Chapter 46 – The Kingmaker (The Duke’s POV)
Touko’s first words on a late-night visit to the Duke of Sakuragi’s study came as a real surprise to the Duke.
“…Wait a minute. What did you just say?”
“I understand your feelings of wanting to ask again, but it’s true. The clerk moved. Or rather, he came to see me!”
“To confirm, you’re talking about the Kingmaker when you say “clerk,” right…?”
“Well, of course! Otherwise, even I wouldn’t have come all the way here on such short notice, despite being extremely busy!”
—The merchants of this country, or rather the business world, are controlled by a person called “The clerk.”
The person does not like to stand out, is never in the public eye and very rarely even acts in a recognisable way.
Hence its existence is hardly even known.
But there is one thing that only a very few aristocrats know for sure.
Once the clerk gives an order, every big merchant obeys it faithfully like a slave.
The clerk has an unfathomable, perhaps even surpassing the wealth of the royal family. And…
“I see… The Kingmaker has finally made a move…”
“That’s right.”
Only three times in the last fifty years has it been whispered that the clerk has moved.
All of which are involved in the struggle to decide the next king or to replace the king.
And in all of that, the faction led by the clerk emerged victorious and became the king.
Hence, the clerk is also known as the Kingmaker.
“…We…won…”
The Duke who had joined the princess’s faction, confident of their final victory, had been plagued by the clerk’s existence like a bone stuck in their throat until now.
The clerk does not make public appearances or statements.
That means that a third party wouldn’t be able to confirm which faction the clerk sided with.
However, if the first or second prince had the support of the clerk, they would have immediately made a fuss about it, so as long as this was not the case, it was assumed that the clerk was neutral in the current throne dispute.
However, after all, speculations are just speculations.
The duke had tried many times to get in touch with the clerk, and had failed in all his attempts.
“If the kingmaker came to greet you, it means that he will side with you. Isn’t that right?”
“…Hmm. That should be the case, but…”
“What’s wrong?”
The Duke, who had intended to confirm the obvious, furrowed his eyebrows at the unexpected response.
Touko, on the other hand, also looked difficult,
“That’s because the clerk told me, ‘I’m on your side for now, but that doesn’t mean I’m your ally.'”
“…What does that mean?”
“That’s what I said as well! Then, what do you think that old man said? ‘Because you’re an ignorant brat who doesn’t understand even that much, I couldn’t choose you until now.’ … Hey, what does this mean?”
“…Hmm…”
The Duke groaned in response.
It makes no sense at all.
In any case, what is certain is that it is too early to assume that the clerk has completely taken their side.
“Speaking of which, where’s Yuzuriha today?”
“The girl is in her room.”
“Why didn’t you bring her to the study?”
“She’s useless today anyway.”
“Why?”
“—During the day, she went shopping with that man. After returning, she kept grinning, and for hours she looked at a cheap hair pin in her hand, seeming to cherish it.”
“…Was that a gift from Suzuha’s older brother?”
“I can’t think of anything else. That’s what the escort reported.”
“Huu, I’m so envious. I also want a gift from Suzuha’s older brother—Ahhhh!?”
The Duke frowned at Touko’s sudden outburst.
