"This is a business that simply cannot fail. The healing power of the Sun God is the best there is, so even if it takes some time, it will definitely succeed. The Duke should be well aware of that."
He was Duke Lute—yet he ran the merchant group himself instead of leaving it to others.
A smart man like him would surely invest without hesitation.
"…If the Duke is involved, just as the Saintess says, then it might indeed be possible."
In the end, Eirik nodded as well.
The eyes that had been filled only with resignation now began to shine with hope once again.
It was a beautiful color, like green leaves glistening with sunlight after the rain.
It suited Eirik much better than the dark, gloomy shades of despair.
"Then if the Duke agrees, let's begin immediately. I'll write the letter to him, so please select the priests who will handle potion-making."
"What should I do?"
As everyone's roles were assigned, Seth asked quietly. His sparkling blue eyes were just as beautiful as Eirik's.
"Commander, you…"
"Yes, I'm ready!"
I looked at Seth and smiled brightly.
"Protect the High Temple with all your might."
At my firm words, Seth made a disappointed face.
But he had stronger attack power than healing ability, so he wasn't suited for potion-making at all.
Leaving behind the sulking Seth and Eirik, who was comforting him, I stood up to write the letter.
My heart was already fluttering with thoughts of what words to use.
Clang.
After finishing his sword training, Lute sheathed his sword with precise movements.
Simon Trevor, the captain of the duke's knights who had been sparring with him, collapsed onto the ground, panting.
"My lord, your skills seem to have improved significantly lately."
Indeed, Simon's legs were trembling so badly he couldn't even stand, while Lute was only slightly sweaty and completely steady.
The duke had always been stronger, but the gap hadn't been this wide before—what had happened in just a few days?
"I've been training more frequently lately."
Wiping his forehead with the cloth brought by an attendant, Lute smiled at Simon, who was still sitting.
"Or maybe you're the one slacking off in training?"
"…I'll increase my training starting today."
Simon, whose competitiveness was second to none, grit his teeth and vowed.
"Not that it'll help you beat me. Still, give it a shot."
Unbelievable. Did he train that sharp tongue too, along with his sword?
Simon was genuinely amazed—and a bit annoyed—by his master's insufferable remarks.
"My lord!"
At that moment, Lute's aide, Yuri Poulton, came running toward them. Lute furrowed his brows deeply at the sight.
"What's so urgent that you're running like a fool?"
Smacked by the terrifying sharp tongue right as he arrived, Yuri made a shocked face.
"Foolish? I was surprised by a letter from the High Temple of the Sun God, that's why I ran!"
"The High Temple?"
Lute gave Yuri a disapproving look and snatched the letter from his hands.
Then, he threw the scabbard he was holding at him.
"Wah! Ahh!" Ignoring Yuri's flailing as he caught the sword, Lute looked at the name in the corner of the letter.
Ordell.
Just a name—no formal signature from the sender.
Maybe she wrote down the amount needed for the next blessing session.
Knowing the Saintess, who was oddly obsessed with money—just money, no less—it seemed entirely plausible.
Thanks to the disappearance of his pain, he was able to train his body more freely and easily than before, and as a result, became stronger. So, even if the amount listed was outrageous, he was willing to pay it.
But Lute suddenly realized he still had no clear grasp of who this Ordell person really was.
"...?"
The first line started straight to the point, with no greeting, which left him speechless.
We're starting a potion business, and we decided your merchant group will join.
He hadn't even said he would do it—yet this bold demand?
"My lord? What does the letter say…?"
"Come with me."
Lute grabbed the back of Yuri's neck and dragged him to the office, looking puzzled.
This wasn't a conversation for here.
"Read this."
As soon as they arrived at the office, Lute shoved the letter into Yuri's hands and began gulping down cold water to cool off from training.
Even as he drank, a short laugh escaped him in disbelief.
We're starting a potion business, and we've decided your merchant group will join us.
To explain the business plan, the current situation at the High Temple isn't great.
It's hard to run a business with just the priests, so we've decided to bring in an alchemist.
A collaboration between divine power and alchemy. Sounds pretty good, right? So let's work well together.
"…Is the Saintess of the Sun God Temple always like this?"
Yuri, who had been dragged in and now read the letter with a dazed expression, looked even more bewildered as he turned to Lute.
Only Lute had spoken with the Saintess when they visited the temple previously, so Yuri didn't know much about her.
That's why he'd found it odd when Lute asked him to investigate Count Kiris after leaving the temple…
But after reading the letter, it made sense. She was no ordinary person.
No one else—no one—had ever so boldly informed the Duke that they were simply going to "use" his merchant group.
"Well, honestly, it's not a bad proposal."
Even if it was a bit off-putting, it wasn't without business merit.
The Sun God's divine healing had already proven itself by relieving Lute's chronic pain.
And now they wanted to add alchemy to the mix?
That would make it more approachable even for people unfamiliar with the Sun God's teachings.
Usually, temple folks disliked cooperating with other professions, but here was this Saintess coming up with such a clever idea.
Though it might not topple the High Temple of the Sea God—who practically had the nobility in its grip—right away, with investment from House Sheari, it might surpass them within ten years.
Above all else—
"The High Temple of the Sea God is going to take a real hit."
They had visited that temple for help with Lute's illness.
But not only had they failed to treat him, they hadn't even eased his pain, and they still demanded money with their noses in the air.
It had been disgusting how openly the Saintess and Saint of that temple had coveted the Duke's wealth.
But now? If the Sun God's temple started a potion business—who would suffer the most?
Lute had to admit—he was tempted.
"I think accepting it wouldn't be such a bad idea… if, of course, you agree, my lord."
Would a Saintess who didn't even ask but rather informed them win Lute's favor?
He couldn't fully cut ties with the Sun God's temple because of the holy relic, but business was a separate matter, so Yuri glanced cautiously at Lute.
"…What did the investigation into Count Kiris uncover?"
After a long silence while gazing out the window, Lute asked.
His face, still flushed from the heat of training, looked especially cold and hard.
Yuri quickly reported:
"Yes. According to a maid we bribed, Lady Ordell Kiris is the daughter of a branch family. When the Count discovered she had the qualities of a Saintess, he adopted her. Just having a divinely chosen Saintess from the family has raised the Count's prestige a bit."
Count Kiris had originally been a quiet noble family managing land in the provinces.
But ever since Joseph Kiris became head of the family, they had gradually gained influence, even entering central noble society about two years ago.
That had been around the same time Ordell became a Saintess.
"However, it seems she's not treated well within the family. The Count's relatives apparently despise her, and the household staff, influenced by them, openly look down on her. The Count's family even encourages it."
And that wasn't all.
"Every time Lady Ordell returns home, the Count reportedly locks her in a room in a rage, starves her, or throws her out entirely. It's almost at the level of abuse."
"So they broke her spirit."
Lute chuckled dryly after hearing Yuri's report, and Yuri immediately understood.
"Ah, to keep her from ever thinking independently—to make her grovel to the family for life. Wow. That's vile."
Yuri, who had just snorted loudly in contempt, glanced back at the letter he'd read earlier.
"…But she doesn't seem the least bit broken?"
If anything, her energy felt more like someone who could charge into a battlefield and come back with the enemy commander's head.
"Yeah, she's got more than enough spirit. Enough to steamroll even me."
Lute stepped away from the window with a grin.
Wait a minute. He had seemed annoyed earlier, but now he looked almost cheerful.
Even after all these years, it was still difficult to read his moods.
"So get ready."
"…Sorry? For what?"
"To go to the High Temple, of course. She was so eager to meet me that she even sent this letter—wouldn't it be rude to ignore her?"
Rude, he says. This is the same man who's coldly dismissed people begging to meet him countless times…
And where in that letter was any "eagerness," exactly?
If anything, the Saintess didn't seem to care one bit what Lute thought.
"Anyway, if the Sun God Temple falls, it'll be a problem for me too, so I was planning to prop them up somehow. If they're starting a business on their own, that's great."
Lute didn't care what Yuri thought—he held the letter written in the Saintess's distinctive hand.
The handwriting was bold and rough, matching her personality perfectly.
Gently fingering the holy relic hidden under his clothes, Lute smiled with genuine amusement.
He was already looking forward to seeing what new sides of Ordell she'd reveal next.