Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Escape (1)

As I expected, the weaving technology capable of mass-producing Rumor fabric had been revealed to the world.

After that, the number of factories taking orders for the fabric and trying to mass-produce clothing grew exponentially.

However, sudden popularity always came with accidents.

The public had burned with desire to own the first line of functional clothing...

But the abrupt increase in factories had led to quality control failures and numerous industrial accidents.

"Another fire breaks out at a large Rumor factory in New Luton!!"

"Clothes made from the so-called divine fabric show massive pilling."

As various complaints piled up, the public slowly began to look for a reliable brand.

And then, as if waiting for this moment, a new company appeared.

"Erian Roger"

"We manufacture our products using machines handed down through the Luton family for generations, with the hands of skilled artisans."

He gave interviews with the purest, kindest expression.

And beside him stood the Grand Duke’s daughter Echina, as if to prove that he truly had collaborated with the Luton family.

"In fact, Erian Roger currently produces the clergy robes for the Istina Cathedral, thanks to their outstanding quality."

They had even managed to improve the suffocatingly stiff-looking nun habits.

Moreover, Saint Istina Cathedral was the most revered sanctuary in Nord.

This, in turn, served as undeniable proof of Erian Roger's solid reliability.

Thanks to that, the brand’s value and exports surged overwhelmingly.

"Erian Roger sweeps through Nord’s social circles."

"Enters the market ranking 23rd in the top 100 national fashion families by revenue!!"

Of course, this didn’t mean the brand’s current value was already 23rd.

It was a ranking that factored in its current growth rate and projected value.

Still, there were some who grew tense even at these projected figures.

Namely, the siblings of the Grand Duke’s house, who were clutching this newspaper.

Edward and Freya.

“What now, sis—. That textile factory we thought was dead weight turned out to be a gold mine.”

“…”

The siblings sat in one of the drawing rooms of the grand estate.

Among them, the elder sister Freya wore a fierce expression.

“How much did we sell the factory for again? Around 20 billion gold, wasn’t it?”

The younger brother chuckled and shook his head.

“By now, it’s probably soared to over 100 billion gold.”

“Shut your mouth, Edward.”

The eldest daughter spoke in a chilling voice.

Still, the second son had no intention of stopping.

“That Echina girl, she’s really on a lucky streak lately. How did that technology get announced just one month after she acquired the factory?”

Edward leisurely crossed one leg over the other.

Then he glanced at his sister, who had taken a clear hit in the fashion industry, and said,

“It almost feels like she knows the future.”

“…”

Knows the future.

The eldest daughter would have believed that once—until she met that man.

There was no way a knightess who had spent her entire life sparring at the Academy could possess such foresight.

But behind it all—there was him.

That sly gaze smirking beneath his black hair.

Just thinking of those eyes made Freya tremble with disgust.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Thanks to them, the Luton Hall incident was resolved smoothly anyway.”

“Right, right—. Might as well hand the clothing business over to your younger sister now—. You’ve got plenty of other things to do, don’t you?”

Even though the clothing business was quite large in scale, the second son suggested giving it up with his usual flippant tone.

At that, the eldest daughter gave him a sharp, serious glare.

“What are you talking about.”

“You really think I don’t know you’re planning to use Luton Hall as a springboard to expand into construction once it’s completed?”

Edward thought she would be flustered by his pointed remark.

But Freya’s expression, as she quietly listened, remained composed.

“What’s wrong with that?”

No, if anything, she was even colder.

“Did Father decide for us what business we must do for the rest of our lives?”

The eldest daughter picked up the ashtray on the table.

Then, she silently slid it toward her younger brother and said,

“Don’t kid yourself, Edward. That’s exactly why you’re still under Eric.”

Freya rose from the sofa.

She looked up at the imposing portrait of their father hanging on the reception room wall.

“Who said I was under anyone.”

Edward let out a short laugh and tapped the ashes off his cigar.

“I’m only saying this because I’m worried. People might start saying the great eldest daughter lost the fashion business to her little sister.”

“……”

At her younger brother’s casual remark, Freya said nothing for a moment.

It was true—Echina’s actions were difficult to believe coming from someone who had just stepped into the family business for the first time.

Normally, when launching a fashion line, the target clientele fell into two categories.

The upper class, and the general public.

So most new entrepreneurs would choose one of these groups to begin their business.

But the place Echina was promoting was different.

"Erian Roger, Blue Label."

A formalwear brand fronted by the famous singer Bennet Tolkien.

His refined appearance, paired with the wistful look that had only deepened with age and hardship.

And a simple design that matched his tall frame perfectly.

It was a look that appealed not only to the noble elite, but also to the young and successful.

Yet that was only the beginning.

"Erian Roger, Gold Label."

A dancerwear brand soon to be modeled by Gehenna, the dancer who would perform at Luton Hall.

The fabric, elastic and form-fitting, accentuated her beautiful figure and caught everyone’s attention.

Even Freya, who had seen countless clothes over the years, had to acknowledge it.

"Erian Roger, Black Label."

And lastly, the line that made her frown.

The models chosen were none other than...

Echina Luton herself and Saint Istina.

“As far as I know, Echina and the Saint have no connection at all.”

Moreover, this systematic branding wasn’t the product of raw talent.

Which meant, as expected, it had to be that person—the one who had once come to her with a bold proposal.

“It really is just that secretary, huh.”

“What was that?”

When Edward reacted to Freya’s muttering, she shook her head.

“Nothing. Let’s go see Father now.”

Freya decided to hold her tongue.

She was still undecided on what to do about that bold young man she had met a few days ago, who had just turned twenty.

Normally, she would have relentlessly questioned him for daring to attach himself to the Grand Duke’s house and seek personal gain.

But the benefit he brought was directly tied to Echina, so she couldn’t reprimand him just yet.

The real question was what would happen when he completely separated from the Grand Duke’s household.

Freya had sensed it too.

Once he left the Grand Duke’s house—

He would no longer be just a secretary trainee.

Rather than scolding him, it would be far more beneficial to recognize his capabilities and bring him to her side.

Freya, who was well-versed in various industries, including the fashion business, realized this quickly.

That was why she chose to hold back her words in front of Edward, her immediate rival.

“Let’s go down.”

“So unbothered, as always.”

The second son gave a brief chuckle and rose from his seat.

Together, they calmly exited the reception room and made their way to the lobby—

—as if they had already planted a safety mechanism inside the so-called Echina faction, which they deemed a threat.

「――――――」

Meanwhile, on the first-floor lobby of the mansion.

There, the secretary trainees were lined up in a long row, waiting.

All of them were standing tensely, waiting for the Grand Duke of the North.

I, on the other hand, was lost in thought.

My mind was focused solely on my business, the Erian Foundation.

Currently, the company’s shares were divided as follows:

5% to the Saint, 5% to the Western Grand Duke’s daughter, 10% to Echina.

Another 50% belonged entirely to me, while the remaining 30% had been floated to the market.

Among those, it seemed Helena had been gradually buying more, trying to conquer me piece by piece.

But for now, I didn’t particularly care.

To me, she just looked like a beast sticking its paw through the bars of its cage.

The fact that these women were trying to gain control of my shares simply meant the foundation would become even wealthier.

And if one day they devoured enough shares to demand the position of majority shareholder from me…

Well, then I’d hand it over.

If the Western Grand Duke’s daughter had grown strong enough to make such a move, it would mean the foundation had grown just as much.

If I gave up my 50%, my lineage could live in wealth for three generations or more.

I imagined myself swimming in that prosperity.

Then, I was snapped out of it by Echina, who had quietly come beside me, her interest in business having grown over time.

“Roger, the response to the Black Label this time has been really good.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Your Grace.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter stood in front of me, arms crossed.

"You think I have no conscience? This was all your idea."

She was wearing a knight uniform newly released by Erian Loren.

As she pinched the Grand Duke's house jacket draped over her shoulders lightly, she added,

"I'm not the kind of person who steals someone else’s credit."

Echina folded her hands elegantly behind her back.

Then, in a blank expression, she whispered softly to me.

"After seeing the clothes from this launch, the imperial tailors reached out for a collaboration. You should meet with them."

"You’re remarkable."

I could feel the gazes of my fellow trainees standing on either side.

But for now, I decided to focus solely on the Grand Duke’s daughter standing before me.

"They said they needed me and one male knight as models…"

She placed a hand under her chin and fell into thought.

At the same time, she glanced at me briefly, clearly asking for my input.

"Would Young Lord Dalton be suitable?"

The male knight who once stood as her equal at the Academy—Giovanni Dalton—would be perfect.

Even in the future, he’d make a name for himself as the son of the Sword Saint.

‘If we secure him now as our exclusive model, it’ll be a huge advantage.’

Thinking so, I asked Echina with an innocent expression.

But—

"I don’t like him."

Though I thought she’d be satisfied, given her discerning eye—

Echina’s expression was distinctly indifferent.

As if I’d given the wrong answer.

"Do you already have someone in mind?"

Echina frowned like a cat displeased with what it saw.

Then, narrowing her eyes, she pretended to consider.

"It’s not like the model has to be an active knight, anyway."

She brought up something unexpected.

"I just don’t like the idea of standing next to some sleazy guy like Dalton."

"I see."

I ran through a list in my head of dozens of knights who would rise to prominence in the future.

While I was thinking about who might satisfy Echina’s preferences for the shoot—

"I feel like if the CEO modeled himself, it would really earn the public’s trust."

Echina muttered this casually, as if it were a passing comment.

‘Me? As the model…?’

I widened my eyes, about to ask her again.

But then I shut my mouth, seeing Freya and Edward descending the grand circular staircase.

"Oh my, you were here already, Echina."

"Been a while, sister."

Echina’s expression immediately turned cold at the appearance of her siblings.

Then she replied in the signature frigid voice of the family.

"Yeah. We need to gather, don’t we."

Today was the day for the Luton family’s mid-year performance reviews.

It was also the time when the fates of the secretary trainees would be decided.

Through today’s process, they would either be promoted to official secretaries and remain here—

Or go through an extended probation period and challenge the position again in the second half of the year.

Those who became official secretaries would enter formal contracts.

After serving a term, they would finally become the Chief Secretary.

"Where’s Uncle Debier?"

"He is currently at the mansion entrance, escorting His Grace the Grand Duke."

Because of that, nearly all members of the family were present in the mansion today.

As a result, the atmosphere was particularly solemn.

From beyond the grand doors, the sound of footsteps began to echo.

――――――.

The moment the doors opened.

The Grand Duke of the North appeared, flanked by Chief Secretary Debier on one side and his eldest son, Eric, on the other.

With the terrifyingly expressionless face befitting the continent’s second-in-command, and the Empire’s uniform jacket draped over his shoulders.

Everyone waiting in the lobby bowed their heads.

Soon after, Freya and Edward, in order of hierarchy, followed behind him as he passed.

As they ascended the stairs toward the grand conference room, we finally followed suit.

When I lifted my head, all the other secretary trainees were staring at me in unison.

It was because I was expected to receive the highest score in this mid-year evaluation.

But I didn’t return a single glance.

I no longer wanted to be part of this game, whose outcome had already been decided.

As I climbed the stairs, I thought to myself:

What words must I say to leave the Grand Duke’s house in the most perfect and graceful way?

And—

Would I be able to convince the pleased-looking Echina walking ahead of me?

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