The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~

Chapter 11: The Anguish of Choice

In the Granblue family’s study, Alexander was reviewing a stack of documents.

As the eldest son of the duchy, he bore many responsibilities.

Lately, his concern for the Frostheart family’s economic situation had led him to pay particular attention to reports related to them.

“Frostheart mine restoration status… over budget and delayed…”

He furrowed his brow.

The situation was worse than he had thought.

Eleanor’s father, the Frostheart Earl, had fallen ill, and the reconstruction plans were nearly at a standstill.

Support from the Granblue family was like a drop in the bucket.

“There must be some other way…”

As he pondered, the butler knocked on the door.

“Lord Alexander, Lord Hugo Black is here to see you.”

“Black?… Oh, that slave trader. Let him in.”

Alexander was slightly surprised.

He had done business with the slave trader named Hugo Black before.

The merchant supplied excellent labor slaves for the Granblue family’s mines.

But there had been no prior appointment.

A few minutes later, a tall, lean man entered the room.

Dressed in black with silver accessories, he had a long face and sharp eyes that always seemed calculating.

“Lord Granblue, thank you for your time.”

“Lord Black, this is an unexpected visit. What brings you here?”

Alexander stood and exchanged a handshake.

He had mixed feelings about the slave system itself, but he couldn’t deny this man’s business acumen.

The slaves he provided were always high quality, and their treatment was more humane compared to other traders.

“I have a rather… delicate proposal.”

Black glanced around, confirming they were alone.

“Please, have a seat.”

Alexander gestured to the sofa and sat across from him.

“I’ll be direct.”

Black lowered his voice.

“You’re aware of the Frostheart family’s severe financial situation.”

Alexander’s expression tightened.

“Yes. As my fiancée’s family, I’m well informed.”

“I’ve made several proposals to them already…”

“Proposals?”

“Yes. I’ve offered a certain deal to the Frostheart family.”

Alexander’s wariness grew.

“What kind of deal?”

Black hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

“A proposal to purchase Lady Sophia, Eleanor’s younger sister, as a contract slave for a fixed term.”

Alexander’s face drained of color.

“What did you say?”

“A fixed term. A three-year contract. After that, she would be freed.”

“That’s… not a joke.”

Alexander could barely contain his indignation.

Selling Eleanor’s sister, only 14-year-old Sophia, as a slave was unthinkable.

“I’m serious. I’m offering 500,000 gold coins in exchange.”

“500,000…”

Alexander gasped.

That amount could pay off all of the Frostheart family’s immediate debts.

“Why bring this to me?”

“The Frostheart Earl rejected my proposal. His pride is too great.”

Black shrugged.

“But if you were to speak to him…”

“Me?”

“Yes. Advice from the fiancé of his daughter, concerned for the family’s future, might make him listen.”

Alexander stood and walked to the window.

His heart was in turmoil.

“Certainly, that amount could temporarily save their house from ruin…”

He muttered under his breath.

“But selling Sophia as a slave…”

“It’s a fixed term,” Black emphasized again.

“And I guarantee the best treatment under my care. She’d receive education as well.”

“Even so…”

“Consider it. If the Frostheart family goes bankrupt, they’ll lose everything. Their social status, the earl’s title. Lady Eleanor’s future would be at risk too.”

Those words struck Alexander’s heart.

To save Eleanor… how far was he willing to go?

“I need time.”

Alexander let out a deep sigh.

“Of course. But time is short. The Frostheart family’s creditors aren’t patient.”

Black stood and left a calling card.

“I await your response.”

After he left, Alexander stared out the window for a long time.

The evening sky was dyed red, casting long shadows.

His heart, too, was shrouded in dark shadows.

—

That night, Alexander was to meet Eleanor.

They had arranged to meet in the palace gardens.

He arrived early and sat on a stone bench, lost in thought.

“Lord Alexander.”

Raising his head at Eleanor’s voice, he saw her standing against the blue evening sky.

She looked slightly thinner, but her beauty remained intact.

“Eleanor…”

He stood and gave her a light kiss.

“What’s wrong? You seem deep in thought.”

Her keen insight always surprised Alexander.

“Just… some worries.”

“About my family?”

He nodded silently.

He couldn’t lie to her.

“Recent reports indicate the situation is growing more serious.”

“I know.”

Eleanor answered quietly.

“Father hasn’t slept in days. My brother is desperately searching for solutions.”

“I want to help in some way.”

Alexander took her hand.

It was soft but slightly rougher than before.

She must be working for her family’s sake.

“You’re doing enough. Without the Granblue family’s support, we would have collapsed much sooner.”

Her voice held gratitude mixed with a trace of shame.

Once, she had refused aid, but now she accepted reality.

“Eleanor… what if there were another way?”

“What do you mean?”

He chose his words carefully.

“Today, a merchant visited me. He said he wanted to offer a large sum to the Frostheart family.”

“A merchant?”

“A slave trader named Hugo Black.”

Eleanor’s expression hardened.

“A slave trader…”

“He…”

Alexander hesitated.

Should he tell the truth or hide it?

“What does he want?”

Under her piercing gaze, Alexander decided to tell the truth.

“Sophia… as a contract slave for a fixed term.”

“What!?”

Eleanor’s voice echoed through the garden. Anger and fear flashed across her face.

“A three-year contract, after which she’d be freed. In exchange for 500,000 gold coins…”

“You’re joking, right? Sell my sister?”

“I’m only relaying the proposal. I’m not saying you should accept it.”

“Even relaying such a proposal…”

Tears welled in Eleanor’s eyes.

Alexander tried to embrace her, but she pulled away.

“Sophia is still a child. She’s only 14!”

“I know. That’s why I’m tormented.”

Alexander felt ashamed of his weakness.

He should have rejected the proposal outright.

He was humiliated that, even for a moment, his heart wavered at the chance to save Eleanor’s family.

“How could you even consider it?”

“Because I wanted to save you… your family.”

“With such a method?”

Her voice was laced with deep disappointment.

“Eleanor, I was wrong. I should have rejected the proposal immediately.”

Alexander apologized sincerely.

“Please forgive me.”

After a long silence, Eleanor sighed.

“You were thinking of my family, weren’t you?”

“Yes. But on reflection, a family saved through such a sacrifice would be meaningless.”

He took her hand.

This time, she didn’t pull away.

“Let’s find another way. There has to be one.”

Eleanor gave a faint smile.

“Thank you, Lord Alexander.”

They embraced quietly.

In the distance, night birds began to sing, and the palace lights flickered on one by one.

“That slave trader… Black… do you know anything about him?”

Eleanor asked suddenly.

“Not much. He’s been active in the kingdom for a few years. His reputation is relatively good, but…”

“Something feels off.”

“What do you mean?”

“It might be intuition, but… his name feels familiar somehow…”

Alexander pondered.

“He supplies laborers to my family’s mines. He’s a shrewd businessman.”

“Like Silver.”

“Silver?”

“Leon Silver. The businessman recently ennobled as a baron.”

Alexander nodded.

“Yes, I know of him. He’s quite the talk in high society.”

“He’s also lending to my family. Silver, Black… and the prince…”

“The prince? You mean Victor?”

“Yes. I feel… a pattern in their actions.”

Alexander frowned at Eleanor’s words.

Indeed, it was strange that each approached the Frostheart family from different angles.

“We should investigate.”

“Please. Especially this Black character.”

Alexander nodded.

“Alright. I’ll use my father’s intelligence network to look into it.”

They embraced again.

Under the starry sky, their shadows merged into one.

“Our bond will overcome any hardship.”

Alexander swore it.

But deep in his heart, unease lingered.

The Frostheart family’s crisis, the mysterious slave trader, and the prince’s inexplicable actions… something seemed to be moving beyond their knowledge.

—

The next day, Alexander met Hugo Black again.

The meeting place was a private room in a high-end teahouse in the capital.

They sat across from each other.

“Your response?”

Black asked calmly.

“I decline the proposal.”

Alexander’s voice was cold.

“I won’t resort to turning a child into a slave to save the Frostheart family.”

“I see… that’s unfortunate.”

Black didn’t seem surprised.

Rather, his expression suggested he expected this.

“There must be other ways.”

“Such as?”

“Formal loans from my family. Low interest, with a long repayment period.”

Black gave a small laugh.

“That’s charity, not business.”

“The Frostheart family is a historic noble house. If they recover, they’ll surely repay the favor.”

“Naive thinking, Lord Granblue.”

Black’s eyes sharpened.

“In the world of business, you cannot succeed by being swayed by emotions.”

“Is that your philosophy?”

“Let’s call it realism.”

Alexander took a sip of tea and stared at Black intently.

“By the way, are you acquainted with Baron Leon Silver?”

Black’s expression flickered for a moment.

“I’ve heard the name. Why do you ask?”

“I heard he’s also lending to the Frostheart family.”

“Is that so… I wasn’t aware.”

That answer was an obvious lie.

Alexander’s instincts told him so.

“Curiously, you, he, and Prince Victor… all seem to be connected to the Frostheart family in some way.”

“Mere coincidence, surely.”

Black maintained his composure, but his posture stiffened slightly.

“For a coincidence, it feels too convenient.”

Alexander stood.

“Thank you for the tea, but my answer remains the same. Never bring up the matter of Lady Sophia again.”

“Understood.”

Black stood as well, bowing lightly.

“However, the Frostheart family’s situation worsens by the day. Sooner or later, they’ll face even harsher choices.”

“When that time comes, we’ll find another solution.”

Alexander spoke firmly and left the room.

But inside, unease swirled.

Black’s words carried the ominous weight of a prophecy.

—

Back at the castle, Alexander went straight to his father’s private chambers.

“Father, may I have a moment?”

Duke Edward looked up from his documents and regarded his son.

“What’s wrong, Alexander? You look troubled.”

“I’d like you to investigate Baron Leon Silver and a slave trader named Hugo Black.”

The duke raised an eyebrow.

“An unusual pair. What happened?”

Alexander briefly recounted the events since yesterday.

Black’s proposal, Eleanor’s reaction, and her intuition.

“Indeed, that’s strange.”

The duke fell into thought.

“I’ve actually been curious about Baron Silver lately. His rapid rise is unnaturally swift.”

“You’ve noticed something too, Father?”

“Yes. No one knows the source of his funds.”

Duke Edward took a document from a drawer.

“This is the result of a past investigation into Baron Silver. Almost nothing was found. He appeared in the capital about a year ago and achieved success in no time.”

“Almost as if… everything was planned from the start.”

“Exactly. And this Black fellow is similar. There’s hardly any record of his past.”

Alexander leaned forward.

“Father, could there be a connection between them?”

“We’re looking into that now.”

The duke gazed out the window.

“In this world, some people have a public face and a true face that differ. They may be among them.”

“If they’re targeting Eleanor’s family…”

“It may not be just her family.”

The duke’s words carried weight.

“I’ll mobilize our intelligence network to continue the investigation. If anything turns up, I’ll inform you immediately.”

Alexander nodded.