Chapter 12
On the day the Runein side was scheduled to visit the Elbanon Trading Company,
Elysia suddenly informed them—just one day in advance—that she would be coming in person to inspect the goods.
Because of that, the head of the trading company, who had been idly wasting time in the entertainment district, had to rush back in a hurry, putting him in an extremely foul mood.
The Elbanon merchant lord sat smoking a cigar with his aide as they talked.
“Brat’s got no manners. If you’re coming to someone else’s business, you should at least give proper notice—say when you’re coming, show some courtesy. Huh?”
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, making a gesture for money.
His aide quickly agreed.
“Exactly. I mean, what would a young girl who knows nothing about the world understand anyway?”
“Right! That’s exactly it. What does a mere girl know, poking her nose into the affairs of grown men? Tsk.”
“But… will this really be okay? No matter what, she’s still the owner of ‘Seturn’….”
“Seturn? Hah. At best, she’s just some brat who inherited everything her parents built.”
“You’re absolutely right, sir.”
It felt excessive to go this far over a young girl, but just in case, he had already replaced all the Hekail wheat in storage with Hessen wheat.
He smirked to himself.
‘Looks like that girl’s in charge of the wheat now. No need to be careful anymore. If I swap everything out for 100% Hekail wheat… just how much profit will that be?’
Thinking that way, Elysia’s visit didn’t seem so bad after all. The merchant lord chuckled inwardly as he waited for her arrival.
Before long, several carriages pulled up.
‘Too scared to come alone, so she brought reinforcements, huh?’
Snorting to himself, he stepped forward.
“Welcome, miss! We are honored to have you at Elbanon Trad—”
“Miss?”
The merchant lord, who had only been thinking of Elysia and looking down on her, flinched in surprise.
The first person to step out of the carriage turned to look at him.
‘He’s huge.’
Cold violet eyes looked down at him.
The man was at least two heads taller, his physique impossible to hide even under his tightly fitted clothing.
But more than that—
‘…What kind of eyes are those?’
The overwhelming pressure from that gaze made the merchant lord’s body tremble involuntarily.
He felt infinitely small, while the man before him seemed impossibly large.
There was no trace of even contempt—only a detached, indifferent gaze, as if looking not at a person, but at an insect, dust… or trash.
Then—
“Shuvel.”
A voice came from inside the carriage, as though soothing an angry beast.
The man turned his gaze away from the merchant lord and looked back.
“Leave him. It’s not like he’ll have any use for that mouth after today anyway.”
“But, my lady—”
“Didn’t you agree to behave if you came along? Want to go back?”
To the merchant lord’s shock, the man who had treated him like less than human suddenly looked subdued.
“I’ll behave.”
“Good.”
The man extended his hand, and a pale hand reached out from the carriage, accepting his escort.
The merchant lord felt dizzy, unable to fully process what they were saying.
Elysia stepped out of the carriage and smiled brightly at him.
“It’s been a while, Lord Elbanon. Have you been well?”
“Ah—yes, yes… Mi—ah, no, M-my lady as well….”
“Of course. I’ve been quite well.”
She added playfully,
“I had bread this morning made from the wheat you sent. It was quite delicious.”
Cold sweat trickled down the merchant lord’s back.
‘What…?’
He felt confused.
The smiling young woman’s eyes were ice-cold.
Her ruby-like eyes stared straight at him.
For some reason, it felt hard to breathe.
“I’ve only recently taken over this matter from my mother, so I brought along a few experts. I hope you’ll understand.”
Her tone was gentle, but it wasn’t a request—it was a notice.
Normally, bringing in third parties without prior agreement would be highly disrespectful, but the merchant lord couldn’t even protest.
First, because Elysia’s calm, domineering presence had already crushed his spirit.
Second, because of Shuvel, who stood behind her, silently staring him down.
“Y-yes….”
Seeing how thoroughly cowed he was, Elysia smiled faintly.
This won’t do. So far, this has only been a light skirmish.
What Elysia wanted wasn’t simply to deal with the Elbanon Trading Company.
As Bella had said, that would be too easy—and meaningless.
If she was going to act personally, it had to be worth it.
‘Right. It should at least serve as a warning.’
To every merchant and trading company that would deal with Runein from now on—
They would all learn what happens when you betray them.
For that, Elysia felt the need to bolster the merchant lord’s confidence just a little.
He was, after all, the most important actor in this play.
She needed him to perform well—for the climax.
“Tasting that bread, I understood why you’re so proud of it. That’s why I invited some acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances…?”
“Good things should be shared, after all. Some of them are considering importing wheat. If the product is good, they might become excellent clients. Of course, I’m certain that will be the case.”
“…!”
The merchant lord’s eyes lit up.
The look of someone who had found a new easy mark.
An introduction from a ducal house was practically a guarantee—making it a far safer sales route.
“Ah, of course! Of course! Please, this way. I’ll personally guide you!”
Guests began stepping out of the following carriages one by one.
While the merchant lord busily greeted them with renewed energy, Elysia watched the door of the last carriage open.
Two men emerged.
“Hic… Are we already here…?”
One was a sharp-looking young man; the other, a man in his mid-to-late thirties wearing a worn hat pulled low.
The older man staggered as he got down, nearly collapsing, and the younger one sighed as he supported him.
“Please pull yourself together, Lord Tyrontz.”
“Risha, that brat—hic!—ordering her old uncle around… hic!”
In his right hand, he held a bottle of wheat liquor made with honey and buckwheat, a specialty of the southern region.
Elysia, thinking he hasn’t changed at all, said to Shuvel,
“Let’s go as well.”
“Yes.”
Shuvel glanced at the man who had called her “Risha” with an unreadable expression, then escorted her forward.
* * *
The merchant lord led the group along, boasting endlessly about himself and his trading company.
Only after they entered the warehouse where the wheat was stored did he clear his throat and begin explaining the product.
“Our Elbanon Trading Company deals exclusively in Hessen wheat from the southern region. Now, take a look here.”
He confidently scooped up some of the stored wheat and showed it to them.
Judging by how boldly he even offered it for inspection, he wasn’t foolish enough to present the original Hekail wheat as-is.
Well, that would’ve been too boring.
Playing along, I picked up a handful of golden grains.
They slipped through my fingers like tiny flecks of gold, shimmering as they fell.
Noticing Shuvel watching me with an odd expression, I felt playful and asked,
“What is it? Do you think I’d blend in if I stood in a wheat field?”
“A wheat field… you say.”
“Yes. It’s from when I was young. My family once visited the southern plains.”
As I spoke, I suddenly realized—
It had been a very long time since I had talked about my “family” to someone else.
I hesitated, wondering whether to continue, when he asked quietly,
“It must have been harvest season.”
“That’s right. It was the height of harvest. The wheat stalks were golden, and the sky was high and blue.”
The more I spoke, the more my memories pulled me back into the past.
The sound of the wind rushing through—
The wheat swaying in response—
A young girl in a white dress running carefree through the fields.
Each time the wheat moved, her golden hair rippled softly with it.
Days that would never return.
“Did you know? At sunset, if you stand in the middle of a wheat field, it looks like the whole world has turned into a sea of gold. My parents used to say that if they lost me there, they’d never be able to find me again.”
Lost in nostalgia, I spoke—and Shuvel, who had been watching me, moved his lips.
“…can.”
“Hm? What did you say?”
As I turned toward him, unable to hear clearly, his hand had already come up close to my face.
He gently lifted a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear.
Then he said,
“I could find you.”
My eyes widened.
