When I was a kid, when I hear the principal is calling for me, I immediately get nervous. It’s not because I got in trouble, it’s because I’m meeting an important person.

***

The reason why Ghena came to my place is because she’s going to be living under my roof while accompanying Cherry. Leaving that aside, the moment Sora woke up from hitting his head hard on the wall, he immediately escaped while cursing me like a girl would do. A cool guy like him losing his cool in front of a girl he likes is rare.

Days have passed since then. Although Sora agreed in helping me, he didn’t show up in front of my mansion. It’s probably because of Ghena.

Now, I’m on my way to the Viceroy’s mansion while bringing my gifts.

“Are you nervous?”

“Calm down. Getting nervous in front of the viceroy will give him the wrong impression.”

By the way, Cherry and Matt are together with me inside the carriage.

“I’m not nervous. It’s just… I’m getting uncomfortable when I that I’m meeting with a very important person.”

“Ah, you have inferiority complex huh. That’s adorable.”

Matt really likes to put a weird note every time she talks to me.

“Sir, were in front of the Viceroy’s Gate.”

I looked out the window of the carriage.

There, I can see scenery that I haven’t seen before. This place is in the middle of the capital, the Noble district.

“Which one is the Viceroy’s gate?”

When I looked at the place Gen pointed, I saw a small mansion with an open space in front. It’s very much smaller than my—no. My place is just too large that my view on his place is small.

“You know the street well.”

“Of course sir, this is not the first time I’ve been here.”

Then I can see a knight and a maid coming out of the gate. They approached out carriage while the knight keeps vigilant on Gen. I can understand that since Gen has a very old scary face.

“Are you perhaps, Sir Chardelier?”

“I am. I have a letter of invitation from his highness.”

Even though he’s not a king, Petal and the girls insisted to make me call the Viceroy, [his highness].

“Please follow me.”

After receiving my letter, the maid let us follow her to the gate.

Arriving in front of the mansion, I gave the presents to the maids to be offered to the viceroy later on. According to the procedure, they’ll be showing it to him when either I or him calls for them.

Another maid came and greeted us.

“Welcome to the House of Dalseriev, I’ll be your guide. Please follow me.”

After bowing, she guided us inside the mansion.

She led us to the parlour where the Viceroy is waiting.

By the way, the Viceroy’s peerage duke. I really don’t know if it’s something grandeur, but if the girls are tensed, he must be someone very important.

Entering the parlour, a man with huge beard with a body of a warrior is sitting while looking at me. As a sign of respect, I bowed and the girls followed suit.

“My name is Key Godfre Chardelier. I came here by invitation.”

“Please take a seat.”

After sitting, the Duke’s eyes we’re on Cherry and Matt for some reason.

“The lady with golden hair, are you from the Goldenbloom household?”

“Yes your highness.”

“And you are the granddaughter of Sir Balerishk?”

“Yes, your highness.”

After asking them, he then shifted his gaze back to me. He’s wearing an impressed expression while stroking his beard.

“I did not expect for the long linage of two well-respected houses to offer their new generations to the upstarts.”

That’s rude! I’d like to retort to that, but I can’t since I’m the one who has business with him. But I’m used to this kind of treatment anyway.

“A lot of things happened, your highness. He may not look like it, but he’s a good-natured noble.”

Matt defended me with words while smiling at the Duke. Thanks…

Because of her words, the Duke himself got slightly surprised.

“Oh, so it’s not just any marriage? Are you fond of him, Miss Balerishk?”

“I am, and grandfather already approve of him as my fiancée.”

Then the duke shifted to Cherry whose face is turning red. What’s running through her head this time?

“And you, Miss Cherlaine? Are you not the daughter of an Earl? I can’t properly picture a situation why he would approve an upstart noble as your fiancée? Isn’t marriage a serious matter in your family?”

This is a surprise, the duke knows a lot more than I expected. This is probably the power of a territory owner. Having strong political powers means having lots of connections is probably real.

“Many things happened. I sincerely apologize your highness, but I’ve been told not to disclose any information regarding my engagement with Ke—sir Chardelier.”

She almost called me by my name. I’m sure of it.

“Oh? Is that so? Then I won’t push further on that topic. I myself respect family traditions after all.”

He suddenly raised his hand and signalled the butler behind me. When he opened the door, a maid with a trolley entered. The trolley is full of sweets, wine, and my gifts. Good thing I put the gun in a box beforehand.

The butler put a wine glass and poured a violet colored wine on it and then returned to his original position.

“Sir Chardelier, may I ask. What do you plan on becoming, a [Magic Knight] or a [Merchant]?”

--Hmm… I feel like something bad is coming.

“To be honest, I’m not yet sure. But since I’m planning on making my money grow, I have to become a merchant. I want to create a trading business across territories. But before that, I have to own my own [Trader Rights].”

“Ah, so you’re planning on expanding your wealth. That’s good. But why did you enrol in the magic academy when you’re planning on becoming a merchant?”

“It’s just a formality, although I do get the benefit in learning the arts of magic from it.”

The Duke nodded while caressing his beard. Does that feel good?

“Chevalier Roldenrauf mention something about getting funds from you on our last meeting. Is that true?”

“That is true.”

Then, he snapped his finger and a maid came into the room with a paper in hand. The Duke starts reading it. The look his giving me is slightly dangerous.

“The Roldenrauf Firm has an income of 5000 gold coins per month. Not every firm can make this much money in a month. But it suddenly dropped for the past three months.”

Chevalier Roldenrauf and I already discussed this matter when he visited me yesterday. The thing about the [Magic Core] supply, I lent him 2000 gold coins for the negotiation fee and the delivery fee. That much amount of gold coins is enough for 3 months of continuous delivery. Then I gave him the 5000 gold coin that I promise to lend him. Since I consider that as soft loan, I’m not asking him any interest.

“For an Aristocrat to easily give such sum of money…”

He put the paper on the table and then leaned his back on his chair.

“Before we talk about the matter regarding the [Trader Rights], I want to ask something about what happened almost a week ago.”

--A week ago? I don’t remember—wait, that’s the time I was outside the capital.

“I received a report from the garrisons that a Turf war between two dangerous kinds of beasts was happening. At that time, another report regarding that matter says that it was immediately dispersed by a local magician. In addition, it was done with extreme prejudice.”

“And what of it…”

He looked at me directly in the eye. For some reason, it’s like his stare is directly pointed to my soul. Too deep, but it’s probably dark.

“He said that the one who subjugated them all was a Noble, and that noble was you.”

--I think I clearly said to the villagers to keep it a secret.

“I just learned magic last week, it’s impossible to do something like that.”

“I know, but I did a background check when Roldenrauf mentioned your name. You’re not from this world, are you?”

--Busted. Well, he is a Duke after all. Sora didn’t probably know that the Duke has knowledge of Earth. But let’s play dumb for now. I might get the flow of conversation and get what I need from him.

“What makes you say that, your highness?”

The duke scoffed when he sees my indifferent expression.

“There’s no use in playing dumb, young man. Although I doubt the existence of the other world myself, I’ve seen a few nobles that are odd for me.”

He believes and he doubts, please decide which one you prefer, it’s confusing.

“What makes you say that I’m from the other world?”

He grins and caresses his beard again.

“One of my scouts spotted you wearing an odd pair of shoes, the same pair of shoes that was seen during the subjugation.”

--That again! How many times did this happen?

“Looks like you got me, your highness.”

He then let out a victorious laugh while holding his stomach with his one hand.

“Then, for a capable man like you, can you show me the power you used to mercilessly turn the hounds into scraps of meat?”

-Very exaggerated and highly graphic phrase.

“Is it okay to show something dangerous in front of his highness?”

“It’s only dangerous when you’re trying to kill me.”

He has a point.

I let out my left hand and *snap!* my fingers. Although I did snap my fingers, it’s only a performance to entertain the Duke since it would be too conspicuous if I did magic without chanting.

“>”

5 ordinary daggers appeared in front of us. The Duke himself was surprised, only slightly enough to make him flinch.

“Magicians truly make surprising things.”

After having his fill of entertainment, the Duke returned our conversation back to the right track.

“Sir Chardelier, I have a proposition to make. Will you accept letting your house become one of my retainers?”

--What’s this? Is this his real intention on why he invited me in his mansion?

Moreover, when he asked me that, Cherry and Matt stiffened and looked at me. They seemed rather shocked.

“I’m sorry your highness, can you please enlighten me with this matter. As an upstart noble I don’t have much knowledge on how the nobility system works.”

The Duke laughed while holding a fork with a piece of cake on it. Sweet toothed old man…

“Becoming a retainer of my family means having authority that has the same level of the King’s Royal Knights. I, myself, am the right hand of the king. So the moment you become my retainer, you’ll receive the [Chevalier] peerage.”

Chevalier… isn’t that two steps closer on becoming a Baron?

“Such an attractive proposal, but I feel that something’s missing from it. I may be being rude but, what’s the point in making me your retainer? There’s no merit in it.”

The Duke seems disappointed with my reply. His face is saying “What’s with this kid?”

“Young man, I don’t think you understood my intent.”

--Well, I won’t be asking if I did would I.

“The house of Dalseriev is home to strong and mighty warriors. A Warrior, a Magic Knight, or even a Magician, as long as he is strong, he is welcomed in this household.”

Certainly, I can actually see a warrior from your figure. I guess he’s just a simple minded person who’s also a muscle-brain at the same time.

“But I’m not really that strong to be invited to be your retainer.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not every day you hear a man wiping out a horde of beasts alone even if he’s using magic.”

That certainly is true, but my being is a cheat so it couldn’t be helped. But I won’t say that of course.

“You may be overestimating me your highness, but I couldn’t have done it without help.”

“Then how about this?”

The Duke became impatient and slammed the table with his hand. The desserts on the table jumped a little. So did Cherry and Matt on their seats.

“I’ll offer you one of my daughters along with the granting of your [Trader Rights] request.”

What does your daughter have to do with this!?

“I’m truly sorry sir, but I have enough fiancées. However--”

I looked at Cherry and Matt. I think both of them can read what I’m thinking.

“—I’ll accept the offer of being your retainer.”

After saying that, the Duke calmed down and leaned his back again on his chair. He looks a little puzzled.

“Are you not interested on having many wives?”

--Huh.

“Nobles should aim having many descendants. No one will know when a person will die, so it’s important to leave as many you could to take your place.”

“That’s…”

“Just so you know. My daughters are all beautiful and refined women.”

Please don’t treat the girls’ sharp glares as gentle breeze Duke.

“I understand what you mean, you’re highness. But I’m still young. It’s too soon for me to have kids.”

“Don’t be such a child. You’re a very rich man. Many nobles will try to steal your wealth and will target you. So leaving as many children as you could is important.”

--I think the topic has turned into a weird direction again.

Just when I thought of that, the Duke then said “Let’s leave that for later” and ate his food again.

“So you’ll accept my proposal as my retainer. But are you sure you don’t want to marry one of my daughters?”

“I think I have enough already. Adding more might probably increase my problems.”

The girls reacted to what I said and pinched me.

The Duke took notice of that laughed then said “You’re tied with a short leash huh.”

After some time, the Duke and I finished our idle talk. We discussed about my application of [Trader Rights]. We often turn the topic off while we’re at it, but the girls sometimes intervene when it gets out of hand.

When our topic returned to Marriage again, he called all of his 4 daughters and introduced them to me. The girls were angry at the Duke, but the Duke obviously ignored them. It was quite troublesome at the end. In addition, the Duke himself has knowledge about guns. It seems that the concept of cannons exist in this world and misinterpreted that the gun is the same as a cannon.

All in all, the talk with the Duke is done and I managed to get his approval of my [Trader Rights], although it would take a week to process this, but I don’t mind.

-End of Chapter-