My Wife Waited in the Wheat Fields - Chapter 55: The Banquet (9)

PR: Alive Sigh & Ford 53

After a few more days, their time in the capital came to a close.

If he had to attend one more day of the banquet, he was going to run out of steam.

A quarrel had broken out with an out-of-touch young man, an assassin was sent for him, the assassin happened to be a messenger of the expansion of the war to the East, and the target of the assassination was Elvus Grayman, a close friend.

It was all such a big coincidence that it made him laugh out loud.

So much for having a good time.

Now, it was time to return to their mansion in Yubin.

Elric turned to Tyria, who was ready to leave, feeling much more relaxed.

“It’s been an eventful outing.”

“It has been, indeed.”

Tyria nodded, her expression brightening for some reason.

It made Elric proud for some reason.

‘So Elvus’ meddling did come in handy after all.’

Ever since he’d declared himself Portman’s ally, Tyria had been surrounded by nobles from other provinces.

And, although their relationship had grown closer for the sake of mutual benefit, any unpaid favors wouldn’t work to the disadvantage of Portman.

Tyria was well aware of that, and she spent her days working her way through the invitations and trade circuits of many private parties.

Not one to show her emotions, she had blurted out.

-”It was a lucrative banquet. I’m satisfied.”

She had said.

“Milord, the carriage is here!”

The carriage they would use for their return came as scheduled.

There was a part of him that wanted to drag Tyria back onto the train one more time and watch her panic, but he knew he’d have to bear a level of resentment he couldn’t afford to bear once they got back.

As they climbed into the carriage, Tyria began to make a face that seemed to indicate her displeasure with the rattling carriage.

He couldn’t help but stare.

After Elvus’ question, he had finally noticed a side of himself that had started to stir.

He just didn’t want to leave her side.

It was an uncomfortable thought, and one that made every moment of silence feel more comforting than anything Elric had ever felt in his life.

“Then let’s go!”

Aldio’s voice shattered the silence with a “Yee-haw!” and a horse’s whinny.

At that moment, Tyria spoke.

“…We’re finally going back to our house.”

The word “our” rippled through his mind.

Elric found it so impactful and welcoming that he let out a small laugh and replied.

“Yes. We’re going home.”

Thinking about it, savoring its flavor, Elric found himself feeling quite refreshed.

Duke White, Kingdom of Armin.

Somewhere in a great mansion, a man sat in the dressing room of the great hall, reading a newspaper.

He was none other than Edward White, the Goldsmith.

He clicked his tongue and pulled his lips apart.

“Well, well, well, you fool.”

He turned the newspaper, the same eastern daily that had sent the Kingdom of Ferdinand into a frenzy.

“Assassinating Elvus Graham, and in Ferdinand where that demon is present? This guy’s sure got big balls.”

“How many would actually know about that fact?”

“Not knowing and committing the act is the bigger issue. It’s proof of incompetence.”

Edward didn’t dismiss his assistant’s comment so quickly, adding an explanation.

“That’s why I can’t stand those Alton guys. No, to be precise, that damn guy who’s utterly insufferable.”

“Yes, The Thousand Blades of the Alton Kingdom, right?”

“The poor Moonlings too. If I were in their shoes, the moment I realized I was being manipulated by them, I would retire from the industry immediately.”

The Thousand Blades, one of the Seven Continental Powers.

He was the shadow that guarded the Alton Kingdom.

There was one fact that most citizens of the continent, and even the majority of the Moonling’s top brass, didn’t know.

That the person who leads the Moonlings from the shadows was, in fact, none other than Ramses Alton, also known as “The Thousand Blades” of Alton.

It was a fact that did not sit well with Edward.

Even though that man’s goals were somewhat aligned with his own.

The secretary pointed it out.

“Still, the war would not have been prolonged if the plan had succeeded.”

“You stupid secretary, if the east becomes involved in the war, we’ll have supply problems due to their economy being destroying, and I’ll lose all my money whilst trying to protect this railway. And more than anything, if it spreads east, the demon will be in the middle of it, and I can’t think of a bigger catastrophe than that. It seems like he’s content with his current state of affairs, so keeping him there is just better for me.”

“Is that so?”

“Anyway, my secretary friend seems to be a little retarded.”

“I’m leaving.”

“My bad.”

Swish!

Edward closed the newspaper and stood up.

“Enough of this. Let’s go save face.”

“Yes, all the big shareholders are here.”

“Yeah, yeah, you better look good.”

Edward sighed heavily.

He didn’t usually invite the big money shareholders, but today was different.

“Are you ready for the investor presentation?”

“It’s all done.”

“Did you check all the shareholders’ tastes and allergies?”

“I’ve assigned a chef to each one.”

“That’s my secretary.”

Edward smiled and left the dressing room.

Today was the day of his pitch to raise money for a new invention he’d been working on.

Any other research would have been funded by his own savings… but this was a project of such massive proportions that he needed outside funding.

At times like this, there was one thing that made him have regrets.

‘If we had a little more equity, we wouldn’t have to make such a fuss over every announcement.’

In a corporation, the CEO may be the one who sets the agenda, but the shareholders were the ones who made the decisions.

Any research they didn’t like would be killed by majority rule.

It made Edward’s blood run cold.

Currently, Edward held about 47% of shares in his favor.

With just 3.1% more, he could really do whatever he wanted.

No, for the sake of stability, if he could just get 5% more to support him, he could definitely silence the rest of the shareholders.

The more he thought about it, the more he wished he hadn’t, so he asked his secretary the same question he’d asked at every other investor meeting.

“Is he here?”

“If you mean the guy from…”

“Yeah, the guy who ate up 6% of our shares and hasn’t shown his face since.”

“Oh, you mean KS.”

“What the hell are those initials?”

“He’s just a shareholder, he can do whatever he wants.”

“You mean he didn’t come out here again? Oh, come on, just come out, just come out!”

“Are you that desperate?”

“I would crawl around on all fours and rub my head against the soles of his feet!”

“That’d be ugly.”

“I can be as ugly as I want in front of the shareholders.”

But this man wasn’t just any shareholder, but a joker card that would surely bring him to taking control of the company.

Edward pouted his lips, then focused his expression on the doors of the meeting room in the distance.

It was at that moment.

“The Chairman of EW, His Royal Highness Edward, Duke White, is entering!”

At the booming staff’s voice announcing his arrival, Edward stood before the shareholders, his face as confident as ever.

“Greetings, shareholders, the genius of this age, in charge of your vaults! Edward White is here!”

His demeanor could have been said to be frivolous, but he had been able to disguise the frivolity with gaiety.

Shareholder applause echoed throughout the room.

Edward rolled his eyes and turned to the two men he recognized as majority shareholders.

‘Okay, first of all, that man has sent his usual proxy.’

He supposed that he could ignore this one.

So then the other one was…

“Hey, Nincompoop!”

…She’d come in person.

Edward flashed a tentative smile.

“Lady Ygret, how long has it been?!”

Edward spread his arms wide and began to walk towards her lightly and gracefully.

At the end of his walk was a petite woman with long crimson hair that reached down to her hips.

She had fair skin, a face full of freckles, deep dark circles under her eyes, and prominently accentuated crimson irises.

What could he say?

She was none other than the siege weapon of the Calbaran Kingdom.

A Seventh Circle Mage, the Chloride Ygret

“Who are you trying to cuddle?!”

Bam!

Her outstretched hand landed squarely on Edward’s hip.

“Ack!”

It was a close call that could have been what ended the White family name.

Whether she realized that or not, Ygret continued, chuckling whilst punching Edward in the shoulder.

“Long time no see, boy, what have you been up to?”

“I’ve been… well, working and traveling.”

“Everyone’s so busy these days, with the war and all. It’s such a bother.”

Her mouth twitched.

It was understandable.

For a woman who practiced devastating magic of the highest circle, she had an uncharacteristic tendency to stay out of battle.

Edward suddenly remembered the past.

There had been a single event that had caused her to turn her back on the battlefield for nearly a year.

-”Kasha, he’s gone? Why? Why? Why?!!!!!!”

And that was the disappearance of Kasha the Sword Demon.

That day, Ygret had screamed at the top of her lungs.

-”Why! Where did he go! Aaaaahhhh!!!”

It had all started as a grudge match made worse by her diminutive size.

The day they had met on the battlefield, Ygret’s diminutive size had caused Kasha to mistake her for a child, and so he had kicked her in the ass, knocking her out cold.

It had only been a short while after that that Ygret had joined the siege of Chevor’s Capital, vowing to destroy all that he stood for.

It was another one of Ygret’s questions that jolted Edward out of his reminiscing.

“By the way, you still haven’t heard anything about Kasha, have you? I told you to find him.”

Ygret asked in a threatening tone.

Edward thought of Kasha, who was probably in the territory of Yubin at the moment.

‘He’s living a quiet, good life with his wife? Hahahahaha.’

‘How could I ever say that?’

In that very moment, the foul-mouthed woman would probably head straight to the East to turn it into a sea of fire.

“I’m still trying with all my might… haha.”

“Eh, useless.”

Ygret grunted, biting her nails.

Edward clamped his mouth shut and muttered to himself.

‘There’s really no one more obsessed than her.’

After all, there was no reason for one to be so upset about a mere ass-kicking.

This was the reason why those who grew up in delicate environments were no good.

Edward had to repeatedly keep reminding himself in his mind not to say things that shouldn’t be said to a majority shareholder who owned 10% of the company.

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