The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 30. The Rise of a Nouveau Riche (5)

The city of Nord, the second largest in the Empire after the capital.

It was famous as the city where the sun rose the latest.

Because of the massive Northern mountain range that surrounded the city, it was hard to see the sun rising over the horizon.

Thanks to that, most of the citizens woke up later than those in other cities.

But.

“Your Grace, it’s Debier.”

The Empire’s second most powerful man, Duke Luton, was different.

He had already changed into a crisp dress shirt and was staring out the window with the gaze of a lion chieftain.

“Come in.”

As the office door opened, the chief secretary stepped in, dressed in a gray suit.

What caught his eye was the newspaper on the table and a cold cup of coffee.

「Gold Morning.」

However, the newspaper showed almost no signs of being read.

It hadn't even been opened fully—its bold headlines remained untouched on the front page.

“So, what are the reports today?”

In truth, Duke Luton had no real need to read the newspaper.

He didn’t trust the press in the first place.

“Yes, I’ll start with the industrial report.”

To him, newspapers were nothing more than propaganda—tools to see what information other families were pushing, what schemes they were plotting.

He already had plenty of eyes and ears that gave him a clear view of Nord.

“In terms of both sales and net profit, we are holding an unshakable lead. The mana wheel developed with support from Young Lord Eric created quite a stir.”

“Right, that one’s always had a good eye for people. Looks like the alchemists finally succeeded.”

The chief secretary nodded calmly.

The mana wheel was a component enchanted with magic to strengthen the durability and resilience of carriages.

“Yes. He personally visited the field and monitored each step himself.”

Thanks to that, Nord’s carriages could now travel smoothly over many of the region’s rugged, unpaved roads.

And the Grand Duke of the North was able to further solidify his overwhelming dominance.

But.

Even after hearing such good news, Luton’s expression was far from pleased.

“Personally monitored, huh.”

With a cold glare, he pulled a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his suit.

Then he revealed an elegantly drawn image of his eldest son.

“He’s been drinking with the Second Prince almost every night, and now he claims he’s been out in the field? Clearly, someone just wrote up a flattering report.”

Debier closed his eyes tightly at the sight of Eric depicted in the illustration.

Then, with his hands behind his back, Luton furrowed his brows deeply.

“Still… perhaps he’s trying to strengthen ties with the Imperial Family…?”

“Is that how it looks to you?”

The sixty-year-old man asked the chief secretary seriously.

His golden eyes still blazed brightly, even at dawn.

“It's been a long time since my relationship with the Imperial Family ended. Just look at how they're directly imposing development restrictions on Nord—it’s obvious.”

Luton spoke while pointing to the map of Nord laid out across the office table.

His finger landed on ‘Old Luton,’ the area hit hardest by those restrictions.

“A once-torn skin always leaves a scar, even if stitched back together. And yet, what do you think is the reason that boy keeps approaching the Imperial Family?”

Debier wore an expression of regret, as if he already knew the answer.

But as a servant to his lord, he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

“He’s preparing for the day he becomes Grand Duke—after I die.”

The wrinkles around the lion chieftain’s eyes deepened menacingly.

He wasn’t a knight, and he was well into his sixties, yet his presence remained fierce and intimidating.

“And he dares pull something like this while I’m still alive, watching with both eyes wide open...?”

The Grand Duke of the North exhaled deeply.

Then, after a moment spent steadying his breath, he turned to the chief secretary who had served at his side for so long.

“From now on, report that boy’s every move in full detail.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Debier bowed respectfully to accept the order.

Then he continued with the next report.

“Next, I’ll update you on the trends in arms production, the arts foundation, and agriculture.”

“Start with arms production. I still don’t trust that Edward.”

Duke Luton sipped the cold coffee that had been sitting on the table.

Even as he drank it like one might sip on poison, his expression didn’t change in the slightest—just like his daughter.

“Though there had been a period of stagnation, the premium weapons line is now showing an increase in sales.”

“Is that thanks to the Luton Sword?”

The Grand Duke of the North had already been briefed about the newly developed premium weapon line.

“Yes. It’s said the sword crafted by Grand Duke Schmidt has become extremely popular among the children of noble houses.”

Debier, who had spoken gravely when discussing Eric and Edward, now answered with a slightly softened gaze as soon as the Luton Sword was mentioned.

“And more importantly, it’s defeated its rival—the Leonil Sword.”

The Leonil Sword.

A weapon that had made him uncomfortable just weeks ago in the banquet hall.

Now hearing that his own weapon had triumphed over it…

Though Luton didn’t show it outwardly, the heat in his voice began to die down.

“Yes, Echina personally overwhelmed the Dalton family during the sparring match. That’s what secured the result.”

“That’s correct.”

Despite not having been present at the event, the Grand Duke of the North already had a full grasp of what had occurred.

He rested his fist against his chin and seemed to fall into deep thought, golden eyes gleaming.

“But it’s strange. What got into Schmidt that he’d even consider the design element of the product?”

“It was on the advice of that cadet you saw at the banquet—Julius Roger.”

Julius Roger.

The Grand Duke’s brow twitched, clearly recalling the name.

“That black-haired boy with the sharp eyes, you mean.”

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s said the design was inspired by a sword his father had kept.”

Luton recalled the Baron Roger family.

A commoner house that had risen through wartime achievements—he remembered the man as someone who enjoyed style and flair.

And so, even he ended up nodding in agreement.

“Yes, if it’s him, it makes sense he’d care about the sword’s design.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the Grand Duke slowly walked over to the office window.

There, he gazed at the crimson sun gradually revealing itself beyond the Northern mountain range.

“Now that you mention it, I heard there’s been some fresh movement at the workshop district.”

“Laborers have started gathering in Old Luton for meals and gatherings. And a number of junior legal officers have relocated to the Erian Hotel.”

At the mention of the Erian Hotel, the second most powerful man on the continent turned his head slightly.

Then, in a cold voice, he asked,

“Relocated to that hotel? Does that mean it’s reopened for business?”

“Yes. A buyer appeared yesterday.”

Despite having attached a mountain of conditions to ensure it would never be sold.

And yet someone had deliberately gone and purchased the building.

Sensing a clear motive behind it, the Grand Duke narrowed his eyes with the ruthless glare of a lion chieftain.

“Who’s the buyer?”

Debier silently watched the Grand Duke’s expression.

Then, in a grave voice, he answered.

“Julius Roger.”

That same name, repeated again.

A mere cadet, and yet his name continued to be spoken in the office of the Empire’s second most powerful man.

“That boy again…?”

When the Grand Duke asked with a puzzled look, Debier bowed his head respectfully.

“Yes. Last night, he returned to the mansion with Lady Echina.”

His own second daughter had gone out with a cadet.

In a situation that had never happened before, Luton exhaled deeply.

“I see.”

“Shall I conduct a more thorough investigation on Roger?”

To this, the Grand Duke shook his head.

And for the first time in a while, he wore a faint smile—thanks to his daughter.

“No, it’s fine. That cadet only bought the hotel because it was ‘Echina’s intention.’”

The secretary, who had served him faithfully all his life, frowned slightly at his lord’s suggestive words.

“Lady Echina, you say…?”

“Yes. She likely used a subordinate’s name to conceal that she was the one who made the purchase.”

Luton, feeling a bit bitter, closed his eyes tightly.

“If she’d bought her mother’s keepsake directly, it would’ve seemed like she was still grieving—and I’d have grown concerned.”

The Grand Duke, finding his second daughter’s actions rather intriguing, pointed at the map laid out on the table.

Old Luton, close to the workshops.

If Echina had orchestrated all this, everything made perfect sense.

“Bringing in the workshop laborers, and attracting legal officers as their clients.”

Luton tapped the map lightly with his finger.

A crisp vibration echoed from the fine wooden desk.

“To revive the Erian Hotel—she planned it all.”

Debier nodded in understanding.

“Indeed, that must be it. One would need a deep understanding of both our house and the legal world to make that happen. And the only one who fits that description is Lady Echina.”

With his hands behind his back, Luton wore a look of interest.

Still, he didn’t easily allow himself to feel pride in his daughter.

This level of success wasn’t yet enough to be recognized as a true successor of the ducal house.

To survive in the brutal politics of the upper class, she would have to show more—far more.

And to confirm just that, the Grand Duke of the North made a decision.

“Have Echina attend the weekly meetings starting tomorrow.”

He was calling her into the chamber where the key figures and children of the ducal family gathered.

At that decision, the chief secretary’s lips parted slightly.

With his signature serious expression—hawk-like as always—he asked his lord,

“Are you sure about this...? To invite the Grand Duke’s daughter to that meeting…”

“Yes. It’ll be quite an uncomfortable situation for the others.”

Echina had originally set her path as a knight and had been excluded from succession.

And now, she was being called into a political setting.

In other words, she was being granted eligibility once more to inherit the Grand Duke’s seat.

“But even they must be made aware.”

The Grand Duke folded his arms.

And in a voice as dignified as the Emperor’s, he declared,

“They must be shown that their current conduct falls short of their younger sister.”

The Grand Duke silently looked down over the massive city he had built.

The second most prosperous city in the Empire—Nord.

His eyes gleamed with curiosity over who would become the one to rule it after him.

“What’s next on the schedule, Debier?”

“The daily meeting at 10 a.m., Your Grace.”

The daily meeting.

A gathering with key members of the ducal house to discuss newly reported information.

Facing the portraits of his ancestors, Duke Luton gave another command.

“Have the secretary cadets attend this meeting as well.”

The wise leaders of the family always had clever aides by their side.

Just like Debier had been to him.

“It’s time I see how much those cadets have improved.”

Perhaps because Echina had taken a liking to one of them.

For a man who usually paid no mind to mere cadets, the Grand Duke now wore a faint smile.

“Who knows. One of them might turn out to be the next Chief Secretary—the eighth of their line—to serve the house for life.”

“I shall carry out your order.”

――――――

Two hours later.

At 7 a.m., the secretary cadets arrived at the mansion for breakfast.

Most of the men took their seats at the table looking sharp, even at such an early hour.

However…

“Roger, what’s with your face...?”

“Hm?”

Lucun looked at me curiously as I kept grinning for no reason.

In response, I tried to hold a blank expression and answered calmly,

“Nothing. Just… feels like retirement’s coming sooner than expected.”

Thanks to the competition between the Grand Duke’s daughters and the success in attracting stable investments, my expected profit had already soared more than twenty times higher than I’d originally anticipated.

Of course, it wouldn’t be possible to sell right away and cash in—doing so would draw too much attention from the ducal family.

Besides, the Grand Duke of the North would surely have figured out by now that I was the one who acquired the Erian Hotel.

‘I’ll hold onto it quietly for now, and then sell it off all at once after I retire.’

That way, I could cleanly sever ties with the ducal family and live on as Nord’s nouveau riche.

“Did you have a dream about getting rich or something?”

Lucun asked as he scooped up a spoonful of mashed potatoes.

Chewing on a strip of bacon, I replied lazily,

“Yeah. A dream about becoming a nouveau riche.”

“Doesn’t sound like a particularly flattering term.”

He was right—nouveau riche didn’t exactly have a good image.

It referred to those who had made a fortune in a short time but lacked the refinement of the upper class.

‘But what if you were a nouveau riche who stayed close to a powerful family and acquired that refinement early on?’

I understood their society.

Rather than getting caught up in their bloody power struggles, I’d simply enjoy tearing off the tastiest chunks of their success.

“Attention, everyone.”

The chief secretary entered the dining hall, prompting all cadets to rise from their seats in unison.

A tense silence followed.

“His Grace the Grand Duke has decided that secretary cadets will be permitted to attend today’s daily meeting.”

“……!!”

Secretary cadets—who weren’t even official aides yet—being allowed into the daily meeting?

The moment those words were spoken, fire lit in the eyes of my peers.

They were being granted the chance to witness firsthand a meeting of the elite who ruled the Empire’s North.

“All of you will have one hour to complete attire inspection and gather in the lobby.”

“Yes, sir!!”

The energetic voices of men barely in their twenties echoed throughout the dining hall.

Among them, I wore a sly, crooked smile.

I knew the topic of today’s meeting better than anyone else.

I'd get to witness, right before my eyes, what choice the Grand Duke of the North would make regarding Old Luton.

With that thought, I followed the line of cadets out of the dining hall.

But just as we passed by Debier, who was the one sending us off, our eyes met.

‘Hm…?’

His intense stare made me tilt my head inwardly.

‘Why is he looking at me like that already?’

I had only planned to perform moderately and then slip away from the ducal family.

Feeling a sudden chill crawl over my skin, I gave my shoulders a light shake.

‘Must be my imagination.’

There was no way the notoriously selective ducal family had already taken any particular interest in me.

Most of my actions likely looked like they were all orchestrated by Echina anyway.

‘I’ll keep showing just enough promise to gain some points—and then run when the time is right.’

With that in mind, I strolled leisurely toward the lobby.

Toward the daily meeting where the Grand Duke of the North awaited.