Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 29 Part 4

“Using their real name?”

“As you know, Eger, nobody in East Harlem conducts transactions under their real name. Most use aliases or represent nonexistent trading companies.”

Typically, such illicit trading companies didn’t exist on official records.

They were essentially phantom entities.

Unless someone openly revealed them, it was impossible to trace their movements or identify which companies were involved.

Sometimes, they even temporarily disguised themselves as foreign branches to create diversions.

The Balkan Trading Company skillfully exploited these loopholes.

“There’s a record of the Nestor Trading Company purchasing art sold by the Balkan Trading Company. However, the transaction amounts are excessively high, and the quantities are enormous.”

“…No way.”

“They’re disguising investments as purchases to funnel money into the Balkan Trading Company.”

Among the items purchased under Duke Nestor’s name was a painting titled The Chalice of Solitude by artist Francis.

“The Chalice of Solitude is a painting that Francis personally gifted to my father shortly after I was born. It’s currently displayed in the Grace Hall on the top floor of Winston Palace.”

It was impossible for Duke Nestor to be unaware of this.

The fact that he purchased it from East Harlem with full knowledge that it was a forgery was intentional.

He had knowingly spent a fortune on a counterfeit.

Realizing the implications, Eger’s complexion turned pale.

“It seems Duke Nestor used this method to channel funds into the Balkan Trading Company.”

Moreover, he wasn’t the only one.

Lennoch flipped through the confidential document with increased speed.

The next families listed were Verdik and Mecklen.

And then…

“…Delph as well.”

Seeing the final name, Lennoch’s green eyes narrowed sharply.

Could it be a mere coincidence that four families simultaneously invested in the Balkan Trading Company?

Most strikingly, Marquis Delph was the first among them to inject capital into the company.

Lennoch scrutinized the transaction records from the East Harlem auction house.

Over just a few months, transactions had skyrocketed, involving not only smuggled goods but also drugs, toxic plants, rare creatures, jewels, and even slaves.

“It seems connected to the slaves Caroline purchased earlier.”

“Slaves?”

Eger tilted his head in confusion.

“Managing slaves wouldn’t be easy. Where could Lady Caroline have hidden them? Slavery is banned in the empire. If discovered, even nobles face severe punishment. It’s too risky to bring them to the Mecklen estate…”

“There’s one possibility.”

Closing the document, Lennoch spoke decisively.

“A secret farm.”

“Ah.”

Eger, understanding instantly, let out a small exclamation.

“With Childe thoroughly investigating, it’s only a matter of time before they’re caught.”

Lennoch nodded silently in agreement.

But another thought lingered in his mind—one concerning Marquis Delph.

Since the council meeting, he had felt uneasy about Delph’s demeanor and its potential connection to Empress Edea.

As Lennoch delved into these thoughts, Eger spoke hesitantly, “This might be an odd thing to say…”

“……?”

“But it’s hard to trust anyone these days.”

Eger’s tone was almost like a soliloquy.

Though Duke Nestor had never treated him particularly well, discovering the duke’s secret dealings left him feeling betrayed.

Seeing Eger’s disheartened expression, Lennoch chuckled softly.

“Why the sudden revelation? That’s the nature of noble society.”

“Even so, doesn’t it bother you? Duke Nestor is the Empress Dowager’s brother. Broadly speaking, he’s part of the imperial family. To think he’d deceive Your Majesty and commit such crimes for personal gain… I’m disappointed.”

Eger’s tone grew more pointed as he listed his grievances.

Noticing the genuine concern in Eger’s voice, Lennoch couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Despite Eger’s prickly and particular nature, his moments of sincerity made him endearing.

Leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, Lennoch looked directly at Eger, his green eyes curving into a playful smile.

“I’m not alone, you know.”

“…Your Majesty.”

Eger’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I have someone by my side. That’s enough for me.”

Lennoch’s low voice carried a quiet strength.

Eger, slightly moved, awkwardly scratched his temple.

To think the Emperor valued him so much.

For a moment, Eger felt regret for his frequent complaints about the Emperor’s relentless demands.

But then, Lennoch’s next words broke the moment.

“As long as I have Eli, I’m fine.”

“……”

“Hm? What’s with that expression?”

“You’re insufferable, Your Majesty.”

Of course.

Any fleeting sympathy Eger had felt for the Emperor vanished instantly.

Annoyed, Eger grumbled loudly, only for Lennoch to laugh mischievously in response.

***

Eleanor, having listened to the full account from Evan and Duke Nestor, remained silent for a long time.

The underlying reason for Evan’s extreme actions was tied to Duke Nestor’s secret dealings.

‘The Balkan Trading Company.’

Lennoch was already digging into the Balkan Trading Company in East Harlem. Now, Eleanor had gained detailed insights into its operations from Duke Nestor, leaving her feeling conflicted as she sipped her tea.

How could she explain this to Lennoch?

Duke Nestor broke the heavy silence with a solemn voice.

“I will take full responsibility and step down.”

“Father?”

Evan looked at Duke Nestor in shock, but the duke was resolute.

“I plan to pass the family headship to Pedro.”

Evan wasn’t the only one surprised; Pedro also looked stunned, as though he hadn’t expected his father to go this far.

Passing on the headship of a noble family was no simple matter.

Typically, the title of head was transferred upon the noble’s death, incapacitation, or voluntary retirement. None of these conditions applied to Duke Nestor.

“I deliberated on this deeply before asking for Lady Eleanor’s help.”

“……”

“The Balkan Trading Company… It’s something I find incredibly difficult to speak of.”

From the moment Eleanor had asked Evan for an explanation, Duke Nestor had been wrestling with whether to confess everything.

Even now, fear gripped his heart.

If admitting to his sins only increased his punishment, perhaps silence would have been better.

Still, Duke Nestor chose to speak up, thanks to his eldest son Pedro’s encouragement.

“Father, I may have requested this meeting with Lady Eleanor, but beyond that, I can’t do much. No matter what I say, it won’t mean anything. You and Evan need to show sincerity. Acknowledge your mistakes, apologize from the heart, and move forward honestly.”

“……”

“Father, you always told me this: Trust is the most important thing for a merchant. If someone is to trust you enough to buy your goods, that trust must be firmly established.”

“…Pedro.”

“Evan and you must first show genuine sincerity. That’s how you can inspire trust and gain it in return. Don’t hide your mistakes—confess everything. Acknowledge them and apologize wholeheartedly; only then can you move forward.”

Moved by his son’s brief but impactful persuasion, Duke Nestor painfully shared his inner thoughts.

And this was only possible because Duke Nestor deeply trusted and cherished his son Pedro.

“I love money.”

From the moment he became the head of the Nestor family, his sole goal had been to become the richest man in the world.

There wasn’t a specific reason behind it.

He had always admired wealth since childhood and simply wanted more than he already had.

“But in pursuing wealth, I failed to see what was happening around me.”

“……”

“When Evan’s actions incurred His Majesty’s wrath, no nobles offered to help. I tried bribing them with money and offering expensive gifts, but they all refused.”

As Duke Nestor continued speaking, Evan’s head drooped lower and lower.

He was overwhelmed with shame as he recalled blaming others for abandoning him while he was imprisoned.

Unbeknownst to him, his father had been tirelessly trying to help.

“They were afraid. If they became entangled in Evan’s false poster incident, they risked being punished for treason. They valued their lives more than money, and they weren’t wrong to do so.”

Not only Ezester and Mecklen but also other nobles with whom connections were established all declined to offer assistance.

From the beginning, even the great Nestor family had no power in front of the Emperor, so it was impossible for smaller noble families to achieve any significant results.

If Pedro hadn’t returned from abroad and arranged this meeting, both Duke Nestor and Evan would have been waiting helplessly for the day of Evan’s execution.

“Pedro is a good and diligent son, unlike me.”

He was certain that he would be punished for breaking the nation’s laws to satisfy his greed.

“Pedro will lead our family well. I will pass the title to him and accept punishment alongside Evan.”

“Father, I’m so sorry… It’s all because of me…”

Evan, standing beside Duke Nestor, began to sob again.

His father was willing to give up everything for his sake.

As Evan’s tears fell like a storm, Pedro wrapped his arms around his brother’s trembling shoulders to comfort him.

Evan, dwarfed by his brother’s broad frame, looked especially small.

Watching the Nestor family become a sea of tears, Eleanor finally broke her silence.

“That won’t work.”

“……!”

Evan’s sobs abruptly stopped at Eleanor’s firm response.

His eyes, wide with fear, were filled with desperation.

If Eleanor rejected them, there was no hope left.

Duke Nestor’s face turned pale.

“Lady Eleanor, please…”

“I need your help, Duke.”

“……?”

“That’s why you must retain your title for now.”

Relief washed over Duke Nestor like a tide as he stammered.

“My help…? What do you mean?”

“I intend to become the Empress of this country.”

“……!”

Everyone except Eleanor was stunned.

No one had expected her to declare such an ambition outright.

While Pedro had noticed the Emperor’s interest in her, he hadn’t imagined their relationship would progress so quickly.

Eleanor smiled gently at the astonished faces before her. “To do that, I need the recognition of Baden’s nobles.”

“……”

“The dynamics are shifting, but I need broader and faster support.”

Without a strong foundation of support, even as Empress, her position could become precarious.

Her foreign origins were a weakness that couldn’t be ignored.

While Lennoch would use any means necessary to secure her position, Eleanor understood the importance of addressing the root causes.

She couldn’t predict when her allies might turn against her, just as Duke Nestor’s once-immense influence had waned to almost nothing.

“Since your wealth started this, it should also be used to repay it.”

“Director…”

“All illicit earnings must be surrendered to the imperial treasury. And if His Majesty imposes additional penalties, you must accept them.”

Evan’s guilt was undeniable, leaving no nobles willing to defend him.

However, Duke Nestor’s wealth and influence could still sway the nobility once he regained his footing.

The Nestor family’s reputation for unparalleled wealth was widely acknowledged.

Eleanor glanced at the gathered men. “And I will request His Majesty to suspend Lord Evan’s execution.”