Misfortune 110

Chapter 110

***

Sponsored by Virginie. Thank you ❤️(3/3)

****

"What?"

Roan asked Lena, who trailed off as if she had something left to say. Even then, Lena's eyes remained fixed on the gift list they had written together.

He was just beginning to feel puzzled by Lena's attitude—dropping such a meaningful opening line yet showing no reaction—when she finally slammed the list down on the desk and spoke.

"Brother... I mean, Colonel Barthez. He seems to be much more impressive than I had imagined?"

Uncertain whether it was praise or mockery, Roan let out a hollow chuckle.

"What are you talking about?"

"No, I'm serious. I didn't expect a mere Navy colonel's assets to be this substantial."

Lena couldn't hide her admiration. He'd already guessed roughly what it was before even hearing the full explanation, just from the way she nodded.

"A great power like Brunois really does have a different kind of generosity, huh."

Being able to pay such a large sum so readily meant, without a doubt, that the accumulated wealth was immense.

And amassing wealth on that scale wasn't possible just by relentlessly hoarding it.

"I've received quite a bit of spoils. And I haven't had much need to spend money lately."

Seeing his sister unable to hide her astonishment, Roan casually replied as if it were no big deal.

That nonchalant reaction made Lena feel both proud of her brother and a little heartbroken.

Receiving such a large amount of spoils was proof that the battlefields he had fought on were countless.

That he treated it so casually meant war was as routine to Roan as daily life.

"Come to think of it, I heard the atmosphere in Dalos has been unsettled lately."

Lena casually brought up the news she'd received from her informant.

The unsettling situation in the Brunois Sea was a topic that even the Golden Wheel kept a close watch on. After all, times of upheaval often presented merchants with opportunities that might never come again.

For Lena, whose family could be deployed to the frontlines at any moment, it was nothing but bad news.

"You don't need to worry."

Roan flashed a momentary, silly smile and roughly ruffled Lena's hair with his large hand.

As she swiftly ran her fingers through her now thoroughly disheveled hair, Lena pouted.

"Do you think I'm a child?"

"In my eyes, you'll always be young."

Roan answered without hesitation. Even if Lena grew old and became a grandmother, in his eyes she would forever be his little sister.

Was it the tone of his voice, filled with such certainty? Or was it the flat, steady pitch? Even though it was clearly an absurd statement, it strangely reassured her. Enough to make her want to throw a tantrum.

But she knew that if she did, she'd be treated like a child for real. So Lena forced herself to sound cheerful, cooling the heat rising in her eyes.

"Can you make time the day after tomorrow? Let's grab dinner. I can come to the headquarters area."

"Sure. I'll let you know if I can make it."

Having gotten a positive answer, Lena stood up after him.

"I'll walk you out."

"It's fine. Stay inside. It's cold out."

Roan, having tried to dissuade Lena, ultimately stepped out into the hallway alone.

The old mansion serving as the Golden Wheel's temporary lodging felt somewhat desolate, having been ownerless for so long, yet Brunois’s own dignified and classical elegance still permeated every corner.

Golden Wheel members stole glances at him as he strode purposefully through its heart. Even dressed in attire perfectly suited to the place, he felt strangely like an outsider.

Of course, the attention itself was tediously familiar, so he merely quickened his pace.

But precisely because of that, he failed to notice.

Among the eyes watching him from afar, there was a gaze that felt strangely familiar.

***

Lena resumed the work that had been briefly interrupted by Roan's visit.

Though she had boldly pushed forward to Brunois despite the pleas of those around her, establishing a branch in a region where she had no connections was not something achievable by willpower alone.

It was like having to clear a barren wasteland rather than sowing seeds in fertile soil. That very challenge, however, stirred her spirit.

'But when I actually got here, it wasn't exactly a barren wasteland after all.'

Who could have known that a solid root like a naval hero was already firmly planted here?

Of course, she had no intention of casually selling out Roan, but the very fact that he was a renowned figure provided her with undeniable backing.

That's why, even if she didn't actively spread the rumor that Roan had reunited with his long-lost sister, she didn't actively suppress it either.

"Boss. A visitor is here."

At that moment, a member working under her knocked on the door and announced.

"A visitor? Who?"

Since she had no scheduled appointments, Lena tilted her head in confusion and asked.

"It's Alex."

"...”

She glanced down at the ledger she was busy writing in, hesitated for a moment, then closed it with a shallow sigh.

“Tell him to come in.”

When Golden Wheel first set out to expand into the unfamiliar territory of Brunois, their primary concern was finding a local trading partner to act as their representative.

They first narrowed down the prominent merchant houses in the port of Blois, where they planned to establish a branch. As a result, the House of Deville emerged as the most promising candidate.

The title of Baron provided a certain level of assurance, and they boasted strong connections with the nobility in the capital.

And Alex was the heir to that very House of Deville.

"Branch Chief! Long time no see."

Just then, Alex entered, guided by a member.

"Welcome, Lord Alex."

The face that had been expressionless just moments before instantly broke into a refreshing smile to greet him.

'Objectively speaking, there really is no better choice than Baron Deville.'

But it wasn't entirely without its unsettling aspects. That was precisely why she wasn't rushing to finalize the agreement, which had only been made verbally.

And the man before her was the main source of that minor unease.

Unlike the thoroughly calculating Baron Deville, his son was a man who lived by showmanship and bluster—in other words, someone who inspired little trust.

While business was indeed a trade earned by the tip of one's tongue, its foundation ultimately rested on trust.

While types like Alex, who loved to strut around, might initially stand out favorably, over time, they often ended up eroding trust.

What's more, his aristocratic pride was so pronounced he often treated Lena like an inferior. Even though she was the one 'choosing' her business partners.

'Aristocrats, really.'

Had Baron Deville not bowed his head in earnest, pleading for leniency even if his son made a slip of the tongue, she might have seriously reconsidered this deal.

"Come to think of it, it really has been ages since we last met."

As Lena smoothly opened the conversation, Alex began to swagger as if he'd been waiting for it.

"Don't even mention it. They've been hunting me down everywhere, I'd need ten bodies to keep up. This time they even went as far as Parika."

"Parika?"

"Yes. I was stuck on that ship for so long, salt practically came out of my nostrils."

He plopped down on the seat of honor before she could even offer it, arrogantly crossing his legs and puffing himself up.

If her memory served her correctly, Parika was a small island nation at the southern tip of the continent. The fact that they’d expanded that far meant the rumors about their aggressive business expansion weren’t exaggerated after all.

"No wonder it felt like ages since I last saw your face. You've been terribly busy."

Quickly assessing the client's situation in her mind, Lena responded with a calm, gentle smile on her face.

"Indeed, indeed."

Alex, who had been satisfied, suddenly leaned toward her and whispered.

"And you know what? The moment I stepped off the ship, I came straight here to see you, without even stopping by home."

The implication was clear: he expected gratitude. He didn't seem to think it rude to barge in unannounced.

"That's quite an honor."

Even so, Lena maintained her insincere smile and offered a hollow greeting. This accommodation would surely pay off handsomely later.

Alex nodded his head in satisfaction and added.

"Still, you have to keep it a secret from everyone else. If my fiancée finds out I meet another woman first, she'll be terribly heartbroken."

Woman, my foot.

Skillfully suppressing the urge to poke out those unpleasant eyes that scanned her while spouting insipid banter, Lena smoothly continued the conversation.

"Speaking of which, I hear you're getting married soon. The Baron told me. Congratulations."

"Well, since I'm personally taking in a woman with nowhere else to go, congratulations should be directed at her."