For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 156

How many times had Clovin pushed up his glasses like that? Declan, who had barely managed to calm his trembling, looked back at Clovin.

Where had those eyes from a moment ago, where something of a soft, fluffy color had been blooming in little puffs, gone? Now they were cold and vicious, as if he might chew someone up.

“How can your attitude change so…”

“Report.”

“Yeees…”

With a sullen face, Clovin rummaged through the documents he had prepared and took them out.

“First is real estate. We’ve finished purchasing all the shops around Estira’s building. Even the owner of the famous bakery building, who held out until recently, was no match for money. As for shop owners who try to run things arrogantly or act territorial, I’ve commissioned people to deal with them, so they’ll all be cleaned up before Estira opens her store. It’s as you wanted now, right?”

“Next.”

“Next is the investigation on Estira’s store. It seems she’s going to run a shop called a convenience store. As the name says, it’s a shop that promotes convenience, and apparently, it’ll sell food, of course, as well as stationery needed in daily life and various household goods. What’s even stranger is that she says she’ll sell emergency medicine too? I looked into it, and as of now, there doesn’t seem to be any specific law restricting the sale of medicine. Well, if she really starts selling medicine, I don’t think the nearby physicians will stay quiet.”

“Next.”

“Next is the conversation Estira had with a man named Ribolto. According to someone on Ribolto’s staff, they’re suddenly digging through every business document related to maritime trade routes. From the fact that he recently sent people to the eastern sea in a hurry, I suspect they may be trying to start a business using the sea route Estira used when she came to the Empire.”

“And Estira?”

“She’ll either be the person who proposed that business, or an investor.”

“……”

“She really is fascinating. How does an illegitimate-born lady from the borderlands, who looks like she wouldn’t know anything, have such a quick mind and such a clear eye for the world? The business she’s doing with Ribolto looks to me like it’ll be a huge hit as soon as it starts.”

“What do you think the chances of success are?”

“I don’t know what kind of business it is, so I can’t say for certain, but if it’s developing a trade route… it’ll probably be difficult to fail. First of all, Ribolto’s bank and merchant guild are both solid in scale and finances, and since he’s from the south, it’ll be good for opening trade with that region too. As long as they secure the Emperor’s permission and handle the pirate ships, it’s a gold mine. Why on earth did no one think of trading by sea? Ah, I mean me. If I’d known ahead of time, I would’ve done it myself.”

Declan looked out the carriage window. His face was thick with thought.

“If the sea route opens, she’ll rake in money.”

“Yeees, of course. Since things have turned out this way, how about our ducal house makes a large investment too? No matter how I think about it, this is…”

“Block the palace from granting permission.”

“Yes?”

“Or we take that business first.”

“…Pardon? Why?”

Despite Clovin’s endless questions of confusion, Declan didn’t open his mouth.

Clovin was on the verge of dying from frustration. You have to tell me the reason so I can understand and do the work, you bastard!

While Declan had turned his gaze to look beyond the carriage window, Clovin clenched his fist and pretended to swing it.

“The construction.”

Eek. He almost caught me.

Clovin hurriedly hid his hand and answered.

“Ah, the construction on the top floor… I’m hoping the construction won’t end for a very, very long time… but they say it’s in the final stage. I’m serious, even if not anything else, can’t you hand this one off to someone else? I’m really going to die.”

“Then die.”

“…Too cruel.”

* * *

Declan got down from the carriage and approached the tower under construction without looking back.

“You’re going to check it now?! I, I don’t have to follow you, r-right?”

“Follow me.”

Why me…

With tears in his eyes, Clovin chased after Declan, almost running. Since Declan was walking quickly with those long legs, someone of ordinary height like Clovin had to run until his feet sweated.

“Huff. Huff. W-Wait a moment.”

Clovin eventually collapsed while climbing the spiral stairs. Even though he shouted that he couldn’t go any farther, Declan moved far ahead, then soon disappeared from sight.

Fvck. Fvvvck. After timidly muttering curses, Clovin finally chased after him and threw open the door to the top floor.

Because all the windows were open, the cool wind of the high floor cooled Clovin’s sweat. In front of the large window with a clear view of the city, Declan stood alone, looking outside.

Clovin approached and stood beside Declan.

“It’s veeery clearly visible.”

As Declan wished, Estira’s three-story building was immediately visible. Although it looked tiny, Declan wore a faint smile as if he was satisfied.

Clovin wanted to smack the back of this lunatic’s head hard. This lunatic had abandoned his perfectly fine office and ordered his office moved to the top of this tower, all because he wanted to see that fingernail-sized building from his own office.