Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Home Visit (2)

While the Saint’s carriage was heading back from the capital to Nord.

The western part of the Empire was also bustling with schemes and political maneuvering.

Especially the Yekaterina imperial family, who ruled the West.

Though distant relatives of the Imperial family, winds of change were blowing upon them.

[The Western Grand Duke’s daughter, Helena Yekaterina.]

As the leading candidate for the next Grand Duke, she was facing heavy checks and restraints.

The strongest force among them was perhaps her younger brother, Henry Yekaterina.

He was deeply dissatisfied with the fact that, despite being the son, he had been pushed aside by his older sister.

Helena herself was well aware of this point.

That was why she was trying even harder to avoid mistakes and solidify her position.

But.

Even for a dazzling blonde woman who seemed flawless in every way, burdens inevitably existed.

Especially…

“Helena, did you reject another marriage proposal…?”

A middle-aged man with golden hair that clearly revealed who she resembled.

The Western Grand Duke Hendricks let out a deep sigh.

“A marriage proposal? I merely went out to share a meal because you asked me to.”

The Grand Duke’s office.

Helena, standing across from the seated Western Grand Duke, spoke coldly.

“Marriage talks usually begin over a shared meal, my dear…”

“In that case, I suppose I should no longer go out even for meals.”

At his daughter’s firm stance, the father squeezed his eyes shut.

As though a headache was pressing down on him, he pushed at his temples with his thumbs.

“Helena, you’re already twenty-two years old…”

Normally, most young ladies of the upper class were already married by the age of twenty.

However, Helena had joined the family business early because of her extraordinary management skills.

“No matter how much you like business, inner stability is still necessary, don’t you think?”

As a result, her standards had risen far too high.

She could feel no attraction toward men less capable than herself.

“I’m not even thinking about sending you off to another house. I just wish you’d bring home at least a husband in name.”

The Western Grand Duke already held his daughter’s leadership in high regard.

That was why he at least wished for a man who could become her emotional support.

As someone who had led a household, he knew well the importance of having a companion of the heart.

Even if Helena seemed flawless without making a single mistake now, it was precisely such people who suffered the greatest wounds if they ever stumbled.

“That’s why, Father, I met the ones you suggested a few times.”

Helena folded her arms.

As if to say she had already done her part.

“They were all pathetic. Like parasites clinging to our family just to live in comfort.”

“……”

The Western Grand Duke fell silent, for that was exactly the kind of man he had hoped for—one who would cling to her and simply support his daughter.

He let out another heavy sigh and spoke again.

“But you set conditions far too unreasonable.”

An unreasonable condition.

That condition was actually very simple.

“What is so difficult about giving up one’s own status?”

Helena unfolded her arms and leisurely clasped her hands behind her back.

Then, she slowly turned once around, taking in the beauty of her father’s office.

“Even when I said it half in jest, they all backed away in fear.”

“You know better than anyone how much power social rank holds in this world. Anyone would be afraid.”

The Western Grand Duke spoke while gazing at his daughter’s back.

At her abundant golden hair that shone with brilliance.

“I suppose this mess is because I raised you to be too strong.”

“No, Father.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter turned her gaze toward the grand genealogy of the Imperial family hanging on one wall.

Toward her own family, placed at the farthest edge of the imperial line.

“The Empire is heading into an age where personal ability matters more than status. And yet, most young men still idle about, flaunting their nobility with nothing else to offer…”

Her blue eyes, not yet even halfway through her twenties, sparkled like the sea.

“Even if I were to marry one of those kinds of men, I’d throw him out before long. So it’s better this way.”

“Haa…”

The reason the Grand Duke’s daughter had grown so intelligent and strong was, in truth, largely because of her father.

Even the Grand Duke himself pressed his lips tightly as though regretting it.

Because…

“It’s because I raised you the same way I raised your brothers.”

For in the Western Grand Duke’s House, there had always been a tradition: when the children reached sixteen, they were each handed one million gold and sent to the marketplace.

Without receiving any support, they had to build up their own business solely with that money.

Only those who returned having grown their one million into one hundred million gold could inherit the family business.

“I should have taught you a little more gently…”

Through this trial, Helena had achieved profits entirely by her own strength.

While her younger brothers secretly took help from family members, she refused it all.

Thanks to that, she unanimously earned the qualification to succeed as head of the house, even as a woman.

“It’s fine. Rather than grow up stupid and be married off, it’s much better that I choose my own partner.”

Helena slowly turned her body.

Then, before her father, she gave a noble smile befitting imperial blood.

“I’ll bring back my husband with my own hands, so don’t worry.”

The Western Grand Duke’s lips curved into a complicated smile at his principled daughter.

Half pleased at her reliability, half worried whether there truly existed a man who could meet her eyes.

“Helena, it’s not that I doubt you, but…”

The middle-aged man swept his golden hair back from his forehead and rose from his chair.

Then, stretching out one hand, he asked his daughter.

“Won’t you at least tell me the standards you have for your future husband?”

“Are you going to go around announcing it again at an Imperial party as if it were a proclamation?”

The eldest daughter looked at her father with a disgusted expression.

“You’ve driven away every last one, so not a single man daring to challenge remains.”

Even though the Western Grand Duke Hendricks often arranged blind meetings for his daughter, he was by no means an easy man.

Just as he cared this much for his daughter, he was also extremely selective about a suitable husband.

“But I must see for myself how wise and manly the man you bring will be.”

It was especially famous in the Imperial family that he had personally defeated several rowdy fools who came seeking her hand, all in duels.

For the bloodline of the Emperor, ruler of the Empire, always carried outstanding talent in both mana and swordsmanship, and his martial power was considerable.

And along with that, his reputation as a tremendous doting father…

“I’ll evaluate him thoroughly, with no leniency, so hurry and bring him before me.”

At the sudden change in atmosphere from her father, Helena’s thick brows twitched.

But still, as though confident, she lifted her chin proudly.

“As you command.”

She had always placed her bets only on matters where she held confidence.

“Then, I’ll return to work.”

“You’re going back North again?”

In the shadows of the Western Grand Duke’s eyes, her blue eyes shone.

As if to ask whether she considered that place more important than consolidating herself at her main house.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is there truly so much to gain there that you must go personally?”

At the Duke’s question, Helena let out a short breath.

“Yes, from what I see, there is. Even the shops I purchased in Old Luton have risen greatly in value.”

“Yes. I’ve already heard of that. I don’t know how you caught wind of that development news ahead of time, but impressive indeed.”

Hendricks chuckled, clicking his tongue.

But soon after, he dropped his smile entirely and asked again with a serious gaze.

“But that alone is not enough. If you’ve left the main house, you must show results far more advantageous than that.”

If she went abroad, she must show something far greater than pocket money returns, the Duke was saying.

At this moment, he was not her father, but a true power figure of the Empire.

“When you return this time, I expect meaningful results.”

Helena fell into thought at the phrase “meaningful results.”

What kind of outcome would satisfy her father?

Ordinary high profits would not even make him blink.

For a man who already possessed everything material, what he needed now was something else.

The answer lay quite close at hand.

The truth that once wealth is gained, honor is pursued.

She recalled a certain man who had shown off that very truth, using it to sway and ensnare others.

Helena thought of the answer to her father’s question, and lightly bit her index finger.

As though holding back a youthful smile.

“As for results, I’ve already prepared them.”

“…?”

The powerful furrow of the Duke’s brow twitched.

“What do you mean by that? Already prepared?”

The eldest daughter slipped her hand into the inner pocket of her white uniform jacket.

Then, using her index and middle finger, she drew out a sheet of fine cream-colored paper.

“I was planning to show this to you later, but I suppose now is a better time.”

Helena slid a contract across her father’s desk.

A copy written by hand and stamped with seals.

“For Father, who always worries whenever I go North.”

Hendricks picked up the contract.

And the moment he checked its contents—

“…………!!”

His tightly closed lips quivered uncontrollably with indescribable joy.

“This… this is real, Helena?”

“Yes, Father. It bears the direct signature of the Grand Duke’s eldest daughter, Freya.”

The daughter of a rival house had been swindled out of a massive sum by his own daughter.

And what was more—she had sold off the Rumor textile factory, which had recently skyrocketed in value, at a bargain price to another.

Just imagining how furious the Grand Duke of the North must have been at hearing this news brought Hendricks delight.

“Duke Luton must have let out quite a sigh. To think his eldest daughter was defeated by ours of all people.”

Hendricks drew in a long breath, as if trying to suppress his emotions.

Then, glancing up at Helena…

“Well done, Helena.”

For the second time in his life, he showed her a genuine smile.

The same smile he had given when she bested all her brothers and amassed one hundred million gold entirely by her own strength.

Helena had always craved that smile from her father.

For in the barren struggle for the headship, it had been her only joy.

“Do you also know the man who bought this Luton Textiles?”

Hendricks immediately asked about the partner in this joyous news.

At this, the eldest daughter answered in a relaxed voice.

“Yes, in fact it was his plan as well to pressure Freya with fluctuating interest rates through marble supplies.”

“Really…? And who is this young man?”

The Western Grand Duke showed interest in the man who had dealt a blow to the Grand Duke of the North’s house.

For he and Duke Luton had long been bitter rivals.

“He is a secretary cadet of the Luton family.”

“A cadet…? Then he belongs to their side.”

The Duke’s expression showed curiosity as to why someone within their ranks had struck them from behind.

“It’s because of the successor struggle. That boy belongs to the second daughter, Echina. He was trying to push aside the eldest.”

“Seems that household hasn’t even sorted out its hierarchy properly yet.”

Hendricks chuckled faintly, as though convinced he had the advantage.

“So in your view, can the second daughter completely defeat the eldest?”

With an exceptional talent at one’s back, any disadvantage could be overturned.

The Western Grand Duke, who understood this truth well, put the question to his daughter.

“She’s still a long way off, but…”

Helena fell into serious thought, her eyes intent.

And she recalled the path of one man, and the phenomena that had followed in his wake.

“If such a talent were to stay by one’s side continuously, the balance of power could indeed change.”

The Western Grand Duke nodded calmly.

Then, looking steadily up at his daughter, he spoke.

As if his eyes were saying he wished she too had such a talent by her side.

“It must be a pity. If he’s capable enough to catch your eye, he must be a rare supporter indeed.”

“One day, the chance will come.”

The woman, a strong candidate for the next Grand Duke, did not seem the least bit envious.

She turned her head away from her father and left behind an enigmatic remark.

“I don’t think that boy will be content with living merely as a secretary.”

Helena gave her father a polite bow.

And then she began walking, heading back North.

“If he’s the one you’ve set your sights on, then I look forward to it greatly.”

Hendricks answered calmly as he watched his daughter’s figure grow distant.

But the corners of his lips still twitched faintly.

For there had been not one, but two joyous matters in the family.

First, his daughter had dealt a stinging blow to their rival house.

And the other was…

“At least Helena isn’t entirely uninterested in men, it seems.”

The fact that there was a man his daughter had begun to take notice of.

“I very much look forward to seeing what kind of man he is.”

He wore a face that was both filled with joy and yet carried something sinister.

[――――――]

Helena stepped out of the office and descended the long staircase.

But her expression as she emerged was not very pleasant.

“I spoke boldly, but still…”

Though she had spoken firmly before her father, pulling talent away from Luton was no easy matter.

However, her worries unraveled far sooner than she expected.

“Grand Duke’s daughter!”

At the entrance of the mansion, a guard knight came running, panting for breath.

After hurriedly checking their surroundings, he quickly whispered to her.

“……”

Helena listened closely to the message brought from afar.

And the moment she committed every detail to memory—

“See? Father was wrong after all.”

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter curved her eyes in a sly smile.

“You know, there really is someone who can abandon every bit of status for the sake of his ambition.”

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