Chapter 84

* * *

I headed to Edwin’s bedroom carrying a bottle of good wine.

I knew it was improper to visit this late at night, but during the day I had absolutely no time because of official duties.

Still, I didn’t want to drag things out while leaving this prickling guilt stuck in my heart.

Berthold’s eyes widened slightly when he spotted me.

“My respects, Madam.”

“It’s been a while, Berthold.”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I happened to get a good bottle. I have something to discuss with Ed. Is he inside?”

“His Grace stepped out briefly. The night air is still cold. Please wait inside and I’ll send someone to fetch him at once.”

Before I could answer, Berthold ushered me into the bedroom and vanished down the corridor at the speed of light.

I didn’t even get a chance to say it was fine.

‘Since when did Berthold walk that fast…’

He seemed much more impatient than before. I remembered him being composed and dignified, fitting for the chief steward of a grand noble house.

Well, things change.

Scratching my chin awkwardly, I glanced around the room to pass the time.

I’d only entered this place once in my previous life, and even then it had been too dark to see properly.

‘Was it always this bare?’

A bed and nightstand. A sofa and table that looked meant for light official work. A display case for weapons and armor.

Compared to my bedroom, it almost looked empty.

“Nothing to pass the time with…”

I dropped onto the sofa.

Even that seemed built to match Edwin’s size, since my feet didn’t even touch the floor.

As I sat there blankly, my eyes gradually drooped. I’d come straight here after being buried in work all day, and sleepiness was creeping in.

‘I’m just closing my eyes.’

I’m not sleeping.

I’m just resting my poor overworked eyes for a moment.

That’s what I told myself as I nodded off.

Then hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.

I jerked upright and quickly wiped my mouth as if I hadn’t been asleep at all.

“Eli? I was told you were waiting and was surprised.”

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

Being jolted awake from deep sleep left my head foggy.

Edwin must’ve thought something serious had happened because he set his greatsword by the entrance and walked toward me.

‘I need to apologize for th-that night.’

Even in my dazed state, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

I’d come all the way here intending to say something.

‘How do I even start with I found out you have an unfortunate issue?!’

That was a disaster from the beginning.

Books said men were extremely sensitive about their pride in that area.

Even if my intention was a sincere apology, simply stating the fact could wound Edwin’s heart.

And I only realized that now, standing in front of him.

“Eli?”

When I kept hesitating, his eyes hardened slightly.

He clearly thought something terrible had happened.

Before his misunderstanding grew worse, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“I’m sorry! The money, I mean, the budget is short!”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t misunderstand! It’s not because I wasted anything this time. Ah, I mean Bellamare.”

I’d thrown that out with no buildup, but technically this did require discussion with Edwin.

Crying internally, I pressed on.

“So here’s what happened.”

To transform Bellamare into a commercial hub, we had to completely overhaul the port and infrastructure, and even revise the inland distribution network. It required considerable funds.

Even wealthy Lombard couldn’t shoulder it alone, so we’d planned to raise bond investments using a portion of future profits as collateral.

While I was still in Bellamare, I’d sent investment proposals to neighboring territories.

But the replies waiting for me at the castle were unanimous refusals.

A few had agreed, but only small courtesy amounts, considering their relationship with Lombard.

After listening, Edwin let out a small sigh.

“As expected.”

“What do you mean? You predicted this? You reviewed the proposal too and said there were no flaws.”

“Yes. Your documents were perfect. However…”

He explained his concern.

If Lombard completely seized control of northern trade, neighboring territories might see it as a threat.

Ramon and I had already anticipated that.

Even so, the long term profits far outweighed the risks. It was more than worth investing in.

If I’d received such a proposal, I wouldn’t have hesitated.

Edwin looked troubled at my rebuttal.

“There’s another issue.”

“What is it? If there was something else you should’ve said earlier.”

“Well…”

He hesitated again, his gaze shifting away even more awkwardly than before.

A creeping sense of dread ran down my spine.

“Don’t tell me I’m the problem.”

“It’s not that. The Capital is…”

“The Capital what? Are you going to keep talking like this and make me suffocate?!”

I glared at him, and he answered immediately.

“They’re pressuring the neighboring lords.”

“That makes no sense. It’s awkward to say this myself, but didn’t my marriage resolve the friction with the Capital?”

That was precisely why Edwin had accepted the marriage to Elicia.

The Capital, meaning the imperial palace, had been applying political and economic pressure on the northern and central territories to restrain Lombard.

They couldn’t touch Lombard directly, so they targeted others instead.

Now things would’ve been different, but at the time the previous duke’s sudden death and Edwin’s early succession meant he hadn’t fully secured trust.

To prevent unrest in the territory and anxiety among the people, Edwin had no choice but to yield to the emperor’s pressure during Lombard’s vulnerable period.

“According to the spy we planted in the imperial palace, they’re watching your movements very closely.”

“When did you even plant someone there…”

“It’s inevitable they’d feel uneasy now that you’ve gained the people’s support. The rightful heir of the former crown prince is you, and the current emperor is merely a usurper who took his young nephew’s place.”

I’d been expecting some ordinary administrative explanation, but instead something abyssal dropped out of nowhere.

A usurper?

Wasn’t His Majesty known to dote on his niece Elicia more than his own children?

I wanted to ask for a pause to process this, but perhaps because I’d complained about feeling suffocated, Edwin continued smoothly.

“They thought sending you to the distant north would ease their worries, but now that you’ve revealed unexpected political capability, the Capital can’t help but be tense.”

“…”

“I know you have no interest in power. But their thoughts will differ.”

Thank goodness Edwin was thorough and liked explaining things.

I nodded as if I already knew all this, engraving every word into my memory.

“Well, I won’t let the Capital toy with the north as it pleases either.”

Even while reeling from revelations I’d never heard before, I kept nodding diligently so I wouldn’t look suspicious.

Then Edwin abruptly shifted the topic.

“In that case, what if Lombard develops the port independently?”

“What? How could we possibly shoulder that massive cost alone?”

“It would be tight, but not impossible. Lombard actually holds significant hidden assets beyond what appears in the ledgers. Likely more than you think…”

“No.”

I shook my head firmly.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t considered that when planning the budget.

But draining the territory’s funds at once was dangerous. Especially since Lombard was the front line bordering the Black Continent beyond the Northern Wall.

We had to maintain a constant near wartime state, which made finances critical.

“It’s better to find another solution. Bellamare’s revival is important, but we can’t stake Lombard’s overall security.”

“If that’s your decision, I’ll follow it.”

“…Thank you.”

Lombard was Edwin’s land.

He was its sole master, and I merely held delegated authority.

Yet he always respected and prioritized my opinion.

‘Ed is such a gentle person.’

I couldn’t bring up that other topic.

I didn’t want to wound his pride twice just to ease my own conscience. This was something I’d carry alone.

With the matter settled, I moved to leave.

That was when Edwin suddenly took my hand.