Episode 34. It's my land, so why are you guys...
The date of the meeting was set by the Duke of Valois. The location was also the Duke's reception room. There was a reason Martha insisted on this. She had to meet on home ground. Meeting in the other party's territory would introduce unforeseen variables.
At the Duke's reception room, Martha could control everything. Who was where, and through what channels information was leaking. A reply came from the Golden Lion Merchant Guild.
We agree to the date and location.
It was short. As Martha read the reply, she thought.
'They're in a hurry.'
Having the other party decide the date and location was a disadvantage. Yet, she agreed. That was how important it was to set foot in the Duke's hot springs. It worked out even better.
On the day of the meeting, people entered the Duke's reception room. Two people had come from the Golden Lion Merchant Guild. One was the guild's vice-representative. He appeared to be in his early forties. He was holding documents and had followed quietly from behind. And the other one.
Martha looked at him. He was a man in his early fifties. He had a large build. His shoulders were broad. His hair was dark brown, with patches of white mixed in here and there. His eyes were sharp.
As he entered the drawing room, his gaze scanned the entire space in a single stroke. It was a trained eye. Then he looked at Martha. Something passed through his eyes.
As she watched him, Martha thought to herself.
'He is Empress Isadora's brother.'
There was a peculiar aura about him. He had his own unique way of scrutinizing people. Unlike Isadora, who quietly manipulated things from behind the scenes, this man seemed to be the type to step into the forefront. However, his manner of stepping into the forefront was not crude. It was calculated.
He opened his mouth.
"Princess of Valois, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Vid, Duke of Kreuz."
His voice was deep and low. Martha said.
"Welcome."
And she naturally offered him a seat. As Vid Kreuz took his seat, he looked across. There was Martha. And next to Martha sat Leon. Vid's gaze fixed on Leon. Leon looked at Vid as well.
Vid said.
"I see you have come from the House of Ashford "
Leon replied.
"I accompanied the Princess as an acquaintance of the Duke of Valois."
Vid said.
"An acquaintance... I see you use the term 'acquaintance' even after your engagement was broken off."
Leon remarked.
"Is there a problem?"
Vid looked at Leon for a moment before speaking.
"No. It is just intriguing."
Leon remained silent. His gaze had already sharpened. Watching this, Martha thought.
'It's tense right from the start.'
The atmosphere between Leon and Vid changed the moment Vid Kreuz entered. They hadn't even exchanged many words. The battle of wills had already begun just from the look in their eyes.
The Kreuz ducal family and the Ashford ducal family. Figures from two ducal families that had been in tacit conflict for decades were sitting face-to-face in the Valois ducal family's drawing room.
Watching this, Martha thought to herself.
"It's my house, so why are they making such a fuss?'
Soon, the prepared tea was served. Helena set down her teacup and left. Vid picked up his teacup and naturally began to speak.
"The entire Empire is aware of the news regarding the Valois Ducal Family's hot springs. Congratulations."
Martha said.
"Thank you."
"It was a place rumored to be cursed land, yet hot spring water emerged there."
"Exactly. We really hit the jackpot. It feels like we could live off it for the rest of our lives, right?"
Vid looked at Martha. His pupils wavered slightly at her tone, but he quickly regained his composure. His gaze seemed to be trying to read something. It was a look attempting to figure out what kind of person Martha was.
Martha calmly sipped her tea while receiving that look. Vid said.
"I heard you are considering developing the hot springs. It must be quite a large-scale project."
"I suppose so."
"How do you plan to handle the funding?"
Martha looked at Vid.
"We are still reviewing it."
"That is why we have come to make a proposal."
Vid gestured to the Vice President. The Vice President took out some documents and placed them on the table. Vid said.
"The Golden Lion Merchant Guild can provide the full funding for the hot spring development."
Martha looked at the documents.
"The full amount?"
"Yes. All the funds necessary for development. Including building construction costs, waterway construction costs, and facility expenses."
Martha said.
"And the conditions?"
Vid asked.
"You will share 30 percent of the income with our merchant guild after the hot spring is completed. For five years. It will be done in a way that recoups the construction funds."
The study fell silent. Leon looked at Vid. Martha peered into the documents. 30 percent of the income for five years. Martha thought to herself as she looked at those numbers.
How dare they. It was hot spring water from my land. It was land I had bought. It was a hot spring I was developing. They were saying they would take three-tenths of the income. And for five years at that. They were total robbers.
On the surface, it sounded like a reasonable condition. 30 percent for five years in exchange for full support. Looking only at the numbers, it didn't seem bad. However, Martha knew that the condition was not simply a matter of money. What they wanted wasn't just money. They wanted to enter the Duke of Valois household.
Leon picked up the documents. His expression hardened as he read them. His eyes moved rapidly. She saw him scan the documents from beginning to end and then return to the first page. He was reading them one more time. Meticulously.
Leon said.
"30 percent of the income for five years."
Vid said.
"I think that is a reasonable condition considering it is full support."
Leon said.
"I don't know where you got the standard for reasonable. 30 percent of income for five years is a substantial amount. To what extent will the Golden Lion Merchant Guild be involved in the operation of the hot springs during that period?"
Vid looked at Leon.
"Given the investment, wouldn't we have the right to verify it? At least the income records."
Leon said.
"Wouldn't you be intervening in the overall operation of the hot springs under the pretext of verifying income records?"
Vid said with a smile.
"That seems like an overinterpretation."
"I would need to examine the contract more closely to know if it is an overinterpretation or not."
Leon said as he put down the documents.
"At the very least, it would be difficult to accept these conditions as they are."
Vid looked at Leon. His gaze remained calm. It seemed he had anticipated Leon's reaction.
Martha stared intently at Leon. What is wrong with him? Why is he making such a fuss about whether to accept or reject my hot spring? He's crossing the line.
Vid said.
"If the Duke of Ashford can offer better terms, you can choose them."
Leon said.
"The Duke of Valois's issue will be decided by the Duke of Valois."
Vid said.
"That is the right thing to do."
"That is why I am speaking to Princess Valois right now."
Vid looked at Martha. His gaze was one of settling the power struggle with Leon and focusing on Martha. Martha took a sip of tea while receiving that look. They are more enthusiastic than I am about my land. Thinking this to herself, she looked at the documents.
Martha said.
"I will review the conditions. Please leave the documents you brought today here. I will review them and contact you."
Vid's eyes seemed to be trying to read something. Martha calmly drank her tea while receiving that gaze. Vid said.
"We don't have much time. The sooner the hot springs are developed, the better, and there will be a point when funds are needed."
Martha said.
"I know. I will review it quickly."
"I have just received the documents, so please do not rush me."
Vid looked at Martha for a moment, then nodded.
"I will wait."
Vid Kreuz and the Vice-CEO left. The sound of the reception room door closing could be heard. The sound of a carriage was gradually fading away. It was the sound of the carriage passing the main gate of the Valois estate and heading toward the Imperial Palace Street.
Martha waited until the sound had completely disappeared before setting down her teacup. Only Martha and Leon remained in the reception room. Lucy and Siegfried were outside the door. The reception room was quiet. It felt as if the air that had been tightly packed just moments ago had escaped.
The seat where Vid Kreuz had been was empty. A document lay there. Leon picked up the document again. As he read it, his expression hardened slightly. His eyes moved rapidly. She could see him scanning the document from beginning to end and then returning to the first page. Meticulously.
As Leon placed the document down on the table, he said.
"These are unacceptable conditions."
His voice was low and firm. It carried the nuance that there was no room for further review. Martha said.
"I know."
"Then."
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze was asking something. That he was asking why she had told Vid Kreuz to leave the documents today if she already knew. Sensing the atmosphere, Martha spoke up.
"But.."
She said, picking up her teacup. The tea had cooled. Martha took a sip, unconcerned.
"I think there is a way to get back at them with this money."
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze had changed. The resolute look paused for a moment. Martha picked up the documents and continued.
"It says 30 percent of the income for five years. But what exactly constitutes income is important here."
Leon said.
"It is written in the documents based on total income"
"Total income. Then how about we do this?"
Martha said, putting the documents down.
"We propose the conditions in reverse."
"Let's reduce the 30 percent over five years to 80 percent over one year."
Leon looked at Martha.
"80 percent?"
"Yes. If you just look at the numbers, it looks like they're taking more. Since it went from five years to one, the duration has shortened, but the percentage has gone up."
Martha said with a grin.
"But here, we're setting the hot spring admission fee to be practically free."
Leon paused. Martha explained.
"Since there is almost no admission fee, the total revenue itself is very small. Even if we give them 80 percent, it amounts to very little. There is almost no actual money going back to them, and the hot spring was already built entirely with their money."
Leon looked at Martha while looking at the documents.
"Then where does the actual profit come from?"
Martha said.
"It comes from somewhere other than admission fees. Like herbal hot spring packages, private rooms, or food. We just need to limit the definition of 'total revenue' in the contract to only the hot spring admission fee income."
"Other incidental income is calculated separately. And honestly, since we received the herb supply payment in advance, it doesn't matter if we just hold out for a year on that. We can start collecting admission fees once the contract with the Golden Lion Merchant Guild ends."
Leon accepted her suggestion for a moment, then spoke.
"What if they catch on?"
"We're luring them into signing by the 80 percent figure. Once they sign the contract, it's difficult to take issue with the specific clauses later."
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze held a mixture of emotions.
"Still, they might claim something is suspicious later."
Martha said.
"In that case, there is a second method."
Martha pointed to a section of the document.
"It is this very clause."
Leon looked at that part. It was written in small print. It was located in a position that was not easily noticeable compared to the other clauses.
"If either party to the contract is subject to sanctions by the Imperial Family for illegal acts, the contract shall be immediately null and void."
Leon looked at that sentence. Then he looked at Martha. Martha said.
"If the Golden Lion Merchant Guild is sanctioned by the Imperial Family, this contract will automatically become null and void. It is a clause they inserted themselves, but we can use it to our advantage. We have evidence that they embezzled the estate's income, don't we? If we systematically organize that and submit it to the Imperial Family."
Leon thought for a moment and said.
"Submitting it to the Imperial Family is not an easy task. It is a merchant guild connected to Her Majesty the Empress."
"That is why timing is crucial. We will submit the perfectly prepared evidence directly to His Majesty the Emperor at the moment the hot spring is completed. The contract will be null and void, and the hot spring, already built, will remain the property of the Duke of Valois."
The reception room remained silent for a long time. It took Leon time to accept those words. He looked at the documents, then at Martha, then back at the documents. His gaze was one of calculation. They were weighing whether this plan was actually feasible and where loopholes might arise.
After a while, Leon spoke.
"...It's a scary idea."
Martha said.
"I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat by nature."
Leon looked at Martha.
"It's a dangerous plan. They must not notice while the hot springs are being built. The moment they realize the admission fee is ridiculously low, they could renegotiate the contract terms."
Martha said.
"It's no use arguing after the contract is signed. We are fulfilling exactly what is specified in the contract."
Leon thought for a moment and said.
"What about them finding out the internal details of the hot springs? If they come to check the revenue records, they will figure out the internal structure."
Martha thought for a moment as she listened. Then she said.
"Well, I don't think that matters anyway. Honestly, the showers and the way the hot springs are operated these are things I hope will eventually become commonplace anyway. I'm just building them in advance right now; they are all things that will eventually come out."
Leon looked at Martha. "You mean you prepared something that would come out later in advance? How do you know that?"
Martha said.
"You learn as you live."
Leon looked as though he could not accept those words. Martha continued.
"And also, commoners, not just nobles, have the right to always be clean. I think it is fine for hot spring know-how to be revealed. In fact, that is the right thing to do."
Leon looked at Martha. Something flashed in his eyes. Martha received that gaze while organizing her documents.
"I need to talk to my father and the Duke first. It is not something I can decide alone."
Leon said.
"I agree."
Then, looking at Martha for a moment, he spoke.
"My Lady. Since when have you been thinking like that?"
Martha said, holding up her documents.
"When Vid Kreuz was discussing the conditions."
Leon said.
"Right there?"
"Yes."
"Without changing your expression at all."
"Because there was no need to change it. Why is an expression necessary when thinking?"
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze had changed again from before. It was not the sharp, wary look he had had when he first entered the drawing room. It was the look of someone constantly discovering something new. It was a look that paused briefly every time he made a discovery.
Martha pondered what that look meant, then simply picked up the documents and stood up.
"I must go see my father."
Leon remained silent. As Martha left the drawing room, she said.
"Thank you for today, Young Master. For not being pushed back by Vid Kreuz."
Leon froze for a moment upon hearing this, then spoke.
"It's not that I wasn't pushed back, but that I wasn't pushed back. Ashford never loses."
Martha said as she walked away.
"Isn't that the same thing?"
Leon said.
"It is different."
Martha let out a smirk and walked out into the hallway. Leon watched her retreating figure. The door closed. Leon was left alone in the drawing room. The Golden Lion Merchant Guild documents lay on the table. Leon looked at them, then looked back at the closed door.
Siegfried spoke quietly from outside the door.
"Young Master, the carriage is ready."
Leon said.
"...Yes."
But Leon did not move immediately. Siegfried remained silent. Leon gazed out the window for a moment before turning his head. A short while later, Leon picked up some documents and left the drawing room.
Lucy was waiting in the hallway of Martha's room. It appeared she had been in front of the drawing room, seen Duke Kreuz off, and then come here to wait.
Lucy looked at Martha and said.
"What happened?"
Martha said as she walked.
"Something came up that I need to think about."
Lucy said as she followed.
"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
Martha thought for a moment and said.
"It seems good, but it's dangerous. It's not confirmed yet."
"Then what about it?"
"I have to talk to Father."
Lucy said as she followed.
"My Princess."
"Why?"
"You were incredibly quiet in the drawing room today. While Duke Vid and Prince Leon were having a power struggle."
Martha said as she walked.
"They're handling it themselves, so what was I supposed to do?"
Lucy said.
"Weren't you scared? Duke Vid Kreuz."
Martha paused for a moment, then continued walking and said.
"It's scary."
"Then."
"But I think I was scarier to him."
Martha said.
"He wanted to figure me out, but I must have been unpredictable. And that Duke isn't scary at all. As you live, you become numb to fear."
Lucy said, taking out her notebook to write it down.
'As You Live, Part 1.'
Martha let out a smirk.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal Episode 34]
The Golden Lion Merchant Guild arrived today.
Shock No. 1. Duke Vid Kreuz arrived. He is said to be the older brother of Empress Isadora. His gaze was sharp. As soon as he entered, a battle of wits began with Prince Leon. The Princess was quietly drinking tea in the midst of it all. When I asked her about it later, she said, "They handle it themselves, so what is there for me to do?"
Shock No. 2: Duke Vid Kreuz said he would provide the entire fund for the hot spring development on the condition that he give 30 percent of the income for five years. Prince Leon said the conditions were not reasonable. Duke Vid said it was a problem with the Duchy of Valois.
Shock No. 3. After Duke Vid left, the Princess suggested a counter-proposal to Prince Leon to reduce the income to 80 percent for one year and to screw him over by setting the admission fee to almost free. Prince Leon said, "That is a scary idea."
Shock No. 4. The hot spring know-how over there. Regarding the matter of learning, the Princess said, "Commoners, not just nobles, have the right to be clean. It is fine to share the know-how of the hot springs." Upon hearing this, Prince Leon gave a strange look.
Shock No. 5: Prince Leon remained alone in the drawing room, watching the closed door. Mr. Siegfried had said the carriage was ready, but he didn't come out immediately. He finally appeared later, grinning.
Today, the Princess said, "As you live, you become numb to fear." That remark strangely weighed on my mind.
Just how long has the Princess lived?
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment