The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 33:  Erian Hotel (1)

The meeting ended, and it was noon.

Since it was the weekend, everyone returned to their respective families.

However, I didn’t head straight for my family home.

The place I headed to was Old Luton.

Because it was also my very first home—and my only source of income—‘Erian Hotel’.

“It’s been a while.”

An old-fashioned hotel stood in the middle of a timeworn street.

For a place that had been neglected and long devoid of guests, its exterior was pristine, without a single crack.

However, those carriages parked blatantly at the entrance...

It might give the impression that there were a lot of guests for now, but that was the kind of cheap tactic used by third-rate hotels.

Not something that suited Erian, which was soon to be reborn as a first-class establishment.

“I should start by getting rid of those things.”

――――――

With my hands clasped behind my back, I entered through the hotel’s front entrance.

There were no staff members present at the door.

It wasn’t until I stepped into the lobby that I noticed a woman standing awkwardly in front of the counter.

She wore a name tag that read ‘Manager’ across her chest.

“Ah, good afternoon...!”

“Nice to meet you. You're the manager, I assume.”

“Yes, my name is Yuria!”

Naturally, it was always a bit unsettling when your boss looked to be about your age.

The manager in front of me was no exception.

She kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, her expression clearly wondering whether I was really the owner of the hotel.

“How long have you been in charge here?”

“This is my third month.”

Three months.

That would be just enough time to get the hang of the surface-level tasks.

“And your predecessor?”

“Well...”

At the mention of the previous manager, Yuria looked troubled.

Through her loosely tied red hair, her scarlet eyes wavered.

“After handing things over, they left right away...”

She let out a deep sigh as she spoke.

Come to think of it, the dark circles under her eyes suggested she’d been having a rough time.

She was likely someone who had graduated from a prestigious academy, dreaming of a glamorous life managing a hotel.

She probably jumped at the chance when she heard a hotel built by the Grand Duke’s house was looking for a manager...

But she couldn’t have imagined it would be such a rundown place.

‘No wonder the previous manager quit like they were fleeing.’

“Judging by the look on your face, you seem to be regretting taking this job.”

“N-No, not at all!! How could I... It’s a historic hotel built by the Grand Duke’s house, after all...”

I smiled faintly at the woman’s clumsy attempt to cover it up.

Then I glanced around the quaint hotel lobby and continued speaking.

“Just because something’s historic doesn’t mean it’s a good hotel.”

I gently knocked on one of the old marble pillars with the back of my hand.

A clear, resonant sound rang out faintly.

Judging from this alone, the building was indeed solid—worthy of having been built by the Grand Duke’s house.

“Sorry to disappoint. I imagine you had high hopes, hearing it was built by the Luton family.”

“...”

Yuria couldn’t respond to my apology.

She looked to be around my age, but acted as if she were dealing with a much older superior.

"However, starting today, things will change."

I made that promise to her with the same look I had during my days as Chief Secretary.

Then, pulling a pair of white leather gloves from my back pocket, I asked,

"Because I’m going to turn this place into Nord’s most prestigious hotel."

Claiming I’d turn the most run-down place in the North into the best.

Yuria seemed to find that hard to believe, and she couldn't answer right away.

"Understood…"

After all, she herself had vowed to revive the hotel somehow when she first arrived.

"If you give me orders, I’ll carry them out wholeheartedly."

Leaving the weary hotel manager behind, I headed straight to the lounge connected to the lobby.

It was a space filled with old chairs and tables over a soft rug floor.

It wasn’t particularly large, but it had all the essentials.

‘There probably aren’t any guests yet.’

With that thought, I looked over the tables.

But the moment I turned toward the window—

"...?"

My eyes widened at the sight of a familiar silhouette.

"Oh my."

Brilliant, voluminous golden hair.

And even while seated, a back view as elegant as an hourglass.

"The owner of this hotel has arrived."

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter, Helena, glanced back at me.

Her golden eyelids shimmered beautifully in the sunlight.

"Aren’t you arriving a little late for work...?"

Recognizing me, she spoke, and Yuria quickly looked between us, trying to read the situation.

"Do you two know each other? I thought she was just a young lady…"

"Yes. She’s the eldest daughter of the Western Grand Duke’s house."

At my calm response, the manager’s eyes grew round as saucers.

Like a startled squirrel.

"Wh-What...? Who...?!"

Leaving the stunned Yuria behind, I walked toward the window.

Then, I asked Helena, who held a teacup in one hand,

"What brings you here?"

"Nothing much. I just stopped by to check if the commercial building I purchased is under proper renovation."

Helena brushed her bangs back with a graceful motion.

A deep scent of grapes rose from her gorgeous hair.

"But this was the only place nearby suitable for a cup of tea."

The daughter of a prestigious family spoke with composed elegance.

"So just go about your business. I’m here as a guest today."

There wasn’t much I could say in return.

Indeed, there was no other decent place nearby that served tea yet.

"Understood. Is the tea to your liking?"

"The aroma is subtle and nice. Not bad."

I bowed politely to her and stepped back.

Then I noticed a generous amount of sugar powder spilled on her table and tilted my head.

‘Doesn’t seem like she’s drinking it for the aroma...’

As I turned my head and walked back toward the lobby,

Helena sat with her legs crossed, observing the situation with a leisurely gaze.

"Let’s see then."

Holding her teacup in one hand,

"How you plan to revive a failed hotel."

Back in the lobby, I turned to look at Yuria, who had followed me.

Realizing that I was acquainted with the Western Grand Duke’s daughter, Yuria grew tense. I spoke to her calmly.

"First, gather all the staff here."

"Yes, understood."

The manager obediently followed my order for now.

She must have at least some sense, being someone sent down from the Grand Duke’s house. As instructed, she gathered the employees.

Ten staff members dressed in navy suits.

Among them were four male hoteliers.

Even though the hotel had eight floors, it seemed the high vacancy rate had resulted in fewer employees.

"Are all of you here?"

"Yes. The rest have already moved to other hotels."

They, too, were either planning to leave soon or just doing the bare minimum.

None of them even seemed curious about what orders I might give.

"First, all the male staff—head outside."

The men in navy suits exchanged glances at my words, unsure.

Their eyes clearly asked if they were about to be fired.

"Go out and remove all the carriages parked in front of the hotel."

At my command, Yuria quickly stepped forward to stop me.

"B-but, we don’t have a designated parking space."

"I’m aware."

I looked down at the manager and replied calmly.

Then I pointed across the street to an empty lot.

"From now on, all guests’ carriages are to be guided to that lot."

"You mean, by our own staff?"

Yuria blinked at me in surprise.

"Understood... but, there’s bound to be a lot of complaints."

"No, I think they’ll actually come to appreciate it."

To her bold concern, I gave a gentle smile.

Then, making a gesture of counting money with my fingers, I said,

"Guests who aren’t used to this kind of service are easily impressed—and they tend to tip."

"...!"

The more effort you put in, the greater the reward.

Once a few generous tips started coming in, even the indifferent staff would perk up and volunteer for work.

"This is Madam Luton’s first hotel."

I rested my fist under my sharp chin.

Then, glancing around the elegantly built lobby created by the duchess herself, I added,

"Since this is one of Old Luton’s most iconic buildings, we need to make distinctive service our weapon."

An old, outdated hotel couldn’t compete with the sleek, modern buildings of New Luton.

That meant the marketing strategy had to change.

"An iconic building…?"

Yuria repeated my words and looked around the chilly, empty hotel lobby.

While the building had been constructed with fairly good materials, it had received little investment. Not a single decorative feature could be found.

It felt far too bare to be considered a city landmark.

"But even so, we don’t really have anything to show off."

Having finished her tea, Helena also stepped into the lobby, arms crossed.

As if wanting a closer look at my actions, she leaned against a marble pillar.

She wore white leggings and a crisp dress shirt.

As she tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascaded elegantly over her shoulder.

"The lobby does feel rather bare, I’ll admit."

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter knew.

She knew that I’d taken out loans to purchase the hotel and the adjacent lot, leaving me with no funds left to furnish the interior.

Her gaze said she could lend me the money if I wanted.

With the graceful smile of a queen, she was offering me an opportunity.

"If there were a few famous paintings hanging around, that would help quite a bit, I’d say."

But I knew better.

The moment you fall into her embrace—even once—

You’d never be able to escape.

"That’s right. The Erian Hotel had been left neglected for so long, it never received any support."

With my hands clasped behind my back, I looked calmly at the golden-haired woman.

She narrowed her elegant eyes, perhaps puzzled by my relaxed demeanor.

"So, you have a solution after all, Roger?"

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter slightly curled her red lips, as if to say she was certain there was nothing more I could do.

She’d correctly predicted that I had no other place left to draw money from.

However—

"Yes. I do."

I responded to her with a bright smile.

Even without money, there were countless ways to decorate a hotel.

――――――

A loud clatter of carriage wheels rang out from the hotel entrance.

At the sound, Yuria stood on her tiptoes and spoke up.

"Looks like the carriage owners came to move their vehicles."

"No."

I shook my head firmly at her words.

And then—

As we looked toward the many carriages pulling up at the hotel entrance, I spoke leisurely.

"My friend has arrived."

The front doors swung open with a strong flourish.

Then, unfamiliar laborers began to file into the lobby in an orderly line.

"Uh...? Who are all these people?"

Yuria asked, her face filled with confusion as she looked at the line of men entering.

As if to answer her question, a majestic and luxurious carriage parked at the hotel entrance opened, and someone stepped out.

Even from a distance, he had an imposing physique.

Dressed in a refined suit, the man entered the hotel.

The laborers followed behind him in a single line, bowing their heads in unison.

The sight resembled the grand entrance of a noble.

But he was no noble.

"Is this the Erian Hotel?"

He was the eldest son of the empire’s largest pawnshop.

Lucun Fern.

"Ah, yes... yes it is!!"

Yuria’s eyes grew wide at the sight of the tall man whose presence seemed to envelop the entire room.

"I came at Roger’s request."

Our dependable pawnshop heir looked at me quietly.

Then, gesturing toward the carriages he’d brought with a thumb, he said,

"We’ve 'rented' some of our artworks to Erian Hotel."

Rented.

Helena, listening from a distance, parted her lips slightly in surprise.

I glanced at her and gave a sly smile.

"That’s right. Starting today, we’re holding an ‘art exhibition’ using pieces rented from Fern Pawnshop."

As I finished speaking, the laborers brushed past Helena.

The flurry of movement caused the Grand Duke’s daughter’s radiant golden hair to sway gently.

"Lending them out is one thing… but I still feel anxious as hell."

I lightly patted my dependable classmate on the shoulder,

like a cunning fox clinging to a lion.

"Those pieces were just piling up anyway—you guys weren’t getting any money back on them. At least this way, they’re finally being used."

A guy who never opened up to anyone from school let out a faint chuckle.

Then he silently observed the placement of the artworks being arranged throughout the lobby.

"Hey, move that elephant statue a little more to the left!"

He even gave calm, direct instructions to the workers.

Seeing him like this, I was reminded that not just anyone could become a secretary candidate for the Grand Duke’s house.

"By the way, did your wife like the necklace?"

"Ahem… Yes. She said she really liked the design."

A necklace I’d guarded with my life had now been exchanged for a connection with the empire’s strongest pawnshop.

What better trade could there be?

Thinking that, I turned to look at Helena.

The Grand Duke’s daughter let out a short sigh, then pulled a pair of black sunglasses from her bosom and put them on.

As if to conceal the look in her eyes.

"You really are entertaining."

With her arms crossed, the Western Grand Duke’s daughter watched quietly.

She seemed fascinated by the scene before her, silently moving her red lips.

As though calculating something on her own.

And she wasn’t the only one captivated by the moment.

"Wow…!!"

It was the current hotel manager, Yuria.

Burdened with everything after the last manager vanished, she now stood in awe as the hotel began to fill with expensive items.

"My goodness… What is all this?!"

Being a graduate of a prestigious academy, she was quite knowledgeable.

And it didn’t take long for her to recognize that the artworks before her were masterpieces rarely seen even in museums.

From the elephant statue imported from the East—

To the lavish portrait of a fallen royal family—

She was utterly stunned by the items she’d only ever seen in textbooks.

"Don’t just stand there with your mouth open. Here, carry this."

I handed a bottle of wine to the dazed young woman.

She blinked her scarlet eyes and stared at the label.

"This is… King Leo, 30-year?! Wait—did you rent the wine too?"

"No. I bought that one with my own money."

A premium line wine worth the price of an entire carriage—per bottle.

There was a simple reason why I rented all the art but bought only that.

“Soon, we’ll have guests who enjoy drinking as well.”

I looked toward the hotel entrance, now filling with art, my gaze resolute.

On the far horizon, the silhouette of a carriage began to appear.

And atop the roof of that carriage…

A flag bearing the cross—the symbol of the cathedral—was proudly fluttering in the wind.

"Get ready. They're our first guests."

The first investors, coming to see for themselves whether this place was worth anything.

If I failed to prove my capabilities, they were powerful enough to trample over Erian under the name of religion—without mercy.

‘They would be my first opponents.’