In a room within the royal palace, First Prince Regnard Valsein listened to a report from the messenger who had visited House Razgrim a few days prior.
Regnard had operated under the assumption that Vain Razgrim, with his notorious obsession for money, would snap up an offer of seven hundred gold coins without a second thought. That was the intent behind the contract he had prepared, but it seemed things had not gone according to plan.
"Lord Razgrim read the contract all the way to the end. He saw through the fact that the reward consisted of a title and a mansion to be granted only after the succession struggle is resolved, and that it did not involve an immediate payment of gold coins."
"And the part about making him responsible for the soldiers' provisions and lodging, as well as road repairs?"
"He caught all of those as well. He calculated on the spot that if the conflict dragged on, he’d end up losing over a thousand gold coins instead of gaining seven hundred."
Regnard lowered his brows in a display of disappointment.
"I see... For my part, I didn't want to increase the number of nobles siding against my sister, but it seems my goodwill didn't get across."
The messenger remained with his head bowed and did not offer a reply.
Both of them knew the contract had merely been a trap masquerading as goodwill. Even so, Regnard did not let his expression waver, maintaining the facade of someone who had reached out to help Vain.
"However, I found someone of interest at House Razgrim," the messenger continued.
"Oh? And who might that be?"
"A blue-haired woman. She was dressed in a maid’s uniform, but her features are a perfect match for old records. If I’m correct... she’s the Shadow-Stitcher."
Regnard’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"...The assassin who belonged to the Black Needle Society?"
"Yes. She is the woman who eliminated nobles and merchants in the capital's underworld and was tasked with disposing of those who betrayed the organization. I have heard she was feared even within the Black Needle Society itself."
"Does Lord Razgrim know her true identity?"
"He likely does not. He seemed to think of her as nothing more than a skilled servant he happened to pick up."
After a moment of thought, Regnard let out a worried-sounding sigh.
"I see. That is dangerous. If he is keeping a terrifying assassin in his mansion without knowing any better, then I must inform him, mustn't I?"
Based on his words alone, he sounded genuinely concerned for Vain's well-being.
"Lord Razgrim is scheduled to meet with Lady Alecia today. He sent a formal letter expressing his desire to personally confirm the details of the contract, and he has received permission to enter the castle..."
"Is that so? In that case, I shall make an appearance as well. If Alecia signs the contract without knowing the circumstances, my advice will come too late."
Regnard stood up, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Of course, Lord Razgrim is free to hire whoever he wishes. I am merely going to inform him of the facts he doesn't know."
◇
Even I realized it would be rude to keep making Second Princess Alecia Valsein trek all the way out to the Razgrim domain.
So, I sent a formal letter asking if I could visit the royal capital, as there were things I wanted to confirm in person regarding the official contract. A reply arrived immediately, along with permission to enter the royal palace.
In the carriage headed for the royal capital, I had Clarice and Serena with me. Clarice was there to check the contract, and Serena was acting as a guard. It would have been more reassuring to bring Raisa, but the training for the mercenaries and private soldiers would have ground to a halt in the meantime.
"...So you actually were capable of thinking it was rude to keep making Lady Alecia come to your domain. How surprising," Clarice said, sitting across from me with an incredulous look.
"What do you take me for? I learned from Alecia. When meeting royalty, it’s best to be proper."
"I wish you would keep that attitude up all the time... This is the royal palace today. Do not sit without permission, do not reach for sweets on your own, and watch your language when other nobles are present."
"...How many times have you told me that since we left?"
"Because I’m anxious no matter how many times I say it!"
The carriage hit a pothole in the road and jolted violently. Serena, who had been looking out the window, merely braced one hand against the wall, her posture barely wavering.
Looking at her profile, I remembered something that had been bothering me for a while.
"By the way, Serena, what happened to those people who were chasing you?"
Serena’s gaze shifted slightly toward me.
"Ah... as for that, it's already been resolved."
"I see... I'm curious as to how you resolved it, but I’ll set that aside for now."
"Isn't that the part you should be most curious about...?" Clarice muttered, furrowing her brows in exasperation.
"She says it's resolved. She hasn't caused any trouble at the mansion, and she’s doing her job well. There’s no need to pry into things she doesn't want to talk about."
Serena didn't say anything, but her hands resting on her lap tightened slightly.
◇
In the room I was led to in the royal palace, Alecia was already waiting.
Unlike when she had come to the Razgrim domain, she was dressed in attire befitting a princess today, with a lady-in-waiting and guards standing behind her. I stopped before reaching my seat and bowed my head as I had been taught.
"Thank you for your time today, Lady Alecia."
"...You’re being remarkably polite."
"I learned from you. You told me that I should at least greet royalty properly when meeting them for the first time, didn't you?"
"I didn't think you would actually remember that."
"Even I can remember something once I’ve been told."
Alecia gave a small smile and gestured for me to sit across from her.
Once seated, I spread out the contract I had brought. I checked that the five hundred gold coins would be handed over after the contract was finalized. That if additional soldiers or provisions were requested, the costs would be discussed each time. That the right of command over the Black Claw or the private soldiers would not transfer to Alecia without my permission.
Since the First Prince’s side had tried to saddle me with massive costs, I was going to verify every single point this time.
"Are you really going to ask about everything?"
"The documents from the First Prince’s side had a hidden clause that would have nearly forced me to pay over a thousand coins. I can't just trust someone simply because they're royalty."
"My elder brother, honestly... You know who you're dealing with this time, right?"
"I'm verifying precisely because I know."
There were no discrepancies between the document and Alecia's explanation, and Clarice nodded after giving it a thorough look.
It looked like there would be no problem with stamping it.
Just as I thought that, a sentence at the end of the contract caught my eye.
"'As a reward for cooperation, a new domain will also be entrusted...' I see. By the way, roughly where is this located?"
Alecia spread a map on the desk and pointed to a spot along the highway stretching south from the royal capital.
"Here. It’s northeast from the perspective of the Razgrim domain. It’s along the highway connecting the royal capital to the south, and it borders a large river."
"There’s a bridge crossing the river too. Then I can collect tolls, and if I set up a market and an inn nearby, people will gather. What’s the current income?"
Alecia’s gaze shifted slightly to the side.
"Right now... there’s almost none."
"Huh? What does that mean? It’s along the highway and has a river, so why is there no income?"
"Part of the bridge has collapsed. The highway is in ruins, and the waterways are filled with silt. Because the previous lord only collected taxes and didn't spend money on what needed fixing, the population has decreased significantly."
I looked through the report she handed me.
Fields left fallow, a lack of seed wheat, broken farming tools, unpaid wages for laborers. If I had to fix the bridge, the highway, and the waterways, plus prepare stores for winter, five hundred gold coins would vanish in an instant.
Every time I listed the necessary expenses in my head, the value of the reward shrank.
"Five hundred gold coins isn't nearly enough for this!"
"No, there should still be some left over."
"How are you calculating that to get a surplus?! I need to fix the bridge, the waterways, and the highway, and then there's seed wheat, farming tools, and I even need food for the winter!"
"If you use the remaining stone piers for the bridge, you won't need to rebuild the whole thing. The waterways don't need to be dug anew; they can be restored just by removing the silt. As for the highway, the section that needs urgent repair is only about half."
Alecia pressed her finger on the report and continued, sounding a little hesitant.
"Admittedly, I felt bad about handing over a domain in such poor condition. That's why I sweetened the deal a little more than the original cooperation fee."
"A little?"
Clarice pulled the report toward her and began tracing the numbers. After a while, she looked up and spoke the answer I didn't want to hear.
"If we hire only the necessary craftsmen and laborers, and if we can buy seed wheat from the royal domain, the initial reconstruction looks like it will cost around three hundred coins. Even if we're generous with the winter stores, I think over a hundred coins should remain, but..."
"More than three hundred of my five hundred gold coins are going to vanish!"
"I never once said it was all money for you to play around with, did I?"
Without looking the least bit guilty, Alecia pointed to the center of the map.
"If you rebuild this place, the cargo connecting the royal capital and the south will pass through it. You can collect tolls, and people will gather if you build a market. In a few years, the profits will far exceed what you spent."
"You tricked me, didn't you?"
"I didn't trick you. I'm giving you both five hundred gold coins and a domain. I just didn't explain the condition in detail."
"That's exactly what people call tricking someone!"
It was irritating, but looking at the map, the location wasn't bad. Once the bridge and highway were usable, wheat and timber headed for the royal capital from the south would pass through this domain. If I set up a market and an inn, people would gather, and the money spent on reconstruction would likely return.
"...Dammit. It’s even more annoying that it'll actually be profitable if I fix it up."
"That's why I’m leaving it to you. The previous lord only took from the people and gave nothing back to what was necessary. But you’re different, aren't you?"
"I just want to build a brewery and a bathhouse with the leftover money."
"Yes... but since you're someone who gets the necessary things ready first, I entrusted it to you."
The way she said it made it sound as if I were some kind of decent lord.
Just as I was about to retort, multiple footsteps approached from outside the door.
"Lady Alecia, First Prince Regnard Valsein has arrived."
Hearing the guard's voice, Alecia’s brows furrowed slightly.
"I shouldn't have any appointments scheduled for now, though...?"
Regardless, the door opened, and a man with well-groomed blonde hair swept back entered. Behind him stood the messenger who had previously brought the contract to the Razgrim estate.
"I apologize for the sudden intrusion, Alecia. I heard you were finalizing an official contract with Lord Razgrim. As your brother, there was something I simply had to confirm."
"...I didn't think you cared so much about my contracts, Brother."
"Don't be so wary. I didn't come here to interfere with the contract. However, if you and Lord Razgrim were to harbor a danger without knowing anything about it, you would both end up regretting it, wouldn't you?"
Regnard was smiling gently, like an older brother concerned for his sister.
I stood up and bowed my head as I had been taught.
"It is an honor to meet you, Prince Regnard. I am Vain Razgrim."
"We meet for the first time, Lord Razgrim. You are a remarkably polite man."
"I learned it from Lady Alecia."
Alecia looked at me with a bit of surprise, but she didn't say anything for the moment.
"I see. I am relieved to see you have built such a good relationship with my sister."
Regnard said this, then shifted his gaze behind me.
"By the way, Lord Razgrim. Where did you hire that blue-haired woman behind you?"
"I found her injured in an alley in the royal capital. She is currently working at my mansion as a maid."
"Did you not ask her anything about her past?"
"I felt there was no need to force her to speak of things she didn't want to talk about... Since there have been no problems with her work at the mansion."
"Is that so... You certainly place a lot of trust in your servants, Lord Razgrim."
After nodding as if impressed, Regnard lowered his brows apologetically.
"It is your freedom as a lord to choose whom you hire. It is not my place to intervene. However, if you know nothing of the truth, I cannot simply leave in silence. If you found out later, you would surely resent me for not telling you, wouldn't you?"
Then he turned his face toward the messenger behind him.
"You, explain it to him... However, do not speak in a way that blames Lord Razgrim, all right? If he didn't know, he bears no responsibility."
"Understood."
The messenger stepped forward.
The moment his gaze turned toward Serena, her fingertips tightly gripped the hem of her maid uniform.
"...Lord Razgrim. With all due respect, that woman is no nameless servant."
The atmosphere in the room changed.
Serena did not look up.
The messenger announced in a voice audible to both Alecia and me:
"She is a member of the Black Needle Society—the Shadow-Stitcher."