Chapter 33
Deep, Unspoken Emotions
2023.11.02
After the transaction was safely completed.
I headed to the operations office located in the center of the exchange building.
It was to fill in the necessary information for the confirmation of the deal.
After finishing the paperwork and stepping outside, the front of the central building was crowded with people, unlike just a moment before.
It seemed to be the throng of people spilling out after finishing their trades.
The expressions they wore varied depending on success or failure, but most of their conversations were about the futures trading that had taken place earlier.
“Seems like a big deal was struck in the Athens Hall.”
Adrian, walking beside me, looked around and said.
Then he unfolded the pamphlet he had been holding the whole time, checked something, and continued.
“Looks like Ludwig’s Fireplace came out as an item in Athens Hall.”
“Really? But that fireplace has already gone up in value as much as it could. No one’s going to make much profit from it, but….”
Hearing my indifferent reply, Adrian couldn’t hide the worry in his expression.
“But still… it might be a more stable investment.”
I pursed my lower lip as I looked at him.
“Adrian, do you mistrust me so much just because I bought those special carriage futures?”
He looked troubled, rubbed his brow for a while, then slowly nodded.
“To be honest… yes.”
“……”
“Considering the current value of special carriages, even paying 1.5 million rut per carriage would be a high-risk investment. But you paid 2 million rut per carriage… I fear the losses may be severe.”
In Adrian’s bluish-violet eyes, there was nothing but genuine concern for me.
I lightly patted his back and smiled confidently.
“Don’t worry, Adrian.”
“But, Your Grace…”
“You’ll see soon enough. With these special carriages, I’ll earn profits that will shock the entire Empire.”
In the end, Adrian let out a faint laugh, as if to say there was no stopping me.
“Well… I suppose there’s no helping it. All I can do is trust Your Grace.”
I smiled at him. And at that moment—
A black shadow seeped slowly beneath my feet.
Turning my head, the first thing I saw was Henry’s face, smiling at me.
“Congratulations, Your Grace.”
And beside him, as expected, stood Camilla.
“…Congratulations, Your Grace.”
Though Camilla spoke with a smile, I could instantly tell she was deeply displeased.
Cold expressions flickered across her face here and there.
I raised a relaxed smile toward her.
“Thank you, Camilla. I’m very pleased, but knowing how much you wanted those special carriages makes me feel a little uneasy.”
At that, Camilla’s smiling lips quivered slightly.
‘After all, I took what she wanted so badly. No wonder she feels resentful. And I hear she even resorted to loan sharks to scrape together enough money to try and outdo me.’
I had deliberately leaked false information about my investment capital to Camilla’s side.
‘Of course, all of it was a lie.’
And I watched her desperately gather her investment funds.
By then, she had already drained all her secret savings.
But she couldn’t go begging to her husband, Count Dmitri, for more, not when it was for her lover’s joint venture.
So Camilla eventually turned to loan sharks.
‘Even if she tried paying it back immediately, the interest alone would be staggering…’
Just as I thought this, Camilla forced another smile and spoke.
“Unfortunate, but nothing I can do. Anyway, I saw something interesting in the next round, so I’ll be staying to bid on that.”
“What item is it?”
At my casual question, Camilla replied confidently:
“Colored sugarcane seeds.”
“Ah…”
I quickly masked my surprise, only nodding faintly.
Sugar that changed into various colors depending on how it was cultivated in the Demon Realm.
Right now, its popularity in the Empire was sky-high.
But since they were importing the finished product from the Demon Realm, the price was outrageously high.
So eventually the Empire began importing even the seeds to try and grow it more cheaply…
‘I remember a story from the original novel—some noble bought those seeds and ended up with massive losses.’
Later, it turned out the seeds only grew into ordinary white sugarcane in the human world.
‘The climate is completely different from the Demon Realm, after all.’
For her to choose those seeds as an alternative after losing out on the special carriages—
I looked between Camilla and Henry.
‘After suffering such a huge loss together, will their so-called passionate love still survive?’
Well, not my concern.
I shrugged and offered her a polite farewell.
“Good luck, then. I’ll be off.”
Camilla stared at the back of Grand Duchess Rebecca as she walked away.
Henry gently patted her shoulder.
“Camilla, what are you staring at? We need to head to the next trading hall.”
“…Henry. I just can’t take it anymore.”
At her words, Henry followed her gaze and sighed.
“I regret the special carriage too. But no need to be so upset about it, Camilla.”
“……”
“Two million rut per carriage—that’s excessive. The Grand Duchess will end up regretting it soon enough.”
Camilla snapped irritably at his nonchalant words.
“That’s not what I’m upset about, Henry!”
“…Then what is it?”
Camilla pressed her lips shut, refusing to answer at first.
But in her mind, she kept recalling Rebecca’s eyes on her.
That day when she was caught with Henry. And today again.
Rebecca always looked at her as though she were some cheap courtesan.
“…My pride. She keeps trampling on my pride. I can’t endure it any longer.”
And more than that—
If Rebecca ever told Count Dmitri about her affair with Henry…
All her years of scheming to divorce and remarry Henry would be ruined.
Not only that, she would lose her title as Countess and her fame as a socialite, falling into ruin instantly.
“Henry.”
Crack.
Camilla bit her nails anxiously, her gaze turning darker.
“I truly… want to kill that woman.”
The carriage was now racing along the final forest road leading to the Grand Duke’s estate.
I opened the window, enjoying the refreshing breeze of the woods.
Adrian chuckled softly at my humming.
“You seem in very high spirits.”
“Of course I am. Adrian, you can’t imagine how much this deal meant to me.”
This trade was the first step toward economic independence after the divorce announcement.
Of course, I would need to earn much more to secure my future…
But just making a successful start made me feel as though I could fly.
‘Now all that’s left is to win back the hearts of the half-demons…’
Things had improved a little, but still, many half-demons hated me.
The rumor that I had changed spread only inside the Grand Duke’s estate. Even then, many refused to believe it.
‘Well, of course. No one’s going to let go of a grudge just because of a few good rumors.’
What I needed now was an official way to prove I had changed.
‘Once the profits start coming in, I should launch a business to help the half-demons.’
I was nodding to myself in thought when suddenly—
Clunk!
The carriage jolted violently, as if it had struck something, then came to an abrupt halt with the horses screaming.
“Wha—?”
I was thrown forward by the sudden shock.
“Your Grace!”
Adrian instantly lunged forward to shield me.
I steadied myself against his strong arms, catching my breath.
His warm breath brushed so close.
“Are you hurt, Your Grace?”
I instinctively lifted my head—and our eyes met.
We blinked rapidly at the unexpectedly close distance.
Then his shimmering bluish-violet gaze slowly fell lower—
From my eyes, to my cheeks, my nose… and then, my lips.
Realizing where his gaze lingered, I quickly turned my head away.
“Something… must have happened outside, Adrian.”
As if snapping out of it, Adrian slowly released my hand.
“…I’ll go check.”
Click.
He opened the carriage door and stepped out.
Left alone, I finally exhaled the breath I had been holding.
‘Adrian… something about him really has changed.’
I first sensed this strange new atmosphere after Count Dmitri’s banquet.
Adrian, who had always worn a gentle, refreshing smile.
But ever since that night, something opaque and uncertain flickered in his gaze whenever he looked at me.
Not clear, but deep—unspoken emotions.
“I, too, for the first time… have begun to feel desire.”
The words he had spoken that night echoed again in my mind.
Just then, the carriage door opened and Adrian returned.
“Your Grace, the situation outside is bad. Please stay inside.”
He quickly grabbed the longsword stored in the corner of the carriage.
I hastily grabbed his sleeve before he could leave.
“Adrian, what’s going on?”
“It looks like the coachman was killed while checking the carriage. The escort knight as well.”
“…What?”
“And stranger still… there are no traces of the culprit.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed deeply.
“I fear we may have walked into a trap.”
“A trap? But the carriage only stopped for an instant! And we heard nothing.”
“…It may not have been the work of ordinary humans.”
“Then… do you mean half-demons?”
I couldn’t hide the shock from my face.
‘Are the half-demons already attacking me? But they still believe I’m the Grand Duchess. That doesn’t make sense… Something’s wrong here…’
Anxious, I furrowed my brows.
To calm me, Adrian spoke in a gentle voice.
“We can’t be certain. It could also be humans using black magic.”
As he said this, he clasped the hand I still had on his sleeve.
“Don’t worry, Your Grace. I will protect you with my life.”
I forced down my fear and nodded.
He then stepped outside again, his tone calm as he said:
“I’ll drive the carriage myself. Whatever you hear outside, do not come out.”
“…Alright.”
He smiled softly before closing the door.
But once it shut, I saw his eyes turn sharp with vigilance.
Sword in hand, Adrian moved to the driver’s seat. The carriage soon started forward again.
It had only gone a short distance when—
Hiiieeeigh!
A shrill cry from the horses pierced the forest.
At the same time, the carriage shook even more violently than before.
