Chapter 71
71
Count Penyak visited the castle. It was to discuss matters concerning the new trade route.
Dad's newly created trade route required the Penyak family's port.
But when he arrived, he brought the Countess and Billy with him.
I met them in Dad's arms.
"I brought them, braving the discourtesy, because they wanted to apologize for the commotion at the Young Lady's tea party."
The Count and his wife placed the gifts they had brought in the courtyard.
The Countess bowed to me.
"I have taught my son poorly."
Then, she nudged Billy's waist.
Billy bowed his head with a face that clearly showed he didn't want to apologize.
"I'm sorry."
I glanced at the vassals gathered in the courtyard.
Opening a new trade route was essential for Dubled.
In the future, Dubled would unite traders through this trade route, and the trade union would become the Duke's messenger bird, diligently bringing information.
Of course, it goes without saying that they built another Pillar of the family with the fees earned through the trade route.
I didn't particularly want to face Billy, but I nodded for the sake of the business.
"If it's alright, could the baby come to my mansion..."
As the Count was about to say something, Dad said.
"I don't remember giving you permission to open your mouth."
A cold voice settled in the courtyard, and the Count's spine tingled.
He gave an oppressive feeling that made his internal organs tighten just by standing there.
'Oh dear, Count Penyak is a proud man, this might derail the deal.'
I tapped Dad's shoulder.
"I want to go down."
Then the Duke put me down. Very carefully, as if I would fly away if he blew on me, or break if he held me.
The Count and his wife took a deep breath.
The people who came with the Count were also surprised.
"Oh my goodness..."
"They really adore her..."
I shook Dad's collar.
"I want to go to the greenhouse. Dad, work hard."
"Okay."
He smiled faintly and stroked my head.
Another silent scream erupted, and I bowed to the Count and his wife, holding onto my skirt.
"I'll go in first."
The two had regretful expressions, but they couldn't hold me back. I was too young to have a duty to greet guests.
Viscount Dubois would be in charge of today's protocol.
Before entering the meeting, Viscount Dubois was scheduled to show the Count and his wife around the castle.
I would have to oversee the inner castle when I grew up a little more, but for now, it was time to have fun.
'Not really going to play though.'
I had to approve the documents from Seria.
For the past five years, I had been learning how to manage a trading company from the Chairman and Uni, a maid from a loan shark background.
The Chairman taught me very well, but Uni was the one who was really helpful.
[Those underlings playing with money? If you try to catch them all, it'll never end. You have to relentlessly crush one of them to scare the others.]
[If you can't manage taxes, it's over. Over. It's not for nothing that people say you earn money just to pay it all out in taxes. Actually, colluding with the tax collector is the best, but in my case...]
Etc.
Uni didn't even know I was running a trading company, but every time I asked her something, she explained it so clearly that I understood everything.
'Tomorrow is collection day. Money coming in~'
I hummed and went up the stairs.
Just as I was about to grab the doorknob.
"Hey."
Billy's voice was heard.
"Hey?"
When I asked back, Billy came up to me and said.
"How have you been?"
"I thought you said you came to apologize for what happened last time."
"Are you sulking because I came too late?"
What is he even saying?
As I blinked in bewilderment, Billy grinned and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand.
Feeling unpleasant, I pushed his hand away.
"You're cute when you're being coy?"
Is he really crazy?
"If you liked me, you should have said so. Why use violence like that? I'll have to teach you how to seduce men in the future, me."
"..."
"Women, you know. Be demure during the day, sexy at night, huh? That's how it should be."
"..."
"Violence won't get my attention. Got it?"
Could it be that he thinks I hit him to get his attention?
I laughed in disbelief as I looked at him, filled with strange confidence.
"Why would I need to seduce you?"
"Because I'm handsome..."
"You're ugly."
"N, no way!"
I shook my head.
"You don't have to be humble. It's true. You're really ugly. Really, really. You're the ugliest person I've ever seen. You look like a toilet brush. It's amazing!"
Billy's face turned red and blue at my words.
"Y, you, orphan girl...!"
It seems like that's all he can say.
I lost interest in the same pattern, but someone's voice was heard from behind.
"Hey, what did you just say?"
Isaac put down the wild boar he was carrying with a thud and looked at Billy.
Thud-!!
Billy, who was instantly sent flying and crashed into the wall, groaned pitifully, "Keuheuk..."
Isaac approached him. As his footsteps got closer, Billy's face turned dark.
"I asked you what you said."
"I, I, uh, I..."
Isaac grabbed Billy's trembling shoulder. It looked like he grabbed it lightly, but instantly, with a dull thud, Billy's shoulder drooped down.
"Aaaaaaack!"
A terrible scream echoed.
"Oppa!"
I quickly grabbed Isaac.
'Our trade union!'
Precious information seagulls are flying away.
Besides, no matter who he is, he can't avoid punishment if he kills a son of High nobles.
I don't care if that future rapist dies...!
But Isaac, who had lost his reason, didn't let go of him even though I was clinging to him.
I gestured to the employees and knights who had run over in surprise at the commotion.
Stop him, stop him!
Those who received my gaze rushed at Isaac with faces ready for death.
Normally, he would have blown them all away, but perhaps because I was clinging to him, he didn't blow them away.
Just as Isaac was barely separated from Billy, the Count and Countess, startled by their son's screams, rushed up.
Viscount Dubois, who was in the middle of the protocol, was also with them.
"Oh my god, Billy...!"
She ran to her son, who was clutching his shoulder and crying.
Count Penyak also hurriedly checked on his son.
Billy's shoulder was completely twisted. It was hard to believe that the bone could ever be put back in place.
"Heoeoeong... Heong...!!"
Seeing her son crying and complaining of pain with tears and snot streaming down his face, the couple screamed.
"A doctor! Call a doctor quickly! What are you doing!"
"What happened, why are you in this state!"
Billy pointed at Isaac with his remaining good hand. The faces of the Penyak couple hardened.
"Why on earth would you do this!"
As the Count asked as if screaming, Isaac glared at them with cold eyes.
"Shut up. I held back from killing you."
"Wh, what?"
Isaac didn't explain any further.
'Idiot!'
I know why he's keeping his mouth shut.
Isaac doesn't want to mention the words "orphan girl" with his own mouth.
Viscount Dubois said to Count Penyak with a troubled face.
"W, well, it seems the children's quarrel was a bit excessive..."
"Children's quarrel?!"
The Countess shouted as if having a seizure.
"My child is in this state, and you're calling it a children's quarrel! What kind of child in the world makes a person look this terrible!"
Count Penyak added.
"I will formally report this matter to the Imperial Family."
Viscount Dubois sighed as if troubled.
If reported, Isaac would be dragged away.
Of course, the young master of the Duke's family wouldn't spend his days in prison like other criminals. Duke Dubled wouldn't leave him alone.
The problem is that the head of the Security Bureau, John Stephen, is the brother-in-law of Marquis Nodelli, who is firmly at odds with Dubled.
The Nodelli family had been hoping to find something to use against Dubled, so they wouldn't just let it go when Isaac was arrested.
They would try to find something to pressure Dubled, even if it meant subjecting him to terrible torture.
Viscount Dubois stepped forward and raised his palm.
"If that happens, it will have a negative impact not only on our young master but also on young master Penyak. Please calm down and discuss the compensation process..."
"My child is in this state, what kind of parent would keep their mouth shut for compensation! My son is not just a child. He is the future and honor of the Penyak family!"
Count Penyak continued, ranting and raving.
"Unless it's the tapestry of the founding Emperor, how can the smearing of my family's future and honor be compensated?"
Viscount Dubois's face hardened.
The tapestry of the founding Emperor, which Duke Dubled obtained by conquering the north the year he rose to the Duke position.
The Imperial Palace had requested the tapestry with the True Name of the founding Emperor engraved on it several times, but they could not receive it.
It was proof of power that even the Imperial Palace could not do anything about.
Viscount Dubois's complexion changed immediately, but Count Penyak twisted his lips arrogantly.
'What can you do even if you feel wronged?'
Isaac Dubled's fate was in his hands.
It was then.
"Then, how does the Penyak family intend to compensate for smearing our honor?"
LeBlaine asked, holding Isaac's hand tightly.
Count Penyak was momentarily flustered by the childishly cold attitude. But soon, he let out a hollow laugh and frowned.
"What smear are you talking about!"
"Young master Penyak called me an 'orphan girl'."
"Wh, what...?!"
"I am the daughter of Dubled, recognized by my father, Duke Dubled, and approved by His Majesty the Emperor. Isn't calling me an 'orphan girl' against the wishes of both of you? Who should be reported?"
"No way! My son would never do that...!"
Count Penyak looked at his son, turning pale. Billy flinched, forgetting even to cry.
"Th, that's... that's because that girl... no, that child said I was ugly...!"
People's faces twisted at the words that were as good as an admission.
He had used such an insult just because he was called ugly.
Even the Countess, who was holding her son, was flustered and didn't know what to do.
Isaac hurriedly shouted, "Kid...!", but LeBlaine put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Isaac is an idiot! I'm not scared of words like 'orphan girl' at all! I didn't have parents for a while, but now I have Dad and brothers. So I'm not an orphan girl."
"But..."
"I have an oppa who gets this angry for me and can't say a word because he's afraid I'll get hurt, so why should I be scared?"
As Isaac's eyes trembled slightly, LeBlaine turned her body slightly towards Count Penyak and his wife and Billy.
"As you said, how will you compensate for the insult that the future and honor of the Penyak family has done to me?"
Count Penyak's face hardened.
'Could it be that she was waiting for the words "future and honor" to come out of my mouth?'
Since Billy had already declared that he was the future and honor of the Penyak family, it could not be dismissed as a mere childish act.
'Th, that can't be! How could a nine-year-old girl...!'
No, this was not the time for this.
'I have to fix this somehow before the Duke comes...!'
Viscount Dubois's face was horribly distorted, and Count Penyak stretched out his hands towards him.
"W, wait a minute... So, this is..."
It was then.
"We'll talk after your son's head falls off."
The Count and his wife and Billy's backs shuddered at the cold voice.
Duke Dubled, Henri, who had come up the stairs, and all of Dubled's vassals were looking at them with eyes colder than the winter north wind.