Chapter 22
“Why would that be against the rules?”
Amin leaned lazily against the bar and stared at Leon.
Seeing the usual playfulness absent from his face, I frowned.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
“Are you saying I’m conspiring with my wife to rob merchants?”
“It’s possible. Or—”
Leon answered quite seriously and added more coins on the bar table.
It looked like about a hundred Duran.
“You might squeeze the lady for money if you had to.”
“Me?”
Amin laughed in disbelief.
At that moment, a man walked over and placed a bundle of gold coins in front of me.
Yohn Rauta.
The very same merchant guild leader.
With tightly tied wavy red hair, the man looked to be in his late 30s.
‘Unexpected.’
The Rauta Trading Company was a huge organization that dealt not only with northern noble families but also with houses across the border like the Marquis of Rochen.
Almost like a guild, other merchants often worked as if they were part of the Rauta Company for major deals.
It was said that the annual trade volume of the Rauta Company was equivalent to the entire annual consumption of the Wilhelm territory.
In short, the head of the Rauta Company held power comparable to that of a lord ruling a vast estate.
I had expected someone older and more seasoned.
‘He became the head at a young age.’
As I was thinking that, Yohn knelt on one knee before me and bowed.
“Greetings to Your Grace the Grand Duke and Your Ladyship the Grand Duchess. I’ve wanted to pay my respects since you arrived earlier, but the opportunity never came.”
“…Is that so.”
Liar.
I wasn’t oblivious to the calculating look in his eyes while observing the situation.
“I am Yohn Rauta, head of the Rauta Trading Company. Thanks to His Grace’s support, I’m just a lowly merchant buying and selling goods in Wilhelm territory.”
The way he smoothly inserted his introduction.
The modesty in calling himself a “lowly merchant.”
I could guess why he had waited for this moment.
‘He wanted to leave an impression.’
The moment he learned the Grand Duke and Duchess were staying at the same inn, he must have been waiting for the perfect timing.
After Amin Wilhelm lost the war a year ago, Wilhelm’s influence had certainly declined.
But that was only in terms of political standing within the Empire. Wilhelm was still a massive territory bordering the empire.
For a merchant company like Rauta, which operated across borders, it was impossible to do business without using the land routes passing through Wilhelm.
So, it was crucial for him not to offend the Grand Duke and Duchess.
Especially me, who had just married into the position.
‘And I’ve now given him the perfect opportunity.’
Realizing his calculation, I started to understand how someone so young could lead such a vast company.
‘He’s definitely skilled at maneuvering.’
Then how about this?
“Are you betting on me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
At my question, Yohn’s eyebrows rose slightly.
But the surprised expression lasted only a moment before he answered smoothly.
“Because the wisest person here placed his bet on Your Ladyship.”
With that, he stood and looked at the Grand Duke, Amin.
He wanted to catch two rabbits with one stone.
Winning or losing money wasn’t Yohn’s real concern.
I chuckled softly.
“Alright. But—”
I opened the bundle he had offered and narrowed my eyes.
“For the head of the North’s greatest merchant company, this is pitiful.”
A slight crack appeared on Yohn’s composed face.
Pitiful? Hardly.
He had wagered a thousand Duran.
A hefty sum for a bar bet like this.
Most likely, he had prepared to lose this money on purpose for the Grand Duchess.
Looking at him, I smiled.
“You’re betting this money knowing you’ll lose, right? You’re assuming I’ll lose too.”
“Pardon? That’s…”
“That’s why the wager is so small. Am I wrong?”
His expression turned complicated.
He coughed and put on a sly smile.
“I don’t think Your Ladyship should bother competing in a drinking contest with such a burly man. I also doubt you could win.”
Hearing that, I smirked.
“Now you’re just making me want to win more. I thought the head of the Rauta Company would have more guts.”
“Then how much should I bet?”
“If Sir Soren wins, I’ll buy all the jewelry you brought today. But if I win, you’ll distribute all the edible goods your company brought today to the villagers for free.”
“…!”
Yohn’s eyes widened.
Me offering to buy all the jewelry was a huge deal.
Nobles in the North didn’t favor jewelry much. Fur, maybe—but not gems.
However, jewelry was where the biggest profits lay.
It was expensive and had high margins.
But the price of losing was also steep.
Because most of the goods the company brought were edible.
A high-risk, high-reward bet.
Plus, Soren was Wilhelm’s knight. He could easily throw the match to serve his lord’s interests.
If I were Yohn, I’d still take the bet.
‘He’ll accept.’
Despite the risks.
“Very well. Let’s do that.”
As expected, he accepted.
The onlookers went wild with excitement.
Big, outrageous bets were always fun.
Me, half Soren’s size, challenging him to a drinking contest was ridiculous on its own. And the possibility of free food? That was the real jackpot for them.
Entertainment and free food.
No matter the outcome, it was a win for the spectators.
The innkeeper, equally excited, brought out tray after tray of drinks while Amin sat next to me.
“Maybe I should’ve listened to that arrogant blacksmith.”
He smiled bitterly at me.
“Thanks to this bet, I’ll end up giving you a mountain of jewelry.”
Exactly one hour later.
By the time the empty glasses from Soren and Diana’s drinking contest lined one end of the bar all the way to the other—
“Wow, Your Ladyship’s eyes are completely glazed over. Shall we stop now? You look… very tired.”
“Yeah… I am a bit tired.”
Diana mumbled, resting her chin on her hand.
Soren chuckled and picked up another glass.
“You won’t be able to finish this one. I guarantee it.”
“Maybe… but…”
“Yeah, no way. You’re much more delicate than I am.”
“I just finished an entire bottle of strong rum upstairs.”
“…?!”
Soren’s eyes, already glazed and with red cheeks and nose, furrowed.
“You drank that and now this?!”
“Well, you know…”
Diana grinned at the fresh glass.
“It’s been a while since I drank like this. Feels like the fatigue is finally lifting. I was still tired… but now I feel better.”
With that, she emptied the glass in one go and cheerfully shouted to the innkeeper.
“Another one here, please!”
That was the last thing Soren saw.
Thud!
The moment he saw Diana smiling and ordering another drink, Soren let go of the last thread of consciousness, and his forehead hit the ground.
Diana looked at him with a tilted head and smiled.
“Stupid guy…”
How dare he challenge me?
Drinking wasn’t about strength.
Diana tapped his shoulder a couple of times.
“…Drinking is about spirit, Sir Soren.”
“…”
Of course, there was no reply.
But she kept smiling at him.
“You’re hopeless as a man, huh?!”
With that, she stood up and turned toward the crowd that had watched their grueling match.
At first, they had cheered for the Duchess’s unexpected performance. But now they all looked shell-shocked by the ridiculous amount of alcohol she had consumed.
Then, as soon as she turned toward them, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Remembering Yohn’s bet with the Grand Duchess, they began to shout at the merchants to bring out the food.
Naturally, the merchants panicked as the swarm of spectators descended like bees.
And just when they all turned to Yohn with anxious faces—
Instead of looking flustered, Yohn smiled and said calmly:
“Give it all out.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the merchants and the crowd surged out of the tavern to start the feast.
Amin carried the unconscious Soren upstairs, Leon Kowalski got swept away by the crowd, and Diana, grinning, sat down across from Yohn with the smell of alcohol still heavy on her.
Still holding a fresh drink.
“You really are bold… Or maybe…”
She took a sip from the almost-overflowing glass.
“Was I just helping you get rid of the food you almost dumped because the potato deal with House Rochen fell through?”
“…!”
Yohn’s eyes widened at her words.
