my post.

 

“Father… please come back soon.”

 

— Yes, yes. I miss you too.

 

I silently vowed: *When he returns to the capital, I’m locking him up.*

 

 

***

 

 

Guild work kept me unbelievably busy. I regretted boasting so confidently to the Crown Prince.

 

‘Why did I say I could finish everything by next week?!’

 

Producing a massive order without proper facilities was nearly impossible.

 

‘If we hadn’t received the deposit, I couldn’t even have rented a workshop or hired workers.’

 

After frantic days and nights, the delivery date finally arrived.

 

Carriages lined up in front of the Baimery Guild, and imperial workers loaded wooden crates onto them.

 

“Are all of these going to the palace as well?”

 

Kenny pointed at the crates stacked inside the guild.

 

“Yes! Load everything. All of it is heading to the palace.”

 

With such a massive shipment, both the guild and the warehouse were in chaos.

 

“I should help.”

 

I lifted one of the lighter-looking crates, but Kenny rushed over in alarm.

 

“Miss, please leave this labor to me. As deputy guild master, it’s better if you verify the quantities.”

 

I had been given the title of deputy guild master after my last conversation with Father. Still unused to it, I scratched my head.

 

“All right.”

 

I checked the listed quantity against what was being loaded. In no time, the carriages were filled, and order returned to the front entrance.

 

The Crown Prince’s representative approached me.

 

“Can you confirm that all one thousand bolts of fabric have been loaded as stated in the contract?”

 

“Yes. Everything has been loaded precisely.”

 

He still looked doubtful.

 

“If you’re worried, you’re welcome to check the crates yourself.”

 

“No. His Highness chose this guild—so I trust you, Deputy Guild Master. Here is the payment.”

 

He handed me a heavy pouch.

 

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

 

He boarded a carriage and departed immediately. I looked down at the hefty pouch in my hands.

 

“Oh no. This is… amazing!”

 

All the exhaustion of the past days evaporated.

 

‘Maybe it’s true that people can do the impossible when pushed to their limits.’

 

Everything had gone smoothly, and now the remaining payment was mine.

 

‘Even after the deposit… 180 gold coins!’

 

The weight of the pouch made my hands tremble with emotion.

 

‘I thought 200 gold would be more than enough…’

 

But raw materials, labor, warehouse rent, and workshop rental had cost more than expected, leaving only a small profit.

 

“Still, this is one step toward rebuilding the guild!”

 

Father’s bright, oblivious smile came to mind.

 

I—Lilithia Baimery—had to support the guild and the family as deputy guild master.

 

The responsibility made my vision darken for a moment.

 

“There’s still a long road ahead…”

 

The weight on my shoulders felt heavy.

 

 

***

 

 

Creak, creak—

 

With every step Freyer took, the wooden floorboards of the old building groaned. The candlelight on the wall flickered, casting wavering shadows.

 

Creak—

 

Freyer opened a wooden door. Inside, nobles of varying ages—from middle-aged to elderly—sat around a long table, leaving the head seat empty.

 

“We greet His Highness Freyer!”

 

Their voices boomed in unison, echoing through the building.

 

“I did not arrange this meeting to receive such a welcome.”

 

A scarred elder laughed heartily.

 

“Your Highness surely doesn’t know how long we’ve waited for this day. If you look so troubled, we’ll grow a bit sad.”

 

Laughter filled the room.

 

“Ricardo is right!”

 

“Indeed, Your Highness will need to get used to this.”

 

“Hahaha. Come now, please take your seat, Your Highness.”

 

Freyer knew well how much they had anticipated this. He gave a small nod and sat at the head of the table.

 

“I’ve wondered whether I have the right to sit here. I avoided meeting you because of how much I struggled with that question.”

 

His heavy voice carried through the room. Silence fell.

 

With a hardened expression, he continued: “How can a son who devoured his own mother claim any rights? How could I dare desire anything? I wrestled with these doubts endlessly. All of it—born from my fear.”

 

At the mention of his mother, the nobles shut their eyes tightly.

 

“But now, I wish to face what I’ve been avoiding. And to do that, I need the leaders’ help. It is shameless of me to ask… but will you lend me your strength?”

 

His hands clenched tightly.

 

Ricardo broke into a bright smile.

 

“We serve the one who bears the bloodline of Ayerbe of the Treblua Kingdom. We have long awaited your command.”

 

Freyer’s mother was a princess of Treblua, taken as a hostage by the Empire. Treblua had lost its king, fallen in war, and been absorbed into the Empire. Though still called nobles, their hearts were hollow.

 

Then came news that their princess had conceived the Emperor’s child.

 

“To see you grown like this…”

 

The exiled nobles had waited—for the day their rightful lord would call upon them.

 

Bow­ing deeply, they spoke in unison: “We will follow Your Highness’s path.”