Akatsuki Translations

“Allow me to reintroduce myself, I am Anton, the manager of the Velzar Trading Company’s Valois main store. I hope we will get to know each other well.” -Anton

“And I, in turn, am Jakob, the assistant manager.” -Jakob

In a room furnished with even more exquisite items than the parlor where Farsa had been guided earlier, the negotiations commenced.

Around the room, about ten robust men who seemed to be in charge of the company’s security were lined up. The top two, excluding the president, stood across a table from each other, introducing themselves to the counterparts they were in charge of and bowing deeply.

Then, there were four noblemen and noblewomen who had come seeking the Eyes of the Azure Dragon, sitting face to face on a lavish sofa.

To the left of the manager’s position were Farsa and Cecilia, and to the right were the Duke of Dampierre and Zenobia.

Furthermore, the Duke of Dampierre’s two attendants, whom he had met at the palace the other day, and Sebas, the butler of the Ctesiphon family, were each waiting behind those they served.

“I must say, meeting you in a place like this is quite a surprise. It seems you enjoy surprising me.” -Duke of Dampierre

“Perhaps it’s the mischief of Fortuna, the goddess who governs fate. After all, both Zenobia-sama and I are guiding the Hero.” -Farsa

“…”

“…”

At first glance, Duke Dampierre and Farsa were having a cheerful conversation, while Zenobia, with her arms crossed and a sullen look on her face, was silent, and Cecilia, trying to avoid Zenobia’s gaze, was showing signs of discomfort.

What stood out more than anything was the appearance of Zenobia and Cecilia.

They both had the same hairstyle known as a ponytail, dressed in a white dress, and their blonde hair and blue eyes made them look very similar.

Despite being tailored to Zenobia’s tastes, even Farsa did not expect their outfits to match perfectly.

“Now, if I may be so bold, I, Anton, will conduct the negotiations. First, we have received a proposal from the Duke of Dampierre and Viscount Speciēs to purchase the Eyes of the Azure Dragon for five thousand gold coins. We at the trading company are very grateful for this offer… but we only have this one pair of Azure Dragon Eyes available.” -Anton

Despite the tense atmosphere, Anton didn’t show any signs of it. Instead, he began to explain the situation and introduce the item in question.

On the table, a pair of eyes, known as the Eyes of the Azure Dragon, peered out from a jewel box adorned with a dragon carving, shining brilliantly.

Even though it was unprocessed raw stone, the sparkle of this gem would surely outshine even a diamond.

The oval gem was about the size of a thumb, but it held so much value that you could build a massive mansion in the noble district of the capital and still have change left over.

As its name, the Dragon’s Eye, suggests, its unique shine, which resembled an eye at its center, was mesmerizing to the viewer.

“Oh, this is splendid! I’ve seen many gems in my time, but this is the first time I’ve seen something this magnificent!” -Duke of Dampierre

“Only matching stones can emit a symmetrical shine, and their formation process is shrouded in the mystery of an ancient civilization… Indeed, it’s worthy of being called a treasure.” -Farsa

Both Duke Dampierre and Farsa let out words in excitement, and Zenobia and Cecilia were also captivated, looking as if they were spellbound.

Regardless of gender or age, even Cecilia, who is not familiar with gems, was interested. It was indeed a masterpiece.

“Viscount Speciēs, we could continue bidding as it is, but wouldn’t it be tasteless to simply pile up gold coins in front of such a piece?” -Anton

“Indeed, I concur. As they say in the East, it’s like ‘pearls to swine’ or ‘gold coins to a cat’. We should avoid such vulgarity.” -Farsa

“Hehe, it seems we are in agreement on this matter.” -Duke of Dampierre

“Yes, it seems so.” -Farsa

“As a trading company, we have no issue with the amount initially offered.” -Anton

With the words of Duke Dampierre and Farsa, Anton agreed.

While it would be more profitable for the Velzar Trading Company to have the two compete and raise the selling price, there is a limit to everything.

If they sell at a price that is far from the market price of three to four thousand gold coins, they risk losing credibility.

To avoid a reputation as a company that sells goods at unfair prices, if the price rises too much, they would rather have the item auctioned off.

Even if they can’t put an item of the same quality as the Eyes of the Azure Dragon up for auction, they should have several items prepared that won’t harm the company’s reputation.

However, if they lose credibility and reputation, it takes time to recover.

To be sensitive to profit, one must not be swayed by short-term money, but also have a long-term perspective.

“Now that we have the manager’s approval… let me start. I plan to use the Eyes of the Azure Dragon to create an engagement ring for Zenobia. I think her beauty is as unrivaled as this gem. You’re known as a collector, but don’t you think the role of a gem is to be seen, rather than displayed in a private room?” -Duke of Dampierre

As Duke Dampierre, who had taken Zenobia’s left hand and said this, Farsa felt a slight ripple in his heart.

However, this was within his expectations, and Farsa proceeded with the conversation as planned.

“Indeed, that’s true. However, I also intend to purchase it as a gift for my fiancée. Right, Cecilia?” -Farsa

“Uh, yes, that’s right, Duke Dampierre.” -Cecilia

Farsa, showing a radiant smile and gently embracing her shoulder, and Cecilia, submitting herself and using unfamiliar words, were becoming part of this unexpected tale.

In a recent discourse, Cecilia had been most resistant to acting as Farsa’s fiancée. He had explained that depending on the circumstances, there might be physical contact, and he had patiently persuaded her for hours, practicing over and over again. This had caused Zenobia to widen her eyes in shock, her clear disturbance evident to anyone watching.

“I thought it might come to this, but this is all so sudden.” -Zenobia

“Yes, there have been various developments. By having Cecilia, the future leader, and myself, the chief court magician, united, we can solidify the unity within our faction. Above all, we can create an environment where subordinates can actively consider marriage. Regardless of the reasons for marrying, once we have committed to being engaged, we have no intention of backing down.” -Farsa

Zenobia moved her gaze anxiously, repeatedly looking between Farsa and Cecilia. From her perspective, it was only natural that she couldn’t understand what was happening. After all, Farsa was confronting his adversary, the Duke of Dampierre, head-on, while simultaneously being engaged to someone she had thought he didn’t get along with.

“Excuse us, but could we be left alone for a while? We would like to have a discussion just among us. It’s fine to put down the Eyes of the Azure Dragon. Everyone except for the four of us, please leave the room. Once the negotiations are over, we’ll let you know. That goes for the three of you as well!” The Duke, whose smile had faded, said in a tone that brooked no argument. -Duke of Dampierre

Under the Duke’s command, the room quickly cleared. The heavy doors closed, and silence filled the room for a moment before the Duke resumed speaking.

“Speciēs, what on earth are you thinking? Depending on the circumstances, this won’t end with just an apology!” -Duke of Dampierre

“You seem quite upset. Why should I explain what I’m thinking?” Farsa replied, remaining provocatively calm. -Farsa

The room’s atmosphere changed dramatically. The Duke of Dampierre was shouting angrily, and Farsa was persistently goading him. Farsa’s attitude was like he was picking a fight, but this had been his plan all along.

Farsa had discovered that during their time at the knight school, the Duke had often caused problems. He had had a particularly bad relationship with Leonard, Zenobia’s older brother, and there were many records of them both being sent to the detention room for reflection. The Duke had mellowed considerably after graduation, but human nature doesn’t change easily.

“Just who do you think you are, treating the woman next to you as a substitute for Zenobia! I’ve always been disgusted with your promiscuous behavior, but this is the last straw! If I were to let Zenobia be with you, I wouldn’t be able to face Leonard!” -Duke of Dampierre

This was the reaction Farsa had been waiting for, and he was confident that his plan was working. The most important part of this plan was to reveal the Duke’s true intentions. Ultimately, why was the Duke, who was shaking with anger before him, approaching Zenobia? It wasn’t to interfere with the Aurelia faction, nor was it out of love for Zenobia, but to honor his deceased friend Leonard’s wishes. Originally, the relationship between Duke Dampierre and Leonard had been far from amicable, but that changed drastically after a certain training session.

Without ever being sent to the punishment chamber for fighting, they frequently went to the training grounds together, honing their skills side by side.

It seemed Duke Dampierre was worried about his irreplaceable friend’s sister, who was getting involved with Farsa, someone with unfavorable rumors surrounding his relationships with women.

While Farsa didn’t know the exact nature of the exchanges between Duke Dampierre and Leonard, his genuine concern for Zenobia was undeniable, as it was expressed in this way.

“Sil-dono, please calm down! And Farsa, why are you acting so provocatively? You promised to help us negotiate with the northern nobility, but now it looks like you’re about to ruin everything!” -Zenobia

” Sil-dono… huh. It seems like you’ve gotten quite close with some other man in the short time I wasn’t looking. And to easily secure his cooperation, could it be that you tried to tempt him—” -Farsa

Upon hearing the words uttered by Zenobia, who had remained silent until now, Farsa attempted to retort with a sarcastic remark.

However, his words were met with a strong slap to his left cheek, causing his words to break off.

Amid the resounding sound of the slap and the overwhelming impact, Farsa almost lost consciousness for a moment, but he managed to hold himself together and turned his face back toward Zenobia.

What met Farsa’s eyes then were a pair of emerald irises even more beautiful than the Eyes of the Azure Dragon, accompanied by large tears that spilled over.

“I don’t know what your intentions are, but I hate this side of you, Farsa-dono. …Sil-dono, I’ve had enough of the Eyes of the Azure Dragon. And I’m sorry, but I’ll be going home for today.” -Zenobia

“Zenobia! …I’m going to take my companion, who’s tired, and excuse myself now. Nevertheless, I must say, you’ve truly disappointed me from the bottom of my heart.” -Duke of Dampierre

Without waiting for a reply, Zenobia left the room straight away, and the Duke of Dampierre followed her, leaving behind his acerbic words.

Cecilia, who had no idea what was happening, was left behind in confusion.

“H-hey, was your plan really supposed to go like this? It looks like a failure to me.” -Cecilia

“No, it’s fine. It’s perfect.” -Farsa

Farsa hadn’t told Cecilia about what would happen after she pretended to be his fiancée. His goal had been to anger the Duke to reveal his true intentions and to have Zenobia dislike him for his behavior.

All that remained was the finishing touches. With this thought in mind, Farsa went through the procedures to acquire the Eyes of the Azure Dragon. After that, he escorted a perplexed Cecilia to the knight’s quarters and made his way to his own home with heavy steps.

Walking through the capital city illuminated by the thirteenth Moon, Farsa’s heart remained clouded, despite the success of his plan.