It was clearly reality, but it felt like she was peeking into a scene from a dream.
It was when Sepia was blankly staring at Roxanne.
Richard, who had finished talking to Roxanne, walked over.
Bewildered, Elon hurriedly grabbed the wounded leader and asked.
“Richard, what on earth is going on? What are all these supplies?”
“That... I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”
Richard, who was shaking with Elon holding his shoulder, glared at him for help. Richard’s gaze was on Roxanne.
Roxanne, who had walked in front of them, met Sepia’s gaze.
He looked just like a midwinter mirage.
“There’s no need to scold the wounded leader. I was the one who asked him to keep quiet.”
“Excuse me... Who are you?”
Elon asked cautiously.
He also had a title, but the person in front of him was not a noble of the same class as himself, but a real person. Elon’s intuition told him that it would be a high-ranking beast.
Then Richard, who had been watching the two, introduced Roxanne.
“This is Duke Claude Leopold. He has come to our company to make a deal.”
“...What?!”
Elon’s eyes widened as if they were going to pop out.
No citizen of the empire did not know the fame of the war hero.
In fact, the problem of the barbarians was not just the border issue of Kalpman.
The barbarians exerted their greatest influence in the land of the barbarians, but there were often those who crossed the territory.
The problem was that the beasts that came into contact with the barbarians were influenced by them and transformed into the same barbarians.
Strangely, the number of cases of barbarians appearing in private homes has been increasing for the past ten years.
The tribes living in the forests and the beastmen living in powerless territories were always in fear due to the sudden appearance of the barbarians and the transformed beasts.
The reason the barbarians were superior in numbers was because of the power they possessed in their land.
The Duke was able to completely eradicate the barbarian lands, limiting their reproduction and preventing the number of barbarians and changing beasts from flowing into the villages.
Elon belatedly collected his surprise and asked.
As a merchant and the head of the workhouse, he had extensive experience dealing with people of various ranks.
“Hello, Your Excellency. I am Viscount Elon, the merchant of Dolon. But... Could you explain what is going on? And you are trading with our merchant?”
Even now, the Duke’s knights were diligently bringing down supplies.
Those supplies were all necessities for the workhouse.
And trading?
What could a noble, not just a noble, but a war hero gain by opening up the trade under the Viscount’s command?
‘In fact, you are not here to trade, but to find fault?’
There were times when nobles would find fault with the fact that the Dolon merchant was in collusion with the Empress.
Most of them were intended to denigrate the human Empress, and from the perspective of the poorhouse director, they were beasts that were not worth dealing with.
Elon’s suspicions were justified.
However, unlike the wary Elon, the calm Duke gave a completely different answer.
“I’m thinking of investing in the Dolon top. I heard that they are the only place that imports the tea I like.”
“Tea... you mean?”
“Bremin leaves.”
Elon muttered, taken aback by the unexpected item.
“That is... a minor item among the items imported from Huron.”
Elon was trading with the Huron top at the border of the Huron Empire, importing their goods and trading them with the capital.
To be honest, the Bremin leaves were not even minor.
The only person who wanted that tea was the Empress.
It was first imported at the Empress’s request to import Bremin leaves, and since there was no demand, it was actually considered to have no value as a product.
Nevertheless, the reason he continued to import Bremin was because he wanted to be of some help to the Empress.
'You are so concerned about your subjects, but you are so cold to yourself.'
“If that’s what you’re worried about... His Majesty and I are already in an irreversible relationship. And while I can’t tell you exactly, there’s a clear reason why His Majesty can’t kick me out of the castle.”
The hand that reached out tucked Sepia’s hair behind her ear.
Thanks to him raising his upper body and approaching her, his gaze that had become closer was captivating Sepia.
“Your hair is cold.”
“...I think it’s because I got hit in the snow.”
Sepia awkwardly fumbled with her hair.
Although they were in the poorhouse, it must have been because the environment wasn’t very warm, so it didn’t melt.
The feeling of trembling again.
It was hard to look into his eyes.
When Sepia lowered her eyes, he asked with a voice mixed with laughter.
“Can you feel at ease at this level?”
I’m stronger than you think.
Sepia cleared her throat as he spoke.
“...Are you not concerned about the uncertain national fortune?”
“Even if something truly unfortunate happens, it won’t be because of the national fortune. And if an unavoidable misfortune happens, I think what happens afterward is more important.”
“Afterward?”
“I’m talking about the strength to overcome misfortune and move forward.”
The strength to overcome misfortune.
Only those who overcome anxiety can face a new future.
While Sepia was thinking about those words, Roxanne handed her an envelope.
“Here is the donation certificate I prepared.”
Sepia, who had accepted it without thinking, opened her mouth.
“It’s too much.”
“I don’t think you can judge how much or little a donation is.”
The donation details included the auction of the victory ceremony and the mining costs of the magic stone mine.
The donation Roxanne had given was not just enough to run all of the charity projects smoothly until this summer but for three years.
It was when Sepia was blankly staring at Roxanne.
Richard, who had finished talking to Roxanne, walked over.
Bewildered, Elon hurriedly grabbed the wounded leader and asked.
“Richard, what on earth is going on? What are all these supplies?”
“That... I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”
Richard, who was shaking with Elon holding his shoulder, glared at him for help. Richard’s gaze was on Roxanne.
Roxanne, who had walked in front of them, met Sepia’s gaze.
He looked just like a midwinter mirage.
“There’s no need to scold the wounded leader. I was the one who asked him to keep quiet.”
“Excuse me... Who are you?”
Elon asked cautiously.
He also had a title, but the person in front of him was not a noble of the same class as himself, but a real person. Elon’s intuition told him that it would be a high-ranking beast.
Then Richard, who had been watching the two, introduced Roxanne.
“This is Duke Claude Leopold. He has come to our company to make a deal.”
“...What?!”
Elon’s eyes widened as if they were going to pop out.
No citizen of the empire did not know the fame of the war hero.
In fact, the problem of the barbarians was not just the border issue of Kalpman.
The barbarians exerted their greatest influence in the land of the barbarians, but there were often those who crossed the territory.
The problem was that the beasts that came into contact with the barbarians were influenced by them and transformed into the same barbarians.
Strangely, the number of cases of barbarians appearing in private homes has been increasing for the past ten years.
The tribes living in the forests and the beastmen living in powerless territories were always in fear due to the sudden appearance of the barbarians and the transformed beasts.
The reason the barbarians were superior in numbers was because of the power they possessed in their land.
The Duke was able to completely eradicate the barbarian lands, limiting their reproduction and preventing the number of barbarians and changing beasts from flowing into the villages.
Elon belatedly collected his surprise and asked.
As a merchant and the head of the workhouse, he had extensive experience dealing with people of various ranks.
“Hello, Your Excellency. I am Viscount Elon, the merchant of Dolon. But... Could you explain what is going on? And you are trading with our merchant?”
Even now, the Duke’s knights were diligently bringing down supplies.
Those supplies were all necessities for the workhouse.
And trading?
What could a noble, not just a noble, but a war hero gain by opening up the trade under the Viscount’s command?
‘In fact, you are not here to trade, but to find fault?’
There were times when nobles would find fault with the fact that the Dolon merchant was in collusion with the Empress.
Most of them were intended to denigrate the human Empress, and from the perspective of the poorhouse director, they were beasts that were not worth dealing with.
Elon’s suspicions were justified.
However, unlike the wary Elon, the calm Duke gave a completely different answer.
“I’m thinking of investing in the Dolon top. I heard that they are the only place that imports the tea I like.”
“Tea... you mean?”
“Bremin leaves.”
Elon muttered, taken aback by the unexpected item.
“That is... a minor item among the items imported from Huron.”
Elon was trading with the Huron top at the border of the Huron Empire, importing their goods and trading them with the capital.
To be honest, the Bremin leaves were not even minor.
The only person who wanted that tea was the Empress.
It was first imported at the Empress’s request to import Bremin leaves, and since there was no demand, it was actually considered to have no value as a product.
Nevertheless, the reason he continued to import Bremin was because he wanted to be of some help to the Empress.
'You are so concerned about your subjects, but you are so cold to yourself.'
The empress, who was extremely merciful to others, was extremely strict with herself.
She even ignored her illness in the early stages of her donation project, attending a meeting with a high fever and collapsing.
Elon did not tell the Empress that he was bringing in tea at a loss.
He simply hoped that the tea would soothe the Empress's mind and body.
'Don't you know that the water people don't enjoy Bremin tea?'
She even ignored her illness in the early stages of her donation project, attending a meeting with a high fever and collapsing.
Elon did not tell the Empress that he was bringing in tea at a loss.
He simply hoped that the tea would soothe the Empress's mind and body.
'Don't you know that the water people don't enjoy Bremin tea?'
The Duke was the first outsider, not even a member of the upper class, to ask about tea.
The Duke spoke calmly in front of Elon, who could not hide his surprise.
Then, why don’t we make it the main thing?
“I’m telling you because I think Your Excellency mistaken...”
It was clear that he didn’t know much about Bremin tea.
It was when Elon was trying to correct the Duke’s knowledge.
“Wait a minute.”
The two men turned their heads at Sepia’s words.
Roxanne, who had stopped the conversation with a look that suggested they talk later, approached Sepia.
After hesitating for a moment, she opened her mouth.
“Roxanne, what’s going on here?”
Putting aside the transaction with the upper class, the supplies the knights were delivering were a different matter.
As she watched the boxes pile up, she unconsciously felt hope and anticipation building up.
However, she also felt that she shouldn’t harm Roxanne.
‘...I don’t know how you found out.’
This was before Demios had announced the order.
Maybe rumors were already circulating among the nobles that the Emperor was against the donation project.
However, Roxanne’s answer was beyond Sepia’s expectations.
“I came to pay the rental fee for the palace.”
“Rental fee...?”
Sepia asked with wide eyes.
It was natural for the imperial family to pay for the honoraria for heroes who sacrificed themselves for the empire.
Although the imperial family itself did not support them due to the Emperor’s indifference, the budget of the Empress’s palace was also the imperial family’s.
So it was not a waste of money at all.
However, the knights were not like that, so Groer stood up.
“We are not rude people who eat and drink without permission.”
“That’s right!”
The knights who were in tune with Groer’s rhythm shouted that they could not owe him anything.
Roxanne, who had been fooled by his subordinates, said to Sepia.
“It would be better to have a separate conversation. As the donor and the head of the charity department.”
Sepia hesitated at the words that sounded secret.
It was noisy outside, and he did not seem like he would back down easily.
Sepia eventually guided Roxanne to the poorhouse.
“Come this way.”
The poorhouse directors were in the conference room.
In fact, there was almost no space for conversation.
Sepia guided him to the storage room.
The storage room, which should have been filled with spare parts, was almost empty, with only a few makeshift tables and chairs.
“Please take a seat.”
“Thank you for showing me around.”
It wasn’t a place to welcome guests, but Roxanne didn’t seem to care at all.
“What brings you here?”
“I came here to make a donation. Haven’t you been receiving support from the nobles?”
It wasn’t a strange thing to say, and in fact, it should have been welcomed.
If only Demios hadn’t blocked the donation project.
“If you help me, you’ll have friction with His Majesty.”
As Emperor, Demios held the authority over the entire empire.
This meant that the donation project would be ignored in the future because of more than just national fortune.
However, Roxanne was determined despite Sepia’s words.
The Duke spoke calmly in front of Elon, who could not hide his surprise.
Then, why don’t we make it the main thing?
“I’m telling you because I think Your Excellency mistaken...”
It was clear that he didn’t know much about Bremin tea.
It was when Elon was trying to correct the Duke’s knowledge.
“Wait a minute.”
The two men turned their heads at Sepia’s words.
Roxanne, who had stopped the conversation with a look that suggested they talk later, approached Sepia.
After hesitating for a moment, she opened her mouth.
“Roxanne, what’s going on here?”
Putting aside the transaction with the upper class, the supplies the knights were delivering were a different matter.
As she watched the boxes pile up, she unconsciously felt hope and anticipation building up.
However, she also felt that she shouldn’t harm Roxanne.
‘...I don’t know how you found out.’
This was before Demios had announced the order.
Maybe rumors were already circulating among the nobles that the Emperor was against the donation project.
However, Roxanne’s answer was beyond Sepia’s expectations.
“I came to pay the rental fee for the palace.”
“Rental fee...?”
Sepia asked with wide eyes.
It was natural for the imperial family to pay for the honoraria for heroes who sacrificed themselves for the empire.
Although the imperial family itself did not support them due to the Emperor’s indifference, the budget of the Empress’s palace was also the imperial family’s.
So it was not a waste of money at all.
However, the knights were not like that, so Groer stood up.
“We are not rude people who eat and drink without permission.”
“That’s right!”
The knights who were in tune with Groer’s rhythm shouted that they could not owe him anything.
Roxanne, who had been fooled by his subordinates, said to Sepia.
“It would be better to have a separate conversation. As the donor and the head of the charity department.”
Sepia hesitated at the words that sounded secret.
It was noisy outside, and he did not seem like he would back down easily.
Sepia eventually guided Roxanne to the poorhouse.
“Come this way.”
The poorhouse directors were in the conference room.
In fact, there was almost no space for conversation.
Sepia guided him to the storage room.
The storage room, which should have been filled with spare parts, was almost empty, with only a few makeshift tables and chairs.
“Please take a seat.”
“Thank you for showing me around.”
It wasn’t a place to welcome guests, but Roxanne didn’t seem to care at all.
“What brings you here?”
“I came here to make a donation. Haven’t you been receiving support from the nobles?”
It wasn’t a strange thing to say, and in fact, it should have been welcomed.
If only Demios hadn’t blocked the donation project.
“If you help me, you’ll have friction with His Majesty.”
As Emperor, Demios held the authority over the entire empire.
This meant that the donation project would be ignored in the future because of more than just national fortune.
However, Roxanne was determined despite Sepia’s words.
“If that’s what you’re worried about... His Majesty and I are already in an irreversible relationship. And while I can’t tell you exactly, there’s a clear reason why His Majesty can’t kick me out of the castle.”
The hand that reached out tucked Sepia’s hair behind her ear.
Thanks to him raising his upper body and approaching her, his gaze that had become closer was captivating Sepia.
“Your hair is cold.”
“...I think it’s because I got hit in the snow.”
Sepia awkwardly fumbled with her hair.
Although they were in the poorhouse, it must have been because the environment wasn’t very warm, so it didn’t melt.
The feeling of trembling again.
It was hard to look into his eyes.
When Sepia lowered her eyes, he asked with a voice mixed with laughter.
“Can you feel at ease at this level?”
I’m stronger than you think.
Sepia cleared her throat as he spoke.
“...Are you not concerned about the uncertain national fortune?”
“Even if something truly unfortunate happens, it won’t be because of the national fortune. And if an unavoidable misfortune happens, I think what happens afterward is more important.”
“Afterward?”
“I’m talking about the strength to overcome misfortune and move forward.”
The strength to overcome misfortune.
Only those who overcome anxiety can face a new future.
While Sepia was thinking about those words, Roxanne handed her an envelope.
“Here is the donation certificate I prepared.”
Sepia, who had accepted it without thinking, opened her mouth.
“It’s too much.”
“I don’t think you can judge how much or little a donation is.”
The donation details included the auction of the victory ceremony and the mining costs of the magic stone mine.
The donation Roxanne had given was not just enough to run all of the charity projects smoothly until this summer but for three years.
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