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Chapter 37
Nerhi propped his chin on his hand and stared into the empty air. His mind was already filled with visions of success.
If he could sever the ties between the Noven merchant lord and the Prunina Grand Duchy, and also prevent the Demeter family from sending food aid,
it would only be a matter of time before his grand plan reached its conclusion.
“Ah, and—”
Nerhi stopped the subordinate who was about to leave with the letter tucked under his arm, leisurely savoring some wine.
“Take care of the one who failed, and the one who wrote this report. Clean it all up.”
“Yes, sir.”
His tone was matter-of-fact, as if saying that the sun would rise again tomorrow.
The last village on the road to the north.
The merchant lord’s caravan caused quite a stir as the villagers prepared for their departure.
Among the crowd, an elderly man and a boy quietly conversed as they walked through.
“Are you really sure about this?”
“Yes. You know, Grandfather, once I take the medicine, I’ll be fine for a while.”
“But the north is different, isn’t it? You’re still weak.”
The boy shook his head slightly.
“I’ll be fine. I’m curious about the Grand Duke, too.”
Could he really entrust his life?
“Tey… you might not even get to meet him. I did say to go, but—”
If the Grand Duke had been willing to meet so easily, they would have sent greetings long ago, his grandfather thought.
Harvey, the Noven merchant lord, and his only grandson, Tey.
Unable to resist Tey’s stubbornness, he had hastily sent a letter requesting a meeting with the Grand Duke, though he worried all the while.
Tey smiled at the solemn-looking Harvey.
“It’s alright. I’ve always wanted to visit the north, anyway.”
Their task, requested by Nerhi, was to go north and return without selling any goods.
But that was essentially sending the northern villagers toward death. Tey already felt guilty for delaying the schedule.
“I also want to apologize,” he said.
Because of his strange illness, both the caravan and the north had been at risk.
His grandfather, too, was about to hand over the reins of the caravan he had nurtured his entire life to some unknown person.
That, he absolutely could not allow.
That was why he was willing to risk his life with an unknown Grand Duke.
“And I heard there’s an herbalist in the north this time,” Tey continued.
When he tried to analyze the medicine Nerhi had given him, the last trace led north.
He had his reasons, after all.
Even if everything failed, even if he had to leave his grandfather behind, the caravan would be fine. Noven’s merchant lord was not weak enough to be ruined by northern interference.
“Oh, Grandfather. I heard there’s a fire spirit in the north. Have you ever seen it?”
Tey tried to lighten the heavy mood with a change of topic. Harvey understood his grandson’s intentions.
“Stories from long ago. It’s generally accepted that fire spirits went extinct in ancient times.”
“But you never know. Maybe one is still somewhere.”
Tey laughed brightly.
The future he hoped for was far more likely to come true than seeing a fire spirit. That was a satisfactory probability.
“Hey! Wait a moment!”
“Move faster! You’re blocking the way!”
“The snow’s piling up again! Clear it! Do you want to get trapped?”
Finally, the merchant caravan arrived at the Prunina territory.
The villagers, eager to make the caravan’s stay comfortable, provided as much help as possible.
Yet some were not pleased.
“Didn’t they say they wouldn’t sell us anything anyway? Why are they here?”
“Look at all that firewood. Where do you think they’ll use it all?”
They had come for fear of losing out themselves.
“So they’ll just sell firewood and leave? What about the wheat?”
“…Since they’re here, they’ll probably sell everything.”
Their murmuring reached the ears of the Noven merchant lord, Harvey.
Harvey Noven, an elderly man with neatly styled snow-white hair and a well-trimmed white beard.
As a merchant lord among the top ten in the empire, his attire was neat and proper.
But his face told a different story.
“Are you well?”
“I am.”
His eyes were sunken, his skin rough as a wasteland, and his cheeks hollow.
“Step down carefully,” said the coachman, who was also Harvey’s guard. Harvey planted his feet firmly and walked upright. The thin layer of snow underfoot muffled the sound of his cane striking the ground.
After a short walk, the matron and Rosia came to greet him. They paused briefly, surprised at his improved health compared to last year, then warmly exchanged greetings.
“Thank you for your long journey, Harvey.”
“Are you well, Madam? This is the first time I’ve seen you since stepping down from regency.”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I’ve been living well and enjoying life at my leisure.”
“I see. That’s fortunate. Ah, this is my grandson, Tey.”
Tey bowed politely upon introduction.
“Oh my, you’ve grown so much.”
“Pardon me, have I met you before, Madam?”
Tey asked cautiously, eyes wide. The matron, Lady Lacey, chuckled.
“You saw Tey when he was little.”
Tey tilted his head, still unable to recall. Harvey intervened. There was no need to make him remember his parents’ funeral.
“Madam, have you received my letter?”
They wanted to meet the Grand Duke as quickly as possible. Tey had limited time.
“Of course. However, Harvey, you look unwell. Perhaps you should rest first?”
“I am fine.”
“It’s because we’re not. We cannot have you meet His Grace in such a state.”
The matron approached Harvey with a warm smile, whispering.
“There are things to prepare as well.”
Despite her soft smile, her eyes remained sharp, determined to probe the Grand Duke’s intentions before the meeting.
Harvey returned her smile, though internally he felt uneasy.
“Then, Madam, would you invite me for tea? I sometimes miss the tea made from northern ice.”
“Shall we? Rosia, will you join?”
“Yes. I have questions for the merchant lord as well. Is that alright?”
The two women’s gaze pressed upon him. Harvey inadvertently looked at Rosia.
‘If the cadet branch will inherit the Prunina family, it might as well be this girl…’
Rosia had assisted the matron for years. Harvey knew her well—her diligence, intelligence, and love for her own bloodline.
Thus, Harvey’s thoughts were irrelevant.
Rosia had never considered ousting the reclusive Grand Duke to become the Duke herself.
More importantly, the biggest issue:
Tey’s life depended on these people.
‘Tey seems to want help from the Grand Duke…’
Harvey glanced at Tey. His eyes sparkled. This situation amused him.
Even without knowing his grandfather’s feelings.
Yet the reward would be great if Tey’s wishes were realized—if there was hope in the Grand Duke.
Harvey assumed the cadet branches’ rebellion was due to the Duke’s seclusion.
What’s frightening about a Duke who never leaves his room? They probably think they could do better.
That was why they wanted to meet the Duke now—to glimpse at least a sliver of hope.
If they couldn’t, that would be the end.
Whether voluntary or forced, Harvey was now walking a fine line.
Apologies were due to the previous Grand Duke, but internally Harvey’s mind burned darkly.
And one of the merchant lord’s workers, observing Harvey, quietly hid himself.
After finishing his conversation with the merchant lord,
Rosia returned to work and, glancing at some documents, called Clemens over.
“Did you call me?”
“Clemens, please deliver this to His Grace.”
“Pardon?”
Rosia silently handed over the documents, signaling that Clemens could read them.
As Clemens read quietly, her smile slowly faded.
“I’ll go have a word with Master.”
Clemens stepped outside.
