– The operational funds are enormous, so I plan to hire sub-managers for each sector…
“Uh, no.”
Before I even finished reading the letter from Irene, I began drafting my reply immediately.
To summarize: she was saying there’s too much work, so she wants to hire someone to delegate.
But I absolutely couldn’t accept that.
The only person I trust and can entrust money to is Irene.
There’s no way I’d let anyone else manage my money.
Even though Irene’s workload may be overwhelming, that’s none of my concern.
I already gave her a 10% stake—she has to work at least that much.
– What do you think about Vermont Investments acquiring the Tales Company and utilizing it to handle transportation and create stable cash flow by buying and selling assets…
“This one gets approved.”
Finally, a proposal that struck my fancy.
The Tales Company was a small but stable business that often found itself at the mercy of its patrons.
If Vermont Investments acquired it, we could manage it efficiently for a mutually beneficial relationship.
“Looks like this will significantly ease the financial burden…”
Even though Vermont’s influence had grown recently, it was mostly in terms of political and diplomatic power.
The highway construction was still relatively new, and the Vermont Security and Jacob’s smithy businesses had yet to turn a profit, leaving the financial situation dire.
But thanks to Empress Sister’s generous gift, it was resolved in one fell swoop.
We were on the verge of having to clear all the debt by the end of this year.
Now, instead of repaying, various parties are offering loans at even lower interest rates.
The Vermont territory was now one of the strongest, boasting superior military, solid backing, and robust economic power.
“This is almost at the level of a duchy… huh!?”
The thought made me freeze.
Wait, could this all be part of Empress Sister’s plan?
Was she laying the groundwork to elevate Vermont from a county to a duchy or grand duchy?
Historically, all dukes and grand dukes in the empire were directly related to the imperial family.
If I received such a title, I’d be forced to connect to the imperial family, likely through marriage.
And right now, the only eligible person in Vermont for such a marriage is me.
On the imperial side, there’s only Empress Sister.
“No way… It’s a trap!”
Everything pointed to me being cornered into a royal marriage.
I had been caught in this snare without realizing it.
“Dear Irene… for now… manipulate the records, undervalue assets, and invest in places that seem like they’ll stagnate… Make Vermont Investments look like it’s struggling…”
In a hurried finish to my reply, I scribbled this desperate plea to Irene.
The goal was to have Vermont Investments undervalued, at least enough to silence any talk of elevation to a duchy.
Of course, this would only buy time.
It wasn’t a solution to the trap I was already in.
First, I’d secure time and then figure out how to avoid Empress Sister’s attempt to crown me as her royal consort.
“If she genuinely wants me romantically, fine, but if it’s just my abilities she values…”
[The Evil God ’Kali’ laments that you are usually sharp-witted but suddenly become clueless in critical moments.]
Kali wasn’t wrong.
She didn’t yet understand the kind of person my sister is.
Vanessa Friedrich is the type to chase down talented individuals to the ends of the earth to recruit them.
She’s not one for romance or sentimentality.
“What’s next…”
As I flipped through the documents, the emblem of the Imperial Magic Academy caught my eye.
A notice? Upon opening it, I found details of Yuri’s second-semester tuition payment.
I was about to toss it into the trash but stopped mid-motion.
“Wait. What if I send them on a tour?”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ claps and praises this idea!]
While I plan to enroll Charlotte and Julia next year, their lukewarm response when I mentioned it before concerned me.
Yuri also seemed to struggle socially at the academy.
Sending Charlotte and Julia on a tour of the Imperial Magic Academy might motivate them and prompt Yuri to pay more attention to her relationships there.
The more I thought about it, the better it sounded.
“Alright. Let’s proceed.”
I began drafting a proposal to the academy headmaster.
They’d likely accept without hesitation.
Even Yuri’s special admission was due to my insistence, but she turned out to be the academy’s best student.
The headmaster might even plead for Charlotte and Julia to take the entrance exam next year.
Or so I thought…
– Absolutely not! Count Vermont, I can guess exactly what you’re thinking! You plan to have those two girls take the entrance exam after the tour next year, don’t you? Please reconsider! Managing Yuri alone is already exhausting, and bringing in two more troublemakers would be too much for us to handle…
The response was completely unexpected.
I had never seen such a frantic tone in the headmaster’s writing before.
What on earth had Yuri been doing at the academy to elicit such a reaction?
***
“Huff, huff… It’s Yuri.”
“I heard she wiped out all the Combat Magic students last time… Is that true?”
“Well, they managed to contain it with a barrier just before the referee went down, but… without that, yeah, probably.”
“Eeek!”
As Yuri walked across the campus with her hands in her pockets, the crowd split like the sea, clearing her path entirely.
No matter what whispers floated behind her back, Yuri was too preoccupied to pay any attention.
‘Mr. Black’s letter… what on earth did it mean…?’
She had sent the letter intending to subtly gauge whether Mr. Black was married, had a lover, or planned to marry in the next few years.
It was also a way to hint at her own feelings.
But after receiving his reply, she had spent days in turmoil.
– First, to answer your question: no, I’m not married. And if it’s someone I truly love and care for, I’d probably be willing to wait, even if it takes years.
– Now, let me say this just in case I’m misunderstanding. If you’re feeling drawn to someone whose face and name you don’t know, having only exchanged letters, I encourage you to think carefully.
– Reflect on whether this feeling is genuine or merely a fleeting infatuation. Take time—months, not just days.
– Marriage is something to consider only after meeting in person, getting to know each other deeply, and forming a serious relationship.
The answer to the question was exactly what Yuri had hoped for.
He wasn’t married and would wait even for someone like her if it were true love.
But the words that followed? The more Yuri dwelled on them, the more they pierced her heart.
Think carefully.
Consider whether this feeling is genuine.
Take months, not just days.
Marriage should wait until after a serious relationship.
Wasn’t this subtly treating her like a child? A veiled rejection, perhaps?
Am I someone Mister Black can’t see as a woman?
Am I too young for him to consider romantically?
If we meet face-to-face after I graduate, will he accept my feelings then?
Her thoughts swirled endlessly, and her chest ached with uncertainty.
I can’t wait that long.
I need an answer now.
I just want to secure him, to reserve hope for our future.
Only then can I endure this difficult time…
“Sniff…”
“I-I’m sorry!”
On the verge of tears again, Yuri clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, forcing herself to hold back.
But her bottled emotions erupted into a suffocating aura, sending fear rippling through the nearby students and professors alike.
They turned pale and stammered apologies as they fled from her presence.
Then, a familiar voice called out, perking up her ears.
“Wow! It’s Yuri! Yuri in her uniform!”
“So cool! She really looks like an ele… ele… elephant?”
“Did you mean elite?”
“Ah, yeah! That! She looks totally elite!”
“Guys!”
Hearing voices she didn’t expect to hear, Yuri turned around, confused.
Sure enough, Charlotte and Julia were waving and running toward her.
Yuri’s face instantly brightened, her expression softening into a radiant smile.
Moments ago, she had been exuding a deadly aura like a predator, but now she seemed like an innocent child.
The drastic transformation left the academy students utterly stunned.
“Is that really Yuri?”
“Was Yuri’s voice always that cheerful?”
Who was this cheerful, carefree child?
No one had ever seen Yuri like this before.
The academy students were left speechless, unable to process what they were witnessing.
