My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 72
“In exchange for the Luminous Stones, they demand that our southern branch be relocated to their territory, along with 3,000 roots of Remicillin, used for seasonal illnesses, and tiles for restoring their castle…”
“Reject the offer.”
Jack clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Even a passing dog would laugh at that.”
But how did they find out about the plans to relocate the southern branch?
Jack furrowed his brow.
“Secure Luminous Stones from abroad for now. His Majesty expects the highest quality.”
“But if we proceed that way, our trading guild will incur losses instead of profits.”
“Sometimes, losses must be taken to secure certain people.”
That person was the current Emperor.
They could never afford to let him slip away.
Knock knock.
“Enter.”
At that moment, the door to the office opened, and a staff member approached Jack.
“What is it?”
“A very special guest has arrived.”
Jack understood the signal.
His Majesty, the Emperor, had come. Personally.
But without any prior notice?
“Are you certain this special guest is who you think?”
For the past decade, the Emperor had never been the type to act this way.
If word had spread about the southern branch, it was possible that someone knew of his dealings with the Emperor and was attempting to impersonate him.
Jack briefly considered whether he should summon the guards.
Then he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Jack squinted and stared at the door, and at that moment, he was taken aback by the unfamiliar face that appeared without a mask.
“It’s been a while.”
Is this His Majesty, the Emperor?
But wasn’t the Emperor supposed to be blonde? This young man had black hair. However, the commanding gaze, that extraordinary presence, made it clear that this was indeed His Majesty.
The voice was unmistakably His Majesty’s.
But why…
“We meet again, Head of the Merchant Guild.”
Was he speaking formally?
* * *
“I almost didn’t recognize you. Ha-ha. Ha…”
“As I mentioned before, I’ve returned to see you again.”
Jack focused all his attention on his voice.
He couldn’t understand why His Majesty was suddenly showing his face and using honorifics. Was it some kind of new test? But if that were the case…
“Dale. Take off your robe, we’re indoors.”
It couldn’t be that he had brought along some young woman.
But the identification badge and the voice were unmistakably those of His Majesty, the Emperor.
No, let’s think about this from another angle.
Perhaps he had revealed his face precisely because of this woman. Jack’s instincts as a merchant were guiding him in that direction.
If that were true, just who was this young lady who could so casually give orders to the Emperor? How much must he value her?
Jack’s mind raced, sensing not just the scent of money but something even greater.
The future.
“Ha-ha! Ah, you’re referring to that matter, aren’t you? Of course, I remember. I’ve been waiting for this.”
The truth was, he had no idea what the Emperor was referring to. The only thing His Majesty had said last time was:
“It’s almost time to prepare the Luminous Stones.”
There wouldn’t have been any other pressure, would there?
There was no way he’d let a crucial client’s words slip through one ear and out the other.
But his forty years of experience as a merchant told him that this woman held the key to something important.
‘Is she perhaps… his lover?’
“Let’s begin with that conversation.”
“Yes, that conversation.”
“……”
“……?”
Jack quickly pieced together what Dale was talking about.
“You’re referring to the Luminous Stones, aren’t you?”
To avoid showing any signs of fluster, Jack leaned back comfortably into his chair. It was almost as if this office had been bugged; they had appeared just as the matter of the Luminous Stones was about to be discussed.
Jack summoned all of his merchant instincts honed from years of experience.
‘She’s not his lover.’
He racked his brain, trying to recall where he’d seen that face before. His mind flipped through thousands of unofficial registers of names and faces.
‘The daughter of House Lockhart.’
Enya Lockhart.
Though her hair and eye color were different—brown instead of silver—there was no mistaking it. The only woman who could be so close to His Majesty was the one who had been officially proposed to by the Emperor himself.
The fact that they had come disguised meant they didn’t want their identities known.
Jack had done all his calculations.
“Perhaps the esteemed guest is in possession of a large quantity of Luminous Stones?”
