Resolved
When I asked Father, “What did he mean when he said the viscount would become a count?” he explained that up to the rank of count, a title is easier to obtain if you contribute to the country.
If trade is successful, tax revenue increases, contributing to the nation, so there’s a high chance of being granted a county.
“It’s likely that the Viscount is acting alone. But I wonder why the development project in Westland is being targeted?”
“That might be the Delm Company’s doing. Perhaps it's just harassment toward Raziel. They may have wanted to leak it before the release to crush Raziel.”
That was also written in Briggite’s letter.
When I asked if she knew a man named Jack Delm from the former Arilan Company, she apparently looked into it for me.
Jack Delm was a scholarship student who graduated second in his class from St. Arthur Academy.
Raziel, on the other hand, is the third son of a baron with no land, but his father is the head steward of the Westland family. To the general public, he appears to come from a wealthy background without much hardship.
Delm reportedly told his acquaintances that Raziel got into the Arilan Company through family connections and became the capital branch manager that way.
The letter also said that Delm may have disliked the fact that the Arilan Company’s president offered financial support for Raziel’s independence, and that the president’s daughter had feelings for Raziel.
“Does that mean Raziel turned down the Arilan president’s offer and became our company’s president instead?” I asked my parents after finishing the letter.
“It seems he had already been considering independence. Once he saw our new product, he decided to join our company, so he probably declined the Arilan president’s offer. Or maybe he was relieved to have a reason to say no.”
According to Mother, Raziel was favored by the Arilan Company’s president, and besides Jack Delm, there were probably others who disliked him.
Since Raziel became the capital branch manager at such a young age, many may have been envious and tried to hold him back.
Perhaps he got tired of such a situation and started thinking of going independent.
We won’t know unless we ask Raziel directly, but I have a feeling the guess is close to the truth.
“This letter says to leave the current matter to Marquis Carlton’s family. I suppose Delm wants to earn a favor from the Viscount Zardane family. If the engagement of the Viscount Zardane’s eldest daughter falls through, there will be no attendant to accompany Marquis’s daughter when she marries into the Empire. I guess they’ll then participate in the trade project.”
If Westland were to act, it might result in the Viscount Zardane family being stripped of their title, so Marquis Carlton plans to step in and mediate instead.
“Father, are you going to leave it to the Marquis Carlton?” Brother Gerald asked.
“Yes. I intend to have them ensure that neither they nor anyone else meddles with our family, Raziel, or Raziel’s family from now on. We’ll leave the Delm Company to them as well. It’s still at the attempted stage, after all.”
“So we’re building a favor with Marquis Carlton?”
“That’s right. Our family’s been standing out a lot lately, so having more allies is better.”
Briggite managed to investigate everything and send the letter within a single day of receiving mine.
Her network seems to extend beyond the nobility. Just how far does her reach go?
She might even have done a fair bit of research on our family.
I can’t help but wonder if she’s really just eight years old.
Once again, I was reminded—she’s not someone I should go against.
With our family’s consent secured, Marquis Carlton acted swiftly.
First, Viscount Zardane’s household changed heads. The current viscount fell ill and is expected to take a long time to recover, so the eldest son took over as the new head. Apparently, he knew nothing about the scheme.
Baron Laurel’s family also saw a change in leadership. The second son became the new head.
The eldest son had fallen for a scam and lost funds meant for a new business, so he was held accountable. The current head had approved of the investment as well, making him equally guilty.
Since the second son had opposed the investment, he was appointed the new head. He also became engaged to Viscount Zardane’s second daughter and took charge of both the storage facility for straw paper and the warehouse for the Zardane family’s trade goods.
The incident was officially explained as having come to light due to the arrest of a fraudulent merchant, with the rest revealed during the investigation.
The Laurel family’s invested funds were conveniently recovered in full—treated as a miracle.
Viscount Zardane's plot was not disclosed to the Laurel family. Instead, the new engagement was framed as a family alliance, and managing the trade goods was presented as a new business opportunity.
As for Abel Laurel, who had been staying with our family, it was officially said he resigned to help with his family’s new business, but in truth, he was dismissed.
He had been looking into our curry powder business, the beastkin, and slime liquid, but since nothing had been leaked, this time we decided to show mercy.
Regarding the Delm Company, they were effectively exiled from the country.
Their base of operations was relocated to the Empire, where they will serve as intermediaries for the trade goods of the count family that the Viscount Zardane’s eldest daughter is marrying into.
Marquis Carlton must have thought it would be a waste to throw them away entirely, since they’re probably competent as long as Raziel isn’t involved.
What do you think about this chapter?
