Chapter 18

The next day, Bertine devoted herself to copying the necklace designs.

The more she looked at the novel and beautiful necklace, the more she became absorbed in it.

"Bertine, why don't you take a break? You'll get tired."

"Thank you, Cassandra. I'm just having too much fun."

By the time she had carefully copied six designs, the sound of multiple horses' hooves could be heard, and the messengers Bruno had sent out returned with the signed agreements from the clan leaders.

"Chas, did you come back empty-handed?"

"Sir, I apologize. I couldn't convince Lord Kurt."

"That guy always opposes my opinions. If my back wasn't hurting, I'd go and yell at him right now."

Listening to the conversation between the returning messenger and Bruno, Bertine decided to seize the moment to speak up.

"Bruno, would it be impolite for me to visit Lord Kurt directly?"

"Hmm. It's not impolite, but I think it would be a wasted trip for someone from Sanlouan like you."

Bertine smiled faintly at this.

"If it turns out to be a wasted trip, I'll enjoy the scenery of the paradise on the way back. Please let me go."

"Seeing that look, I know you won't back down. Go ahead. I'll send some guards with you. Evans, are you going too?"

"Of course. I've been Bert's guard from the start."

Dorothy would stay behind, and the four-person group of Bertine, Evans, and two male guards left Bruno's house. Bruno, watching them go, rubbed his back and spoke to Cassandra.

"Hey, Cassandra, are all women from Sanlouan like that?"

"Hehe. Well, I don't know. But indeed, Bertine is a warrior. She told me that when asked which district she wanted to be in charge of, she asked, 'Which district is the most challenging?' and volunteered for the deepest part."

Hearing this, Bruno laughed, "Ahahaha," and immediately clutched his back, "Itetetete."

"I see. She's a true warrior. After hearing about Bertine and Meira, I was impressed by that young lady's thinking. For the sake of the children who will support the future of this country. I even thought about whether Bertine could become Evans' wife."

"Ah, that's unlikely. It's hard to imagine the timid Evans catching that female warrior."

"True."

The two chuckled, took each other's hands, and slowly entered the house.

Bertine, riding double on one of the guards' horses, thought to herself (If I'm going to live in this country, I need to learn how to ride a horse). Carriages are less mobile than horses.

They took two breaks along the way and arrived at Clan Leader Kurt's house late in the afternoon.

"We have come from the Bilba district. We would like to see Lord Kurt."

Evans made the request, and the four were led to a guest room. Soon, a tall, white-haired man entered the room. Without giving them a chance to introduce themselves, Kurt declared:

"Your answer will be the same no matter how many times you come. I won't follow Bruno's instructions on the price of wheat."

"Please wait."

Kurt glared at the standing Bertine with his large blue eyes.

"Stay out of this, outsider."

"Though I am an outsider, I was directly commissioned by Lord Cecil. Why are you selling your wheat at a low price, Lord Kurt? Please give us a reason that Lord Cecil and I can understand."

Kurt sat down, took a big gulp of tea from a tin mug, and slammed it on the table.

"Money, money, money! That's all you care about. I've known the middleman since we were both single. Whether Lord Cecil unites this country or wins a war, my relationship with the middleman won't change. Can I do something that would damage our trust?"

Bertine had anticipated this argument and decided to counter with the information she had gathered on the way.

"I heard that your relationship with the middleman has lasted for thirty years. In the past thirty years, the market price of wheat in the empire has increased sixfold. Has the selling price of wheat in your district also increased sixfold?"

Seeing Kurt's eyes flicker, Bertine was certain. This man probably didn't know, or had never tried to know, the market price of wheat in the empire for the past thirty years.

"True friendship can continue without business. For the future of this country, please, follow Lord Cecil's instructions and negotiate a price of at least seven large silver coins per cartload. If you find it difficult to negotiate with your friend, I will visit the middleman's home in the empire and negotiate on your behalf."

Kurt flinched.

If what she said was true, and the market price of wheat had increased sixfold, he had been a good catch for his friend.

Had those memories of drinking together, sharing dreams, and swearing to rise together been long abandoned by his friend?

The price of wheat in his district had only tripled in the past thirty years. Where had the difference gone? Into the pockets of the man he had trusted as a close friend?

"Give me some time to think..."

Before Kurt could finish his sentence, the door opened. Bertine's eyes widened at the sight of the young woman who entered.

"What are you doing here?"

"Bianca, what's with that attitude? This is..."

"I know. This woman is from the defeated country and is trying to marry Lord Cecil."

"Really?"

Bertine sighed inwardly at the unexpected appearance of this person.

But she couldn't back down now. She trusted Lord Cecil's vision of an ideal state. If she backed down now, she would have to give up the paradise she had finally found, the place she was finally starting to belong to.

"It's true that my country offered me as part of the reparations to Lord Cecil. However, Lord Cecil refused, and I have no intention of marrying him."

"Then why did you take this job?"

"Because I love this country."

Bianca laughed derisively at this.

"You're just an old spinster, desperate to marry Lord Cecil, right? Father, don't be fooled by this woman."

"Lord Kurt, may I speak my true thoughts about this young lady in front of you, your father?"

"Interesting. Speak your mind."

"Father!"

Bertine stood up and looked straight at Bianca.

"You've insulted me based on my age, both this time and last. But youth is a blessing from God given equally to all people. It's not something to wave around as if it's your own achievement. And do you know what? Youth has an expiration date. It's given to fools and slackers alike, but it quickly runs out. When the blessing of youth expires, what will you be proud of, and what reason will you have to insult me?"

Bianca had no words to retort to Bertine.

"I've studied business, learned about the empire's culture, and studied this country's official language. Now, I'm working hard to be useful to this country. What about you, Bianca? When you're the same age as me in a few years, what will you be proud of? According to your logic, by then, that youth will have slipped from your hands, won't it?"

A loud laugh broke the tense atmosphere.

"Bianca, it seems you're no match for her."

"Father!"

"Because you pretended to be Lord Cecil's fiancée at his mansion, I was severely reprimanded by Lord Cecil. Give it up. Just marry the man your father chooses."

"No way!"

Bianca shouted, glared at Bertine, and ran out of the room.

"I'm sorry. I spoiled her too much. She was born when I was older, and I couldn't discipline her properly."

"No, I shouldn't have spoken so harshly."

"It's good medicine for Bianca. I should thank you as a parent. She became arrogant without making any real effort."