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Chapter 13
Baron Gilbert seemed completely at a loss in the face of our goodwill.
He was undeniably skilled at painting, but living so far from the capital meant his work hadn’t gained much recognition here.
If anything, people likely found the eccentric baron bothersome rather than admirable.
Art needs exposure if it’s going to be known.
To the pondering Baron Gilbert, I made a new suggestion.
He pulled his chair closer and sat down.
“If you haven’t yet found a venue for your exhibition, the Cloud family could host it under our name. Would you be willing to ask the artist?”
“The Cloud family…!”
Most importantly, Baron Gilbert wasn’t someone suited to holding onto mining rights.
He seemed to think that having them automatically meant profit, but he didn’t realize that the actual mining profits would go to the mine’s owner.
If he had to hire workers and handle extraction himself, he wouldn’t earn anything from it — meaning the mining rights were basically useless to him and likely more of a headache than a treasure.
His eyes flickered with uncertainty, then he glanced down at his paint-stained hands under the table and let out a deep sigh.
This should be a tempting offer.
Even if the Cloud family didn’t have the best reputation, its wealth was undeniable.
If he could form a connection with such a house, it would remove any obstacles to continuing his art.
An exhibition hosted by the Cloud family would be a perfect opportunity for his name to be introduced to other nobles.
If the artist’s reputation rose, naturally each painting would fetch a higher price.
After working out all the calculations in his head, Baron Gilbert clapped his hands together.
“It would be an honor! I’ll write to the artist right away.”
“I hope it turns into a good connection, Baron Gilbert.”
I said that, then signaled to Martin that it was time to leave the table.
Standing from the negotiation table meant the meeting was over.
Baron Gilbert’s eyes went wide as he asked,
“But… but we haven’t finished discussing the mining rights…”
“I’ve seen wonderful works today. If the artist and the Cloud family can form a bond, what could be better than that?”
His pupils shook violently — clearly, this was the first time he’d experienced a negotiation like this.
We hadn’t even mentioned the word “mining rights” yet.
Leaving the stunned baron behind, I walked calmly out of the mansion with Martin.
From the carriage window, I saw Baron Gilbert rush out, looking confused, and bowing repeatedly with his hat in his hands as we departed.
Once the carriage was moving, Martin crossed one leg over the other and said,
“I don’t understand your intentions.”
“You mean the paintings? The baron’s work is quite good.”
“No. I mean your intentions. Why didn’t you bring up the mining rights?”
“Because… the initiative is ours.”
Baron Gilbert would come to us soon enough, bringing not only his paintings but the mining rights contract as well.
As I thought of that, the sound of the carriage wheels on the road felt especially pleasant.
Martin, however, seemed lost in other thoughts.
“Big sister-in-law!”
As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, Erica came running toward me — then stopped awkwardly.
She didn’t say it, but it was obvious she was happy to see me.
Martin, clearly displeased with his sister’s behavior, gave her cheek a light pinch.
Erica rubbed her slightly flushed cheek.
“What was that for?”
“Looks like you planned to greet your sister-in-law before welcoming me back.”
“I was going to say hello to her first and then welcome you!”
“Lies.”
He sounded like someone who refused to fall for the same trick twice.
Erica stuck her tongue out at him repeatedly, while Martin ignored her and handed the luggage to Babel.
He might have tried not to show that he was sulking, but it was obvious.
“I don’t think your silly faces work on him, Erica,” I said with a smile.
Whether he heard me or not, Martin took a few steps before stopping to turn back.
“You’d better make sure you close that deal, Duchess.”
He’d given in and come back with me, but Martin still didn’t fully trust me.
Of course — I haven’t proven anything yet.
He’d probably spent the whole carriage ride home planning out how to secure the contract himself.
From his perspective, I’d made an irrelevant offer about an art exhibition instead of discussing mining rights at all.
Martin, deciding he wouldn’t get a meaningful answer from me, quietly disappeared into his room.
Was I wrong?
I had felt like we’d grown a little closer during our time together.
I’d even seen him laugh for the first time.
And I kept remembering when he’d shielded me from that cart and we’d tumbled into the street together.
That moment when I couldn’t breathe, with his red eyes locked onto mine…
I shook my head hard.
As I started upstairs, Erica trailed after me like an investigator, eyes narrowed.
“Nothing happened, right?”
“What do you mean?”
Her question hit a little too close, so I deflected.
“My brother’s boring and stiff, isn’t he?”
Was he?
When I didn’t answer right away, Erica kept going.
“People should know how to joke sometimes, you know? Or at least smile. He’s no fun at all, right?”
As I thought about it on the stairs…
“…He does know how to smile.”
“My brother?”
Her eyes went round in surprise.
I thought back.
[L-let’s j-just… just travel quietly.]
When I’d asked if we could try getting along better, the corners of Martin’s mouth had twitched upward.
Oh, and there was one more time I’d seen him smile for real.
[Did I ever tell you I can’t trust people?]
[If I said you did, would you believe me?]
I hadn’t been sure if he was angry then.
And he’d kept that clumsily wrapped handkerchief around his hand for ages without taking it off.
The thought made me smile faintly.
Since Erica was so curious, I avoided giving details.
“Now that I think about it, I’m not completely sure.”
“My brother would never smile. Hey… then why are you smiling right now, big sister-in-law?”
“Me?”
I feigned innocence and stopped in front of my room.
Erica also stopped, crossing her arms and muttering loudly enough for me to hear.
“I’ve lived to see the day. My sister-in-law smiling over my brother.”
‘Lived’ — as if she’s been through so much.
Finding her detective act adorable, I put an arm around her shoulder.
“How about you, Erica? Anything happen here while I was gone? I’d rather hear your stories.”
“Oh, right! Do you know who I saw yesterday?”
Even without me answering, she continued.
“You’ll remember. That kid I gave clothes to. I ran into him on the street while out for some air.”
That kid — the one who’d been so happy to get Erica’s clothes.
I could never forget the blush on her cheeks that day.
Running into him like that? I wanted to hear more.
“So what happened?”
“What do you think? I said just one thing to him.”
Just one thing?
It sounded like she’d scolded him. But then—
“He was wearing the clothes I gave him, and they looked so good I couldn’t not say something.”
Erica smiled sweetly — moments like this made it hard to see her as a villainess.
Her shoulders rose with pride.
Before I could savor the warmth of that moment, she added,
“Oh, and that reminds me — there’s Mary.”
Mary?
“She said if you can’t sleep, you should count sheep. Can you believe that? I yelled that there’s no way that would work, and then suddenly it was morning.”
“You actually fell asleep?”
“I told you! I’m going to try it again tonight. Want to join me?”
By now, I was starting to tire from her endless chatter — so different from her brother.
I nearly nodded without thinking.
Just then, Mary, who’d been cleaning, popped out of my room when she heard her name.
“My lady, you’re back?”
“Mary…”
“Oh, you’re here too? I was just telling her about what we learned yesterday.”
Mary glanced at my face.
Noticing how tired I looked, she gave an awkward smile.
“My lady… I think the duchess needs to rest.”
“Hmph. I know, okay? I am a proper lady, you know. I’m not a child.”
This, from someone who was too scared to sleep alone and made Mary stay with her?
I caught Erica before she could turn away.
“There’s no one more mature than you, Erica.”
“It’s late,” she said, but clearly pleased, walking proudly to her room.
Only after she left did I finally escape my overly talkative sister-in-law.
I didn’t forget to thank Mary either.
Mary must have had a rough time too.
Mary and I exchanged silent smiles before turning away from Erica’s retreating figure.
Exactly one week later, a visitor came to the Cloud estate.
Martin called me to the meeting room, where a short, goblin-like man stood, wiping sweat from his face with a handkerchief.
Baron Gilbert…?
Even from behind, I could tell he was different from last time — he was much more tense now.
When I glanced at Martin, he gestured toward the floor at the baron’s feet.
Stacked there, covered in white cloth, were several of the baron’s paintings.
And in his hand — a contract. There was no doubt he’d come to make a deal.
Martin looked a bit surprised by his visit, but I wasn’t at all.
This was exactly what I’d predicted.
Baron Gilbert slowly turned around.
I stopped myself from smiling and instead put on my most surprised expression.
“What’s all this, Baron?”
