Chapter 86: Home Visit (6)

The Northern Grand Duke’s daughter with her long black hair stepped into the living room.

Had she inquired about where I lived? Transparent sweat was running down from her forehead.

“Y-Your Grace…?”

I rose from the sofa.

Then, Echina grabbed my hand in an instant, moving with the swiftness of a knight.

“Come with me.”

She led me toward a secluded hallway.

With every step she took, a sweet fruity scent wafted from her flowing black hair.

But I couldn’t focus on the fragrance.

She had taken me to a shadowy corner, pushed me against the wall, and placed her hand beside me.

“Why on earth did you leave the Grand Duke’s house?”

In the dim shadow, her golden eyes glowed.

“…”

I had expected her to scold me unconditionally for leaving.

But instead, she asked for the reason first, before blaming me for quitting.

Perhaps it was because of this side of her that she was the only one the Luton family thought well of.

“The reason… well.”

Still, that didn’t mean I could honestly tell her why I left.

How could I say it?

That ten years from now, I’d be ordered to be poisoned by the Luton family.

“Now that the company has grown, I’ve decided it’s time to take off the pretense of being a secretary.”

For the first time, I looked Echina straight in the eye with a cold expression.

With a tone completely devoid of warmth.

“I’ve made enough money now.”

That should be enough.

I had used her name to build my business, so she would finally believe I was revealing my true colors.

“The truth is, I’m quite a selfish bastard.”

But—

Unlike I’d expected, 21-year-old Echina was already a very cunning woman.

“No. You’re not selfish.”

She clenched the palm she had placed next to my face with great force.

So hard the wall behind us shook.

“If you were really that kind of guy, you would’ve separated the company from our family like Father or Eric said.”

As I thought, the Grand Duke and the eldest son had been extremely wary of me.

“But instead, you handed the CEO position over to me and left. How is that selfish? You stepped down yourself because you didn’t want to be suspected.”

Something I’d done to survive had come across as an act of conscience.

So I began offering another excuse calmly.

“The truth is, I was afraid.”

Echina’s eyes showed she didn’t understand.

So I honestly told her what I had feared.

“I’m not as strong as you, Echina. I couldn’t bear the ruthless power struggle in high society.”

Anyone who had experienced something similar would likely avoid it too.

No matter how much gold and silver they were handed.

“That’s why I set up a power base for Your Grace and planned to quietly leave the battlefield.”

Perhaps because I was being sincere for the first time—

Echina, sensing my sincerity, let out a deep sigh.

“That’s not like you, Roger…”

Her hot breath tickled the nape of my neck.

She had clearly rushed over here in a sweat, probably with bile rising in her throat, and yet her scent was still rich and fragrant.

“You’re always cunning and sly, but now you’re just unbelievably stupid.”

Echina slowly lowered the hand that had been pushing against me.

Then, staring up at me intently, she raised her voice.

“I’ll protect you by your side, so what exactly are you afraid of…!”

She said she’d protect me.

That line left me speechless, and I stared blankly at the knight standing before me.

Echina Luton, a head shorter than me.

Her eyes slightly heated, on the verge of tears, and yet she spoke of protecting someone.

It was admirable, and at the same time, the corner of my mouth twitched for a moment.

“Haa…”

Perhaps realizing she had gotten a bit too worked up, Echina let out a deep sigh.

Then, she turned her head away quickly while covering her lips with the back of her hand.

And in that moment—

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

‘Could it really be different this time?’

I’d always moved with thorough planning and careful predictions.

But this time, I couldn’t be so sure.

That was why, between the two of us, only a heavy silence lingered for a while.

—

What broke that silence was the elegant sound of high heels approaching from the living room.

“Who’s protecting whom?”

“What a rather adorable confession, Echina.”

Two heavyweights of the Empire walked into the hallway.

With arms crossed, they looked at the wary Northern Grand Duke’s daughter with leisurely gazes.

“Confession? I was merely guaranteeing the safety of my subordinate.”

Perhaps from the effort of rushing over, Echina lightly brushed off her suit jacket as she refuted.

But—

The predators who had caught the scent weren’t backing off so easily.

“But what to do—Roger has already stepped out of the Luton family’s fence.”

Istina looked at me, still pinned to the wall, with a gentle gaze.

Then, she winked one eye, speaking with an air of meaning.

“So wouldn’t it make sense for me, who arrived first, to have this conversation?”

Helena, the Western Grand Duke’s daughter, tilted her head to the side.

“From now on, it’s no longer about your intentions, Your Grace. It’s time for Roger to make his own choice.”

None of the three were merely greedy noble daughters.

Each was an intelligent leader with their own group to command.

That was why they were giving me the right to decide directly.

However—

To call it a right was a bit much; it was truly a painful moment.

No matter how remarkable my achievements had been, for things to escalate to the point where they came all the way to my home—

‘They each clearly have their own hidden agendas…’

“Well, as you’ve said, I no longer belong anywhere.”

Actually, this worked out.

Rather than falling deeply into one side and never being able to escape, I might as well walk the tightrope between the three.

That way, I wouldn’t lean too far in any one direction and could maintain a proper business relationship with each.

“However, that doesn’t mean I intend to turn against any of you.”

First, I needed to calmly sort out what each of the three wanted.

They probably all desired to become the most powerful within their respective families and faiths.

“So how about this instead?”

As I took the initiative to make a proposal, all three women focused on me at once.

With the sharp gazes of predators who had survived their own battlefields.

“In fact, I was planning to quit working and transition into being a professional advisor. So I’d like to receive commissions from all three of you.”

I slowly extended both hands.

And pointed to the three women with their beautiful faces.

“I’ll offer on-site services to help each of you secure your power stably.”

On-site services.

In other words, I would visit each faction in person to assist them.

“Are you saying you’ll be everyone’s secretary—?”

Helena showed interest in the reasonable offer.

It meant this wouldn’t be a competition where only one of them could win.

“Well, something like that.”

My long eyes curved like a crescent moon.

But I wasn’t offering this just to make things difficult for myself.

This way, rather than becoming affiliated with someone, I’d be operating under a short-term contract, taking commissions.

Even if I helped them, it would be a structure where I could receive proper compensation and step away afterward.

“Not bad.”

Helena, seemingly pleased with my suggestion, let out a noble, faint laugh like a queen who had already claimed victory.

Istina also gave a quiet nod, her usually gentle eyes glinting with strange delight.

“I like it too. Of course, there’s always the chance you won’t be able to come back due to… unavoidable circumstances.”

Coming from a saint, those words were quite chilling.

Cover her face, and she was practically a little devil trying to lure me into her lair…

“You refused a long-term contract, so you’re prepared to accept that level of risk, aren’t you, Roger?”

“Haha… Of course. Since this is business as an independent party, I’ll provide compensation if anything goes wrong.”

If something went wrong, I’d offer compensation.

At that, Helena covered her red lips with her index finger—

As if she didn’t want anyone to catch her enjoying her own private fantasies.

‘Why did I just feel a chill…?’

“Echina, what about you?”

“Roger’s being considerate enough to offer this much—surely you don’t have a problem with even this?”

At the other two women’s question, Echina didn’t answer right away.

Seeing her like that, I assumed the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter was suppressing her anger.

She must’ve believed until just yesterday that I was her loyal subordinate.

So I thought she would push back fiercely, refusing to accept this, like the greedy Grand Duke she was.

But—

“Fine, let’s do it that way.”

Echina accepted the proposal far more easily than expected.

“I’ll use this opportunity to show who really suits Roger best.”

Was she planning to use this chance to firmly bring me to her side?

It was admirable—and yet, it weighed on me.

Of course, she was a remarkably talented person, but her opponents were women already nearing the peak positions of their respective factions.

“Well then, whose request should we begin with first?”

Helena, dressed in a black gown, clasped her hands behind her back with ease.

Her golden hair, dazzling in contrast to her dark dress, shimmered brilliantly.

“Obviously, the Yekaterina imperial family. His Grace the Grand Duke said he wished to meet with Roger.”

A powerful figure ruling over the wealthy western regions of the Empire.

And Hendricks, an imperial bloodline, was apparently interested in meeting me?

I had only meant to stop by briefly to offer advice, but the scale was growing out of control on its own.

“My apologies, but the Archbishop has also been eagerly awaiting a meeting with you.”

Now it was the Archbishop of the state religion.

Each of them was pulling me toward their camp, wielding names of formidable influence.

In the midst of these suffocating rivals, I quietly turned to watch Echina, curious to see what card she would play.

The Northern Grand Duke’s daughter with her long, black hair stood in silence.

And when she finally parted her smooth, crimson lips—

With a satisfied smile, I found myself able to decide on the first request.

“I’m sorry to both of you, but I’ll be taking the first request.”

And what she offered was none other than—

“I’ll be going to the Imperial Palace with Roger to receive a command directly from Her Majesty the Empress.”

The Empire’s Second Empress and the true power behind the future regime.

Margaret Leopold.

“We’ve been entrusted with the city reconstruction plan together.”

Echina clasped her hands behind her back with a composed gaze that matched the other two.

Then, with a soft movement, she let one hand fall—

And gently pulled mine toward her.

“The Archbishop and the Western Grand Duke are indeed great figures, but surely the will of the exalted Imperial House comes first?”

The other two didn’t immediately refute her.

No—more accurately, they couldn’t.

No matter how influential they were within the Empire—

They couldn’t oppose the will of the Imperial House, the highest authority of all.

“You’re playing dirty, Echina.”

“Indeed. Using the Imperial plans as leverage…”

The two women pursed their lips in frustration, like predators who had just missed their prey.

And so, despite the four of us standing in the hallway, the atmosphere became painfully awkward and quiet.

—

The clinking sound of dishes came from the kitchen.

A maid with short black hair briefly peeked out into the hallway.

“…”

She silently observed the situation with a cold, expressionless face, then slipped back out of sight.

From the sofa came the sound of my father rising to his feet.

Unlike his usual dignified demeanor, he glanced briefly in our direction.

Then, as if trying to break the awkward silence, he carefully suggested,

“Well… since you’re all here, why not stay for a meal? The maid’s prepared quite a spread.”

It felt impossible to get any food down my throat in this kind of atmosphere.

Just as I was about to smooth things over with a cheeky smile—

“Let’s.”

“Sounds good.”

“Thank you.”

All three women responded at once.

They made their way toward the long table set up in front of the kitchen.

And just like that, I ended up having dinner with three major figures of the Empire.

At my house. With my father.

My father’s eyes went wide when he saw the lavish spread on the table.

Mine did too.

When I first came home, the only things in the kitchen were a few potatoes and strips of bacon.

But now, in front of us was a feast that included dishes you couldn’t even get in the North—like whole lobster.

And even high-difficulty cuisine like premium steak baked inside bread dough.

“Did we ever have lobster in this house…?”

“I had it delivered. Just enjoy.”

Before I knew it, I was seated in front of a glistening red lobster dish.

Echina and Helena casually took the seats to my left and right.

Saint Istina leisurely watched us before gracefully settling into the seat directly across from me.

“…Good grief.”

My father, Robin Julius, had been watching this unfold in real time.

As if unable to believe what he was seeing, he shut his eyes tightly, then opened them again, trying to collect himself.

“Roger, what the hell has this kid been up to…?!”

He downed a glass of cold water handed to him by the maid in one gulp.

Then rubbed his eyes and looked back at the table.

“Sir Robin, please have a seat. Our maid’s cooking isn’t half bad.”

Still, the Western Grand Duke’s daughter offered him food politely—

Just like a well-mannered, charming noble daughter-in-law from high society.

“Would you care to try a glass of our wine? It’s made with our sacred water, Baron.”

Even the famed saint from the newspapers offered him wine.

Faced with this dizzying series of surreal moments, the battle-hardened knight looked like he was going light-headed.

And then—

The final blow came.

“Please sit here.”

Echina stood up from her chair and offered it to Robin.

And then she added one more line—something that shocked everyone.

“Father.”

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