Episode 27: I Said I’ll Pay It Back! (2)
“Wife?”
Belaxina blinked, briefly stunned by the unfamiliar word.
“I understand you’re enjoying your call with a friend, but perhaps you’d let me greet you too, wife?”
That’s when it hit her.
‘Oh right! I’m supposed to be his fiancée!’
Not that it was easy to remember, considering they hadn’t done anything remotely couple-like.
“Yes, yes! Darling! Of course! Here, I’ll pass him to you right now!”
Belaxina shouted the word “darling” loudly enough for Aurelio to hear and rustled the receiver unnecessarily as if handing it over. It was already on speaker, but Aurelio wouldn’t know that. Might as well play along.
“Nice to speak with you, Sir Aurelio. I am Avalkin Istvan Zigsmont von Yeshken.”
Avalkin introduced himself firmly, as if declaring war.
‘They must be really desperate for food if he’s volunteering like this.’
Yeshken must have been in a serious crisis. If they wanted to secure winter supplies, they’d need to move quickly. Aurelio’s suspicions and questioning of their qualifications probably made them nervous.
It worked out well. Coming from Avalkin himself, the words would carry more weight than if Belaxina said them alone.
‘Still, I’m a bit worried…’
She just hoped Avalkin’s terrible speaking skills wouldn’t mess up their little lie.
“…Lord Avalkin.”
Aurelio was visibly caught off guard by Avalkin’s sudden entrance into the conversation.
‘I didn’t consider the possibility that Lord Avalkin might be with her. That was a mistake.’
He’d let his emotions get the better of him after Belaxina’s surprise appearance, and it clouded his judgment. Realistically, it would’ve been strange if the lord wasn’t present for such talks.
‘I’ll only repeat the failure from five years ago if I lose my cool again. Stay sharp.’
Putting on a calm front, Aurelio greeted him politely.
“It’s been a while. It’s a pleasure to hear your voice again. I hope you’ve been well?”
“As you can see—well enough to get engaged.”
“Does that mean… the wedding hasn’t taken place yet?”
Aurelio’s ears perked up at the word engaged.
“If we had married already, surely you’d have heard.”
It was a convincing point. In the Kalhorn Empire, high-ranking nobles didn’t marry in secret. Especially not someone like Belaxina, who was constantly at the center of attention.
‘I knew it. They’re not married.’
Aurelio smiled faintly.
In Kalhorn, noble engagements were often meaningless.
They were tools—announced to forge alliances or gain trust. Engagements and breakups were just political maneuvers.
“Well, in any case, congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.”
“However, forgive my bluntness—but do you really believe this marriage will go through?”
A deep wrinkle formed on Avalkin’s brow.
“That’s quite blunt indeed.”
Had Aurelio seen Avalkin’s expression, he might’ve immediately backed off. But on the phone, he boldly continued.
“I don’t know the exact reason behind your engagement, but you’re aware that a legal noble marriage requires the blessing of a bishop or higher, a wedding ceremony, and imperial approval.”
He paused for emphasis.
“His Majesty would not approve of this marriage.”
It was a difficult point to argue against.
‘What now?’
Belaxina widened her eyes and silently mouthed a complaint toward Avalkin.
‘You said you’re engaged! Now he’s picked up on that! If we’d just said we were married, we could’ve stalled him until he tried to verify it. What are you gonna do now?!’
Though she made no sound, her expression screamed frustration.
Avalkin glanced at her fussing beside him and silently mouthed back:
‘Watch and learn.’
Then, returning to the call, he focused on Aurelio.
“First, you’re absolutely right.”
Avalkin continued calmly.
“Regrettably, His Majesty is not fond of my fiancée. We can’t expect his blessing.”
“Then I suppose there’s no point dragging it out.”
“But that doesn’t matter. Our marriage isn’t subject to that rule.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You’re referring to the Law on Noble Marriages and Inheritance, right? Article 2, Clause 3: If a noble or their family member’s marriage or adoption could affect inheritance of land, imperial approval is required.”
Aurelio paused.
‘He’s right. That’s the law.’
Everyone knows stealing is illegal. But few people remember the exact article or clause of a law unless they’re legal officials.
“You’re not wrong.”
“Then the law doesn’t apply. As much as I hate to say it aloud, my fiancée doesn’t have any land.”
“Oh!”
A small gasp escaped from Aurelio.
‘Right. The Duke of Outbayan is no longer a lord. They lost their land.’
He’d been so used to associating Belaxina with her old territory that he’d forgotten she no longer had the title. Officially, the “of Audiberti” part had been stripped from her name.
“Imperial rule only exists to manage land ownership and borders. Not to enforce the emperor’s pride. That’s why the law doesn’t apply to nobles without land.”
“…I’ve learned something today, Lord Avalkin.”
Aurelio admitted defeat in a much humbler voice.
“If there are no further questions, shall we begin the negotiations—with my fiancée included, of course.”
Aurelio bit his lower lip.
‘I really wanted to avoid that.’
The moment Belaxina stepped in, Yeshken would no longer be an easy opponent.
But he had no more excuses. And he had just as much at stake.
“Of course. Lord Avalkin… Lady Belaxina.”
Avalkin turned to Belaxina with a faint smile. Anyone who knew him would recognize it as a rare moment of smug satisfaction.
“Well done, darling.”
But Belaxina didn’t sparkle with admiration.
“Leave it to me now.”
She looked more like a predator who’d spotted her prey.
****
“You’re so dense. Are you afraid of making money or what?”
Now that the game had begun, Belaxina went after Aurelio like a storm.
“There’s way too much risk! You’ve got to guarantee something before I make a move. You’re asking me to hand over grain with zero trust? That’s crazy.”
“I told you—I’ll pay you back with profits!”
Was this really a high-level negotiation or a poker table?
Avalkin quietly shook his head. Best to stay out of this madness for his own sanity.
“Can’t we just bring in Lord Giovanni? I can’t deal with you.”
“Hah! No way. If you don’t deal with me, then you’re not getting a single grain from Mantova. Got that?”
With Aurelio standing firm, Belaxina sighed and clicked her tongue.
Looks like she’d have to spell it out.
“How much did you actually understand so far?”
“If we send you tea and tobacco, Yeshken will waive the customs fees.”
‘Of course he only understood the part that benefits him.’
Grumbling under her breath, Belaxina continued.
“Normally, Yeshken sells monster by-products for profit and uses that money to buy Mantova’s grain. But now we’re switching to barter—exchanging goods instead of money. And instead of grain, we’ll take tea and tobacco.”
Clap clap clap.
Aurelio’s sarcastic applause echoed through the line.
“Wow. So Mantova gets monster leftovers they don’t need, and Yeshken gets tea and tobacco they don’t need. What a beautifully useless trade.”
“It only looks useless on paper.”
Belaxina snorted.
“Of course we don’t need tea or tobacco. And you don’t need monster junk either. But that’s not the point. What matters is that on record, tea and tobacco are legally entering Yeshken through a valid trade.”
Aurelio listened quietly. He’d guessed as much from the earlier customs talk.
Yeshken was the only tax-exempt region in the entire Kalhorn Empire.
‘Honestly, it’s strange no one’s tried to use that loophole before.’
Still, it wasn’t shocking.
Avalkin’s blunt, rule-abiding nature probably made it hard for others to suggest tricks like this.
“And here’s the important part: our two regions will jointly fund a factory in Yeshken to process tea and tobacco using monster parts.”
“This is getting out of hand.”
“We’re not really going to manufacture anything. Just build a shed, register it as a factory, and repackage the goods. Then sell them in Licresa. Since the final product leaves Yeshken, no customs duties apply.”
“Hmmm…”
Aurelio didn’t look thrilled.
He’d expected a simple grain sale—just offload the leftovers at a decent price.
Now she was talking about factories and tax schemes.
‘I don’t trust this woman.’
Aurelio had been burned by Belaxina five years ago. Whatever she proposed now, he automatically distrusted it. And if the tax trick backfired, he might end up taking the fall.
“It’s an interesting plan. I’ll consider it. But it’s a bit sudden, so for today, let’s stick to the grain trade. We can talk about the rest later.”
“You could make at least double the profit, you know.”
But as a merchant, that part he couldn’t ignore.
“…Really?”
