Free Web NovelChapter 28: A great deal
Eventually, after far too much public embarrassment, the three of us finally finished our meals.
Clara stood from the table while gathering her tray and notebook.
"Well," she said with a cheerful smile, "I should probably get back to work before my manager thinks I vanished."
Lilith still sat pressed against my side while lightly holding onto my sleeve.
"...You work too much."
Clara laughed softly.
"Unlike certain terrifying noble girls, some of us actually need jobs."
Lilith looked mildly offended.
"I could buy the restaurant."
"That is exactly the kind of sentence rich people say."
Their conversations were strangely entertaining.
Before leaving, Clara glanced back toward Lilith with a grin.
"I’ll see you tomorrow at the academy."
Lilith nodded slightly.
Then Clara’s eyes shifted toward me again.
"It was nice meeting you, Leo."
"...Likewise."
Clara smiled one last time before walking off through the restaurant.
Meanwhile, Lilith looked strangely pleased the entire time.
————
Not long afterward, the two of us finally returned to the NightBane manor.
By the time we stepped inside, night had fully settled over the capital.
Servants quietly bowed as Lilith walked through the halls while I followed behind exhausted beyond belief.
Today felt longer than the journey to the capital itself.
The moment we entered Lilith’s room again, I immediately began preparing to sleep.
And by preparing—
I meant mentally preparing for the inevitable battle over sleeping arrangements.
Sure enough—
The moment I looked toward the door, Lilith spoke.
"You’re sleeping here again."
"That wasn’t a question."
"No."
I sighed heavily.
"...Lilith."
She happily sat down on the massive bed while watching me.
"You survived last night."
"Barely."
"You’re dramatic."
"You used me as a mattress."
"And?"
I felt hopeless.
I immediately started walking toward the sofa near the fireplace again.
But before I could even sit down—
Lilith suddenly wrapped both arms around one of mine.
"No."
I blinked.
"...No?"
"You’re not sleeping over there tonight."
"Yes I am."
"No."
"Yes."
Lilith narrowed her eyes slightly before tightening her grip.
"You should sleep beside me." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Because I enjoy having personal space."
"You have space."
"You literally cling to me like a parasite."
Lilith looked thoughtful for a moment.
"...A romantic parasite."
"That sounds terrible."
She ignored my suffering completely before trying to physically drag me toward the bed.
Honestly—
How was she this strong?
"Lilith stop pulling me."
"No."
"I’m sleeping on the sofa."
"You’re sleeping beside me."
"I’d rather fight barbarians."
"That can be arranged after ."
Eventually, after several minutes of pointless arguing, I somehow managed to escape back onto the sofa again.
Victory.
Briefly.
Because moments later Lilith quietly climbed onto the sofa too.
"...What are you doing now."
"There wasn’t enough room on the bed."
"That is the largest bed I’ve ever seen."
Lilith ignored me completely before laying directly beside me and wrapping herself around one of my arms possessively.
This woman genuinely had no concept of boundaries.
After a while though—
The warmth from the fireplace.
The exhaustion from the day.
And the softness of the sofa slowly began winning against me.
Lilith meanwhile rested quietly against my shoulder with a small content smile.
"...Goodnight Leo."
"...Goodnight."
And before long—
The two of us slowly drifted off to sleep beside the fire.
————
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Lilith’s room.
Unfortunately—
I woke up once again unable to move.
Lilith was attached to me like some kind of oversized cat while sleeping peacefully against my chest.
At this point I wasn’t even surprised anymore.
"...Lilith."
No response.
"...Lilith wake up."
She tightened her grip.
"No."
"I need to leave today."
"Then don’t."
I sighed heavily before beginning the now familiar battle of trying to escape her grasp.
Somehow this girl became physically stronger every morning.
After several minutes of struggling, negotiating, and nearly falling off the sofa twice, I finally managed to stand up.
Victory.
Temporary victory.
Because the moment I started getting dressed, Lilith immediately perked up.
"Where are you going?"
"To meet the merchant family."
"I’ll come with you."
"No."
Lilith narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"...Why."
"Because you have to go to the academy today."
"That sounds suboptimal ."
"It’s not."
Lilith looked deeply unconvinced.
For the next ten minutes I then had to endure her trying to come up with increasingly ridiculous ways to bring me into the academy with her.
"You can hide under my desk."
"No."
"I could put an illusion over you."
"Absolutely not."
"You could pretend to be a transfer student."
"I am not attending your classes."
Lilith crossed her arms.
"You’re no fun."
"I enjoy freedom."
Eventually, after far too much effort, I finally escaped the manor while Lilith reluctantly departed toward the academy in her carriage.
The moment her carriage disappeared down the street, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
For the first time since arriving in the capital—
I was alone.
Peace.
Silence.
Freedom.
It was beautiful.
————
The Grand Meridian Commerce Hall stood near the center of the capital like a monument to wealth itself.
Calling it a building almost felt insulting.
The massive structure towered over the surrounding streets with polished white stone, enormous glass windows, and golden decorations lining the exterior.
Merchants constantly entered and exited the building while carriages packed the roads nearby.
The moment I stepped inside—
I froze slightly.
Chaos.
Controlled chaos.
Merchants shouting prices.
Workers carrying crates.
Nobles negotiating contracts.
Guards patrolling everywhere.
Massive magical displays hovered above sections of the hall showing trade prices and announcements.
The entire place felt more alive than the rest of the capital combined.
Eventually I approached one of the reception desks near the center of the hall.
The woman behind the counter smiled politely.
"How may I help you?"
"I’m here to see Lady Valamere."
The receptionist gave a soft amused chuckle.
I couldn’t even blame her.
A random fourteen-year-old asking to meet one of wealthiest people in the kingdom probably sounded absurd.
But before she could dismiss me, I handed over the letter the merchant from before had given me.
The moment she opened it—
Her expression changed instantly.
Shock flashed across her face.
"...One moment please."
Suddenly her posture became significantly more respectful.
A few minutes later, I found myself being escorted through the upper sections of the enormous building.
One staircase.
Then another.
Then another.
Apparently wealthy merchants enjoyed stairs almost as much as nobles enjoyed chandeliers.
Eventually we reached the highest floor.
The doors opened.
The office beyond looked completely ridiculous.
Solid gold furniture.
Massive crystal chandeliers.
Rare paintings.
Exotic decorations from foreign kingdoms.
Even the carpet looked expensive enough to buy a house.
Meanwhile seated behind an enormous desk was a beautiful woman with long silver hair and sharp crimson eyes.
Lady Seraphina Valamere.
She looked up from a document before smiling faintly.
"So."
Her eyes carefully examined me.
"You’re the boy responsible for the steel."
I stepped forward calmly.
"I’m Leon Aldric."
"A pleasure."
Her voice was smooth and refined.
"Please sit."
I carefully sat across from her while trying not to accidentally touch anything that looked like it was worth more than my entire territory.
Seraphina leaned back slightly.
"I’ll be direct."
Her crimson eyes sharpened.
"I want exclusive rights to your steel."
Straight to the point.
"...Why?"
That made her smile slightly.
"Because it’s exceptional."
She folded her hands together.
"The purity is far beyond standard bloom steel."
Then she continued calmly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly with interest.
"Whoever developed this thing is either a genius..."
Then she smiled faintly.
"Or dangerous."
Probably both.
I remained silent while she continued.
"But truthfully..."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"I’m interested in more than just the steel."
I blinked.
"...What?"
"I want you as well."
My soul nearly left my body.
Thank every god imaginable that Lilith wasn’t here to hear that sentence.
Otherwise this building genuinely might not survive the day.
Seraphina laughed softly at my horrified expression.
"You misunderstand."
"I really hope I am."
"I mean your mind," she clarified calmly. "Your talent."
That made significantly more sense.
Barely.
"You’re young," she continued, "yet somehow capable of producing steel superior to royal-grade forge work."
Her fingers lightly tapped the desk.
"People like that change the world."
Silence filled the room briefly.
Then—
She named her price.
"One small gold coin per ingot"
And honestly—
I almost stopped breathing.
The amount of money she offered for future steel shipments was absurd.
A single small gold coin per ingot.
That is what most people in the kingdom earned in a year.
Yet after several moments—
I shook my head.
Seraphina’s expression shifted slightly.
"...You decline?"
"For exclusivity, yes."
That genuinely surprised her.
"Why?"
"Because my father wants some too."
For a moment—
Complete silence.
Then suddenly Seraphina laughed.
Not polite laughter.
Actual laughter.
That somehow felt more terrifying than Lilith.
Eventually she wiped a tear from her eye.
"You rejected one of the greatest trade deals in the kingdom..."
She smiled.
"Because your father wanted some."
"...Yes?"
She laughed again.
Finally, after calming down, she nodded.
"Very well."
Her expression became far more approving afterward.
"I’ll allow you to sell elsewhere."
Then her crimson eyes sharpened slightly.
"But whenever you sell to me..."
She named the original price again.
’What an Insane woman.’
Eventually the meeting finally ended.
Seraphina gave a few final remarks about future business before allowing me to leave.
And as I departed the Grand Meridian Commerce Hall—
I realised something terrifying.
I had somehow just entered the world of high-level merchants.
Which might be more dangerous than magic.
