Episode 28. The Rebellious Frog's Regret
While preparing in earnest for the compensation claim, Adel had even considered crossing the continent herself to meet Klumte if it got rejected. She was fully prepared to battle the North Sea Merchant Company.
Fortunately, however, she didn't actually have to cross the continent. The North Sea Merchant Company completed their own investigation of the shipping accident and paid out the exact compensation Adel had claimed.
They even precisely corrected and paid the portions where Adel had made simple notation errors.
Adel was actually dazed despite receiving the enormous compensation just as she'd planned. She hadn't anticipated it would be processed so quickly and accurately.
Naturally, she'd assumed maritime hazard ledgers were just a scam by northern con artists targeting showy nobles like Gray.
They said Klumte was rational and responsible—was that true after all?
Anyway, she'd done it.
In the end, without losing a single penny, she'd even pocketed consolation money from the North Sea Merchant Company while acquiring Good Deal's numerous ships at a bargain price—just thirty percent of market value.
"Congratulations, Adel."
"Wow, it actually worked?"
"Looks like I picked up a lucky charm at Hawks House. A bit stiff and feisty one, though."
Adel could never forget the atmosphere in the office that day.
Doran leaning loosely against the desk, Gray's laughter.
The green eyes and blue eyes looking at her proudly.
The large hand patting her head, the warm embrace that pulled her in despite her resistance, its scent, humidity, texture, sound.
What changed afterward wasn't just Gray's wealth doubled several times over. The North Sea Merchant Company's position on the central continent began to completely transform.
The entire process of receiving compensation from the North Sea Merchant Company was relayed to Karl through Addie's News. Being the newsletter Adel managed, it conveyed the facts even more vividly.
It was only natural that shipowners and merchants wanting to enroll in maritime hazard ledgers increased.
The North Sea Merchant Company wasn't foolish, so they immediately discontinued owner-targeted ledger products, but shipping operators began enrolling at least for ship or cargo-targeted ones.
The trust in the northern con artists—no, businessmen—whom no one had ever seen in person and had been ignored, took proper root all at once.
Along with that, Adel's perception changed too.
To her, maritime hazard ledgers were still a form of gambling. She wasn't one to casually change her views, so that was natural. However, she acknowledged it was gambling of a different grain from street shell games or social club card games.
In layman's terms, this was rich people's lavish spending—useful to society in its own way.
Thus leading to her recent tax reduction negotiations with Mensha.
Recognize regular expenditures for maintaining hazard ledgers as ship management expenses. Because they were essential for ship and cargo safety.
Even if Mensha said people didn't change this easily, there was nothing to be done.
This was the trend of the times.
Of course, it was undeniable that Gray owned thirteen trade ships as shipowner and merchant, and pushing through this deduction would significantly reduce his taxes.
"No, why do you assume I've approved it on my own?! I can't guarantee anything."
Tension filled Mensha's thick eyelids. But Adel wasn't scared at all. She knew, unlike his affectionate nature, he upheld rational work standards.
He surely couldn't ignore the heaps of materials she'd submitted and the era's growing influence of trade.
"Yes. Then I'll leave it to you."
"Ugh. Adel."
Mensha finally groaned in defeat. A sign he'd conceded more than half.
A faint smile finally spread across Adel's always calm, cool face. She extended her hand.
"Thank you for approving it, Deputy Director."
"Haa."
Mensha grumbled but eventually clasped her hand.
"Gray, you thief!"
With Mensha's oddly directed lament, their long negotiation concluded.
***
By the time Adel exited the west wing building, rain was pouring heavily. She stood staring up at the sky, riddled with holes like a sieve. She had no umbrella.
The Valoneck employee's carriage she'd ridden to the palace would be waiting near the main gate.
After a brief hesitation, Adel decided to just run to the main gate in the rain.
She cupped her hands over her forehead to shield from the falling rain. Naturally, though, she was drenched by the time she crossed the shabby west wing garden.
She briefly regretted not accepting the umbrella Mensha had offered, but it didn't last long. Rather, once fully soaked, she felt refreshed more than cold.
The garden looked desolate, blurred white by the heavy rain. But Adel wasn't scared or uneasy. If anything, she liked it. No one would poke around here.
No one here.
No one would come.
With that realization solidifying, Adel's steps gradually lightened.
Like her childhood self bursting into tears alone in the darkening mountains, she finally felt liberation where no one watched.
I did it again today, all by myself.
Her steps feather-light with accomplishment, a low voice pierced the steady rain from somewhere, reaching her ears.
"Adel."
Adel turned to see the man who called her. The smile vanished from her face.
"Chief Clerk. Adel Nora and Deputy Director Mensha have started their meeting."
Knox had heard from morning that Adel was visiting the palace.
Whenever she came by, related offices like treasury or land management suffered headaches for a while, so Knox couldn't not know.
"Looks like she's really settling it today."
"What's Deputy Director Mensha's reaction?"
"He can't win, sir. Seems he wants to stop suffering now."
"Hm."
After wrapping up the conversation like that, about an hour passed. Suddenly, a tap-tap sounded against the window.
Knox gazed out at the heavy rain pouring down.
Did she bring an umbrella? That thought came first.
He hated worrying, yet why were his thoughts like this? Knox disliked himself for it. Still, his eyes wouldn't leave the rain outside.
Probably not. She'd been like that since childhood.
Summer hated carrying things around.
That was her style. She disliked encumbrances.
So she disliked encumbering little siblings too. At least that's how Knox felt.
He knew it was justified. Unlike him, who liked things neat and tidy, Summer had always preferred freedom since childhood.
Yet even so, Summer ultimately took care of them. Her two whining, crying younger siblings.
She even gave up free street life to enter the narrow orphanage on her own feet. For her coughing siblings.
Thinking back, most of their childhood together was like that. She seemed to kill herself for her siblings.
On days like this with pouring rain, her image running around the neighborhood with an umbrella so her siblings wouldn't get wet while she did was vivid.
"What are you, rebellious frogs?! Why do you dash out every time it rains?!"
"It's fun. Cool!"
"Cool my foot—it's freezing! See if you get a fever tonight and get sick! I'll spank your butts black and blue!"
In truth, they probably just wanted to see Summer rush over in visible relief upon finding them. That's why they dashed out like contrarian frogs.
To feel that Summer loved them, that no matter how hard, she'd never let them go.
Because they liked the soaked, angry Summer. Kids are selfish like that.
"Summer, Summer, hug me. Huh?"
"Autumn, no. I'm wet."
"Wahhh, I'm wet too."
"That's why you use an umbrella, you two."
Summer snapped open the folded umbrella over their small heads. And somehow without getting herself wet, she unwrapped the blanket she'd brought and wrapped it tightly around them.
Why didn't I realize.
Her sister's hands, still in the rain, were excessively cold. That she ended up groaning all night in their stead.
Actually... he kind of knew.
Yet he liked even that.
She didn't show it, grumbled when sick and they had to starve too, but really, it was good. Proof Summer cherished them that much.
Like all kids, Autumn and he craved a mother's love, hoped for an absolute guardian's heart that would never change.
As Knox was lost in old memories gazing at the rain, his aide cautiously approached the desk again.
"Chief Clerk, it's time for the regular meeting."
Only then did Knox slowly straighten his head and rise from his seat. He was in charge of palace business reports at the regular noble council. Today was the day.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
His aide followed the uniformed Knox in ceremonial attire.
Knox left behind the muddy recollections pouring with the rain, silently walking the path an adult self must tread.
The meeting ended about two hours later.
The king, prince, and high nobles present moved on to tea time.
Unable to join, Knox was returning to his office. With his aide again.
Rain still fell outside the building. After walking the corridor silently for a while, Knox asked casually.
"What’s Deputy Director Mensha doing?"
"He just finished negotiations with Lady Adel. He ended up approving maritime hazard ledger expenses as a tax reduction reason."
"I see."
So that's how it went.
Tax revenue to collect will decrease.
And... then Adel will go home now.
Knox's gaze naturally turned to the corridor window.
Knox, always moving with perfect posture, awkwardly halted his steps as if tugged by someone.
"Chief Clerk?"
"Wait."
"Pardon?"
"Got an umbrella?"
"Now?"
"Yeah. If you do, could you lend it?"
