You Can't Catch the Wind - Chapter 17
“An invitation? What’s this, why are you showing me something that came for you? And it’s in ancient script, isn’t it?”
Elize placed the invitation on the nearby tea table as if she didn’t want to touch it.
Upon realizing that the sender’s name was written in a difficult-to-read font, and moreover in ancient script, she frowned.
Elize wasn’t proficient in reading ancient script. Although it was considered one of the most refined skills among nobles and she had been learning it since childhood, her abilities had hardly improved.
So she could barely discern where to begin reading such decorative ancient script.
“It’s an invitation from Lady Reina of the Marquis Lenox family.”
“What? Why is that woman sending you an invitation?”
“I don’t know either. It just arrived suddenly today.”
Ael explained to Elize that she had just received this a moment ago.
She also added that she had no prior interactions with Reina, and judging by the use of ancient script, it didn’t seem to be sent with good intentions.
“I can see that much.”
Elize retorted irritably and then ordered Ael.
“Well, reply that you can’t go.”
“But…”
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going just because you received such an invitation?”
“It’s not that, but they said they’d send the family carriage.”
Elize’s face contorted even more at Ael’s words.
Along with the embarrassment of not being able to read ancient script well, she understood what those words meant.
Saying they would send the family carriage meant they wouldn’t accept a rejection of the invitation.
In the past, it meant “Please don’t refuse my request, I’ll make every effort for your convenience,” but now it was closer to a subtle threat.
As if to say, it would be futile to try to avoid it.
Moreover, the other party was a marquis’s daughter. For a viscount family, especially one that had lost all its power, refusing an invitation from a marquis family would be a great discourtesy.
Enough to lower the reputation of the entire family.
Elize’s face hardened as she understood the gravity of the situation. Ael also looked at the invitation on the table with a tense expression.
An invitation to a tea party that no one would enjoy.
* * *
“This is maddening.”
Kalon stretched amidst mountains of paperwork. Crackling sounds could be heard from his neck and shoulders.
Since the first day he arrived in Denertum, Kalon had been reviewing and examining everything the Ash Trading Company had done here.
While others couldn’t even begin to organize the documents, he frantically finished checking them all, and from yesterday, he started reviewing upcoming plans.
Nisha worried if he was getting any sleep and advised him to rest, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.
Compared to working in the Empire, this was practically a vacation.
Kalon recalled the communication he had with the Emperor a week ago using the Golden Rule.
The Emperor shamelessly praised himself and then continued.
It was quite a grumpy attitude considering he was speaking to the Emperor. There was a casual comfort in their conversation that felt more like long-time friends than a ruler and subject.
An undisguisable bright smile spread across the Emperor’s blurry face.
It was a well-known fact that the Emperor had softened considerably, as if he had become a different person, after his marriage a few years ago, which he went through despite everyone’s opposition.
The man who had been even more devoted to work than Kalon now invariably goes to the Empress’s side outside of set official hours, indulging in the sweetness offered by his beloved.
Kalon had rubbed his arms as if getting goosebumps after hearing the Emperor’s sentimental words, casually uttered after his marriage.
“Someone good…”
Muttering those words, Kalon reached out again to grab the topmost document from the pile.
“I don’t know about that. But right now, I need someone who’s good at ancient script.”
Kalon flipped through the document. It was all about the land that the Ash Trading Company was buying.
There were many lands being purchased under the name of the Ash Trading Company, but there were also many being bought under individual names.
‘The Denertum royal family must have noticed to some extent… but they haven’t said anything so far.’
That’s because the land being bought was on the northeastern coast, a bit far from the capital.
The desolate beach with barely any houses was the most barren land in Denertum. The coast was full of reefs, and the sea at the northernmost tip of the continent was rough all year round, making it impossible to launch ships without even a port.
Fortunately, while the land near the sea was rough, further inland there were grasslands full of grass, so people living nearby would let their sheep graze there.
But the land had no value beyond that.
There might be a special charm to that desolate beach, but that’s enough to feel with just a few hours of walking once a year. In other words, there’s no need to buy it.
The Ash Trading Company was buying such land. The Denertum royal family was wary but didn’t put on the brakes. After all, the Ash Trading Company had offered several times the normal market price.
‘They probably think, “It’s useless land anyway, let’s just make money from these imperial people.”‘
It’s not like they can tear away the whole land, and even after a hundred years, the land won’t gain any value.
‘That’s what they must be thinking.’
The corners of Kalon’s mouth turned up as he looked at the documents. When ‘that time’ comes, they’ll all realize what value the land they sold has.
At that moment, there was a knock, and Nisha entered. As expected, she was carrying a bunch of new documents in her arms.
Nisha placed the documents on the desk and let out a long sigh. Seeing this, Kalon groaned.
“I can tell without hearing. You couldn’t find anyone suitable to teach ancient script?”
“Yes. Getting cooperation is more difficult than we thought. It would be best if you hear the explanation directly when Ino returns.”
“Where did Ino go?”
Ino Balten. He was the deputy branch manager working with Nisha here, and when in the Empire, he was a subordinate deeply trusted by Kalon.
“He went to a tea party at the Marquis Lenox’s mansion.”
“A tea party? Ino?”
Kalon spoke in a voice of genuine disbelief.
“Has Ino been seriously injured recently? Especially his head?”
“How could that be? If something like that had happened, he’d already be lying in front of us, wailing about how hard he’s working and asking for understanding.”
“Then why did he suddenly go to a tea party? That guy hates sweets so much that it’s faster to wake him up by putting something sweet in his mouth than by hitting him when he faints.”
That’s why he would shudder as if seeing poison every time he saw sugar, which was a major trading item of the Ash Trading Company.
“He didn’t go because he wanted to. The Marquis Lenox family specifically requested that a high-ranking official from the Ash Trading Company attend.”
“So you sent Ino?”
“We have our pride too. How could I, the branch manager, just rush over because they called? They’re one of the great noble families that’s somewhat favorable to us, so we sent Ino. I also thought we might get some help with ancient script if things go well.”
As the conversation returned to the topic of ancient script, Kalon pressed his fingers to his brow.
A complex problem had arisen recently in purchasing land in the northeast of the capital. As it happened, the most needed land was jointly owned by two very old noble families.
When the Ash Trading Company offered an enormous sum, chaos erupted between the families owning the land. They brought out all their old documents, arguing that their family owned a larger share.
‘If that’s the case, they should sort it out among themselves.’
When it seemed unlikely to be resolved easily among themselves, the nobles chose another method. They came directly to the Ash Trading Company with their ancient documents.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
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