Chapter 131

“Lady Nerys.”

“Sir Joyce.”

Joyce and Nerys had last seen each other just last winter. MacKinnon family’s Spring Festival now felt incomplete without Nerys.

They had seen each other the summer before last as well—Diane’s family had invited Nerys on a summer holiday.

Winter the year before that, three summers ago… the list went on. In fact, Joyce had watched Nerys grow up right alongside Diane. Given all the MacKinnon family owed to her, it wouldn’t have been odd to take her in as an adopted daughter, and Joyce had always thought of her as a little sister.

But all those years seemed to have vanished. The way Nerys looked at Joyce was awkward, almost unfamiliar.

Joyce glanced at his little sister, who stood behind him without even looking at Nerys, and quickly came to a conclusion.

‘This is bad.’

Since the winter he’d first met twelve-year-old Nerys, he’d never imagined seeing these two act coldly toward each other.

Regardless of the warmth of their welcome, the lobby of the best hotel in Dreykum was beautifully decorated, showing Maindulante’s intent to treat the MacKinnon family with the utmost respect.

So Joyce decided to treat this as an official meeting between representatives. That is, he put on his most businesslike face and addressed Nerys with formal courtesy.

“Thank you for your welcome.”

A unique radiance visible only to those who knew. The dazzling, countless colors reflected from her eyes.

‘The rumors about her Jeweled Eyes were true.’

Rumors had spread that the possessor of Jeweled Eyes, the Elandria House’s Jeweled Eyes, was in Maindulante, not just as a minor official, but as an adviser… all of it was true.

And whether that was a good thing for Diane remained to be seen.

“Was your journey pleasant?”

“Yes, very much so. The weather was cooler than in the south, which made it enjoyable.”

Joyce naturally used “the south” as the locals did. Nerys noticed and realized he’d put real effort into preparing for this northern trip.

As de facto head of the Moriér Merchant Group, Nerys could have called off the deal with the MacKinnon Group at any time. The arrangement came about because Joan had sounded out the MacKinnon Group first and then discussed it with Nerys—if Nerys pushed, she could have canceled it.

But she hadn’t, first because she suspected Diane would come north regardless, and second because the deal would benefit Maindulante.

So she intended to treat the business seriously, and Joyce’s attitude was worth appreciating.

But “effort” alone wasn’t enough.

“As you know, it’s not easy to travel such a long distance. The cargo is heavy as well. I’m simply grateful you came all this way.”

It was the Moriér Merchant Group who invited the MacKinnons, but the Grand Duchy of Maindulante held the authority over their reception. The MacKinnon siblings weren’t just merchant heirs but high nobility.

Joyce assumed that Nerys, not Joan, coming out to greet him was to confirm the power dynamic—Maindulante handling the formalities, but Joan handling the details.

But when Nerys’s words seemed probing, Joyce reconsidered.

‘Does Lady Nerys have that much influence in the Moriér Merchant Group? Or is she, as a Maindulante official, testing just how committed the MacKinnon Group is?’

Either way, Joyce knew what he had to say. He replied with measured confidence.

“A merchant always goes where there is profit. If the value is great enough, such things are not an obstacle.”

His direct, dignified tone was proof he was truly an heir to one of the Empire’s top three merchant groups.

Nerys got the sense that Joyce had done his homework about Maindulante’s current situation—not from his words, but from his calmness.

The journey from the MacKinnon territory to Maindulante crossed many noble lands—Tipion, and others demanding tolls. They must have expressed, consciously or unconsciously, their feelings about the north.

Not only a thorn in the Imperial Family’s side, but also isolated among the nobility.

He came knowing all that. For a moment, Nerys was not pleased.

“I hope your sister had a pleasant journey as well.”

By etiquette, Nerys’s next words had to be addressed to Diane. Joyce glanced at his sister.

Diane stepped forward and, holding up her skirts, greeted Nerys with a stiff curtsy.

“A pleasure to meet you for the first time, Diane MacKinnon.”

Everyone who knew the circumstances suddenly went quiet.

The only ones who seemed unfazed were Nerys and Diane. Nerys, perfectly composed, responded in kind.

“Delighted to meet you, Lady Diane MacKinnon. I am Nerys Truydd.”

It was a cold, formal greeting. Joyce thought Diane might cry. But as always, his clever and strong-willed sister was braver than he thought.

“I’m pleased as well. Thank you for the welcome.”

Her eyes, wide and determined not to cry, brimmed with tears.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Go talk to her.”

“No.”

Diane’s room was heavy with gloom.

After the official event welcoming the MacKinnon Group, everyone had gone to their assigned rooms to rest.

Worried about Diane’s reaction during the reception, Joyce came to her room to comfort her, but it wasn’t working.

Diane, who’d held back tears while Nerys pretended not to know her, now just looked sullen. Joyce almost forgot where he was, finding her so cute.

“Sweetheart, if something’s upsetting you, you have to fix it quickly. If you let a fight with a friend drag on, you’ll still feel bitter even after making up.”

“We didn’t fight! And don’t call me sweetheart!”

As always when her brother treated her like a child, Diane protested, then buried her face in his arm.

A dejected voice followed.

“…Riz didn’t seem to care at all. I guess she doesn’t care if we’re not friends anymore.”

“There’s no way that’s true.”

“How isn’t it? Just because I like Riz doesn’t mean she has to like me back.”

Joyce thought back to last winter, when at Diane’s urging, their family had gone on holiday rather than celebrating the festival at home.

Diane had been excited to visit “Madam Kellen” near the address Nerys left before graduation, but was devastated when she learned the truth.

No one in the MacKinnon family understood it, either. Madam Kellen existed at that address, but she acted as if she’d never heard of Nerys Truydd.

So who, then, had really been working for them all that time?

The first fear was that Nerys had been kidnapped. As the possessor of Jeweled Eyes—so smart and pretty, all alone—it wasn’t unthinkable.

Diane cried for days, worried, determined to run away to search for her… until new rumors brought more confusion.

Someone with violet Jeweled Eyes had appeared in Maindulante.

At first, the story seemed as likely as tales of dragons or spirits. Jeweled Eyes only appeared in the Imperial Family, didn’t they? Wasn’t the Elandria family’s Jeweled Eyes their symbol?

But so many people who traveled to Maindulante told of a young blonde female adviser with Jeweled Eyes that even society began to believe it—Nerys Truydd, a distant Elandria relative and famous academy student, was now in Maindulante.

And perhaps her Jeweled Eyes had awakened.

Diane had been one of the first to believe the rumors. She’d heard that at last year’s graduation ball, the Grand Duke of Maindulante attended as Nerys’s partner, and she’d known of their connection.

Ever since, Diane had been at a loss—angry, hurt, and most of all, worried. Sometimes she’d cry in frustration, still not understanding why Nerys had lied.

Joyce had brought Diane north as soon as her school let out. He couldn’t leave her alone—and truthfully, he was worried about Nerys, too.

Of course, the main purpose was business, but there were plenty of other agents for that.

“Brother.”

Sniffling, Diane spoke in a small voice. Joyce patted her back.

“Yes, my angel.”

“Don’t call me angel! …Hey, was I awkward back there?”

“When, at the reception?”

“Yeah.”

“No. You were poised and well-mannered.”

He meant it. Though she’d teared up, Diane had acted with the grace of a count’s daughter. But she looked at him skeptically.

“Really? You always say I do well.”

“No, really. Nerys will treat you like before soon. Just explain things properly.”

He’d met Nerys every year—he knew her well.

‘If she really didn’t care about Diane, she wouldn’t act so distant. She’d just act normal.’

She’d always been so straightforward. She’d even sent back a reply telling Diane not to come after that angry letter. If she didn’t care, she would have just left it.

Even if he’d been wrong about people before, Joyce was still heir to one of the Empire’s most powerful merchant groups. He knew that the Imperial Family, especially the Crown Prince, disliked Maindulante, as did other nobles they’d encountered on the way.

Nerys was probably acting colder on purpose, to draw a line—don’t get involved.

‘But it’s not a line we’ll cross so easily.’

No matter how it looked, Joyce and Diane were siblings, and both were stubborn.

He wasn’t about to cut off Nerys just because the Imperial Family “hated” Maindulante. More importantly—

‘The MacKinnon family is more merchant than noble, after all.’

Whether noble or merchant, people act in their own interests. But a merchant could worry less about reputation.

Doing business with Maindulante for profit, even if the Imperial Family disliked them, was nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it was praiseworthy.

No major southern merchant group did much business with Maindulante. The Moriér Group had only started recently, and there were many deals they couldn’t manage. That was why they’d requested help from the MacKinnon Group.

So when Nerys tested him earlier, Joyce’s answer was entirely genuine. He truly believed the trip would benefit his group.

If only she’d see that it would benefit them both. Joyce, known for his stern face, even managed a smile. Nerys seemed to have real influence here, so if they could agree, this northern trip would be well worth it.

Diane, somewhat cheered by her brother’s comfort, sat up and pinched her cheeks to focus herself.

With her eyes wide and determined, Diane declared,

“I’m going to go talk to Riz!”