The next day.
Duke Yusten sent a letter to Viscount Miles’ townhouse. It was an inquiry about whether I and Danae could attend the Viscount’s daughter’s birthday party next weekend.
Viscount Miles replied in less than half a day. The letter conveyed that his daughter was very pleased to hear that I and Danae wanted to attend the party, and that he was also very happy about it.
I took out one of the several invitations enclosed with that letter and sent it to Leonard’s mansion along with a simple note asking him to accompany me to the party. He too, in less than half a day, sent a reply filled with all sorts of sweet rhetoric, expressing his willingness to go to the party with me.
Things were going smoothly.
I snorted and tossed his letter onto the table.
Annie, who had been hovering around me all day with a bright expression, said in an excited voice.
“Ah, a party! It’s always an exciting word to hear! Miss, will you wear the new dress you had made last time?”
“No. I’m sorry, but I won’t wear that dress.”
I shook my head firmly as I answered. Annie’s eyes widened in surprise as she asked.
“Then?”
“I’m going to have a new one made. I have a tailor in mind. I’m going to meet them directly in two days.”
“What? You’re not calling them to the mansion?”
“No.”
I gave a short answer and walked to the dressing table with the letter containing the Viscount’s invitation. Then I took out another invitation from the letter and shoved Leonard’s letter into a drawer full of all sorts of miscellaneous correspondence.
After taking out a piece of parchment paper and a quill pen, I said to Annie.
“Oh, and I might need to use the carriage tomorrow afternoon. Make sure to contact the carriage guild so that it’s not revealed that I called for it, like last time.”
“…Yes, Miss.”
Annie answered me with a bewildered expression, as if she couldn’t understand what was going on. I ignored her gaze completely and began writing the letter.
It was a letter to Duke Elliot Francis Haven, saying that I wanted to meet him sometime tomorrow afternoon.
And the next day.
I received a reply from the Duke suggesting we meet in his mansion’s reception room around 4 o’clock.
Upon receiving that letter, I immediately slipped out through the back door of the mansion and headed towards Duke Haven’s residence in the carriage Annie had called for me.
As usual, I had the carriage stop in an alley near the Duke’s residence, then walked a little from there to the main gate of the Duke’s house. It was about 5 minutes past the appointed time.
The butler waiting at the main gate guided me to the Duke’s reception room. The Duke was standing by the window where faint afternoon sunlight was streaming in.
As I entered the reception room, the Duke turned towards me and said.
“You suddenly said ‘There’s something urgent I need to tell you. Please make time tomorrow without fail, whenever is convenient.’ Then after calling me like that, you’re late. What country’s etiquette is this?”
“I’m sorry. I got off near the mansion and walked a bit, so I was late. As you know, it would be troublesome if it became known that I met with you. You’ll understand generously like a gentleman, won’t you?”
I retorted to the Duke’s words with a brazen smile. The Duke let out a laugh as if he couldn’t believe it, then pointed to the sofa and said.
“Sit down for now. Let’s hear what this urgent matter is while sitting.”
“Thank you.”
I sat down where he indicated. The Duke sat across from me and instructed the butler to bring tea.
Once the butler and the reception room maid had left, I slowly opened my mouth.
“First, I apologize for the lack of contact over the past few days. I was quite busy with various things.”
“…I heard news that Anworth territory recently fell into the hands of some ‘merchant’. I heard it was a middle-aged man with a naive impression. Could that person be your proxy?”
“I can’t hide anything from you, Duke. That’s right. I bought it at a very high price. I had to use most of the reward money I received from you at that time.”
At my words, the Duke slightly raised one eyebrow and asked.
“What value is there in a territory with only salt flats producing low-quality salt and a crumbling port as income sources, that you paid so much money for it? Is there a good reason?”
I smiled meaningfully and replied.
“Of course. In 6 months, that port will earn me an enormous amount of gold. Just wait and see. Amazing things are going to happen from now on.”
“I don’t know what you’re planning to do again, but I hope you won’t make things difficult for me. I’d rather not get involved in troublesome matters.”
The Duke retorted in an uninterested voice. I shook my head and said.
“What are you saying? This is just the beginning. It’s too early to be annoyed. Didn’t you say you wanted to put Princess Ella on the throne?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about. What connection is there between you acquiring Anworth Port and the Princess’s ascension to the throne?”
When the Duke asked, I looked straight at him and answered.
“Isn’t the wealth and military power of the nobles currently supporting Princess Ella incomparable to that of the nobles who have sided with Prince Louis? In fact, except for you, Duke, most of the nobles supporting the Princess are young knights who received baronet and viscount titles for their military service, or newly risen nobles.”
“In contrast, the nobles on the Prince’s side are mostly the established powers of this empire.” The Duke asked again, as if demanding an explanation for my long-winded explanation.
“…So?”
“Simply put, it means that with knight-centered army troops and income from fiefs alone, the capital gap between the two factions can never be closed. Then, shouldn’t we look for a breakthrough elsewhere?”
“…Elsewhere? You don’t mean…”
“Yes. If we can’t win on land, we should at least win at sea.”
I smiled at him as I spoke assertively. The Duke frowned visibly and said.
“So you’re telling me to develop a navy now?”
“You’re quick on the uptake as always. That’s right. I’d like you to develop a navy based on my port, Anworth Harbor. I’ll gladly lend you that land as a training ground. Oh, and don’t worry, I won’t charge you a usage fee.”
“…Ha!”
“But I’d like you to invest a bit in the costs of feeding, clothing, and training the troops. Well, it will require quite a large amount of funds, but I think it should be manageable with your income. What do you think?”
Hearing my words, the Duke let out a laugh as if he couldn’t believe it and said.
“You sure know how to make an amusing joke. Is this really why you wanted to meet me, to say such absurd things? Do you know how much money it takes to raise an army?”
“……”
“…Ha, even if I bend over backwards and spend an enormous amount of money to raise a navy as you say. Then who will command that army? I’m skilled at handling land forces, but it’s fair to say I have almost no experience in handling naval forces. Proper education would be impossible.”
“I like your honesty, Duke. I didn’t know you were the type to speak about your weaknesses without hesitation.”
“Stop the wordplay. Moreover, it seems you want to keep this army hidden from your uncle and Prince Louis’s side, but do you think an army large enough to face the Prince’s forces can be so easily concealed? At this rate, your old port will become a sea of fire before you can even properly utilize the army.”
The Duke laid out his rebuttal, ignoring my glib joke. His words were quite logical. At least in the current situation.
But soon the situation will change. I tilted my head slightly with a somewhat arrogant attitude and said.
“That’s right. That’s why I’m going to personally attach an excellent vassal to you, Duke.”
“What do you mean by that? Are you saying you have a commander skilled in naval command around you?”
“Yes. I’m planning to recruit that person from now on. While I’m at it, I also want to give you a ‘gift’ that I’ve prepared. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied. …So, about that.”
I paused for a moment with a meaningful expression. The Duke focused his gaze entirely on me, as if curious about what words would flow from my mouth.
It was a black gaze that seemed as if it would devour everything.
Feeling an inexplicable thrill under that gaze, I took out the invitation from my bosom and held it out. Then I slowly opened my mouth.
“Duke. Would you please attend Emily Miles’ birthday party next weekend?”
“…What?”
“And if possible, I’d like you to prepare a gift for the young lady. I have something in mind. Will you do it?”
I said to him with a grin.
The Duke kept laughing in disbelief. His gaze towards me was full of questions. It was as if he was asking why I suddenly brought up the story of the Viscount’s daughter’s birthday party after talking about potentially overturning the empire’s entire political environment until now.
He slightly opened and closed his lips a few times as if not knowing what to say first, then spoke to me in a somewhat deflated voice.
“I have no idea what kind of absurd scheme you’ve come up with in that little head of yours again. Please kindly explain to me why I should go to the birthday party of a Viscount’s daughter I don’t even know, with a gift no less?”
“Of course. I’ll explain everything to you now, Duke. …So, lend me your ear for a moment.”
“…What?”
I stood up from my seat before he could say anything.
Then I approached him, who had a slightly bewildered expression, covered my mouth with my hand, and began to quickly explain my plan into his ear.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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