Translator: Nox

Chapter 22

A public power struggle with the investor?

They all looked so dumbfounded that no one could even voice such doubts.

“……?”

Zikren just blinked in confusion.

According to the pattern so far, I should have been desperate to snag that contract. So he'd probably prepared countermeasures in his own way.

Though it'd just be brute force anyway.

'But it's all useless now?'

Seeing his bewildered face was so satisfying that I even snorted triumphantly at Zikren.

“Besides, as you saw earlier, Your Highness the Second Prince doesn't want me involved in this matter. Would a business I force my way into really go well?”

I said loudly, clacking along the line.

“Even if I got some info, I shouldn't charge in without knowing when to enter or exit, right? The business I want to do isn't that……”

I slammed my business card down on the desk before me.

“It's this business.”

It was the royal aunt's desk.

Yes. The money-maker I'd chosen was the Music Box.

After reading through the hot topics of this conference one by one from the pamphlet, I'd reached a conclusion.

'This Music Box is our new cash cow.'

Well, how much do I know about business anyway? I'm just riding the coattails.

No need to rack my brain. A model answer already existed.

'Cash cow business.'

The family had picked only those kinds because they perfectly suited the lady's situation.

Couldn't make big money, but with a solid existing customer base and steady stability. It matched this Music Box business perfectly.

'The family experts analyzed it, so I just need to dip my spoon in.'

To me, who'd resolved to just work diligently, any other information held no value. Even high-level imperial secrets.

The royal aunt seemed pleased with my choice.

“Well thought out. What do investors know? They just dream of overnight riches. Filter their words appropriately. How risky is an unpublished bid? No need to tie yourself to that side unless you're greedy to cozy up to the future emperor early. This one's the real keeper.”

“Wise words.”

Someone said crisply.

“That side's too cutthroat; self-destructive price wars are already breaking out. Even with ties to the two princes, it's no real gain for merchants like us.”

The speaker was a noble lady with a gleaming 'S-rank' badge on her chest.

'Did my getting solo praise just bruise your ego?'

Plenty of competitors were eyeing the cash cow. One S-rank aside, mostly A- and B-ranks.

“Good. Very good.”

The royal aunt seemed satisfied with the number of applicants.

“Come here, everyone. Let that side handle their business, and we'll talk amongst ourselves.”

“Yes, sounds good.”

While following the royal aunt, I felt a prickling on the back of my head and glanced over my shoulder.

Luellian? No, it wasn't.

He looked utterly dumbfounded after I'd turned my back on him, but...

With ability-user Zikren present, he was staying cautious, buried in the crowd for now.

Staring daggers at me was Zikren himself. He ignored the contract hopefuls' questions, silently furrowing his brow my way.

“Your Highness!”

The noble ladies swarmed around such a Zikren.

Not quite matching his brother, but the younger prince had his fans too. Fewer in number, but their loyalty burned hotter.

These were that type. Their excited voices even reached my ears.

“Your Highness! That person running rampant must bother you, but it'll get sorted clean in the early stages anyway!”

“Exactly! That person has the 'cursed touch' that ruins everything. Even family spoon-fed ventures tank under her—how could she land a contract?”

“Right! Right!”

At their obnoxiously loud voices, the people around me flinched.

“Keep yapping like that.”

I muttered, and they blanched like a snake was slithering right in front of their noses.

No, I'm literally asking them to keep it up?

That'll make the competitors drop their guards even more. They're practically helping me out.

'Louder! More vicious! Yes! Good job!'

Cheering on the Second Prince's diehard fans inwardly, I wedged myself into the merchants' group.

“When will you select the contractor?”

To the S-rank's question, the royal aunt replied as if she'd been waiting.

“I'd decide right this instant if I could! But as you know, this is my lifelong business and stellar pension, so I'll carefully select via interviews tomorrow. Here's the location and some basic precautions.”

The royal aunt handed out envelopes with guides to all the merchants.

“Thank you.”

The merchants shuffled out en masse.

'Yes. This is it. Time to escape by blending in.'

I smoothly joined the merchants and hightailed it out of the Imperial Palace.

The villainess Aristina blending into a group? Unheard of. No one even noticed I was there. Not even the merchants.

“How's everyone planning to prepare for the interview?”

They exchanged glances at the question, then finally spotted me and startled.

'What the...'

I cocked my head and said,

“Interviews come in all types, don't they? Personality interviews, practical ones, debates...”

“Where's the interview again? Anyone read the guide?”

The S-rank ignored me and asked the group.

“No. Check now?”

The merchants opened their envelopes. I tore mine open too.

“Tomorrow's interview is at noon in Silver Dove Palace? And...”

There, everyone froze. They'd spotted the addendum at the bottom.

“A hidden test like this! Dodged a bullet opening it late, huh, everyone.”

At my words, the merchants looked up at me.

One A-rank feigned concern as she asked,

“Duchess, you sure you can keep going? No one to send to the lumber supplier...”

“I do. Thanks to dumping thousands monthly on upkeep.”

“Ah, right. Must be nice being loaded, Duchess. But...”

The A-rank hesitated a moment.

“From what I hear, your merchant group's in a state that's, well...”

She pondered deeply, then suddenly went “Ah.” and glanced somewhere.

Couldn't quite spit it out, but she'd found the perfect metaphor.

Me and the other merchants followed her gaze.

An abandoned handcart lay helplessly overturned. Its wooden wheel spokes were rotted through, beyond salvage.

Might as well say it outright? This stings worse!

Of course, that was the intended effect.

“Yes. Spot on.”

I flashed a smile at the merchants.

“Our merchant group isn't rolling right now, just like this cart.”

“Oh, Duchess, I didn't mean it like...”

“But!”

I cut her off.

Then I slowly approached and picked up a scrap of lumber from the cart. The next instant, I smashed it into the wheel.

Kwajik!

The rotten spokes shattered away, leaving just the central round axle. I hammered the opposite wheel the same way.

Kwajik! Kwajik!

Both sides down to bare round axles.

I dusted off my hands and said,

“Now what'll it do if it can't roll on its own?”

The wheels were ridiculously tiny now, but tugging the handle made it scrape and lurch along the ground.

“...”

Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

Whatever.

I snapped open the fan from my bag.

Was planning a quick overhaul anyway—perfect timing. You merchant lackeys got fat sucking honey while fooling your lady boss?

But heads up? The sweet ride's over.