Temptation

The Finance Minister's mansion was located in an upscale residential area a short distance from the Royal Capital's central district.

It occupied a particularly prominent plot even within that elevated neighborhood.

A fitting location for the House of Morman, one of the Kingdom's historically distinguished count families.

The letter said I could come at any time, so I decided to take them up on that.

To enter this area, one needed permission from the guards hired by the residents.

Unlike the royal castle, which had opened its gates during the evacuation to let anyone in, this place remained firmly sealed.

As if to say the people here lived in a different world entirely.

There was no damage whatsoever from the meteor magic attack.

I presented the letter I'd received from the Finance Minister's messenger and entered the area.

This was clearly a separate space.

Magnificent mansions stood in rows.

You could say this was where the Kingdom's wealth was most concentrated.

I rang the large bell at the gate in front of the mansion.

After a short wait, a maid came out from the building and approached.

"Who might you be?"

"I was summoned by His Excellency Finance Minister Morman."

When I showed her the letter, she bowed her head apologetically and unlocked the gate.

… She was a maid, but her outfit was quite revealing.

Her skirt was short, and her shoulder-baring dress showed her cleavage when she bowed.

Quite the contrast to Lady Anatia's properly dressed maids.

"This way, please."

The maid led me toward the mansion.

Not just her shoulders, but her back was exposed too.

It seemed the Finance Minister had quite the taste.

Along the way, I spotted a plump gardener trimming the lawn.

When he noticed me, he took off his cap in greeting, so I waved back.

Rich nobles really are something. Maids are one thing, but they even hire people solely to maintain their gardens.

Or perhaps there's a belief that precisely because they have money, they should hire people and create employment.

"Master. A guest has arrived."

"Very well. Show them in."

"Yes, sir."

Permission was granted to enter.

However, when Elza tried to follow me in, she was stopped.

"Only Yohane-sama may enter."

"I'm also here as an escort, you know?"

"We have people here, so there's no problem."

"That's exactly why."

The maid and Elza's gazes clashed.

Having Elza with me would be reassuring, but surely nothing would happen in a place like this.

Still, I didn't like this "don't you trust us?" approach.

Someone in a position of power could easily use it to force their way.

"Elza, let's do as they say for now. We didn't come here to cause trouble."

"… Understood. We really should have brought Finn-chan at least. If anything happens, I'll storm in to rescue you, so rest assured."

"If things really get dangerous, I'll call for help, so hold off until then."

Elza backed down and listened.

Finn could probably guard me covertly without being detected, but doing that against a great noble like the Finance Minister would probably be a bad idea.

The room inside was spacious and magnificently decorated.

Duke Baroba's residence had been high-class but with a practical, no-frills feel, but this place was the epitome of extravagance.

Yet it also had a tasteful quality unlike that of the nouveau riche.

One look told you the carpet was made by renowned craftsmen using the finest materials, and the same went for the paintings on display.

"Yohane-kun, welcome. Coming the very day you received my letter shows remarkable initiative. They say you should chase money before it escapes, and that's a golden rule. Don't you agree?"

"I couldn't agree more. There isn't a merchant in the Kingdom who could sit still after being summoned by Count Morman."

"Indeed."

Finance Minister Morman looked at me from his chair before a luxurious desk.

He wasn't even trying to hide that he was sizing me up.

Two maids stood behind the Finance Minister.

Their outfits were the same as the one who had guided me.

The maid who had guided me was standing behind me.

"I heard that a merchant was chosen as an advisor to Her Highness Second Princess Tianis. I wanted to have a talk. There are many things you can't understand without speaking directly. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, that's true. Impressions inevitably change when information comes through others."

"I think we can have an enjoyable conversation. Are you aware? Those of us with keen eyes have been watching you with interest. Some thoughtless nobles say things like 'hiring a common man… is the princess lonely at night?' But keep that between us."

"That's…"

I struggled to respond.

So that's how some people viewed it.

Princess Tianis's hard work goes unrewarded.

I hadn't known I was being watched though.

I thought I'd hidden well behind the two big names of Princess Tianis and Lady Anatia, but it seemed the cunning old nobles who survived high society didn't miss anything.

"The deaths of the royal family aren't known to the common people yet, but it's already an open secret among the nobles of the capital. After all, they haven't been seen even once since then. With Duke Baroba's endorsement, Princess Tianis will likely succeed to the throne. When that happens, who will strongly influence her policies? Surely not us. Won't it be the Duke's house and you?"

"That's not…"

I couldn't deny it outright.

Princess Tianis, the future queen, was wary of the Kingdom's nobles… one might even say she hated them.

That's why she kept the incompetent but fiercely loyal Kanon by her side and valued the opinions of the trustworthy Lady Anatia.

For other nobles, this was like being sidelined and forced to eat cold rice.

They would naturally want to do something about it.

Then along came a common merchant whom the princess actually listened to.

Of course they wouldn't leave me alone.

"Of course, if Princess Tianis tries to do something harmful to the Kingdom or something unreasonable, we, her subjects, will stop her. But that would naturally create friction. Trust between the royal family and the nobility would be damaged, and power would become twisted. Prosperity would slip from the Kingdom's grasp. As Finance Minister, as a Count of the Kingdom, that is a most dire situation."

At Finance Minister Morman's signal, the maids approached me.

And untied the ribbons at their chests.

"I would very much like you to deepen your friendship with me. Rest assured, I won't treat you poorly."