Published: August 10, 2026
The friendly, puppy-like face stiffened.
But it was only for an instant.
Almost immediately, he put on a blank, wide-eyed expression.
"Huh? Why is that? It's fine, really. I already have permission from master."
He smiled brightly, almost childishly innocent.
...I don't have the ability to read people's true intentions. And when it comes to the smile of a seasoned merchant, it's even worse.
I don't know — so I won't act rashly.
I placed my hand on the documents.
"Please give me some time. I've only just been shown this, and I haven't even properly read the first page."
"Of course, please do. The first three sheets summarize the main points."
"No. I will read every page carefully. So for today, please take your leave. I will give you my answer at a later date."
"Uh, so, there's no need for that. It must be difficult to read, after all. More importantly, Lord Cyrus has already taken care of everything first..."
"My husband is irrelevant. This is my work."
I said it firmly.
...To be honest, that was a bit of an exaggeration. As Yan said, this brand belonged to the granado trading company, to Lord Cyrus. I was only overseeing it in name.
That was exactly why their story felt off. If it was Lord Cyrus's work — if he had already given permission — then why were they asking for my signature?
Because they needed it — because they were trying to do something that could not be done without my approval — because they had not actually obtained Lord Cyrus's permission.
I could think of several possibilities. But in any case, I could not act on impulse.
I returned the pen to Yan and instead pulled the documents toward me.
"I will take these for the time being. I will consult with my husband and others involved with the granado trading company, and after careful consideration I will answer yes or no. For today, that will be all."
Yan's eyes suddenly sharpened, glaring at me for an instant.
I pretended not to notice.
"Now then, are the two of you hungry? If you'd like, please have a meal. Our castle's cuisine is renowned for its exceptional taste."
"No need. What I want is 'the mermaid's promise' and your signature alone."
The change was abrupt.
His tone and voice were so unlike the Yan from before that I almost thought Hadwell, sitting beside him, was the one speaking.
But the one who called me "you" was the small, boyish man seated directly across from me.
"...Mr. Yan?"
"How clever. You're not in any position to say such lofty things."
Spitting the words out, Yan placed a sheet of parchment on top of the thick stack of documents.
The title read: "Marie Shadelan Investigation Report."
I drew in a sharp breath.
"We're not doing business as a joke either. We've investigated you."
"...Investigated?"
"Before you married into this house, you were called the 'ragged girl,' weren't you?"
"....................And?"
I asked quietly, and he shrugged.
"Your appearance doesn't matter. More importantly, back then you were helping manage your family's domain. You were said to be fluent in Flarian language, Banderry, and Shaina, and you handled not only official documents but also paperwork related to hiring foreign laborers and importing and exporting materials — all under your father's name."
Now that he'd said that much, I could tell what he intended to use as leverage against me. I said nothing and listened as the Oracle merchant continued with an amused tone.
"So you're not exactly the right model for 'the mermaid's promise,' a work themed around the duke's sincere love, are you? The Hadwell Trading Company thought so too, and brought the matter to Lord Cyrus. And your husband readily agreed to transfer the rights. That's all there is to it."
......
Silently, I stared at the Oracle merchant — or rather, the man employed as his interpreter.
Perhaps he thought my silence meant I was trembling with fear. A smile appeared on Yan's lips.
"Don't start making a fuss. Surely you don't actually think a criminal like you is truly loved by the duke, do you?"
I wasn't flustered. The past could not be erased, and I would not make excuses. There was no need to.