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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Spirit's Benediction
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Akid was still bogged down in a dragging meeting with the mine overseer about the stability issues at Evis Mine.
A massive magic stone deposit had been discovered, but it wasn't clear if it was safe to excavate.
After all, something bizarre could happen right in front of their eyes, just like when Roena had suddenly vanished last time.
Akid still got chills whenever he thought about it.
They'd been lucky to find her, but there was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again.
The miners were deeply unsettled too. The allure of the magic stones was strong, but they couldn't send people into a mine where lives might be at risk.
To make matters worse, nasty rumors were spreading among the miners that Evis Mine was haunted.
Without uncovering the cause of these anomalies, they couldn't continue operations.
If things stayed like this, the mine would be shut down, magic stones or no.
Akid trudged wearily back to the hotel and headed straight for Roena's room.
He felt guilty for coaxing her to go out, only for an incident to keep him away and leave her alone the whole time.
He was just about to knock when lively conversation voices drifted from inside. He caught what sounded like a man's voice and flinched.
Right then, Shuri emerged carrying a tray and spotted Akid.
"Oh, Young Master. You're back already?"
"Huh? Akid's here?"
Roena's bright voice rang out from within. She peeked her head around the corner, met his eyes, and beamed at him.
"You worked hard today too, Akid!"
Akid's gaze naturally shifted to the suspicious-looking man sitting beside her.
The fellow's shabby attire only heightened his wariness, but the man abruptly stood and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"It's an honor to meet you, Young Master. I'm Henry Corner of Corner Barony."
Henry Corner? Who was that?
Akid tilted his head at the unfamiliar family name.
He didn't seem to be a local. Akid would have known about any family residing in Hadellus territory.
He had long since memorized every detail about every family living in Hadellus lands.
Baron Rork had insisted on it, drilling noble etiquette by making him commit every single one to memory without exception.
Reality didn't require a grand duke heir to know the full genealogies of minor houses, but that was how it had been.
By the time he realized it was overkill, he already knew each family's lineage inside and out.
He never imagined it would come in handy here. Akid asked awkwardly,
"Are you a traveler?"
"Ah, yes. I travel the country conducting research."
Henry handed Akid a business card. It was a plain card bearing the straightforward name 'Spirit Research Institute.'
"Spirits?"
"Akid, I was just about to discuss this with you."
Roena approached Akid and continued.
"I think we can resolve the mine issue pretty easily."
"Resolve it how?"
"Ah, allow me to explain, Young Master."
Henry smoothly inserted himself into the conversation. As Akid regarded him impassively, Henry said,
"Phenomena strikingly similar to those at the mine have been documented in the past."
"Documented? You mean this has happened before?"
"Yes. Specifically, in ancient times. Back when spirits were commonplace, it was nothing more than an everyday occurrence."
Henry pulled documents from his bag. Despite its small size, the high-end magic bag—enchanted with lightweight and expansion spells—produced quite a large sheaf of papers.
Henry pointed to certain sections as he explained.
"It's not the work of ghosts. If anything, it could be a stroke of fortune for House Hadellus."
"A stroke of fortune?"
Akid raised an eyebrow. To him, currently racking his brains over the matter, it wasn't a welcome term.
Henry adjusted his glasses and continued.
"Yes. If my theory is correct, Evis Mine will become a sacred site blessed by the spirits."
[……So, it looks like the investigation will proceed soon.
Just to be safe, I've decided to inform Father only after confirming with Akid, so you can handle it before then. ……(continued)]
Elena read Roena's letter and broke into a satisfied smile.
It would still be some time before she arrived at Hadellus Castle.
By the time she reached the main estate, the news would reach Damian too, so she needed to secure Evis Mine quickly.
Fortunately, she'd laid the groundwork in advance, allowing her to bring up Evis Mine naturally.
After finishing the meal and while enjoying dessert, she subtly began her maneuver.
"Have you given any thought to that matter I mentioned last time?"
"Yes. Evis Mine's revenues have been down for ages, so I'd already been considering selling it."
Damian dabbed his mouth and continued.
"But why the interest in a mine with such poor profitability? It'd be tricky to make use of even if you bought it."
"I've had a business idea brewing, and its location happens to be perfect."
"In that case, I won't stand in your way, but handing it over at full price does prick my conscience a bit."
"Says the man who never had a conscience to begin with."
Of course, Elena was the least conscientious one in this exchange. She was feigning ignorance despite knowing full well it was a goldmine.
Damian stared blankly at Elena's jab. After a moment, he spoke calmly.
"No need for payment."
"Pardon?"
Elena raised her voice in surprise. Acquiring it without paying could lead to disputes later.
As Elena racked her brain for a response, Damian said quietly,
"I knew you had your eye on that land for a while now."
"That much was true."
He was right. It had long been a territory she schemed to wrest from the grand duke.
Now that she knew it was blessed by spirits, it was even more desirable.
"Still, I'll pay for it. Accepting it for free from you wouldn't sit well with me."
"Just take it. Consider it compensation for my faux pas last time."
"……."
"I was imprudent before. I said things to you I shouldn't have."
Damian apologized with uncharacteristic humility, and Elena knew exactly what he meant.
Elena's father, the late emperor, had been a notorious philanderer.
He'd built a harem of countless concubines, not just for political gain but to sate his personal lusts.
Growing up witnessing her father's womanizing, Elena despised the concubine system.
She'd even threatened her brother, the current emperor Zachary, that she'd disown him if he took one.
Elena snorted at Damian's out-of-character apology.
"Good that you know."
"Yes. So, please take the land. I'll have the paperwork ready shortly."
"If you're at it, handle it today. Wouldn't want you changing your mind."
"I'd like to think I've never deceived you in matters like this."
"That's empty flattery for those who trust each other. I trust writing more than words."
"You're impossible."
Damian chuckled and instructed his secretary to bring paper and pen.
Moments later, when the secretary arrived with them on a tray, Damian drafted a document on the spot transferring the mine's rights to Elena Hadellus.
He stamped it with his seal and handed it over. Elena accepted the papers readily.
With this, Damian couldn't claim ownership even if a dispute arose later. Elena emphasized once more.
"I did offer to pay. You insisted on giving it away, so don't complain later."
"No chance of that. Never."
"That's exactly the kind of word that precedes a reversal, from what I've seen."
Elena rose curtly, responding gruffly to the end.
She hadn't expected to acquire it so easily—it was a most satisfactory deal. In a magnanimous murmur, she added,
"That letter? It was from my daughter-in-law. Not a man."
Emphasizing 'man,' Damian's eyes widened.
Realizing the misunderstanding he'd harbored, he averted his gaze and covered his mouth.
His ears had turned red—he was clearly embarrassed. Elena smirked and said,
"They say the eye sees what it wants. Is the misunderstanding cleared up now?"
"Yes. Ah, yes. Completely……."
Damian rubbed his dry face, mumbling incoherently. It was so amusing that Elena chuckled.
When he later learned what Roena had written, his face would flush for an entirely different reason.
Turning Damian's insides topsy-turvy was Elena's joy, so she looked forward to that day as she curtsied gracefully.
"Well then. I'll be off."
The banquet hall fell silent after Elena left. But Damian's mind was anything but.
'To think that letter was from my daughter-in-law.'
He wanted to crawl into a hole, or go back in time and erase his words.
Her smile while reading it had bloomed so radiantly—he'd naturally assumed it was from a man.
He never imagined she'd react that way to a letter from her estranged daughter-in-law.
But regaining his composure moments later, a question occurred to Damian. Since when had Elena and Roena grown close enough to exchange letters?
No, more importantly, why hadn't she sent him one? Damian asked his secretary on a whim.
"Any special news from Akid or my daughter-in-law? Letters, perhaps."
But his whim died there.
"None."
Damian frowned at the secretary's firm reply.
For some reason, he felt left out.
