He was an imperial duke, the owner of a hotel, and the head of a trading company that dominated the continent.
Would such a man be short on money to repair a single guest room?
If Nathaniell had destroyed the room and simply disappeared, Calix could have demanded compensation from the House of Marquis Pieron and even issued a permanent ban against him.
But Nathaniell cleverly escaped responsibility by offering monetary compensation for what he had done.
“Ah, how shameful. Duke. I have a habit of getting a little… excited when I drink and have fun. Here! Please use this money for whatever you need… and if it’s not enough, just tell me. I’ll give you more! Hahaha!”
Truly someone unbearable to deal with.
What a bastard.
“...For now, close off the fifth-floor rooms temporarily. Call someone to assess the damage and report the exact cost to me.”
“Yes, understood.”
After giving instructions to an employee, Calix swept his contemptuous gaze over the room once and left.
It seemed he would need a special measure to permanently ban that reckless man from the hotel.
But back in his office, yet another headache was waiting for him.
“Duuuke~ you’re here at last?”
A woman with pale pink hair, like cherry blossoms scattered in a spring breeze, stood up from the sofa smiling brightly.
Calix was a duke of the Empire. And the only people who could freely enter and wait in a room without him present were at least on the level of the crown prince.
So what was this?
“Lady Estelle.”
Despite the blatant breach of etiquette, Calix greeted her calmly without showing his emotions.
The petite woman with a fairy-like face was the only daughter of the House of Montrose.
More precisely, she was a woman brought back by the Montrose Duke claiming she was his long-lost daughter of fifteen years.
Rumor had it she had been found in the slums.
“What brings you here?”
“I was waiting because I wanted to see you, Duke.”
Estelle rose and walked toward Calix with light, delicate steps.
With every step she took, her pale yellow dress swayed like flower petals.
Stopping right in front of him, she smiled sweetly.
“There’s something I really wanted to ask of you, Duke.”
“To me?”
“Yes, to you, Duke.”
Calix had only met her once before—several weeks ago, at the imperial palace, when they exchanged brief greetings.
And yet Estelle approached him without hesitation, as though they were close acquaintances, openly expressing her interest in him.
She still hasn’t properly learned etiquette.
A slight irritation rose within him, but at the same time, he found it somewhat… refreshing.
He smiled mildly, and Estelle’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Actually, my birthday is next month. My father promised to throw a grand celebration since it will be the first birthday we spend together. I was hoping you would come, Duke.”
“Ah.”
The Montrose Duke had recently recovered his long-lost daughter.
Having finally regained the child he treasured more than his own life, it was only natural he would want to give her anything.
Calix had already heard that preparations were being made for a banquet rivaling an imperial ceremony.
“Please come. You will, won’t you?”
“If I am invited by the young lady, it would be my honor.”
“Eek, really? Then I’ll send you an official invitation… kyah!”
Estelle, who had been bouncing slightly in excitement, suddenly stumbled on her dress.
Just as Calix moved to catch her, another hand reached her first.
It was a silent brown-haired knight standing behind her.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
“Yes, I’m fine, Derek.”
The knight wrapped an arm around her waist and steadied her with practiced ease.
It was quite an intimate gesture, yet Estelle seemed completely used to such physical contact.
She even placed her hand over his, subtly intertwining their fingers.
Hmm.
A faint light flickered in Calix’s eyes, which had been bored until now.
Wasn’t this interesting?
A noble lady so accustomed to male contact.
Perhaps she wasn’t simply ignorant of etiquette… but someone operating under a calculated plan.
In the largest and most luxurious room of the Marquis Pieron estate,
I took a moment to steady my breathing before it.
Why am I so nervous over this?
I counted from one to ten in my head. Once my racing heartbeat calmed slightly, I put on a smile and knocked.
“Father.”
“Oh, Rose, you’re here.”
The Marquis Pieron—my father—looked up from his documents and greeted me warmly.
There was even a gentle smile on his lips.
I had only partial information about him, so I was a little worried…
But he seems to be on good terms with me?
“Are you busy?”
“No, it’s fine. I was just about to take a short break.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Please rest when you can.”
“Haha, alright. By the way, what brings you here? Did you want something? Jewelry? Did a new gem come out?”
I flinched.
He hit the mark so accurately that I nearly betrayed myself, but I kept smiling brightly.
“Father, do I really have to want something to come see you?”
“Hahaha! Seeing you say something so adorable… you must want something bigger than usual today.”
What a terrifying man.
His intuition was razor sharp.
Of course, I did want something big.
But it wasn’t jewelry.
Father… I don’t care for such trivial things. What I want is this household itself. I want House Pieron and all its wealth to belong to me, not my reckless older brother!
…If I said that, would he call me insane?
My mouth itched slightly from tension.
Everyone in the capital knew how useless the eldest son of this family was.
So handing Pieron over to me would be the only way to ensure a happy ending for everyone.
No. That’s not it.
In the original story, Nathaniell remained the heir until the moment he ruined the household with debt.
Which meant my father trusted him until the very end.
Even if he was a troublemaker now, he believed that one day his son would straighten up and become a proper head of the family.
If I criticize that reckless son now, Father will just defend him even more.
So I needed to approach carefully.
“…Actually, I have a small request.”
“Go on.”
“How about dinner outside today? A new restaurant opened on Central Street. I heard the head chef used to work for the royal kitchen of the Kingdom of Utica.”
Was this completely unexpected?
My father blinked, then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! You hesitated so much just to ask that?”
“You’re always busy, Father.”
“Even if I’m busy, I can’t refuse when my daughter wants to eat out with me. My Rosenia is especially adorable today. Alright, let’s go right now. Wait a moment.”
He began organizing the documents on his desk.
As I casually glanced at them, I raised my eyebrows.
That… was definitely something from the original story.
Maybe I can use this to my advantage?
“Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Is pepper import difficult these days?”
My father looked at me blankly, then laughed lightly as he realized I had read the documents.
“You saw that?”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Yes, there was a severe plague in Croa this spring. It affected pepper production, so prices have risen sharply, and we can’t import as much as before.”
“So it’s not just difficult—it’s impossible due to lack of supply, correct? The Empire’s appetite for pepper is still strong.”
“That’s right.”
“Love, huh… it’s more like obsession.”
Expensive spices were perfect for satisfying noble vanity.
“Then… wouldn’t it be better to get it from somewhere else?”
