🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 14
“So we have to return it. It was never ours in the first place.”
Aster closed the lid of the pocket watch and placed it back into his inner pocket. Then he stood up.
“Where are you going?”
Seoden quickly followed behind him and asked.
“I already said it. I’m returning it. It’s fully repaired now, so I should take it back to its owner.”
“You’re really going to return it like this? Such an incredible ancient magical tool, and you’re just giving it up so easily? Who is the owner? If you’re worried about your pride after being persuaded, I can try talking to them— mmph!”
Aster flicked his finger in an annoyed gesture, and Seoden’s chattering mouth suddenly snapped shut. It was Aster’s silence spell.
Seoden struggled with tightly sealed lips, making muffled sounds, while Aster looked at him and said,
“I really like you best when you’re quiet. Stay here and wait until I come back. Don’t even think about following me.”
With a smooth smile, Aster pulled up his robe to cover even his head, and in an instant, vanished from the suite.
At the same time Seoden was arguing with Aster, Ariel had been overwhelmed since early morning. It was because of an unexpected visitor who had sent word that they would be visiting the marquis’ estate.
Sending a letter in the morning was already quite rude, but the visitor had said they would arrive the same afternoon. It was less of a request and more of a one-sided notice.
Her face naturally twisted at such blatant rudeness, but she could not turn them away. It was the Kuno Merchant Guild, which had a massive debt relationship with the Blante Marquis House.
Ariel had no choice but to force her heavy body up. Her condition was not good. She was already sick from the ordeal at the Bayerne Marquis’ party.
It wasn’t because of Sierre. What had tormented her all night was Kailens.
The man who coldly ignored her and casually kissed the back of Sierre’s hand. Even when she closed her eyes, the image was so vivid she couldn’t sleep.
Why Sierre, of all people?
The Bayerne Marquis House was wealthy, but not a prestigious noble house. And its wealth could not compare to that of a duke’s estate.
He could have met someone much better. He had every qualification to do so.
So why Sierre—her friend, of all people?
What on earth was he thinking? Or rather, since when?
It was pointless to suspect him now, but she still couldn’t shake the thoughts. And she resented him for it.
Perhaps because of that resentment—or because of her exhausted body—a dull pain returned to her chest.
As Ariel placed a hand over her aching chest, a maid’s voice was heard.
“Miss, it is ready.”
Ariel opened her eyes, which she had closed from exhaustion, and looked into the mirror.
Maybe because she had dressed up after a long time, her reflection looked surprisingly composed despite her troubled heart. Ariel softly praised the maid.
“Good work.”
She stood up.
At that moment, from beyond the wide-open balcony doors, she heard the sound of the front gate opening. The head of the Kuno Merchant Guild had arrived.
Taking a deep breath filled with tension, Ariel left the room with the maid.
When she descended to the lobby, she saw the guild master already stepping out of his carriage.
The guild master, who stroked his thick mustache, immediately showed his displeasure upon seeing her and lifted his chin stiffly.
His title was baron, while she was the daughter of a marquis. Normally, he should have bowed according to etiquette, but he had already ignored proper visiting protocol from the start.
Of course he wouldn’t bow.
Since a power struggle was pointless here, Ariel spoke first.
“Nice to meet you. I am Ariel Blante.”
“Hmph, greetings. I am Pedlin Kuno, head of the Kuno Merchant Guild.”
Ariel forced the corners of her mouth into a smile.
“You arrived so suddenly this morning that we were unable to properly prepare to receive you. However, tea has been prepared in the reception room, so if we could continue the conversation there—”
But the guild master raised a hand and cut her off before she could finish.
Ariel’s face stiffened at the blatant rudeness, but the guild master ignored her and waved his hand irritably.
“Miss, I did not come here to sit in a reception room and chat with you. I will get straight to the point. I demand that the Blante Marquis House repay its debt to the Kuno Merchant Guild within this month.”
Ariel frowned at the absurd demand.
“Within this month? That is far too unreasonable, Guild Master. While it is true that our house is in a difficult situation, you made a contract with my father. The repayment deadline is clearly stated in the contract—”
“Miss! That contract was made when the Blante Marquis House was still intact! If I had known the Blante Marquis would die so irresponsibly, I would never have signed it! This is practically fraud against me!”
He raised his voice again, cutting her off, trying to intimidate her.
But Ariel was not intimidated. Instead, her mind became strangely clear. She already began thinking about how to handle the debt.
She exhaled sharply at the rude man.
“Fraud… I see that is what you believe. Then I have nothing more to say.”
The guild master paused at her changed tone.
Ariel continued calmly.
“The Blante Marquis House will repay the debt according to the contract, whether you accept it or not.”
“What…?”
“And if you truly believe this contract is fraud, then you should proceed through the proper legal channels.”
“Legal channels… You mean a trial?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
At Ariel’s calm answer, the guild master’s eyes widened in surprise.
Of course he was shocked. Even Ariel had not originally intended for it to go to court.
She had expected the guild master to demand land or treasures from the estate’s storage. She had already concluded that giving up some assets would be more realistic than a trial.
But what could she do? He had crossed the line first.
And judging by how prepared they were, it didn’t seem like negotiation was even possible within acceptable terms.
Ariel added indifferently to the flustered guild master.
“Isn’t that right? The Blante Marquis House cannot repay the money immediately, and you are being completely inflexible. You do not even wish to speak with me, and you claim the contract itself is fraud, so please file a lawsuit against us.”
She spoke as if she were seriously considering court proceedings.
“I understand the current financial situation of your house is not even suitable for a trial, so isn’t this a reckless move…?”
The guild master trailed off, carefully observing her expression, as if testing whether she was truly serious.
However, Ariel showed no hesitation.
“That is something for our house to handle. And even if things are difficult, isn’t it better than preparing one million krang within a month? If necessary, we can simply declare bankruptcy. Then all debts to the Kuno Merchant Guild will disappear as well.”
Ariel’s steady gaze made the guild master’s face gradually pale. He realized she was serious.
The guild master coughed and lowered his aggressive attitude. If things continued like this, they would leave with nothing.
And if they really filed for bankruptcy… the guild would suffer massive losses.
He had expected the Blante Marquis’ daughter to be timid after her father’s death and the duke’s abandonment.
No—his assistant had specifically said the young lady would be intimidated. That if they pressured her, she would hand over the family heirlooms.
But contrary to expectations, Ariel Blante only became calmer the more she was pressured. She did not lose an ounce of noble dignity.
The guild master shot a sharp glare at his assistant, who was now visibly flustered. Then he quickly changed his tone.
“Ahem, Lady Blante. I seem to have gotten a bit too emotional due to the situation. It is also improper for me to visit so suddenly. I apologize for the disturbance.”
He bowed his head.
Ariel did not immediately accept the apology and remained silent for a moment.
He had not only disrespected her but also insulted her late father. Part of her wanted to refuse the apology outright and demand they proceed to court—but emotions alone could not solve this. It wasn’t only her problem.
And didn’t she originally have no intention of a real fight today?
What she needed—what she had to do—was not a lawsuit, but negotiation… right.
Ariel swallowed a heavy breath and slowly parted her tightly closed lips.
