Mainz seemed confused as to whether I was joking or serious.
Still, he quickly brought me some paper and a pen.
I drew a picture there.
'I think it looked like this. Or did it? Was it like this?'
It wasn't that great a picture.
I just drew a short, chubby caterpillar and added a mushroom with a thin stem and small cap on top of the caterpillar's back.
“Could you hire a herbalist to find mushrooms that look like this?”
“Is this a mushroom? It looks like a caterpillar.”
“It’s a vermis mushroom that grows using larvae as its host.”
I remember Viscount Lelsus showing Andrea the Vermis mushrooms and explaining his business plan.
“Ugh, why are you showing me such a disgusting thing?”
"Your Highness, look at the mushrooms, not the bugs. This mushroom, called vermis, is said to be very good for men's stamina."
“What, stamina?”
“Yes. If you boil this down and take it, you’ll wake up every night as fast as a young person, hehe... Anyway, it’ll be over.”
"Yes?"
Andrea, who had been disgusted by the rumor that it was good for stamina, quickly picked up a Vermis mushroom.
“I heard that among those who know, they trade these for one gold coin each.”
“Are you saying that you would pay a gold coin for something that you don’t even know whether it’s a bug-eaten mushroom or a bug that ate a mushroom?”
"Yes. It's very precious. I recently heard from someone I know that it's very abundant in the north."
“Is that true?”
"Yes. This is advanced information that no one yet knows. So, Your Highness, please grant me the exclusive right to collect it in the northern lands of Arrental. I will hand over five halves to Your Highness."
“I’ll paint it.”
“Six percent?”
“Oh.”
“...Yes, I understand. I’ll do it.”
After that, Andrea, who had forcibly created the exclusive right to collect Vermis from the lords of northern Arrental, transferred that right to Viscount Pelsus.
I clearly remember that not long after, the two of them were so excited about how well their business was going that they hugged each other and drank heavily.
'At that time, I was just trembling, worried about how much Viscount Pelsus would do to me after drinking.'
I never thought I would use their conversations like this.
I informed Mainz of this.
Mainz seemed a little surprised to hear the word "vigor" come out of my mouth, but I emphasized that it was the point.
According to Count Pelsus, men do not spare money on things that are said to be good for stamina.
"Do you understand? They say that if you dig in the soil that's been slightly thawed by the sun during the day, you'll find many bugs harboring these vermis mushrooms. The harvesting season is from spring to summer. It's late summer now, so there's not much left this year. We'll have to act quickly."
“Yes, I understand. First, I’ll gather the herbalists...”
Mainz looked bewildered and went outside holding the paper I had drawn for him.
It didn't seem like he really believed me when I said we could make a lot of money.
But I didn't act hastily.
'If you accumulate a lot of gold coins, you will have no choice but to believe what I say.'
After Mainz left, I wrote a letter to Montril.
'To Montril Piraeus. I am Marchioness Chloe Rodrian. I had hoped to meet you and speak with you in person sometime, but circumstances prevented me from doing so... I have a favor to ask of you... Regarding the Vermis mushroom...'
It was a letter that said that Vermis mushrooms would be distributed throughout the upper part of Szeged.
Meanwhile, Granada, who had come out to find the merchant with the jewel Chloe had given her, remembered how she had found the palace maids Chloe had brought with her from the very first day to be extremely rude.
That was something she was wondering not only about the people of Ronheim, but also about Chloe, whom they served.
But through Chloe's words earlier, Granada gained a lot of confidence.
“Please take care of it quietly without my maids knowing.”
Chloe doesn't trust her maids.
Bringing unbelievers here means that accompanying them is not of one's own free will.
“From now on, don’t hesitate and give me advice if I do something difficult.”
She also doesn't want to harm Ronheim.
“It seems like I have a lot to learn from now on.”
She is by no means an arrogant person.
Granada concluded.
'That person was personally chosen by the Prince. There's no doubt about it.'
The knights were abuzz with speculation that Arrental had pressured them into this marriage.
But Granada thought that even if that were true, it would not be the case that Callius had forced Chloe to accept him when she did not like him.
'Madam, you will be the true mistress of Ronheim.'
Chloe was by no means crazy or stupid, just a little ignorant.
No matter how short a period of time you've known someone, there are things about that person's character that you can see roughly.
Granada found the merchant who had not yet left the castle and did as Chloe had instructed.
Even though he was a wandering merchant, he had traveled the world for decades and dealt in all kinds of goods, and he recognized that Chloe's ring was a remarkable item.
“Are you really going to pay for clothes with this?”
“That’s right.”
"This seems like an exorbitant price for the clothes I'm selling. I don't know much about jewelry, but... honestly, this seems like a really great item. Just give me something else of a reasonable price."
Chloe was right when she said it would be worth it.
“If you think I’ve overpaid, bring me something better next time you come.”
When she said that, the merchant smiled brightly and quickly put the ring in his pocket.
"I've seen many people who have paid for their debts, but this is a first. Understood! Next time, if Madame Belloze sells quality clothes, I'll come running straight to the castle."
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Then, as he was about to turn around, Granada quickly added.
"The master wanted to give his wife the best gift, so Mainz has specially offered it as payment. I hope we continue to have good business."
“Yes, yes. Of course!”
The merchant was so excited that he ran out of the castle in a hurry.
Granada sighed softly as she watched the merchant's back.
'Since I said it was something Mainz put out, they won't go around talking nonsense.'
Given that Chloe had asked her to handle the matter without the maids' knowledge, it could be that she did not want to reveal the source of the treasure.
So Granada claimed that Mainz had sent it instead of cash.
Granada limped back up the stairs, intending to return to Chloe's room.
Then, on the way, shr ran into Brentian.
“Why does someone with mobility problems keep going up and down the stairs?”
Although he was still hesitant, perhaps still feeling uneasy after last night's argument, Brentian continued to nag affectionately.
“Your other knee isn’t even healed. Do you think your body is still the same as before?”
Granada was like a maternal grandmother to Brentian.
Even though she didn't let him do what he wanted and was strict with him, he knew that it was all because she loved him like blood.
Granada was that kind of presence for everyone in this Ronheim Castle.
“I am also going up, so please hold my arm and go up with me.”
Granada didn't bother to ask Brentian if he was coming down the stairs, but instead took Brentian's arm with the hand that wasn't holding her cane.
“That’s good timing. I had something to tell you.”
“Why, what are you going to scold me with again?”
“You knew you were going to get in trouble.”
Brentian's mouth fell open.
“Are you really going to scold me?”
Granada asked as she walked, carefully observing where she stepped.
“Why do you hate Madam?”
“Yes? Of course....”
“Because of where she came from.”
“It’s not just about where she's from.”
“Just judging by origins, good origins, bad origins, that’s judging by origins.”
“She is the Princess of the Idelian royal family!”
Granada stopped walking and stared at Brentian.
“I was the daughter of an assassin.”
There was no wavering in Granada's eyes.
"My father's job was to take on contract killings and use the money he earned to support his family. I was the daughter of an assassin, living my life as if it were a normal thing, never knowing it was wrong. I learned how to kill from my father when I was seven."
Brentian said as if she felt wronged.
“Why are you bringing up things from the past... Why are you doing this to me?”
Granada continued speaking calmly and firmly without stopping.
“When I first met the Saint, I was already a man with blood on my hands. With these hands, I took the lives of innocent people.”
“...”
"The Saint chose me. She placed me in her closest position, making me her bodyguard. And she allowed me to apologize for taking someone else's family to avoid my own starvation."
“...”
“She didn’t brand me. She believed in me.”
Granada's eyes may have faded with age, but they still shone brightly.
"At that time, the people around the saint weren't harsh on me. I was surprised and grateful for that. Later, I realized they simply trusted the saint. Her choice wasn't wrong."
“...”
"If you can't trust the madam, trust the Prince. Trust the Prince's choices. That's what I wanted to say."
Brentian retorted in a more subdued voice.
“But Granada and the Princess are different.”
Granada nodded as if in agreement.
"That's right. How dare you compare me to Her Highness? I'm the one who committed the sin with my own hands, while Her Highness is a pure person."
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
"Why am I wrong? Did you lead the war between Ronheim and Arrental? Or did you spearhead the murder of the Saint? Or do you think she personally killed a single Ronheimer with those slender arms? What reason do you have for hating her?"
“...”
"She simply had the Idelian Emperor as her father. As it turns out, she was born into the Idelian royal family. It wasn't her choice."
Granada patted Brentian's shoulder as he stood there sullenly.
“You are intelligent, so I believe you understand what I mean.”
Then she smiled rarely.
"Madam, not the type of person who's willing to leave. You'll have to be careful not to end up being laughed at for this in front of her for the rest of your life."
She sent Brentian down, telling him to go on his way now that she was supported.
Brentian, who was standing there staring blankly at Granada's back, had a more thoughtful expression on his face.
"What? Granada fell? In just two days?"
What on earth happened?
Still, he quickly brought me some paper and a pen.
I drew a picture there.
'I think it looked like this. Or did it? Was it like this?'
It wasn't that great a picture.
I just drew a short, chubby caterpillar and added a mushroom with a thin stem and small cap on top of the caterpillar's back.
“Could you hire a herbalist to find mushrooms that look like this?”
“Is this a mushroom? It looks like a caterpillar.”
“It’s a vermis mushroom that grows using larvae as its host.”
I remember Viscount Lelsus showing Andrea the Vermis mushrooms and explaining his business plan.
“Ugh, why are you showing me such a disgusting thing?”
"Your Highness, look at the mushrooms, not the bugs. This mushroom, called vermis, is said to be very good for men's stamina."
“What, stamina?”
“Yes. If you boil this down and take it, you’ll wake up every night as fast as a young person, hehe... Anyway, it’ll be over.”
"Yes?"
Andrea, who had been disgusted by the rumor that it was good for stamina, quickly picked up a Vermis mushroom.
“I heard that among those who know, they trade these for one gold coin each.”
“Are you saying that you would pay a gold coin for something that you don’t even know whether it’s a bug-eaten mushroom or a bug that ate a mushroom?”
"Yes. It's very precious. I recently heard from someone I know that it's very abundant in the north."
“Is that true?”
"Yes. This is advanced information that no one yet knows. So, Your Highness, please grant me the exclusive right to collect it in the northern lands of Arrental. I will hand over five halves to Your Highness."
“I’ll paint it.”
“Six percent?”
“Oh.”
“...Yes, I understand. I’ll do it.”
After that, Andrea, who had forcibly created the exclusive right to collect Vermis from the lords of northern Arrental, transferred that right to Viscount Pelsus.
I clearly remember that not long after, the two of them were so excited about how well their business was going that they hugged each other and drank heavily.
'At that time, I was just trembling, worried about how much Viscount Pelsus would do to me after drinking.'
I never thought I would use their conversations like this.
I informed Mainz of this.
Mainz seemed a little surprised to hear the word "vigor" come out of my mouth, but I emphasized that it was the point.
According to Count Pelsus, men do not spare money on things that are said to be good for stamina.
"Do you understand? They say that if you dig in the soil that's been slightly thawed by the sun during the day, you'll find many bugs harboring these vermis mushrooms. The harvesting season is from spring to summer. It's late summer now, so there's not much left this year. We'll have to act quickly."
“Yes, I understand. First, I’ll gather the herbalists...”
Mainz looked bewildered and went outside holding the paper I had drawn for him.
It didn't seem like he really believed me when I said we could make a lot of money.
But I didn't act hastily.
'If you accumulate a lot of gold coins, you will have no choice but to believe what I say.'
After Mainz left, I wrote a letter to Montril.
'To Montril Piraeus. I am Marchioness Chloe Rodrian. I had hoped to meet you and speak with you in person sometime, but circumstances prevented me from doing so... I have a favor to ask of you... Regarding the Vermis mushroom...'
It was a letter that said that Vermis mushrooms would be distributed throughout the upper part of Szeged.
***
Meanwhile, Granada, who had come out to find the merchant with the jewel Chloe had given her, remembered how she had found the palace maids Chloe had brought with her from the very first day to be extremely rude.
That was something she was wondering not only about the people of Ronheim, but also about Chloe, whom they served.
But through Chloe's words earlier, Granada gained a lot of confidence.
“Please take care of it quietly without my maids knowing.”
Chloe doesn't trust her maids.
Bringing unbelievers here means that accompanying them is not of one's own free will.
“From now on, don’t hesitate and give me advice if I do something difficult.”
She also doesn't want to harm Ronheim.
“It seems like I have a lot to learn from now on.”
She is by no means an arrogant person.
Granada concluded.
'That person was personally chosen by the Prince. There's no doubt about it.'
The knights were abuzz with speculation that Arrental had pressured them into this marriage.
But Granada thought that even if that were true, it would not be the case that Callius had forced Chloe to accept him when she did not like him.
'Madam, you will be the true mistress of Ronheim.'
Chloe was by no means crazy or stupid, just a little ignorant.
No matter how short a period of time you've known someone, there are things about that person's character that you can see roughly.
Granada found the merchant who had not yet left the castle and did as Chloe had instructed.
Even though he was a wandering merchant, he had traveled the world for decades and dealt in all kinds of goods, and he recognized that Chloe's ring was a remarkable item.
“Are you really going to pay for clothes with this?”
“That’s right.”
"This seems like an exorbitant price for the clothes I'm selling. I don't know much about jewelry, but... honestly, this seems like a really great item. Just give me something else of a reasonable price."
Chloe was right when she said it would be worth it.
“If you think I’ve overpaid, bring me something better next time you come.”
When she said that, the merchant smiled brightly and quickly put the ring in his pocket.
"I've seen many people who have paid for their debts, but this is a first. Understood! Next time, if Madame Belloze sells quality clothes, I'll come running straight to the castle."
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Then, as he was about to turn around, Granada quickly added.
"The master wanted to give his wife the best gift, so Mainz has specially offered it as payment. I hope we continue to have good business."
“Yes, yes. Of course!”
The merchant was so excited that he ran out of the castle in a hurry.
Granada sighed softly as she watched the merchant's back.
'Since I said it was something Mainz put out, they won't go around talking nonsense.'
Given that Chloe had asked her to handle the matter without the maids' knowledge, it could be that she did not want to reveal the source of the treasure.
So Granada claimed that Mainz had sent it instead of cash.
Granada limped back up the stairs, intending to return to Chloe's room.
Then, on the way, shr ran into Brentian.
“Why does someone with mobility problems keep going up and down the stairs?”
Although he was still hesitant, perhaps still feeling uneasy after last night's argument, Brentian continued to nag affectionately.
“Your other knee isn’t even healed. Do you think your body is still the same as before?”
Granada was like a maternal grandmother to Brentian.
Even though she didn't let him do what he wanted and was strict with him, he knew that it was all because she loved him like blood.
Granada was that kind of presence for everyone in this Ronheim Castle.
“I am also going up, so please hold my arm and go up with me.”
Granada didn't bother to ask Brentian if he was coming down the stairs, but instead took Brentian's arm with the hand that wasn't holding her cane.
“That’s good timing. I had something to tell you.”
“Why, what are you going to scold me with again?”
“You knew you were going to get in trouble.”
Brentian's mouth fell open.
“Are you really going to scold me?”
Granada asked as she walked, carefully observing where she stepped.
“Why do you hate Madam?”
“Yes? Of course....”
“Because of where she came from.”
“It’s not just about where she's from.”
“Just judging by origins, good origins, bad origins, that’s judging by origins.”
“She is the Princess of the Idelian royal family!”
Granada stopped walking and stared at Brentian.
“I was the daughter of an assassin.”
There was no wavering in Granada's eyes.
"My father's job was to take on contract killings and use the money he earned to support his family. I was the daughter of an assassin, living my life as if it were a normal thing, never knowing it was wrong. I learned how to kill from my father when I was seven."
Brentian said as if she felt wronged.
“Why are you bringing up things from the past... Why are you doing this to me?”
Granada continued speaking calmly and firmly without stopping.
“When I first met the Saint, I was already a man with blood on my hands. With these hands, I took the lives of innocent people.”
“...”
"The Saint chose me. She placed me in her closest position, making me her bodyguard. And she allowed me to apologize for taking someone else's family to avoid my own starvation."
“...”
“She didn’t brand me. She believed in me.”
Granada's eyes may have faded with age, but they still shone brightly.
"At that time, the people around the saint weren't harsh on me. I was surprised and grateful for that. Later, I realized they simply trusted the saint. Her choice wasn't wrong."
“...”
"If you can't trust the madam, trust the Prince. Trust the Prince's choices. That's what I wanted to say."
Brentian retorted in a more subdued voice.
“But Granada and the Princess are different.”
Granada nodded as if in agreement.
"That's right. How dare you compare me to Her Highness? I'm the one who committed the sin with my own hands, while Her Highness is a pure person."
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
"Why am I wrong? Did you lead the war between Ronheim and Arrental? Or did you spearhead the murder of the Saint? Or do you think she personally killed a single Ronheimer with those slender arms? What reason do you have for hating her?"
“...”
"She simply had the Idelian Emperor as her father. As it turns out, she was born into the Idelian royal family. It wasn't her choice."
Granada patted Brentian's shoulder as he stood there sullenly.
“You are intelligent, so I believe you understand what I mean.”
Then she smiled rarely.
"Madam, not the type of person who's willing to leave. You'll have to be careful not to end up being laughed at for this in front of her for the rest of your life."
She sent Brentian down, telling him to go on his way now that she was supported.
Brentian, who was standing there staring blankly at Granada's back, had a more thoughtful expression on his face.
"What? Granada fell? In just two days?"
What on earth happened?
Comments
Post a Comment