The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

41

***

Cadeon received the report and felt more bewildered than pleased.

Just as Altaer had mentioned before, there was a gold mine hidden at that location.

Had they not conducted a verification, they could have acquired the gold mine at a bargain price.

But blind faith was not an option, so they had to pay a premium after confirming the existence of the gold ore.

‘How could this be? How did he figure out that fact just by conjecture?’

Cadeon wondered, yet a faint smile appeared on his face.

Indeed, he possessed an extraordinary talent, fitting of the first impression he made.

He could have contacted the northern duke first, but he chose to provide the information to Cadeon instead.

Perhaps the youngest son of the grand duchy had foreseen even the future after the annulment.

‘Does he not want to lose our relationship even if the annulment goes through? That’s an interesting thought.’

Cadeon immediately saw through the intention and fell into contemplation.

The annulment could be initiated right away.

The northern duke would not object as long as the appropriate price was paid.

However, he had already made a promise to Brilly, and curiosity had arisen, so he couldn’t just push through recklessly.

‘I must give the land as promised. But… is that enough?’

For the first time, Cadeon thought he should offer something more.

The other party had given up the benefits of returning to the grand duchy to foster a relationship with him.

Then, shouldn’t he also provide a fitting reward?

‘Did he say he never had something of his own? Then, perhaps I could add something more to the land.’

Kadeon hardly spared any expense in forming connections, for once established, they could bring substantial long-term benefits.

Of course, most connections were related to lineage or fame, and the parties involved were often incompetent.

In contrast, the youngest son of the Grand Duke’s family stood out even more, as he relied solely on his own abilities.

‘He said he wanted to build a villa? Then let it be as he wishes.’

Kadeon suspected there might be other intentions hidden behind it, but he had no interest in prying.

The land had been offered as part of the deal from the start, and the additional cost of building a house was not a burden.

From his perspective, it was enough to move as desired while quietly observing.

‘Whether to break off the engagement or not… This relationship must be maintained, right? For now, not doing so seems better…’

***

Alter received the land deed from Kadeon and went to check the site in person.

Since there was hardly any pressing business, he could go out as long as the conditions allowed.

The fact that Brillié accompanied him added to the feeling of a leisurely stroll.

“Hmm… It feels somewhat empty here.”

“It’s the outskirts of the capital. Why would the nobility bother coming all this way?”

Alter wandered the empty lot, surveying the surroundings.

Compared to the vicinity of the imperial palace, the houses here were relatively shabby.

Moreover, the tall city walls created a somewhat gloomy atmosphere.

It was a place where neither commoners nor impoverished nobility would reside.

“Are you sure this is alright? Couldn’t you have gotten better land?”

“Being on the outskirts of the capital, it’s not about good or bad. This should suffice.”

Alter had chosen this land with a not-so-distant future in mind.

Though the demand for the land was low, it could gain significant value if used for a specific purpose.

The nobles had limited space within the capital, so eventually, they would covet even the outskirts.

“Isn’t it going to be noisy near the city gate?”

“That just makes it more convenient to come and go, doesn’t it?”

“Doesn’t the city wall block out the sunlight?”

“Then there’s no worry of goods spoiling.”

“Won’t the guards be watching from above all the time?”

“That should prevent any crime from happening, right?”

“…?”

Brillie faintly began to discern Alter’s thoughts from that conversation.

Alter had never intended to erect a building in the first place.

Perhaps he had acquired this land solely for its intended use.

“Do you think this land can be sold?”

“In three months at the earliest… I suspect someone will come forward to buy it within a year at the latest.”

“Are you planning to set up a trading house here?”

“The capital is becoming increasingly cramped. They wouldn’t want to move outside the capital. Since we can’t just evict the commoners without any reason… they would have to come to the outskirts, wouldn’t they?”

The nobles would likely either purchase the commoners’ land or expropriate it through legal means.

Of course, the emperor and the bureaucrats would be watching, so there would inevitably be some restrictions.

Even amidst this, they would show interest in the outskirts of the capital, which were suitable for setting up a trading house.

“There are quite a few nobles these days who want to establish a trading house… It’s not hopeless.”

“Being close to the city gate makes it easier to come and go. With the guard nearby, no one would even think of stealing. If it’s simply for a trading house, there’s no better place than here.”

“Hmm…”

Brillie pondered deeply and soon came to understand.

Capturing the attention of many would be effective near the imperial palace, but it would entail a considerable financial loss.

However, near the city gate, it would be relatively easy to transport goods while allowing the guards to prevent various crimes.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t the other gates also have value?”

“That’s a bit different. Considering the location for a trading house, the north gate is not favorable. We don’t go to the northern territories to sell goods.”

“But you chose the west gate, didn’t you? Wouldn’t an ordinary trading house often go to the eastern or southern regions?”

“Soon, there will be a gold mine in the western region. Duke Ilenath has already started… I’m just taking a brief opportunity in the meantime.”

Alter had deliberately chosen the land near the west gate, considering all circumstances.

The capital had the highest demand for gold, so if it was transported from the western region, it would inevitably pass through the west gate.

By firmly establishing a trading house near the west gate amidst this, he could maximize the profits.

“So you’re saying you’ll just sell the land and leave?”

“Yes. I don’t have the knack for business. I’m just trying as much as I can.”

“It seems like you’re gathering money… Do you have somewhere to spend it?”

“I’m preparing in advance. My family won’t be able to take care of me forever. The ducal house is probably in a similar situation.”

“Ah…”

Brillie, at a loss for words, stared blankly at Alter.

I had thought she was somewhat aware of the situation, but she was responding far too seriously.

How much had she suffered already to be swayed by money so soon?

“Brillie, you may rise as a knight, but my future is unstable. Shouldn’t I save up as much money as possible?”

“But as a magician, you have exceptional talent, don’t you? Wouldn’t things be alright once the curse is lifted?”

“I can’t be certain yet… I can’t just rely on that.”

“You said you trust me, right? I’ll take responsibility, won’t I?”

“Uh… I do trust you, but I’m also looking for my own way out. Just in case.”

Alter hesitated for a moment before laboriously laying out his excuses.

He had said he trusted Brillie, but he hadn’t gone so far as to ask her to take responsibility for him.

Instead, he feared that being tied down by marriage would only add to the pressure and make things more painful.

“I understand what you’re saying… but I still wish you’d trust me more. I’m already prepared.”

Brillie looked down slowly, her eyes serious.

Even as a duchess, she couldn’t grasp everything.

Her own father was the same, and even the emperor, the pinnacle of the empire, was bound by reality.

That’s why she had to compromise and dream of an imperfect ideal.

“…Yes. I must be prepared.”

Alter no longer considered breaking off the engagement.

If he had come this far, if it was unavoidable, then he had to accept it.

Running away would only prevent him from reaching the end.

‘Whether I marry now or later, it makes no difference. As long as we live together, that’s all that matters, right?’

From noble mtl dot come

***

Allaune finally located the magician and made contact.

An authority on curse studies, an elementless magician, a solitary wanderer, a former disciple of the previous archmage.

He had always sought out curses and devised various ways to lift them.

Why did such a capable magician have to wander aimlessly?

“But as an archmage, shouldn’t you be able to handle everything on your own?”

“The title of archmage signifies that one is the foremost among existing magicians. It’s a convention established by history, but I can’t achieve everything alone.”

Allaune answered her calmly, sitting across from her.

He wasn’t mocking himself or criticizing the magical academy.

It was just a reflection on a long-standing friendship, nothing more.

“How am I supposed to handle what even the Archmage couldn’t?”

“It’s a matter related to a curse. Neither I nor the heads of the academy can recklessly intervene.”

“…That’s somewhat intriguing. The heads would usually be able to handle quite a bit, wouldn’t they?”

“An ordinary curse, perhaps. But this curse is both malicious and contemptible.”

“If it’s a curse cast by the Frost Witch, that would make sense.”

Erze Kartia, the master of curse magic, recited indifferently, her eyes shining.

She had been in contact with Allawune for a long time, and they often cooperated with each other.

Amidst this, the speculation that the Frost Witch’s curse had been discovered was too compelling to suppress her curiosity.

“By principle, we should perform the oath ceremony… but with no academy, it’s meaningless.”

“You think I’d go and blow it up? To say such a thing knowing who I am?”

“I’m well aware. You may seem a bit arrogant, but you do value mutual trust, don’t you?”

“That’s a given. So, who’s been cursed?”

“The youngest son of the Grand Duke’s family, Alter Radiant.”

“The Grand Duke’s youngest son? Could it be…”

Erze recalled the name, visibly surprised.

He had been her schoolmate and a dear friend.

She had felt a bit sad when he suddenly left for the northern territories, but they had promised to meet again.

However, she had departed forever through death, and now that promise was slowly fading away.

“It’s the son of Uriel Astille.”

“Just to ask in advance, is it related to Uriel?”

“If they wanted to annihilate the Grand Duke’s family, would they curse the youngest son? My guess is… there’s a grudge against Uriel.”

“So, you’re saying Uriel died because of the Frost Witch?”

“We can’t know that yet. We need to investigate, don’t we?”

“…”

Erze rose quietly from her seat, her gaze cold.

Then she turned her back and stepped away without hesitation.

Allawune, sensing Erze’s state, spoke up again.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I need to gather the ingredients. Not just to help, but to trace it back. I have to find out what happened there.”

“…You’re not facing an opponent you can handle on your own.”

“You’re coming along too, right? If you survived thanks to Uriel, you should at least do this much, shouldn’t you?”