Chapter 132

Chapter 132: A Serious Discussion (1)

Élégante was very close by.

It was a restaurant located directly across from the Erian Hotel.

Lately, Old Luton’s value had soared so high that even His Majesty the Emperor took notice.

For a place to open here—it meant the quality of the establishment was beyond exceptional.

Just as proof, the restaurant’s first floor boasted a dazzling entrance.

It was Echina who had recommended the place, saying she wanted to try it, and Helena had even sponsored it—such was the elegance of its exterior.

“This place is nice. It must’ve been sponsored with Archduke Harris in mind, right?”

“That’s right. There’s a lot to learn from how this place runs and its overall system.”

Even while coming to eat, Helena had been thinking of such things, and she smiled fondly at me for it.

Then, Echina cut in between us with a cold, expressionless face.

“To put it bluntly, it’s exploitation of their techniques.”

“Oh my, does our Northern Grand Duke’s daughter have an interest in the food industry? You’re jumping right in.”

“There’s no reason I can’t.”

Echina had recently been expanding her influence just as much as Helena.

Perhaps that was why I suddenly thought that the rivalry between the two wasn’t completely unmanageable.

‘But... there seem to be more white doves in the city than usual today.’

They were the familiar ones that often perched on the cathedral’s bell tower.

Yet today, they seemed unusually busy, flitting around in all directions.

‘Probably just my imagination.’

I deliberately ignored the feeling and stepped into the restaurant.

And at that moment—

I ran into another familiar face.

“Oh my, isn’t that Lord Roger?”

The only woman who still spoke to me in formal speech.

Saint Istina.

“Saint Istina. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Right? I came out to dine with some of the believers today, it’s been a while.”

Unusually, she was in plain clothes.

A beautiful black dress with lace stretching from her shoulders up to her neckline.

“Isn’t that right, everyone?”

“That’s right. To think we’d meet Lord Roger here.”

The priests and believers who had followed her nodded and smiled.

But something felt slightly off.

It was as if they’d been pulled out at the last minute—like they’d hurriedly changed clothes.

Sweat was glistening on their foreheads, and their clothes bore faint signs of being hastily wrinkled.

For people who normally paid so much attention to their appearance and conduct to look like this...

‘Seems like Saint Istina made another one of her impromptu plans.’

A few weeks ago, during the Academy Festival, I had become certain.

That, though she appeared to be a cold and calculated leader, she had a girlish side to her as well.

And that side must’ve kicked in again today.

“What a shame. We all have our own colleagues, so sharing a table might be difficult.”

I said it to her with a completely harmless expression.

Behind me, Helena and Echina, who had been standing there with sulky looks, exchanged secret smiles.

But—

Those faint smiles on their faces disappeared just as quickly.

The three women, waiting for me with the purest expressions in the world, came into view.

“Shall we head to the lounge as well, then?”

“Sounds good.”

“It’s been a while—I might have a drink tonight.”

At Saint Istina’s last comment, Helena let out a chuckle.

“Oh my, Saint. Don’t you down two glasses on the rocks every night?”

“Now, how could I? Even one drink makes my head spin.”

A familiar banter between the Western Grand Duke’s daughter and the Saint.

To that, the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter added her own remark.

“From the looks of it, you could handle two bottles.”

“Well, that goes for you too, Lady Echina. Don’t knights have stronger tolerance?”

The three of them exchanged glances and sat down first.

Then they motioned for me to take a seat as well.

“……”

What was this feeling?

There weren’t any Grand Dukes or Emperors nearby, and yet, the pressure in the air felt oddly appropriate for such figures.

As if immense forces were about to collide and form a storm.

“Ha-ha… very well.”

I casually picked up the menu.

Then I suggested a light wine and some cheese as a starter.

“They have a nice cheese here. It’s a variety frequently used by the Northern Grand Duke’s house.”

With the serious demeanor of my days as Chief Secretary, I offered recommendations to the ladies.

They stared at my face for a while, without saying a word.

“The wine’s reasonably priced, too. This Nord grape is hard to come by in this season, especially.”

Still, they only continued to look at me.

“Roger, if it’s your suggestion, it must be right.”

“You’ve got a good eye. Pairs well with the wine.”

“Shall we go with that, then?”

As the women seemed largely uninterested in the food, I stood up from the table on their behalf.

And said to the approaching staff member,

“How much of this wine do you have in stock?”

“Uh… I’d have to check to be sure, but there should be at least two bottles available.”

The staff seemed slightly dazed at how much more professional I appeared compared to them.

But I didn’t criticize that.

“I’d like to serve it to our staff and the priests as well. Could you check the exact inventory for me?”

At the mention of “priests,” Saint Istina lifted her head.

Her blue eyes blinked softly beneath her silver hair.

“For the priests as well?”

“Yes. Even though the prohibition has been lifted, some still prefer to drink only wine.”

The Silver Truth Church originally allowed only wine for certain periods.

Because of doctrinal principles, many voluntarily refrained from drinking anything but wine.

“How thoughtful. Thank you for thinking of them, Roger.”

I gave her a slight bow and turned back toward the staff.

“If possible, I’d like to go down to the wine cellar with you. If stock is low, I’ll need to select a suitable alternative.”

The staff member turned to glance at the restaurant manager who had been observing the VIPs from a distance.

Then, the manager urgently waved her hand as if to say, Please, go ahead and do as he says.

“Let’s do that. Would you mind following me for a moment?”

“I’ll be right back—just going to pick out some wine.”

I gave a brief word to the three women seated at the table.

They nodded silently, gesturing for me to go ahead.

To think I’d live to see the day those three sat at the same table.

Still, outwardly, none of them seemed uncomfortable with one another.

Well, they weren’t schoolgirls—there was no reason for petty behavior.

All of them were seasoned businesswomen. I had no doubt they’d engage in solid business talk even without me there.

With that light thought in mind, I followed her into the wine cellar.

――――――

While today’s main character was away—

At the table where the two Grand Duke’s daughters and the Saint were seated, only a deadly silence hung in the air.

Other guests were scattered around, enjoying drinks at their own tables.

Yet only this table had an atmosphere so heavy, it distorted the flow of the air itself.

Like a solemn council meeting presided over by the Emperor.

“So we’ve ended up at the same table after all, Istina.”

“You haven’t changed either. As far as I know, Roger escaped because he couldn’t stand you.”

The moment the man disappeared, the Saint dropped the formalities and called him by name.

Within that pure and innocent smile, the chilling aura of a grey wolf finally began to rise.

“It’s not because of me. It’s the cursed atmosphere of my family, Saint.”

Echina, too, abandoned formal speech toward her.

Then came the golden glint in her eyes—the one only the Empire’s Black Lion possessed.

“Even if he left the Grand Duke’s house, he and I will remain in a partnership.”

She wasn’t wrong.

In fact, while he was away, it had been Echina who helped manage affairs at the Erian Hotel.

By that measure alone, she was his closest ally.

“Him? Since when did you start calling Roger that?”

But Istina wasn’t an easy opponent either.

She gently placed a hand on her chest, revealing the ambition she had kept hidden.

It was a declaration of war aimed squarely at the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter.

“I’ve already made quite a bit of progress with him.”

Made progress.

At those words, not only Echina, but even Helena—who had been silently sitting with her arms crossed—froze with a sharp, cold expression.

Guests and the restaurant manager watched from a distance.

The sudden shift in atmosphere made them shudder instead.

“W-What on earth are they talking about…?”

“Don’t tell me something serious is brewing between the two Grand Dukes’ houses and the Silver Truth Church…?!”

They held their breath as though witnessing a moment that could reshape the Empire’s political landscape.

And yet, the conversation at the center of it all was…

“Have either of you ever been held in Roger’s arms?”

…far more direct than expected.

“……?”

“What do you mean…?”

Helena and Echina both looked bewildered.

Then, as if she had been waiting for just that reaction, Istina gently wrapped her arms around both her shoulders.

“I have. All day long, soaked in sweat, no less.”

The skin beneath Echina’s eyes twitched violently.

How could such words come out of the mouth of someone who called herself a Saint?

And the moment Echina saw her arms wrap around her own shoulders, drawing even more attention to her already pronounced figure—

To her, Istina now seemed less like a woman of purity, and more like a demon from scripture.

A lustful demon cloaked in the guise of a chaste maiden.

“Roger’s body… yes, it was definitely well-trained. Far more impressive than I expected.”

This time, even Helena had no rebuttal.

Though she had spent an entire day in the same carriage with him, she had never been held in his arms like a princess.

For the first time, the woman who always pursued aggressive business strategies found herself feeling… left behind.

“Hah. And here I was wondering where this was going. Anyone overhearing might think you even kissed him.”

As if the air had grown warmer, Helena carelessly brushed back her thick golden hair.

To that, Istina tilted her head slightly and asked back,

“Oh? Don’t tell me—you’ve kissed him?”

Her gaze clearly saying, Surely not.

“I haven’t, but it’s not like I couldn’t. I’ve already received my family’s approval.”

Not that she actually had.

But once she had been named the next Grand Duchess, she had full freedom to choose her own husband.

“And what about you, Istina? You’re not a bishop yet, are you?”

This time, it was the Saint who flinched at Helena’s counterattack—clearly well-informed about her internal circumstances.

“What, have you been snooping around our Church’s policies behind the scenes?”

“You’re just so obvious. I was curious what gave you the confidence to be so full of yourself.”

Helena lifted her chin high and responded with a shameless smirk.

“Hah. Well, it’s only a matter of time before I’m made bishop. So there’s nothing stopping me.”

“Even if that happens, it’ll still take ages to receive the full rights and privileges.”

As the two of them bickered with sharp words—

One woman remained silent between them.

The black-haired daughter of the Northern Grand Duke.

“So that’s how it is...”

The West had already secured her family’s approval.

The Silver Truth Church would grant marital rights once Istina became bishop.

But Echina… had never once spoken to her father about any of this.

“……”

And so, Echina became fully aware of her current standing.

And what she would have to do next.

――――――

“Good. Looks like they had plenty of wine.”

I returned from the cellar with a refreshed expression.

Hands clasped behind my back, I walked briskly toward the lounge.

“Let’s see… I hope everyone’s getting along well.”

I looked over at my ever-reliable business partners.

From a distance, they appeared locked in serious discussion, gazes focused and intense.

“At least they don’t seem uncomfortable. That’s a relief.”

Unlike in my previous life, I had dependable companions by my side now.

Just seeing such trustworthy allies already made me feel full.

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