“Are you sure?”
Jacqueline asked with his eyes half-closed. He looked at me like a child who has done something wrong and is now making excuses.
I shoved his shoulder as if I was tired of it. Why did you ask me if you couldn't believe me?
“It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s something. Rosetta showed me the opal mines... I guess it’s because there’s something only I can do.”
It was a question I had from the beginning. Why did she tell me about the blue opal mine that she had guarded so vigilantly? Except for my identity, I am no better than Rosetta.
So Rosetta had already given a hint. It would be difficult for her as a pirate, but as a Princess, I have the right to call anyone to the negotiating table.
“Jacqueline, I have a question.”
“Ask me anything.”
“Do the people of Belcruz want a stable home?”
The playful expression disappeared from Jacqueline's face. He just moved his lips with a troubled expression. I could tell that he was struggling to figure out how to convey the message without any misunderstanding.
He carefully picked up the coin.
“They are pirates. They can’t dare hope for stability, and they don’t have the means to do so. But... if you think about the children, it’s a desperate matter.”
“That’s fine.”
I stretched like a cat that had been exposed to too much sun.
“This makes it clear that this is the person I need to meet.”
The mansion of Baron Lotte, from which all the creditors had withdrawn, had an atmosphere as if a ghost might appear.
The gatekeepers guarding the front of the mansion had all disappeared, and it was very quiet, as if all the servants had been sent away. The only trace of people staying there was the occasional flicker of candlelight in the window.
I looked up at the dreary mansion and followed the butler into Baron Lotte's reception room.
“Your Highness, the Princess.”
As the door to the reception room opened, Baron Lotte jumped up from his seat. He was an old man with faint eyebrows that gave him a very fragile look.
“Can I sit down?”
“That may be fine, but as you can see, there’s no good furniture...”
He said, slumping his shoulders.
It was as he said. Most of the furniture was broken and lying around. Only a few chairs barely made it look like a living room.
I sat in the cleanest chair among the dogs as if I had not seen anything.
“What brings you here?”
His words implied that I had to come at a time like this, but they also sounded like he was just giving up.
I shrugged and pointed to the chair across from him.
“Have a seat. I won’t take too long. I have something to ask you.”
“Please ask.”
“How do you plan to live from now on?”
Baron Lotte's face was distorted. If Jacqueline hadn't been behind me, he might have been rude enough to leave the room before me.
He kept his mouth shut with a stubborn expression, but I was no pushover when it came to persistence. I waited for the Baron's answer for a long time, holding the teacup the butler had brought out on my lap.
In the end, it was the Baron's side that lost momentum.
“...I plan to sell the mansion and estate.”
“Why? You have already paid off all your debts. And this is a legacy that has been passed down through the Lotte family.”
The Baron's expression was like that of a child. For a moment, the certainty that I had come to provoke him seemed to fade.
The Baron answered with the gentleness of a grandfather explaining a difficult concept.
“You must have seen the city on your way to the mansion.”
“I saw it.”
“When the mine exploded, most of the people in the territory converted their living facilities to facilities more favorable for mining. I actively encouraged that.”
It was true. Half of the city was an inn, the other half a facility for sorting and processing ore.
That was the reason why the Barony of Lotte collapsed after only six years. Since there was little access to the sea, there was no hope for maritime income, and they sold all their land to raise money for facility renovation.
“But Princess Veronica bought the mining rights. Aren’t all the equipment going to be used once mining begins?”
“That’s right. But not all of it will be used, and the mines are limited.”
The Baron sighed.
“All we get are scraps of scraps. Moreover, most economic activity in my territory has been blocked for six years.”
“...”
“It means that the debt taken out to make a living is not small.”
I looked around. Debt for a living? I never heard that Baron Lotte was of a luxurious nature.
Even the things in the living room right now didn't seem like expensive treasures. In fact, they were really expensive, but were they broken and looked cheap?
The Baron, noticing my curious gaze, added:
“If it were just me, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but we can’t bankrupt all the people in the territory. At the very least, we should provide support so that those who want it can go back to their original livelihoods.”
I almost bit my tongue in embarrassment.
“So you’re saying you’re going to sell the mansion and use the money to support the people of the territory?”
“Because we all suffered because of my wrong choices.”
Baron Lotte said this, lowering his old head. I slowly straightened my crooked gaze.
I now felt I knew a little about the Baron. He was a hopeless idealist and a man of a soft temper who had little interest in business.
That's why he got his hands on a sapphire mine and got ripped off by others.
Anyway, he seemed like a good guy, if he really meant what he told me.
“Sir Jacqueline, a map.”
Jacqueline, who was standing behind me, quickly raised the map. I spread it out in front of Baron Lotte.
“If you were to sell your land, where would you start and where would you end it? Point to it with your hand.”
He looked confused, but he picked out half of the estate.
“If we sell the mansion and this much, we’ll be able to last at least two years. If the livelihoods of the people in the estate are stable, we’ll also be able to collect some taxes.”
“Here?”
I boldly picked out the land he had decided not to sell, 'Belcruzé'. Baron Lotte's expression clouded for a moment. It was the moment when my suspicions were confirmed.
“That land...”
He avoided my eyes awkwardly.
“Even if we sell it, there won’t be anyone to buy it. The waves are high, making it difficult to launch a fishing boat, and the beach is not pretty enough for vacationers to visit. The land is salty, making it difficult to farm.”
“And it’s also a place where pirates nest.”
“...”
“Baron, you have never touched this land on purpose before. Why?”
“...Your Princess, you really knew everything and came to see me.”
He slumped his shoulders as if he had given up.
“The pirates who settled on that land can’t really be called pirates. Settling down... is already a limited time. They can’t go out to the open sea to raid, and they can’t mess with the navy.”
“...”
“We have to raid relatively weak merchant ships, but that will make it even harder to settle down. Those who have already been on the admiral’s list will have a hard time washing away their past and living together... and it’s impossible to erase them without an imperial order.”
“So you left it as is?”
“Aren’t they the ones who can’t do any harm anyway?”
"Great."
I smiled and stood up from my seat.
“Baron. Your weakness will save you this time.”
“What is that...”
“You’ll find out later. And when that time comes, you’ll have to help me.”
Baron Lotte's eyes became clouded, as if trying to guess what I meant.
I left the drawing room, leaving the Baron behind. As soon as I left the mansion, Jacqueline asked me in astonishment.
“Is this part of the plan, too?”
“That’s right. After meeting the Baron, I became convinced.”
“What kind of confidence are you talking about?”
“Originally, I was going to buy the land from him. I... Anyway, I have some spare money, so I thought, why not try investing it?”
I shrugged.
“But that would take a long time, and I don’t know anything about it, and besides, if I leave later...”
“You’re leaving?”
Jacqueline asked quickly.
I bit my lip because it stung. I really need to fix this habit of just blurting out my thoughts. I quickly straightened my expression and pretended to be calm.
“That’s literally it. If we go back to the palace, uh, even if we send mercenaries to guard it, it’ll be difficult to fully protect the mine.”
“Who on earth owns the land protected by the royal family...”
Jacqueline sighed deeply before speaking. Then he added, in a fortunate coincidence.
“I don’t mean to blame you. Anyway, I’m glad you have a plan.”
“Yes. Of course, it’s not a perfect plan...”
“...”
“Oh, sir. You don’t trust me?”
“...”
“I can’t believe it...”
I kept a lot of things from Jacqueline, but one thing was true: I had a plan.
However, since this was my first experience, I wasn't sure if this was really the right path.
As I thought about it, the vague plan in my head gradually took on a concrete form.
After much thought until dawn, I finally managed to finish writing a letter.
Early the next morning. As soon as I finished sending the letter by messenger, I prepared to leave for the palace again. It was a departure a little earlier than planned.
Most of the luggage that the maids had brought was loaded onto the carriage without even being unpacked.
Thalia seemed happy to be returning to the capital, where 'that spirit' was, no matter what, and Irina and Sylvia said their sad farewells, looking forward to the upcoming masquerade ball.
And Jacqueline...
“I promised you, Mother. I’ll write to you once every three days and come home once every two months.”
That's what happened, with his mother holding him by the collar.
Jacqueline asked with his eyes half-closed. He looked at me like a child who has done something wrong and is now making excuses.
I shoved his shoulder as if I was tired of it. Why did you ask me if you couldn't believe me?
“It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s something. Rosetta showed me the opal mines... I guess it’s because there’s something only I can do.”
It was a question I had from the beginning. Why did she tell me about the blue opal mine that she had guarded so vigilantly? Except for my identity, I am no better than Rosetta.
So Rosetta had already given a hint. It would be difficult for her as a pirate, but as a Princess, I have the right to call anyone to the negotiating table.
“Jacqueline, I have a question.”
“Ask me anything.”
“Do the people of Belcruz want a stable home?”
The playful expression disappeared from Jacqueline's face. He just moved his lips with a troubled expression. I could tell that he was struggling to figure out how to convey the message without any misunderstanding.
He carefully picked up the coin.
“They are pirates. They can’t dare hope for stability, and they don’t have the means to do so. But... if you think about the children, it’s a desperate matter.”
“That’s fine.”
I stretched like a cat that had been exposed to too much sun.
“This makes it clear that this is the person I need to meet.”
***
The mansion of Baron Lotte, from which all the creditors had withdrawn, had an atmosphere as if a ghost might appear.
The gatekeepers guarding the front of the mansion had all disappeared, and it was very quiet, as if all the servants had been sent away. The only trace of people staying there was the occasional flicker of candlelight in the window.
I looked up at the dreary mansion and followed the butler into Baron Lotte's reception room.
“Your Highness, the Princess.”
As the door to the reception room opened, Baron Lotte jumped up from his seat. He was an old man with faint eyebrows that gave him a very fragile look.
“Can I sit down?”
“That may be fine, but as you can see, there’s no good furniture...”
He said, slumping his shoulders.
It was as he said. Most of the furniture was broken and lying around. Only a few chairs barely made it look like a living room.
I sat in the cleanest chair among the dogs as if I had not seen anything.
“What brings you here?”
His words implied that I had to come at a time like this, but they also sounded like he was just giving up.
I shrugged and pointed to the chair across from him.
“Have a seat. I won’t take too long. I have something to ask you.”
“Please ask.”
“How do you plan to live from now on?”
Baron Lotte's face was distorted. If Jacqueline hadn't been behind me, he might have been rude enough to leave the room before me.
He kept his mouth shut with a stubborn expression, but I was no pushover when it came to persistence. I waited for the Baron's answer for a long time, holding the teacup the butler had brought out on my lap.
In the end, it was the Baron's side that lost momentum.
“...I plan to sell the mansion and estate.”
“Why? You have already paid off all your debts. And this is a legacy that has been passed down through the Lotte family.”
The Baron's expression was like that of a child. For a moment, the certainty that I had come to provoke him seemed to fade.
The Baron answered with the gentleness of a grandfather explaining a difficult concept.
“You must have seen the city on your way to the mansion.”
“I saw it.”
“When the mine exploded, most of the people in the territory converted their living facilities to facilities more favorable for mining. I actively encouraged that.”
It was true. Half of the city was an inn, the other half a facility for sorting and processing ore.
That was the reason why the Barony of Lotte collapsed after only six years. Since there was little access to the sea, there was no hope for maritime income, and they sold all their land to raise money for facility renovation.
“But Princess Veronica bought the mining rights. Aren’t all the equipment going to be used once mining begins?”
“That’s right. But not all of it will be used, and the mines are limited.”
The Baron sighed.
“All we get are scraps of scraps. Moreover, most economic activity in my territory has been blocked for six years.”
“...”
“It means that the debt taken out to make a living is not small.”
I looked around. Debt for a living? I never heard that Baron Lotte was of a luxurious nature.
Even the things in the living room right now didn't seem like expensive treasures. In fact, they were really expensive, but were they broken and looked cheap?
The Baron, noticing my curious gaze, added:
“If it were just me, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but we can’t bankrupt all the people in the territory. At the very least, we should provide support so that those who want it can go back to their original livelihoods.”
I almost bit my tongue in embarrassment.
“So you’re saying you’re going to sell the mansion and use the money to support the people of the territory?”
“Because we all suffered because of my wrong choices.”
Baron Lotte said this, lowering his old head. I slowly straightened my crooked gaze.
I now felt I knew a little about the Baron. He was a hopeless idealist and a man of a soft temper who had little interest in business.
That's why he got his hands on a sapphire mine and got ripped off by others.
Anyway, he seemed like a good guy, if he really meant what he told me.
“Sir Jacqueline, a map.”
Jacqueline, who was standing behind me, quickly raised the map. I spread it out in front of Baron Lotte.
“If you were to sell your land, where would you start and where would you end it? Point to it with your hand.”
He looked confused, but he picked out half of the estate.
“If we sell the mansion and this much, we’ll be able to last at least two years. If the livelihoods of the people in the estate are stable, we’ll also be able to collect some taxes.”
“Here?”
I boldly picked out the land he had decided not to sell, 'Belcruzé'. Baron Lotte's expression clouded for a moment. It was the moment when my suspicions were confirmed.
“That land...”
He avoided my eyes awkwardly.
“Even if we sell it, there won’t be anyone to buy it. The waves are high, making it difficult to launch a fishing boat, and the beach is not pretty enough for vacationers to visit. The land is salty, making it difficult to farm.”
“And it’s also a place where pirates nest.”
“...”
“Baron, you have never touched this land on purpose before. Why?”
“...Your Princess, you really knew everything and came to see me.”
He slumped his shoulders as if he had given up.
“The pirates who settled on that land can’t really be called pirates. Settling down... is already a limited time. They can’t go out to the open sea to raid, and they can’t mess with the navy.”
“...”
“We have to raid relatively weak merchant ships, but that will make it even harder to settle down. Those who have already been on the admiral’s list will have a hard time washing away their past and living together... and it’s impossible to erase them without an imperial order.”
“So you left it as is?”
“Aren’t they the ones who can’t do any harm anyway?”
"Great."
I smiled and stood up from my seat.
“Baron. Your weakness will save you this time.”
“What is that...”
“You’ll find out later. And when that time comes, you’ll have to help me.”
Baron Lotte's eyes became clouded, as if trying to guess what I meant.
I left the drawing room, leaving the Baron behind. As soon as I left the mansion, Jacqueline asked me in astonishment.
“Is this part of the plan, too?”
“That’s right. After meeting the Baron, I became convinced.”
“What kind of confidence are you talking about?”
“Originally, I was going to buy the land from him. I... Anyway, I have some spare money, so I thought, why not try investing it?”
I shrugged.
“But that would take a long time, and I don’t know anything about it, and besides, if I leave later...”
“You’re leaving?”
Jacqueline asked quickly.
I bit my lip because it stung. I really need to fix this habit of just blurting out my thoughts. I quickly straightened my expression and pretended to be calm.
“That’s literally it. If we go back to the palace, uh, even if we send mercenaries to guard it, it’ll be difficult to fully protect the mine.”
“Who on earth owns the land protected by the royal family...”
Jacqueline sighed deeply before speaking. Then he added, in a fortunate coincidence.
“I don’t mean to blame you. Anyway, I’m glad you have a plan.”
“Yes. Of course, it’s not a perfect plan...”
“...”
“Oh, sir. You don’t trust me?”
“...”
“I can’t believe it...”
***
I kept a lot of things from Jacqueline, but one thing was true: I had a plan.
However, since this was my first experience, I wasn't sure if this was really the right path.
As I thought about it, the vague plan in my head gradually took on a concrete form.
After much thought until dawn, I finally managed to finish writing a letter.
Early the next morning. As soon as I finished sending the letter by messenger, I prepared to leave for the palace again. It was a departure a little earlier than planned.
Most of the luggage that the maids had brought was loaded onto the carriage without even being unpacked.
Thalia seemed happy to be returning to the capital, where 'that spirit' was, no matter what, and Irina and Sylvia said their sad farewells, looking forward to the upcoming masquerade ball.
And Jacqueline...
“I promised you, Mother. I’ll write to you once every three days and come home once every two months.”
That's what happened, with his mother holding him by the collar.
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