IELNDMH - Chapter 33 Deep, Unspoken Emotions
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
After successfully completing the transaction. I headed to the operations office in the center of the exchange building. This was to enter the information necessary to confirm the transaction.
After filling out the documents and going straight outside, the front of the central building was crowded unlike before. It seemed like the crowd had left the hall after the transaction was over.
Although each person's facial expressions were different depending on the success or failure of the transaction, most of the stories they talked about were about futures trading in the previous time.
"Apparently a big deal was struck at Athens Hall."
Adrian, who was walking together, looked around and said. Then he opened the pamphlet he had been holding the whole time, checked something, and spoke again.
"It looks like Ludwien's stove is being traded in the Athens Hall."
"Yes? However, the stove has already risen in value, so you won't get much benefit from it, well... Adrian couldn't hide his worry as he looked at me answering indifferently. But it's more.... It may be a stable investment destination."
I looked at him and stuck out his lower lip.
"Adrian, is it so untrustworthy that I bought you a special carriage gift?"
He stroked his eyebrows for a while with a troubled expression, then slowly nodded.
"To be honest...... That's right."
"..."
"Considering the current value of special carriages, even If it costs only 1.5 million ruts per unit, it is a high-risk investment. You bought it for two million rutz per unit... I am concerned that the loss will be great."
Adrian's blue-violet eyes as he said that were filled with his concern for me. I patted his back lightly and smiled confidently.
"Don't worry, Adrian."
"But, Your Highness......"
"Wait and see. I believe this special carriage will make a profit that will surprise everyone in the empire."
Adrian let out a faint laugh as if he couldn't stop me in the end.
"This is so... I guess it can't be helped. I have no choice but to believe in Your Highness."
That time when I smiled while looking at Adrian like that. A black shadow was seen slowly creeping beneath my feet. When I unconsciously turned my head, the first thing I saw was Henry's face smiling at me.
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
Of course, Camilla was also sitting next to him.
".... Congratulations, Your Highness."
Camilla spoke with a clear smile, but I could tell right away that she was very uncomfortable. I attributed it to the cold expression that passed over her face from time to time.
Looking at Camilla like that, I leisurely raised the corner of my mouth.
"Thank you, Camilla. This is a very good thing for me, but Camilla seems to have been quite coveting the special carriage gift, so you are somewhat uneasy."
Then, a subtle vibration occurred at the end of Camilla's lips, which were trying to smile.
'You might feel sad that the item you so coveted was taken away from you.'
Moreover, it seems like she raised money by using private loans to try to beat me.
I intentionally leaked information about my investment funds to Camilla. Of course, it was all a lie. And Camilla watched the whole process as she invested her own money.
At that time, she had already saved up all of her own slush funds. However, she cannot open her hand to her husband, Count Dmitry, because she needs more money to invest with her lover.
Camilla ended up putting her hands on her private loans like that.
'Even if I paid it back right now, the interest would be significant.'
Around the time she had that thought, Camilla opened her mouth again with a pretentious smile.
"It's unfortunate, but there's nothing we can do. However, I happened to be looking at some of the items coming out in the next time slot, so I'm going to check them out and go."
"What kind of thing is it?"
Camilla confidently answered my indifferent question.
"Colored sugar cane seeds."
"Ah...."
I just nodded, trying to hide my embarrassed expression. Sugar from the Demon World comes in various colors depending on how it is grown. Currently, the popularity of that item in the empire was skyrocketing. However, because the finished product was imported from the Demon World, the price was too expensive. So, to obtain colored sugar at a low price, the Empire ends up purchasing the seeds from the Demon World.
'I remember the story of a nobleman who bought the seeds in the original and suffered a huge loss.'
As will be revealed later, the seed grows into ordinary white sugar cane in the human world.
'It has to be that way because the climate here and the Demon World are completely different.'
After missing the special carriage, I had to choose the seed as an alternative. I looked at Camilla and Henry alternately.
'I wonder if the desperate love between the two will still remain even after suffering huge losses through joint investment?'
Well, it's none of my business. I shrugged my shoulders and bid Camilla farewell.
"I wish you good luck. Then I'll leave."
Camilla glared endlessly at the back of the Grand Duchess Rebecca as she left. Henry lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Camilla, where are you looking at her like that? We have to go to the next trading floor quickly."
"...... Henry. I can't take it anymore."
When Henry saw where her fierce gaze had landed, he let out a long sigh.
"I also regret the special carriage thing. But there's nothing to be too sorry about, Camilla."
"..."
"Two million ruth per special carriage. The Grand Duchess will regret it in the end because she invested an excessive amount of money."
Camilla shouted nervously at Henry's carefree words.
"It's not about that, Henry!"
"Then?"
Despite Henry's question, Camilla remained silent for a while, keeping her mouth shut. She was repeatedly recalling the gaze of the Grand Duchess Rebecca, who was looking at her. The day she was caught having a secret affair with Henry, and today too.
Rebecca looked down at herself as if she were looking at a vulgar Cortisan.
"...Pride. That woman keeps hurting my pride. I can't stand it."
Is that all?
If the Grand Duchess even spoke to her husband, Count Dmitry, about her relationship with Henry...
It was clear that all the efforts she had made so far to remarry Henry would be in vain. In addition, she would lose both her status as a Countess and the reputation of a social star she currently enjoyed, all at once and fall.
"Henry."
Crackling.
Camilla's eyes became even more sinister as she bit her nails with a nervous look.
"I really... I wanted to kill that woman."
***
The carriage was already running down the final forest road leading to the Grand Duke's castle. I opened the window and felt the fresh breeze blowing from the forest. Adrian let out a small laugh as he saw me even humming.
"You seem to be in a very good mood."
"Of course it's good. Adrian probably has no idea how I prepared this deal."
This transaction was a catalyst for financial independence after the divorce was announced. Of course, I have to earn a little more to survive for the rest of my life...
I felt like my mood was blown by completing the first attempt successfully.
'Now all that's left is to change the minds of the mixed-blood demons.'
It was better than before, but the number of mixed-race demons who hated me was still large. The rumor that I have changed spreads only within the Grand Duke Castle. Even so, there were often people who did not believe the rumors.
'But. Strangely, resentment disappears so easily after hearing a few good rumors.'
Now I needed an opportunity to officially announce that I had changed.
'Once the investment returns start to reach a certain level, it would be a good idea to start a business for mixed-blood demons.'
It was a time when I was alone in my thoughts and nodded my head.
Rattling-!
The carriage rocked loudly, as if it had been hit by something, and came to a sudden halt with the neigh of her horses.
"Uh......?"
The sudden shock caused my body to lean forward without resistance.
"Your Highness!"
Adrian reflexively launched himself at me. At that time, I was barely able to catch my breath by leaning on his strong arms. I could feel Adrian's soft breathing nearby.
"Are you okay, Your Highness?"
When I inadvertently raised his head, I made eye contact with him. Surprised by the closer distance than expected, each other's eyes blinked rapidly. For a moment, the bright blue-violet gaze slowly fell downward. My eyes, cheeks, nose, and...... Lips.
Eventually, I noticed Adrian's gaze staying in one place and quickly turned my head.
"Outside... I think something happened, Adrian."
Adrian seemed to come to his senses only then and slowly released his hand that was holding me.
"... I will check and come back."
Click-.
Adrian opened the carriage door and went out. Left alone, I was finally able to let out the breath I had been holding.
'Adrian, something has clearly changed.'
It was after Count Dmitry's family banquet that I began to feel an unfamiliar atmosphere from Adrian. Adrian always had a gentle yet refreshing smile.
However, after that day, unclear emotions began to flash through his eyes towards me. Not clear, but deep, unspoken emotions.
'For the first time, I also started to have greed.'
That night, it was that time when I thought again of what he said. The carriage door opened and Adrian came back in.
"Your Highness, the situation outside is not good. Don't come out, just stay here."
Adrian said, hastily grabbing his long sword that was standing in the corner of the carriage. I quickly grabbed his sleeve as he was about to go out that way.
"Adrian, what's going on?"
"It appears the knight was killed while he was stopping and inspecting the carriage. The same goes for the attendant next to me."
"...... What?"
"What's even weirder is... There is not the slightest trace of the culprit."
Adrian's brow slowly furrowed.
"I think we fell into a trap."
"A trap?"
In that brief moment when the carriage stopped?
"I didn't hear anything."
"...It may not be the actions of an ordinary human being."
"Then... Does this mean it could be the work of a mixed-blood demon?"
I couldn't hide my proud expression.
'Have the mixed-blood demons already started attacking me?'
Since they still know me as the Grand Duchess, that wouldn't be possible. This is something strange.
Out of nervousness, I unconsciously narrowed my eyebrows. As if to reassure me, Adrian spoke in a soft voice.
"It is unclear whether it was the work of a mixed-race demon. It could be the work of 'humans' who use black magic."
After finishing his words, Adrian wrapped my hand in his sleeve and squeezed it.
"Rest assured, Your Highness, I will definitely protect Your Highness, even if it means risking my life."
I nodded, trying to control my surprise. Then Adrian came out of the carriage again, stood in front of the door, and spoke again.
"I will drive the carriage. If you hear anything outside, you must not come out."
"...... I will."
He smiled softly and immediately closed the carriage door. As soon as the door closed, my eyes looking out the window suddenly became harsh. Adrian soon headed to the coachman, wary of his surroundings, and soon the carriage started moving again.
How long did it run as is?
Hey!
A sharp shriek of words echoed through the forest.
At the same time, the carriage began to shake more precariously than before.
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