Chapter 13. A Perfect Day

Callon felt a sense of regret as he watched the expressions of the Viscount couple and Elise gradually change.

‘I should have prepared more.’

The documents they recovered today thanks to Ael were quite important.

They contained information about regions that the Ash Merchant Guild’s communication network rarely reached.

‘If I had missed that, it would have taken quite some time to receive them again. There’s no network using the Golden Rule there.’

In Denertum, where most of the Golden Rule has already disappeared, it’s unimaginable, but the Ash Merchant Guild and the Empire have a communication network based on the power of the Golden Rule.

It’s not like those with the power of the Golden Rule are rolling around like stones on the roadside.

Moreover, even if someone possesses such power, it’s even rarer to find someone strong enough to communicate from the Empire to Denertum.

No, it was more correct to say there was none.

‘Unless it’s an heir on the level of the Emperor, it’s impossible.’

But even if it’s the Emperor, he cannot lend his power to the Ash Merchant Guild’s communication every time.

The only reason they can communicate with Denertum once a week now is because Callon is here; otherwise, he wouldn’t have lent his power.

Anyway, if those documents had been lost, it would have taken a long time to receive them again.

Moreover, the content absolutely shouldn’t be known in Denertum, so it would have been very troublesome.

Considering the importance of the documents, it wouldn’t be too much to give away an entire warehouse, not just fill a carriage with gifts.

The gifts that had been loaded were now piled up at the mansion’s entrance. Watching this, Jenna said in a bright voice.

“Wow, it seems like there are more than the gifts Miss Elise received before.”

At those words, Elise’s eyes narrowed sharply. But she couldn’t say anything to Jenna. Because it seemed that way to her as well.

Maya, noticing Elise’s irritation, slapped Jenna’s arm as if to tell her not to irritate her lady.

“It’s not just because the boxes are big! Do you even know how amazing the gifts our lady received back then were? They were all high-quality items chosen and sent by notable figures in the social circle, all suited to our lady.”

At her maid’s words, Elise slightly raised her chin.

As Maya said, there was nothing among the things she received back then that wasn’t precious.

They all bore the names of traditional shops and looked expensive at a glance.

“But these seem luxurious too.”

However, Jenna responded with an excited face, as if she couldn’t agree with the maid’s words.

“They’re all marked with the Ash Merchant Guild. Didn’t you brag before that three of Miss Elise’s gifts were from the Ash Merchant Guild? But these are all Ash Merchant Guild boxes?”

Callon smiled while listening to Jenna’s words.

The maid was subtly teasing while pretending not to know.

Moreover, seeing them argue over whose guild was better made him feel immense pride in his guild for the first time in a while.

“They’re just boxes! Our lady once received two large barrels of tea from the Empire.”

“She must like tea.”

Callon smoothly joined the conversation. Then, looking at one of the boxes, he said.

“Coincidentally, we also included some tea from our guild, so please enjoy it.”

Then he added,

“Because I didn’t know what you’d like, I put everything in.”

Even to himself, it seemed like a childish remark. But when he saw the surprised expressions of the Viscount couple, he realized that such words were most effective on people like them.

“Really? Then can I open this box, Miss? It’s my job to organize things in the kitchen.”

Jenna quickly picked up the box Callon had gestured to and approached Ael, speaking quickly as if to urge her to allow it.

Ael, overwhelmed by Jenna’s fierce momentum, nodded unconsciously.

Jenna, who managed to get Ael’s permission instead of the Viscount couple or Elise, quickly but carefully untied the box, ensuring that the well-tied ribbon wasn’t damaged.

Her hands moved so swiftly that the package was undone in an instant, revealing its contents to everyone.

“Oh my.”

Jenna and Elise’s maid, who were the first to look inside the box, widened their eyes in surprise.

The box Callon had gestured to was filled with soft cotton and several tea barrels.

Jenna quickly counted what she could see. One, two, three, four… When Jenna’s count reached about eight, Elise’s face hardened.

Tea was a gift the Grand Duke had sent to Elise. After receiving two barrels, Elise subtly mentioned it to people at gatherings.

Those who heard her words treated Elise even more kindly.

Imperial tea is expensive and rare. Even for nobles, it was hard to obtain through the Ash Merchant Guild.

Thus, those two barrels of tea became proof that the Grand Duke thought Elise was special.

‘It was like that…’

Now, seeing Ael, who looked so ridiculous, receiving a more impressive gift, mercilessly shattered Elise’s pride.

She felt a sense of humiliation as if what she had taken pride in had suddenly become worthless.

Of course, that was only Elise’s feeling. The Viscount couple was busy rolling their eyes, trying to estimate how much the tea in that one box would cost, surprised by the sudden precious items.

At the same time, the Viscount couple’s thoughts turned to the other boxes still piled up like a mountain.

If this one was so amazing, what about the other boxes?

They were more eager than Jenna to open the remaining boxes. At the same time, they became curious about what extraordinary thing their daughter had done to receive such incredible treatment.

At that moment, the sound of bells ringing from the direction of the square signaled the late night.

It was time for guests to leave unless it was a banquet.

Callon realized it was time to end today’s play.

At least until his gifts served their purpose, the Viscount couple wouldn’t be able to treat Ael too harshly.

‘But that’s it.’

It was quite an entertaining day.

He almost lost the documents but managed to retrieve them thanks to someone else’s help.

The person who helped him was more eager to hear a few pieces of knowledge from his mouth than to receive precious items, so he spent the whole day but didn’t regret it much.

Callon’s day is more valuable than a year for his subordinates. The decisions made by the head of the continent’s largest merchant guild are all of such value.

If it were known that he spent it on an economics lecture, the employees at the headquarters in the Empire would be pulling their hair out. Of course, he had no intention of telling them.

Thinking he had done enough, Callon turned and approached Ael. He bowed and extended his hand.

With a graceful and disciplined gesture, Ael was captivated and extended her hand.

Callon lightly kissed the rough back of her hand, which he found hard to believe belonged to a noblewoman, and greeted her.

“Thank you for your courage today, and farewell, Miss Rida.”

This must be her real name, he thought as he called out the name he had heard.

At that moment, Ael’s face darkened. Ael hesitated, then spoke with difficulty as if making a decision.

“…Please call me Ael.”

“……”

Normally, he would have made some joke, but Ael’s expression looked too distressed for that.

As if being called Rida was a huge insult.

“All right, Miss Ael.”

So Callon addressed her by the name she had corrected and greeted her.

Only then did Ael return to the expression he had seen all day. She nodded slightly in gratitude and greeted him.

The coachman returned to his position, and after Callon greeted those standing, he boarded the carriage. Soon the carriage departed, and Callon and Ael gradually grew distant.

In the carriage, Callon rested his chin on his hand and thought.

That there would be no more reason to see them.

* * *

“Oh my, who is that gentleman? I’ve never seen such a wonderful person in my life!”

Jenna exclaimed excitedly as she placed the box she was carrying onto the worktable in the kitchen.

“And what amazing thing did you do to receive such a gift?”

“I just helped catch a thief.”

“No way. Would they give such gifts for that? It’d be hard to receive this much even if you saved a life. Did you see Miss Elise and the others’ faces? Their expressions twisted as soon as they saw the tea in the box, and it was so satisfying…!”

Jenna clenched her fist and trembled as if recalling that moment.

Watching Jenna, who was more excited than anyone else, Ael let out a small laugh.