The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 34 (Part 1):

“Thank you for your kind words. However, three years ago when my wife met with a mysterious accident, I swore on my family name and honor that I would not give my heart to any woman until I brought the one responsible to justice.”

“…”

Count Furst urged his horse forward slightly. He moved closer to Duke Balkan and continued speaking.

“So it seems I cannot be with the Duke’s daughter until I find and punish the culprit.”

As soon as Count Furst finished speaking, Duke Balkan’s face hardened.

At the same time, Merlin’s hand gripping his staff tightened.

I raised both my hands.

Clap clap clap.

At the sound of my applause, all eyes shifted from Count Furst to me.

Only Duke Balkan continued to stare at Count Furst without wavering in the slightest.

As I lowered my hands, I made eye contact with Merlin.

Beneath the gentlest of white eyebrows were two eyes filled with intense killing intent.

A chilling fear crept over me, but that was all.

I had already tasted far greater terror.

My experience of defeating Keren, who was superior to Merlin, drove away that fear.

Having fought and won against a lion, why should I cower before a wolf?

Merlin’s eyes widened slightly, but then the killing intent in them only deepened.

At that moment, Duke Balkan spoke.

“Ah, so that’s why you’ve coldly rejected the advances of so many women all this time? Why didn’t you say something sooner? If I had known about your vow, I could have helped you find the culprit by now.”

“It was a personal matter. I didn’t want to seek help from others.”

“But it’s already been three years. If you haven’t been able to find them on your own in that time, doesn’t that mean you likely won’t be able to find them alone going forward either?”

“It’s a family matter. It’s fine.”

Duke Balkan smiled gently.

Surprisingly, Duke Balkan’s expression now looked kinder than anyone else I had met so far.

“No, no. Listen to what I’m saying. Didn’t you make a promise to your beloved wife? You even swore on your family name and honor. In that case, shouldn’t that take precedence over everything else? Don’t you agree?”

“…”

“Whether it’s your stubbornness, pride, or even your honor and values, if they hinder you from fulfilling that promise, it would be right to cast them all aside.”

“Do you think I’m just being petulant now, Duke?”

Duke Balkan looked at the Count with an expression of pity that anyone could see was feigned.

“Oh dear, don’t misunderstand me. I simply meant that if you were to marry into our family, it would become a family matter for us as well, so I could help you directly.”

The Count’s brow furrowed intensely.

“Surely you’ve made such arrangements as well. Or is our family not to your liking?”

He’s certainly not one to be underestimated.

I suddenly recalled the words of the jester.

He had said that one of the season pass holders had been targeting Count Furst for three years, and that this person was quite influential.

While it can’t be said for certain that it’s Duke Balkan, if it is him, he has some nerve.

Count Furst pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Now that I hear you out, what you’re saying does seem to make sense.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Such a reaction when the Count agrees so readily.

This old man is impossible to predict.

Duke Balkan’s eyes sparkled as he looked Count Furst up and down.

Count Furst said:

“However, I still don’t think I can be with the Duke’s daughter. I want a wife who can guide my son well as a mother. The Duke’s daughter is too young and inexperienced to be a mother.”

“Isn’t it the wet nurse who raises the child, not the wife?”

“Fabre’s birth mother raised him herself without using a wet nurse.”

“Tsk tsk tsk.”

Duke Balkan simply clicked his tongue, saying nothing more. As a result, Count Furst couldn’t respond either.

A brief silence fell, then Duke Balkan opened his mouth.

“I understand your thoughts on my daughter well.”

He erased the regret from his expression as he continued.

“Then let’s get to the main point. The New Continent Company. I’m selling all my shares.”

Count Furst narrowed his eyes for a moment.

“Pardon?”

“It’s not just me. All the nobles here have decided to sell their shares. They’re probably only worth a pittance now that the company is nearly bankrupt, but that doesn’t matter. We’ll put it all on the market. Buy it if you want.”

Count Furst turned his head to look at me. I was just as confused.

From the beginning, we had thought Duke Balkan would buy up others’ shares to become the majority shareholder.

But saying he’ll sell everything now means he’s willing to take a massive loss.

I glanced at the nobles standing behind. As expected, they all had sour expressions, but they kept their mouths shut.

Count Furst said to Duke Balkan:

“If you sell your shares now, it’s like losing all the money you initially invested. Even if the company grows significantly later, you won’t have any stake in it.”

“Do you think I don’t know that, Count Furst? There’s no need to tell me something even a child would understand.”

“Duke Balkan, what are you…”

“This is boring.”

The Duke’s words cut off the Count mid-sentence, resulting in an awkward silence.

As Count Furst tried to speak again, Duke Balkan turned his head away.

“I’m getting tired of looking at this place too. Shall we go back?”

Merlin bowed his head slightly, then rode ahead on his horse.

As Duke Balkan moved, all the other nobles began to follow behind him.

It looked like servants and maids following in the footsteps of a king.

Count Furst closed his mouth and silently watched them leave.

“We should go too. Who knows what might happen if we stay here.”

Count Furst remained still for a long while even after hearing my words.

Eventually, he urged his horse forward and said:

“It seems they’re determined to bring down the company.”

I kept pace beside him and replied:

“Unless you want to marry the Duke’s daughter.”

Count Furst shook his head.

“I can’t become family with the one who killed my wife, Ran.”

Dangun

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