Chapter 61
“ You look very tired. Are you all right?”
Before departing for the party, Michael looked at Lucy with a worried expression.
“I didn’t sleep well last night…”
“That’s understandable. But there’s no need to feel too burdened. Even if today’s negotiations don’t go as planned, no one will blame you, my lady.”
Despite Michael’s reassuring words, the weight in Lucy’s heart did not lessen.
I’m already a proper member of the trading company. I mustn’t become a burden!
“I’ll make sure to assist you closely so nothing troublesome arises. And besides, you have such a reliable escort with you as well, don’t you?”
Michael’s gaze shifted toward Shan, who had been waiting in front of the carriage.
Shan? I almost didn’t recognize him. He looks like a completely different person dressed like that.
Instead of his usual shabby robe, Shan wore a neatly tailored uniform fit for a knight.
If I recall correctly, in the original story he was said to be of noble birth. Sure enough, dressed properly like this, he looks quite distinguished…
He was never truly a mercenary to begin with. Remembering his past, Lucy quietly nodded to herself.
“My lady truly has an eye for people. I thought he was just a skilled mercenary, but looking at him now, he’s so striking I almost didn’t recognize him.”
Michael laughed heartily in admiration.
Lucy had the sinking feeling that he was badly misunderstanding something.
Well, I suppose it makes sense, since everyone has seen me chasing after him…
She resolved that someday, she would clear up this misunderstanding. With that thought, she headed toward the carriage.
“Shan, you look wonderful today!”
“I’ve simply dressed appropriately for the time and place.”
When Lucy greeted him, Shan replied coolly.
Appropriate for the time and place—he really takes his duty seriously!
Lucy decided that once they returned home, she would gift him a proper uniform of his own, then climbed into the carriage.
“Forgive me, but weapons are not permitted inside the party hall! My lady may enter, but her knight must remain outside.”
At the entrance, the attendant blocked their path, eyeing the massive sword Shan carried.
“That is impossible. My duty is to guard the lady at close range.”
The attendant looked helplessly at Lucy, but Shan remained firm.
“For proper protection, she must remain within my line of sight. We cannot know when or where danger may arise.”
“Our house knights of Polster are guarding this place thoroughly, so you needn’t worry. Please wait outside.”
“If the issue is the weapons, then I’ll leave them here. That should be acceptable, right?”
Lucy stepped in to mediate, meeting Shan’s stubborn gaze.
After a moment’s thought, Shan nodded.
“Understood. Then I’ll entrust the weapons here.”
He handed his sword over to the attendant. Then, reaching into his clothes, he began pulling out hidden weapons one after another.
Just how many weapons does he usually hide on himself? All in his clothes, no less?
One by one, unfamiliar blades, knives, and small tools kept emerging, leaving everyone wide-eyed.
“At last, that’s all.”
Finally, Shan produced a tiny steel bead and placed it in the attendant’s hand.
“Ah, y-yes… Please, proceed inside!”
The flustered attendant quickly stepped aside to open the way.
As Lucy’s party entered the hall, countless eyes turned toward them.
Lucy was accustomed to people’s gazes by now, but tonight she felt the stares were especially intense. Then she noticed most of the attention was directed behind her.
Ah, it’s because of Shan!
With his exotic features and towering height, Shan drew far more eyes than she did.
Even Michael, at her side, seemed uneasy from the attention and glanced at Shan.
“There’s no need to stand so tense. I’ll take good care of the lady. Why don’t you wait over there and rest for a while?”
Michael gestured toward a quieter corner of the hall.
“I think that might be best. I’ll need to speak about business matters, and it wouldn’t do to attract too much attention. Shan, as long as I’m within your sight here in the hall, it should be fine, right?”
At Lucy’s words, Shan gave a small nod and retreated.
Meanwhile, Lucas had been watching Lucy intently since the moment she entered.
That man again…
As always, Shan was right by her side.
Lucas frowned slightly, then turned toward Marquis Pascal Polster, today’s host.
“There, Lady Lucy Rayford of the Pablo Trading Company has arrived.”
“Oh, splendid timing. Then we can continue our discussion directly with her.”
The marquis’s face brightened. They had just been speaking of the Pablo Company when Lucy entered.
“I am Lucy Rayford of the Pablo Trading Company. It is an honor to meet Marquis Polster and His Grace the Duke of Cretaine.”
Looking tense, Lucy introduced herself to the marquis, host of tonight’s gathering and chancellor of the Collin Kingdom.
“I’ve heard much about you. I understand you traveled all this way for trade with our kingdom.”
Lucy flicked a glance at Lucas, wondering exactly who had spoken to the marquis about her.
So my invitation wasn’t a coincidence after all.
She was now certain Lucas’s influence had been behind it.
“Just now, we were discussing the Pablo Company’s crafts. That fine and delicate workmanship—so it came from the artisans of the Duchy of Cretaine!”
At the marquis’s words, Lucy quickly recalled the lessons Michael had drilled into her over the past few days.
“The Duchy of Cretaine is the most advanced in manufacturing technology within the Empire. It is also a place where artisans and craftsmen of many fields can fully display their talents—thanks to the generous support of His Grace the Duke.”
“You flatter me. In truth, it is thanks to Pablo Company’s keen eye that Cretaine’s crafts are now even known to the Collin royal family. I can only be grateful you recognized their worth.”
Lucas answered smoothly.
“It was upon His Grace’s recommendation that I arranged tonight’s gathering. I was most eager to meet Lady Rayford in person.”
Marquis Polster began to lavish praises on the Pablo Company and the Rayford family, and then on the Duchy of Cretaine.
Lucy, unable to bring up business directly, could only nod along in agreement.
The more she listened, the more it seemed the marquis had little interest in actual trade with Pablo.
Perhaps she had only been invited for the marquis to curry favor with Lucas, the envoy of Cretaine.
If that’s the case, then all my effort in coming here will be wasted. I have to secure a deal tonight!
Lucy clutched the hem of her dress nervously.
Just then, Lucas, who had been silent until now, spoke up as if the thought had just occurred to him.
“Now that I think of it, I heard the Pablo Company was interested in Collin’s specialties—was it the spice called Feirint?”
“Yes, exactly! Not only Feirint, but Collin’s spices are famous for their quality. And also…”
Lucy’s voice rose in excitement before she caught herself and glanced back at Michael.
“I had been hoping to meet you in person, Marquis. We sent a proposal some time ago but received no reply. If the terms did not please you, we would be more than willing to…”
“If it concerns the Pablo Company, then I wish to know the details as well. After all, I am its largest investor.”
Interrupting Michael, Lucas smiled at the marquis.
Thanks to him, the negotiations proceeded swiftly, making all the sleepless nights Lucy had spent worrying seem almost pointless.
