My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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My Ex-Boyfriend Had My Child—What in the World Does That Mean? Episode 46
I entered the residence with only Cyril and a messenger from the trading company, careful not to disturb the employees caught up in the festive mood outside.
Lion, who had been playing with Lucian, handed the child over to Rita and padded after me into the house.
I glanced sideways at the large, handsome man trailing behind me like a newly hatched duckling.
“Why did you follow me in? You were having fun.”
“I’ll have fun. Playing while someone else works is even more entertaining.”
“Suit yourself, then.”
In the study, where the distant sound of people laughing and talking drifted in, the messenger cleared his throat and spoke.
“A report has arrived from those who departed on an irregular trade journey to the Otreha Territory.”
The fact that they’d sent someone without waiting for the regular report meant something urgent had come up.
I nodded promptly.
“Go ahead.”
* * *
In truth, there had been certain sharp points in Ocker’s accusation at the Guild Hall last time.
The hastily prepared ledgers, the short and repetitive trade journeys to the Otreha Territory, the careful rule-walking—the Argentor Trading Company was, frankly, nothing but a hollow shell.
For now.
My plan was to expand the company’s scale. If I sent trade journeys across the entire Empire and let information circulate, the trading company would become my solid backing.
Expanding the company would be done in cooperation with Sae-Unni, who practically managed the Otreha Territory.
The first objective was to bring prosperity to the poor Otreha Territory and establish it as my production base.
The second objective was, naturally, to strip away Schley’s barony as quickly as possible and hand it over to my nephew.
Sae-Unni had readily answered my secret communications and agreed to cooperate fully. She too must be on the verge of going mad from Schley Otreha’s reckless business fever.
The messenger opened his mouth in a brisk tone.
“As instructed, we have begun large-scale livestock farming on barren lands in the Otreha Territory and neighboring territories. Thanks to support from the castle, the business is proceeding smoothly.”
“Good—I need steady material supplies if I’m going to run a textile workshop. And?”
“The textile workshop’s construction is also in its final stages. Currently, it can supply about twenty percent of the raw materials needed for Milky Way Silk production.”
I let out a small sound of admiration. It was larger than I’d anticipated.
“That much?”
“The Otreha lady provided substantial support. Thanks to her, people have been gathering to work even before the workshop opened—the entrance is crowded with seekers, I’m told.”
So Sae-Unni had taken action, as expected.
She’d understood from just a few words I’d spoken—the advantage of drawing people without economic resources into the population of economic activity.
“What about the school?”
“The scale is smaller than anticipated, but word has spread that those who learn letters might be able to work for the trading company, so recruitment poses no problems.”
“Good. Keep sending sponsorship funds for that side of things. We can’t keep borrowing workers from the Duke’s Territory forever. We need to develop our own people.”
Lion, sprawled on the sofa and listening to me, let out a scoff as if to say it was nothing.
I shot him a glare for a moment.
Meeting my sharp gaze, he raised the corners of his mouth and gave a short wink.
……
The messenger, who had paused as if taken aback, opened his mouth again.
“Since the trading company began its trade journeys, the mood in the territory has certainly improved. People run to greet the Argentor flag even from a distance, I hear. They’re consuming mainly foodstuffs and agricultural implements rather than luxuries, and often request barter.”
“Next time you go, make sure to bring plenty of needles and nails. Many villages lack a smithy, so those will sell well. Set reasonable prices—not excessively cheap, but fair.”
Selling cheaply wouldn’t hurt us, but I didn’t want to destabilize the existing market order. Everything in moderation is best.
I added further.
“Right now it’s almost charitable business, but once the workshop succeeds, profits will start coming in quickly.”
The messenger assented in a steady voice and continued.
“Even so, business has been steady at Otreha Castle, so we haven’t taken losses on each trade journey.”
“What are they buying at Otreha Castle?”
“The Milky Way Silk we brought and a few pieces of jewelry. I’m told they purchased all the alcohol we brought, and the rest was mostly just some paper.”
“I can roughly guess who bought what…….”
In truth, this was my strategy.
To supply the luxuries my mother was desperate for and the alcohol my brother was dying to get through my trading company!
‘That way, at least money circulates within the family……’
It was naturally less of a loss than money leaving to outsiders.
Of course, for this strategy to work, it was absolutely crucial that my mother and Schley didn’t know who owned the Argentor Trading Company.
I had carefully laid the groundwork through Sae-Unni.
That Irina Otreha, this household’s daughter bound by a lifetime contract in the Capital Residence doing good works for others, was clearly managing someone else’s trading company!
Even if my mother and Schley heard rumors from the Capital and learned that the ‘Otreha lady’ ran Argentor, they would assume all that money went to a fictional creditor.
There was one problem: I wasn’t sure if they’d heard about my betrothal to Lion Voltaine.
They certainly must have heard it by now, timing-wise, but the lack of any reaction made me uneasy.
The messenger’s voice broke through my silence.
“Also, a separate letter has arrived from the Otreha lady. She asked that the trading company owner examine it separately.”
“Sae-Unni sent a letter?”
The messenger withdrew the letter from his tunic, and Cyril passed it to me.
I picked up a paper knife and carefully opened the envelope.
The moment I finished reading the last sentence, I slammed my desk with a bang.
Fury rose to the crown of my head—I could hardly contain it.
“This wretch simply cannot change his nature!”
“What is it?”
Lion rose from the sofa and spoke in a low voice. His pale blue eyes gleamed as though asking if there was another man in need of killing.
“Schley Otreha, that useless creature—this time he means to sell off his own daughter!”
The back of the letter was stained with tears, the ink smudged and running.
If I let this stand, I was no longer human.
* * *
Sae-Unni’s family of origin was of baronial rank, but they treated her as though she had ceased to exist the moment she married into her husband’s house. It was certain they would offer no help in this matter.
I had to act.
In my past life, I had no capacity to concern myself with my brother’s family affairs, but that is no longer the case. I could not stand by and watch events unfold according to Schley’s designs.
I sat down at once and began to write.
There was no point in pleasantries or inquiries. What manner of man tries to betroth his six-year-old daughter to someone thirty years her senior? And what of Sae-Unni, forced to witness such madness?
The letter’s message was brief.
‘Come to the Capital Otreha Residence at once with the children.’
At the bottom of the letter, I added a line instructing her to take an Argentor Trading Company carriage—no need to bring anything with her.
Even with parental consent and signature, a betrothal required the signature of the parties to the contract themselves.
For now, the most crucial thing was to place the child physically beyond the reach of the Otreha Territory.
The messenger who received my letter swore with a hard expression that he would deliver it to the Otreha house with all possible speed.
I nodded and sent him on his way at once.
Outside, the hired staff continued to laugh and enjoy the celebration.
I leaned back in my chair, thinking of the lives of countless people.

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