.jpg)
IBP 104
“Oh.”
Grand Duke Rivera had just arrived at the Imperial Palace's grand conference hall to cause a ‘manageable mess.’
There, he encountered Duke Ardos, who wore a look of grim determination.
“......Duke Ardos, it has been a while.”
“Yes.”
“Have you come for the Imperial conference? You usually don't participate.”
“You as well, Your Highness. I have business to attend to today.”
Grand Duke Rivera stared at Duke Ardos and thought:
‘I can tell just by looking at him—he’s a comrade in chaos.’
The tightly set line of his mouth and his piercing gaze revealed only one thing.
Just as he suspected, as soon as the meeting began, Duke Ardos went absolutely berserk.
“The first agenda item for today concerns the Melomande estate.”
Since Dahlia's business had recently garnered significant attention, many had lent them money.
If the Melomande family declared a default on their debts, the family would plummet to the status of fallen nobility.
The head of the Melomande family, desperate to avoid that fate, wore a servile smile.
“It is all my daughter's fault. Due to my lack of virtue in teaching her, she committed a grave error, but soon.......”
He claimed they were looking for new investors.
He stated that the head of the Melomande family intended to attract investment as a last resort to determine the family's survival, replacing Dahlia, who had lost all her business acumen.
However.
“Sounds like bullshit to me.”
Though the Emperor was absent, this was the sacred grand conference hall where high-ranking nobles gathered.
Grand Duke Rivera, who muttered this without hesitation, smirked while gripping a hammer he had managed to smuggle in despite the strict security.
“Ah, this is a hammer infused with divine power, so it doesn't hurt when you get hit. It even passed the inspection of the Imperial Palace's magic circles, which are notoriously difficult. Rest assured.”
Despite his words, what everyone saw was a hammer with a thick chunk of iron attached to it.
Given its imposing presence, everyone froze, unable to utter a word.
It was then that Duke Ardos spoke in a low voice.
“I wonder if there is anyone brave enough to invest in the Melomande family.”
With two such formidable men acting in concert, there was no way anyone would dare suggest investing in the Melomande family.
The shrunken head of the Melomande family, seeing that Grand Duke Rivera looked like someone impossible to reason with, clung desperately to Duke Ardos instead.
“B-but, you originally didn't even care about the third princess. If you would show mercy in consideration of the profits of the Ardos estate, we could provide a great return.......”
At the words meant as a plea, Duke Ardos's face contorted.
“......Why do you think I would not care for my own daughter?”
“That is.......”
Realizing he had been too blunt and failed to use the refined language of high society due to being backed into a corner, the head of the Melomande family turned pale with panic.
“I am asking why you think I would value a connection with the likes of you more!”
At the piercing shout, the head of the Melomande family's face twisted in despair before he spoke.
“P-please, show mercy! I-I will expel Dahlia from the family. So, please.......”
“You said that in the sacred conference hall, so do not forget it.”
Seeing Duke Ardos snap up the bait, Grand Duke Rivera smirked.
“By the way, Head of Melomande, come to think of it, I lent you some funds, didn't I? I think I need that back right now.”
He smiled thinly, fiddling with the hammer.
To anyone watching, he looked exactly like a thug shaking someone down for money.
Grand Duke Rivera summoned the vassal in charge of the family's accounting and verified the Melomande family's debts in front of everyone.
Grand Duke Rivera crossed his arms lightly and tilted his head.
“It's quite a lot. Well, I have plenty of money thanks to the monster war.”
Under the pincer attack of Grand Duke Rivera and Duke Ardos, the Melomande family collapsed helplessly.
No matter how many times they explained the business plan or begged by promising to sever ties with Dahlia, no one listened.
Finally, by the time cold sweat poured down the head of the Melomande family's forehead.
It was all over.
“I... I declare default.......”
He admitted that the Melomande family was bankrupt.
The process of the estate's ruin had been long, but it ended with that single phrase.
Soon, the head of the Melomande family fell to his knees on the floor and declared Dahlia's expulsion from the family.
Meanwhile, the two culprits who triggered this entire situation, Duke Ardos and Grand Duke Rivera, still maintained indifferent expressions.
Because it wasn't over yet.
After the grand conference concluded, Duke Ardos asked Grand Duke Rivera.
“I believe you have no personal grudge against the Melomande family. Did you help Chloe this time?”
“Well, I suppose I grew fond of her while collaborating.”
At those words, Duke Ardos's eyes flickered subtly.
Grand Duke Rivera spoke as if lightly countering him.
“But you know, Duke Ardos, you're the one who's surprising. You originally left Lady Chloe to her own devices, didn't you?”
“I cannot deny it, though it is embarrassing. However, I have spent many years with my daughter.”
“And so?”
“......I suppose I, too, have grown fond of her.”
Grand Duke Rivera glanced at the sweet-potato-shaped pin that had been pinned to the Duke's chest the entire time and spoke.
“Your familial love might have been born thanks to that, uh, special child.”
Duke Ardos murmured softly.
“Rather than born.”
“.......”
“Perhaps I simply realized it. Though it is late.......”
* * *
The news that the Melomande family had fallen spread rapidly throughout the empire.
However, a problem still remained.
With my brows furrowed, I set down the glass of milk the maid had prepared and shouted.
“The <Attempted Murder Letter Incident> still hasn't been solved!”
“Yes. There are still many people who suspect Lady Chloe.”
But my sister had been out all day.
I wanted to see her face, but she was nowhere to be found.
‘It can't be helped. A wonderful puppy will save sister from the bad rumors all by herself!’
I pouted and said,
“......Listen, Caligo. It's obvious that some incredibly mean and evil culprit trapped my sister.”
“I also believe Lady Ardos was framed. She was cautious even when talking to me about dark magic. I don't think such a person would attack others with dark magic.”
“As expected, Caligo knows how to read people. So I've been thinking, we can't let more bad rumors stick to my sister and make her lose her friends.......”
The moment I thought of that, I felt as heartbroken as if all the sweet potatoes in the world had vanished.
“Don't worry too much. Though it would be better if we had more information.......”
At Caligo's indifferent murmur, my eyes sparkled.
“No, I do! Actually, I have a secret weapon!”
“A secret weapon?”
“Yep.”
At that moment, perfectly timed, a bird was seen flying toward the window.
It was none other than my precious information source, Jjek-jjeki.
But......!
Jjek-jjeki collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, and muttered.
“Those crazy Imperial Palace humans......!”
“Jjek-jjeki!”
......Actually, the secret weapon I mentioned was Jjek-jjeki.
My plan was to have Jjek-jjeki sneak into the Imperial Investigation Bureau where the letters were kept, steal them, and then investigate the letters properly.
But for Jjek-jjeki to suddenly end up like this!
“W-what happened?”
My eyes widened as I looked at the burnt tips of Jjek-jjeki's wings.
And what Jjek-jjeki said next was truly shocking.
.jpg)