The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 56: Erian Foundation (1)

The day a mere secretary candidate came to possess a 5 billion-gold masterpiece.

The children who had missed out on the painting right before their eyes immediately went to find their father.

Starting with Eric, who oversaw Luton Construction and Industry.

Then Edward, in charge of the arms business, and Freya, who managed hotels and the cultural tourism sector.

They went up to the office and confronted the Grand Duke of the North.

“Father, we heard that you gave Deyan’s painting to Echina.”

Eric spoke first as their representative.

The Grand Duke, seated at his desk attending to state affairs, didn’t even glance at his son, as though it was nothing of importance.

「Is that what you're upset about.」

“Yes. Echina isn’t ready to handle something like that yet.”

“That’s right. A masterpiece should be owned by someone of suitable standing.”

Edward chimed in.

Particularly well-versed in fashion and social gatherings, he seemed especially displeased.

However—

The sons who had been confidently protesting immediately flinched.

「Then you should have gotten to it first.」

Their father, who usually accommodated his sons' requests to some degree, was now wearing a chillingly expressionless face.

「You dare to say such things when you let your youngest sibling snatch away the opportunity I gave you.」

The Grand Duke slammed the document he had been reviewing down onto the desk.

Then, folding his arms, he looked at his children with disapproval.

「Yes, Echina may not be fully prepared. After all, she’s spent her life until now only learning academics and swordsmanship at the academy.」

Luton rose from his leather chair.

Placing one arm on the desk, he scowled like a dominant lion.

「But lately, she’s been showing greater potential than any of you.」

“But she’s never learned how to handle practical business matters.”

“We already each have our own companies to run, so it’s hard to spare any attention.”

All of the children, except for Echina and the youngest son Edgar, appealed that they were already running their own businesses.

However, to a man of power like the Grand Duke, excuses held no weight.

「So, you're saying you were all too busy to obey my command properly?」

It only provoked him further.

“……”

The children were unable to answer their father’s question.

Seeing that, the Grand Duke nodded, as if saying he understood their intentions all too well.

「Fine then, in that case, it would be only fair for Echina to take charge of a business as well.」

He would entrust a business to his second daughter too.

At those words, the children who had shrunk back all opened their mouths at once.

“Father!!”

「Why? Didn’t each of you receive one of my businesses for free? Isn’t Echina my daughter as well?」

When the Grand Duke laid it out so bluntly, they could no longer refute him.

They could only look at the emergence of a new competitor with displeasure.

「Don’t be bitter. Face reality.」

However, the Grand Duke of the North wasn’t simply showing favoritism toward Echina.

A child born of a beast had to endure an education just as ruthless.

「If you're that displeased with Echina, then just take back what I gave her.」

While acknowledging his second daughter, the Grand Duke also pushed her off the same cliff.

At last, he had given an equal chance in the succession battle.

「When have I ever questioned your little schemes?」

“……”

They were free to take it.

At those words, the children all flashed fierce glares that resembled their father’s.

“Father, I just want to ask one thing.”

The Grand Duke lifted his chin, signaling him to speak.

“What made you suddenly decide to bring Echina into the family business?”

Edward and Freya also turned to Duke Luton with questioning eyes.

The Grand Duke remained silent for a moment, then turned to the vast map of Nord hanging on the office wall and asked,

「What did you plan to do with Deyan’s painting if you had received it?」

At the sudden mention of the painting they had just lost, Eric swallowed hard.

And like the eldest son who had studied business under his father’s guidance, he answered calmly.

“Each of Deyan’s paintings is worth over 5 billion gold. Moreover, due to the artist’s fame, the value is almost entirely stable.”

He had clearly grasped the painting’s market value.

“If a recession hits the empire, or the currency wavers, that painting will be of great use. It can offer clients more trust than gold or diamonds.”

「You mean it’s an unshakable, absolute asset.」

“Yes, Father.”

Eric responded with eyes full of conviction.

「…….」

Luton slowly closed his eyes.

While one son had grasped the essence of a masterpiece and was ready to use it as a business tool to generate great profit—

That same eldest son planned to lock it away in a storage room until it was time to use it.

He felt stifled, wondering if that professional education had boxed his son in too tightly.

「That’s why I want to give Echina a chance.」

Echina still had much to prove.

However, she at least had a trustworthy subordinate by her side.

Moreover, she trusted that subordinate and showed a willingness to listen, despite being of a higher rank.

If that girl received the right guidance and awakened to the business world...

「If you’re done whining, all of you can leave.」

The Grand Duke believed she was more than worthy to enter the family business.

「Since when have I ever been someone who listened to your complaints and grumbling.」

At the cold dismissal from their patriarch, the sons had nothing left to say.

Soon after, they bowed politely with lowered heads,

Then left the office with tightly sealed lips.

“Good night, Father.”

Freya offered a graceful farewell with a calm expression.

The Grand Duke waved a hand at her indifferently.

――――――.

Once the doors closed, only Debier and the Grand Duke remained in the office.

The second most powerful man on the continent sank back into the leather chair.

“……”

The chief secretary silently watched his lord, who had just dropped a bomb on his children.

Sensing that gaze, the Grand Duke, eyes still closed, asked his confidant of thirty years,

「Do you also think the family business is still too much for Echina?」

“If by family business, you mean you're planning to hand over one of the enterprises to the second daughter…”

At the seasoned secretary’s words, the Grand Duke slowly shook his head.

Then, he gently flicked his fingers resting on the armrest as he spoke.

「No, to be precise, I plan to give her 5 billion gold in the form of a promissory note.」

“Rather small for something called a family business.”

Debier, casually calling a sum most people wouldn’t even dream of in their lifetime “small,”

Ran his gloved hand along his jaw.

“Still, judging by how intensely the children reacted over a single painting, it’s understandable.”

「Exactly. And even if 5 billion sounds small, ‘how it’s multiplied’ changes everything.」

How it would be multiplied.

Whether he’d found the answer to that meaningful remark, Debier’s sharp gaze glinted immediately.

“You’re planning to bet on Roger.”

The Grand Duke unfolded his arms behind his back and let out a soft chuckle.

He then picked up the monocle that had been sitting on his desk and put it on.

「If only my children resembled you even halfway.」

Then, while looking over state documents, he added quietly,

「Let’s see how she handles the little cash I just handed her.」

As the Grand Duke’s office returned to silence,

The first floor of the mansion bustled with the departing children.

Before they returned to their respective businesses,

They exchanged a final conversation, looking at one another.

“So in the end, Father placed Echina on the chessboard too.”

Freya, the usually quiet silver-haired one, finally spoke.

Her golden eyes shimmered faintly beneath her cool-colored hair.

“But where did Echina get the money to buy a painting for 5 billion gold…?”

Edward, who had followed after her, furrowed his brow as he asked.

Even his refined mustache twitched in irritation.

“She has a commercial building in Old Luton. She probably used that as collateral for a loan.”

Freya pinpointed it precisely.

Like the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke’s house, she added with an intelligent gaze,

“Since she acquired the artwork by paying a fair price, Father can’t take credit for it.”

“He actually looked pleased.”

Edward gave a scoff, acknowledging the fact.

“Well, even so, it’s just the youngest daughter showing off a bit.”

“Knowing Father’s personality, he’s not going to give her a proper business.”

As the two walked ahead with indifferent tones,

Eric spoke in a more thoughtful voice.

“Really…? You think so?”

The eldest son had spent the most time by the Grand Duke’s side.

With sharp eyes that mirrored their father's, he spoke.

“Do you know why Father sent Echina to the knight order?”

The two younger siblings didn’t answer so easily.

“Because for someone her age, she had spirit and resolve.”

Eric continued, looking toward his younger brother Edward.

“If she were a man, he would’ve entrusted her with a business and put her in the running for succession.”

Then, he turned to Freya.

With a chilling expression, like that of a seasoned lion.

“But since you, the eldest daughter, already existed, he sent that spirit off to be used as a knight.”

Eric glanced back at the Grand Duke’s mansion where he had been raised.

“And now, after more than ten years living as a knight, she’s suddenly changed course.”

The eldest didn’t take this shift lightly.

Even though he had often been told by his father that he fell short, he had honed his own instincts and abilities.

“You two should start feeling the pressure.”

Eric dusted off his formal jacket.

Then stepped into the black carriage that had been waiting for him.

“……”

Edward and Freya’s carriages also arrived.

However, they didn’t depart for their respective bases right away.

“She’s just a lucky kid who happened to snatch up a good piece of land, seriously...”

Edward clicked his tongue, staring at the carriage of his departing brother.

No matter how tightly allied the two of them might be at the moment, betrayal was always a possibility in their world.

“Do you really think Echina’s that capable?”

Freya elegantly smoothed her hair, swaying in the autumn breeze.

“Well, from what I can see, she hasn’t exactly stood out just yet.”

Through her drifting silver locks, the eldest daughter’s eyes gleamed brightly.

She rested her hand under her chin and sank into silent thought.

“But… if Eric is speaking that seriously about her, then maybe there really is something to it.”

As the eldest son, Eric had inherited Luton Industry, a leading enterprise, and with it, great expectations.

However, that also meant even the smallest mistake would be met with harsh criticism.

His method of survival was through relationships.

Though his resourcefulness didn’t quite match their father’s, he was young and had a promising future.

And in that regard, he possessed an exceptional talent for drawing people to his side.

“Can’t hurt to be careful.”

Freya left that remark as she boarded her carriage.

Edward silently nodded in agreement.

Then, he lit a cigarette and sank into thought.

“Come to think of it, no reports came in about this matter.”

The second son clicked his tongue and casually flicked away the cigarette.

In his dark eyes gleamed the calculating sharpness of a middle child navigating the margins of succession.

“This really doesn’t sit right.”

All the children believed Echina’s rise was just a stroke of luck, thanks to Old Luton’s sudden boom.

But this time, something was different.

Old Luton hadn’t shown a single decline in the past few months.

A steadily soaring growth curve each month.

That dizzying graph soon captivated the masses across Nord.

Ordinary traders typically cashed out once they saw a decent return.

But the constant stream of headline-making incidents—

Left investors no time to feel anxious, swept up in the excitement.

And at the center of it all stood one man.

The one who had led this surge and, in return, reaped the greatest rewards.

Even the retainers of the Grand Duke’s house were beginning to sense the change.

Those who had maintained neutrality without pledging allegiance to any specific successor were slowly starting to waver.

――――――.

Among them, the most influential—Baron Obi—stepped into Old Luton for the first time in his life.

Straight to the radiant Erian Hotel, the city’s landmark.