The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 38:  Reviving the City (2)

"I’d like to hear more about the performance hall."

The seasoned middle-aged businesswoman finally spoke.

In response, I guided the investors to the lounge bar beside the gallery.

"Let’s talk over a cup of tea inside."

Following me, the women entered the lounge bar in a line.

Inside, Istina and Helena had already left.

Thanks to that, I was now able to face the investors alone in the empty bar.

"Is the performance hall you mentioned earlier actually feasible?"

She asked in a calm voice, seeking confirmation right away.

As expected from a successful entrepreneur, she was quite guarded.

"Of course. As you can see, I have a deep interest in the arts. That includes music as well."

The Grand Duke of the North’s house was well-known for sponsoring musicians and performance halls.

If I used that as leverage, I could earn even greater trust.

"On top of that, I currently work as a secretary trainee in the Luton family. I wish to contribute meaningfully to the arts in line with their values."

The reason I was still staying with the Grand Duke’s house.

It was because, until I made enough money, I could use the Grand Duke of the North as a massive guarantor.

From the investors’ perspective, if any problem arose, they could simply take it up with the Grand Duke’s house.

"However, at the moment, there’s no land in Old Luton suitable for building a performance hall. All the commercial lots have already been sold."

I extended my hand gracefully and pointed to the middle-aged women who had come along.

With a relaxed smile in my eyes, I asked them,

"In that case, wouldn’t our hotel be the only ‘stage’ in Old Luton?"

If people wanted to hear music in the city, they had no choice but to come to the Erian Hotel.

Not to mention, there were already regularly held art exhibitions.

While everyone else was pouring money into the appearance of their hotels, building them in the latest trendy styles—

I emphasized that ours was a hotel infused with both culture and art.

That was the very strategy of the Erian Hotel.

"Indeed… if this is the only performance hall, visitors would surely flock here."

"That's true. There is certainly something unique about it."

The investors who had come with Madam Loriang exchanged glances and murmured among themselves.

Yet even in that situation, the seasoned businesswoman didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

Wearing gloves trimmed with lace, she silently maintained her vigilance.

"It’s a solid strategy, President Roger."

Loriang nodded calmly, indicating that she understood everything I’d said.

Then, with green eyes full of veiled sharpness, she stared directly at me and delivered a pointed remark.

"But there’s one problem."

"Please speak freely, Madam."

I quietly let out a deep breath inside.

Then, I squarely faced the assault from the powerhouse investor before me.

"An artistic hotel representing Old Luton. On the surface, it sounds very convincing."

Madam Loriang rested her fingers on the table and moved them gently.

As if she were playing the keys of a piano.

"Still, do you really think people who enjoy upper-class culture will come to Old Luton?"

Her fingers abruptly stopped.

She raised her index finger and pointed directly at my heart.

"They’ll all go to New Luton or other cities. There’s no real reason to come to a place like this."

As if daring me to reveal my true intentions.

"Because right now, Old Luton is filled with nothing but rough, intimidating workshop laborers."

Loriang’s critique centered on the image of Old Luton.

When people think of the courts, they think of New Luton. When they think of private education, they think of Eden.

Every city inevitably has a distinct image associated with it.

But what about Old Luton now?

A city of workshop laborers, where investors have suddenly swarmed.

Nothing more, nothing less.

In other words, there was no real reason to build a performance hall here.

Knowing this, she was pressing me to reveal my true motivation.

"Now that you mention it, that's true. There were a lot of workers passing by earlier."

"It felt a bit scary. They all looked so rough…"

Even the noblewomen nodded in agreement.

‘I need to respond well here.’

The fact that Madam Loriang went so far as to set up this separate conversation—

It meant this was her final check before deciding on her investment.

"……"

I held off on answering for a moment and took a deep breath.

In the distance, I saw Echina slowly approaching the lounge bar.

I calmly signaled her that everything was proceeding smoothly.

Then, I looked at Madam Loriang with a serious expression.

"You’re right. That’s exactly why I want to build a performance hall here."

And then, I revealed my true intention to her.

"I’m going to make Old Luton a place where art and industry coexist."

Art and industry.

Even just hearing those words together, the conflicting images made Loriang blink slowly.

However—

I showed no hesitation as I boldly expressed my intent.

With the dull eyes of someone who had survived a ruthless world, just like her.

"If the problem is the atmosphere and the city’s image, I can fix it."

I raised one finger.

Holding up the number one, I stated my claim firmly.

"Give me just one month, and I’ll completely transform the mood of Old Luton."

Just thirty days.

Within that short time, I’d change the entire atmosphere of the city.

Perhaps it sounded completely absurd—Madam Loriang’s lips parted on their own.

The same went for the other investors seated nearby.

Instead of disbelief, their first response to my confidence was concern.

"Do you really believe that’s possible? Prejudice doesn’t break so easily."

"If you don’t believe me, come back in a month and see for yourself."

I calmly brushed off the damp jacket with both hands.

Then, with water still in my hair and strands clinging to my forehead, I spoke.

"Until then, I won’t be signing any contracts either."

She outright refused the contract first.

At that confident stance, Loriang’s dark brows finally twitched.

"Very well. We’ve got nothing to lose on our end."

The seasoned, heavyweight investor rose from her seat.

The other noblewomen began moving as well, following her lead.

"If, when I return in a month, the atmosphere of the city has changed, then I’ll sign the contract on the spot."

"Understood. I hope you’ll look forward to it."

I also rose and shook her hand in farewell.

Then I personally escorted them all the way to the lobby.

"……"

Once the investors had left, Echina—now in her uniform jacket—came to stand beside me.

"Do you think it’s possible?"

She watched the noblewomen receiving their carriages from the hotel staff, arms crossed.

With the cold, calculating gaze reminiscent of the Grand Duke of the North, she posed the question.

"Prejudice isn’t something that breaks easily."

Whether I could turn the heart of that seasoned investor—

"You’re right. People usually judge based on appearances alone."

Just as my father once told me.

People don’t tend to wonder about someone’s inner qualities.

Only after they’ve taken a liking to the exterior do they start to care about the interior.

"So if we improve how things look on the outside, doesn’t that solve the problem?"

I pulled out a notebook from my inner pocket, filled cover to cover with ideas for Old Luton.

I tore out one page and held it in my palm.

Then, looking carefully at the Grand Duke’s daughter in front of me, I asked,

"That said, may I offer you a proposal?"

A mere secretary trainee daring to propose something to the Grand Duke’s daughter—

If it were anyone else, they would’ve been scolded on the spot.

But—

"It’s an important suggestion that would benefit you as well, Your Grace."

With my usual prematurely mature, formal smile, I straightened up and showed her due respect.

By now, she’d come to recognize that my capabilities were anything but ordinary.

"What kind of proposal is it?"

Echina responded coolly, arms still folded, her face unreadable.

Even if she found me admirable, she had the look of someone ready to reprimand any overstep of a subordinate’s bounds.

"I’d like you to present this ‘proposal’ to the Grand Duke regarding the welfare of the laborers."

To her cautious gaze, I bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle and politely offered the torn page with both hands.

At the exaggerated gesture, Echina’s brow twitched.

"You want me to tell Father about this…?"

She looked at me as if I were a cornered animal begging for mercy in an amusing little act.

Perhaps curious about it, Echina blinked her golden eyes and looked down at the paper.

"……"

At first, Echina’s expression showed clear disbelief, unimpressed by my smooth-talking demeanor.

But the more she read…

"You really believe this alone could change the city?"

Her expression turned serious.

With eyes that held the maturity of someone who resembled the continent’s second-in-command.

"Yes, Your Grace. All I ask is that you approve the budget."

I returned her gaze with the same cold, expressionless face.

Just like when I worked behind the scenes during my time as chief secretary, orchestrating plans behind the heads of the noble houses.

"Then starting next week, Lady Echina’s shopping district will be overflowing with customers."

Echina stared directly into my oddly sharp gaze.

Then, true to her instincts as a power-holder’s daughter, she muttered a single line.

"Every now and then, I’m reminded just how strange you are."

The Grand Duke’s daughter stepped closer to me.

Close enough that I could feel her faint breath at the tip of my nose.

"When you're entertaining, you’re as sly and smooth as a clever fox."

Her noble hand pinched the collar of my damp dress shirt.

Then, as if checking the condition of prey, she gave it a slight tug.

"But sometimes, you look far too seasoned. Like right now."

Her expressionless face reflected in my pitch-black eyes.

"Just like Debier, who’s served my father for decades."

I didn’t offer a single rebuttal to her sharp words.

I simply held my ground, maintaining the same cold, unreadable expression.

"Well, not that it matters anymore."

Echina soon let go of the shirt collar she’d been holding.

Then, turning her back to me, she left one final remark.

"Whatever your intentions are, I like talented people."

A rich fig scent drifted from her swaying hair.

The same sweet fragrance adored by queens bored its way into my mind.

"Just don’t do anything that might endanger the family, Julius Roger."

With her hands clasped behind her back, Echina glanced at me over her shoulder.

And smiled—a mature smile befitting a future commander of the knights.

"If you do, that sly little smile of yours might be gone for good."

It was the first time.

The first time she had ever left me with such a chilling smile.

Her face, so reminiscent of the late Madam Erian, was truly beautiful.

But the chilling remark behind her smile—

It was like finding a writhing mass of insects inside a decadently sweet fig.

"Thank you."

Echina waved the slip of paper I’d given her lightly with one hand and walked toward the road.

At that, a black horse waiting in the hotel parking area lifted its head.

――――――.

A warhorse that sprinted forward at the mere glance of its master.

With practiced ease, the Grand Duke’s daughter landed firmly in the saddle in one fluid motion.

Hotel staff lined up to escort her as she departed.

As the hotel’s representative, I stepped out ahead of them.

"You’re finally starting to look the part."

Echina gave a brief chuckle as she looked at me standing at the entrance of the Erian Hotel.

Then she quickly returned to her cold, blank expression.

"Keep dressing like that even at the Grand Duke’s house."

"I’ll do my best."

I offered a polite farewell to the Grand Duke’s daughter as she pulled the reins.

And then, I silently watched the departing figure of the northern female knight.

"……."

After she disappeared, the now-quiet scenery of Old Luton came into view.

Old stone buildings and empty streets.

Though the staff were diligently cleaning, the city's inherent bleakness couldn't be erased.

But even so—

I watched over Old Luton with a faint smile.

Because in my imagination, this city had already grown more prosperous and dazzling than anywhere else in the Empire’s North.

‘This is only the beginning.’

Before long, investors began strolling through the shopping district, looking around the streets.

Workers from the Luton workshop and nearby students also headed to the restaurant for the snacks being offered.

While I stood alone in silence, the hotel manager, Yuria, emerged from the lobby.

"Yuria."

"Y-Yes, sir…!!"

Perhaps sensing something chilling in my firm tone, she looked visibly tense.

To her—red-haired and dressed in formal attire—I gave a quiet order.

"Contact Schmidt from the Luton Workshop."

At some point, I’d reached the point where I could summon the Empire’s foremost master craftsman at will.

And yet, this was just the beginning.

"Tell him I’d like to see him."

It wouldn’t be long before many of the Empire’s great powers began to move at my command.