The Obsessive Male Lead Is Jealous Of My Doll - Chapter 71

Chapter 36.1

The mansion they arrived at was a quaint stone manor as if it had stepped right out of a fairy tale. The red roof, surrounded by neatly stacked stone walls, perfectly complemented the picturesque scenery.

A thin trail of smoke curled up from the chimney, suggesting they used a traditional fireplace rather than a magic stone. The days were comfortably warm, like the last remnants of autumn, but the nights turned chilly. Above the walnut-colored door, a charming wreath woven with opaque glass pieces and colorful seashells hung.

Karentina reached for the cord and pulled, ringing the bell.

Click.

The front door opened, revealing an elderly butler who bowed politely.

“Welcome, my lady. The master has informed me of your arrival.”

Since they had sent a letter in advance, the butler had already been expecting her.

Karentina nodded and followed him inside the baron’s mansion.

The mansion’s interior wasn’t lavish, but it radiated a welcoming warmth. Karentina couldn’t help but admire it, thinking it felt just like the kind of home a red-haired girl in a fairy tale might live in.

“The lady seems to find everything fascinating.”

“Yes! It’s really enjoyable. I never imagined I’d get to experience so many new things.”

“Is that so?”

“Once my brother comes back, I might take a trip with Zion.”

The moment Zion’s name was mentioned, Ignis’s expression twisted with displeasure.

“Is there no way to change that doll’s face?”

The cold tone of his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

“This is as much as I can do. The best I can manage is changing his hair and eye color. I barely have any magic left at the moment…”

As Karentina dropped her head in disappointment, a flicker of hesitation passed through Ignis’s eyes.

“Once I get my magic back, I might be able to find a solution. Please wait a little longer.”

“…Alright.”

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open.

̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊

A stocky middle-aged man came running in, out of breath. He must have been completely stunned upon learning that the crown prince had traveled all this way. Watching him scramble in a panic, Karentina found his reaction oddly endearing and struggled to suppress a smile.

“I-I greet the Empire’s little sun.”

“Nice to meet you, Baron Rodon.”

At some point, Ignis had dispelled his magic, revealing his dazzling golden hair once more. Despite his casual attire, the unmistakable presence of the imperial lineage still radiated from him.

“What brings Your Highness to such a humble estate?”

Seeing how Baron Rodon looked as if he wanted to sink into the ground, Karentina offered him a friendly smile.

“Hello, Baron Rodon. I’m Karentina, from the Duchy of Lorraine.”

Baron Rodon, who had been shocked to see Ignis, was even more stunned when he saw her and struggled to find the words.

“Why on earth are the two of you… Is this some kind of love escapade?”

Her eyes widened at the baron’s trembling voice, and she sprang up in surprise.

“No!”

“It’s nothing like that!”

The two of them blurted out their responses at the same time, then awkwardly met each other’s gaze before quickly looking away in embarrassment.

“I came because I wanted to propose a deal with you, Baron.”

“A deal?”

“Yes. I heard that the Western region has produced another surplus of crops this year.”

“Y-Yes, that’s true, but…”

“And you’ve been searching for export routes to sell them to other kingdoms, haven’t you?”

Baron Rodon stared at Karentina in stunned silence as if he had just seen a ghost.

“Yes, but the expenses and time involved make it nearly impossible. We already failed last year. I was actually planning to seek assistance from the imperial court…”

The baron, who had been casting furtive glances at Ignis, couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence.

“Regarding the surplus crops you were planning to dispose of…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll buy all of them!”

“What? What are you saying? You mean… you’re planning to purchase all the crops from the Western region?”

Baron Rodon rubbed his neck with a bewildered look on his face.

“Yes, I’ll need to assess how much we need to purchase, but we in the North are interested in setting up a direct trade agreement for agricultural goods with the West.”

Karentina continued, explaining the current situation in the North and how food supplies from the South were being sold at exorbitantly high prices. At first, the baron had been wary, assuming this was some naive whim of a noblewoman, but as he listened to her words, he began to take her seriously.

“Those crooks! So all that extra profit is going straight into Duke Horton’s pockets? That wretched snake dares—!”

His calloused hands trembled with fury.

“Yes, unfortunately, that’s the state of things right now.”

For a moment, silence settled between them. After carefully observing the two, Baron Rodon finally opened his mouth again in a lowered voice.

“To be honest, I’ve been struggling to find a way to sell them. If our carefully grown western produce could be of any help, I’d be more than happy to discuss it.”

For Baron Rodon, a direct trade deal wasn’t a loss either.