“Come in.”
The one who opened the door and came in was the maid who was in charge of my bath. I put away the budget plan that the finance director had submitted and greeted the maid. The maid was holding a small basket in her hand.
“I brought what Your Highness ordered last night...”
She began to speak in an uncertain voice.
“I made the maids, who are known for their dexterity, make what you told me.”
I took the basket the maid offered me. Inside were small, round wooden boxes that I could hold with one hand. At first glance, there seemed to be more than ten of them.
“You made this much in one night?”
“Oh, that’s not it.”
You didn't make it? Then, where did all this come from? The maid quickly added, reading my expression.
“This is a selection of the best ones. Depending on the condition of the whitening vinegar, the scent will differ slightly when steeped in oil. Fortunately, I had some steeped in advance, so I was able to make it quickly.”
It was amazing. Not only was it possible to make this much in one night, but it wasn't even all brought over.
I had been having a headache from thinking about Sonya all day, so this was some welcome news. I picked one of the wooden boxes and opened the lid.
“It smells really good.”
“Right?”
The maid spoke happily, as if she had heard a compliment.
I dabbed the contents on the back of my hand. It felt very moist, like I was applying soft, melted butter.
“Yes. Then distribute these to the maids of the lord’s castle. Ask them to try them out now, and tell me in detail about the effects tomorrow morning.”
“But, Your Highness... all the ingredients that went in here are expensive!”
The maid's eyes widened in surprise.
“So you have to use it even more. Share all of them, even the ones with a slightly weaker scent, with people. If they don’t suit your body, these can cause hives.”
I had seen young women in high society using arsenic-laced makeup incorrectly and breaking out in hives all over their faces. It was important to get as many people to try it as possible.
The maid seemed to barely agree with what I said. She still seemed to be feeling sorry, but she smiled brightly when I told her that she could have the best part, and she left the room.
“Your Highness. May I come in?”
It was Cesare's voice. I answered quickly.
“Yes, come in.”
I thought Cesare would be alone, but it was three people who came in: Cesare, Jacqueline, and the treasurer.
I burst out laughing at the unexpected combination, and they paused for a moment at the sight of me buried under a pile of paperwork.
“Did you get some sleep?”
Jacqueline asked, setting his tray of lunch on the table. I nodded.
“Enough to make my head spin. I was in dire need of help anyway.”
Cesare seemed to know that things had changed just by looking at my face. He looked through a few documents and nodded.
“It seems like you did a good job with the homework I gave you yesterday.”
“I did make a plan. I also made a lot of gains overnight.”
“What are your plans for the future?”
I turned my head towards the treasurer.
“How much money do we have left now?”
“It’s just a little bit short of ten thousand.”
“I came up with two business plans last night. How much more money do I need to make them come to fruition?”
I handed the treasurer the paper I had been organizing all night. At first, the treasurer looked at the paper with a stern look, but as he turned the pages, his expression became more and more bewildered.
“Your Highness, something like this...”
“Is it impossible with the money I have now?”
The treasurer took out a pen and paper, did some calculations, and said:
“It will definitely not be enough to proceed with everything on the scale you desire.”
“Then, how about we attract some investment as our first business? Maybe hold an information session for the nobles...”
“I don’t recommend that.”
This time, it was Cesare who answered.
“It’s better to put off receiving investment until the very end. Normally, that would be an option, but right now, we’re in the middle of a competition.”
“...”
“It would be nice to somehow work it out within the budget. If we’re not careful, we could end up with a reputation for going overboard and taking on too much debt. It’s also a perfect spot for enemies to attack.”
“...But didn’t Princess Veronica also receive investment?”
“It’s a question of spontaneity. The aristocrats were eager to invest in the fair.”
Cesare added cautiously, observing my expression.
“Depending on the point of view, it could ultimately be seen as a lack of budget planning and experience. It could also create the prejudice that you don’t know the situation.”
“...”
“Especially since Your Highness has risen to power with the support of the common people, such prejudice will cause your supporters to turn away.”
Every word was correct.
But how can you solve this without a budget? Both the first and second businesses require a lot of money for promotion.
The treasurer took Cesare's words lightly.
“I think it would be better to scale things down a bit. The first business will generate immediate profits, but the second one would be better to go in the direction of presenting a grand blueprint.”
“...If you two say that, then there’s nothing we can do. Let’s do that for now.”
I stood up and handed the papers to Cesare and the treasurer.
“Take it and examine it a little more carefully. The first project will be implemented starting tomorrow.”
“I will do that.”
“What should I do?”
Jacqueline, who was leaning against the window, asked quickly. I handed him a signed check.
“You’ll go to Saxony again.”
“Are you talking about Saxony?”
“Not just in Saxony, but in any nearby town. Please help me find some skilled glassblowers.”
“Skilled glassblowers. Yes. Are there any other requirements?”
“I would like to help people who have plans to move but are stuck because they don’t have enough money to pay their permanent resident.”
Jacqueline seemed to have guessed my intentions just from hearing a rough explanation.
“Are you planning to move the craftsmen to Vostok?”
“That would be great, but if it’s hard to find a craftsman who fits your criteria, please find a large workshop that can reliably take large orders. I’ll order things like this.”
I handed Jacqueline a drawing I had been pondering all night and had finally come to fruition. My skills were lacking, but I could at least make out what I was looking at.
...Perhaps so? My worries were eased by Jacqueline. He said, whistling briefly.
“It looks like a royal handicraft.”
"That's right."
I'm glad you noticed. This is a drawing based on the egg-shaped craft that Laskan gave me.
Egg-shaped ware has been the exclusive property of the imperial family ever since it was given to the Empress by the Emperor several generations ago. No nobleman dared even try to imitate similar works.
I intended to take advantage of this actively.
“I can see why even this ten thousand pieces would be insufficient for the budget. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took ten thousand pieces just to mass-produce this piece.”
“...”
“And the ladies, and the gentlemen who wish to win their favor, will buy them for five times the amount Your Highness spent.”
Jacqueline shrugged and added, and I burst out laughing.
Fortunately, Sonya's condition had improved markedly the next morning. The red spots were noticeably lighter than they had been the night before.
It was a fortunate thing. I made the sign of the cross without realizing it and offered a prayer of thanks to Temer. Edgar said I was disturbing the patient's stability and kicked me out of the examination room.
The good news came in a rush.
The whitening cosmetics that were distributed to the maids received good reviews. They said that their hands became noticeably softer after only one day of use.
The maids were amazed and asked how I could come up with such an idea... but there was little I could say.
I can't say that my hands became ugly because I suffered so much during my time as a commoner, and Lisa took care of them with buttermilk every morning and night.
“You said Sonya looked as if she had been washed? Even the spots disappeared.”
“I heard there’s a doctor who developed a cure. And he’s in our Vostok!”
“Who are he?”
“Why, you know, the pharmacy’s...”
“Then does that mean that Renouac’s disease can be cured?”
“According to rumors...”
The rumor that there was a doctor in Vostok who could cure Renouac's disease spread like wildfire without me having to come forward.
The word that had spread from the maids spread throughout Vostok in two days. It was on the morning of the third day that people flocked to the Castle to seek treatment from the famous doctor.
“Edgar. Are you awake?”
I cautiously opened the door to the examination room. Edgar greeted me with his characteristically stern expression.
Although he usually shows a somewhat sloppy side, in the examination room, he is a doctor who is arrogant about his own skills.
He spoke in a voice that almost sounded like he was grumbling.
“Are you here?”
“Are you busy now?”
“I do need to organize the medicine... but it’s okay. It’ll all be fine in two days, so there’s no need to make more medicine.”
I swallowed hard. What I had done to him was a kind of fraud. I had promised him as much money as he wanted, so he could live in a fancy building.
Of course, it's not a complete lie, and I will really keep my word, but...
“Edgar.”
“It is very ominous when Your Highness calls me so friendly.”
...You’re quick-witted.
The one who opened the door and came in was the maid who was in charge of my bath. I put away the budget plan that the finance director had submitted and greeted the maid. The maid was holding a small basket in her hand.
“I brought what Your Highness ordered last night...”
She began to speak in an uncertain voice.
“I made the maids, who are known for their dexterity, make what you told me.”
I took the basket the maid offered me. Inside were small, round wooden boxes that I could hold with one hand. At first glance, there seemed to be more than ten of them.
“You made this much in one night?”
“Oh, that’s not it.”
You didn't make it? Then, where did all this come from? The maid quickly added, reading my expression.
“This is a selection of the best ones. Depending on the condition of the whitening vinegar, the scent will differ slightly when steeped in oil. Fortunately, I had some steeped in advance, so I was able to make it quickly.”
It was amazing. Not only was it possible to make this much in one night, but it wasn't even all brought over.
I had been having a headache from thinking about Sonya all day, so this was some welcome news. I picked one of the wooden boxes and opened the lid.
“It smells really good.”
“Right?”
The maid spoke happily, as if she had heard a compliment.
I dabbed the contents on the back of my hand. It felt very moist, like I was applying soft, melted butter.
“Yes. Then distribute these to the maids of the lord’s castle. Ask them to try them out now, and tell me in detail about the effects tomorrow morning.”
“But, Your Highness... all the ingredients that went in here are expensive!”
The maid's eyes widened in surprise.
“So you have to use it even more. Share all of them, even the ones with a slightly weaker scent, with people. If they don’t suit your body, these can cause hives.”
I had seen young women in high society using arsenic-laced makeup incorrectly and breaking out in hives all over their faces. It was important to get as many people to try it as possible.
The maid seemed to barely agree with what I said. She still seemed to be feeling sorry, but she smiled brightly when I told her that she could have the best part, and she left the room.
“Your Highness. May I come in?”
It was Cesare's voice. I answered quickly.
“Yes, come in.”
I thought Cesare would be alone, but it was three people who came in: Cesare, Jacqueline, and the treasurer.
I burst out laughing at the unexpected combination, and they paused for a moment at the sight of me buried under a pile of paperwork.
“Did you get some sleep?”
Jacqueline asked, setting his tray of lunch on the table. I nodded.
“Enough to make my head spin. I was in dire need of help anyway.”
Cesare seemed to know that things had changed just by looking at my face. He looked through a few documents and nodded.
“It seems like you did a good job with the homework I gave you yesterday.”
“I did make a plan. I also made a lot of gains overnight.”
“What are your plans for the future?”
I turned my head towards the treasurer.
“How much money do we have left now?”
“It’s just a little bit short of ten thousand.”
“I came up with two business plans last night. How much more money do I need to make them come to fruition?”
I handed the treasurer the paper I had been organizing all night. At first, the treasurer looked at the paper with a stern look, but as he turned the pages, his expression became more and more bewildered.
“Your Highness, something like this...”
“Is it impossible with the money I have now?”
The treasurer took out a pen and paper, did some calculations, and said:
“It will definitely not be enough to proceed with everything on the scale you desire.”
“Then, how about we attract some investment as our first business? Maybe hold an information session for the nobles...”
“I don’t recommend that.”
This time, it was Cesare who answered.
“It’s better to put off receiving investment until the very end. Normally, that would be an option, but right now, we’re in the middle of a competition.”
“...”
“It would be nice to somehow work it out within the budget. If we’re not careful, we could end up with a reputation for going overboard and taking on too much debt. It’s also a perfect spot for enemies to attack.”
“...But didn’t Princess Veronica also receive investment?”
“It’s a question of spontaneity. The aristocrats were eager to invest in the fair.”
Cesare added cautiously, observing my expression.
“Depending on the point of view, it could ultimately be seen as a lack of budget planning and experience. It could also create the prejudice that you don’t know the situation.”
“...”
“Especially since Your Highness has risen to power with the support of the common people, such prejudice will cause your supporters to turn away.”
Every word was correct.
But how can you solve this without a budget? Both the first and second businesses require a lot of money for promotion.
The treasurer took Cesare's words lightly.
“I think it would be better to scale things down a bit. The first business will generate immediate profits, but the second one would be better to go in the direction of presenting a grand blueprint.”
“...If you two say that, then there’s nothing we can do. Let’s do that for now.”
I stood up and handed the papers to Cesare and the treasurer.
“Take it and examine it a little more carefully. The first project will be implemented starting tomorrow.”
“I will do that.”
“What should I do?”
Jacqueline, who was leaning against the window, asked quickly. I handed him a signed check.
“You’ll go to Saxony again.”
“Are you talking about Saxony?”
“Not just in Saxony, but in any nearby town. Please help me find some skilled glassblowers.”
“Skilled glassblowers. Yes. Are there any other requirements?”
“I would like to help people who have plans to move but are stuck because they don’t have enough money to pay their permanent resident.”
Jacqueline seemed to have guessed my intentions just from hearing a rough explanation.
“Are you planning to move the craftsmen to Vostok?”
“That would be great, but if it’s hard to find a craftsman who fits your criteria, please find a large workshop that can reliably take large orders. I’ll order things like this.”
I handed Jacqueline a drawing I had been pondering all night and had finally come to fruition. My skills were lacking, but I could at least make out what I was looking at.
...Perhaps so? My worries were eased by Jacqueline. He said, whistling briefly.
“It looks like a royal handicraft.”
"That's right."
I'm glad you noticed. This is a drawing based on the egg-shaped craft that Laskan gave me.
Egg-shaped ware has been the exclusive property of the imperial family ever since it was given to the Empress by the Emperor several generations ago. No nobleman dared even try to imitate similar works.
I intended to take advantage of this actively.
“I can see why even this ten thousand pieces would be insufficient for the budget. I wouldn’t be surprised if it took ten thousand pieces just to mass-produce this piece.”
“...”
“And the ladies, and the gentlemen who wish to win their favor, will buy them for five times the amount Your Highness spent.”
Jacqueline shrugged and added, and I burst out laughing.
***
Fortunately, Sonya's condition had improved markedly the next morning. The red spots were noticeably lighter than they had been the night before.
It was a fortunate thing. I made the sign of the cross without realizing it and offered a prayer of thanks to Temer. Edgar said I was disturbing the patient's stability and kicked me out of the examination room.
The good news came in a rush.
The whitening cosmetics that were distributed to the maids received good reviews. They said that their hands became noticeably softer after only one day of use.
The maids were amazed and asked how I could come up with such an idea... but there was little I could say.
I can't say that my hands became ugly because I suffered so much during my time as a commoner, and Lisa took care of them with buttermilk every morning and night.
“You said Sonya looked as if she had been washed? Even the spots disappeared.”
“I heard there’s a doctor who developed a cure. And he’s in our Vostok!”
“Who are he?”
“Why, you know, the pharmacy’s...”
“Then does that mean that Renouac’s disease can be cured?”
“According to rumors...”
The rumor that there was a doctor in Vostok who could cure Renouac's disease spread like wildfire without me having to come forward.
The word that had spread from the maids spread throughout Vostok in two days. It was on the morning of the third day that people flocked to the Castle to seek treatment from the famous doctor.
“Edgar. Are you awake?”
I cautiously opened the door to the examination room. Edgar greeted me with his characteristically stern expression.
Although he usually shows a somewhat sloppy side, in the examination room, he is a doctor who is arrogant about his own skills.
He spoke in a voice that almost sounded like he was grumbling.
“Are you here?”
“Are you busy now?”
“I do need to organize the medicine... but it’s okay. It’ll all be fine in two days, so there’s no need to make more medicine.”
I swallowed hard. What I had done to him was a kind of fraud. I had promised him as much money as he wanted, so he could live in a fancy building.
Of course, it's not a complete lie, and I will really keep my word, but...
“Edgar.”
“It is very ominous when Your Highness calls me so friendly.”
...You’re quick-witted.
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