TMST 17

Chapter 17

“Ah, the weather is nice. The sky is really clear.”

“……”

“A day like this would be perfect for a picnic.”

“……”

“It would be so nice to pack sandwiches and fruit in a basket and have a picnic by the lake, don’t you think?”

“……”

She tried her best to ramble about nonsense, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.

Sitting perfectly upright with impeccable posture, he gazed out the window. Not only was he quiet, but he didn’t move an inch. He looked like a wax statue.

Even though there were clearly two people in the carriage, Karin somehow felt as though she were alone. Awkwardly, she began twisting a strand of her hair around her finger.

“Are you really not going to say anything until we arrive?”

“……”

Apparently, that was exactly what he intended. She waited a little longer, but he kept his lips tightly shut and stubbornly refused to take his eyes off the scenery outside.

He wouldn’t even look at her.

Her insides were burning with impatience.

The festival isn’t that far away anymore…

Cruelly, time refused to wait for Karin. Only a little over a month remained until the Ashite Flower Festival.

No matter what happened, she needed to become friends with Arken before then. But judging by his current attitude, she was beginning to doubt whether that would be possible.

Why was she so obsessed with the festival, when Arken wasn’t going to suddenly drop dead the moment it ended?

Simply put, Karin planned to test the waters on the day of the festival.

According to the original story, Arken would look upon the Ashite flowers that day and remember the secret at the heart of the problem—a dark secret connected to his own death, something he had to bear alone.

Ironically, the heavier a secret was, the more people wanted to tell someone about it.

So Karin firmly believed that if she became at least a close friend—even if not a lifelong companion—she could gently coax the truth out of him.

Whether learning the secret would actually save him was another matter entirely.

The real problem right now is figuring out how to become friends with Arken.

Opportunities to be alone with him like this were rare.

If she didn’t want to waste it, she had to keep the conversation going somehow. Spending time talking together was naturally the quickest path to friendship.

But first, there was another issue she needed to address.

She had hoped to gloss over it somehow, but that no longer seemed possible.

“Is this because of the bet yesterday?”

“……”

“Strictly speaking, I didn’t do anything wrong, did I? It was the Duke who decided to wager territory. I never imagined he’d put something that valuable on the line. One-fifth of an annual budget! I can’t tell whether he was trying to look bold or if he’s just naturally that generous.”

Karin spoke honestly.

At last, she got a reaction.

“You are no different, Your Grace. Is a mine of little value?”

It was a sharp question.

Karin found herself speechless.

“Why did you propose such a wager in the first place?”

“Well…”

Because I was trying to bring you over!

She couldn’t exactly tell him she’d intended to make him the prize of the bet.

So she wisely kept her mouth shut.

“I cannot understand the reasoning of either of you. Are mines and territories things that should be traded so casually?”

Everything he said was completely reasonable, leaving her unable to argue.

He was right. A mine or an estate was a little excessive as the stake in a one-time wager.

“Still… what’s the harm? It’s not like anyone else is getting hurt.”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller as she attempted to defend herself.

After all, both parties had agreed to the bet willingly.

Neither side had wagered all of their land or resources. Surely this much was acceptable.

But Arken let out a deep sigh.

The expression on his face resembled that of someone exhausted from dealing with a stubborn child who never listened.

“Why do you say no one will be hurt?”

From his reaction, it seemed there was something she hadn’t considered.

If that was true, the situation was completely different.

The type of person Karin hated most was someone who inconvenienced innocent people.

“Tell me. Is someone being harmed because of this bet?”

“No. I spoke unnecessarily.”

Resignation settled across his face.

Seeing it made her anxious.

“Please tell me. I don’t want anyone suffering because of me.”

The sincerity in her voice finally seemed to reach him.

After taking a deep breath, as though suppressing something in his chest, Arken wiped away that look of resignation.

“You may have viewed it as a game, Your Grace, but the people living in those territories and working in those mines will lose their livelihoods. Few would wish to suddenly become subjects of another duchy. Most would leave their homes and relocate to land belonging to their original nation. Then they would have to rebuild their lives from nothing.”

“Ah…”

The realization struck Karin like a tray to the head.

She had thought only about the monetary value of mines and estates.

She had never once considered that they were people’s homes.

The memory of casually asking what’s the harm? filled her with embarrassment.

Just because she had become a duchy’s daughter didn’t mean she should start thinking like an aristocrat.

What should she do now?

Staring at the floor of the carriage as though the answer might be written there, she pondered the problem.

Fortunately, she was the daughter of the wealthy Second Duchy.

And there was one truth she firmly believed in:

There was no problem in the world that money couldn’t solve.

A brilliant idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

“I’ll guarantee housing and jobs for all the residents.”

Arken looked up.

“For everyone, whether they’re from the First Duchy or the Second.”

The best solution would have been canceling the wager altogether.

But Karin wasn’t confident that Duke Lucas, whose aristocratic mindset ran to the bone, would agree.

So instead, she decided she would personally bear the consequences.

“They’ll have a difficult time adjusting to a new territory, so I’ll provide compensation as well. And to prevent complaints, I’ll personally oversee the residents for a while.”

For the first time, the normally steady blue eyes wavered.

Arken looked genuinely surprised.

“You mean that?”

“Of course. If I caused the problem, then it’s my responsibility.”

Karin answered calmly.

The expenses this month would be rather painful…

But surely they couldn’t compare to the amount Duke Tricia lost through gambling.

And if Duke Tricia noticed the missing money, she could always claim she had spent it on dresses and jewelry.

As for governing territory residents?

Well, if Duke Tricia could do it, surely she could manage it while standing on her head.

“Thank you for telling me. You pointed out something I completely overlooked.”

That was sincere as well.

If Arken hadn’t spoken up, she would have earned the resentment of countless people without ever understanding why.

The realization filled her with gratitude.

“You know something? You’re the most perfect person I’ve ever met.”

Arken blinked.

“You aren’t just good at your job—you have incredible judgment. You graduated first in your class from the Royal Academy. You’re a genius among geniuses, and on top of that you’re an exceptional mage. Honestly, I’d give Duke Lucas ten mines if it meant bringing you to our duchy.”

She hadn’t intended to praise him quite so enthusiastically.

But once she started speaking honestly, the compliments kept pouring out.

That should do it, she thought.

Maybe it was time to change the subject.

Yet when she looked at him, she found him staring directly at her.

His eyes were unfocused.

There was sadness in them.

Moments ago he had simply seemed surprised.

Now there was something else.

Before she could say anything, he slowly lowered his head and sank into deep thought.

An awkward silence followed.

Karin fidgeted helplessly.

Did I overdo it?

She had managed to solve the problem, but somehow she had made him depressed instead.

Eventually she forced herself to speak.

“So… would you ever consider coming to the Second Duchy?”

The question was partly an attempt to lighten the mood and partly an effort to recruit him.

Surely any employee would be tempted by this.

“I’ll double your salary and cut your working hours in half.”

The plan only half succeeded.

The gloom faded from his face, but…

“The Second Duchy is known as the graveyard of aides.”

…she failed to recruit him.

A graveyard for aides.

She hadn’t expected that.

No wonder nobody ever applied for their job postings.

The realization was surprisingly shocking.

Apparently, the Second Duchy wasn’t merely infamous for overworking people—it was the sort of workplace everyone actively avoided.

Still, it was a relief to see him looking more like himself again.

Determined to encourage him further, Karin continued talking nonsense.

“Ah… well… anyway, if you ever come to our duchy, we’ll treat you incredibly well. So if Duke Lucas works you too hard or starts mistreating you, pack your bags and run straight to the Second Duchy.”

She grinned.

“And don’t feel pressured. It’s not because you’re extraordinary. I simply like you as a person.”

So remember that, okay?

She ended the remark playfully.

She wasn’t expecting an answer.

She simply thought it would help lighten the atmosphere.

Fortunately, it worked.

The shadows lingering on his face disappeared.

Watching light slowly return to those blue eyes, Karin finally relaxed.

Whew. Thank goodness.

He was far more delicate and sensitive than he appeared.

After all, what exactly in her earlier words could have possibly made him so gloomy?

The situation had been salvaged, but she worried that another careless remark might upset him again.

Deciding not to take any chances, Karin turned toward the window.

She would have to be more careful with her words from now on.

“…Understood.”

The elegant voice reached her ears.

Karin questioned whether she had heard correctly.

It was an answer.

A very late answer.

The fact that he had responded at all was surprising.

The fact that it was an affirmative response was even more surprising.

But the most shocking thing of all was—

Did he just smile?

The corners of his soft reddish lips had curved upward ever so slightly.

She took a deep breath and looked again.

The faint smile remained.

Even seeing it with her own eyes, she could hardly believe it.

It was so slight that it might vanish at any moment.

So subtle that most people wouldn’t even notice it.

But it was definitely a smile.

Legendary… A legendary moment…!

Arken had smiled.

She had actually seen him smile.

She felt like screaming and running laps around the carriage.

Karin opened her mouth wide in excitement.

And then—

“Cough! Cough!”

She immediately started choking.

She had swallowed wrong because she got too excited.

Pressing one hand against her chest and clutching her throat with the other, she coughed violently.

Her throat burned.

But her mood couldn’t have been higher.

“Cough! Cough!”

Unfortunately, the moment she started coughing, the smile vanished.

Arken immediately turned toward her.

“Are you alright?”

“Cough—I’m fine—cough!”

Karin waved him off.

Then she noticed something.

Though faint, concern had appeared in his blue eyes.

He was worried about her.

The realization nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Another legendary moment…

“I-I’m fine. Really.”

Just as suddenly as it had begun, the coughing stopped.

Removing her hand from her throat, she gave him an embarrassed smile.

“That’s a relief.”

For a brief moment, he looked genuinely relieved.

Then his face returned to its usual expressionless state.

Yet somehow he no longer seemed cold.

Nor did he seem sad.

If anything, he looked slightly gentler.

Karin liked that very much.

“We’re almost there. You should prepare to disembark.”

The good news didn’t stop there.

He had spoken first, naturally, as though the awkwardness from before had never happened.

Beaming, Karin smiled brightly.

At this point we’re friends, right? Maybe not best friends yet, but definitely friends?

If things continued like this, becoming close friends—and learning his secret—wouldn’t be difficult at all.

But before that, there was something she needed to do.

“We’ve arrived, milady.”

The coachman stopped the carriage.

Karin jumped out immediately and hurried into the palace grounds.

Beside the towering main gate stood the knights’ training grounds in all their imposing glory.

It was time to meet Marta.