I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

A small village right after leaving the Northern Region.

 

The Noven Merchant Guild had set up camp there once again.

 

“Ugh, it’s hot.”

 

“It’s amazing every time we go back and forth to the Northern Region.”

 

The workers of the Noven Merchant Guild chatted as they unpacked their luggage.

 

“Just crossing one road and the weather changes immediately. Shouldn’t there be ice spirits in the Northern Region instead of fire spirits?”

 

“Rather, wouldn’t fire thrive better because it’s cold?”

 

“Hehe. There you go with weird talk again.”

 

“No, look here.”

 

“Forget it. Just hurry up and carry that.”

 

“Ah, feels like this same thing happened a few days ago.”

 

One worker grumbled as he pulled a cart full of firewood.

 

“If we’re going to haul all the luggage and come back in just one day, why did we even go?”

 

A man who had been quietly listening to their conversation passed between the workers.

 

He was a middle-aged man with skin so pale it was almost ghostly, his ash-gray silver hair hidden under a hat.

 

He walked leisurely, observing the atmosphere of the caravan.

 

Everyone’s faces were filled with fatigue and irritation.

 

It meant they too were displeased with the Noven Caravan Leader’s judgment.

 

Savoring those expressions as he walked, he finally stopped at a place where.

 

“Have you been well, Caravan Leader?”

 

“…Count Pruina, I see. You’ve been waiting here?”

 

“Please call me Nerhi.”

 

It was in front of Harvie.

 

He looked even more tired than if all the workers’ fatigue had been combined.

 

In contrast, Nerhi appeared completely at ease to anyone who looked.

 

“You’re truly blessed with foresight, Count.”

 

“Well, I thought the Caravan Leader would listen to my request so well.”

 

“Hah, then hand over the medicine quickly. There aren’t many days left now.”

 

“Haha. What’s the rush? I’ve obtained some quite precious liquor. How about a drink?”

 

When Harvie glared sharply, Nerhi shrugged his shoulders.

 

He even showed a calm smile as if he had nothing to worry about.

 

“I’m not carrying the medicine on my person, and I have to go to the inn anyway. Wouldn’t it be better for the Caravan Leader to receive the medicine today?”

 

“…I didn’t say I refused.”

 

Nerhi led Harvie with a courteous gesture.

 

“Innkeeper. I’d like to rent a room where two people can have a conversation.”

 

The owner running the village’s only inn had no reason to refuse.

 

Moreover, one of them was the owner of the Noven Merchant Guild, who was a great help in maintaining the inn.

 

“I should give you my own room, of course!”

 

With no rooms left, the innkeeper really gave up his own room.

 

The two men sat facing each other in a room full of traces of daily life.

 

Nerhi, who had sent someone to bring liquor and medicine, looked at Harvie with a good-natured smile.

 

“We have liquor, so how about telling me some stories from the Northern Region as appetizers?”

 

“What kind of story do you want me to tell? Should I describe the vassals who were confused when the caravan suddenly left?”

 

“That would be good too. I heard there are also rumors about fire spirits…”

 

“Just rumors, as the name suggests. It sounded ridiculous.”

 

When Harvie cut him off sharply, Nerhi smoothly changed the topic.

 

“Then what about the Dowager Duchess’s reaction? I’m curious.”

 

Watching Nerhi’s eyes sparkle as he rested his chin on his hand, Harvie shuddered.

 

“Do you know how sorry I felt?”

 

“Such a soft heart. So how was it?”

 

Harvie closed his mouth.

 

When he was leaving the domain, it was like this…

 

“You’re going to figure out the Count’s intentions? Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of young Tei until then.”

 

The Dowager Duchess smiled brightly and threatened that Tei was in the palm of her hand.

 

“Caravan Leader. Don’t get caught. Not until everything is certain.”

 

The Duke earnestly pleaded several times to do it properly.

 

When his face turned sour, Nerhi chuckled.

 

“That doesn’t look like a sorry face.”

 

“Ahem. Could I have heard anything good?”

 

“True. It wouldn’t be strange if they cursed at you.”

 

“You knew that and still asked me to do this?”

 

“Isn’t this medicine worth that much?”

 

Nerhi slid the medicine in a cloth pouch in front of Harvie and poured the liquor.

 

“Anyway, don’t worry about the young master’s illness.”

 

A clear sound rang out. A subtle floral fragrance filled the room.

 

Harvie, who had been choosing his words, was momentarily captivated.

 

“Floem 20 years…”

 

“As expected of the owner who built Noven. To recognize it just by the scent.”

 

“It must have been quite difficult to obtain?”

 

“Well, there are ways for everything.”

 

Nerhi savored the aroma and brought the glass to his lips.

 

“Do you know that Floem succeeded after changing owners once?”

 

“I’m acquainted with that owner.”

 

“Oh. Then you understand well. That the original owner isn’t always the right answer.”

 

Harvie flinched. He knew what Nerhi wanted to say.

 

“You mean I should side with the Count?”

 

“The scales have already tipped toward my side.”

 

“…Let me hear the plan.”

 

“Would such a grand thing even be necessary? In this situation, if I return with the caravan, it’s already half my domain.”

 

Harvie nodded.

 

From the actions shown after delaying his own trade, he had long known Nerhi’s goal.

 

“What’s the reason for making such a proposal now?”

 

He could have asked to be allies from the beginning.

 

If he had made a proposal instead of threatening with medicine, there might have been a possibility of a better relationship than now.

 

Nerhi leisurely crossed his legs and smiled.

 

“What could I trust about the Caravan Leader to bring him as an ally?”

 

“Then you can trust me now?”

 

“You’ve already stepped foot on my side, so it’s much better than before.”

 

Whether it was blackmail or whatever, Harvie had betrayed Zephyrus by his own will.

 

Taking in someone who already had nowhere to return was a decent choice.

 

“…But don’t you need His Majesty’s permission?”

 

Tacit acceptance. He knew it would be like this.

 

The foolish Ducal Household would think they owed a debt to Noven.

 

That’s how the great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather Duke thought. How could the opinions of those who worked under them be different?

 

However, one of the reasons the Noven Merchant Guild grew so large was monopolizing trade targeting the Northern Region.

 

Mutual benefit. So the Noven Caravan Leader wouldn’t want to lose this honey-sweet trade either.

 

“That’s already been resolved. His Majesty knows everything that happens in the Imperial Court.”

 

From the Emperor’s perspective, he would be better than a Duke who hadn’t left his domain for 10 years.

 

Even if he didn’t directly step forward to support him, the very act of overlooking this matter was empowering Nerhi.

 

The Nerhi Ducal Household would likely bow down to the Emperor for a while, indebted to him, which would be even more advantageous.

 

If Zephyrus were driven out, everyone else could be happy in many ways.

 

“If you walk the same path as me, wouldn’t His Majesty also view the Noven Merchant Guild more favorably?”

 

Nerhi concluded his words that way.

 

There was nothing more to add.

 

He held the alcohol in his mouth, savoring it while waiting for Harvie’s confirmation.

 

“His Majesty’s interest…”

 

Harvie unconsciously followed Nerhi’s lead and took a small sip of alcohol.

 

As someone who ran a merchant guild, he knew that a ruler’s interest could be both medicine and poison.

 

While he didn’t particularly crave the Emperor’s attention, it wouldn’t hurt to have it.

 

Nerhi’s gaze, wearing a strange smile, followed Harvie’s movements.

 

The sweet fragrance of Floem seemed to rot away in an instant, so he set down his glass.

 

“In the end, you only extend your hand after pushing someone to the edge of a cliff.”

 

“So. Do you dislike it?”

 

Harvie clasped his hands together and lowered his gaze.

 

It was to hide the momentary wavering in his eyes.

 

‘If it weren’t for Tei, I might have accepted.’

 

If Airite, the herb specialist, hadn’t been in the Northern Region, he would have taken this hand.

 

After maintaining silence for a moment, Harvie stood up, holding the medicine in his hand.

 

“Give me a day’s grace. Wouldn’t snapping it up immediately also diminish trust?”

 

He needed to pretend to be on this man’s side and buy time.

 

At least until Airite could uncover the identity of Tei’s illness, or rather, poison.

 

“Yes, if that’s more comfortable for you. The caravan needs to rest here for a week anyway, doesn’t it?”

 

And during that time, the growing anxiety of the domain’s vassals would become his strength, Nerhi smiled.

 

After several meaningless exchanges.

 

The two returned to their respective rooms.

 

As Nerhi entered his room, greeting those he met with a smiling face, a woman with calm green hair was waiting for him.

 

“You’re back?”

 

“Were you waiting, Crea?”

 

“Not for long. More importantly, how did it go?”

 

Crea asked, shrugging her shoulders.

 

“Well… something’s definitely suspicious.”

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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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