﹡ ⊹ ⊰ Chapter 10 ⊱ ⊹ ﹡
When Firentia was happily looking out the window, Clerivan was in Rulhac's office.
In addition to the job as the successor teacher, he also had a lot to report to the owner of the house.
"…….That's all for today."
"Good job. Sit down and have some tea."
"Then, I hope you don't mind."
When Rulhac rang the small bell atop the desk, the attendant waiting outside came in with a set of teacups.
The sweet scent of the finest tea leaves that permeated Rulhac's office in the mansion delighted his senses.
"So, how do you feel?"
Although the question was vague, it was enough to understand the meaning of it, considering their long-standing professional relationship.
"I now understand. You are right with your observation, my Lord."
"So it seems you have a very good opinion of her."
However, despite the fact that he was inflexible, Rulhac had never laughed like this in a long time because he knew of Clerivan, who was more strict to himself than others.
"Not so long ago, I thought she was just a normal seven-year-old child. It's really strange..."
"Even if not, I tried to ask about her." Clerivan said, putting down the teacup.
"I have called and asked the servants who were serving Lord Gallahan and Miss Firentia, and no one knew about the girl's genius brain."
"I see."
"I told them that Miss Firentia was qualified to take the class, and Lord Gallahan was also very surprised."
"Hmm...."
Rulhac rubbed his well-groomed beard. It was a habit that comes out unconsciously whenever he thinks deeply.
Looking at his figure, Clerivan carefully put on a word.
"I think Miss Firentia was hiding her abilities."
"Hiding....?"
"It's just one of my suspicions..."
"Please explain."
Like the color of an old giant tree, Rulhac's brown eyes, which became much darker with the years, contained the power to make the person facing him instinctively lower his head.
Following the look of Rulhac, Clerivan's face also became serious.
"She is a very brilliant young lady. She'll see things that ordinary children will never see. For example, she knew his father's place in the Lombardy."
"It could be."
The air around Rulhac became even heavier.
He was the one who led the Lombardy family more successfully than others, but his children didn't go as far as him as they grow up.
It has been the most difficult thing in Rulhac Lombardy's life.
One son was too extreme, the other one was clueless, and the last one was weak.
The eldest and only daughter, Shannanet, was the most suitable.
Then to his much concern, Vestian Schultz came as a son-in-law and had his two sons follow Lombardy's name.
Even now, it wasn't once or twice that there was a problem when Lombardy's small business rights were taken away by Schultz, who was not even qualified in managing business.
With a gloomy face, Rulhac shook his head as he sighed and lamented.
He was a little harsh.
However, the Head was not to intervene in the succession fight.
He just watches from afar to avoid going to the extreme.
"Isn't it lucky that Firentia doesn't resemble her father?"
His heart, which felt stuffy for long now, put at ease whenever he thought of Firentia.
"Miss Firentia's brilliant brain may be due to Gallahan's proper parenting. The environment is important."
"But it's a pity... Gallahan's position is indeed limited to such an extent that Firentia had to conceal her abilities."
"We have more time in our hands. Let's not be too hasty."
At Clerivan's words, Rulhac nodded his head firmly.
"Let's just watch for now. Make sure to report it directly to me after each class."
Clerivan took another sip of tea and was about to reply with an answer when...
Knock. Knock.
The sound of knocking can be heard by the door. It was Vieze who appeared after Rulhac gave his permission to come in.
"Father, the people from the Durac merchant guild have come."
"I'll get going then."
As soon as Vieze stepped inside the office, Clerivan wanted to leave the room.
Only then Vieze noticed the existence of Clerivan, and became outright displeased as he frowned.
"So you were here, too."
"It's been a long time, Lord Vieze."
The two of them couldn't get along and as such, Vieze said a rude thing right in front of him.
"My father has to meet an important person, so get out of the room..."
"No, stay here for a while, Clerivan."
"Father!"
Although Vieze showed dissatisfaction, Rulhac did not budge.
Clerivan shrugged, compelling to follow the orders of the household Lord and sat down again.
"Ask someone from the Durac merchant guild to come in."
"Yes."
Although he didn't like the situation, Vieze moved smoothly while glaring at Clerivan.
Soon after, a middle-aged man in fancy clothes waiting outside came in and politely greeted Rulhac.
"Nice to meet you. I am Croiten Angenas of the Durac merchant guild."
Angenas.
Hearing the familiar family name made Clerivan furrowed his eyebrows.
Angenas was the current Empress's family and the family of Serral, the wife of Vieze.
Clerivan silently folded his arms.
"I'm Rulhac Lombardy. Sit down and let's hear why you've come to see me."
Even in the short moment as Croiten sat down, Vieze couldn't hide his excitedness and shake his invisible tail.
"I heard the story from my eldest son, but will you tell me about the plan again?"
At Rulhac's words, Croiten cleared his throat.
The explanation was lengthy.
After the long tedious introduction, Clerivan asked to confirm his point.
"So, you're trying to bring textiles from the East, process them then sell, but the current Durac merchant guild don't have enough capacity to travel such long distances, so you want to ask us to lend you the transportation service of Lombardy's merchant guild?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Also, the payment for the textile will be borrowed from Lombardy Bank..."
"Yes, I would appreciate it if you do."
"Ha...."
'What the hell is this crap?'
Clerivan rubbed his aching forehead and stared at Vieze sitting across the table.
"Hmm......."
Rulhac was also rubbing his beard, looking uncomfortable.
"Isn't that a very good plan, Father?"
The words of the stupid Vieze spouted was very clear that he didn't even know what was the problem.
"Indeed, it is a great business so please pay a large amount."
Moreover the Empress's cousin who was none other than an Angenas bandit, looking like he was asking for a nonexistent money he had entrusted to them.
By God, from their point of view, they might have thought it was just a simple matter.
This is the Angenas, the maternal family of Astana, the First Prince.
The Imperial Family as the back with the Empress as the front, was tied together.
In other words, Lombardy had to deal with the failure of this business, where only the shell, the Durac merchant guild, as collateral, and eventually getting away with Lombardy's money.
Unless they intend to completely pretend to be one with the Imperial Family, it would be impossible for them to pursue Angenas as the debtor. Knowing that, they knocked on the door of Lombardy.
Who doesn't know what kind of surge that will emerge in each of those words?
The only one that didn't know about this was Vieze, who is now smiling foolishly.
Not even Lord Rulhac knows how ridiculous this 'business plan' was.
Clerivan tried to calm his anger. It was because he believed that Rulhac would refuse them relatively.
"I'll leave this to you, Vieze. Try to do it thoroughly without making any mistakes."
"My Lord!!"
Startled, Clerivan exclaimed, but Rulhac did not open his mouth again.
"Yes! Trust me, Father!"
Vieze was prepared to run away with the Durac merchant guild leader before his decision changed.
As Clerivan alternately look between Rulhac and Vieze, who were in consistent silence, he stood up from his seat and said firmly, hoping that he wouldn't.
"Let's look at the things first and talk this out before giving approval."
It was Vieze who was embarrassed by the sudden intervention.
What kind of nonsense is this in the midst of his happiness after the deal was about to be done?
The inside secret of getting this top-tier Durac project was the golden circle that would allow Vieze to approach the central power even further.
Currently, Angenas was experiencing some financial difficulties, and if he can solve it with this textile business, the Empress will be in great debt to himself.
But when he hurriedly looked at the complexion of his father, who didn't know what's in his heart, that was wavering at his judgment, he seethed in anger.
Vieze yelled at Clerivan, who was sprinkling ashes on already cooked rice*. (T/N: an idiom for ruining the work when it's almost done.)
"You are only responsible for the children's education! You don't have a say in this!"
However, Clerivan ignored Vieze and looked only at Rulhac.
"That's not an unreasonable request. How about you, Mister?"
Croiten turned his eyes as if thinking about it for a while and nodded reluctantly.
"Let's do that. I have a pile of textiles that I have already bought, so I will bring them with me as I visit again."
Vieze's crumpled face turned red in front of the Durac merchant guild leader. Soon, he couldn't lift his head like a man who had done something wrong.
"Sorry, Mister. It is not necessary, really."
'This IDIOT!'
Clerivan got sick of holding back what he wanted to yell.
It's like earning a dog that became docile at the appearance of a visitor who came to demand Lombardy's hand and steal money.
No matter how stupid dogs were, they knew who to show their loyalties to.
Is he even the son of Rulhac?
Clerivan stared at Rulhac, who only looked at his eldest son with unreadable eyes. Eventually, he shook his head helplessly.
* * *
"Is this the right place?"
I was standing in front of the big door.
Although I lived in Lombardy for over twenty years, it was a room I had never been into.
When I was in class, I used the research room of the education teacher in the north annex, not near the office of the Head.
"I guess this is the right one. Well then."
Shrugging, I pushed the big door with all my strength.
The door opened smoothly without any noise, and the interior became visible before me.
"What?"
I used to think of a typical classroom with desks and chairs. Actually, that was the environment when I was in class.
However, the image that I saw inside was completely different from that of a typical classroom.
The large space was filled with warm sunlight, and the carpet felt under my feet was soft enough to lie down that instant.
Large and small sofas that look comfortable even at a glance were laid out all over the place, and musical instruments and cute dolls were placed in several places in the middle.
All I could see regarding lessons was a large blackboard and books filling one side of the wall.
And there were small human figures that naturally took over such a space as if it were theirs.
Everyone was looking at my direction when they heard the sound of someone coming in, but the appearance was different.
Bellesac was astonished with his mouth wide open lying on the widest sofa.
Bellesac's older sister, Laranne, was reading a book with a large doll on one side.
And the twin sons of my aunt Shannanet, Gillieu and Mairon, are sitting across the sunny window and looking at me with bored faces.
They were my Lombardy's blood relatives, my cousins.
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on
January 06, 2021
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