Chapter 59

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 59

Chapter Title: The Embrose Marchioness's Gratitude

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The day I met Genevra Golbro.

Not long after that, word came of the official contract between the Embrose Merchant House and the Golbro Merchant House.

'Thank goodness.'

I’d been inwardly anxious about it all, but hearing the details straight from Genevra put my mind at ease. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Truth be told, I hadn’t been sure if it was right to even introduce those two.

The Iron-Blooded Empress Oriana, who had once stood at the pinnacle of power only to hand everything over to the crown prince and step back.

And Genevra Golbro, steadily building her own career under the guidance of her exceptional father.

Their meeting was something that never happened in the original story.

But to my surprise...

The two hit it off instantly, bonded solely by their shared passion as avid comic book readers, bridging generations and status alike.

Genevra was planning to launch a “Ghost Duke Gazette” newsletter aimed at fellow comic enthusiasts, with the empress secretly serving as guarantor...

Yeah, best keep that to myself.

'Anyway, this could be a great opportunity for Genevra herself.'

Genevra had zero social connections.

I’d only recently learned that her mother had passed away early on, which explained everything.

Debuting into society without a noblewoman to back her up was a massive handicap—no wonder she’d stayed out of the spotlight.

But if she forged a solid tie with the empress and gained a foothold in the imperial social scene?

'The already powerful Golbro Merchant House could expand its influence even further.'

Tap tap.

Lost in thought as I drummed my fingers on the table, Bonita’s voice pulled me back.

“Miss, the Marchioness Embrose is waiting.”

“Oh, has it gotten that late already?”

I’d been eagerly awaiting this very news, so I stood and headed out.

As I entered the drawing room, the Marchioness Embrose greeted me, looking even more radiant than before.

A closer look revealed her complexion had brightened too—it seemed the Golbro connection had gone better than expected.

“Lady...”

“Yes?”

While Bonita set the table, the marchioness spoke to me in a calm voice.

“Let me be frank. Honestly, I didn’t think it would actually work.”

She lifted her teacup with elegant poise, took a sip of the steaming tea, and continued.

“...Thanks to this, Embrose owes you a great debt.”

A debt.

The words I’d been waiting for brought a wide grin to my face.

“No, no. We solved our distribution issues through Embrose as well. Please don’t say that, Marchioness.”

“No. Letting it stand like this would mean Embrose owes you unilaterally.”

Using Embrose’s distribution network was crucial for us, but it was a fair transaction—we paid fees, after all.

Still, without my introduction to Genevra, they couldn’t have secured the future of their prized distribution business.

So the marchioness apparently felt their contribution paled in comparison to the problem I’d solved—like the scales didn’t balance.

And honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

'That’s why I plan to call in this debt.'

Why, you ask?

I pictured the rental agreement shoved in a corner of the duke’s study once more.

Just thinking of the astronomical room and board fees accruing even now made my heart race.

And this wasn’t a joke... I’d felt it all over again explaining this deal to that madman.

What?

That if I didn’t slave away even harder here, I’d be chained to debt forever, never able to set foot outside Brail Duchy.

'Truth be told...'

I didn’t hate the duke.

But at this rate, I’d be stuck forever in the home of a ruthless employer (who happened to be devastatingly handsome, heart-stoppingly cool, and provided top-notch benefits).

What would become of me if he married someone?

The thought triggered an elaborate simulation in my mind.

“Darling, who on earth is that woman staying in our manor?”

“A freeloader who racked up massive debts and won’t pay them back. Sigh.”

“Kick her out at once!”

“I can’t. Not until every coin is repaid.”

“What? That vixen’s clearly sticking around to seduce you!”

...I might end up living off the duchess’s cold glares.

Ugh, a horrific future just imagining it. But why did thinking of his potential duchess—someone I might never even meet—make my chest tighten like this?

I hid my growing unease by sipping my tea alongside the marchioness, taking deep mental breaths.

'Perfect couples like them always stir envy in ordinary folks.'

That was probably it. But...

'The duke’s sure to marry someone extraordinary—status, lineage, looks, the whole package.'

That moment, my resolve hardened further.

My goal: to gain independence before any marriage talks surfaced for him, no matter when they might come.

“Hehe.”

“Ah...!”

I snapped out of my daze staring at the still tea, roused by her soft chuckle.

“S-Sorry! I was just lost in thought...”

“No need. I thought you were just sharp with numbers, but seeing your expressions shift like that reminds me of our little James. It’s nice.”

Thankfully, she didn’t seem bothered by my rudeness and offered a gentle smile.

“James—”

“James Fabron, the baron.”

Ah, right.

I nodded as the name I’d momentarily forgotten clicked, and the marchioness let out a quiet laugh.

“We’re distant now, but James was once my favorite son.”

Her eyes were on me, yet distant, gazing into the past.

From there, tales of her long-standing rift with Baron Fabron began to flow.

How he’d shone brightest among her children, naturally raising expectations.

Yet the ever-kind son refused to budge on his marriage choice.

“Hmm...”

As her story raced toward its end, hiding my darkening expression grew harder.

I knew not just their past, but what lay ahead too.

'The name Fabron didn’t ring any bells at first.'

With me alive and active instead of kidnapped as in the original, divergences had arisen. And I hadn’t memorized every side story unrelated to the heroine right after possessing this body.

But just because it didn’t involve heroine Remeia Salt directly didn’t mean time stopped for others.

'Everyone’s stories march on...'

Even the events in my life so far proved it.

The kidnapping, the Magic Tower troubles, and now the Embrose family tragedy.

The marchioness before me could never know or imagine it.

That her beloved son and his wife would soon succumb to poverty and die pointlessly.

The pain she’d endure upon hearing the late news was all too vivid without imagining.

In the original, overpowered Remeia healed her heart via a therapist, wrapping it up neatly—and gaining free rein over Embrose’s distribution network in the process. Or something like that.

'But nothing’s happened yet.'

Baron Fabron was alive and well right now, meaning the marchioness hadn’t lost her son.

Thus, the future where she barely recovered with a therapist’s help didn’t have to come.

So if an opportunity arose, there was plenty of room to resolve it.

'But should I even get involved?'

After nearly botching the Salt famine relief, meddling in something like this felt daunting.

Part of me thought some things should just run their course.

Yet her visit stemmed from the comics, and our Brail connection was already off-script...

'Ugh...'

Deep worries settled in as the marchioness’s voice faded into the background.