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"But if the perfume becomes feasible… would you consider doing this business?"
"Yes. I’d like to propose it to my father and brothers. But…"
Ariette looked slightly embarrassed as she spoke.
"I feel like simply suggesting it would come across as too childish. I want to write up a business plan, but I honestly have no idea how to go about it… I know it’s bold of me to ask, but… would you be willing to teach me how to write one?"
"…Have you ever taken any business or management classes before, Lady?"
Ariette shook her head. Then, with a serious expression, Lenard said.
"If that’s the case, it would be too difficult for you to draft one on your own. To write a proposal that’s persuasive, target customer base, current market analysis, projected profits, you’d need to have studied business for several years."
"Then… what should I say to my father and brothers? I’d like to present the idea more clearly than the way I just explained it to you two…"
"You don’t have to force yourself to write anything right away. It’s not too late to do that after we’ve gathered more information. For now, why not start by learning the basics of business? I’m sure the Duke’s library has some introductory books on management."
"Yes, I think I’ve seen a few books like that."
"Then start with those. And if there’s anything you don’t understand, send a letter to Letticia. I’ll do my best to answer within the scope of what I know."
Letticia’s eyebrow twitched at this unexpectedly kind offer. She hadn’t seen Lenard interact much with other women, but still, this felt a bit too generous for just treating someone like a client.
But pointing that out here would be awkward, so Letticia chose to ignore it and offered an alternative to writing letters.
"Why not just give us your communication sphere code instead? It’s quicker and more convenient than sending letters."
"The communication sphere?"
Ariette was clearly surprised, it hadn’t even crossed her mind. But soon, she nodded enthusiastically.
"This is actually my first time exchanging codes with anyone outside of my family. Not many people have their own personal communication spheres…"
"They’ve gotten cheaper than before, but they still cost about as much as a carriage. I still mostly use letters with acquaintances from society."
"…A communication sphere costs as much as a carriage…?"
Ariette had the expression of someone who had just learned something completely new. Considering that she had purchased hers back when they had just started being produced, she probably guessed that it must have been even more expensive at the time.
"Here, this is my code. Would you share yours too, Lady Ariette?"
"Oh, yes. My code is…"
Snapped back to attention by Letticia’s voice, Ariette recited her code. While Letticia entered it into her device and confirmed the connection, Ariette stole a side glance at Lenard. Then she shut her eyes tightly for a second before opening them again and asked him.
"Um… Lord Sharon! If it’s alright with you, could I have your code as well?"
"…My code?"
There was a hint of surprise in Lenard’s voice as he repeated the question.
"Yes. I feel bad always going through Lady Sharon to ask you things. I thought it might be better to ask you directly… Since I’m not a debutante anymore, there shouldn’t be a problem with me contacting you directly."
"……"
Lenard looked at Ariette in silence, as if lost in thought. His prolonged pause made Ariette's expression gradually darken.
"Is… is it not okay after all…?"
"…Please just keep it a secret from the Duke and your brothers."
Perhaps her face looked so pitiful, like a crying bunny or a helpless chick, that it moved something in Lenard’s heart. With a faint sigh, he relented and gave her his code.
It was only a short string of letters and numbers, but to Ariette, it felt like her whole world had cleared up, from gloomy, overcast skies to a bright, cloudless day.
"Thank you so much, Lord Sharon! I’ll be careful not to bother you too often."
"If possible, try to contact me when you're alone and have dismissed the servants. I’ll also try to make sure Letticia is present whenever I receive your messages."
"Okay!"
After exchanging codes with both of them, Ariette looked absolutely delighted, unlike Letticia, who was clearly forcing herself not to frown as she looked back and forth between Lenard and Ariette.
"Brother, are you really going to stay in contact with Lady Averil?"
Once Ariette left, Letticia followed Lenard to his study and closed the door behind her before asking.
Lenard, who had been inputting Ariette’s code into his communication sphere, responded calmly.
"Like she said, Lady Averil isn’t a debutante anymore, she’s a civil official now. So staying in contact won’t be a scandal. If it gets out, it’ll just become gossip. But in that case, it’s not the public I’d be worried about, it’s her family."
"That’s what I’m saying! What if someone from her house shows up with a sword to take your head off?!"
"Well, then should I meet them with a polo stick? Or maybe a hunting rifle?"
"Go with the rifle. You’re tall, but your hand-to-hand combat sucks. You’d be better off just shooting."
Even in this situation, the siblings casually joked with each other. Truly, both brother and sister were bold in their own ways.
"I already warned the Lady to be cautious, and if I make sure you’re present during the calls, even if her family storms in, it’ll be fine. If it comes down to it, I’ll just say you had stepped out and I was alone."
"Fair enough. But why are you so eager to keep in touch with her anyway? Do you really think that business idea is worth it?"
"Yes. It fits perfectly with something I’ve been planning."
"A plan?"
"Yeah. Just like how Canotia made gemstone dresses, creating synergy with other products could be a very effective strategy. I was already considering a project themed around birthstones, but Lady Averil’s idea is way better. If we’re lucky, it could turn into a new long-term bestseller."
Lenard’s tone picked up with excitement, as if he could already see the blueprint forming in his mind.
Clearly, Ariette’s idea was compelling enough for the usually work-strict Lenard to give out his personal contact code.
'So this might actually be a successful idea… I’d better get a piece of it too.'
Letticia grinned as she watched Lenard sit at his desk, eagerly jotting down notes, and then asked.
"But to even know if it’s technically possible, we’ll need to ask the Magic Tower, right? And if someone’s already researching it, could we invest in them?"
"It’s possible… Wait, are you thinking of investing?"
Lenard’s expression turned sharp, suspecting she might be planning a repeat of some stunt from five years ago. But Letticia responded shamelessly on purpose.
"Depends on the amount. Like Lady Averil said, a lot of people like fruity scents. You could even apply it to food. If the tech gets developed, investing early could lead to a big return."
"I’ll confirm the minimum investment amount first, but make sure to consult with me before making any decisions. And if you even think of selling a building to invest, I'm telling Father to give your entire dowry to Lenny."
"No way I’d go that far!"
Letticia had yet to regain the trust she lost due to a past investment failure.
Not that she could admit it was based on knowledge from the original novel, so instead of arguing with her brother, she simply returned to her room.
Thanks to that, she missed seeing Lenard pause his note-taking, wearing a conflicted expression as he stared at his communication sphere.
***
It was the final day of the spring season. The most anticipated event for debutantes was the Founding Festival Ball held at the Imperial Palace.
Since this was also the time when emissaries from various countries visited the Empire, the ball was unlike those held just for debutantes, it was known for inviting only nobles deemed worthy of representing the Empire on an international stage.
For debutantes who had found a potential match, this was crucial for establishing their future standing. And for those who hadn’t, it was the perfect opportunity to identify eligible suitors before the autumn visiting season began.
Letticia, too, stood in front of the carriage, dressed in a gown and adorned in jewelry she had carefully selected for this final ball of the season.
She wore a light blue off-shoulder dress decorated with lace around the bodice. Her hair was swept to one side, revealing her neckline, which was graced by a necklace strung with green garnets and diamonds. Several strands of deep sapphire chains were wrapped around her waist, acting as an eye-catching accent.
Waiting to escort her, Ezkhiel stared in awe at his beautifully dressed lover, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Ez, how do I look? I wore this green garnet necklace to match you."
"…You look absolutely stunning, Letty. But…"
His face, which had briefly lit up with a blush, soon clouded with concern.
Letticia noticed the shift and was about to ask what was wrong, when Lenard, already inside the carriage, interrupted.
"Hey, you two, get in already. What are you doing just standing there?"
"Okay, okay, I’m coming. You’re so impatient, honestly."
Grumbling, Letticia took Ezkhiel’s arm and climbed into the carriage.
Since Count and Countess Sharon were riding in a separate carriage, only three people were aboard this one: Letticia, Lenard, and Ezkhiel.
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1 Comments
ohhhh im seeing a ship. anyone else seeing it?
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