Crimson and Merchant 9
Riley couldn’t believe that the merchant had also appeared in the Clark Ducal Territory—he muttered this to himself internally.
Their official reason for visiting the dyeing district was to conduct an inspection, but in reality, Riley's true aim was to investigate the merchant from the Yunatian Empire who had recently been frequenting the area. However, he hadn’t truly expected to find that the merchant had indeed been here.
Merchants who trade across borders generally do more than just sell goods. They often sell their nation's products in foreign lands and purchase foreign goods to bring back home. While some merchants might issue promissory notes to travelers or engage in money-changing activities similar to those of a moneylender, such cases are rare due to the special procedures and registration with the merchant guild required.
Moreover, although the road between the Yunatian Empire and the Slibegrad Kingdom allows for relatively easier travel, few are willing to cross borders because of risk attacks by monsters, bandits, or robbers. In such conditions, it’s only natural for merchants to seek maximum profit by acquiring goods from foreign lands. Riley had speculated that this particular merchant might be targeting the highly sought-after Crimson dyes in other countries. That speculation turned out to be correct, but the real issue was the embroidery on the fabric.
"Liliana."
Once they arrived back at the villa, Riley stopped Liliana as she was about to return to her room.
<Yes, what is it?>
"I’d like to talk with you for a bit, if that’s alright?"
Liliana tilted her head slightly, but she sent her maid ahead to her room and approached Riley. Seeing this, Riley relaxed a little and, after saying a word to the ducal house’s steward, led her to the sitting room. He asked the steward to clear the room, and the steward left, leaving the door slightly ajar. Riley sat down next to Liliana on the sofa.
Throughout the inspection, Liliana had maintained a polite smile and listened attentively to the curator and shopkeepers from a step behind. Knowing how astute she was, Riley thought that if she could speak, she might have asked questions that would have surprised both him and Clyde. So, he decided to start by asking for her thoughts on the day.
"How was today? You’re not too tired, I hope?"
<I had a wonderful time. It was a very fulfilling day.>
"That’s good to hear. I learned quite a bit as well. I thought I had studied enough about Crimson dyeing beforehand, but there’s nothing like seeing it with your own eyes and hearing from the experts directly."
Liliana nodded in agreement with Riley’s words.
<I feel the same way. I was particularly surprised to learn that they’ve been focusing on Alizarin dye.>
"Alizarin dye? Ah, right. I didn’t expect that either—the idea that Alizarin could be processed to produce a color close to Crimson. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that the plant from which Alizarin is extracted, madder, is used as a medicine in foreign lands."
<Yes, I’ve read that too. I believe it’s used for stopping bleeding and reducing fever?>
"That’s right, as far as I recall. Was the book you read from the Royal Library by any chance?"
<Yes, it was.>
Riley smiled, feeling a sense of connection. The information about madder’s medicinal uses had been in an old book from the distant East. Most of it had been lost, but the remaining sections mentioned madder’s uses. Riley had been surprised to learn that it could be used not only as a dye but also as a medicine.
<Riley-sama, if I may change the subject…>
As Riley savored the gentle, joyful feeling that was welling up inside him, Liliana tilted her head and shifted the conversation. Riley responded kindly, "What is it?"
<What do you think about creating a law to protect innovative and superior technologies?>
Riley blinked at the sudden suggestion, but his expression soon turned serious. His sharp mind quickly grasped what Liliana was thinking.
"Do you mean we should protect inventions like Crimson dyeing?"
<Yes, exactly. Today, the curator mentioned that the process was a “closely guarded secret,” but as things stand, the only way to protect such advanced techniques is to keep them hidden. However, this doesn’t offer any protection if the technology is stolen, and it also hinders new discoveries based on those techniques.>
Humanity’s inventions are born from the development of existing knowledge and technology. For this to happen, sharing existing technology is essential, but that leaves the original inventor without sufficient protection. They can’t even recoup the funds invested in the invention. In such a situation, the greatest profits would go to those who replicate the invention with the least effort. To resolve this, Liliana proposed establishing a system where inventors could be granted exclusive rights to use their inventions or techniques for a certain period, on the condition that they make their inventions public. Of course, those who wished to use the technology would have to pay a fee to the inventor.
Riley crossed his arms and thought deeply. Liliana’s suggestion seemed sound.
"So, it would be something like granting a title?"
<That would work, or perhaps establishing a registration system. However, if the goal is to make it widely accepted, it might be better to start by granting the rights directly from the king.>
By turning it into a system, the registration process would be streamlined, allowing for the protection of a large number of inventions. However, in reality, most inventors were nobles or wealthy merchants. To encourage them to willingly share their technology, it might be best to present it as a “right bestowed by the king.”
Liliana then added further details.
<Of course, it might also be a good idea to provide different options. For example, let’s say the “right granted for public disclosure” is called a “patent.” On the other hand, we could also establish laws to protect trade secrets. These laws would allow for punishing those who leak such secrets through legal action.>
Liliana continued, explaining that in order to implement such laws, it would be necessary to clearly define what constitutes a “trade secret worthy of protection.” For instance, it might be necessary for a document detailing a manufacturing process to explicitly state that the information is confidential and to ensure that only certain individuals can access that information. Moreover, when a lawsuit is filed, the legitimacy of the information being classified as a trade secret would also need to be assessed. As she spoke calmly and steadily, Liliana finally looked up at Riley after finishing her explanation.
Having listened to Liliana’s full explanation, Riley let out a low hum. He took a deep breath and shook his head slightly. When he looked up again, his expression was calm, but there was a clear sense of admiration in his eyes.
"Honestly—just like before, you keep surprising me. I can’t imagine how you come up with these ideas."
As he spoke, Riley gently reached out and touched Liliana’s delicate hand. Despite being two years younger, she was not only graceful in appearance but also possessed a noble spirit and an astonishingly sharp mind.
"It’s an incredibly attractive proposal. We’ll need to examine the details, but I’d like to bring this back to discuss with the advisory council. It might also be a good idea to have each territory consider it individually. The specifics they need might vary depending on their local specialties."
<I think so as well.>
"Depending on how the discussions go, I may need your advice. Would you be willing to help?"
<Of course, I would be happy to assist if I can.>
Liliana readily agreed to Riley’s request, which made him smile even more.
He couldn’t help but feel it was a miracle that someone like Liliana was a candidate for his betrothed. Among all the potential fiancées, she was the one he interacted with the most, but even aside from that, Liliana was the only one with whom Riley felt he could exchange ideas as equals—or even as her inferior. The other young ladies weren’t bad, but to be honest, Riley often found them dull. Sweet words and discussions about the latest arts and fashions had their charm, but eventually, the conversation would run dry. Occasionally, they would discuss politics or international affairs, but it was always superficial. Their opinions sounded like they were just reciting what their tutors had taught them, and Riley could predict their conclusions after hearing just the first few sentences.
When that happened, Riley’s thoughts would drift back to the work he left in his study or the topics he wanted to discuss with Austin, and he would find it hard to stay focused on the girl in front of him. Not that he ever let that show, of course. Fortunately, he had never once felt that way with Liliana. On the contrary, he always wanted to hear more, to delve deeper into her brilliant thoughts.
Aside from Austin, Liliana was the first person he had ever felt this way about.
Recently, even Liliana’s brother, Clyde, had become a good confidant for Riley, but neither Clyde nor Austin ever made the kind of startling proposals that Liliana did.
"Most of your suggestions seem to be for the benefit of the kingdom and its people. Even among nobles, there aren’t many who think that way. It’s truly admirable."
Riley praised her sincerely, but Liliana shook her head as if to say it wasn’t anything special.
<I’ve read about it in books and learned it from my tutors. In ancient times, the privileged classes invested their own funds in the construction and maintenance of roads used by commoners. People like us in the privileged class only exist because of the commoners. I simply believe that it’s our duty, as those who hold this status, to give back in some way.>
She went on to explain that if the kingdom were to weaken and allow invasions by other nations, the first to suffer would be the powerless commoners. In many territories, farmers also served as members of the knightly orders, and they would be the ones dying on the front lines. Liliana stated matter-of-factly that it was only natural to focus on governance to prevent such sacrifices.
Riley found himself captivated by her profile. It was rare to find someone who could pursue such ideals from such a young age. Especially for Riley, who had idolized his grandfather, the hero, yet wavered in the face of his father’s words, Liliana, who had reached her own conclusions and stood by them resolutely, seemed almost like a supreme being.
<—I respect you.>
The words slipped out before Riley could stop himself, but whether fortunately or unfortunately, Liliana didn’t seem to have heard them. She remained silent, smiling softly. However, there was another, more pressing matter at hand. Steeling himself, Riley shifted the conversation. "Actually, Liliana, there’s something I need to talk to you about."
"The cloth you bought from the merchants of the Yunatian Empire—I need it."
Liliana blinked in surprise. Riley continued, his expression serious.
"One of the objectives of this inspection was to investigate the movements of the merchants from the Yunatian Empire. Our relationship with them is currently… delicate. It’s not a crisis, but tensions are rising. In this situation, understanding the actions of their merchants is crucial."
<—Is that your own assessment, Riley-sama?>
"Yes, it is."
Riley nodded. He hadn’t shared his suspicions with the major figures at the royal palace, like Duke Clark. Only Austin, Clyde, and Liliana were aware of them.
"I’m no expert, so I can’t be certain, but I believe the patterns on that cloth… might be connected to curse magic."
Liliana didn’t seem surprised, indicating that she had come to a similar conclusion. She quietly waited for Riley to continue, her smile gone, replaced by a focused gaze. The intensity of her eyes unsettled Riley, but he managed to push through and make his case.
"If it’s curse magic, we don’t know what effects it might have. I don’t want you to keep it. I’ll pay you back, so once the cloth arrives, could you please send it to me immediately?"
Riley briefly worried that Liliana might be frightened, but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, she hadn’t been fazed even when she was kidnapped. There was no way she would be scared of something like curse magic now. True to form, Liliana remained calm. Instead, she asked a question that Riley hadn’t anticipated.
<If I were to hand it over, who would you ask to analyze it?>
"There aren’t many people who can analyze curse magic. As it stands, only the Director and Vice Director of the Magic Ministry, as well as a few of their sorcerers, are capable of doing so. I’d most likely ask the Director."
To Riley, this was the obvious choice. Of the three individuals qualified to handle such matters, the only one Riley was familiar with was Nicholas Bergson, the Director. He intended to request the analysis in strict confidence without revealing the cloth's origin. However, Liliana shook her head and refused.
<In that case, I’m afraid I can’t hand it over. I’ll make my own arrangements after that I’ll report the results to you, so I ask for your understanding.>
"Liliana, no. Please, just let me handle this."
<I’m sorry, but I cannot comply.>
Liliana remained surprisingly steadfast in her refusal, which worried Riley. He couldn’t stay calm at the thought of something happening to her if the curse magic were to activate. Without analyzing it, there was no way to know what effects it might have. In the worst case, it could be lethal. Riley had felt a surge of rage when he heard the words of the kidnappers who intended to harm her; the mere thought of her possibly dying was unbearable.
"It’s dangerous. If something were to happen to you—it would be devastating."
Though he used the word “devastating,” it didn’t fully capture the turmoil he felt inside. Riley clenched his fists to keep from lashing out, but Liliana merely shook her head, still smiling faintly.
<I will ensure that no harm comes to me. I’ll have the analysis carried out by the most suitable person in the most appropriate manner. Please don’t worry about that.>
"But—"
<Do you not trust me?>
That question felt unfair, and Riley bit his lip. There was no way he could say he didn’t trust her. To calm himself, he took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
"…Alright. But at least tell me who you plan to ask."
Liliana thought for a moment before answering slowly.
<I will ask the Vice Director of the Magic Ministry.>
"But wouldn’t it be the same as asking the Director?"
Riley furrowed his brow in suspicion. Even if he were to ask Nicholas Bergson, if the Director were too busy, the analysis would likely be passed down to a lower-ranking sorcerer—in this case, the Vice Director. However, Riley knew Liliana wouldn’t suggest asking the Vice Director without a reason.
As expected, Liliana quietly replied, <No.>
—I will entrust it to someone I can trust.
Hearing Liliana’s words, Riley narrowed his eyes, trying to discern her true intentions.