The Lord Just Wants to Have Fun

Philip’s recent moniker in the Arteria Kingdom’s social circles was “The Sacred of the West.”
His remarkable growth and actions had been so astonishing that one could only assume his ambitions and dreams were just as immense!

‘…Or so I thought! But why?!’

Francesca, bewildered by the unexpected result, rubbed her eyes.
She wondered if she had seen incorrectly, but Philip’s body, as reflected in the chakra, was undeniably glowing orange.

‘That’s strange. Orange is far from the color of an ambitious person.’

If he were truly ambitious, he would be glowing purple, symbolizing power and dignity, or green, which represented growth and prosperity.
However, neither of those colors appeared on Philip.

Only orange.

‘Orange symbolizes joy, vitality, pleasure, and amusement. It’s a color typically found in libertines and hedonists among the nobility…’

Could it be that his status as an Apostle prevented the chakra from working on him?
Francesca quickly dismissed that possibility.

Chakra was a power bestowed upon elves by Eureka, the god of spirits.
If it were a harmful force like black magic, it might be resisted, but there was no reason for chakra to be blocked.

‘That means what I’m seeing must be the truth.’

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

Philip was evidently different from the rumors and public perception surrounding him.

‘Yes, there are cases like that. People who are overestimated because of the outstanding subordinates beneath them.’

Francesca had met plenty of such people before.
They were heirs of prestigious families, but in reality, they relied entirely on their subordinates’ capabilities.

Such men usually spent more time boasting about themselves with unnecessary flattery rather than negotiating.
Occasionally, however, some managed to maintain a dignified facade.

The son of Count Auguste, who had suffered significant losses recently, was just such a person.

‘There’s a simple way to handle these men who are gilded on the outside but empty inside.’

Having made up her mind about Philip, Francesca’s lips curled into a seductive smile.

Philip, upon seeing that smile, blushed slightly.

It was a perfectly normal reaction for a young man of his age to have when faced with a beautiful woman’s smile.
However, Francesca misinterpreted his reaction, and her smile deepened further.

‘Wow, so this is what they call a femme fatale… a beauty that can topple nations.’

Philip felt his heart skip a beat involuntarily.

So this was what it felt like to be enchanted.

He immediately steeled his mind, realizing he needed to stay sharp.

At that moment, Mau’s voice sent him a warning.

< Apostle, that elf woman is trying to read your nature. >

‘What? She can read my thoughts?’

< No, not that precisely. She can only perceive your disposition. >

‘Which means…’

< Yeah, she’s figured out you’re a lazy slacker! >

Hey, it wasn’t like he had been slacking off completely.

Sure, he had devoted time to his hobbies, but that didn’t mean he had completely neglected his domain’s administration.

While Philip was internally grumbling, his secretary, Helen, arrived with refreshments.

“It’s coffee.”

“Yes, it’s been quite the trend in social circles lately.”

The coffee Philip had developed was highly favored by nobles due to its rich aroma and potent awakening effect.

Its popularity wasn’t limited to aristocrats either—lower-ranking officials and scholars who often pulled all-nighters had also taken to consuming it.
The recipe had gradually spread through the hot spring town, fueling its demand.

“Since the primary ingredient, Maka fruit, is abundant in the kingdom, it’s becoming more widely available.”

“I’ve heard the same. Because of that, the demand for imported tea from the Eastern Continent has declined.”

Francesca’s words hit Philip squarely in the chest.

It was as if she was saying, “Thanks to you, our trading company’s profits have suffered.”

‘Wait, could that be why she was being so prickly earlier?’

However, Francesca hadn’t come to complain about the coffee.

In fact, she actually liked it.

It was great for staying up late, and drinking it after smoking helped erase the lingering acrid taste in her mouth while revitalizing her senses.

“I heard you were the one who created the proper way to drink coffee, Baron. The original taste is certainly different. Much smoother, with a deeper aroma.”

“It’s because this is Dutch coffee.”

“Dutch?”

“Well… let’s just say it’s my own secret method.”

And that was all he was going to say about it.

Philip planned to commercialize Dutch coffee in the future.
Regular coffee had already spread and become widely available, making it impossible to monopolize.
However, premium products like Dutch coffee, which were harder to produce, could still appeal to the wealthy commoners and nobility.

Francesca, being sharp in business matters, immediately caught on to Philip’s intentions.
She also realized she had just made a mistake.

‘If I’d known, I wouldn’t have complimented the taste.’

Regretting her slip, she set down her cup and moved closer to Philip.
A rich, intoxicating fragrance emanated from her as she did.

Francesca flashed him a playful, knowing smile.

“You are truly a man of many talents, my lord.”

“Haha, I hear that quite often.”

“I have a great fondness for talented people.”

She winked openly.

Watching from behind, Helen’s expression grew uneasy.
She worried that in these negotiations with the head of the Callisto Trading Company, her lord might fall for this beauty’s charm and make a poor decision.

“Really? You like people like me?”

“Yes. Someone as capable as you is worth investing even 10 million dalants in.”

Both Delpharos and Helen, who had been quietly listening, gasped in shock.

10 million dalants?!

That was the equivalent of three to four years’ worth of budget for an average territory!

‘I’d heard the Callisto Trading Company had the wealth of a small kingdom, but…’

With that kind of money, the Brandel Barony could develop rapidly.
But Helen couldn’t help but wonder—was there truly no catch to receiving such an enormous sum?
After all, nothing in this world came for free.

Meanwhile, the conversation between Philip and Francesca continued.

“Are you truly considering investing in my domain?”

“Yes. Not just in your current projects, but in every business venture you undertake in the future.”

“Hm, a whole 10 million dalants…”

“If necessary, I could invest even more.”

Philip fell silent, lost in thought.

Watching him through her chakra, Francesca let out an internal scoff.

The orange hue around him flickered—sometimes deepening, sometimes fading.

‘Hohoho, you’re flustered, aren’t you? There’s no need to overthink it. You just need to say, “Yes, I accept.”’

There was no way he could refuse such an amount.

Especially someone like Philip, who, in her eyes, was nothing more than a hedonistic libertine.
Men who lived for pleasure and amusement never turned down wealth.

As Francesca confidently observed the situation, Delpharos was impressed.

‘So this was her true objective!’

By making such a massive investment in the Brandel Barony, the Callisto Trading Company would secure a deep foothold in the territory.
This would prevent interference from other trading companies and ensure that the lord himself couldn’t simply sever ties with them.

‘And once the baron accepts their money, he’ll have no choice but to consider their influence. We’ll have a say in the development, production, and trade of goods within the territory.’

If they could buy a goose that laid golden eggs for just 10 million dalants—and make that goose lay even more golden eggs—it would be an incredibly profitable deal.

Delpharos now fully understood why their busy trading company leader had personally led a delegation to the Brandel domain.

It wasn’t just about money—she intended to ensnare Philip with both wealth and beauty.

“I’d like to hear more details.”

Philip swallowed hard, appearing half-persuaded.

Francesca’s lips curled upward.

He’s taken the bait!

Now, all she had to do was reel him in and secure the deal.

“If our company provides 10 million dalants, my lord will work with our financial advisors to determine how best to use the funds.”

“So, I’d use it to purchase necessary raw materials or hire skilled workers.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“And what about non-business-related uses? For example, increasing the size of my military forces, repairing the castle walls and roads, or purchasing grain to aid the poor…”

“If it helps with business, anything is possible. We can arrange the mercenaries or supplies you need.”

“I see.”

Philip appeared almost completely swayed by Francesca’s friendly explanation, prompting Helen to step forward.

“My lord, this is not a condition you should accept so easily—”

“Oh my, the coffee has gone cold. Would you be so kind as to brew a fresh pot?”

With a subtle tilt of her head, Francesca cut Helen off mid-sentence.

Helen had been about to insist that this deal should not be accepted, but she found herself unable to continue.

Though Francesca’s smile remained gentle, there was an overwhelming sense of intimidation behind it—like a predator sizing up its prey.

‘So this is the true face of a woman who controls the continent’s commerce…’

Helen shivered slightly at the realization.

Before the silence could stretch any further, Philip spoke.

“Helen, please see to it that the trading master gets a fresh cup of coffee.”

“…Understood.”

Without further argument, Helen exited the parlor.

As she stepped out, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Just moments ago, when she had locked eyes with Philip, his expression had seemed lighthearted, but his gaze had remained as sharp as ever.

There was no sign of him being swayed by Francesca’s charms.

‘Of course. My lord always has a plan, as usual…’

“To think a mere maid would dare to interrupt her master’s conversation—she’s quite bold.”

“She’s not a maid. She’s my secretary. She studied at Socra College.”

“Oh, I see. That explains a lot…”

It made sense.

When Francesca had observed Helen through her chakra earlier, she had noticed something unusual.

There had been a powerful sense of ambition and determination surrounding her.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s actually the real power behind this domain.’

As Francesca was entertaining that amusing thought, Philip’s voice reached her ears.

“I’ve given it some thought, and I must decline your generous investment offer.”

“…What did you just say?”

Caught off guard by his unexpected response, Francesca asked again.

“I said I refuse.”

Her expression hardened.

She had been certain she had reeled him in, only for him to slip away as if mocking her.

As Francesca’s face stiffened, Philip let out a quiet chuckle.

‘Hah. So, you thought you could buy me and my domain with money? You really think I’d just swallow that bait whole?’

The 10 million dalants from the Callisto Trading Company would have been nothing more than a shackle for Philip.

She had said he would need to “consult” with their financial advisor on how to use the funds, but in reality, that just meant they would be controlling it.

‘They’d probably insist on supplying all the raw materials and food themselves. And any skilled workers or mercenaries they introduce would be their own people, meant to keep an eye on me.’

Even on Earth, large corporations frequently entered partnerships with smaller companies only to steal their innovations and leave them dry.

There was no guarantee that the Callisto Trading Company wouldn’t send industrial spies.

‘More than anything, this is just a deal where I get 10 million dalants in exchange for working hard to make them more profit. Why should I turn my territory into a subcontractor for their company?’

Philip liked money.

With money, he could indulge in bigger and better hobbies.

But he had no intention of becoming a slave to it.

“Haa… This is the first time I’ve seen such kindness rejected so coldly.”

Letting out a deep sigh—or perhaps more accurately, an irritated huff—Francesca shot Philip an icy glare.

“I don’t make offers like this to just anyone. What exactly is it that you find so unsatisfactory?”

Her voice had risen slightly, her frustration becoming more evident.

Sensing her growing irritation, Delpharos tensed slightly.