Chapter 35

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 35

Chapter Title: Repaying the Gift

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They say if you start doing things no normal person would, it's a sign you're about to die. Or maybe that someone will kill you... or something like that.

The underground prison's tyrant really must be on vacation, right?

Lost in anxious thoughts, I weakly shook my head.

At that moment, the Duke's voice reached me.

"I wanted to repay you for the gift. Of course, something like this probably isn't enough."

'Hm?'

As my prejudices peeled away layer by layer, I finally noticed the surprisingly gentle expression on his face.

He was surely referring to the blackout curtains as the gift.

I'd hoped he'd like them, but I never imagined he'd respond like this, leaving me utterly dumbfounded and unable to hide my bewilderment.

Sitting at a careful distance, he looked straight at me.

"Is there anything you want?"

"If there's something you desire, tell me."

"Anything at all?"

"Anything except letting you leave this place."

A familiar sense of déjà vu washed over me.

I felt like I'd been asked something similar by the Duke before.

But this time, instead of demanding something new, I decided to just respond honestly.

"I didn't do it expecting anything in return."

"So there's nothing you want?"

"Yes. Well, you've helped me so much already, Your Grace. Think of this as just a natural token of thanks..."

As I rambled on, the Duke's expression grew increasingly peculiar.

As if he'd heard something completely unexpected.

"I've helped you?"

"You've provided room and board, you haven't forced excessive labor on me, and you haven't summoned me for work during private hours..."

As I listed the hardships I'd endured in the Salt Kingdom, I trailed off and met his gaze.

It was embarrassing, but somehow I felt it was okay to be a little honest right now.

"So I just wanted to repay you, Your Grace. It's nothing special, but..."

At that instant, the Duke's eyes darkened.

"The Princess must have a generous heart."

Thud.

His words made me regretfully spit out the peach tart I'd just been about to bite into.

"Pardon?"

"To show such kindness even to the man who kidnapped you."

"Ah..."

Right, I was kidnapped.

Living so comfortably here in body and mind, I'd almost forgotten.

Honestly, life in the Salt Kingdom had been so wretched that this place felt like paradise to me.

Besides, as I mentioned, the Duke hadn't demanded excessive work in exchange for lodging and meals, and my account was steadily filling up with fair pay for my efforts...

'What more could I want?'

But one can't always lay bare their true feelings.

I answered with feigned innocence as best I could.

"What does the beginning matter? As long as the relationship we build from here is a good one."

That's right. My path was already set: escape the Salt Kingdom and start anew in the Brail Duchy.

The blackout curtains? Just a bit of flattery, that's all.

"The relationship we'll build from here."

But whether something in my answer bothered him, the Duke's following words carried a meaningful tone.

And to top it off, his eyes bored into me relentlessly.

Though I'd felt it many times before, I still had no idea how to handle it when such a handsome man stared at me so intently.

"Ahem."

Unable to bear the pressure, I averted my eyes first, sliding them away slowly. Then the next words came.

"In that case, for the sake of building a good relationship with you going forward, Princess, let me propose once more. Tell me if there's anything you want."

"Ugh."

In the end, we'd circled right back to the start.

At this point, even if I had to wring it out of thin air, I needed something to say.

But nothing came to mind on the spot. What now?

Normally, I'd try to think of something, anything. But his sudden kindness and the serious atmosphere had bleached my mind completely white.

"Princess."

When he called me once more, applying pressure, I grabbed one of the thoughts floating vaguely in my head and spat it out.

"I mentioned it to Liam in advance, but... I-I'd like to hire a bodyguard knight!"

Unable to bear it, my voice cracked slightly but rang out loudly.

And then a very brief silence.

"Ah."

With a dry exclamation, the Duke's head tilted slightly to the side.

"That one who helped the Princess."

"Ah, you heard!"

In truth, since I'd asked Liam for confirmation on hiring the bodyguard, it wasn't strange for the Duke to know.

Ahem. Clearing my throat in embarrassment, I nodded with a now-calm expression.

"When my money pouch was stolen, it felt like the sky was collapsing. But he stepped up first to help."

The man who'd helped me in front of the Pascal Merchant House.

He'd introduced himself as 'Ian'—and contrary to what his natural air of condescension suggested, he claimed to be a commoner, not a noble.

But regardless of his background, he seemed like a decent person. He'd readily offered aid to someone in need without boasting or demanding repayment.

"It's the only thing that comes to mind right now. If it's inconvenient..."

"I heard Liam is investigating his background, but bringing an unknown person into the ducal residence would be problematic."

Ah, I suppose that's how it looks from the Duke's perspective?

He's just unfamiliar with Ian, but if he met him, his opinion would change.

"He's a good person. He helped me without asking for anything in return..."

"He'd surely be grateful for you saying that... from his position. But I can't quite sympathize from mine."

"How about meeting him once?"

The Duke's face hardened.

Only then did I realize my major blunder—having grown too comfortable from our recent frequent meetings.

Asking a busy duke to meet a stranger. In this class-bound society, no less!

"Ah, um..."

I hurriedly backpedaled on my words from moments ago.

"Please pretend you didn't hear that request. I got ahead of myself because he seemed too valuable to pass up."

"...Valuable?"

"Yes. With no connections or support, he returned a pouch full of heavy coin, so he's been on my mind."

"......"

"A rare 'good Samaritan' in these harsh times, you might say? The sight of his back as he rushed ahead faster than anyone the moment he realized I'd been pickpocketed keeps lingering..."

I kept praising him, hoping at least this nameless good person wouldn't leave a bad impression in the Duke's memory.

"Even though he didn't know my status, he treated me politely without presumption. You know, the type with stiff speech but impeccable manners and refinement..."

"Hold on."

That was when the Duke raised his hand to cut me off.

"Yes?"

"That's... enough."

As he spoke, his face was rigid, like someone who'd overheard something they shouldn't have.

"But..."

"...No need. Since the Princess insists so strongly... I'll grant the request. We'll hire him... and the ducal house will cover his pay separately."

It was an unexpected response. But no matter how I looked at him, I couldn't read his expression.

'Something feels off.'

Like I'd missed something important?

"Y-You're serious?"

"Dead serious. ...On the condition that he accepts."

"Ah, thank you!"

Caught in a momentary awkwardness, I suddenly remembered something and let out an exclamation.

"Ah! C-Can I ask one more favor?"

"What is it?"

"I'd like to purchase Poretta leather on an ongoing basis from the duchy."

"They're just going to be discarded anyway, so you could take them for free."

"No."

I shook my head firmly, then finally savored the peach tart I'd been holding back on.

The crunchy peaches were tear-inducingly sweet.

"I want to buy them officially. But select ones of better quality than the first batch I received. That way, it could create jobs... and improve the duchy's economy overall, right?"

If that happened, I could shed the burden of pursuing my business while relying solely on the Duke's goodwill.

The various jobs created in the process went without saying.

Expanding the job market would naturally draw more people to the Brail Duchy, and in this era still mired in medieval ways, the most precious resource—manpower—would fuel territorial development...!

Finishing my chain of thoughts, I cautiously gauged his reaction.

"That makes sense."

Fortunately, when I looked up again, the Duke wore an enigmatic smile.

"Hehe."

His low, resonant voice carried clear approval.

Having secured permission so easily, I felt elated and unwittingly let a silly grin slip across my face.

'Deal sealed, then.'

With user satisfaction checked, production processes verified, and supply secured...

All that was left was advertising time.