USML 20

Chapter 20

The restaurant I was in was a well-known place in the capital, frequented by many noble regulars. Its food and service were impeccable, and on top of that, it had a special layout of private rooms.

You entered through a back door wearing a robe, and you left the same way, still robed. In short, it was a space designed to protect the privacy of nobles.

Getting here today had been exhausting.

I had to persuade the count and Dave, who tried to stop my meeting with Jerod, and also calm down the morning’s commotion. Do they have any idea how hard that was for me?

And now even my plan had gone awry. Why did no one tell me? That Jerod was a middle-aged man, roughly the same age as Count Feard!

I screamed internally while forcing a smile. I could feel my facial muscles trembling.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Vanessa Feard of the Feard Trading Company.”

Why had no one told me? No—actually, they had. The count and Dave, who had watched me closely every day and tried to stop me; the warm look Dave’s secretary had given me during the handover; even the executives and employees at the trading company, who had covered their mouths in awe when they saw me.

So many signs had been there. I’d simply been too overwhelmed to notice. Looking back, everything had been telling me the truth.

A man in his forties trying to meet a woman in her vibrant twenties. I had planned to use him too, so perhaps it was mutual, but still—Jerod’s age was far too much.

What should I do? I let out a deep sigh when Jerod wasn’t looking. Contrary to my expectations, he didn’t fit even the bare minimum standard of a “lover.” Even if I went around shouting, “Jerod and I are lovers! Day one starting today!” people would still question it. Why would a young, attractive noble lady—one who attracted men even without trying—choose him?

“Ahem.”

How much time had passed? Jerod cleared his throat to draw my attention.

“Delighted to meet you, Lady Vanessa Feard. I am Baron Jerod, a very, very important customer of your trading company—and a very, very important business partner.”

Jerod approached, kissed the back of my hand, and put on what he clearly thought was his most dashing expression.

“I look forward to working with you, Lady Vanessa.”

“Back then, my father aimed a huge arrow at a huge eagle—!”

I nodded absentmindedly as I listened to Jerod’s enthusiastic storytelling. Anyone watching me would probably think I was completely out of it.

Suddenly, I was glad I hadn’t brought Perry along, even though he’d insisted on following me. If he had been here, he would have complained about his eardrums bleeding and demanded something in return.

I was already exhausted before we’d even gotten to the main point. This couldn’t go on. I opened my mouth to interrupt him.

“Baron Jerod?”

“And then my tutor said, ‘Ah, you’re destined for greatness! You’ll revive our family with your brilliance!’ And so on and so forth, blah blah, la-di-da.”

“Baron Jerod.”

“!#$#$@$%”

Thud.

I placed the contract I’d prepared onto the mahogany table with an audible thump. Thankfully, we’d just finished eating, so the table was clean.

Jerod scanned the contract sprawled across the table, his eyes widening. Soon, his lips puckered in displeasure.

“Baron Jerod.”

When I smiled at him, his gaze snapped to my face. He couldn’t hide the grin spreading across his own.

I slid the documents toward him.

“Please read it carefully, think it over thoroughly, and then sign.”

“So even if I think it over carefully, the result is already decided?”

As expected of a businessman—his instincts were sharp. My smile almost faltered, but I forced myself to maintain it.

“If we use the trade port, it takes a month. But if we pass through your lands and reach the inspection post, it takes about ten days.”

“Ahem. Well, yes.”

“For us, renewing the contract with you is absolutely essential.”

Jerod lifted his chin in response. Right—knowing that was probably why he acted so arrogantly.

“But is renewing the contract beneficial only for us?”

Jerod replied curtly, as if he didn’t understand my intent.

“What are you getting at?”

“In addition to the contract fee, you receive about three percent of the profits from the crafts we import. You know very well that it’s a considerable sum.”

“Why bring up something everyone already knows?”

“We proposed increasing it to four percent, but you rejected the terms. So we had no choice but to reduce it to three.”

“W-What did you say?”

Jerod raised his voice, unable to hide his shock. He shifted as if he were about to stand up.

“The faster you sign, the better it will be for both of us. I’ll give you three days.”

Clutching the contract, Jerod skimmed through the clauses at a frantic pace. With every page his rough hands turned, disbelief filled his eyes. His mouth opened and closed like a fish before he finally let out a breath.

“Ha! This is absurd!”

“After today, it’ll be two percent. After tomorrow, one percent. And the day after that…”

I shrugged with a bright smile.

“The clause will disappear altogether.”

Rising lightly from my seat, I played my final card.

“Please think it over carefully and sign, Baron.”

“D-Does Deputy Head Dave know about this? L-Lady! Where are you going?!”

Ignoring his calls, I swiftly put on my robe and left the room.

Jerod had allowed personal emotions to interfere with business, without even weighing the pros and cons.

He knew better than anyone that there was no alternative route to replace his trade road. That was why he could make such unreasonable demands.

Jerod had always been in the dominant position, while the Feard Trading Company—and all others—were on the weaker side. Even if we bowed our heads and brought him better terms, the chances of tempting him were slim.

Humans are creatures bound by time. Apply time pressure, and anxiety is inevitable. Confusing Jerod with an unexpected proposal and forcing him into a blunder after long deliberation would be far more effective. He knew, too, that not signing would ultimately cost him.

“Dave suddenly comes to mind.”

The day before, Dave had asked if I had a way to secure the contract. When I shared my idea, his eyes had gleamed behind his lenses, a faint smile on his lips—like someone who’d just discovered hidden talent.

“Did I overstep?”

He probably wouldn’t give me more work. Lost in idle thoughts, I headed toward the room where Sherry and Donna were.

“Donna?”

Outside the room stood Donna in a robe, guarding the door with an awkward expression.

“Donna, what’s wrong?”

“Well…”

She dragged out her words, fidgeting in place. Then she stepped aside and whispered,

“Should I open the door? He’s inside…”

He? Tilting my head, I watched as Donna cracked the door open. The moment felt oddly slow.

Through the widening gap, I saw a familiar face.

“Evan Dustin?”

Why was Evan with Sherry? I gestured to Donna, but she looked just as confused.

A heavy silence filled the room. Evan and Sherry sat facing each other. They didn’t break eye contact even as the door opened. Evan’s gaze, in particular, clung to Sherry with unwavering intensity.

“Ah…”

Understanding the situation, I signaled Donna to close the door. It hadn’t been intentional, but the two had met in the end.

I’d planned to arrange a separate meeting, but that was no longer necessary.

No matter how much the original story had changed, even if it wasn’t love at first sight, they had clearly taken an interest in each other. That must be why they stared as if no one else existed. Perhaps there was a world of their own—one I couldn’t enter.

Turning away, I felt a mix of bitterness and regret.

Right. Now the two of them would fall in love…

“Since we’ll soon be family, I’ll allow you to address me more casually.”

“Don’t spout such nonsense.”

…Fall in love?

“When do you think it’d be good to discuss the engagement?”

“Murder?”

“No, discussion.”

“Right. Murder.”

Are they really about to fall in love? For people on the verge of romance, their words were anything but sweet. I hadn’t expected it to be easy—especially with Sherry—but still. Fighting like this?

Sherry clenched her teeth and gripped the sword at her waist as if she might draw it at any moment. When Evan tilted his teacup to his lips and murmured something, Sherry sprang up like a freshly caught fish, searching for something. Her eyes landed on me, twisting with resentment.

“How could you do this to me?”

What on earth had he said to her…? Had she found out about what happened in Cent? Like a guilty thief, my heart pounded as I backed away from Sherry, who was stomping toward me.

I waved my hands, trying to put distance between us.

“S-Sis, let’s calm down first—”

“How could you go on a date with that guy and only him?!”

…That guy? Not “the man you love”? Sherry trembled with rage, fists clenched. I stared at her blankly for a few seconds—and then, before anyone could stop her, she stormed out of the restaurant.

Turning stiffly toward the room Sherry had left, I saw Evan standing there with a crooked, triumphant smile.

What are you so proud of winning?