The Eldest Daughter Walks Down The Flower Path - Chapter 49

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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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The Eldest Daughter Walks the Path of Flowers Episode 49

Eve nodded and said.

“The explosive increase in mana crystal consumption during the year-end holidays is all because of the gates. Using gates has completely become like showing off one’s wealth.”

Radis carefully observed the gate managers using mana crystals.

When a merchant-looking man stood on the magic circle, the gate managers placed mana crystals on the altar.

Then the magic circle beneath the merchant’s feet and the altar with the mana crystals simultaneously glowed white, and both the merchant and the mana crystals disappeared.

‘Magic circles can immediately utilize the mana from mana crystals, right?’

Eve shouted toward Radis, who was alternately looking at the altar and her own hands with suspicious eyes.

“Radis, hurry up!”

Radis followed Eve out of the crowded gate and asked as they walked.

“About mana crystals. I understand they’re needed when using gates, but where else are they used?”

Eve looked around for the marquis’s carriage and spoke quickly.

“Mana crystals are very dangerous yet precious resources. Like the Empire’s gates, other countries also have ancient ruins that operate on mana crystals. Things like Rapal’s Mana Tower, Grais’ Leviathan. But since there’s no land where mana crystals are as easily obtained as in the Empire, those countries are willing to pay huge sums to buy the Empire’s mana crystals.”

Radis’s eyes widened at this story she was hearing for the first time.

“And even if not such massive ruins, there are quite a few ruins and artifacts that operate on mana crystals. Those places also need mana crystals. The amount consumed for research or used for rituals in temples can’t be ignored either, and they’re used to make mana-enhanced steel or as gemstones themselves for precious metals. Anyway, the value of mana crystals is infinite.”

Eve lowered her voice slightly and said.

“You heard the rumors about monsters being less active this year, right? Because of those rumors, mana crystal prices are rising. Mana crystals are assets with more investment value than gold.”

In her previous life, countless mana crystals had passed through Radis’s hands, but she hadn’t even known what they were used for.

Radis nodded, newly realizing the value of mana crystals.

“Ah, there it is!”

The road connected to the gate was full of carriages.

They found the marquis’s carriage among them and climbed aboard.

When Eve and Radis got into the carriage, the coachman asked through the window.

“Master, shall we go to the townhouse?”

“No, take us to Pelletier Bank.”

“Understood.”

Radis’s eyes sparkled brightly.

‘A bank!’

There was a reason Radis was so delighted at the mention of a bank.

Radis had watched Margaret hide money in various places around the house including safes, and Jade finding it like a ghost, for a very long time.

So in her opinion, the house wasn’t a very good place to store money.

Moreover, if you hide money it either stays the same or disappears, but if you put it in a bank, it earns interest.

According to rumors she had heard sometime, the bank’s interest rate was 5 percent annually.

‘If I put in 100 million rubles, after just one year the interest would be 5 million rubles!’

Starlight sparkled and poured from Radis’s eyes.

100 million rubles was such a large amount that it somehow felt like money she shouldn’t touch, but 5 million rubles was a realistic amount.

‘If I save and save, couldn’t I survive for half a year on 5 million rubles? If I really save a lot, maybe even a year…!’

Eve Russel, who had been watching such Radis, opened his mouth.

“Oh right, I almost forgot. Pelletier Bank has connections to the 3rd Prince.”

Radis, awakened from her happy imagination, stared at Eve.

“What did you say?”

“I’m telling you in advance, I didn’t set this up. How could I arrange for the 3rd Prince’s maternal family to be the Pelletier family?”

Radis looked at Eve Russel with suspicious eyes.

Eve said as if feeling wronged.

“Ah, if you don’t like it, let’s go to the Imperial Bank! I don’t mind. But the interest rates are different? Imperial Bank is 5 percent annually, Pelletier is 6 percent.”

“…!”

It was a small difference, but too precious to miss.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll go with Pelletier.”

Eve gave a very slight thumbs up and said.

“Good choice.”

Radis glared at Eve with narrow eyes and asked in a cold voice.

“You’re not plotting something again like with the play, are you? Like the 3rd Prince coming there.”

“How would I know? Finding out His Highness’s schedule isn’t that easy, is it? I only checked the New Year’s party. Going to the bank is all for you.”

“Hmm.”

Eve Russel extended his hand and said.

“Radis, you’re really doing well. Just keep doing like this. You don’t need to try to do anything at the New Year’s party either. And if the 3rd Prince’s side pretends not to see you, you don’t need to do anything.”

Radis reluctantly took that hand and asked.

“Why is that?”

“Well, it’s just my intuition. You don’t need to overdo it.”

Eve said in a slightly lowered voice.

“It’s nothing new, but the imperial situation is quite complex. Looking at the current power structure, it wouldn’t be strange whoever gets appointed as crown prince. 1st Prince Charle is the current empress’s son, and 2nd Prince Gabriel is popular among the imperial citizens. But in my view, the most qualified is the 3rd Prince. Moreover, his maternal family is that Pelletier family.”

Eve’s lips curved in a strange smile.

“But the 3rd Prince doesn’t flaunt his qualifications or his maternal family and stays far back. That was probably the 3rd Prince’s survival method until now. He doesn’t want to attract attention.”

‘I see.’

Radis recalled when she met Olivier.

In her memory, he was a warm person.

Someone who kindly helped up a woman who had fallen ungracefully in a ridiculous dress and gave her courage with gentle words.

That was probably his true nature.

Don’t they say you can know a person’s real character from how they treat the weak?

But according to Eve’s words, usually he seemed to maintain distance from his surroundings and keep a cold attitude.

Hiding his true nature and choosing loneliness to survive in the battlefield called the Imperial Capital.

Olivier’s way of life reminded her of her past self, who had disguised herself as David and thoroughly hidden herself to survive in her previous life.

“…”

Lost in thought, Radis suddenly realized that Eve was still holding her hand tightly.

Moreover, Eve was even carefully examining Radis’s hand that was firmly grasped in his own.

“Why? Is there something on my hand?”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing!”

Eve startled and let go of her hand.

Radis looked at Eve with suspicious eyes.

“Wow, what’s with those eyes?”

“You’re not really plotting something, are you?”

“Whoa! Radis, are you suspecting me right now? I told you everything!”

“…Alright.”

Radis shook her head.

It seemed she had developed suspicion after being backstabbed consecutively in the Monster Forest in addition to the play incident.

Meanwhile, the carriage stopped in front of Pelletier Bank located in the commercial district of Golden Road.

The bank built with white marble was magnificent enough to remind one of a museum or temple.

Past the main gate where white deer statues looked down, a wide and bright lobby appeared.

The lobby was extremely luxurious, as if showing off the bank’s wealth.

Elegant frescoes were painted on the ceiling, and the walls were full of paintings and sculptures.

“Lord Marquis, welcome.”

Though they were at such a distance that faces couldn’t be seen clearly, bank employees who spotted Radis and Eve in black clothes came running with delight.

“We’ll escort you this way.”

At the edge of the lobby, several tables were placed where merchant-looking people sat consulting with staff.

Eve swept past them and entered a spacious drawing room as the employee guided.

The employee prepared tea and said.

“The manager will be here shortly.”

“No, that’s fine. I came for light business today.”

Eve sat sprawled on the long chair in the drawing room, spreading his legs wide enough to look extremely arrogant, and said.

“Create an account under this lady’s name.”

“A new account, you mean? I’ll have it prepared for you right away.”

Radis was inwardly amazed.

She envied the prestige of the Russel Marquis family, where asking to “create an account” was immediately met with “I’ll have it prepared for you right away.”

The employee brewed the tea in truly no time at all.

However, before he could even set down the two teacups on the table, the door opened again.

“Ah, Bernard. Today is…”

Eve’s legs, which had been relaxed as he glanced toward the door, suddenly tensed up.

“Your Highness the 3rd Prince?”

Two people had entered the drawing room.

A dignified-looking middle-aged man, and 3rd Prince Olivier.

Eve seemed surprised too, but Radis was even more shocked.

She was so startled that she nearly spilled the teacup she had just received.

“It’s been a while, Lord Russel.”

Today, Olivier had his long hair tied up high, revealing his small, slender face.

That made it even more visible.

The faint smile spreading across his crystal sculpture-like face.

“…And the lady.”

Ah.

At that word “lady,” Radis suddenly realized that he knew nothing about her.

Olivier looked at Eve as he spoke.

“I was meeting with Mr. Bernard when I heard that Lord Russel had arrived, so I took the liberty of visiting, but I hope I’m not being a bother?”

“A bother? How could that be? It’s an honor, Your Highness!”

Radis felt a bit embarrassed as she could sense Eve practically bouncing with joy from his voice.

‘Lord Russel, please restrain yourself…!’

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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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