I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

 

Nerhi rested his chin on his hand and stared into the void. His mind was already filled with success.

 

If he succeeded in severing the relationship between the Noven Merchant Guild and the Pruina Duchy and blocking Demeter’s food aid as well.

 

It would only be a matter of time before his grand plan came to an end.

 

“Oh, and.”

 

Nerhi stopped his subordinate who was about to leave after putting the letter in his chest, and leisurely savored his wine.

 

“The one who failed, and the one who wrote this report. Clean them all up.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He spoke as if the sun would rise tomorrow, in a matter-of-fact tone.

 

**

 

The last village on the road heading north.

 

The village was quite bustling with the caravan’s preparations for departure.

 

An old man and a boy quietly conversed as they passed through the crowd of people who had gathered to make last-minute trades.

 

“Are you really going to be alright?”

 

“Yes. You know too, Grandfather. After taking the medicine, I’m fine for a while.”

 

“The Northern Region is a different story, isn’t it? And you’re a weak child.”

 

The boy shook his head slightly.

 

“I’m fine. I’m curious about the Duke too.”

 

Whether I can entrust my life to him.

 

“Tei. You might not be able to meet him. He said to come and meet for now, but…”

 

If he was going to meet so easily, he would have greeted us long ago, his grandfather was saying.

 

Harvie, the leader of the Noven Merchant Guild, and Tei, his only grandson.

 

Unable to overcome Tei’s stubbornness, he had hastily sent a letter to the Duke asking to meet. But he was worried.

 

Tei smiled as he looked at the dark-faced Harvie.

 

“It’s fine. I wanted to visit the Northern Region once anyway.”

 

What they had been requested by Nerhi was to go north and come back without selling anything.

 

However, that was no different from driving the northerners to death.

 

He already felt guilty about delaying the schedule in the first place.

 

“I want to apologize too.”

 

Because he had contracted a strange disease, both the caravan and the Northern Region were in danger.

 

His grandfather was also trying to hand over the lifeline of the caravan he had built his whole life to some strange fellow because of him.

 

He absolutely hated that.

 

That’s why. He decided to bet his life on the mysterious Duke.

 

“And they say there’s a physician famous for medicinal herbs in the Northern Region this time.”

 

When he looked for that physician to analyze the medicine Nerhi had given him, the last trace was in the Northern Region.

 

He had his own reasons.

 

Even if everything failed.

 

Even if he eventually left his grandfather behind, the caravan would be fine.

 

The Noven Merchant Guild wasn’t weak enough to collapse due to northern interference.

 

“Oh, Grandfather. They say there are fire spirits in the Northern Region. Have you ever seen one?”

 

Tei changed the subject to lighten the heavy atmosphere. Harvie understood his grandson’s feelings.

 

“What old story are you talking about? The accepted theory is that spirits went extinct in ancient times.”

 

“You never know. They might remain somewhere.”

 

Tei burst into clear laughter.

 

The future he hoped for would probably come true with higher odds than seeing a fire spirit.

 

That seemed like decent odds.

 

**

 

“Hey there! Wait a moment!”

 

“Ah, move quickly! You’re blocking the back!”

 

“Snow’s piling up again! Clear it quickly! Do you want to get trapped?”

 

Finally, the caravan arrived at the Pruina Domain.

 

Having waited for the caravan, the vassals provided much help so that the caravan could be even a little more comfortable.

 

However, there were those who were displeased with this.

 

“Didn’t they say they wouldn’t sell us anything anyway? Why did they come?”

 

“Look at the firewood loaded there. Where are they going to use all that?”

 

Their story was that they came because they didn’t want to lose money either.

 

“So are they just going to sell firewood and leave? What about wheat?”

 

“…Since they came, won’t they sell everything and go?”

 

Their murmuring reached the ears of Harvie, the leader of the Noven Merchant Guild.

 

Old man Harbi Noven, with snow-white hair neatly arranged and a well-groomed white beard.

 

Befitting one of the top ten merchant guilds in the Empire, his attire was neat and tidy.

 

However, his face was different.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

His eyes were sunken, his skin was rough like a wasteland, and his face was so gaunt that his cheeks were hollow.

 

“Please be careful getting down.”

 

The coachman, who was also the guild leader’s guard, supported Harvie. After Harvie set foot on the ground, he straightened his back and walked. Soon the sound of his cane hitting the ground was muffled by the thinly spread snow.

 

After walking a little, the Dowager Duchess and Rossia came out to greet Harvie. After hesitating briefly at his clearly deteriorated health compared to last year, the two women warmly offered their greetings.

 

“You must have had a hard time traveling such a long way, Harvie.”

 

“Have you been well, Madam? This is the first time I’ve seen you since you stepped down from the regency.”

 

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve been well. So I’m leisurely enjoying life.”

 

“Is that so? That’s fortunate. Oh, this is my grandson Tei.”

 

At Harvie’s introduction, Tei politely bowed.

 

“Oh my. You’ve grown so much.”

 

“Excuse me, but have I met you before, Madam?”

 

Tei widened his eyes and asked carefully. Dowager Duchess Lacy chuckled.

 

“I saw you when you were young, Tei.”

 

When he tilted his head because he couldn’t remember no matter how hard he thought, Harvie intervened.

 

There was no need to make him remember his parents’ funeral.

 

“More than that, Madam, you must have received my letter?”

 

He wanted to see the Duke as quickly as possible. Tei’s time was limited.

 

“Of course. However, Harvie’s complexion looks too poor right now. How about resting first?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“We’re not fine with it. We can’t let you meet His Highness in that physical condition.”

 

The Dowager Duchess approached Harvie with a friendly smile and whispered.

 

“There are things to prepare too.”

 

Unlike her softly smiling lips, her eyes burned coldly. She didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding her will to uncover his intentions before meeting the Duke.

 

Harvie hung a warm smile instead of sighing.

 

“Then would the Dowager Duchess invite me to tea time after so long? This old man sometimes misses the tea made by melting northern ice.”

 

“Shall we? Rossia, will you join us?”

 

“Yes. I have some things I’d like to ask the guild leader about. Is that alright?”

 

The two women’s eyes were pressuring him. Harvie unconsciously stared at Rossia.

 

‘If the cadet branch is going to inherit House of Pruina, I’d rather this child…’

 

Rossia, who had been helping the Dowager Duchess with work for several years. Harvie knew her well since he had often seen her.

 

How diligent, smart, and loving toward her bloodline Rossia was.

 

That’s why Harvie’s thoughts were a useless waste.

 

The thought of eliminating the secluded Duke and becoming Duke himself was something Rossia had probably never even considered.

 

Most importantly, the biggest problem was.

 

Tei, his grandson’s lifeline was in their hands.

 

‘Tei seems to want to ask the Duke for help, but…’

 

Harvie glanced at Tei. His eyes were sparkling brightly. This situation seemed to amuse him.

 

Not knowing how his grandfather felt about it.

 

Still, the reward would be great if things went as Tei said.

 

If there was hope for the Duke, that is.

 

Harvie thought the reason the cadet branches were running wild now was because of the Duke’s seclusion.

 

What would there be to fear from a Duke who wouldn’t come out of his room? Rather, they would think they could do better.

 

That was also why he had wanted to meet the Duke this time. It was to see at least a glimmer of hope.

 

If he couldn’t meet him, that would be the end of it.

 

Whether voluntary or forced, Harvie was currently walking a tightrope.

 

Though it would be regrettable to the Previous Duke.

 

Harvie’s insides were burning black as he smiled.

 

And a worker of the guild who had been watching Harvie silently hid himself.

 

**

 

After finishing the conversation with the guild master.

 

Rossia, who had gone back to work, was looking at documents when she called for Clemente.

 

“Did you call for me?”

 

“Clemente, please deliver this to His Highness.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Rossia silently handed over the document. It meant she could read it.

 

As Clemente quietly read the document, the corners of her mouth gradually turned downward.

 

“I’ll have a conversation with my master.”

 

Clemente went outside.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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