Hedmilton handed over a newsletter rolled up tightly.
It seemed the Merchants’ Association had already begun responding with impressive speed.
When she unfolded the yellowish, low-quality paper, densely packed writing that appeared to have been written by the Guildmaster caught her eye.
[STATEMENT
Greetings.
I am Gede Lin, Guildmaster of the Merchants’ Association.
It weighs heavily on my heart to greet you all with unfortunate news.
Recently, the association has confirmed circumstances indicating that a certain prestigious House instigated the murder of the Head of House Rovans, who belongs to our Merchants’ Association.
House Rovans is a family worthy of respect that has, for a long time, contributed materially and immaterially to the association and to many talented individuals, and is a precious member of the Merchants’ Association. Accordingly, we have decided to step forward on behalf of a colleague who has suffered an unfortunate incident.
When an employee belonging to the offending prestigious House submitted a perfectly legitimate leave request in order to care for the illness of the Head of House Rovans, the offending prestigious House persecuted the employee on the absurd grounds that it interfered with their work. Going even further, they spewed reckless remarks such as claiming that an old person’s life was not precious, and demanded that the employee bring about the death of the Head of House Rovans. The employee refused to comply, resigned, and reported the matter to the Central Employment Department.
Members of the Merchants’ Association.
While profit is the highest value to a merchant, you are well aware that pursuing gain at the cost of abandoning benevolence and righteousness is not the spirit of our association.
The misfortune that befell House Rovans is a reality that could occur to any member of the association at any time, and for the future of the association, we do not wish to overlook today’s injustice.
For the sake of House Rovans, which has provided great assistance to our members thus far, we earnestly ask that you pool your strength.
Below, we provide the format for the petition to be submitted to the Employment Department. Please review it, and those who wish to participate are asked to contact Guildmaster Gede Lin.]
Liselotte swallowed her inner surprise.
“Impressive. To think they managed to move the Guildmaster to this extent.”
“Grandmother does have connections in many places.”
Hedmilton spoke as if it were nothing special, but Gede Lin’s statement spread rapidly throughout the Empire.
“Merchants have been used for the nobles’ convenience before, but this wasn’t even wrongdoing. Instigating murder…!”
“What House could it possibly be? If they’d do this to House Rovans, our heads could be rolling tomorrow!”
Among the commoners who engaged only in commercial activities, outrage erupted.
“Could this perhaps be about Hedmilton Rovans?”
“Ah… the one who recently moved from House Gloria to House Keilos…?”
The nobles, meanwhile, fell into a silent battle of reading the room.
However, many inwardly believed that since the Employment Department had always taken the nobles’ side, things would be resolved as before if they simply waited and watched.
The Employment Department as well, seemingly mindful of public opinion, refrained from speaking and avoided representing either side.
Of course, distrust toward House Gloria spread quickly.
“After all, House Gloria is one of the Four Great Houses. Isn’t this because House Rovans is just an easy target, a low ranking noble merchant family?”
“If something goes wrong, we too…”
Especially among Houses with weak influence, the atmosphere was grim, even if they couldn’t speak openly.
Now, not only members of the Merchants’ Association, but also acquaintances quietly began passing the newsletter among themselves.
But the next move came from an unexpected place.
“The Student Union within the Imperial Academy refuses to attend classes until the Employment Department resolves this case of instigating the murder of a Family Head with due severity.”
“If the fairness of the Employment Department is not restored, there is no reason to continue our studies!”
“There isn’t!”
The Imperial Academy.
An educational institution attended from ages twelve to sixteen, where nobles went as part of their upbringing and commoners went to build connections and secure employment after graduation.
The tuition was so expensive that only families with substantial wealth could afford it.
The high tuition required each semester was a burden even for the children of most low ranking noble families, and until House Rovans’ fortunes declined, they had sponsored many children regardless of noble or commoner status, as long as there was will and effort.
Not all of those people went on to make names for themselves as outstanding prodigies.
But they were scattered very shallowly, here and there.
Some as mere officials for the Employment Department, others through their children.
As a result, although the initial statement didn’t clearly specify which House was responsible, the fact that the offending prestigious House was the Ducal House Gloria spread quickly.
Less than a week had passed, yet public opinion began to boil over.
As things grew noisy both inside and out, even the Emperor took notice.
“So what exactly is the Employment Department doing about this?”
Those words became the fuse, and even nobles who had remained silent until now began stepping forward under the pretense of ignorance and started putting pressure on the Employment Department.
Liselotte smiled in satisfaction at the reports that came in day after day.
After setting the report Hedmilton handed her down on the desk, she asked casually,
“How are things looking at the Employment Department?”
“It looks like a decision will be made this afternoon.”
“Good. And Duke Gloria?”
“Jar probed Mirkena, and it seems they aren’t paying any attention to the Employment Department issue over there.”
“As expected, arrogant as ever.”
Since the Employment Department had never readily taken the side of a mere merchant family, he must be relying on his title.
Even without seeing it, she felt as though she could clearly see what was going on inside.
Liselotte took a sip of the tea Marsha had poured and replied in an offhand tone,
“He’s probably trembling with rage, claiming that rumors are damaging his House’s honor.”
“Of course.”
Though his expression was still somewhat out of place, Hedmilton’s face had brightened noticeably as well.
Between them, knock knock, a servant tapped on the door.
“Sir. Hedmilton. Just a moment…”
“Ah, it looks like something has come in. I’ll be back, right away.”
After giving a quick, brief greeting, Hedmilton hurriedly followed the servant out of the room.
Seated at the desk, Liselotte propped her chin on both hands and quietly watched the closed door with a smile.
Her smile grew even brighter as she spoke in a cheerful voice toward the sofa.
“So then. Your Highness, would you care to explain why you are in my room?”
On one side of Liselotte’s room, Eren was seated on a dainty sofa.
After taking a sip of the highly concentrated tea Marsha had poured, he sharply furrowed his brow.
Liselotte let out a sigh and rose from her seat.
“If it does not suit your taste, you do not have to drink it. Not drinking it wouldn’t be a breach of etiquette.”
Approaching the sofa, Liselotte picked up a sugar cube from the table with a small pair of tongs.
She dropped it into Eren’s tea with a soft plop, then met his eyes with a gentle smile.
“You didn’t come to my room just to drink tea, did you?”
After staring at the tea for a moment, he set the cup down as if displeased.
“For Duke Gloria, who do you think is the biggest thorn in his side right now?”
“Hedmilton and… me, right?”
When she answered the obvious question without hesitation, he fixed his gaze on her intently.
“That is why I increased the security.”
In fact, over the past few days, knights had been stationed around Liselotte’s room in shifts.
‘Indeed… given that the instigator who attacked the previous Grand Duke and his wife might also have been from the East…’
Understanding his intentions, Liselotte didn’t bother to stop him.
Well, it was also true that she was just a little worried.
“I understand the security, but then why is Your Highness here?”
“Did you not say that being by my side was the safest place.”
He returned to her, word for word, something she had once said at the Imperial banquet.
“So I am protecting you in the safest way.”
He gestured to Marsha to bring fresh tea.
As a result, the tea with sugar cubes mixed in was discarded into Marsha’s hands without a single sip being taken.
Eren drank the new tea, frowning slightly.
No matter how one looked at it, it didn’t seem to suit his taste, yet he persistently drank it every time.
Was it just her imagination that the sight of him acting like that, saying it was to protect her, seemed a little cute?
‘How unexpected…’
More than anything, it was surprising that he remembered exactly what she had said.
It had been half an excuse when she said it.
“Thank you. Thanks to Your Highness, it feels like my life has been extended by ten years.”
In many ways.
“Ten years wouldn’t be enough.”
Though she had tossed it out lightly, he furrowed his brow seriously.
Just as she was about to reply.
Knock knock knock. Along with urgent knocking, Hedmilton burst in with a bright smile.
“Your Highness, the Employment Department’s decision is out!”
“Really? How did it turn out?”
Hedmilton, who had rushed over in a flurry, handed over the written decision and shouted briefly,
“For six months, the Ducal House Gloria is barred from hiring new employees. An audit team from the Employment Department will be dispatched, and an internal investigation is mandatory!”
“Yes!”
Liselotte clenched both fists tightly.
With this, it became possible to prove that during the last subjugation for damage recovery, House Gloria had failed to engage in proper communication.
