You Still Haven't Come to Your Senses

Creeeak-

As I opened the door and entered, Father glanced up from where he was buried in piles of paperwork.

I awkwardly approached Father.

I'd come because he'd summoned me, but he was deep in the middle of his paperwork.

Only after finishing the paperwork did Father look up.

"You're here."

"Yes, sir."

He set down the quill he had been holding and stared intently at me. His sharp gaze seemed to demand an explanation.

"You didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Festival, did you?"

So that was what this was about.

"I'm not a child. What kind of trouble would I cause? I went there and came back quietly without incident."

"I see."

He gave a brief answer, then lowered his gaze again.

As I watched him, he seemed far more troubled than usual.

Deep furrows creased his brow, and fatigue filled the corners of his eyes.

"Is Rosenthal causing you that much trouble?"

"It's beyond that."

They were squeezing the trading companies and trade routes, seizing control of the flow of money.

For Rosenthal, which held hegemony over the south, it was the obvious choice.

"Their pressure has put the people of the territory through quite a lot of hardship. I won't be sleeping soundly for the time being."

"So in the end, it's money that's the problem."

At my blunt summary, Father silently nodded.

I sat on the sofa and leaned comfortably against the backrest.

"If I had a solution, would you trust me?"

A skeptical look crossed his face. I had expected Father's distrust.

Even if his wastrel son had changed, he knew only how to use a sword. Money was an entirely different field.

I drew a breath, paused for a beat, and spoke.

"I'm going to develop the Ashen Forest."

"You fucking—"

"Whoa, calm down. This, too, is the product of an epiphany."

"Get out if you're going to spout crazy nonsense."

"Actually, this isn't a request but a declaration. I believe I can do it alone without Father's support."

......

He's terrifying. He's glaring at me as if he means to kill me.

Ahem.

"Of course, with our current finances, we couldn't even manage the outskirts of the Ashen Forest."

The goal wasn't merely to exterminate magical beasts; it was to develop the forest.

In other words, we wouldn't just need to kill a few magical beasts—we would have to wipe them out completely.

Even so, there was no telling when magical beasts might appear, or whether they might attack the supply routes.

"If we develop the Ashen Forest, I plan to build a fortified distribution network. We'll establish forward bases and have knights accompany every shipment."

Developing the Ashen Forest would cost more money than anyone could imagine.

We would need to establish safe supply routes, hire standing troops for the forward bases, form special defense units, secure waystations and mining workers, and even build an independent smelter....

Cardenos's current wealth would fall woefully short.

"I'll raise all the money it requires myself."

"Then what are you trying to say?"

"I'm not asking for separate support. Just trust me and leave it to me, like you did when I first forged my ring."

Cardenos was a black lion.

Forged in the jaws of death, or discarded. There are only two possibilities.

"Instead, advance me the allowance I'll receive in the future. You can at least do that, can't you?"

"Why?"

"I'm going to try a major business venture. A sure-fire business that absolutely can't fail."

Information becomes money, and money becomes even more money.

I had several businesses that could assuredly chew up and spit out Rosenthal.

Knowing the future and still being unable to make money would require intelligence lower than a chicken's.

"Naturally, I need some seed money. No more and no less than exactly ten million shillings."

"Do you think you can run a business that easily with that amount?"

"Of course not. Ten million shillings is merely the minimum initial capital needed to acquire and operate a workshop right away. I plan to arrange the main funds separately."

I leaned comfortably against the backrest and grinned.

"However, when the trading company grows in the future, I'll need the justification and backing that come from the head of the family having invested personally. That's why I used my allowance as an excuse."

A pretext was always better than no pretext.

I was the heir to the Grand Duchy of Cardenos, and not taking advantage of that background would be foolish.

"I don't expect the Black Lion Knights or even the standing army for the Ashen Forest expedition. Just make a nominal investment."

Of course, the more seed money, the better.

A stock clearly destined to hit the daily upper limit—how could I not buy it?

It was an overseas stock poised to rise dozens of times over; I'd pour everything into it, averaging down or otherwise.

I wanted to uproot the family's very foundations, allowance advance or not, but....

That went beyond the bounds of trust between father and son.

"The Ashen Forest, a business venture.... You really take the world lightly."

"Please regard it as confidence."

"Come to your senses, Astin. After Rosenthal, do you intend to trouble me too?"

"Don't worry. I'll pay it all back."

Ten million shillings wasn't a particularly large sum for Cardenos.

Father rubbed his dry face with a troubled expression.

"......You did spend that much of your conduct allowance on extravagance."

"Exactly. The fact that I've improved enough not to waste money is already a major step forward."

"I'll give you that."

Even if I failed, it would be cheap tuition.

It would be quite a significant gain for Cardenos's eldest son to learn how broad the world was.

I thought Father would see it that way and willingly hand over the money.

Father covered his eyes with one palm. With the other hand, he waved dismissively.

That meant he would accept.

Having achieved my objective, I rose from my seat.

"Astin."

Father called out to me from behind. His gaze was still razor-sharp when he looked at me.

"One last time. You're certain you didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Festival, right?"

He really couldn't trust his only son even that much.

Honestly, I couldn't blame him. Considering my past behavior....

I spun around and answered energetically.

"Yes! Of course!"

"Good. You may leave."

***

After Astin left, Valdemar could not hide his troubled feelings.

A business in the Ashen Forest? There were limits even to a young man's reckless adventurous spirit.

Even knowing he would fail, Valdemar did not try to stop him.

"He'll give up soon enough."

Failure in one's youth was a good experience.

The failures accumulated then would become fertilizer that sprouted future success.

If the bold business venture failed, the Ashen Forest expedition would never even take its first step.

As Astin himself had said, an expedition was impossible to even dream of with their current finances.

Even if the business somehow succeeded immediately, the Ashen Forest would remain a distant dream unless it became a truly enormous success.

To begin with, Valdemar could not understand why he wanted to develop the Ashen Forest.

Freezing cold, magical beasts, dense demonic energy, endless darkness, constant danger.

There was nothing else to be gained there.

There might be buried resources, but they would be insignificant compared to the costs poured into the project.

At most, they could gain honor and glory—the family's reputation in the outside world.

"Phew-"

He dispelled his distracting thoughts with a quiet sigh.

Let's stop thinking about this now. It's only giving me a headache.

'Thank heavens he didn't cause any trouble at the Founding Festival.'

Even if he had matured somewhat, he still couldn't control his emotions.

He had worried that Astin might beat some young lady at the Founding Festival, like he had Azeline.

But this time, it seemed his fears had been unfounded.

Astin was a child who could not hide his true feelings very well.

If he had really caused trouble, he should have been unable to sit still in front of Valdemar.

Perhaps he had matured a little after all.

Valdemar set aside his worries and picked up his quill.

Now was not the time to devote his attention to his child. He had to pour all his heart and soul into managing the territory.

Bang-!

"L-Lord! It's terrible!"

At that moment, the head butler came rushing in with a pale, stricken face. The furrows on Valdemar's brow deepened.

"Don't make a fuss and tell me. Rosenthal again?"

"It's not that! The Patrian Trading Company has completely halted all shipments of goods entering the territory!"

"......What?"

The Patrian Trading Company was a massive trading company that dominated the economies of the east and the Imperial Capital.

It had no reason whatsoever to be at odds with Cardenos in the west.

But why all of a sudden?

"Why? We haven't had any friction with Patrian, have we?"

"Th-that's......."

Bang-!

The office door was kicked in again and flew wide with a violent crash.

"What the—!"

Valdemar was about to bellow, but his mouth snapped shut.

Hendrickson came in laughing heartily, clutching his stomach.

"Hahaha! You pathetic bastard! Your son has turned the whole Empire upside down!"

"...What are you talking about?"

"You ask because you don't know? I'd been hoping I'd get to beat someone up, but he caused an even bigger mess!"

Thud!

Hendrickson pulled a crumpled bundle of papers from his coat and tossed it over. It was the Imperial Capital Daily, where information traveled fastest.

Valdemar's gaze locked onto the sensational headlines.

[Founding Festival Bombshell! High Society's Star Lucia Rejects the Suitors of Powerful Men and Chooses Cardenos's Astin!]

[Enraged Crown Prince Zenon, Patrian Trading Company Chairman, and Winterhart Young Master. What Will Become of the Three Men?]

[Astin Donates 50 Million Shillings for an Old Greatsword! Money Laundering in Collusion with the Military, or Romance?]

"See? He snatched a woman right in front of the Crown Prince! Hahaha! They say blood will tell, but a lunatic even more outrageous than you were in your youth has appeared!"

Hendrickson's cheerful laughter reverberated through the office.

Valdemar's vision flashed black.

The Imperial Family, the Northern Grand Duchy, a major trading company, fifty million shillings......

"This bastard......!"

Rosenthal alone was enough to give him a headache, and now Astin had made three powerful figures into rivals.

And what was this about money laundering in collusion with the military?

Valdemar gripped the back of his neck with trembling hands. His blood pressure had shot straight up and felt ready to burst.

"......Head butler."

"Y-Yes, my lord."

"Right now, bring me my son—no, that bastard. Bring him here right now."

"Th-The young master went out a little while ago."

"What?"

"He set out for the south, saying he was going to do business...."

Kaboom!!

One punch split the desk in two.

The head butler swallowed a frightened 'Eek!', while Hendrickson's laughter remained unabated.

"He's your son, all right! He's awfully quick on the uptake!"

Hendrickson's laughter reverberated through the office.

Several days later.

Astin, having set foot in the south, remarked—

"What perfect weather for spending money."

He set off down the road in high spirits, a broad smile on his face.

Having come all this way, he might as well buy Celine a present, he thought idly.

***

A private café in a bustling district of the southwestern Empire.

Bang-!

A crash burst out, tearing through the gentle classical melody.

A crumpled bundle of newspapers was flung onto the marble table.

The Imperial Capital Daily's front page. Astin and Lucia's names were clearly printed in bold type.

"Answer me, Lucia. What's this?"

Azeline's voice had sunk into a cold, angry tone.

"What were you doing with that bastard at the Founding Festival? Do you think it's right for this kind of article to be appearing everywhere?"

Lucia, seated across from her, stared down at the newspaper with dazed eyes.

She had known a day like this would come someday....

The Empire's information network was far faster and more blatant than she had expected.

Lucia took a small breath and set down her teacup.

"There are lots of people around. You need to lower your voice."

"Do I look like I can lower it right now? Of all people, how could you do this to me! How can you get together with the man who ruined my face?"

Azeline's eyes twisted viciously.

Lucia could plainly see that Azeline viewed it as the betrayal of a trusted friend.

"Calm down, Azeline. The article was blown far out of proportion for sensational effect. And you're mistaken about something regarding Young Master Astin."

"Mistaken? What could I possibly be mistaken about? Who was it that trampled my face and left it scarred?"

"Young Master Astin isn't someone who would do that without a reason."

"Ha!"

Azeline gave a loud, incredulous laugh.

"You've already got rose-colored glasses on. So you're saying I caused it? That I deserved to be hit?"

"Let's go together and apologize. If you sincerely tell him you're sorry, he'll forgive you."

"Are you insane?"

Azeline cut her off irritably.

"You want me to go bow my head to that lunatic? Look at this. Even makeup can't hide it. My face ended up like this because of him. If anyone should beg forgiveness, it's that bastard, not me!"

"...You were the one who cheated on your fiancé."

Even Lucia couldn't understand why she had cheated on such a man.

"Honestly. Is love a crime? And don't pretend you wouldn't have done the same. He was the one who smothered me with his obsession and drove me crazy. He thought money could solve everything, and when I wouldn't even go on a single date, he slammed his head into the table. Like this!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Azeline repeatedly slammed her fists down on the table.

Watching her, Lucia doubted her own eyes.

The Azeline she knew had never been so violent by nature.

She had been Lucia's one and only friend—gentle, understanding, and dependable.

"Then why are you only scolding me? Why are you, supposedly my friend, insulting me and taking Astin's side? Even though he's my ex-fiancé?"

Lucia had nothing to say about that last point.

Lucia silently lowered her head.

At that, the corner of Azeline's mouth curled up bitterly.

"Ha, I see. So that was your type all along?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you were so high and mighty because you went around badmouthing even the Crown Prince. Did you come down with some kind of bad-boy disease? Or are you more attracted to him because he's your close friend's ex-fiancé?"

Azeline was blinded by rage and could no longer see anything clearly.

Hurting Lucia with words she did not truly mean was not something Azeline would have done.

Lucia did not read too much into it and tried to calm Azeline down.

"I'm sorry, Azeline. I must have pushed you too hard. You're right too. I shouldn't have gotten involved with your ex-fiancé...."

"Why, does it hit a nerve? Good for you. A woman-beating psychopath and a woman who poaches her friend's ex-fiancé—what a perfect match. But still, spreading your legs for trash like that? What are you, some kind of whore? Your life is truly pathetic."

The Azeline before her felt utterly unfamiliar. She seemed like a different person.

Lucia finally rose from her seat. She closed her eyes and forced the words out.

"Let's end things here today. Contact me again after you've calmed down."

"Tsk. Birds of a feather really do flock together. You're a match made in heaven. When you get bored, just switch men and spread your legs again. That's your specialty, isn't it?"

Smack-!

Azeline's head snapped to the side. She froze in that position.

Her right cheek stung. Lucia's fingertips trembled.

"Please, please come to your senses...."

Azeline's head slowly returned to its original position.

A vivid red handprint stood out on her cheek. Her eyes gleamed wildly, bereft of reason.

"So you want to do this?"

Azeline reached across the table.

She seized the teacup of steaming black tea and was just about to hurl it at Lucia's face.

Crash-!

The expensive teacup that fell to the floor shattered into pieces.

A sudden, powerful hand shot out and knocked Azeline's wrist aside.

"That pretty face almost got hurt."

Even as shards scattered in every direction, the man remained composed.

Lucia's eyes widened when she saw him, while Azeline's face flushed bright red.

"Even after taking that beating, you still haven't come to your senses?"

A pair of razor-sharp golden eyes looked down coldly at Azeline.