Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 14

Mia didn’t report Annabelle for a simple reason. With the external situation complicated by the war, she decided there was no need to create an incident that would shake internal unity.

“I appreciate you not informing His Grace the Duke about the matter.”

Above all, Marquis Luke was Dylan’s superior during his childhood and had helped him whenever he faced difficult situations. He was practically Dylan’s benefactor.

Troubling such a person would shake Dylan’s heart as he commanded the war at sea, and she didn’t want to burden him with such things, so she didn’t report it.

“Dylan is always grateful to the Marquis. I know he has received a lot of help regarding his cousin’s matter and our marriage.”

“……I will try not to create anything that would concern you, Madam.”

Marquis Luke, understanding the implied warning to be careful in the future, nodded. After a moment, he added, “Apart from that, I hope you didn’t dismiss the story the nobles told earlier.”

Clear brown eyes stared directly at Mia. Marquis Luke continued in a calm voice, “Talented people cannot gather in a family business that is not hereditary.”

There was a different weight to his words compared to the nobles who had seemed ridiculous earlier.

“Maintaining the status of nobility is advantageous for securing funds, as well as useful for managing connections.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s not just His Grace who leads the business. Lawyers, patent attorneys, and even talented people to give advice are needed.”

Marquis Luke was right.

Currently, people dispatched from the royal family were leading the business, but it was clear that it wouldn’t last forever. It was only natural that no one would want to get involved in a family business without backing.

“Even if the Richards collapse, and His Grace returns to his former surname. Ah, since he abandoned his previous surname, he can’t return, so he would become a commoner.”

Marquis Luke stroked his chin and muttered to himself. Then, as if he had organized his thoughts, he continued his explanation.

“There are only a handful of wealthy commoners. And more than half of them are either supported by nobles or are illegitimate children of nobles. There is a clear limit to what can be achieved as a commoner without such things.”

He was explaining the problems when the Richard family was not hereditary and the difficulties Dylan would face.

“If His Grace is determined not to inherit despite having the opportunity, these are the problems you will face later.”

It was a cold statement, but it was reality.

The world Dylan belonged to was not a dreamlike world where status and honor were unnecessary.

“Right now, His Grace is a national hero and holds the position of Admiral, so it doesn’t matter, but in just three years, that honor will fade, and he may have to step down from the position of Admiral.”

Because it was Marquis Luke, a retired soldier, who was saying this, Mia couldn’t argue. As he said, people don’t remember one person’s heroic tale for very long.

Especially if peace were to come.

Of course, the content Marquis Luke mentioned was clearly something that would happen long after Mia left Hippolyte.

It wasn’t directly related to her, but thinking about Dylan, who had to stay and live here, she felt she could offer a few words of advice.

“His Grace’s honor will shine brighter when the status of Duke Richard is behind him.”

“To hear such a story from the Marquis, who has always pursued only the honor of a soldier… it’s surprising.”

“The honor of a soldier tends to fade over time.”

Marquis Luke, seeing Mia unable to hide her surprise, replied with a bitter smile.

“Above all, wouldn’t it be better to be a noble than a powerless commoner in order to protect your family?”

He nodded, making eye contact with Mia.

She knew very well that Marquis Luke was an upright person. He wasn’t raising these words with ulterior motives, but was genuinely worried about the other person’s future.

Mia also knew that Marquis Luke took full responsibility for what his daughter had done and had been helping her from behind while Dylan was away.

That’s why she couldn’t refuse his words right away.

“If His Grace decides to inherit, I promise that the Luke family will help in every way.”

If the Luke family stepped in to help, the problems related to inheritance, as well as the business, would be handled smoothly. And it was clear that he would be a strong supporter for Dylan, who had not set foot in society for a long time.

After some time, Mia lifted her feet, which seemed to sink into the floor, and moved.

“Dylan, are you busy?”

Mia, who carefully opened the door, called out to Dylan.

“I knocked several times, but there was no answer.”

The expression of the man, who was wearing glasses and frowning deeply, relaxed in an instant. It was as if he had seen someone unexpected.

“May I come in?”

The strong sunlight shining behind Dylan created a backlight, making it difficult to read his expression properly.

“Come in.”

Mia lightly moved her steps and approached him closely. As she got closer to him, she smelled a fresh scent containing the forest. The office was full of the smell of paper, but when she got closer to Dylan, she smelled nothing but his scent.

While Mia was having a brief impression, he also scanned her in front of him. Then he looked down at the documents again.

“You seem very busy.”

“It’s nothing.”

Seeing the documents piled up on the desk, Mia knew his words were empty, but she didn’t point them out one by one. It would be helpful to Dylan to tell the main point as soon as possible and leave the place.

“I heard you took my job.”

“If you came because of that, you don’t have to,” Mia said. “If you’re doing it as a reward for listening to my unreasonable demands, you really don’t have to.”

His hands, which had been moving quickly, gradually slowed. Then, he slowly raised his head and met Mia’s eyes.

The blatant gaze made her neck feel hot. Trying to ignore the feeling, Mia gathered her documents and continued, “And I ran into the guests who came on my way here. They were talking about inheritance.”

A somewhat stiff voice came from Dylan. “The discussion regarding that is already over.”

The air felt heavier than when she first entered the office.

Mia hesitated for a moment, then spoke again. “I know it’s a little funny for me, who will be leaving in a year, to say this… but how about having a deeper conversation with Duke Luke?”

Dylan asked her with a cold expression, “If I had power, would you want to stay here longer?”

It was a question Mia hadn’t expected at all.

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