Chapter 37:  Reviving the City (1)

Leaving the two women behind, I stood face to face with Echina in the lobby.

She had followed me silently.

In front of the elephant statue, she looked up at me with golden eyes.

“What brings you to see me?”

Echina almost answered reflexively, then pressed her lips shut again.

“Just… came to check if Mother’s hotel is being properly managed.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter of the North clasped her hands behind her back in a leisurely manner.

Then, tilting her soft chin upward, she spoke to me.

“Is that so…?”

I looked down at her amiably, her jacket adorned with beautiful medals.

Then, with a sly smile, I reached out one hand.

“Then why not give us your evaluation?”

I gestured toward the hotel lobby that had already satisfied both the Saint and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter.

“I’ve already checked the lobby.”

Echina narrowed her sharp eyes and turned her gaze away.

She then looked toward the guest room hallway and spoke.

“Then why did you call me here again?”

I asked her with the most innocent expression I could manage.

Meeting my pitch-black eyes, Echina blinked her black eyelids.

“……”

For a moment, she seemed to collect herself, as if trying to maintain her dignity befitting her status, and gave a small cough.

Soon, she gestured toward the guest rooms she’d been eyeing.

“I haven’t checked the rooms yet.”

“Ah, you mean the rooms.”

Now that I thought about it, Istina hadn’t checked the guest rooms.

So we hadn’t yet received a full evaluation.

With confidence, I politely motioned for her to follow.

“I’ll guide you right away.”

I left the reception of future guests in Yuria’s hands.

Then I led Echina up the magical spiral staircase to the second floor.

To the hotel’s suite room.

“This way, Your Grace.”

With practiced ease, I opened the guest room door.

A long hallway and a beautiful hotel room unfolded before us.

“This place certainly feels a bit dated.”

Echina glanced around the room with a serious gaze.

Still, she didn’t point anything out in particular.

No—she probably couldn’t.

‘I inspected every single room myself.’

With her uniform jacket draped over her shoulders, she approached the bed.

She reached out with one index finger, gently fiddling with the soft sheets.

It reminded me exactly of the Grand Duke of the North.

“There’s only one bed.”

She glanced at me briefly, then softly sat down on the bed.

The mattress gave way lightly under her weight, and even when she pressed down with her palm, it had excellent firmness.

It could easily fit two people.

“……”

With my hands behind my back, I quietly observed the Grand Duke’s daughter.

Her expression was unreadable, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, so I gently asked,

“Are you satisfied with the room?”

“Uh… it’s nice.”

She hadn’t actually come to make a strict evaluation.

As I approached, she quickly sprang up from the bed.

“I should check the bathroom last.”

I watched her sudden quickened pace with composure.

“Things like soap—those delicate little details—are very important.”

Echina went straight to the sink and picked up the poor soap.

But once she realized it was made from high-quality, fragrant material, she awkwardly set it back down.

“The water should run well, right? It’d be a problem if the water pressure’s weak on the second floor.”

Lastly, she moved toward the shower.

And the moment she calmly turned the faucet with her expression still blank—

“See? It doesn’t come out.”

She finally found something to point out and mentioned it to me with an indifferent face.

‘I think the corners of her lips just lifted a little.’

“Isn’t this exactly why I came to check it myself?”

I stepped toward the Grand Duke’s daughter, who blinked with sharp eyes.

Then, with a practiced hand, I turned the faucet to the cold-water side.

――――――.

Soon, a stream of clear water began pouring out.

Echina blinked her round eyes.

“We’ve shut off the hot water since there haven’t been any check-in guests yet.”

“I see.”

The knight with the uniform draped over her shoulders covered her lips with her fist.

Clearing her throat, she maintained her dignity.

“Yes, the budget is still tight, so we’re trying to conserve.”

“Since guests will start arriving soon, it might be best to turn it back on.”

Echina gave the advice while keeping her usual blank expression.

At the same time, as she lightly leaned against the wall—

“……!!”

Water poured down from the sunflower-shaped showerhead mounted on the ceiling.

Right on the top of my head.

“Ugh…!!”

Startled, I frantically leapt away from the showerhead.

And Echina, equally surprised, parted her lips like a startled cat.

“That one has a button function…!!”

“…Sorry.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter couldn’t help but smile as she looked at me, my hair completely soaked.

Her sharp eyes half-lidded, she even let out a quiet chuckle.

“You find this funny, do you…”

“No. It’s just—you suddenly jumping like that… looked like a fox hit by a water bomb…”

I stepped far away from her and shook my dripping hair.

“There’s a towel over there.”

“That’s for guests. I can’t use it.”

As I quickly shook my head, Echina bit her lips, as if my reaction only made me seem even more like an animal to her.

And she tried hard to maintain her poker face.

“Just dry your hair there. I’ll turn it off.”

“Do you know how to turn it off?”

I asked while smoothing my bangs back into place. Echina pointed at the switch she had pressed earlier.

“Isn’t it just pressing that again?”

“You have to press that and also turn off the crooked faucet behind the water stream.”

Echina crossed her arms and silently stared at the water pouring from the showerhead.

Like a knight commander facing a sworn enemy—

“Then I must cross that barrier.”

“It’s fine, please step aside for a moment. Since I’m already wet, I’ll handle it.”

I let out a deep sigh inwardly and stepped forward.

But unexpectedly, Echina shook her head.

“No. I caused it, so I should deal with it myself.”

She shrugged off the uniform jacket draped over her shoulders.

Then she glared at the faucet with a menacing look—as if facing Dalton—

“……!!”

She dashed straight into the water stream and shut off the faucet.

The cool downpour stopped, leaving only the dripping of a few scattered drops.

Afterward, Echina returned, briskly shaking off her slightly damp white shirt.

“Here’s a towel.”

I politely handed her a towel, her black hair still wet.

“I’m not a guest, though.”

“You’re not just a guest—you’re my liege.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter didn’t seem to dislike my response and quietly accepted the towel.

Then, with her eyes half-lidded, she began drying her hair with a mature gaze.

‘Though of course, this will probably be the last time in this lifetime.’

Thinking so, I left the bathroom first.

Afterward, I quietly straightened the wrinkled sheets where Echina had been sitting.

But my hand, smoothing the fabric, soon had to stop.

From the hallway—where we hadn’t even received any guests yet—came the urgent sound of footsteps.

“Boss, are you in one of the rooms……!!”

“This way, Yuria.”

I opened the door and called out.

A petite woman, quick like a squirrel, hurried over to me.

“What’s going on, Roger?”

Not just me—Echina also stepped out, casually drying her hair with the towel.

Seeing us both, Yuria paused for a moment, eyes wide in surprise.

“Uh… you… you both came out together.”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

We asked simultaneously with calm, expressionless faces.

At that, Yuria’s lively crimson eyes began darting back and forth.

“N-no. Of course, a man and a woman can come out together soaking wet… ahaha…”

She looked up at me with a more confused expression than when we first met.

As if I’d become even more of a mystery to her.

“So, what was the urgent reason you were looking for me in the lobby?”

“Ah, well, there’s a guest who specifically asked to see you.”

Not just a regular guest, clearly.

After all, Old Luton had only just started its development—there was no reason to come here unless it was deliberate.

Which could mean only one thing.

Investors arriving late to try and scrape up the leftovers.

“Lead the way.”

I immediately slipped back into the dignified demeanor of my chief secretary days.

Brushing off my suit jacket, I stepped forward.

“……”

Echina quietly observed the sudden shift in my presence.

Then, putting her uniform jacket back on, she followed behind me.

――――――.

Descending the spiral staircase, I immediately spotted a group of women admiring the paintings in the lobby.

Wide-brimmed, elegant hats and high-quality leather handbags.

Modest in appearance, yet unmistakably dresses from renowned designers.

I instantly recognized them as noble ladies from the neighboring city of Eden, known for their passion for learning.

“Welcome, ladies. It’s a pleasure to have you at the Erian Hotel.”

With an intellectual smile, I approached them.

At once, the women who had been scattered throughout the lobby quickly gathered around me.

I turned my gaze to the tallest among them, who radiated the most commanding presence.

“So you’re the proprietor of this place.”

Only her red lips were visible beneath the broad hat brim.

Then, with a graceful motion, she lifted the brim to reveal the face of a beautiful woman in her middle years.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Loriang, from Eden.”

Ordinary ladies often extend their hand for a kiss on the back when greeting.

But she, unlike the others, offered me a handshake.

“I heard the Erian Hotel had reopened, so I thought I’d stop by.”

From this alone, it was clear she was a self-made businesswoman.

More accustomed to professional greetings than ballroom pleasantries.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Madam. I’m Julius Roger.”

I removed the white gloves I’d been wearing.

Then extended a bare hand for a respectful handshake.

“If you’re planning to stay, our manager is highly capable of assisting you. But I take it there’s a specific reason you asked for me?”

“Yes. Judging by how improved the hotel looks just one day after reopening, you must have a strong attachment to the place—”

Loriang’s green eyes shone brightly like emeralds.

“—so I assume you’ve made a considerable investment in Old Luton?”

“Well, I do own the hotel. Wouldn’t it benefit me if the whole area flourished?”

I replied with a calm smile to her direct question.

“I see. As it happens, we’re also looking to invest in Old Luton, but we’re still considering which sector would be best.”

Naturally.

The prime business spots around the hotel had already been claimed by the Grand Duke’s daughters.

I glanced up at Echina, who was quietly watching the situation unfold from the top of the spiral staircase.

Then I gave a sly, old-soul smile in return.

“Ah, I see. In that case, may I ask whether you might be interested in investing in our hotel?”

I didn’t beat around the bush—I asked her clearly and directly.

In true businesswoman fashion, Madam Loriang immediately began to test the waters.

“Well, to be honest, building on purchased land tends to be more profitable than investing in already constructed buildings. Isn’t that right, ladies?”

When the middle-aged businesswoman shrugged her shoulders, the gathered women all nodded in agreement.

They were likely supporters looking to invest alongside her, following her lead.

“Madam Loriang’s advice has never led us astray—”

In other words, if I could win over this one woman, the rest of the upper-class ladies would follow with their investments.

I couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip.

“Haha… You’re absolutely right. However—”

I subtly observed the handbag slung over her shoulder.

A structured tote bag, fastened with a buttoned closure.

Tucked inside was a single scroll.

At the tip, barely visible, was a faint harp-shaped seal.

I knew what that seal represented.

It was an acceptance certificate from the Nord Academy of Arts.

These women currently had children who had just entered the prestigious academy.

In short, their ultimate reason for seeking profit was their children’s education.

“Constructing a new building on empty land carries significant risk, and it takes a long time to see a return.”

“But if you invest in an already established property like our hotel, you could realize profits much more quickly.”

Loriang, true to her business acumen, grasped my meaning at once.

She slowly nodded, signaling her agreement.

“I agree.”

However—

That was all the response I got.

“But, just like the nearby shopping districts have already been acquired, I assume your property has plenty of prior investors as well?”

The middle-aged woman came at me with a direct, essential question.

From under the shadow of her hat, she fixed me with a sharp gaze.

“So if we come in as latecomers and invest here…”

A noblewoman who had endured every trial life could offer, and made her own way to the top.

People like her were naturally cautious and extremely deliberate.

Which meant that no half-hearted proposal would move her an inch.

“…I wonder what kind of return we could expect.”

But—

Anticipating the needs of such demanding elites was exactly the job of a secretary.

“That’s an excellent question.”

At her cool, incisive question, I responded with a slight smile.

Perhaps taken aback by my calm, Loriang furrowed her refined brow slightly.

“……”

Echina, still watching from the staircase, was no different.

She looked down with a curious gaze, wondering how I would seize this opportunity.

At that moment—

With calm, unshining eyes, I spoke with boldness.

“A concert hall on the top floor of the hotel—that should do.”

The very thing this guest would consider the best offer.

“A concert hall…?”

Madam Loriang raised her hat higher, as if she’d just heard something she never even considered.

And then stared at me with a serious gaze, trying to gauge if I truly meant it.

“Yes. I have a deep interest in music, you see.”

To her, I gave a sly, almost mischievous smile.

A freshly admitted student to a prestigious academy—an artist just born.

No matter how wealthy the family, would their child have the chance to stand on a real stage right away?

Of course not.

Art had always been a realm reserved for the highest echelons of the Empire.

To wedge oneself into that narrow space and stand on stage required endless steps and approvals.

“My dream is to build a concert hall on the hotel’s top floor and watch young artists grow.”

Let rising musicians perform at my hotel.

And when those supported artists one day tell their stories—what would happen then?

Old Luton will naturally be seen as a more refined, elegant city.

“Won’t you give me the chance, Madam, to share this deeper purpose with others?”

With practiced grace, I placed my hand over my left chest.

And to the middle-aged businesswoman, whose lips had parted in surprise, I offered my words in a dignified tone.

“……”

At that, Madam Loriang pressed her lips together for the first time.

The expression was so unfamiliar that even the investors who had come with her swallowed hard.

And they waited—waited for the answer from the seasoned master of investment.

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