If I Disobey the Duke

Unreasonable Request (4)

After completing the usual check, he stopped at the entrance to the flower garden. “Follow me.”

As they approached the edge of the flower garden as usual, the assistant lowered his voice, “My lord, I will report to you now.”

Shylock paused.

“It’s really limited. Even if you mobilize extra items, there is not enough supply for the imperial family. If you continue like this…”

He let out a deep sigh and the aide flinched. He was truly a human who tolerated no mistakes. The aide had not heard a single shout in the twenty years of serving him.

A sigh like this meant that he was quite agitated.

“The nobility is a race where face is more important than life. If the products we are supposed to put on the marriage market in top-notch condition are humiliated, we will not be able to avoid punishment.”

Imperial exclusive delivery. It was the position that Shylock obtained after all his life’s effort.

The social season was the decisive opportunity to solidify the position of the top of the Isles, who focused on jewelry.

At such an important time, even the pre-ordered ornaments were in danger of being unable to be delivered.

“The estates on the main mine distribution route are still not giving way. That’s exactly… They say they will not sell and they block the road, and they are empty-handed, not wanting to accept any bribes.”

It had already been several months since such a thing happened.

None the estates had enough craftsmen to process that many gemstones. There was no way he’d ever have enough money.

Is Duke de Winter paying all the money?

It was very likely, but it didn’t make sense at all.

The lord with that poor land.

“It seems that they have finally found all the routes that were missed when passing the distribution channel information to the duke. No information group can keep up. And finally…  Everything is blocked.”

“…”

“As always, trying to convince them by paying them off indefinitely with alcohol and women is to no avail, my lord.”

Even a high-class prostitute who had been trained to deal with aristocrats disappeared as if there was a hole in a sackcloth.

Shylock stared into the air and said nothing for a while. His eyes, from which neither anger nor coldness escaped easily, were like green poison. “…Cut off one of Tristan’s remaining routes. Today.”

It was the same tone as when he fired a mercenary who unintentionally let his sick son out.

He was only practicing the theory that he should be paid back for what he had suffered.

Of course, the damage Tristan caused was astronomical. He couldn’t reward him for whatever he did. He had to hand over more valuable information in return for the return of insignificant prostitutes.

“…The situation was very urgent. I taught that girl too much. In the end, I will only lose money.”

Even though Shylock knew it was too late, he rebuked himself once more for being outrageous. His eldest daughter did not resemble her mother, unfortunately. Even his youngest son was born with less brains than his eldest daughter.

A woman’s role was simply to have a pretty face.

His eldest daughter was his failure. He tried all sorts of methods, so she didn’t end up becoming useless. With her ties to her siblings wrapped around her like a leash, he thought she could satisfy her aristocratic husbands.

She knows what’s going on in the duke’s estate…

“There is something I just found out. My lord. It seems that the duke offered to give the titles of viscount or baron to people. It seems that everyone did not even dare to refuse the Winter Knights.”

A crease crept deeper and deeper between Shylock’s forehead as the aide reported.

Finally, as he struggled to breathe, he put his two fingers in and loosened the cravat. “Duke de Winter…” Shylock cursed his name.

Since he was born, he has never seen a more astute man than himself. Then he could not use his hand properly and was helpless.

The duke cut off his limbs little by little, even though he clearly saw them coming. He couldn’t do anything.

“We might end up with a family like a baron after getting through a lot. Get a check ready. Give it to the aide who is in the capital. To the imperial family right now…”

“Lord!” The butler hurriedly ran out of the mansion and interrupted him. The butler was an elderly man as much as Shylock. He was rushing towards him. “Urgent…  It’s really urgent, my lord!”

The butler took a deep breath and handed the letter to Shylock. A letter bearing the de Winter family seal. It was the duke’s letter.

Feeling a deep unease, Shylock accepted the half-open letter. His eyes slowly widened as he scanned the contents. His hand, holding the letter, began to tremble little by little.

The aide peered through the open letter. “Young master… Crocus…”

The letter slipped out of Shylock’s hand. It fell to the floor.