NLBWM 18

Chapter – 18

“What on earth were you thinking, pulling off something like that?”

As the carriage left the Noridel estate, Casian scolded sharply.

Evelyn, who had been gazing out the window, blinked her long eyelashes and replied casually, almost nonchalantly.

“What do you mean?”

“The mural incident.”

“Oh, that? That was just a way to get the Noridel family out of the house!”

A triumphant look seemed to shoot from her eyes.

Rather than shrinking back, she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

Casian forced back a sigh and spoke his true thoughts.

“That was dangerous.”

If not for the precaution of sending the Valhalla Knights, Evelyn would have been trapped in the Noridel estate with no way out.

Thanks to the knights sending an urgent message via the transmission scroll, they arrived quickly, but had they been even a little late… Evelyn would have been in real danger.

“I couldn’t guarantee your safety.”

“But you came in time, didn’t you?”

Isn’t that enough?

Casian was speechless at her innocent gaze.

Was it bravery, or sheer recklessness? She was like a chipmunk, darting about with endless energy.

Yet Evelyn had been quiet in the drawing room, observing the situation, seemingly aware of her own fear.

She had clung to Casian quietly, then hurried to leave as soon as the discussion was over.

Being a lady who had grown up in a greenhouse, she must have been terrified witnessing such a rough scene.

Casian guessed she was extremely startled, even though she hadn’t shown it, and tried to soothe her in a gentler voice.

“Even so…”

“Darling, you were amazing earlier!”

Evelyn raised her thumb in praise, leaving Casian at a loss for words.

Her twitching lips revealed no hint of fear. On the contrary, she smiled mischievously, almost like a villain.

‘Not a trace of fear at all.’

Then what was she doing in the drawing room, pressing her body against mine and poking my finger?

Casian eventually concluded: whatever the case, she was a woman full of surprises.

“Next time, don’t do that again.”

“Then should I just watch them disregard us?”

“Disregard?”

“When we went to the Noridel estate, the chief steward looked down on Sophia. Not just a little, but completely dismissive. Why should I just stand by and watch that?”

“…I see.”

“Darling, patience isn’t always a virtue. And why did you step back earlier?”

Though Casian had the upper hand at the negotiation table with the Noridels, he had deliberately stepped back.

“I hope next time the negotiation goes smoothly.”

Even though he could have reclaimed all the Palladium with ease, he had issued a warning and left.

It was fortunate that visiting the Noridel estate had become easier than before, but he hadn’t been able to achieve a proper resolution.

Would they hand it over so easily next time?

Anticipating this, Casian calmly answered himself.

“The royal family is involved.”

Though he didn’t know the full details, Casian had realized that the Palladium was connected to the royal family.

Hence, he had to approach the matter cautiously.

Taking it recklessly could bring the wrath of the emperor, no matter how close the bloodline.

“Still, you shouldn’t have stepped back. It wasn’t stealing from others, we were just reclaiming what was ours.”

“Even so, people would have criticized us for being ruthless.”

“Does public opinion matter more than my people being disrespected?”

“What else could I have done?”

Casian asked, genuinely curious, not mocking.

He had always been accustomed to enduring and yielding. Whether receiving a new toy or a fine sword, he had been expected to hand it over to the emperor, two years his senior.

Even when he was young, he sometimes resisted giving things to his mother, but she insisted he share and be on good terms with his brother.

So Casian had learned, over time, not to cling to possessions or people.

It was better to let go and conform than to insist and cling.

Thus, even the power he now wielded felt fragile, dependent on birthright.

Though he enjoyed the privileges of noble and royal lineage, one gesture from the emperor could easily bring him crashing down.

Anything connected to the royal family, including the Palladium, was something he had half given up on.

Though his father and more proactive retainers had repeatedly pressured the Noridels to return the Palladium, Casian had judged it impossible to retrieve.

After all, the family wouldn’t perish without it, so he was content to let it go… until now.

“I don’t really know what should be done in this situation.”

Evelyn had touched a raw nerve.

She brought to the surface desires Casian had buried deep in his soul, desires no one else had ever seen, tightly bound and hidden in the depths like a heavy stone.

Even when he wanted to resist the emperor, he had always restrained himself, calling the feeling vile.

But Evelyn had unexpectedly unearthed those hidden emotions.

Ironically, he needed her counsel.

What should he do in this situation? How would anyone else have acted? He needed an answer.

Evelyn opened her mouth, then lowered her head and chose silence.

Perhaps he had asked the wrong person.

As her silence stretched, Casian regretted his question.

He thought he had mastered the art of controlling his emotions, yet he had behaved like a child.

Unable to endure the quiet, Casian prepared to stop the carriage when—

“Let’s pretend you didn’t hear what I just said…”

“How about this?”

Evelyn suddenly brightened, presenting a new plan.

The next day.

“You’re asking for Sispel?”

From early morning, Casian and Evelyn had arrived at the Noridel estate with an unexpected demand.

The former Noridel Count was taken aback.

“Not Palladium?”

They had been ready to give up some Palladium, but suddenly a request for mushrooms appeared. What were they thinking?

Sispel was the most commonly produced mushroom in the Noridel estate.

It wasn’t rare, but before Palladium became valuable, it had been widely used as a restorative medicine.

It could also be used as food, a cosmetic ingredient, or a preservative.

Though its current value was low, it had once been highly sought after… but why suddenly demand it?

“Duke Hetis’ territory has seen a rise in respiratory illness patients. They need water boiled with mushrooms.”

Ah, that made sense.

Sispel was perfect for providing to many people.

“No backing out on this!”

“Please, sit still, son. Well then, fine by us. How much do you need…”

“Equivalent to the current value of Palladium.”

“What? That would mean uprooting every mushroom in the estate to match its worth!”

“Still, we wouldn’t take everything!”

Though they felt no real loss, something about it felt off.

What if Sispel had an unknown property…?

“No need to refuse. Considering past events, it’s a fair trade. If you’re reluctant, we could revert to Palladium…”

“No! We will provide it!”

Casian supported Evelyn’s words, and the hesitant Noridels quickly shook their heads.

Evelyn then handed over a contract.

“Then please sign.”

Asset Exchange Contract

This contract is drawn up to regulate the exchange of assets between the parties.

Article 1 (Background)

1. Former Duke Hetis borrowed 2,000 gold from former Noridel Count, pledging Palladium as collateral.
2. During the return process, the value of Palladium increased, causing disagreement between the two houses.
3. To resolve the dispute, Casian Hetis will exchange the Palladium for Sispel.

Article 2 (Transaction)

1. Count Damon Noridel shall provide Sispel to Duke Casian Hetis in place of Palladium.
2. Count Damon Noridel shall deliver all Sispel in the estate to Duke Casian Hetis.
3. Upon receipt of Sispel, Duke Casian Hetis relinquishes all claims to Palladium.

…

After the exchange of assets, no additional requests or returns shall be permitted.