The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 55:  The Greatest Masterpiece on Earth. (5)

The rickshaw came to a stop in front of a sign that read Territory of the Luton Family.

Leaning against the post of the sign was a single bicycle.

“You’ve done well. I’ll go on alone from here.”

As if I had prepared in advance, I walked up to the bicycle.

Then, I stacked the wrapped paintings onto the back seat.

It didn’t matter, since they were protected by mana anyway.

Still, the sight of someone moving an entire mansion’s worth by bicycle would be something to see.

“Here. Your pay.”

“Sir, this is too much…!!”

His lips parted in shock at the five gold coins in his hands.

After all, a boy like him usually earned no more than one gold coin per job.

“It’s the right pay for what you’ve done today.”

I left those meaningful words behind as I got on the modest bicycle.

“Then allow me to escort you to the mansion.”

“No need. It’s farther than it looks from here.”

The rickshaw boy kept bowing his head in thanks as I rode away on the bicycle.

Waving to him, I leisurely entered the Grand Duke’s estate.

――――――

The golden wheat fields swayed gently in the autumn breeze.

The sun had begun to dip behind the lofty mountain range, dripping like molten lava.

Amidst that breathtaking view, I made my way toward the distant Luton manor.

“……”

Soon, the mansion’s garden came into view.

And there, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, stood a woman.

“Julius Roger!”

The Grand Duke’s daughter, Echina.

Her eyes, lit by emotion, turned a vivid shade of crimson.

“I wondered what you’d come back on—what’s with that bicycle?”

“The roads are nice. It’s good enough to ride a bike around.”

Echina let out a hollow laugh at my ever-unpredictable behavior.

Even with a hotel in my name, even with the singer of the century by my side—I hadn’t changed. She shook her head.

“Everyone I’ve seen so far changes the moment they gain status…”

I looked at Echina quietly from the side.

Her beautiful eyes gleamed beneath her fluttering black hair.

“But every upper-class person I’ve seen always makes sure to grab their stuff first.”

Standing beside the rattling bicycle, the Grand Duke’s daughter clasped her hands behind her back.

Then, with her gaze fixed solely forward, she spoke calmly.

“You brought it back just fine, I’m sure.”

She had made sure to check that I was safe before even looking at the paintings.

In return, I pointed to the long boxes strapped tightly to the back seat.

“Don’t tell me—that’s one of Deyan’s paintings…?”

“Yes. A fresh one, just acquired.”

Seeing the painting protected by mana, Echina instantly sensed it was the real deal.

“Hah. You’re unbelievable.”

“What do you mean?”

I asked as I pedaled leisurely.

The Grand Duke’s daughter closed her eyes gently, as if it were nothing.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”

After that, we simply returned together, feeling the autumn breeze.

The entrance of the mansion came into view.

The sound of the bicycle chain, rarely heard in the estate, echoed softly.

The escort knight guarding the mansion gate called out in a solemn voice.

“The Grand Duke’s daughter has returned!”

Soon after, the main gates of the estate opened.

Attendants who had been waiting inside came out in a line and formed two rows.

We walked proudly between them.

And when we entered the lobby—

We came face-to-face with the Grand Duke of the North and Duke Luton, who had descended the circular staircase.

「Echina, is that you.」

“Yes, Head of House. I have just returned, having completed the mission.”

She had completed the mission.

Which meant, she had successfully carried out the task he had assigned.

At that, the Grand Duke asked with a faint smile forming at the corners of his lips.

「I see. You’ve recovered the painting?」

“Yes, it’s right here.”

At the same time she answered, I untied the box fastenings.

Then, the knights who had been watching nearby stepped in and each took hold of a painting.

「Still sealed, just as it was.」

“The smugglers likely used clairvoyant magic to verify the works without opening them.”

I replied calmly—someone who, in the past, had a keen understanding of artwork.

The Grand Duke narrowed his intense gaze slightly and asked again.

「Don’t tell me—you brought that back alone?」

“Technically, Lady Echina and I brought it back together.”

I looked at the Grand Duke’s daughter and offered a soft smile.

In response, she quietly nodded.

「You didn’t encounter a single guard or knight on the way back?」

“No, we had a very smooth return.”

The Grand Duke of the North furrowed his brow, clearly doubtful.

It was understandable.

Eric and the Grand Duke’s knights, who had followed me—

They had likely planned to storm the scene just as I was meeting with the smugglers.

That way, they could steal the credit for the operation and then make a show of gifting the painting as a reward.

Even if it was a reward, it would have pained them to hand it over so easily to someone like me, with no blood ties to them.

And Eric—clearly reading the situation—had tried to jump in at the last second to claim credit as well.

That was exactly why I had insisted on paying the full price for the painting—so I could claim it fairly.

「In any case, both of you, come upstairs.」

“Yes, understood.”

While the knights summoned a mage to unseal the painting,

We followed the Grand Duke up to his office.

Debier, who had been waiting in the second-floor corridor, personally opened the door for us.

Once we stepped inside, he closed the door and clasped his hands behind his back.

「Let’s talk while the paintings are being verified.」

The Grand Duke stood with his hands behind his back, facing the window.

He looked at our reflections in the glass as he asked,

「Truthfully, I didn’t expect you, Echina, to retrieve the painting. You were at a disadvantage in terms of military power, intelligence—on every front.」

“……”

The Grand Duke’s daughter remained silent at his cold, clear assessment.

「But it seems you have something others don’t—a good eye.」

The Grand Duke slowly turned his head.

And with golden eyes tinged by the sunset, he looked straight at me.

“You flatter me, Your Grace.”

「There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.」

A dark shadow fell across Duke Luton’s face as the sunset shone behind him.

Within that shadow, his eyes gleamed sharply like a predator’s.

「I heard you recently purchased a 30-carat diamond in New Luton.」

The Grand Duke of the North knew the details of my transactions with uncanny precision.

He questioned me in a cold, calculated voice.

「It should still be difficult to afford something like that with just the net profits from the Erian Hotel. So how did you pay for it?」

I answered immediately.

With the same gaze I’d had back when I was Chief Secretary, with masterpieces lining the walls around me.

“I took out a loan using the hotel’s property as collateral.”

「In other words, you were certain you’d retrieve the painting first, no matter what?」

I let out a deep breath.

Then, placing my fist over my heart, I answered respectfully.

“No, sir. I simply did everything I could as a secretary to retrieve what my lord desired.”

I turned my gaze toward the map of Nord that hung on the office wall.

The Grand Duke, too, stared at the vast territory as he asked again,

「You speak as though you understand the painting’s true value.」

“Yes, I do.”

I answered boldly, hiding nothing.

Now was the time—to assert myself, and at the same time…

To elevate Echina’s standing.

「Then allow me one question.」

From the corridor came the sound of knights’ boots echoing.

Following that sound, the Grand Duke posed a weighty question.

「In your opinion, what defines a masterpiece?」

A masterpiece.

That heavy word brought a moment of solemn stillness to the office.

「I’m asking why you went so far as to take on debt just to invest in one of Deyan’s paintings.」

Echina looked at me with a tense expression.

Meeting her gaze, I responded without hesitation.

“Deyan’s painting represents the pride of the North—opposing the Imperial family.”

The pride of the North.

The Grand Duke, perhaps liking where this was going, listened in silence.

“It is historical proof that, 400 years ago, the North was wealthier than the capital itself, thanks to trade with the kingdom.”

The Grand Duke of the North was a man fiercely proud of his homeland, Nord.

And he was a shrewd businessman who knew well that this pride and love for home were the foundation of solidarity.

“As a result, the northern nobles gained stronger pride in their homeland, and it strengthened their unity.”

Just as I finished speaking, the knights entered the office.

Wearing gloves, they placed the unsealed masterpieces upright against the bookshelf.

“That is the influence of a masterpiece—the power of culture.”

The masterpieces of the century’s painter, Deyan.

Four of them were now standing in a row.

“You, Grand Duke, must have refrained from retrieving the lost artworks yourself to see whether your heirs understood this very point.”

「…….」

The Grand Duke silently stared at the four women painted on the canvas.

Dressed in lavish gowns, with expressions full of happiness.

Luton had hoped to recreate that era of prosperity once more in his own time.

The golden age of Nord—when they didn’t need to bow to the Imperial family’s whims.

「Not bad.」

At last, the Grand Duke seemed convinced. He closed his eyes slowly.

Then, he turned his head to gaze out the window.

「You may go now.」

The setting sun was reflected in his golden eyes.

Luton spoke as he quietly watched the view.

「Echina.」

“Yes, Your Grace.”

「Which of Deyan’s paintings will you take with you?」

At his question, Echina didn’t respond right away.

Instead, she looked at me—the one who was supposed to receive the reward—and offered me the chance.

“I’ve decided to entrust the artwork to Julius Roger, who contributed greatly this time.”

To give a painting worth ten billion gold coins to a mere secretary candidate.

The Grand Duke turned to Echina at her firm decision.

「Is that true?」

“Yes. I believe those who make worthy contributions should receive equally worthy rewards.”

Even the Grand Duke of the North hadn’t foreseen this. He stared intently at his daughter.

But the moment he met the resolute gaze in her eyes—

「Very well. Let it be so.」

He smiled at his daughter for the first time.

It had been a dire enough situation for him to consider giving away one of the paintings to the one who retrieved it.

For her to understand the gravity of the matter, and pass that reward to a subordinate who resolved it—

Seeing his second daughter share his own boldness, he couldn’t help but smile.

“……”

Echina’s heart swelled at the sight of her father like that.

It was the first smile he had ever shown her.

More dazzling than any reward.

To her eyes, that smile from the Grand Duke was a masterpiece in itself.

「Julius Roger. Which painting will you choose?」

The Grand Duke folded his arms and posed the question to me.

As if he intended to test my eye for art in the process.

“……”

In silence, I followed his gaze to the paintings leaning against the bookshelf.

Noblewomen dressed in garments of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Each was beautiful enough to be called a masterpiece.

However—

“There is no painting here that I will take.”

I chose none of them.

“……?”

No painting to claim?

Echina blinked like a stunned lioness.

But the Grand Duke, perhaps already reading my intent, remained expressionless.

Still with arms crossed, he calmly asked again.

「Then where is the painting you intend to take?」

“I choose the fifth painting—the one still unopened.”

The Grand Duke waved his hand as if to say, “Do as you wish.”

In response, I bowed my head politely in gratitude.

“Shall we head down together?”

“Let’s.”

I was about to leave the office with the Grand Duke’s daughter.

But then, I stopped in my tracks at the voice that came from behind.

「By the way, I suppose it’s unfortunate about the diamond. I have no intention of returning something that was traded illegally.」

As expected, the Grand Duke made sure he profited.

Like the seasoned businessman he was, he kept my 5 billion gold.

However, his smile didn’t last long.

“That’s alright. It’s as if I simply purchased one painting at full price.”

I had already stopped thinking about the diamond.

“In fact, since I paid for it, I’ll freely spread the influence of the masterpiece as I please.”

The Grand Duke silently watched me as I exited the room.

Then, he brought a hand to his lips.

As if he had understood the true reason I had chosen that painting.

「―――――」

The office door closed.

Debier, who had gone ahead, motioned for us to follow him.

“Roger, by the way, why didn’t you pick one of the paintings from the office?”

Echina knew.

That the four Lover of the Four Seasons paintings we had seen earlier were more expensive than the one we were about to see.

“Artistically speaking, the ones we saw earlier were worth more.”

“They were. The color, the craftsmanship—it was clear how much effort went into them.”

However.

Those were paintings appreciated from the perspective of nobles.

After all, the subjects on the canvas were all noblewomen.

“The Lover of the Four Seasons series holds little meaning when separated. And their glamorous appearance makes it difficult to resonate with the general public.”

When we reached the first floor, the packaging of the fifth painting had just been removed.

I walked up to it calmly.

And the moment I finally saw the girl painted within—

‘It’s been a while.’

I couldn’t help but smile in quiet recognition.

Because Deyan’s fifth painting was…

The same dancer-garbed girl that would hang in my office ten years later—after I was dead.

“But the girl in the dancer’s outfit is different.”

I spoke to Echina while looking at the painting.

With the same gaze I once had as Chief Secretary—the one responsible for the Grand Duke’s household finances.

“Every daughter in every household has, at some point, worn a dancer’s outfit.”

My next venture was in fashion.

And not just any fashion—Nord’s finest luxury brand, launched with this painting as its symbol.