WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Haruto

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◈ The Pushover Young Lord in a Romance Fantasy Won't Take It Anymore ◈

Chapter 27: You Never Learn

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Creak-

When I stepped inside, Father, buried beneath a mountain of documents, glanced up at me.

I awkwardly approached his desk.

He had summoned me, only to be completely absorbed in paperwork.

Father did not look up again until he had finished what he was doing.

"You're here."

"Yes."

He set down his quill and stared straight at me, his sharp gaze seeming to pry into me.

"You didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Festival, did you?"

So that was what this was about.

"I'm not a child. What kind of trouble would I cause? I went quietly and came back without incident."

"Good."

With that brief reply, he lowered his gaze again.

Watching him, I noticed he looked far more troubled than usual.

Deep creases had formed between his brows, and fatigue filled his eyes.

"Is Rosenthal giving you that much trouble?"

"It's worse than that."

They were pressuring the merchant guilds and trade routes, tightening their grip on the flow of money.

For Rosenthal, which held dominance over the south, it was the obvious move.

"Because of their pressure, the people of our territory are suffering quite a bit. I won't be sleeping peacefully for a while."

"So, in the end, it's a money problem."

Father silently nodded at my blunt summary.

I sat on the sofa and leaned back comfortably.

"What if I told you I had a way to solve it? Would you trust me?"

His eyes showed uncertainty. I had expected his disbelief.

Even if his good-for-nothing son had changed, Father would think I only knew how to swing a sword. Money was an entirely different matter.

After taking a breath and pausing for a beat, I spoke.

"We develop the Ashen Forest."

"You son of a bitch..."

"Whoa, calm down. This, too, is the fruit of enlightenment."

"If you're going to say crazy things, get out."

"I'm not asking. I'm telling you. I believe I can do it myself, even without your support."

"..."

That was genuinely terrifying. He was glaring at me like he wanted to kill me.

Ahem.

"Of course, with our current finances, even entering the Ashen Forest would be impossible."

The goal was not simply to hunt magical beasts. It was to develop the land.

That meant we could not just kill a few magical beasts. We had to wipe them out entirely.

Even then, more could appear at any time, and they could attack supply routes.

"If we develop the Ashen Forest, I plan to build a fortified distribution network. We would establish forward bases and send knights with every shipment."

Developing the Ashen Forest would cost more money than anyone could imagine.

Creating safe supply lines, hiring permanent troops for the forward bases, forming specialized guard units, securing waystations and miners, even independently building a refinery...

Cardenos's current wealth was nowhere near enough.

"I'll earn every bit of the money it takes."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I don't want any additional support. Just trust me and leave it to me, like when I first formed a Ring."

Cardenos was the Black Lion.

They were either forged in the jaws of death or cast aside. There was no third option.

"Instead, advance the allowance I'm due to receive. You can manage that much, can't you?"

"Why?"

"I'm planning to start a big business. A highly profitable business that absolutely cannot fail."

Information became money, and money made more money.

I had several businesses that could devour Rosenthal whole.

If someone who knew the future could not make money, they were dumber than a chicken.

"Naturally, I'll need some capital. No more, no less. Ten million shillings will do."

"You think starting a business is that easy with that amount?"

"Of course not. Ten million shillings is only the minimum startup capital needed to acquire and operate one workshop right away. I intend to secure the real funding separately."

I leaned back against the sofa and grinned.

"I only used my allowance as an excuse because I need the justification and backing of having the head of the house invest personally once the merchant guild grows."

The more justification, the better.

I was the heir to the Grand Ducal House of Cardenos. It would be foolish not to use that background.

"I don't expect you to provide the Black Lion Knights or standing troops for the Ashen Forest Expedition. Just invest in it for appearances."

Of course, more seed money was always better.

Would anyone pass up a skyrocketing stock that was obviously going to hit its daily limit? No, an ordinary daily-limit gain did not even begin to describe it.

It was an overseas stock that would rise dozens of times over. Forget averaging down, pour every last coin into it.

If I had my way, I would not just advance my allowance. I would rip out the very foundations of the family to fund it.

But that went beyond the trust between father and son.

"The Ashen Forest, a business... You take the world too lightly."

"Please think of it as confidence."

"Get a hold of yourself, Astin. Are you planning to trouble me after Rosenthal has already done so?"

"Don't worry. I'll pay it all back later."

Ten million shillings was not such a large sum for Cardenos.

Father rubbed his face with a conflicted expression.

"...You did spend that much on luxuries with what you called upkeep expenses."

"Right? The fact that I won't waste it is already a huge improvement."

"I'll give you that."

Even if I failed, it would be cheap tuition.

It would still be a considerable gain if Cardenos's legitimate son learned how vast the world was.

I thought Father would see it that way and readily hand it over.

Father covered his eyes with one hand, then waved the other through the air as though shooing me away.

It meant he accepted.

Having achieved my goal, I rose from my seat.

"Astin."

Father called out to stop me from behind. The look in his eyes was still fierce.

"I'll ask one last time. You're certain you didn't cause trouble at the Founding Festival?"

He really could not trust his only son that much.

Honestly, it was understandable, considering everything I had done before.

I spun around and answered brightly.

"Yes! Of course!"

"Fine. Go."

* * *

After Astin left, Valdemar could not hide his conflicted feelings.

The Ashen Forest and a business. There was a limit to a hot-blooded young man's thirst for adventure.

Even knowing Astin would fail, Valdemar did not stop him.

"He'll give up soon enough."

Failure in youth was a valuable experience.

The failures accumulated then would become the fertilizer from which future success sprouted.

If that ambitious business failed, Astin would not even be able to take the first step toward the Ashen Forest Expedition.

As Astin himself had said, an expedition was impossible with their current finances.

Even if his business took off at once, the Ashen Forest would remain a distant dream unless it became an unbelievable success.

Valdemar did not understand Astin's intention to develop the Ashen Forest in the first place.

Bitter cold, magical beasts, dense demonic energy, endless darkness, unceasing danger.

There was nothing else to gain there.

There might be buried resources, but they would not compare to the costs poured into the venture.

The only things to gain were honor, glory, and the family's public reputation.

"Haa..."

With a quiet sigh, Valdemar shook off his stray thoughts.

Enough. It was only giving him a headache.

'At least he didn't cause trouble at the Founding Festival.'

Though Astin had matured somewhat, he still could not control his emotions.

Valdemar had worried Astin might beat up another young lady like he had Azelin.

Still, it seemed that concern had been needless this time.

Astin had never been good at hiding his true feelings.

If he had really caused trouble, he would have been fidgeting anxiously before Valdemar.

It seemed he had grown up a little.

Setting aside his worries, Valdemar picked up his pen.

Now was not the time to focus on his son. He needed to devote all his energy to managing the territory.

Bang!

"M-My Lord! We have a serious problem!"

At that moment, the head butler rushed in with a deathly pale face. More wrinkles formed between Valdemar's brows.

"Stop making a fuss and speak. Is it Rosenthal again?"

"No! The Patrian Merchant Guild has completely halted all freight transport entering our territory!"

"...What?"

The Patrian Merchant Guild was a massive guild that dominated the economy of the east and the imperial capital.

It had no reason whatsoever to be at odds with Cardenos in the west.

Then why all of a sudden?

"What is the reason? We haven't had any conflict with Patrian, have we?"

"Th-That is..."

Bang!

The office door was kicked open again.

"Which bastard-!"

Valdemar's shout died in his throat.

Hendrickson entered, clutching his stomach and laughing heartily.

"Ha ha ha! You pathetic bastard! Your son has turned the entire Empire upside down!"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Are you asking because you don't know? I was hoping he'd beat someone up, but he went and caused even bigger trouble!"

Thud!

Hendrickson tossed a crumpled bundle of papers from his coat. It was the Imperial Capital Gazette, the fastest source of information in the capital.

Valdemar's gaze landed on the prominently printed headlines.

[An Upset at the Founding Festival! Lucia, the Star of High Society, Rejects the Courtship of Powerful Men and Chooses Astin of Cardenos!]

[Enraged Crown Prince Zenon, Patrian Merchant Guild Master, and Young Lord Winterhardt. Where Will the Three Men Go from Here?]

[Astin Spends Fifty Million Shillings on an Old General's Sword! Money Laundering in Collusion with the Military, or Romance?]

"Did you see that? He snatched a woman right in front of the Crown Prince! Ha ha ha! They say blood never lies, and now a madman who outdoes even you in your youth has appeared!"

Hendrickson's cheerful laughter thundered through the office.

Valdemar's vision flickered black.

The imperial family, the northern grand ducal house, a massive merchant guild, fifty million shillings...

"You little bastard...!"

Rosenthal alone was already giving him a headache, yet Astin had made three powerful men into romantic rivals.

And what was this about money laundering in collusion with the military?

Valdemar gripped the back of his neck with a trembling hand. His blood pressure was rising so sharply it felt ready to burst.

"...Head Butler."

"Y-Yes, my lord."

"At once. Bring my child... No, bring that bastard to me at once. Right now."

"Y-Young Lord Astin left a little while ago."

"What?"

"He said he was going south to start his business..."

Craaaash!!

A single punch split the desk in two.

The head butler swallowed a frightened squeak, while Hendrickson continued laughing.

"He's your son, all right! He's damn quick to catch on, too!"

Hendrickson's laughter thundered through the office.

A few days later.

Astin set foot in the south.

"What perfect weather for spending money."

With a broad smile, he happily set off down the road, idly wondering whether he should buy Celine a gift while he was here.

* * *

A private café in a bustling district in the southwest of the Empire.

Bang!

A sharp crash tore through the gentle melody of classical music.

A crumpled bundle of newspapers was flung onto the marble table.

Astin and Lucia's names were printed clearly across the front page of the Imperial Capital Gazette.

"Answer me, Lucia. What is this?"

Azelin's voice was cold with anger.

"What were you doing with that bastard at the Founding Festival? Do you think it's right for articles like this to be everywhere?"

Lucia, seated across from her, stared blankly down at the newspaper.

She had known this day would come eventually, but...

The Empire's information network was far swifter and more blatant than she had expected.

Lucia took a small breath and set down her teacup.

"There are people around us. Keep your voice down."

"How am I supposed to keep it down right now? How could you do this, of all people? Does it make any sense for you to sleep with the man who did this to my face?"

Azelin's expression twisted viciously.

The betrayal of a trusted friend. Lucia could clearly see that was what Azelin believed.

"Calm down, Azelin. The article exaggerated things horribly. And you're mistaken about Young Lord Astin."

"Mistaken? What could I possibly be mistaken about? Who was it that stomped on my face and left me scarred?"

"Young Lord Astin isn't someone who would do that without a reason."

Hah!

Azelin let out a loud, incredulous laugh.

"You've already fallen for him. So you're saying I provoked him. That I deserved to be hit?"

"Let's go see him together and apologize. If you sincerely tell him you're sorry, he'll forgive you."

"Are you insane?"

Azelin sharply cut her off.

"You're telling me to bow my head to that lunatic? Look at this. Even covered with makeup, it shows. He did this to my face. If anyone should beg forgiveness, that bastard should. Why should I!?"

"...You're the one who cheated on your fiancé."

Lucia could not understand why Azelin had cheated on a man like that.

"Seriously, is love a crime? And do you think you wouldn't have done the same? He was the one who suffocated me with his obsession and drove me insane. He thought money could solve everything, and if I refused to go on a date, he'd even slam his head against the table. Like this!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Azelin repeatedly pounded the table with her fist.

Lucia doubted her own eyes as she watched.

The Azelin she knew had not been this violent.

She had been Lucia's only friend, gentle, understanding, and someone Lucia could depend on.

"Then why are you only blaming me? What kind of friend insults me and defends Astin? Even my former fiancé?"

Lucia had nothing to say to that last part.

She silently lowered her head.

At the sight, a nasty smile rose on Azelin's lips.

"Ha, I get it. This is your type, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I thought you were proud because you kept rejecting even the Crown Prince. Did you catch a case of bad-boy syndrome? Or are you more attracted to him because he's your close friend's former fiancé?"

Azelin was blinded by rage.

Hurting someone by saying things she did not mean was not like Azelin.

Without reading too much into it, Lucia tried to calm her down.

"I'm sorry, Azelin. I guess I pushed you too hard. You're right. I shouldn't have done that with your former fiancé..."

"What, does it bother your conscience after all? Go ahead, do your best. You two are perfect together. A crazy bastard who beats women, and a bitch who picks up her friend's former fiancé. Still, spreading your legs for trash like him? You're no better than a whore. Your life is pathetic, too."

Lucia found Azelin's behavior so unfamiliar. It did not feel like Azelin at all.

Lucia stood up at last. Closing her eyes, she spoke with difficulty.

"Let's leave it at this for today. Contact me again once you've calmed down."

"Seriously, you two fit each other so well. When you get tired of him, go spread your legs for some other man. That's what you're good at, isn't it?"

Slap!

Azelin's head snapped to the side and froze there.

Her right cheek stung. Lucia's fingertips trembled.

"Please... Please get a hold of yourself..."

Still dazed, Azelin slowly turned her head back.

A vivid red handprint marked her cheek. Her eyes glinted wildly, stripped of reason.

"You want to do this?"

Azelin reached across the table.

She grabbed the steaming cup of hot tea, about to throw it at Lucia's face.

Crash!

The expensive teacup hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

A powerful hand had suddenly appeared and struck Azelin's wrist.

"That pretty face nearly got ruined."

The man remained calm even as shards scattered everywhere.

Lucia's eyes widened in shock when she saw him. Azelin's face flushed scarlet.

"You still haven't learned after getting beaten that badly?"

Fierce golden eyes looked coldly down at Azelin.

Author's Note

Enjoy your lunch~

Footnotes:

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