Chapter 87
In this world, things I never expected always happen as often as eating meals.
I realized this truth again looking at the person in front of me.
Why on earth is this person at our house at this time, enjoying cake and coffee with such a relaxed expression?
Before entering the reception room and formally greeting him, I asked the butler once more to confirm that person's identity.
I think I know who it is, but I need mental preparation before meeting.
"Is that really His Highness the Petit Duke Visconti there?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Did you ask why he came here?"
"He just said he happened to be free and wanted to see the Viscount."
No matter how much free time he has, someone as important as the heir to a ducal family wouldn't visit another noble's mansion just because he's bored.
Even if not every move of the Petit Duke is filled with political meaning...
'Privately visiting a noble's mansion is bound to stand out.'
So there must be thoughts behind such a sudden visit.
"I see. Tell Chloe to bring out the best tea leaves and snacks."
Actually, having this butler bring them out would be the most convenient method.
But when a high-ranking person comes, according to nobles' implicit etiquette, the 'official wife' should bring out tea and snacks with the utmost goodwill.
Since I don't have an official wife now, it's right to bring Chloe, who's closest.
'It's already widely rumored in social circles that I cherish Chloe excessively, so what.'
Some idiots are even spreading false rumors that I'll pass on the Medici viscount family to the eldest son I have with Chloe.
I immediately entered the reception room.
"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Petit Duke."
As soon as he saw me, the Petit Duke extended his hand.
"It's very nice to meet you. Were you surprised by my sudden visit?"
Thanks to your sudden visit, I feel like I've been struck by lightning while walking.
Thanks to that, I had to turn over today's work to be handled by Sebastian's full discretion.
But managing expressions is a virtue of social life, so I bowed my head as if very apologetic.
"I'm honored, Your Highness."
"I told your butler too, but after retiring from the military, I felt like I was dying of boredom. So I came to see you, Fabio, whom my father has been praising endlessly."
The Petit Duke smiled suspiciously while closely observing my face, body, build, etc.
It's very unsettling with a man doing that.
'I know there's no love or emotion transcending gender, but why does my spine tingle just looking at that smile?'
"I like you."
"Thank you."
For some reason, I feel very uncomfortable.
It's not the fear and caution felt when dealing with money matters or facing high-ranking people, but that indescribable atmosphere.
While I was pondering this emotion I was feeling for the first time in my life, a knock was heard from outside the door.
"It's Chloe. I've brought refreshments and tea for His Highness the Petit Duke and the Viscount, may I come in?"
"Come in."
As soon as she received my permission, Chloe came right in.
And she set down the snacks and tea with very polite movements.
The Petit Duke looked at her very seriously and asked:
"Does the Viscount treat you well?"
No, why on earth is he asking that?
'It's baffling, but at least it doesn't seem like he's trying to take her from me.'
Seeing him ask like that in front of me, is he trying to collect information about what kind of person I am through Chloe?
But unlike Chris, Chloe doesn't know anything except my private matters.
"Yes, he treats me too well, more than I deserve."
Hearing those words, a satisfied smile spread across the Petit Duke's face.
What's with that gentleman, why is he like that?
Why did the atmosphere suddenly become warm?
'Could it be that gentleman is trying to tie me by blood, no... that can't be.'
I shook my head back and forth in my mind and composed myself.
"It seems Viscount Medici has excellent character too. To be so loved even by a mere maid."
Then he gestured for Chloe to withdraw.
After she went outside the room, the Petit Duke smiled suspiciously and said:
"Any woman who gets together with you will be happy. I'm even a bit jealous, wishing I could receive such love from a woman."
"Your joke is too much."
"Don't you know too, Viscount? That when you become a noble, it ridiculously becomes harder to love. That's why when women gather in social circles, they bring up stories of terribly boring love novels. Men too are absorbed in chivalric literature, talking about ideal love stories."
There are almost no cases of nobles marrying after falling in love with each other.
Most marry through political marriages, and even though unmarried men and women have many chances to meet at social gatherings, the rate of love marriages is only about 5-10%.
'Even most of those are hypergamous marriages where women use their heads to catch better men.'
"That's why they touch women like pretty concubines or maids. I'm that kind of person too so I can't say anything, but it seems you're receiving sincere love from that maid. Just seeing this, I can roughly see what kind of character the Viscount has."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I can see why my father keeps praising the Viscount whenever he mentions you."
The Petit Duke took a sip of tea with a very satisfied smile.
"The useless talk has gone on too long. As you know, I'm not really that free even though I've retired from the military. Thanks to my father being passionate about successor education, it's not easy keeping up with that."
Even successor education for a mere baron family injects an enormous amount of knowledge comparable to South Korean high school seniors.
Let alone a duke who commands dozens of such barons, it's useless to even mention, it would just hurt my mouth.
"From what I hear, you're leaving for the Ifriqiya continent soon? It seems you're trying to meet infidels there and see if you can open up the gold trade. I'd like to go along with you, could you help persuade my father?"
The Emperor was the first to tell me this idea.
But since I probably couldn't hide it from the Duke anyway, I told him the truth.
That I'm trying to pioneer sea routes and trade routes to the West Ifriqiya continent to make a fortune.
Did he immediately tell that to his son?
And that son is asking me to take him along where I'm going?
'This is really driving me crazy.'
"Yes, I can help, but…"
After offering the big prize of the Deus Knights Order's submission, those gentlemen have come to trust me too much.
Someone might think I used some brainwashing app.
Since there are no smartphones here, do they think a witch used magic?
The Petit Duke took out a letter stamped with the ducal family seal from his bosom.
"Read it, my father wrote it himself. I don't know what's written either, so I'd like you to tell me what it says."
I immediately opened the letter with a letter opener knife according to etiquette.
[To my dear Viscount Medici, I was really surprised to hear the news that you're setting out to find a golden trade route in the western part of the Ifriqiya continent. Well, it's not the first or second time you've shocked me.]
Ironworks, seaweed, Deus Knights Order submission, crushing the spice guild, etc...
Ordinary people would have struggled to achieve just one of these, but I accomplished all these major achievements in just 2 years.
Honestly, it would be strange not to be surprised.
[When I told Count Latina about this, he said it would be difficult even for you to pioneer trade routes in the Ifriqiya continent. But I believe you can sufficiently plant our Tuscan Empire's flag there too.]
No, so the essence of the Age of Exploration being colonial expansion is correct, but…
What power do I have to conquer West Ifriqiya?
So I should just understand this as a rhetorical expression of how much he trusts me.
[I'm sorry for giving you a troublesome task when you're going to do difficult work, but I'd like you to take Alfred along. He's become quite decent after studying a lot, but his perspective seems narrow, perhaps because he only did military service without traveling at a young age. So I'd like you to broaden his perspective with this opportunity. -Duke Visconti-]
This is driving me crazy, why do I have to take the Petit Duke along and broaden his horizons?
I'm telling you, I don't know how to do anything but business.
As soon as I neatly folded the letter and put it down, the Petit Duke immediately asked:
"What was written?"
"It seems I don't need to persuade His Grace. His Grace the Duke told me to take Your Highness the Petit Duke along."
At those words, the Petit Duke grinned.
"As expected, father understands my heart well."
I understand he's trying to strengthen my political position, but isn't this too much?
At this rate, I'll die of a heart attack.
"When should I be ready?"
"We leave in a week. And although I can guarantee Your Highness's safety, this trip won't be as comfortable as other nobles' travels."
Like Albert bastard, heirs of noble families go on a continental tour called the 'Grand Tour' to broaden their overseas connections and knowledge.
They say they carry around huge beds, bathrooms, and all sorts of furniture just to let the young master sleep comfortably?
'Did 5% of the family's financial income fly away when Albert bastard went traveling?'
"Do you think I haven't fought in a war while rising to division commander? I'll forgive everything as long as you don't starve me."
"I understand, I'll do my best."
Even though he says that, I'll probably have to remodel one ship's cabin to make a suite room.
I shouldn't make it too shabby.
"Even my father couldn't go to infidel lands, this will be really interesting."
The experience of serving the Petit Duke and taking him to infidel lands is equivalent to the title of 'Petit Duke's teacher'.
Because the role entrusted to me is that of a temporary tutor.
'My job is to teach all kinds of knowledge about travel destinations and broaden his horizons.'
I don't know why a 22-year-old is doing this for someone in their early 40s though.
And I immediately headed towards Nador, a big city in the northeast of the Ifriqiya continent, taking the Petit Duke along.