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Chapter 63
‘What has the Verdi family done for the empire all these generations?’
It wasn’t that they were trying to curry favor like a tongue twisting in the mouth, but the family had carried the duty of protecting the empire for generations. In a way, they had always handled the dirty work from the farthest reaches.
‘And yet, they betray our family like this and secretly seize Verdi’s property?’
The more she thought about it, the more infuriating it became.
‘But they picked the wrong person.’
She would make sure they paid dearly for that reckless choice.
Calliope smiled faintly, as if she knew nothing.
“There is a considerable quantity of high-purity raw gemstones buried here. If I were to become engaged to the 7th Prince, 1% of the gemstones mined this year would become imperial property. If we marry within six months, 3% of the annual gemstone yield would belong to the royal treasury.”
Bertolt raised his eyebrows at this unexpected proposal.
Calliope pulled another letter from her bosom, also written by Archibald.
‘This time it’s not a letter, but a contract.’
Thanks to discovering the location of the magical stones in the territory and apprehending illegal miners, Archibald had decided to allocate a portion of the gemstone profits to Calliope as her personal property. Calliope then gave half of that portion to Leraje.
‘Perfect. I can use this when negotiating with the emperor.’
Leraje guessed correctly that the emperor would not easily approve the marriage. So, he suggested using the gemstones as a bargaining chip first.
‘The emperor will regret missing out on these stones because of us, so he won’t reject our proposal. I’m sure of it.’
‘Alright. Let’s split the burden evenly.’
Calliope informed Archibald of their joint decision and asked for his help. Archibald agreed, anticipating that the emperor would not easily approve their marriage.
‘We’ll have to throw him a bait. But we’ll use my resources, leaving theirs untouched.’
‘He won’t be able to refuse.’
Calliope smirked inwardly as she watched the emperor scrutinize the contract, unlike the earlier letter.
After a long while, the emperor finally spoke.
“…Not bad.”
Bartole had taken the bait. Calliope slightly bowed and replied,
“I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“However,”
Bartole tossed out casually,
“If we change the terms to processed gemstones, it would be a mutually satisfactory deal.”
‘What nonsense?’
Calliope was dumbfounded.
‘Mutually satisfactory? It would only benefit you.’
Processing gemstones required highly advanced magical skills. Depending on the craftsman, the price of processed stones could rise three to ten times higher than raw stones.
“It would be ideal if the minor duke personally handled the processing.”
‘This man is outright brazen.’
It proved that Archibald’s insight—changing the proposed 10% to 3%—was correct. Leraje’s prediction had also come true.
‘The emperor really is shameless enough to demand processed gemstones.’
The opponent intended to exploit her, while she had acted too reasonably.
‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I’ll give back as much as I receive.’
The emperor was the one who abandoned fair trade first. There was no need to maintain justice for him. Calliope decided to set aside her conscience this time.
“I am in a position where I must eventually manage my family as the minor duke, so I do not have the capacity to personally process the stones.”
Calliope looked the emperor directly in the eyes and continued,
“Instead, I will grant you the right to process the gemstones first.”
A flash of delight crossed Bartole’s eyes.
‘Fool.’
Calliope, reading his thoughts, smiled inwardly.
‘As expected. They’ve only mined the gemstones; they haven’t attempted processing yet.’
So, illegal mining hadn’t started long ago.
‘Good. Glad I tested the waters.’
Having assessed the situation, Calliope realized the deal was overwhelmingly in her favor.
‘The gemstones from the Verdi territory are so pure that only a high-circle mage could process them.’
And, as far as she knew, she was the only mage in the empire at that level.
‘Ultimately, the emperor will have no choice but to ask me to process them.’
Calliope leisurely waited for the emperor’s response.
“3% of the gemstone yield, plus priority processing rights…”
Bartole tapped his fingers on the armrest as if he were pondering, even though the decision was obvious.
“Very well. I accept the minor duke’s proposal.”
Just as the emperor responded as expected, memories of some troubling matters came to Calliope’s mind.
‘Ah, now that I think of it, Leraje…’
She had been secretly worried, even if she hadn’t shown it. So, she used this opportunity to bring it up naturally.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. May the 7th Prince stay at the Verdi mansion during the engagement period?”
Calliope didn’t miss the moment Bartole’s face contorted.
“What did you say?”
‘There’s something here.’
She trusted her intuition.
“Until now, those betrothed to the Verdi family head or heir stayed with them before marriage to learn the Verdi family’s ways.”
Calliope spoke calmly, as if it were a minor request.
“As Your Majesty knows, the Verdi family plays an important role in protecting the empire.”
She subtly emphasized the Verdi family’s influence.
“If the 7th Prince marries me, he will have to assist Count Verdi in the future. Shouldn’t he start learning now?”
“…….”
“Compared to the terms I proposed, this is an exceptionally modest request.”
The emperor stared at Calliope silently for a moment. His eyes mixed frustration and displeasure at not having things go his way.
But Calliope remained unfazed, meeting his gaze head-on.
A tense silence filled the audience hall. The attendants and guards waiting were on high alert.
“Haha, hahaha…!”
Suddenly, Bartole burst into laughter.
“Interesting, very interesting!”
He banged his fists on the armrest and laughed heartily, as if genuinely amused.
Yet Calliope stayed alert. Sure enough, his smile abruptly vanished.
With cold eyes, he said,
“Very well. Let it be so.”
Bartole ordered his attendants,
“Bring ink and a pen.”
Shortly after, a clause regarding Leraje’s residence was added to the contract, and the emperor stamped both contracts in sequence.
After leaving the audience hall, Calliope let out a short sigh.
‘Not easy.’
But the contract in her hands felt reassuring.
‘By six months at the latest, I’ll become a count.’
With Archibald’s complete trust, she would hold her wedding.
‘And take care of Gilbert properly.’
Previously, she had let blood ties influence her judgment, but she would no longer forgive someone who had twice tried to take her life.
‘If I don’t handle it properly, even after becoming a count, he’ll continue to be an obstacle in the future.’
He would surely try to interfere with her family’s rule after she became a count.
Having left the emperor’s palace, Calliope walked toward the 7th Prince’s residence.
The sunlight was pleasantly warm, easing some of the discomfort from facing the emperor.
She lightly turned her neck and muttered to herself,
‘At least the first step is in place.’
“Did it go well?”
“Leraje?”
Calliope’s eyes widened as she spotted a man walking toward her.
“Oh, did you come to meet me?”
“Yes,” Leraje smiled, adding,
“For the contract, not you.”
“Good grief, what a way with words.”
Blaming him for the delay in negotiations, Calliope grumbled but proudly pulled the contract from her bosom.
