LVSMLA 36

Chapter 36

“Hmm? No, I didn’t. I haven’t been dreaming lately.”

“What? You don’t dream at all? Since when?”

“Mm……”

Calisto’s answer was unexpected. He seemed to search his memory for a moment, then shrugged.

“Since I came to the Baekbeak estate, my dreams started getting things wrong. I kept having them for a while anyway, but at some point everything became completely off. Then a few years ago, I just stopped dreaming altogether.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Calisto’s dreams were about the future events that originally followed the novel’s storyline. Since I had interfered and changed too much of the original plot, it seemed his dreams no longer worked properly.

Come to think of it, it had always been strange how a clearly dominant alpha like Calisto kept insisting he would become an omega. I felt a bit awkward and held the child closer.

“Cal, I don’t care whether you’re an omega or an alpha. As long as you’re healthy, that’s all that matters, so don’t worry too much about your designation.”

I was already worried he might be disappointed if he manifested as an alpha. I wanted to prepare him mentally in advance, but Calisto shook his head firmly, as if he had no idea what I was thinking.

“No! Don’t worry, hyung! I’m going to become an omega and marry you.”

“…Uh…”

Since we had agreed with my father to tell him the truth after his manifestation, the child still believed I was an alpha. His talk of marriage, spoken as casually as breathing, hadn’t changed at all. Even if it was when he was younger, a thirteen-year-old still insisting on marrying his older brother was probably only Calisto.

He really was still just a baby. I suppressed a sigh and smiled at him. Then Calisto shouted excitedly.

“It’s true, hyung! I checked everything! They said they’ve never seen an alpha as pretty as me!”

“Oh… Calisto, you checked that yourself?”

“Yeah! They definitely said I’ll be an omega!”

“Mm, I see.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that he was a top-tier alpha who would grow much taller than me. So I couldn’t refute him and just gave him a kiss on his round cheek instead.

Of course no one had ever seen an alpha as pretty as Calisto. That was why he would become known as the most beautiful alpha in the empire. Still… wasn’t he a bit too self-aware for a child? I couldn’t help worrying that I might have raised him wrong……

The next day, Harrington and Camois visited the Baekbeak estate for the first time in six years since the loan had been granted.

Duke Harrington seemed surprised that I, instead of my father, was receiving them. In the Ferron Empire, one is officially considered an adult at eighteen, but it was rare for a newly adult heir to take full charge like this. Harrington cleared his throat, clearly displeased.

“Ahem… Is the Count unwell?”

I smiled lightly and shook my head.

“The Wynethes business is entirely under my management. My father only participates when important decisions are needed. There’s no need to trouble him with minor matters.”

“…I see.”

That meant there was no need to bother my father over something like meeting Duke Harrington. Harrington’s expression stiffened, as if he understood the implication. Since he was the one here to ask for leniency, he couldn’t openly object.

“By the way, it’s been a while. Come to think of it, the loan maturity date is approaching. I’ve been so busy I nearly forgot, so thank you for keeping the schedule.”

I gestured for them to sit in the study chairs. Harrington sat without reply, but both of us knew he hadn’t come to repay the loan—and he knew that I knew.

Harrington spoke in a rigid voice.

“…I’ve come to ask if you might extend the maturity date.”

“Pardon? An extension?”

I widened my eyes in feigned surprise. Harrington shot me a sharp look. I simply smiled and pretended not to notice.

As expected, Harrington could not repay the loan.

With Wynethes’ crystal glass becoming a success, demand for Eastern Continental glass had sharply declined over the past few years. Wynethes products were superior, and Eastern glass also carried high transport costs due to trade, making it far more expensive.

The problem was that glass trade accounted for a large portion of Eastern commerce. Harrington had invested heavily in developing a new port and poured most of his family’s assets into Eastern trade, only to find himself in a difficult position. Profit had plummeted.

Not only was there no profit, but he had yet to recover the initial investment. Naturally, he had no funds to repay the loan.

I watched Harrington, whose clenched fist was hidden behind his back, while calmly sipping tea and waiting for his answer.

“…It seems we won’t be able to repay by the due date.”

“What? Surely not. The Harrington family is one of the greatest in the empire. We trusted you and provided the funds, so it would be troublesome for us if repayment is difficult.”

“Wynethes young lord! When did the Duke say he wouldn’t repay at all? That’s too harsh!”

Camois, who had been sitting like a scarecrow, flared up after glancing at Harrington. I simply shrugged and set down my teacup.

“Well… forgive my bluntness, but I am concerned. Eastern trade may no longer be viable, and a considerable amount of capital is at stake.”

“Then are you saying you intend to take the gold mine as collateral?”

The Duke had provided two assets as collateral: Exeter, where the gold mine was located, and the Bjorn region, said to be depleted of ore.

While Harrington had little interest in Bjorn, he could not afford to lose the Exeter gold mine, which was currently in production.

As for me, it didn’t matter much whether I obtained the gold mine or not—my real target had always been Bjorn.

In Bjorn, a copper mine would be discovered a few years later. In the original story, that copper mine would propel Harrington’s rise and allow him to threaten Calisto. Later, it would be used against the Empress and Prince Roen.

After a brief silence, Harrington spoke anxiously.

“Give us a little more time. Even if we withdraw from glass trade, Eastern commerce is still strong. We’re already working on new items. It’s only a temporary delay in liquidity!”

I looked at him quietly.

In truth, Harrington wasn’t wrong. Eastern trade would remain strong for several more years. Although the sudden collapse of glass trade had reduced profits significantly, the East was culturally rich and offered many new trading opportunities. If he could survive this short-term crisis, he would recover.

So I had two choices: crush him now and cut off his momentum, or……

“I must have been short-sighted. You are right, Duke. Please forgive my ignorance.”

I smiled brightly. As I stepped back, Harrington softened immediately. After all, this wasn’t a situation where he could act superior.

“Hm, if the Wynethes young lord says so… Could you extend the grace period?”

“We cannot fully release the collateral, but how about transferring Bjorn entirely to us? We’ll reduce the loan by its market value and extend the deadline.”

“Oh, you would do that? If it’s just Bjorn, I gladly accept. Thank you.”

“Not at all. Who could we trust if not the Harrington family? If you need funds again in the future, please come to us anytime. We’ve recently gained some liquidity.”

Harrington’s eyes wavered. Naturally, the suggestion was tempting.

Now it was time for the “carrot.” Thanks to the glass industry, Wynethes had long been flush with capital, and the Duke knew it.

“As expected, I get along well with the Wynethes young lord. I’ll visit again soon. I won’t forget this.”

Having accepted the poisoned carrot, Harrington extended his hand. I shook it, counting the days until his downfall.

Instead of crushing Harrington now, I chose to help him recover from this temporary setback—so that when the Eastern trade collapsed years later, the shock would be far greater.

After finishing the important negotiation, the usual dull conversation followed. I was already tired from staying alert during the meeting. Just then, my father returned from outside and entered the reception room, so I left them to him and headed toward my room.

At that moment, the head butler Cliff hurried toward me from the opposite hallway, looking flustered.

“Sir, you should come outside for a moment.”

“Outside? Isn’t it time for the children’s sword training?”

“Yes… but there has been an issue between the Gilros family children and Young Lord Camois.”

“…Young Lord Camois?”

I frowned without realizing it.

Camois… that was Ivri, the one who had once assaulted Calisto and me, and was banned from the Baekbeak estate long ago.