Translator: CinderTL
In the deep of night, the wind from Alden Town swept through the window, stirring the sheer curtains.
The candle had long since burned out, leaving only moonlight to spill across the edge of the bed where Paul and Ladia lay entwined in sleep.
Yet simultaneously, they found themselves trapped in a bizarre dream.
In this dream, the couple stood on an endless silver lake. The sky above was starless, but the water reflected layer upon layer of inverted images.
They exchanged startled glances, surprised to find each other here.
"How did you end up in my dream?" Paul whispered.
Ladia frowned slightly, her fingertips tracing the contours of her husband's cheek. The touch felt so real, it defied the illusion.
Suddenly, her eyes widened with realization. "It's her... Isabella."
Before the words had fully left her lips, ripples disturbed the lake's surface, and a figure slowly rose from the shimmering water.
Isabella strode barefoot across the waves, her emerald hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Completely naked, she showed no trace of modesty, her lips curving into that familiar, teasing smile.
"Finally, I see you again, you heartless betrayer," she began, her voice dripping with reproach, drawing out the final syllable. "Hiding in my sister's chambers for your pleasure while sending troops to attack the Serdan fleet—tell me, don't you deserve punishment?"
Paul froze. "The Serdan fleet?"
"Exactly." Isabella stepped closer, lightly tapping his chest with a fingertip. "Those hunting ships were ours. But now? Your men are sailing warships, bristling with cannons, blasting every vessel they see, bombarding entire flotillas. Serdan warriors are being blown to bits before they even reach the shore, turned into fish food."
She narrowed her eyes. "You obstruct the Serdan people while you cozy up with another version of me. Tell me, shouldn't I be angry?"
Paul finally understood her accusation. He was about to protest when Ladia frowned and interjected, "Isa, you know those ships were capturing people to sell as slaves and send as cannon fodder to the battlefields. Paul intervened to protect the tribes of the northern continent."
"Protect?" Isabella scoffed. "You meddle in Serdan affairs without a word, without even a courtesy call. What, does the Serdan Queen mean so little to you?"
She glared at Paul, her anger still simmering but tinged with a hint of cunning. "Or could it be... you simply don't care about me at all?"
Paul immediately retorted, "How could I not care? It's just..." He suddenly grinned. "Your acting has gotten worse since our time in the soul space."
He wore an expression of knowing all along. "Isa, you're just teasing me, aren't you?"
Isabella raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then tell me, where exactly am I teasing you?"
Paul slowly replied, "I've known from the start that the slave ships heading to the northern continent were sent by the other two Serdan kingdoms on Andesia. They're at war and desperately need soldiers and laborers, which is why they've been raiding minotaur and catkin tribes to force them into battle and servitude."
He met her gaze directly. "Your kingdom hasn't participated in this, has it?"
The corners of Isabella's lips twitched, her smile deepening, but she didn't deny it.
Paul continued, "If you were truly angry about this, you would have entered my dreams to confront me the moment the first ship was sunk. But you waited until now, deliberately staging this accusatory performance—what else could it be but teasing?"
Isabella finally burst into laughter, lightly tapping his nose with a fingertip. "You're still as perceptive as ever. But my anger is half genuine—you sank their ships, yet they're coming to me with their grievances. The entire southern continent knows we're the only ones who trade with the hornless ones. Those bastards even sent envoys to ask me to relay their messages to you."
"So you came to find me in my dream?"
"What else would I do?"
"Isa," Paul said earnestly, "if you were truly involved, I would never act without consulting you first. I would either send a message through Ladia or discuss it with you in a dream, as we're doing now. There should be no secrets between us."
Isabella gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "At least you still have some conscience."
The anger in her eyes had long since softened into a gentle light, and a smile returned to her face. "Next time I'm truly angry, I'll have to come up with a more unpredictable opening."
The three of them remained naked before each other, yet there was no trace of awkwardness. In this soul-woven space, their bodies were merely reflections of their intertwined minds, as familiar to each other as their own breath.
Isabella leaned back slightly, her silver hair cascading like water over her shoulders. She narrowed her eyes, her gaze suddenly sharp.
"Wait a minute," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of probing. "You speak so clearly about the situation in each of our countries... Could it be that you've planted spies among us?"
Paul shook his head, his expression open and honest. "Don't jump to conclusions. I haven't sent any spies. Everything I know comes from publicly available sources."
"Because we're in business," he explained calmly. "Whenever a merchant ship arrives in a new region, Northwest Bay systematically gathers information about the local society, politics, and customs. Who's allied with whom, who's at war, what trade policies are in place, what goods are in demand—all this affects our ability to profit and... ensure our safety."
He paused before continuing, "Your three Serdan kingdoms have coexisted for centuries. This information was recorded in the very first reports brought back by our merchant ships."
"Information itself is neither good nor evil. The key lies in how it's collected and used. We don't pry into private affairs, but if your public policies, laws, and diplomatic stances are readily understood by outsiders, then that's the face you've chosen to reveal."
"Alright, I won't press the matter further!" Isabella lightly traced her fingertip along her lip, suddenly adopting a nonchalant yet meaningful expression.
She murmured, "Then let's talk business."
Abruptly, she frowned, her eyes locking onto Paul's. "I know you've been mining gold from a mountain on the northern continent's east coast. Blasting with gunpowder, hacking with pickaxes—did you think the ocean would blind me to your schemes? Damn you, Paul Grayman! Keeping such a lucrative venture to yourself is what truly angers me!"
Paul froze for a moment, then chuckled bitterly. "You even know about that?"
"Though our nation doesn't raid the north for slaves, our fleets still sail between the north and south. Fishermen spotted your mining camps, and naturally, some news reached my ears."
She stepped closer, her tone hardening. "Since you're digging for gold there, I want my share. I won't accept a cut after the fact, nor do I covet your scraps. I want a seat at the table from the start."
Paul fell silent for a moment, then finally threw up his hands in resignation. "You want to be a partner?"
"Exactly." Isabella's smile widened. "I can provide capital, magic, and even our Serdan's rare corrosion-resistant alloy—perfect for your deep-well supports. If you need manpower, I can supply a contingent of voluntary laborers under contract, neither slaves nor prisoners, paid by the job."
She fixed him with a sharp gaze. "Then we'll divide the mine's profits according to our investment ratio. What do you say?"
(End of the Chapter)
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