Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master

Chapter 140

140. Building Soft Power as a Max-Level All-Master (6)

“In fact, there are even rumors in the Imperial capital’s social circles that Chairman Jin is preparing to leave Renslet and defect to the Empire.”

This was the latest news from Entir about Imperial high society.

“What? How could the rumors get so twisted…”

I started to protest but quickly stopped myself.

If modern Earth, with its vast communication networks, couldn’t avoid the chaos of fake news, then this world, with its rudimentary systems, was bound to be worse.

‘But how did I not know about this? Even if the preparation was done in secrecy, the Frost Knights or our company’s intelligence division should have caught wind of it. Could Arina and Isabelle be involved?’

Currently, the key members of Arad Group’s intelligence division are the Frost Knights. Officially, I was the leader, but in practice, the real authority lay with Arina and Isabelle.

‘I’ll need to gradually reorganize things.’

“Chairman Jin, you are the most famous and widely recognized man on the continent. Every little detail about your life becomes newsworthy.”

Entir looked at me with a serious expression.

“By now, I’m sure this rumor has reached Bardenheim. The kings and grand lords of the United Kingdom are likely searching for eligible princesses or daughters to match with you.”

“Hmm…”

“But! There’s something even more important than that, Chairman Jin!”

“…Something more important?”

“Yes! It’s about Lady Mary and Her Grace, the Duchess.”

“…?”

I stayed silent, signaling him to continue.

“There’s a widespread perception—both here in the North and across the continent—that Lady Mary and the Duchess were very close to you.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“As a result, their prospects for marriage have been effectively blocked. Ah! The Duchess may still have options, but Lady Mary must be finding it incredibly difficult.”

Knowing that Mary was Arina, I felt less guilty. But Entir, unaware of this, looked at me as though I were some kind of unrepentant scoundrel.

“I believe you’re not just a master sorcerer of the North, but also a man of responsibility, Chairman Jin.”

“W-Wait…”

“The best solution is to marry Her Grace, the Duchess, while maintaining a de facto relationship with Lady Mary. That way, the rumors spreading across the continent—”

“Yes, yes! I understand. I’m taking this matter seriously, so let’s leave it at that.”

Tap.

Unable to endure any more, I declared my surrender and played a magic card on the table without much thought.

‘Ah! I played the wrong card!’

I realized my mistake too late.

“Ah-ha! It seems this round is mine,” Entir said with a triumphant grin, laying down a devastating counter card.

***

The Palace of Glory, Inner Keep of the High Tower.

In the office of the Duchess of Renslet, Arina Rune Renslet sat in contemplation.

Hoo…

Taking a deep breath, Arina extended her arm.

“Then, I’ll begin the examination, Your Grace.”

Arad gently took her wrist, starting the diagnostic process.

Arina responded with a small nod, signaling her consent.

For a while, silence filled the room as Arad focused on the task.

The heavy stillness was finally broken by Arad’s gaze.

“…”

His eyes lingered on the white sword hanging from Arina’s waist—The Cry of the Snowfield.

“This sword? I took it from Mary because I liked it,” Arina said with an air of arrogance.

Though Arina was Mary, as far as she knew, Arad was still unaware of this fact.

Her behavior, haughty and overbearing, was intentional.

‘Yes, this is for the best.’

This was all part of Arina’s plan—to make Arad lose interest in her.

‘Arad deserves to be with a healthy, kind woman who can give him children, not someone like me.’

Thus, in Mary’s guise, she often kept her distance and used cold words. And as Arina, she acted as aloof and authoritarian as possible.

‘It’s all for Renslet.’

She firmly believed this was the best course of action.

‘The Renslet bloodline may end with me, but the duchy itself must continue to prosper.’

Arina was certain of one thing: Renslet’s future depended on Arad.

He had to remain in the North, using his ancient sorcery to secure the duchy’s stability.

‘Arad and his children will govern this land and its people, continuing its legacy in my place.’

For this to happen, Arad needed to find a healthy Northern woman and build a family.

Tragically, Arina’s current condition meant she couldn’t fulfill even the simplest of roles.

“I’ll craft a sword for you as a birthday gift, Your Grace,” Arad said suddenly.

Did he understand her intentions? Was he playing along?

“That won’t be necessary. This… sword I took is sufficient.”

“Soon, the magic engine factory in High Tower will be completed. We’ll need to produce mithril and orichalcum for testing. I’ll use those materials to make you an even finer weapon.” ????BË?

Even as he glanced at The Cry of the Snowfield, which he believed had been “taken” from Mary, Arad’s expression betrayed no emotion.

“Well… if you insist, I suppose I can’t refuse,” Arina said, feigning reluctance.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Arad’s reaction was calm, dry, and matter-of-fact, as always.

“Your body has significantly improved,” Arad said as he gently released Arina’s wrist.

“But does that change anything?”

Arina let out a bitter smile and lowered her gaze to her abdomen.

“It does,” Arad replied firmly.

Grab.

“!!”

Before she could respond, Arad suddenly grabbed both of her hands tightly.

“Don’t give up, Your Grace. There has to be a way.”

“…?”

What was this? Was she dreaming?

Arina stared at the man before her with dazed eyes.

Even back when she had appointed him to the position of Grand Sorcerer, he had been stoic and indifferent.

Yet here he was, acting unpredictably—and not even while she was in Mary’s guise.

‘What is going on…?’

Arina, unprepared for this uncharacteristic behavior, was at a loss.

“I’ll find a way, no matter what it takes,” Arad continued, his voice filled with resolve.

The suddenness of his words and actions caught her off guard, but she didn’t dislike it.

In fact, every word he spoke filled her with warmth and gratitude.

“That’s… a waste of effort. Put your energy into something else,” Arina mumbled, her embarrassment tinged with unexpected joy.

“Why is it a waste of effort?”

“...Even if my body heals, it’s meaningless. To have a child, you need a man,” she muttered, glancing away in bashful frustration.

“A man, huh? Then what about me?”

His next question startled her, striking a nerve with eerie familiarity. It was reminiscent of the conversation they had once shared in the depths of the Demonic Abyss.

“W-what? …W-what?!”

Arina, utterly flustered, glanced around nervously. But the room was empty—it was just her and Arad.

‘Wait… where is everyone?’

Though puzzled, her thoughts were cut short by Arad’s sudden action.

“Please accept my proposal, Your Grace.”

He pulled a ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her finger before she could react.

“I…! I…! This is all so sudden…”

Her heart soared with joy, disbelief washing over her. The moment was so surreal that it felt like a dream.

Wait… a dream?

As a strange feeling crept into her heart, Arina tilted her head, caught between happiness and confusion.

“Sudden? After everything we’ve been through together?”

Arad’s tone shifted, his expression softening. The way he looked at her now wasn’t how a subject would look at a noble, but how a dear friend might look at his trusted companion.

Then, his lips moved, forming words that struck like lightning.

“Isn’t that right, Mary?”

“!!”

The shock was so overwhelming that her consciousness reeled, and suddenly—

“Eek!!”

Arina screamed and bolted upright from her bed.

Huff, huff, huff…

She gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she surveyed her surroundings.

‘It was… a dream!’

Relief and disappointment swirled within her, leaving her unsure how to feel.

“Your Grace? Is everything alright?”

The voices of her attendants drifted through the door, alarmed by the commotion.

“It’s nothing! Just… a strange dream,” she reassured them, quickly dismissing their concerns.

Haaa…

Arina let out a deep sigh and sat up, running a hand through her hair.

‘Of course, it was only possible in a dream. Who would love a woman like me?’

She allowed the cynical thought to linger for a moment.

If she really thought about it, there probably were men who wouldn’t mind her condition.

In fact, some might even prefer a queen who couldn’t bear children—men who sought to exploit her background for personal gain.

But Arina’s heart belonged to one man, and Arad wasn’t the kind to be swayed by such shallow motives.

‘If only Arad cared about my background and embraced me because of it… but that’s impossible. What could he possibly lack that he’d settle for someone like me?’

That was the conclusion she came to.

Later, Arina left High Tower under the guise of Lady Mary, following a familiar routine.

Her pure white hair and deep gray eyes were unmistakable. She wore a tunic made of Rian fabric, paired with a simple coat.

Her waist felt strangely light today. Normally, she always carried The Cry of the Snowfield when disguised as Mary, but perhaps because of the lingering effects of her dream, she chose not to wear the white blade.

Even without a weapon, she strolled through the High Tower confidently. Renslet had become that safe in recent times.

‘What a peaceful, bright, and warm atmosphere.’

As Arina walked the lively streets of High Tower, a faint smile crept onto her lips as she observed the vibrant scene around her.

Children, clutching their newly purchased gifts, walked happily beside their parents, who looked at them with tender eyes. Music from street bands filled the air, mingling with the sound of cheerful chatter.

The buildings and trees of the High Tower sparkled with ornate decorations, creating an atmosphere of celebration and warmth.

This wasn’t unique to High Tower—it was a scene that could be found throughout Renslet.

‘This is all thanks to Arad.’

They called it soft power. The ventures he had initiated through the newspapers—comics, novels, horse racing, toys, card games utilizing illusion magic, dolls, and more—had transformed the duchy into a hub of culture.

It was a miracle that seemed almost impossible for one person to conceive.

But neither Arina nor the Renslet elite found it strange.

‘The Golden Age must have been culturally rich as well.’

They believed that Arad was merely reviving the cultural heritage of the ancient Golden Age.

Waaaaahhh!

Suddenly, a loud cheer echoed in the distance, drawing Arina’s attention.

She realized she had walked farther than she intended, arriving outside High Tower, near the racetrack.

‘That racetrack has done wonders for bringing hidden wealth out of the shadows and into the open.’

Looking at the grand racetrack, Arina allowed herself a satisfied smile.

‘Arad called it the underground economy, didn’t he?’

Even though it was just one racetrack, it had significantly boosted her private funds.

Until now, she had begrudgingly relied on Arad for extra finances, requesting funds for projects like Colossus Mechs, airships, roads, magic engine factories, water and sewage systems, and railroads. Each time, she felt a pang of guilt.

But not anymore. The racetrack’s profits were now enough to handle most expenses.

‘Horse racing is remarkable. Unlike gladiator arenas, there’s no harm to the competitors. Plus, it helps foster high-quality horses.’

Though the idea had come from Arad, Arina had been the one to implement and establish the horse racing industry, handling every detail from start to finish.

‘We’ll expand this model by building racetracks in Renslet’s major cities, starting with the High Tower’s First Racetrack!’

Because of this, Arina had a special fondness for the racetrack.

However, today’s destination wasn’t the racetrack—it was the Arad Industrial Complex.

Haa…

As she approached the central building of the complex, where Arad’s office was located, she felt unusually hesitant.

Her recent efforts to maintain distance from Arad, combined with the lingering emotions from her dream, made her steps feel heavy.

When she finally arrived, she noticed a large, luxurious carriage parked outside, along with a dozen horses.

‘Entir is here.’

The carriage bore the emblem of Bishop Company, and members of the Red Wolf Mercenary Corps stood guard nearby.

“Oh! It’s Lady Mary!”

The Red Wolves, noticing her approach, greeted her warmly.

“It’s been a while,” she replied with a polite smile.

“It’s been a while for us too, Lady Mary. I heard you’ve been working mostly in the High Tower lately?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“We accompanied our employer to the High Tower for an audience yesterday.”

“Yes, I heard. I was working elsewhere, so I couldn’t greet you then,” Arina said, recalling Entir Bishop’s recent visit to High Tower.

“Wow! Look who it is! Lady Mary herself!”

The front doors of the building opened, and Entir emerged with his bodyguard, Carpe, close behind.

“Ah! Mary, were you starting later today?”

Next, Arad appeared and greeted her with a warm smile.

“…”

Mary—Arina—lowered her head silently in response, avoiding his gaze.

“See? They definitely fought.”

“They fought, no doubt.”

“It’s obvious.”

The Red Wolves exchanged whispers, but Arina ignored them, letting the chatter flow in one ear and out the other. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Entir.

‘Entir Bishop.’

Lately, strange rumors had been circulating in the Empire about Arad.

The most troubling among them was that Arad’s relationship with her had soured and that he was seriously considering defecting to the Empire.

While there was some truth to the rumor about their strained relationship, the idea of Arad contemplating defection was utter nonsense.

And behind this baseless rumor was none other than Entir Bishop, the Imperial merchant standing before her.