Karina lightly glanced over the documents she had been handed.
“Selena and Hasten are doing a great job.”
Karina smiled brightly and praised them, who were not even present.
Then she picked up her quill and started marking several places with check marks and circles.
Square, square.
She recalled the businesses that had been featured in the newspapers as miraculous successes or that had made a lot of money and were talked about as scoops.
In addition, she selected businesses that had been doing well overall and had consistently generated profits.
“Here. Take these documents back to the ‘flower shop’,”
Karina said, putting the quill on the table.
“I’ll give you the gold coins, so go and invest in all the places I just marked. Prioritize the circled businesses in particular.”
“Huh? Are you saying that you’re going to decide on investments based on what you just looked at?”
Karina nodded, and Mikhail’s face became embarrassed.
“I looked into it in advance, and all of their business plans were too absurd. They weren’t places worth investing in for profit.”
“No problem. I only chose good, realistic places.”
Despite Karina’s confident answer, Mikhail made a reluctant expression.
“Your Highness, please wait a moment. Isn’t that a bit too hasty? You didn’t even look at the relevant business status reports.”
“I’ve seen them all.”
Mikhail’s expression turned pale at Karina’s confident answer.
“...I haven’t handed you the status reports yet?”
“..."
Mikhail waved a stack of papers in his hand.
“...Ahem.”
Karina coughed in embarrassment, but she shamelessly decided to leave.
“Anyway, tell them to go and invest.”
“...How much do you plan on investing?”
Mikhail asked her with a displeased expression.
“About 5,000 gold.”
“Huh? You mean 5,000 gold?”
Five thousand gold was enough to buy a decent mansion in the capital.
Although it was called an investment, to Mikhail it was just like throwing money away in the wrong place.
It was natural for him to be surprised.
However, when the Grand Duchess of Colesberg said that she would spend it, five thousand gold was not a large amount.
However, there was another reason why Karina could only invest five thousand gold. This was because this was the maximum amount Karina could currently manage.
Right after the marriage, Caroline emphasized frugality and thrift, saying that she would teach Karina the virtues that a Grand Duchess should have. She then took all the funds that the Grand Duchess could spend, such as the maintenance expenses, social expenses, and clothing expenses, and said that she would manage them well.
“Selena and Hasten are doing a great job.”
Karina smiled brightly and praised them, who were not even present.
Then she picked up her quill and started marking several places with check marks and circles.
Square, square.
She recalled the businesses that had been featured in the newspapers as miraculous successes or that had made a lot of money and were talked about as scoops.
In addition, she selected businesses that had been doing well overall and had consistently generated profits.
“Here. Take these documents back to the ‘flower shop’,”
Karina said, putting the quill on the table.
“I’ll give you the gold coins, so go and invest in all the places I just marked. Prioritize the circled businesses in particular.”
“Huh? Are you saying that you’re going to decide on investments based on what you just looked at?”
Karina nodded, and Mikhail’s face became embarrassed.
“I looked into it in advance, and all of their business plans were too absurd. They weren’t places worth investing in for profit.”
“No problem. I only chose good, realistic places.”
Despite Karina’s confident answer, Mikhail made a reluctant expression.
“Your Highness, please wait a moment. Isn’t that a bit too hasty? You didn’t even look at the relevant business status reports.”
“I’ve seen them all.”
Mikhail’s expression turned pale at Karina’s confident answer.
“...I haven’t handed you the status reports yet?”
“..."
Mikhail waved a stack of papers in his hand.
“...Ahem.”
Karina coughed in embarrassment, but she shamelessly decided to leave.
“Anyway, tell them to go and invest.”
“...How much do you plan on investing?”
Mikhail asked her with a displeased expression.
“About 5,000 gold.”
“Huh? You mean 5,000 gold?”
Five thousand gold was enough to buy a decent mansion in the capital.
Although it was called an investment, to Mikhail it was just like throwing money away in the wrong place.
It was natural for him to be surprised.
However, when the Grand Duchess of Colesberg said that she would spend it, five thousand gold was not a large amount.
However, there was another reason why Karina could only invest five thousand gold. This was because this was the maximum amount Karina could currently manage.
Right after the marriage, Caroline emphasized frugality and thrift, saying that she would teach Karina the virtues that a Grand Duchess should have. She then took all the funds that the Grand Duchess could spend, such as the maintenance expenses, social expenses, and clothing expenses, and said that she would manage them well.
'I was stupid too.'
The Grand Duchess, who was still very unfamiliar to the Northerners, fell for the ridiculous sweet talk that if she used the funds assigned to her for the North, the Northerners would be impressed and Jeremiah would like it too.
'I'll make sure that it's used where it's needed for the North. When the Grand Duchess needs money, let me know. If it's absolutely necessary, I'll give it back.'
Karina had never received money back from Caroline since then.
'I'll get it back. And I'll cut off all of Caroline's financial resources while I'm at it.'
Karina narrowed her eyes. Ironically, Karina needed money to prepare her plan. So a few days ago, Karina had sold all the dresses, shoes, and accessories she had worn for her wedding without any regrets. They were the most expensive and valuable things she had. Since they were the ones worn by the Grand Duchess, the main character of the day, at the wedding of the Grand Duke of Colesberg, the master of the North, their value was enormous. One dress was worth the price of a five-story mansion in the capital. The shoes, hair accessories, veils, and accessories were also expensive enough that even the most nobles would not have been able to afford them.
Even though Caroline had taken everything else away from her, these were the things she had guarded with her life, saying that she absolutely could not do without them. She was desperate as if they were the only link connecting her to Jeremiah. At first, they were precious treasures, and in the middle, they were supports that kept her from giving up on her expectations and hopes for Jeremiah. And in the end, they became the product of her inability to let go of her attachment and regrets.
In the past, they were things she had treasured as if they were her life, but now she didn’t need to do so at all.
‘I needed the money anyway, so that’s a good thing.’
Her foolish actions in the past had become the foundation for her divorce plan.
A self-deprecating smile appeared and disappeared on Karina’s lips.
She planned to set aside a little money for other needs and invest the rest.
“Even if I lose, it’s my money anyway. Stop it and come back quickly.”
“...”
Karina said firmly.
“Your Highness.”
“Why?”
Mikhail made an unusually serious expression.
Karina also became tense at his appearance and waited for his next words.
“Please protect my salary.”
“...”
Karina made a deflated face, then finally frowned and gave an order.
“Get out.”
“Yes.”
Mikhail left right away.
That afternoon.
Mikhail finished running errands for Karina and entered the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Huh?”
Mikhail’s steps stopped.
One of the people exiting the Grand Duke’s residence from afar looked very familiar.
“Why is that guy here?”
Mikhail’s one eyebrow went up diagonally.
He looked around and hid himself with a stealth spell.
He approached quietly, making no sound.
“Then I will prepare the necessary documents and send them to you.”
“Yes. I will wait.”
After greeting, he went out the front door and followed the man in the brown robe among the dispersed group. When he got a little farther away from the mansion and entered a deserted area, Mikhail released his stealth spell and reappeared.
The moment he was about to speak to the man, the frontman opened his mouth faster.
“I didn’t want to come either.”
“...!”
Mikhail’s adjutant, Max, turned around.
He glared at Mikhail and confessed his troubles.
“I was forced to come here because of that holy fire.”
“Huh...?”
“I can’t leave Mikhail alone, so go and take care of him.”
“Ah...”
He was embarrassed as he heard a series of unexpected stories.
“No, I’m not a kid..."
A self-deprecating smile appeared and disappeared on Karina’s lips.
She planned to set aside a little money for other needs and invest the rest.
“Even if I lose, it’s my money anyway. Stop it and come back quickly.”
“...”
Karina said firmly.
“Your Highness.”
“Why?”
Mikhail made an unusually serious expression.
Karina also became tense at his appearance and waited for his next words.
“Please protect my salary.”
“...”
Karina made a deflated face, then finally frowned and gave an order.
“Get out.”
“Yes.”
Mikhail left right away.
***
That afternoon.
Mikhail finished running errands for Karina and entered the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Huh?”
Mikhail’s steps stopped.
One of the people exiting the Grand Duke’s residence from afar looked very familiar.
“Why is that guy here?”
Mikhail’s one eyebrow went up diagonally.
He looked around and hid himself with a stealth spell.
He approached quietly, making no sound.
“Then I will prepare the necessary documents and send them to you.”
“Yes. I will wait.”
After greeting, he went out the front door and followed the man in the brown robe among the dispersed group. When he got a little farther away from the mansion and entered a deserted area, Mikhail released his stealth spell and reappeared.
The moment he was about to speak to the man, the frontman opened his mouth faster.
“I didn’t want to come either.”
“...!”
Mikhail’s adjutant, Max, turned around.
He glared at Mikhail and confessed his troubles.
“I was forced to come here because of that holy fire.”
“Huh...?”
“I can’t leave Mikhail alone, so go and take care of him.”
“Ah...”
He was embarrassed as he heard a series of unexpected stories.
“No, I’m not a kid..."
“Master, he worries too much, it’s a problem.”
Mikhail scratched his chin with a trembling expression.
Max frowned as if he had expected that kind of reaction.
“I didn’t expect a welcome anyway.”
“Ah! No, that’s not it...”
Mikhail awkwardly greeted him after hearing Max’s words.
“Yeah. Welcome. Anyway, it’s good that you came.”
Mikhail raised the corners of his mouth and smiled, saying casually.
“Just think of it as coming up north to have some fun. There’s nothing for you to do.”
“You say that without even knowing what position I’m in.”
It meant that he came from a position other than that of a magician of the Magic Tower.
Mikhail immediately understood what Max meant and asked.
“What?”
“I came as an external advisory committee member on magic dispatched from the capital to the north.”
“Advisor?”
Mikhail made a face that showed that he had no idea.
“As expected, you haven’t heard anything yet.”
Max, who had said that, criticized him, saying that it was because he hadn’t been answering his every day.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“The imperial family requested the cooperation of the Magic Tower to investigate and understand the trends of the monsters appearing in the north.”
“...!”
Mikhail’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The imperial family requested the cooperation of the Magic Tower? Ha, this is really funny.”
Mikhail snorted and sneered.
Currently, the Magic Tower has raised its status to the point where it could be considered an independent nation by nurturing talented people and expanding its influence.
However, the imperial family did not welcome this situation.
They showed blatant wariness and hostility, saying that they could not recognize the independence of the Magic Tower.
The relationship between the Magic Tower and the Empire was not good, even in empty words.
‘Cooperation on such a topic?’
Mikhail’s face sneered.
“Let’s say the imperial family requested cooperation because they had some kind of plan. But did you just accept it, Master?”
Mikhail asked with a tone full of complaints.
“It’s true that the appearance of monsters is increasing all over the world these days.”
“Even so, that’s true. What’s so pretty about the royal family that they’re helping us?”
“We were going to investigate the monster-related matter anyway. And in return for cooperating with the Imperial Family, we’ll receive an unlimited supply of the highest-grade magic stones necessary for magical research during the period of cooperation.”
“Unlimited supply of the highest-grade magic stones?”
“Yes.”
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Mikhail’s face.
“Yes. That should be enough.”
“Anyway, the Imperial Family will soon be going north to investigate monsters. Be careful not to get involved unnecessarily.”
“You’re worried about everything. Don’t worry. It won’t happen.”
Mikhail boasted.
“By the way, how’s your investigation into the Grand Duchess going?”
“...”
Mikhail’s mouth snapped shut when Karina’s story came up.
“Why? Is there something strange?”
The strange words Max spoke lingered in his ears.
“Strange... strange.”
Mikhail muttered.
But that was completely different from what Max meant.
Mikhail thought of Karina.
When he thought of her, the corners of Mikhail’s mouth naturally went up.
‘At first, it was clearly just simple curiosity...’
The interest that started out as curiosity made his gaze continue to follow Karina.
As he continued to look at her, he learned of her various expressions and other aspects of her that he had never known before.
Now, he could not leave Karina alone.
‘When on earth did she grow so big?’
Mikhail was embarrassed as he realized the size of his heart anew.
“Haha.”
Mikhail wiped his face with his hand and laughed in vain.
“...”
Max looked at Mikhail with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
Mikhail returned the corners of his mouth to their original position and hid his feelings.
“It’s nothing.”
And when he was done talking, he waved his hand, telling him to go.
“Mikhail.”
As he was about to turn around to leave, Max called him in a serious voice.
“Don’t get too involved with the Grand Duchess.”
“..."
At his words, Mikhail's steps stopped abruptly.
He turned to Max and continued.
"You must not forget that you will have to return to the Magic Tower someday."
'It would be no use saying something like that now... '
Mikhail swallowed the words he wanted to say.
Instead, he let out a snickering sound.
A strange smile appeared on Mikhail's lips.
"I'm going."
Mikhail turned and left the place.
Mikhail scratched his chin with a trembling expression.
Max frowned as if he had expected that kind of reaction.
“I didn’t expect a welcome anyway.”
“Ah! No, that’s not it...”
Mikhail awkwardly greeted him after hearing Max’s words.
“Yeah. Welcome. Anyway, it’s good that you came.”
Mikhail raised the corners of his mouth and smiled, saying casually.
“Just think of it as coming up north to have some fun. There’s nothing for you to do.”
“You say that without even knowing what position I’m in.”
It meant that he came from a position other than that of a magician of the Magic Tower.
Mikhail immediately understood what Max meant and asked.
“What?”
“I came as an external advisory committee member on magic dispatched from the capital to the north.”
“Advisor?”
Mikhail made a face that showed that he had no idea.
“As expected, you haven’t heard anything yet.”
Max, who had said that, criticized him, saying that it was because he hadn’t been answering his every day.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“The imperial family requested the cooperation of the Magic Tower to investigate and understand the trends of the monsters appearing in the north.”
“...!”
Mikhail’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The imperial family requested the cooperation of the Magic Tower? Ha, this is really funny.”
Mikhail snorted and sneered.
Currently, the Magic Tower has raised its status to the point where it could be considered an independent nation by nurturing talented people and expanding its influence.
However, the imperial family did not welcome this situation.
They showed blatant wariness and hostility, saying that they could not recognize the independence of the Magic Tower.
The relationship between the Magic Tower and the Empire was not good, even in empty words.
‘Cooperation on such a topic?’
Mikhail’s face sneered.
“Let’s say the imperial family requested cooperation because they had some kind of plan. But did you just accept it, Master?”
Mikhail asked with a tone full of complaints.
“It’s true that the appearance of monsters is increasing all over the world these days.”
“Even so, that’s true. What’s so pretty about the royal family that they’re helping us?”
“We were going to investigate the monster-related matter anyway. And in return for cooperating with the Imperial Family, we’ll receive an unlimited supply of the highest-grade magic stones necessary for magical research during the period of cooperation.”
“Unlimited supply of the highest-grade magic stones?”
“Yes.”
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Mikhail’s face.
“Yes. That should be enough.”
“Anyway, the Imperial Family will soon be going north to investigate monsters. Be careful not to get involved unnecessarily.”
“You’re worried about everything. Don’t worry. It won’t happen.”
Mikhail boasted.
“By the way, how’s your investigation into the Grand Duchess going?”
“...”
Mikhail’s mouth snapped shut when Karina’s story came up.
“Why? Is there something strange?”
The strange words Max spoke lingered in his ears.
“Strange... strange.”
Mikhail muttered.
But that was completely different from what Max meant.
Mikhail thought of Karina.
When he thought of her, the corners of Mikhail’s mouth naturally went up.
‘At first, it was clearly just simple curiosity...’
The interest that started out as curiosity made his gaze continue to follow Karina.
As he continued to look at her, he learned of her various expressions and other aspects of her that he had never known before.
Now, he could not leave Karina alone.
‘When on earth did she grow so big?’
Mikhail was embarrassed as he realized the size of his heart anew.
“Haha.”
Mikhail wiped his face with his hand and laughed in vain.
“...”
Max looked at Mikhail with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
Mikhail returned the corners of his mouth to their original position and hid his feelings.
“It’s nothing.”
And when he was done talking, he waved his hand, telling him to go.
“Mikhail.”
As he was about to turn around to leave, Max called him in a serious voice.
“Don’t get too involved with the Grand Duchess.”
“..."
At his words, Mikhail's steps stopped abruptly.
He turned to Max and continued.
"You must not forget that you will have to return to the Magic Tower someday."
'It would be no use saying something like that now... '
Mikhail swallowed the words he wanted to say.
Instead, he let out a snickering sound.
A strange smile appeared on Mikhail's lips.
"I'm going."
Mikhail turned and left the place.
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