“It seems like this story will be long, so please sit down first.”
Jacqueline suggested as if it were my drawing room. The Baron flinched as if he had heard the chair about to explode. I had no choice but to tell him why I had come first.
“I’d like to talk to you about the sapphire mines in Belcruz.”
“Ah, if that’s the case...”
He stretched out his words and took out a handkerchief.
“I have nothing to say.”
“You have nothing to say? What do you mean by that, Your Grace?”
Jacqueline chimed in. I gave him a look of agreement. He was usually the rudest, but now he was absolutely right.
Baron Gisborne wiped his glasses once more with his handkerchief. The poor glasses had been wiped so many times that the glass was about to fall out.
"Princess Veronica has understood my request for my legitimate rights. That Baron Lotte is preventing me from exercising my legitimate contractual rights and causing me great harm."
Twenty minutes. Exactly twenty minutes later, Jacqueline was back in the carriage, his once neat shirt all disheveled.
How many kisses must have been so sweet that he ripped off his shirt like that...
I looked at the maid with complicated eyes as she waved at Jacqueline with the aforementioned cheek.
As soon as the carriage door closed tightly, Jacqueline said with a suddenly changed expression as if he had never smiled like that.
“I figured it out.”
“...”
“Why are you doing that?”
“No, just...”
Jacqueline chuckled.
“The world won’t end if a young man and woman kiss.”
It was a somewhat shocking method, but it was no longer possible to deny that it was effective. If you were to pay for information with just one kiss, it would be cheap.
However, he was not just a common scribe from the market, but the sole successor to the admiral. As I was dealing with such a well-bred young master, I couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
Sure, Jacqueline was the first to offer, but I should have been more proactive in stopping him...
“This is ...”
“...”
“Are you listening? That was important information.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can you say that again?”
Jacqueline let out a short sigh. He seemed to have noticed that I was not concentrating at all.
“It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry about it.”
“Even if the maid suggested it first, how is that not a big deal? It’s just a kiss.”
“Of course, I wanted to keep my lips somewhat secret... but anyway, isn’t this urgent information for Your Highness?”
“I’m in a hurry. But you’re not.”
He left the East simply because of love. The last time I heard, it seemed like he did everything he could to keep his loyalty to Rosetta.
However, his Rosetta seemed to be having affairs with all sorts of men...
For some reason, my expression didn't seem normal because I was so upset. I felt like I had committed a crime. I opened my mouth, hesitating.
“Actually, I don’t know why you help me like this.”
“You haven’t forgotten, have you? You promised to give me two thousand gold coins if you won.”
As I made a dejected expression, a mischievous smile appeared on Jacqueline's face.
“That’s actually an excuse.”
“...”
“The Restons are the only admiral family in the East. We should have been included in the thirteen families of the Privy Council representing the Empire long ago. We have been putting it off for generations, claiming neutrality for the sole reason of not wanting to get involved in central politics...”
He spoke smoothly, like a seasoned politician.
“It was time for our family to decide on a course.”
“...”
“Even if I leave the East and Reston forever, I hope you remember my contributions and look after me well.”
Now the nobles' subtle manner of speaking was not difficult. He looked at me as if I were an Emperor.
“Sir, do you think I will win the competition?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“...”
“But you have helped me, Your Highness. You don’t seem like the type of person to forget that easily.”
Jacqueline's face, which had been playfully smiling the whole time, looked a little more serious and heavy. It was as if he had regained his true age.
“History proves how much can go wrong in the race for the successor. In a situation like this, Your Highness can punish or pressure Baron Gisborne for other crimes.”
...Oh. That’s a really unexpected method.
Well, it was just me and Jacqueline there.
Even if Baron Gisborne had claimed that I had threatened him, no one would have sided with him, as he was a mere local magnate.
“But Your Highness has chosen the principle. The principle that in a contest, persuading people is not through pressure or dirty tricks, but depends entirely on one’s own abilities.”
“...”
“In my limited opinion, Your Highness will at least be a good Emperor.”
I let out an awkward laugh. Trying to stick to my principles? That was because I had no confidence in my own lineage.
If I had been raised as a Princess from the beginning, I would have tried to reprimand Baron Baek Gisborne for his rudeness.
Jacqueline wrinkled his nose comically, not knowing whether he knew my complicated feelings or not.
“And one kiss is a cheap bribe to a future lord.”
“...I guess you don’t even know the saying, ‘Choose carefully.’”
“The more boldly you invest, the more your profits will be maximized.”
Jacqueline shrugged. Then he added mischievously.
“Well, if there’s a chance, I might get some money.”
“Then I will gratefully accept it. Even if it is wrong, the choice is yours, so don’t blame me.”
“Yeah.”
“And what? A good Emperor? No matter how much I think about it, don’t you think your eyes are a little crazy?”
Jacqueline's eyes widened, then he bent down and burst into laughter as if he thought what I said was funny.
I waited with a sour face for him to stop laughing. Finally, Jacqueline said, wiping away tears that had formed from laughing too much.
“It’s a good quality to constantly doubt yourself like that.”
We arrived at Belcruz and had a late lunch. The six knights who had followed us were given a separate table, and Jacqueline and I sat on the terrace.
I sipped some cool peppermint tea and listened to the rest of the information Jacqueline had given me.
“I’m a low-level maid, so I didn’t get the full details, but from what I’ve gathered, it seems like the problem arose when the mining rights and mineral distribution rights were divided.”
“Mining rights and distribution rights?”
“Baron Lotte must have had the mining rights from the beginning. Belcruze has been under the Barony of Lotte for generations. But the problem was that Baron Lotte did not have the funds to mine sapphires.”
“I guess he must have raised some investment money by force?”
“Yes. It seems that they received investment funds from the big companies in the East, and in return, they gave them exclusive distribution rights. Since the A companies contributed 30% of the total investment, they were given the exclusive right to distribute 30% of the total production every year. That’s how it went.”
“That’s really...”
It's dangerous. I mumbled the words, but Jacqueline seemed to understand.
“Yes. The intention was not bad, but in cases like this, if the exclusive distribution rights are concentrated on one side, problems arise. Baron Gisborne targeted that blind spot. It seems he bought up all the distribution rights that were on the market at a high price.”
“How much did he buy it for?”
“They said it was over 7.2 percent of the total.”
“...”
I thought of the face of Baron Gisborne, who had been swollen and puffed up. That oily face and belly, those greedy eyes...
Even the peppermint tea I was drinking so well felt weak, so I put down the glass.
“If Baron Gisborne has acquired over 7.2% of the distribution rights, the results are obvious.”
“Yes. Since they have a tight grip on the distribution network, they must have forced an unfair contract. I don’t know for sure, but the more sapphires Baron Lotte mines, the more he loses.”
Jacqueline suggested as if it were my drawing room. The Baron flinched as if he had heard the chair about to explode. I had no choice but to tell him why I had come first.
“I’d like to talk to you about the sapphire mines in Belcruz.”
“Ah, if that’s the case...”
He stretched out his words and took out a handkerchief.
“I have nothing to say.”
“You have nothing to say? What do you mean by that, Your Grace?”
Jacqueline chimed in. I gave him a look of agreement. He was usually the rudest, but now he was absolutely right.
Baron Gisborne wiped his glasses once more with his handkerchief. The poor glasses had been wiped so many times that the glass was about to fall out.
"Princess Veronica has understood my request for my legitimate rights. That Baron Lotte is preventing me from exercising my legitimate contractual rights and causing me great harm."
“...”
“The Princess promised to take care of it, so the problem of mining is already out of my hands.”
...It seemed like Veronica had already figured this out. I still hadn't figured out what was going on. I had half expected it, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Now I understand the Baron's attitude of avoiding me. Since he's already lined up with Veronica, he must be planning to cooperate so that she can win completely. It's to look good to the future Emperor.
“Yes, I understand now.”
I answered coolly. The Baron answered coolly.
“Trust is the lifeblood of a merchant, Your Highness. I appreciate your understanding of my situation.”
It was quite shocking to see him recite those words without changing his expression at all. And in the midst of all this, he even cleverly placed all the blame on Veronica.
Of course, it is also possible that Veronica had told Baron Gisborne not to negotiate with me.
But even if that were true, the Baron was hinting that it was Veronica's will, not his own, that was blocking my path.
He didn't say a single word that linked him to Veronica, only his actions. He was a more cunning man than I thought.
“Then there is no reason to stay here any longer.”
I stood up from my seat. Baron Gisborne abruptly rose from his seat, visibly relieved.
Even if his attitude was inappropriate, I had no right to punish him at this point. In a competition, it was entirely up to the individual to persuade someone and bring them to my side.
I didn't know much about the case yet, and so I didn't know what Baron Gisborne wanted as a result.
I came to the table without any plan or haste, without even knowing what to bring to the negotiating table. This was clearly my mistake.
"Your Highness."
As I was just taking a step out of the reception room, escorted by Jacqueline, Baron Gisborne called to me.
The Baron's mumbling voice was heard behind him.
“If Your Highness comes up with a solution, then I promise to cooperate in every way.”
The reason he was telling me that was obvious. It was a kind of safety device. If Veronica failed, he would have at least some justification to fall in line.
A truly great merchant would never put all his eggs in one basket. Baron Gisborne himself was a loathsome man, but his conduct as a merchant was astonishing.
I left the reception room without looking back.
“The Princess promised to take care of it, so the problem of mining is already out of my hands.”
...It seemed like Veronica had already figured this out. I still hadn't figured out what was going on. I had half expected it, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Now I understand the Baron's attitude of avoiding me. Since he's already lined up with Veronica, he must be planning to cooperate so that she can win completely. It's to look good to the future Emperor.
“Yes, I understand now.”
I answered coolly. The Baron answered coolly.
“Trust is the lifeblood of a merchant, Your Highness. I appreciate your understanding of my situation.”
It was quite shocking to see him recite those words without changing his expression at all. And in the midst of all this, he even cleverly placed all the blame on Veronica.
Of course, it is also possible that Veronica had told Baron Gisborne not to negotiate with me.
But even if that were true, the Baron was hinting that it was Veronica's will, not his own, that was blocking my path.
He didn't say a single word that linked him to Veronica, only his actions. He was a more cunning man than I thought.
“Then there is no reason to stay here any longer.”
I stood up from my seat. Baron Gisborne abruptly rose from his seat, visibly relieved.
Even if his attitude was inappropriate, I had no right to punish him at this point. In a competition, it was entirely up to the individual to persuade someone and bring them to my side.
I didn't know much about the case yet, and so I didn't know what Baron Gisborne wanted as a result.
I came to the table without any plan or haste, without even knowing what to bring to the negotiating table. This was clearly my mistake.
"Your Highness."
As I was just taking a step out of the reception room, escorted by Jacqueline, Baron Gisborne called to me.
The Baron's mumbling voice was heard behind him.
“If Your Highness comes up with a solution, then I promise to cooperate in every way.”
The reason he was telling me that was obvious. It was a kind of safety device. If Veronica failed, he would have at least some justification to fall in line.
A truly great merchant would never put all his eggs in one basket. Baron Gisborne himself was a loathsome man, but his conduct as a merchant was astonishing.
I left the reception room without looking back.
***
Twenty minutes. Exactly twenty minutes later, Jacqueline was back in the carriage, his once neat shirt all disheveled.
How many kisses must have been so sweet that he ripped off his shirt like that...
I looked at the maid with complicated eyes as she waved at Jacqueline with the aforementioned cheek.
As soon as the carriage door closed tightly, Jacqueline said with a suddenly changed expression as if he had never smiled like that.
“I figured it out.”
“...”
“Why are you doing that?”
“No, just...”
Jacqueline chuckled.
“The world won’t end if a young man and woman kiss.”
It was a somewhat shocking method, but it was no longer possible to deny that it was effective. If you were to pay for information with just one kiss, it would be cheap.
However, he was not just a common scribe from the market, but the sole successor to the admiral. As I was dealing with such a well-bred young master, I couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
Sure, Jacqueline was the first to offer, but I should have been more proactive in stopping him...
“This is ...”
“...”
“Are you listening? That was important information.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can you say that again?”
Jacqueline let out a short sigh. He seemed to have noticed that I was not concentrating at all.
“It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry about it.”
“Even if the maid suggested it first, how is that not a big deal? It’s just a kiss.”
“Of course, I wanted to keep my lips somewhat secret... but anyway, isn’t this urgent information for Your Highness?”
“I’m in a hurry. But you’re not.”
He left the East simply because of love. The last time I heard, it seemed like he did everything he could to keep his loyalty to Rosetta.
However, his Rosetta seemed to be having affairs with all sorts of men...
For some reason, my expression didn't seem normal because I was so upset. I felt like I had committed a crime. I opened my mouth, hesitating.
“Actually, I don’t know why you help me like this.”
“You haven’t forgotten, have you? You promised to give me two thousand gold coins if you won.”
As I made a dejected expression, a mischievous smile appeared on Jacqueline's face.
“That’s actually an excuse.”
“...”
“The Restons are the only admiral family in the East. We should have been included in the thirteen families of the Privy Council representing the Empire long ago. We have been putting it off for generations, claiming neutrality for the sole reason of not wanting to get involved in central politics...”
He spoke smoothly, like a seasoned politician.
“It was time for our family to decide on a course.”
“...”
“Even if I leave the East and Reston forever, I hope you remember my contributions and look after me well.”
Now the nobles' subtle manner of speaking was not difficult. He looked at me as if I were an Emperor.
“Sir, do you think I will win the competition?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“...”
“But you have helped me, Your Highness. You don’t seem like the type of person to forget that easily.”
Jacqueline's face, which had been playfully smiling the whole time, looked a little more serious and heavy. It was as if he had regained his true age.
“History proves how much can go wrong in the race for the successor. In a situation like this, Your Highness can punish or pressure Baron Gisborne for other crimes.”
...Oh. That’s a really unexpected method.
Well, it was just me and Jacqueline there.
Even if Baron Gisborne had claimed that I had threatened him, no one would have sided with him, as he was a mere local magnate.
“But Your Highness has chosen the principle. The principle that in a contest, persuading people is not through pressure or dirty tricks, but depends entirely on one’s own abilities.”
“...”
“In my limited opinion, Your Highness will at least be a good Emperor.”
I let out an awkward laugh. Trying to stick to my principles? That was because I had no confidence in my own lineage.
If I had been raised as a Princess from the beginning, I would have tried to reprimand Baron Baek Gisborne for his rudeness.
Jacqueline wrinkled his nose comically, not knowing whether he knew my complicated feelings or not.
“And one kiss is a cheap bribe to a future lord.”
“...I guess you don’t even know the saying, ‘Choose carefully.’”
“The more boldly you invest, the more your profits will be maximized.”
Jacqueline shrugged. Then he added mischievously.
“Well, if there’s a chance, I might get some money.”
“Then I will gratefully accept it. Even if it is wrong, the choice is yours, so don’t blame me.”
“Yeah.”
“And what? A good Emperor? No matter how much I think about it, don’t you think your eyes are a little crazy?”
Jacqueline's eyes widened, then he bent down and burst into laughter as if he thought what I said was funny.
I waited with a sour face for him to stop laughing. Finally, Jacqueline said, wiping away tears that had formed from laughing too much.
“It’s a good quality to constantly doubt yourself like that.”
***
We arrived at Belcruz and had a late lunch. The six knights who had followed us were given a separate table, and Jacqueline and I sat on the terrace.
I sipped some cool peppermint tea and listened to the rest of the information Jacqueline had given me.
“I’m a low-level maid, so I didn’t get the full details, but from what I’ve gathered, it seems like the problem arose when the mining rights and mineral distribution rights were divided.”
“Mining rights and distribution rights?”
“Baron Lotte must have had the mining rights from the beginning. Belcruze has been under the Barony of Lotte for generations. But the problem was that Baron Lotte did not have the funds to mine sapphires.”
“I guess he must have raised some investment money by force?”
“Yes. It seems that they received investment funds from the big companies in the East, and in return, they gave them exclusive distribution rights. Since the A companies contributed 30% of the total investment, they were given the exclusive right to distribute 30% of the total production every year. That’s how it went.”
“That’s really...”
It's dangerous. I mumbled the words, but Jacqueline seemed to understand.
“Yes. The intention was not bad, but in cases like this, if the exclusive distribution rights are concentrated on one side, problems arise. Baron Gisborne targeted that blind spot. It seems he bought up all the distribution rights that were on the market at a high price.”
“How much did he buy it for?”
“They said it was over 7.2 percent of the total.”
“...”
I thought of the face of Baron Gisborne, who had been swollen and puffed up. That oily face and belly, those greedy eyes...
Even the peppermint tea I was drinking so well felt weak, so I put down the glass.
“If Baron Gisborne has acquired over 7.2% of the distribution rights, the results are obvious.”
“Yes. Since they have a tight grip on the distribution network, they must have forced an unfair contract. I don’t know for sure, but the more sapphires Baron Lotte mines, the more he loses.”
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