I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 89

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (90)

“This is my first time seeing it in person.”

“…I didn’t expect you to visit in person.”

“Hehe. With the grand duke becoming a duke, it is only natural that I should come to offer my congratulations in person.”

“Please feel free to speak as you normally would.”

Viscount Bloten.

From his age to his behavior, he was one of the nobles who deserved respect.

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. Please sit down.”

The marquis sat down.

After handing him tea.

He looked at him.

“Is it okay for me to visit here?”

“Heh heh. What’s the problem? That our relationship is close? It’s a fact that everyone from the Seven Families to His Majesty already knows. That’s why the Seven Families have been keeping a closer eye on us lately.”

That was why Bloten had come here himself.

Now that the Grand Duke had been promoted to duke,

It was more advantageous to reveal their alliance publicly than to continue hiding it.

The Duke and the Marquis were already inseparable.

Bloten smiled and said,

“Now that you’ve been appointed Duke, I can’t let you go without a congratulatory gift. Is there anything you want? I’ll do my best to get it for you.”

“It’s a bit big. Is that okay?”

“You make it sound so big.”

Contrary to his words, the marquis’s eyes were sparkling. Through Poporen, whom Ethan had introduced him to, the marquis’s family had been earning a huge amount of money recently.

The kingdom’s master blacksmith.

The position of overseeing the kingdom’s highest-quality products combined with a wide distribution network meant exactly that.

“Take this first.”

“This is…”

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“The recipes for the third and fourth items.”

“You’re giving me two at once?”

“The Hwagak family and the Gong family are now completely united. To spread their wings beyond the control of the Seven Families of the kingdom, they will need more products.”

“…Thank you. I will put them to good use.”

He wanted to give him the recipes for several items, but that was impossible.

That was because there were only a few that Ethan could remember well enough to reproduce.

He only knew the effects and a few important ingredients of most of the items.

That was why he had entrusted Ilia with restoring the items.

The marquis asked with sparkling eyes.

“Now tell me the truth. What do you want?”

“Do you have a trade network with the Kingdom of Amelia?”

“Yes.”

“I want some Menerian alloy. Enough to make a broadsword.”

“Alloy…”

After some deliberation, the marquis replied immediately.

“It’s for your sword, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The sword is slowly losing its heat and cannot withstand the flames.”

Bloten’s face hardened. Although the Grand Duke had been appointed as the head of the family, it was not yet complete.

The third prince still had the right to challenge him.

What if the third prince used his right to challenge him and he had no weapon that could withstand the flames?

The head of the family could be replaced in an instant.

Having already chosen the Ardan Duke and antagonized the seven families of the kingdom, the marquis had no choice but to support Ethan.

“Yes. A sword that can withstand white flames must be made of Menerian alloy.”

The marquis nodded.

“I will get it for you as soon as possible. I will even make a reservation.”

Ethan was secretly surprised by his words.

The alloy was auctioned only three times a year at most.

If you were unlucky, it might not even come up for auction.

If there was no stock, you couldn’t buy it at all.

It was a rare alloy.

The Dwarf Kingdom had another system besides auctions for selling items at this price.

It was a reservation system.

If you paid double the final auction price as a deposit,

they would squeeze out whatever they had and deliver the item within the specified time.

If the goods were not delivered by the deadline, they would refund ten times the amount, so using the reservation system guaranteed a 100% supply of goods.

However, the price was the problem.

“The market price of the alloy is between 8,000 and 10,000 platinum coins.”

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The last auction price was 10,000 platinum coins.

The Count of Bloten had effectively vowed to secure the alloy at any cost, even if it meant using 20,000 platinum coins.

Ethan immediately shook his head.

“It’s fine. Let’s find out when the next auction will be held and then decide what to do…”

“No, that won’t do. We’re as good as family now, aren’t we? I think we need to secure the alloy quickly, even if it means going a bit overboard. If you were to fall, our house wouldn’t be safe either.”

“…You’re really passionate.”

Well, yes.

The marquise’s family had donated all of their property during the Dragon War. Considering that the head of the family at that time was Bloten,

it was easy to guess where this bold decision came from.

There had already been a precedent.

Of course, the marquise didn’t say it lightly.

He was trying to look calm, but Ethan’s keen senses could already feel the cold sweat running down his back.

“…He’s taking a gamble.”

It would be difficult for the Vessos Marquis family to raise 20,000 platinum coins on their own. They would probably have to sell some of their merchant guilds or take out loans to do so.

“I’ll take your offer. At least you don’t have to do it right now. That Teron fellow won’t exercise his challenge right away either. How about this?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Six months. If the alloy doesn’t come up for auction by then, wouldn’t it be better to use the reservation system?”

“… Hmm.”

Even if they are united by loyalty, if the relationship becomes one-sided, it will inevitably lead to ruin.

It would be better to wait for the next auction rather than push the marquis too hard.

“…I will do as you say. However, if you wish, I will put in a reservation, so just let me know. Don’t feel obligated. It’s an investment for me as well.”

Viscount Bloten.

He was truly a passionate nobleman.

He couldn’t help but feel grateful for his words.

The viscount must have decided to make a reservation to purchase the alloy, seeing not the present but the future.

“Have you had dinner yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s eat first and talk later.”

Ethan led the viscount away.

* *

In front of the banquet hall.

The marquis, who was shaking hands with Elena, who was already there, lit up.

“…Huh?”

Soon, the marquis asked with wide eyes.

“Grand Duchess. I have one question.”

“Please ask.”

“About that bracelet… Did you purchase it somewhere?”

“No. I made it myself…”

“…You made it yourself, Princess?”

“…Yes. Do you not like it?”

Do I not like it?

No, it was too exquisite to be a problem. Even though the bracelet on her hand was made of inexpensive gems, it was not particularly valuable.

It instantly caught the eye of someone who had seen countless pieces of jewelry.

“Oh my god.”

The bracelet had a beautiful wave pattern.

The marquis had a sudden realization.

That bracelet would surely be worth a fortune.

“And if word gets out that it was made by the eldest daughter of Ardan…”

Ardan.

Although it had declined somewhat from its former glory, it was once known as the best swordsmanship family in the Western Continent.

There would surely be many nobles who would be attracted by the name Ardan.

Not only in the Kingdom of Haidern, but also in other kingdoms and even in the Zeno Empire. The marquis’s heart beat faster. The grand duchess exuded the scent of gold.

It was a scent similar to that of the duke.

Gulp.

The marquis swallowed and asked.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I was just surprised. I wondered if there was a talented designer in the capital that I didn’t know about.”

“…What?”

“If there is such a designer, we must recruit them as soon as possible.”

Elena’s face turned pale.

She hadn’t expected him to say that.

“…Do you really like it that much?”

“Yes, I mean it. Do you have any designs like that?”

“I have quite a few drawings…”

The marquis’s eyes lit up.

“…Can I see them? No! Please let me see them. I beg you.”

“Well…”

Elena’s gaze naturally turned to Ethan. Ethan was staring intently at the two of them.

“Did my sister have such talent?”

Come to think of it, in her previous life, Elena was a young lady from a prestigious family who led the trends in high society.

Designing her own clothes and accessories and placing orders for them was nothing out of the ordinary for her.

Considering her talent in her previous life.

It wasn’t surprising that the marquis’s eyes were shining like that.

Elena’s designs were so popular that they had spread beyond the Kingdom of Haiden to the six kingdoms and the Zeno Empire.

“Do whatever you want.”

Elena.

Her family had suffered for over ten years for her sake.

He wanted to do everything he could to help her live the life she wanted for the rest of her life.

She didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to do.

She could do everything she wanted to do.

“…Then, can I go?”

“Of course.”

Soon, Elena stood in front of the marquis with a thick book in her hands.

“These are my drawings…”

“Let me take a look.”

Slam.

With each turn of the page.

The marquis’s eyes grew wider and wider. Each design was fresh yet elegant.

The marquis asked with sparkling eyes.

“Are these all tea ceremony items?”

“…Yes. I looked for them, but I couldn’t find anywhere that sold such items. So I drew them myself.”

“…Amazing. Truly amazing.”

Unable to breathe properly, the marquis hurriedly looked at Ethan after looking through the entire book from the first page to the last.

“Heh heh… What kind of family is the Duke’s family? Not only do they have a genius swordsman, but they also have a genius artist.”

“Is that all?”

“Of course! Such talent is bound to shine through. I definitely want to use the Grand Duchess’s designs! If we use these, it won’t be too much of a burden to reserve the metal!”

There were not just one or two of the Grand Duchess’s drawings.

There were over a hundred designs.

What if the artisans of the family combined their skills with the Grand Duchess’s innovative designs?

“We could generate a huge cash flow!”

Then, the Grand Duke would be able to reserve the metal he wanted without it being too much of a burden.

Items incorporating Elena’s designs would undoubtedly sell like hotcakes.

“Will you grant me permission? These items are far too valuable to be confined to these papers! They will undoubtedly lead the fashion trends across the continent!”

The marquis was so excited that he forgot his composure and spoke with saliva flying from his mouth.

“I’ll give you the best contract I can offer. Please allow me! For the sake of your new sword!”

The marquis’s eyes were filled with sincerity.

Behind him, Elena looked at Ethan, unable to sit still.

“What do you think?”

“……Huh?”

“Do you want to do it?”

“Well… I still have a lot of work to do…”

Contrary to her words, her eyes were sparkling. It was obvious that she wanted to do it.

Ethan smiled and looked at the contract.

“The terms aren’t bad.”

“There’s no contract like this anywhere in the world.”

He nodded.

The contract presented by the marquis was that good.

“Um… Then, Ethan, can I give it a try?”

“Of course.”

“What an excellent choice, Miss Elena!”

Now that the marquis had said so.

‘The supply of metal will be much faster now.’

It seemed that he would be able to obtain the Menerian alloy much sooner than he had expected.

It was like reaping an unexpected harvest.

‘Time will take care of the metal.’

The branch of the World Tree.

Now it was time to move to obtain it.