Chapter 175

Chapter 175

"One, two, three. One, two, three."

In time with Serenades rhythm, the two of us waltzed.

There were no mistakes anymore, and I found myself keeping a decent rhythm. Serenade grinned.

"Youre dancing quite well now, my lord, arent you?"

"..."

I quietly looked at Serenade.

Fernandezs words kept ringing in my ears.

- This time, shes a genuine lady of noble blood. A princess of the Ariane Kingdom, as you know, the Ariane Kingdom is the largest ally in the North...

- If you accept this marriage proposal, you can return with enough elite soldiers to protect Crossroad.

My teeth ground together.

- Ill break off the engagement with Silver Winter. And meet the princess of the Ariane Kingdom.

I had said this to avoid the situation at that time.

But rationally thinking, this choice was obviously right.

A daughter on the brink of ruin from the Silver Winter Merchant Guild and a princess from the powerful Northern kingdom.

The comparison itself was embarrassing. There was no need to weigh which side was more beneficial for the monster frontline.

Even if the Silver Winter Merchant Guild was large, it couldnt compare to the strength of a kingdom.

Moreover, the Ariane Kingdom was the strongest military power among the Northern states.

There were some mercenaries from the Ariane Kingdom in the game.

As befitting those from the frozen lands, each was an incredibly tough character.

With ice resistance as standard, and even a few SSR ranks.

If I strategically married the princess of the Ariane Kingdom, I could deploy these robust Northern soldiers on the monster frontline.

But was it only that? By strategically marrying as the Imperial Family wishes, my relationship with them would improve.

Then I could receive support from the central.

Immediately this time, they would support elite troops when I returned to Crossroad.

However-

"..."

It felt uncomfortable.

Something indescribable was nagging at my intuition.

Thorns.

Guardians.

Another frontline.

Fate of destruction...

My hesitation wasnt because the lady dancing and holding my hand was pitiable.

It was a gamers intuition, honed through 742 strategies.

There was something in that route.

But what on earth was it?

Strategy isnt conducted through emotions or intuition.

It is a well-trodden path based on concrete data and evidence.

And the data and evidence clearly pointed towards the princess of the Ariane Kingdom.

"..."

I sensed Serenade looking intently at my troubled face. Suddenly regaining my senses, I continued to dance and asked,

"Serenade, whats the progress on the task I assigned earlier?"

"Ah, yes! I was just about to tell you."

I had instructed Serenade to reorganize the merchant guilds finances to enable information trading. Thats what I was asking about.

"In every city where we have a guild branch, there are information sources. Mostly they were used to understand local prices, weather, and the status of specialty products."

"Can you make use of them?"

"Yes. Since the connections are already established, all we have to do is change the type of information collected."

The information network was already completed nationwide.

"And I have systemized a code that our family used independently, and had every citys guild branch manager master it."

Serenade spoke methodically.

"Using this method, all the branch managers can write the code, but only I and my closest staff can decode it."

The encryption method was also prepared.

"Moreover, not to boast about our guild... each branch owns a Messenger Hawk."

Truly an SSR-ranked snif... I mean, she certainly has good detection abilities. (TL Note: He was going to say Sniffing Dog)

"Right now, many foreigners have arrived in the Imperial Capital. Though the central commercial army has heightened its security, the excitement of the festival, coupled with the usual circumstances, has increased the likelihood of disturbances."

Elizes piercing blue eyes sharply scanned the surroundings.

"I will escort you. Lets move to safer places."

"Arent you the most dangerous of all?"

That was quite a statement coming from the one who had once aimed at my throat.

"...At this moment, I have no intention of harming you, Your Highness."

Elize glanced at me briefly.

"Youve changed, Your Highness... and, most importantly, I am not a shameless person. I have no intention of stalking the one to whom I owe my life."

"Then Im relieved."

I shrugged my shoulders and began to walk forward. Elize quickly followed behind me.

"So, where are we headed?"

"To your master."

Where else would I go? I must check on the dance the night before the party.

"Why, do you dislike it?"

I asked, and Elize responded brusquely.

"Honestly, I do not like it, but since she enjoys it. Ive also heard that I should bring you to the lady as soon as possible."

"You are not being honest, I see."

Some escort this is. She could have just sent a message saying, Elize is coming to meet you, so come to me.

"...Is everything okay at the merchant guild?"

As I waded through the bustling street toward the dock, I suddenly asked Elize.

"Is there no pressure from the Imperial Family, or covert operations from the secret group... nothing unusual?"

"Nothing."

Elize, who answered coldly, looked at me a bit surprised.

"Do you expect something to happen soon?"

"Who knows? You never know how things will turn out in this world."

So far, the Imperial Family hasnt touched the Silver Winter Merchant Guild.

Perhaps theyve judged that its better not to cause unnecessary turmoil with such an essential event ahead.

Or maybe theyre just too busy to care.

There were no edicts from the Margrave, no movements to seize the guild.

Theres still a chance.

If tomorrows party goes well...

The Silver Winter Merchant Guild still has a way to survive. Even if I join hands with Serenade and Ariane Kingdom...

"Huh?"

Thats when it happened.

Elize began to sniff around, detecting a smell. Whats up with that dog nose?

"I smell something burning somewhere..."

"Really? Isnt that just the smell of meat grilling from the left stand?"

"No, this is..."

Elizes blue eyes widened.

"Its the smell of a fire."

A foreboding sensation ran down my spine.

Without a word, Elize and I made eye contact and started running south through the crowd.

We could see the thick smoke rising in the southern sky.

Pushing past screaming, fleeing people to reach the dock, we were met with enormous flames.

The building engulfed in fire, burning intensely, was the very building where I had been practicing my social dance just yesterday.

It was the building of the Silver Winter Merchant Guild.

"...Milady."

Elize let out an unprecedented scream of terror and dashed toward the burning building.

"Lady Serenade!"

Damn it all.

I hurriedly chased after her.