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Chapter 41
As Rosie’s words said, Kirzen would soon be returning to the capital.
Realizing it anew, Emilina felt a complicated swirl of emotions.
Sensing her shifting expression, Merlin asked with a worried voice.
“Are you really sure it’s all right to make it public?”
“It’s just the ingredients I’m revealing. Besides, even if I don’t, the recipe will eventually leak out anyway.”
As long as chocolate remained popular, competing shops would spare no effort to study it.
Perhaps they were already doing so even now.
And if that was the case, discovering the cacao process and methods of refining chocolate was only a matter of time—so Emilina had decided to strike first.
She didn’t want to lose the initiative and end up at a disadvantage again.
While they were busy digging into chocolate, she would be unveiling new menu items ahead of them.
“We should be focused on what comes after.”
“If that’s what Madam Emilina thinks, then so be it. I’ll request an ingredient analysis next week. With the royal seal of certification, no one will be able to make careless claims.”
“Thank you for taking care of it.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re in the same boat now, after all.”
Merlin said this and offered her hand for a shake—meaning, let’s do well together.
When Emilina clasped it, Merlin smiled and continued.
“Tomorrow morning I’ll send the 6,000 gold deposit through Jessie. Profits will be split half and half. I’ll settle accounts at the end of each month, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. It couldn’t have been an easy term for you… may I ask why you agreed?”
“Because I know the value of chocolate. And besides, you trusted me enough to take me as your partner.”
“Is that really all?”
When Emilina asked playfully with a doubtful face, Merlin answered with good humor.
“Oh my, was that too much of a sugary reply? Honestly, what I bought was your future value.”
“My future value?”
“The future menu items Madam Emilina will create—once our Pirre Confectionery has the exclusive, we’ll be at the forefront of every trend. That’s the value I paid for. It’s not a losing bargain.”
“You don’t seem to consider the possibility of failure.”
“Because I believe you’ll succeed. Of course, as humans, we sometimes fail. But I have a strong feeling you’ll prove to be worth far more than that.”
Hearing her words, Emilina thought perhaps Merlin was truly a decent person—in every sense.
As a fellow human being, and as a business partner to walk alongside from now on.
She felt she could trust someone who believed in her and supported her.
“Your praise is excessive, but I’ll prove your judgment isn’t wrong. Let’s do well together.”
Lightly shaking the hand clasped in hers, Emilina affirmed that their partnership was now sealed.
Kirzen Dittrio did not halt his advance, driving his troops from the forward base all the way into enemy territory.
After a month of ceaseless battles, large and small, he finally arrived before the castle where the King of Genova resided.
Carried by momentum, Kirzen wanted to storm the castle immediately. But Jerome, seeing the state of the soldiers, stepped in to dissuade him.
“Please, calm down. This is the time to regroup.”
“The enemy’s leader is right before us. Once I capture him, this wretched war is over. What reason is there to wait?”
“Because that won’t be the end of it! Do you think the soldiers guarding that place are for show? And what of the King’s personal guard? Not to mention the remnants we still have to crush. We need a chance to recover, why won’t you understand?”
“And if the Genovan king escapes in the meantime? Will you take responsibility for that?”
“If he intended to flee, he would have done so long ago—back when we first began our march!”
Jerome pressed on.
“And it’s not as though I asked for several days. I’m saying just a few hours, enough to regain some fighting strength. Aren’t you tired as well, my lord?”
“As you can see.”
Kirzen shrugged as if nothing were wrong, but Jerome scoffed.
“Don’t be absurd—you look like a man ready to collapse. Keep this up and you’ll drop dead.”
“Seems when you were struck in the head the other day, it was your eyes that were damaged.”
Kirzen muttered dryly, and Jerome beat his chest in frustration.
“For once, take this seriously. We’ve been running nonstop at your command till now.”
“……”
“The soldiers are exhausted. If we fight in this state, they’ll be waving to angels before the battle’s done!”
At last, Jerome’s words became a plea.
Kirzen looked over his waiting soldiers.
As Jerome said, their faces were pale, their exhaustion plain.
Even the knights, whose lives were built on stamina training.
The relentless march and back-to-back battles had taken their toll.
In his haste to end the war, he had overlooked it.
Recognizing his mistake, Kirzen decided to accept Jerome’s counsel.
He himself could endure, perhaps, but not his men.
He could not drive them to the brink for the sake of his impatience.
“Five hours. After that, we’ll prepare to storm the castle. Since this will be the last battle, see to your conditions. Jerome, you’ll scout possible escape routes and send ambush parties.”
At the command, Jerome’s face brightened, as did those of the others present.
With a voice filled with relief and renewed vigor, Jerome replied,
“An excellent decision, my lord. I’ll organize the ambush party at once!”
He called a few knights and hurried away.
The remaining soldiers, too, visibly relieved, dispersed to take their rest.
Soon the bustle died away, and Kirzen was left alone.
Closing his eyes, he thought to himself.
One more.
There was only one trial left before he could go to her.
As he envisioned the final battle in his mind, Kirzen waited for time to pass swiftly.
The end of the war was near.
In a noble’s mansion, several ladies were gathered, chatting idly.
One of them, sounding concerned, broached a topic.
“By the way, ladies—have you heard the news? They say the Duke of Dittrio will soon be returning to the capital.”
“I’ve heard his disposition is so cruel… I can’t help but wonder what his entry into society will mean.”
“They say he tossed surrendered Genovans to the carrion birds, so we must be cautious.”
At those words, the ladies’ faces grew clouded with unease.
A silence fell as they exchanged wary glances.
At length, one lady spoke hesitantly.
“But do you think the rumors are really true? About the Duke practicing dark arts. They say that wherever he fought, a black beast appeared to mutilate corpses.”
“I’ve heard it differently—that he delights in blood, and commands beasts to hunt humans for sport.”
The horrific words drew sharp intakes of breath.
“Heavens, can that be true?”
“How barbaric…”
“Hearing that, I feel even more uneasy about his social presence.”
The ladies frowned, displeasure evident.
Among them, the youngest—Countess Razella, a newcomer to the circle—timidly raised her hand.
“Um… but if those rumors were true, would the Duke even appear in society at all? He doesn’t seem the type to care.”
One lady, surprised, quickly countered.
“Oh, Countess Razella, don’t be naive. Even if he doesn’t care, those around him won’t let him be.”
“Why do you think so?”
Razella asked sincerely, her face showing she truly didn’t understand.
The others exchanged awkward looks, as though wondering if they really needed to explain.
“Because he’s not yet married. He doesn’t even have a fiancée.”
“And the position of Duchess of Dittrio has been vacant too long. His retainers will never let it stay so.”
“Especially since he’s of the right age now. It’s highly likely he’ll enter society to find a bride.”
Whether by his will or not.
The Duke of Dittrio would inevitably appear in central society.
Many noble houses were already waiting eagerly for him to step into the marriage market.
Though unspoken, he was unquestionably the most eligible bachelor.
The ancient and prestigious House of Dittrio—few nobles would reject the chance.
Status, wealth, influence.
He lacked nothing. How could anyone resist?
For some it meant social elevation, for others an honored position.
Whatever their reason, many sought a marriage alliance with the Duke’s house.
His grim reputation was something that could easily be glossed over.
Once he returned to the capital as a war hero, his infamy would be washed away, making it an unparalleled opportunity.
The ladies gathered here thought the same.
While their lips and brows showed worry, inside they were scheming—placing their daughters on the scales, plotting how best to ensnare the Duke.
Some even considered rushing into betrothals before their girls had come of age.
Though they wore anxious expressions and spoke of fear, their minds were filled with only one thing—how to capture the Duke of Dittrio.
