Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Escape (2)

"Everyone has gathered, Your Grace."

Chief Secretary Debier closed the door to the meeting room.

Inside, only the four children of the Grand Duke and the secretary candidates remained.

The candidates stood against the wall, waiting at attention.

The children of the Grand Duke’s house sat on either side of the long table, and Duke Luton was seated at the head.

「It seems everyone is here, except for Edgar.」

The youngest son, Edgar, was currently attending the Imperial Academy.

Everyone else had gathered in one place.

However, for a family reunion after a long time, the atmosphere was far from warm.

Today was the day Duke Luton, their father, would evaluate their achievements for the first half of the year.

If no one raised their voice or got interrogated, that would already be considered fortunate.

「I’ve already received reports from everyone on your achievements.」

The Grand Duke of the North took off the jacket draped over his shoulders.

Then, with his arms crossed, he began the half-year evaluation with a silent expression.

「Eric, I hear you've been in charge of easing diplomatic tensions with the Imperial Family this year.」

"Yes, Father. I visited the princes one by one and left a good impression."

Eric Luton, the silver-haired eldest son.

He spoke with golden eyes that resembled the Grand Duke’s own.

Even at that time, his position must have been considerable.

As the eldest of the Grand Duke’s house, he likely associated with several key figures in the Imperial Family.

But—

From what I remember, he made one significant mistake.

「I assume you gave them all enough money?」

"Yes, that's correct..."

He had concentrated funds on only one side.

Specifically, he gave them to the Second Prince, who held numerous inspections and had substantial power.

「Never think of giving everything to one person. The moment you bow your head somewhere, you’ll end up with a leash around your neck.」

"I will keep that in mind."

Even though he said that, the Grand Duke must have known.

That the eldest son had aligned himself with the Second Prince.

He planned to form an alliance with him and, once his father passed away, use the audits to pressure his younger siblings.

Yet, knowing all of this, the Grand Duke simply chose to watch in silence.

Overcoming such obstacles was also part of his children’s competence.

Still, it was clear that the sight of his eldest son relying on outside power was deeply displeasing to him.

That was why the Grand Duke also intended to empower his other children.

「Luton Hall seems to be running well, too.」

"Yes, Father. The projected annual revenue is expected to hit an all-time high."

Freya, the eldest daughter in charge of planning, spoke with a gentle smile.

She had worked her whole life in the art business, but this time, she had taken on a large-scale construction project for the first time.

「It better be. It’s a grand project that went far over budget.」

Her father’s reply was nothing short of cynical.

Until now, he had always shown some level of recognition toward her accomplishments.

But this time, his response was exceptionally harsh.

「It exceeded by 20 billion gold. And because of the unreasonable interest, you sold the factory just to repay the principal.」

The second-in-command of the continent, who already knew everything.

At that, Freya unconsciously swallowed hard.

「And now, that factory has become the most promising beneficiary in the Rumor market?」

Her disgrace was being exposed for the first time in front of everyone.

“……”

The Grand Duke took a deep breath like a predator.

His fiercely contorted brow twitched.

「If it hadn’t been for Echina, it would’ve ended up in the hands of another family.」

Echina, who was seated in the grand meeting room for the first time in a long while.

Everyone’s eyes turned to her.

“I simply saw potential in Rumor fabric and secured it. My secretary played a large part.”

The Grand Duke nodded silently.

「When using other people’s money, you must prepare excess funds more meticulously than ever. If you’re not capable of that, you shouldn’t get involved in the first place.」

“I’ll keep that in mind, Father.”

Freya closed her eyes tightly.

Then she bowed politely to the Grand Duke.

Hiding her expression as she admitted to her first major mistake.

「I won’t help you this time. Hand over the factory completely to Echina.」

Even the Grand Duke made it clear: she was to hand over full ownership of the factory.

But they didn’t know.

That I was the actual owner of the Erian Foundation.

「Next, you—the arms dealer.」

“Yes, Father.”

By contrast, Edward looked quite confident this time.

And for good reason.

「I hear a large-scale mithril mine was discovered in the Northern mountain range.」

“Yes. They say it holds the largest deposit in history.”

Mithril was a valuable mineral used effectively in future weapon manufacturing.

However, the refining process was incredibly difficult and time-consuming.

「It's fine to mine it, but leave that kind of thing to outside companies.」

Knowing this well, the Grand Duke suggested external cooperation.

However, the greedy second son couldn’t possibly take that well.

“Pardon…? Shouldn’t we monopolize it ourselves?”

「You’re already falling behind the West in your first-half performance because you’re too focused on things like that!!」

At his father’s harsh remark, Edward glared up at him.

「If you want to take on something more, shouldn’t you first finish the job you’ve already been assigned?!」

The Grand Duke’s shout rang throughout the grand meeting room.

His overwhelming authority made everyone break out in a cold sweat.

“…Understood.”

Of course, mithril was a promising future resource for industry.

But there was no need to neglect the current fourth-largest business of the family—arms dealing—just to focus on it.

Mining could be slowly developed with external investment.

Still, there was another reason Edward had become so immersed in it.

‘A secret deal with the duchy.’

He was planning to take over the mining business himself and secretly distribute mithril to the duchy.

With the profit from this, he intended to break away from the eldest son and form his own faction.

That was why he was so obsessed with the mining industry.

Instead of focusing on arms dealing, where all income and expenses were publicly recorded.

‘Once the Grand Duke dies, he’ll probably drive out all those external contractors he was forced to accept.’

In doing so, he’d ruin the image of the family that Father had worked so hard to build.

Of course, it had nothing to do with me anymore.

「Next, Echina.」

While everyone else had achieved only half-successes, the youngest daughter’s turn came.

Everyone looked at her with tense expressions.

But in the entire meeting room, I alone remained relaxed.

Echina’s performance, which I had shaped, was flawless.

「You’ve done well.」

As expected, our Grand Duke looked on with satisfaction.

「While the others took my money and brought back unimpressive results, you started with almost nothing.」

A rare word of praise from their father.

At this, the other siblings all looked at their younger sister with expressionless faces.

As if they now saw the girl who had spent her life in the academy as a full-fledged rival.

“You honor me, Your Grace.”

Echina offered her thanks with a polite tone.

And displayed the humility characteristic of a knight.

「There’s no need to be humble. When you’ve achieved something, you should know how to ask for a reward with pride.」

The Grand Duke gestured lightly to Debier with a softened expression.

Then, the chief secretary approached the table with his hands behind his back and began reading out her achievements.

“The second daughter increased the value of the neglected Erian Hotel by more than fifty times.”

Old Luton had once predicted a twentyfold increase.

But the hotel in the heart of the city had soared even higher.

“She then elevated Old Luton into a city of culture and formed an independent commercial district at its center.”

This was thanks to the Grand Duke’s daughter’s foresight.

Even if she had purchased the property out of longing for her mother—

The decision to ride the trend and establish a commercial district had been entirely her own.

‘The secretary general in my past life used to say he regretted not having Echina join the family business sooner.’

She certainly had a remarkable instinct for investment.

「Is that all?」

“No, she also made great contributions to the entertainment industry.”

He pulled out a poster that had been prepared in advance—Bennet Tolkien’s exclusive concert at the Erian Hotel.

Then he laid out details of Gehenna’s upcoming performance at Luton Hall, along with her agency, the Erian Foundation.

“She protected a singer who was on the verge of permanent retirement and saved top talent that was about to be taken by the Imperial Family.”

He publicly revealed to the entire family that she had secured exclusive rights to two of Nord’s biggest names.

「You only just joined the family business, yet the results you’ve shown are impressive.」

The Grand Duke, who had clearly been watching all of his children’s achievements closely, wore a calm expression.

He looked at Echina, who had shown the most distinct achievements among them, and spoke.

「Echina, as you know, I’ve never held back support from those who are competent.」

The Grand Duke’s daughter answered with a polite nod.

「I won’t hold back support for you either, so if there’s something you want, think it over carefully.」

“Yes, I understand.”

Echina responded calmly.

Then, she glanced briefly in my direction and offered a faint smile.

As if to say she would include me in that reward.

“The next matter is the formal secretary selection,”

Debier reported in a low voice to the Grand Duke.

「Indeed. The time has come for that as well.」

The continent’s second-in-command narrowed his sharp eyes halfway.

Then, he rose from the head seat and left a final remark.

「The rest of the agenda can be reported later.」

This wasn’t the chief secretary selection, just the formal secretary appointment.

So, the Grand Duke casually clasped his hands behind his back and left the meeting room first.

His children rose and followed after him.

They left the room along with their father, heading toward the estate’s exit.

However, we secretary candidates remained in the meeting room.

And all eyes turned to Chief Secretary Debier, who stood upright near the head seat.

“As you all saw, the current work being handled by the young lords and ladies is considerable.”

The transparent monocle fixed over one of the chief secretary’s eyes—

Through its lens, our reflections could be seen.

“His Grace brought you to this place today because you are to assist in duties such as these going forward.”

Our fellow candidates standing in a row swallowed hard.

They knew, too.

The sheer amount of work we’d be responsible for once we became official secretaries.

But it would be up to the Grand Duke and his children to decide whether we were fit for that role.

And also up to the man before us now, with a grim, expressionless face—Chief Secretary Debier.

At this moment, he was about to determine the course of our first fate.

“I will now announce the mid-year evaluations.”

The chief secretary, his white hair slicked neatly over his forehead.

His hawk-like sharp gaze first landed on Tobang.

“Tobang Arman, step forward.”

“Yes, sir.”

The blond candidate took a step forward.

“You achieved the most outstanding performance in the first-half evaluation.”

“…Pardon?”

Tobang—and even the rest of us waiting behind—looked visibly confused.

Because naturally, everyone assumed I would be the top performer, given everything I’d done.

“Did you not hear me? You’re in first place.”

The chief secretary cut through the unsettled mood with authority.

And Tobang, though still bewildered, accepted it.

“It’s all thanks to your guidance, sir! Thank you!!”

His loud voice echoed across the vast meeting room.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll report to Archduke Eric’s office.”

The eldest son’s selection.

At those words, Tobang’s lips twitched, as if he had just received the result he had long wished for.

He looked like he might burst into joyful shouting at any moment.

But—

Debier, who even caught such subtle shifts in expression, remained cold as ever.

“Don’t be mistaken. The eldest son didn’t personally point you out.”

At that blunt remark, Tobang was quickly reminded of his true standing.

He hadn’t become an official secretary because of his merit.

“You were simply assigned automatically as the top scorer in the evaluation.”

Eric had no interest in secretary candidates to begin with.

After all, he already had a private secretarial office within his own company.

A candidate selected from the main estate was just an extra pair of hands.

“So even there, you’ll have to work extremely hard to be recognized.”

“Yes, sir…”

The chief secretary certainly wouldn’t want a candidate he trained to end his career as just another bottom-rung secretary.

Even in his eyes, the candidates who had made it this far all possessed outstanding talent.

“Next, in second place—Lucun Fern.”

“Yes, sir.”

Second place.

Lucun still found it odd that I hadn’t been named yet.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll report to Luton Maiden, where Lady Freya is based.”

“Understood.”

The two of them stepped back again.

Then the chief secretary looked at the remaining candidates all at once.

“Windsor and Brook. Unfortunately, your scores did not meet the threshold for formal secretary selection.”

“……”

The two, who had been sticking close to Tobang, bowed their heads.

It wasn’t surprising.

Fools who clung to each other in a competitive environment were unlikely to score highly.

Still, that didn’t mean they were entirely eliminated.

After all, they both belonged to prestigious families, each backed by high-ranking figures within their own houses.

“You’ll be competing with the incoming trainees in the second half of the year. You must prove yourselves exceptional at that time.”

“We’ll do our best…!!”

“I’ll prove myself!!”

The two candidates responded louder and more clearly than usual.

It was almost enough to make one feel sorry for them.

“That concludes the first-half evaluation. Those who passed, pack your belongings and wait in front of the dormitory.”

Following the chief secretary’s orders, everyone began to move.

But I, who had yet to receive any kind of evaluation, remained silently at ease in the at-ease position.

Tobang, who was walking ahead, looked back at me intently.

When he saw my calm expression, he furrowed his brow deeply, then passed by indifferently.

As if to say he’d personally crush me next time.

On the other hand, Lucun, who had once allied with me, wore a meaningful look.

As if asking me to explain everything later.

Once even the other candidates had left, the meeting room became extremely quiet.

In that silence, Debier and I looked at each other wordlessly.

“Julius Roger.”

“Yes, Chief Secretary.”

The legendary man of the secretarial world silently watched my calm demeanor.

His gaze seemed to ask if I had many questions.

“Follow me.”

Debier took the lead and stepped into the hallway.

Noontime sunlight streamed through the corridor.

At the far end, he guided me toward the Grand Duke of the North’s office.

“Go in.”

Most formal secretary appointments were announced directly by Debier.

But mine was different.

My assignment—

「You brought him, Debier?」

—was to be decided directly by the Grand Duke of the North himself.

“Yes, Your Grace. I have brought Julius Roger as ordered.”

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