IWTTSMD Chapter 92

 92

The reply from Chieftain Baltar came two weeks later.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

I understand Baron Oldman's opinion.

Let's begin negotiations on the specific wages.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

When I received the letter that Jackjack brought me, I couldn't help but smile.

The chieftain had accepted the proposal to manage the Crest Mine!

"Every blacksmith's dream!"

He had exclaimed that once before. It was clear that he wanted to work directly with adamantite.

That's why I'd deliberately added the condition that the rare mineral would be available only to the dwarves.

'Looks like that worked out perfectly! I wonder how much an item made from adamantite would go for?'

Just like Chieftain Baltar had said, it was a legendary mineral, one I myself had never even seen before. I had no idea what the market value was, so I'd just suggested splitting it in half. But since he agreed to a contract...

'It must be a fair profit division~'

Based on the financial records of the Crest Mine that Grandpa passed down to me, I'd already estimated the future profits, and there was no issue with paying Chieftain Baltar his wages.

For my first mine, I had secured a highly skilled and trustworthy manager.

'Hooray!'

It smelled like a huge success. As I giggled to myself, Jackjack asked.

"Are you happy with the result?"

"Yes, it's all thanks to you and Miss Jena being so capable."

"Hm. You always say pleasing things. I simply did my job."

I folded the letter twice and tucked it into my pocket. I'd take it to the Room of Reflection later.

I was planning to see Jackjack off as he left through the window, but unexpectedly, he just stood there, staring at me.

It seemed there was more.

"I also got a reply from Jena about whether she knows Lucian Alexis."

"Oh?"

"Apparently, he was close with the First Princess and often visited her palace."

"And…?"

"And then?"

Jackjack tilted his head.

What I wanted was information about what kind of person Lucian Alexis was, and what happened between him and my dad in the past.

Knowing that he was close to the First Princess was certainly valuable, but...

"There is no 'and then.' That's all that was reported."

"Alright."

Jackjack turned away firmly.

I watched him fly out the window, then entered the Room of Reflection.

I placed Chieftain Baltar's letter in the desk drawer and pulled out the notebook inside.

"Hmm. I knew it'd be better to write this down."

In just a few months since arriving at the Travel estate, the once-blank notebook was now filled with all sorts of content.

It was like a case log for investigating my dad's death.

"Now where did I write that suspect list~"

Just after the revenge target list, there was the suspect list.

It included the criminal who had been one of Travel's direct descendants, along with the names of people who might have been their accomplices.

"Already at number 20?"

As of now, there were two main reasons to consider Lucian Alexis a suspect.

1. He had a bad relationship with my dad.

2. He had enough power to use a war as a means to kill my dad.

"……"

As I reached that point, my body trembled. It was the same feeling I always got when adding someone I once thought was an accomplice to the suspect list.

After all, it was one of those accomplices who stabbed me in the back.

"Ugh…"

Thinking about the end of it all was never pleasant. Just as I was about to write down the name of Diplomat Alexis.

The information Jena had shared lingered uncomfortably in my mind.

"If he's close with the First Princess, that means he's part of her faction."

If the diplomat truly was an accomplice, would he have been involved alone in the murder of a Grand Master from another country?

"He could have been acting under orders from someone higher up."

The First Princess of Edencia was a famous figure.

In a kingdom notorious for political power struggles, she had built her own faction and secured a firm position.

Despite her gentle appearance, she was cold and sharp. Even in diplomatic matters, her steely personality often came through, so even outsiders like me knew of her.

She was currently considered the most likely candidate to be the next queen.

But that assessment of the First Princess continued until the time the other version of me died. Because the current king of Edencia was still alive back then.

"Hmm…"

After a moment of thought, I picked up my pen and wrote the First Princess's name under Lucian Alexis's on the suspect list.

21. Bellesa Valenhart (Suspect – On Hold)

And then I felt a bit down.

Looking down at my pink hair, I muttered quietly.

"Of all people, why do both of them have the same hair color as me…"

***

18. Suspect List #20

Lately, Reytan had been on edge.

It all started about two weeks ago, when Lucian Alexis had approached him during the grand banquet of the Aubawth Order.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Reytan Quartz Travel. I've heard much about you from Princess Bellesa."

The way he smiled while saying it felt utterly insincere.

What would Princess Bellesa of another country even know about a Grand Master of the Hayshal Empire, with whom she had no connection? And now she's supposedly spoken of him 'often' to her cousin?

"Well, I don't really have any ties with Edencia's royal family. I doubt the princess would have much to say about me, but it was nice meeting you. Though I'm not sure we'll ever meet again."

"Oh, I believe we will, and soon at that. I'm planning to stay in the Hayshal Empire for a while."

Lucian Alexis had said that while subtly irritating Reytan. But for the past two weeks, he had gone completely silent.

There hadn't been any further news about an Edencian diplomat staying in Hayshal either.

'What's he scheming?'

On top of that, there was the unnatural strong wind that had stirred up chaos at the banquet.

Though no one was injured, century-old trees were uprooted, a major disturbance.

According to Damian, who investigated the incident, it was likely a targeted attack against Reytan.

"They were targeting me?"

"More precisely, they were targeting Reytan Quartz Travel's reputation. It was a good thing you left the banquet early. Otherwise, you might've become a suspect."

"What's the evidence?"

"A large number of attendees named you as a suspect. After all, the only person there capable of manipulating wind at that level is you, the master of Wyndis. But don't worry, I've already cleared your name."

Reytan gave a bitter laugh.

The grand banquet was a major event where dignitaries from multiple nations gathered. For a man-made natural disaster to occur there, it could only be seen as an act of terrorism.

'That woman's handiwork again.'

Manipulating public opinion.

Setting traps and letting her opponent fall into them so that everything would unfold according to her plan, it was one of her political strategies.

What was suspicious was that Lucian Alexis had been present at the scene as the first witness. That could've easily made him the prime suspect.

'They say it wasn't Princess Bellesa who gave the order… But that woman would never get involved in anything that could tie her down.'

Or, if she did get caught in something, she was the kind of person who'd throw it away without hesitation.

"Eek!"

A woman's shriek rang out. Reytan looked up.

They were currently at Trang Tailor Shop, where children's outfit samples had just come out. Berry and Theon were trying them on.

"Oh my, oh my…! Miss Berry, you are the first person this design has ever suited so perfectly! What do I do? My standards have just been raised again…"

The head designer of Trang's boutique was overwhelmed with emotion as she looked at Berry in her new clothes.

Reytan watched the designer collapse to her knees and thought.

She really should be used to how cute my daughter is by now… There's no need to be so dramatic.

"Hehe. Really?"

Reytan gazed warmly at Berry as she smiled.

She was dressed in a pink suspender skirt with frilly white lace trim, a white shirt with puffed sleeves, a tiny ribbon-shaped tie, high twin ponytails, round-toed shoes.

There wasn't a single element that wasn't adorable.

Then his eyes met Berry's.

"It looks great on you, Berry."

"Reallyyy?"

"Perfect."

Reytan raised both hands and applauded her.

Berry grinned back at him.

Soon, it would be Theon's turn.

Reytan and Berry exchanged knowing glances. Even the boutique staff caught on to their secret little plan, they'd witnessed similar situations before.

Moments later, Theon stepped up to the platform in his new outfit.

Overwhelmed by the thunderous applause, he couldn't take it and fled back to the changing room in embarrassment.

***

"Miss Berry."

This happened after class at the education hall.

Mr. Cerberus, the Butler, came to find me.