# 52
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“It is not important, but there is the matter of the mines and minerals which the Count managed during his lifetime.”
“Yes, although it's not that big.”
How humbling.
The Olsen family's reputation for its mines and minerals is well known throughout the empire.
'Even with the Countess almost neglecting them, they have been running smoothly all year.'
This is a sign of an established system.
Where there is an established system, good minerals are sure to exist.
“I would like you to l the minerals produced in the Olsen Lands to the Duchy at half the price.”
“… Which minerals are ours?”
"Yes."
At my simple answer, Countess Olsen's expression turned to bewilderment.
This was natural because direct deals like this were usually the purview of large merchants.
The duchy was not, after all, involved in any mineral-related business.
“It won't be difficult...but are you sure you're satisfied with just that?”
“Of course, that's more than enough.”
I'm sorry, but I'm looking three years into the future, Countess.
Diana's shoe business would benefit greatly from the newly discovered minerals.
There was a reason I avoided using my own name and associated the duchy's name with this instead.
The person who would actually deal with the Olsen family would be Diana, not me!
By then, I might have been living peacefully in the quiet place I bought with the settlement money I extracted from Ian.
'Just thinking about it makes me happy'
I suppressed the giggles that threatened to escape, and cleared my throat.
“Ah, anyway, it seems that your image in high society has improved a lot because of this incident. So, how about you start going out of the Count’s district more frequently?”
“Are you suggesting that I return to society?”
“Yes, it would be good to secure your place quickly while the nobles' opinion is favorable.”
At my words, she nodded slightly.
“Yes, I will think about it...”
At that moment, the countess's servant quietly approached and whispered something in her ear.
“...What? They have already arrived? I thought they would come in the evening...”
She looked at me confused.
After I easily understood the situation, I spoke.
“It looks like you have other guests.”
Countess Olsen looked disturbed.
“My apologies, Your Highness. He is my cousin, who is like a brother to me. He seems to have been unaware of my previous hosting of you.”
Receiving unexpected guests while hosting a special guest was a major breach of etiquette.
The Countess seemed anxious that the Duchess, with whom she had just formed a friendly relationship, might feel insulted.
But I had no intention of blaming her.
For someone who was in isolation to receive guests, this was a good sign.
“Don't worry about it, it's understandable. It's not often that you have visitors, right? I was just about to leave anyway.”
"but…"
As the Countess struggled with her problem, she suddenly seemed to remember something and uttered a soft exclamation.
“If it’s okay, can I introduce it? I believe my cousin has met Your Majesty once before….”
"…I?"
Was it someone you met during the season's parties?
When I answered curiously, she looked at me, asking for permission.
“Okay, if this is just getting to know each other, then that's fine.”
With my agreeable consent, the countess expressed her gratitude and ordered the servant to bring it.
The servant walked away briefly and soon returned to the garden with a man.
When I saw the man's face, my eyes widened in surprise.
It was a very familiar face.
When he reached the tea table, the man placed his hand on his chest and bowed formally.
“It is an honor to meet you again, Your Highness. To think that we will meet again in this way.”
“What, you…”
Golden brown hair with a slight wave, almost glowing in the sunlight, and those deep green eyes. That friendly smile.
It was a face I knew well.
“So your cousin is Duke Roger?”
This must be what they mean when they say the world is small.
Unlike me, who was surprised, Duke Haydn Roger seemed more pleased than surprised.
“Excuse my intrusion. When I heard that Your Highness was at the Count’s house, I hurried a little.”
“Because of me?”
I felt confused.
Didn't we meet until the Fourth Garden of the Imperial Palace?
As if he understood my reaction, he smiled slightly.
“It seems I have been very rude. I have heard that Your Highness has been of great help to Heraes—no, to Countess Olsen. As her family member, I wanted to personally express my gratitude.”
"Yes."
She let out a small cry of realization.
She looked back and forth between Duke Haydn Roger and Countess Olsen.
Now that I thought about it, they both had those rare dark green eyes.
Their hair color was a little different—Countess Olsen's was a little darker—but they were both shades of honey, golden, and brown.
'Although their facial features are very different, I didn't notice the similarity.'
I fixed my gaze on Countess Olsen and asked her,
“Then you must have mentioned me to the Duke?”
Although my tone was not accusatory, Countess Olsen looked confused, perhaps thinking I was interrogating her.
“Your Highness, this is not...”
“Please don’t misunderstand. I simply found the timing too perfect for it to be just a maid’s job, so I asked the Countess insistently. If there was someone who helped, I thought it appropriate to offer my thanks.”
Duke Haydn Roger calmly explained on her behalf.
I shook my head.
“No, I didn’t intend to blame the countess.”
The Duke smiled with satisfaction.
“The Countess and I are very close, like siblings, so we share different stories. I even told her about our meeting at the Imperial Palace last time.”
“So the countess knew we had met.”
“I'm glad she has someone she can count on.”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
The Countess bowed her head in gratitude.
Duke Haydn Roger added as he watched us:
“To prevent any trouble for Her Highness the Duchess, I have also included a former servant of the Count’s family. If things go wrong, it will be found that the servant was responsible for the posters.”
She blinked quickly in astonishment.
“...I didn't think about that.”
Despite his gentle appearance, the Duke seemed to have a sharp mind.
I glanced at the countess.
“You have a trustworthy family member.”
“You're flattering me.”
The Duke smiled warmly and bowed slightly.
“Again, thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. If it's not too inconvenient, I would like to invite you to a meal sometime. Would that be appropriate?”
“Duke Roger, are you?”
“Yes. As I mentioned, the Countess and I are like close siblings. Please allow me to show my gratitude.”
I hesitated to ask the Duke.
'I didn't help her just out of kindness.'
I only helped because Countess Olsen could be useful to Diana, and I had already planned how to collect my share later.
Seeing the two interpret my calculated actions as pure kindness made my conscience prick.
“…Okay, if you insist.”
But declining his offer seemed very difficult, given the imposing presence of the man before me.
How could anyone be so heartless in the face of that warm, sunny smile?
'Is this what they mean when they say appearances are a weapon...?'
His gentle demeanor was completely different from Ian's frequent robotic reactions.
After admiring his face for a moment, I stood up, not wanting to attract any strange looks.
“Okay, I'll be leaving. Looks like you two have more to discuss.”
“I will escort you to your carriage, Your Highness,”
Duke Roger said quickly, almost urgently.