Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 236
In this situation, overturning the propaganda through Ludendorff holds significant meaning.
The system of primogeniture is an ancient tradition, deeply rooted in the foundation of society. The Empress had tried to reverse this.
She aimed to promote the idea that it was right to appoint a pure blood Rommel younger son, from a lower-status mother, as the successor.
Had she succeeded, the gap between the Rommel and Arren aristocracy would not just be a matter of wealth and power, as it is now, but would also extend to marriage, affecting the next generation.
By delaying the inheritance rights of children born from the union of Rommel and Arren, it would effectively create a lower-class hierarchy.
Such a visible class gap would worsen the condition of those below, leading the Arrens to become second-class citizens at a rapid pace.
However, now that the succession has been reversed back to the eldest son, the traditional order has been restored, and the issue of the mother’s origins has been pushed aside.
“He will do well.”
“He better. If Sir Hermann fails to save the family, Arrens will become the victims of the second wave of propaganda, showing they’re worth nothing.”
If that happens, it would be a huge disappointment.
The other side already possesses great influence, like the Southland grain merchant, deeply embedded within Arren’s heart.
So, on this side, at least, they need to strategically place a sharp sword right next to Ernst to maintain the balance.
Erich spoke.
“He’s quite skilled. I knew he had broad connections, but his negotiation skills were impressive as well. Even in a short time, his handling of the port’s shares and financial planning was flawless.”
“The port?”
“Yes.”
“Did you decide to take shares in the port?”
Claire, lying with her head resting on his thigh, blinked at him.
“Didn’t you know? That’s supposed to be the core business for rebuilding Marquisate Ludendorff.”
Erich mentally raised his evaluation of Hermann by about two levels.
He had thought Claire might have gotten involved, considering how convincing Herman’s arguments were.
“You didn’t use the shares as collateral to lend money?”
“Correct. Since the Empress will be stepping out of the business, Hermann is stepping in as an investor.”
Claire blinked in disbelief.
“Wow, this is really unbelievable.”
“What’s unbelievable?”
“Here I am, getting a measly 15% share in a coal mine, and you just waltz in and swallow up the entire port?”
The biggest chunk is naturally for the investors who funded it. Claire knew that, but it still didn’t sit well with her.
“Construction’s just starting. It’ll take over 10 years to see any real returns.”
As Claire was about to express her frustration, Erich gently traced her lips with his finger and said sweetly.
“If you have capital to invest, I’d be happy to give up my place.”
“Ugh. You know I don’t have the ability for that.”
Erich gave a victorious grin.
“I’m not doing this for the profit anyway.”
Claire knew that. Building infrastructure isn’t a business that sees profits overnight, and Erich’s involvement, as he had mentioned before, is more about positioning for a strategic goal.
This was one thing, and that was another.
No matter how much she thought about it, Claire couldn’t find a way to take revenge through wealth or power, so she pulled the annoying man toward her.
She planned to sit on top of him and look down at him.
Erich’s body followed her lead, but halfway through, he seemed to realize something, flinched, and then stopped.
However, the small envelope with something heavy inside had already fallen onto the bed.
Before he could pick it up again, Claire quickly grabbed it.
“What’s this? It seems suspicious.”
“Claire.”
What was he trying to hide? If it were related to something from the Klausener business that she shouldn’t know, Erich would say so, but instead, he stayed silent.
She opened the envelope. Inside, a signet ring fell out.
It was a signet ring engraved with Marquisate Ludendorff crest.
“……”
“Give me the letter. You haven’t read everything, have you?”
Erich clenched his fist around the letter, refusing to speak.
Claire slid her fingers into his fist to try to retrieve the letter.
Erich lifted his hand, forcing Claire to sit up.
“Give it to me quickly.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Oh! Not fulfilling your duties as a secretary.”
“Do you usually lie on the secretary’s lap?”
“Don’t change the subject. This is not something to negotiate over.”
Claire tugged at his wrist.
Erich allowed her to pull that far, but his fingers resisted until Claire struggled to pry them open.
Looking at his face, it was clear he didn’t want to give it up.
Even so, if he had truly resisted, Claire wouldn’t have been able to open his hand by force.
“In the end, you’re going to give it to me, so why the unnecessary stubbornness?”
“……”
Claire rolled her eyes and read the last part of the letter.
[To the one who returned my lost 13 years, I give everything I have regained.
By the way, I recently heard from a friend in the capital that using signet rings for proposals has become a trend.
Of course, it’s not a real seal, but instead, they engrave wedding vows or set small diamonds, making a new one.
It’s popular because you can use it as the Mistress’s own seal as well.
I look forward to the day when you will return a ring made in my size.]
This, like Joanna’s, would have to be remade by melting it down and having it re-cast in Herman’s size.
Claire was a bit surprised, as she hadn’t expected this. But more than that, she was taken aback by the contents of the letter.
She looked at Erich.
“Wow. You’ve become the trendsetter for wedding rings, not me?”
“……”
“Are you happy about that?”
“I don’t care about trends. It’s natural for people to take interest in what I give you.”
What was unpleasant was the intention behind sending this along with the signet ring in a letter.
Of course, it was good to take in Ludendorff. That wasn’t the part that bothered him.
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