Please Answer Me - Chapter 131

The Artz Trading Company, one of the largest in the capital city of Lysa, Terra, was bustling with activity early in the morning, preparing to receive a very important and special guest. This man was one of the most significant merchants they dealt with, visiting Terra once or twice a year to conduct trade. The goods he brought were always rare and flawless. Over the years, they had built such strong trust that they would now purchase his goods without even inspecting them first.

But that wasn’t all. When buying valuable goods from distant lands, it was common to lose items to monsters or bandits on the way, but the merchant’s caravan had never once failed to deliver the promised goods on time. The fighters under his command were rumored to be stronger than many national armies. So much so that whenever word spread of his arrival in Terra, other merchants would hastily follow him, trying to cross the border alongside his group.

“Master! He’s arrived!”

Just then, a servant came running to announce his arrival. Hark, the owner of the trading company, personally rushed to the gate to greet him.

“Rashid!”

At the front of a long procession, a man with shining blue eyes was riding a horse. Behind him, warriors guarded the caravan filled with goods.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Hark greeted him with a broad smile. Rashid dismounted from his black horse and exchanged a light embrace with him.

“Hark, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

At Rashid’s greeting, Hark laughed heartily. “I’ve been well, aside from gaining some weight. Come on in.”

Whenever Rashid came, Hark would invite him to stay at his estate for a few days. Though feeding and housing his people and horses was costly, it was worth it to secure the first pick of the goods Rashid brought. Being a seasoned merchant, Hark never engaged in a deal that didn’t benefit him.

Soon, a grand feast was laid out in the large banquet hall. Hark stood up with a drink in hand and called out loudly. “Let’s all raise our glasses in gratitude for the continuation of our partnership this year!”

Rashid responded by raising his glass high.

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

As music played and lively conversations filled the hall, the door to the banquet room opened. A beautiful woman, dressed in ornate attire from head to toe, entered.

“Oh, Neiyara, come on in.”

Although it was her father, Hark, who spoke, her gaze was fixed solely on Rashid from the start. Neiyara walked gracefully over to Rashid and smiled brightly at Sika, who was sitting next to him.

“Could you please excuse us for a moment? I’d like to speak with Rashid.”

“Huh? But…”

Ignoring Sika’s hesitant response, Neiyara immediately called out to the waiting attendants. “What are you standing around for? Show this gentleman to a new seat!”

The attendants hurriedly approached, glancing at Sika for his reaction. With the situation unfolding this way, even someone as thick-skinned as Sika had no choice but to give up his seat.

As soon as Sika stood up, Neiyara quickly took his place. Sika couldn’t help but laugh quietly. Every time this woman came here, she would cling to Rashid, and today was no different. If she had been subtle before, today she was bold from the start.

“Rashid, it’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much.”

The sharp voice she had directed at the attendants was gone, replaced with a sweet tone as she looked at Rashid.

Rashid gave her a polite smile. “It’s been a while, Miss Neiyara. You’ve grown quite a bit.”

Neiyara pouted her lips, looking sulky. “Grown? It’s rude to say that to a lady. I turned twenty just last month. I’m not a child anymore!”

Rashid looked at her for a moment before giving her his usual smile. “Congratulations on reaching adulthood.”

“Now that I’m twenty, I can get married!”

“I see. I hope you find a good match.”

Neiyara’s expression turned desperate as she tried to clarify. “I wasn’t talking about matchmaking… I was talking about you.”

Listening to their conversation, Sika chuckled inwardly. Neiyara was trying her best to express her interest in Rashid, but Rashid was as unyielding as a steel wall. In the end, Neiyara turned to her father with pleading eyes.

Hark cleared his throat and spoke up, “Rashid, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but my daughter has admired you for quite some time…”

“I suppose I haven’t mentioned this yet,” Rashid interrupted, holding his drink. “I recently got married.”

Neiyara’s jaw dropped. Hark was also visibly taken aback and asked him again, “M-married? When?”

“About a month ago.”

“But you told me last time that you had no plans to marry for several years!”

“I met someone I love, so I decided to act quickly.”

“This can’t be happening!” Neiyara suddenly stood up, grabbing the hem of her skirt tightly as she shouted, “I’ve been waiting for this moment since I turned twenty, and now you’re married?”

“Miss Neiyara, twenty may be the age to marry, but you’re still young. You should take your time to meet many men and choose the right spouse.”

“Stop changing the subject! I’m talking about you!” Neiyara grabbed Rashid’s arm, causing some of his drink to spill. “You said you had no plans to marry, and now suddenly you’re married? How can you do this? Who is she? Who did you marry?”

Neiyara was completely hysterical, and Hark felt a headache coming on. He ordered the attendants to clean up the spill and asked them to take Neiyara away. Two servants rushed in to drag the crying Neiyara out of the banquet hall.

The commotion was over, but the once lively atmosphere had cooled considerably. Hark wiped the sweat from his forehead and repeatedly apologized to Rashid.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive this rude behavior. My daughter grew up without a mother, and I spoiled her too much. Please overlook her lack of manners.”

“It’s fine. Every young person goes through something like this. I’m grateful that she thought of me so fondly.”

Watching Rashid handle the situation with such grace, Hark sighed softly.

He would have made a fine son-in-law.

Hark had also thought highly of Rashid as a potential match for his daughter. Though Rashid had never revealed much about himself, Hark had seen enough over the years to know that Rashid was an upright and capable young man.

Physically and mentally strong, not one to chase after women, intelligent, and skilled in business—Hark couldn’t have asked for a better son-in-law. Plus, if Rashid could lead a trading company of this size, it was clear he had abundant wealth.

But what could be done now? Rashid was already married, and there was no way Hark could offer his only daughter as a mistress.

“Congratulations on your marriage, albeit belatedly. I’d like to offer you a wedding gift to apologize for today’s incident, but I’m not sure what would be appropriate…”

Rashid thought for a moment, then smiled with narrowed eyes. “If it’s not too much trouble, may I choose the gift myself?”

Hark looked at him, surprised. He had expected Rashid to decline the offer, as he usually did.

“Is there something you have in mind?”

“I heard that the Lysa princess and the Duke of Hezen are soon to be married.”

“Yes, that’s right. The youngest princess is getting married soon. It’s a shame you didn’t arrive earlier. The palace has already taken in a great deal of goods for the wedding.”

“Is it still possible now?”

“Are you asking if you can supply goods for the wedding? There are still some items that haven’t been finalized.”

“Then please allow me and my group to handle that.”

Hark looked at Rashid with a puzzled expression. Supplying goods directly to the palace was not something just anyone could do. Merchants were eager to trade with royalty, leading to fierce competition. In the past, people had even been killed over these contracts.

To prevent such extreme competition, the Lysa palace had established quotas for each guild, limiting the number of goods each trading company could supply.

“It’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s difficult to bring a non-guild merchant into the palace. You might not understand, but public and private matters are separate.”

Until now, Rashid had shown no interest in supplying goods directly to the palace. He was more focused on the information that came out of the palace rather than trading with it. Hark couldn’t understand why Rashid was suddenly interested now.

“I have something to show you.”

Rashid nodded to Sika, who brought out a large wooden box that they had prepared in advance and placed it in front of Hark.