Chapter 127…………………………
“What’s the matter, Cecil?”
Compared to the anxious-looking Cecil, I answered her with a calm, composed tone.
“You requested to purchase magic stones from the Lucibius Mine, right? That’s why, as the owner of the mine, I’m meeting you personally.”
But Cecil shouted back.
“I said it was the royal family who requested it! Not you, Edel Wallace!”
“Lucibius.”
“Ah.”
“My last name is now Lucibius. If you want the magic stones from my mine, keep that in mind.”
“…I-I understand.”
Cecil seemed displeased, but perhaps intimidated by my presence, she relented.
Yesterday, Terrence had informed me that Cecil had asked the royal family to purchase the magic stones.
“As you know, most of those who want the stones are busy writing letters to you.”
“That’s inevitable. Through the contract, the share taken by the royal family is only partial, and they’re busy using it themselves.”
“Exactly. The other requests for magic stones went to a few places, all of which were families or groups close to the royal family. Only the Iver Guild was an exception.”
“The Iver Guild?”
“Though the name on the documents was different, seeing that the representative was Cecil Iver, they probably just changed the name.”
“Of course. The Iver Guild officially disbanded last time. They couldn’t keep using the same name forever.”
However, even if a guild disbands, its members do not simply vanish.
Moreover, the Iver Guild was a group tightly bound under a trusted leader, Cecil.
In a way, it would be stranger if they had all scattered at once.
‘But Riena abandoned them.’
Even now, the royal family closely monitors Cassius’ movements, and that much was certain.
From Riena’s perspective, maintaining ties with former Iver Guild members offered no advantage.
Since Elliot had taken responsibility as the instigator, only he and a few of his direct subordinates were caught as criminals…
‘And even the remaining members aren’t likely to be viewed favorably by the public.’
If Riena tried business again, it would be better to build a new, unblemished guild than to rely on the employees of the Iver Guild.
Thus, Cecil and her subordinates were in a helpless position.
No matter how highly respected Cecil was, it wasn’t easy to go against her in the current situation.
For Riena, who had lost her financial backing and been ignored by previous clients, the only lifeline was high-grade magic stones.
If she could produce artifacts using top-grade magic stones as materials, money would flow in, if not as much as before.
But Cecil made a mistake.
“I understand your situation roughly enough.”
I looked into Cecil’s trembling eyes and spoke.
“But you should have requested it from me, not the royal family. That way, your chance of getting the stones would have been much higher.”
“….”
“Still, since we aren’t strangers, I’ll give you a special opportunity. Submit a formal request to me now, and I’ll review it positively.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“I don’t understand. Why not?”
“I said no. Please let me go.”
“Oh, I happen to have a top-grade magic stone with me. Shall I show you? It’s truly beautiful.”
I ignored Cecil’s curt tone and continued speaking.
But the content of my words wasn’t really important.
From the start, I had been deliberately provoking Cecil while carefully observing her eyes.
No notable reaction. That meant my blessing wasn’t working yet.
‘So the content of the conversation matters too.’
It seemed my blessing only took effect when the other person was somewhat persuaded by my words.
Come to think of it, even Duke Cassius, Elliot, and Roland Cassius had shown changes in behavior after conversing with me or reflecting on it afterward.
Duke Cassius read his wife’s letter from the time capsule; Elliot frequently met with Count Miloam and realized how much he had changed from the past.
Roland had no such defining moment, but I repeatedly pointed out to him that his actions didn’t show true love for his granddaughter.
It was then.
“Enough already!”
Cecil finally exploded at my provocation and slammed the table between us.
“I know! I know that requesting from you would increase the chances of getting the stones!”
“…Then why didn’t you request it?”
“How could I? You’re the one who repaid Riena’s kindness with treachery!”
Finally, her true feelings surfaced.
“Riena treated you well, and yet you manipulated Tara behind her back! Elliot was right.”
Cecil glared at me, huffing.
“Our guild collapsed due to your and the Second Prince’s scheming, and we were even abandoned by the lady herself. I refuse to bow to you, even if not to the royal family!”
In the past, I would have tried to refute her harsh words, but I now knew it was pointless.
Would words work on someone who had grown fanatically devoted to Riena due to my blessing?
The important thing was to make them reflect on themselves.
“You have no sense of responsibility,”
With that single statement, Cecil’s rapid-fire speech came to an abrupt halt.
“Are you really fit to lead a guild?”
“W-What…?”
“Think carefully. Who should you prioritize? Yourself, or Riena, who abandoned the Iver Guild and your subordinates?”
Cecil’s eyes widened.
“If you truly wanted to revive the guild and protect their livelihoods, shouldn’t you set aside your pride and loyalty to your former mistress?”
“You… don’t know anything to say that…”
“True, I don’t know much about you. But I do know that Cecil Iver deeply cared for her subordinates, and they, in turn, stayed with the nearly bankrupt guild out of loyalty.”
It wasn’t just Riena’s financial power or knowledge of the future that resurrected the failing Iver Guild.
Beside Cecil were employees who trusted her and worked hard—just as Edel had done in her previous life.
“….”
Cecil lowered her head, lips tightly sealed, but it was clear she was shaken.
“The master’s divine power is gradually spreading through the author’s body.”
My intuition proved correct; even the divine beast in my handbag communicated this to me mentally.
“But it’s still insufficient. The woman’s divine power remains too strong within the author… Ah, she’s trying to resist the master’s divine power!”
Cecil suddenly grimaced as if in pain and cast a resentful glance at me.
“Trying to sway me like that…!”
Perhaps it was time to play my secret card.
I focused my energy in my lower abdomen and shouted with all my strength.
“Snap out of it! You human!”
Startled by my sudden shout, Cecil paused briefly, and then the door burst open with a crash.
“Ar-are you alright, Master!”
“What on earth is going on!”
Cecil opened her mouth in panic as two people rushed in.
“…You two. I told you to wait outside quietly. Do you know where this is?”
They were Cecil’s subordinates, who had followed her here today and had been waiting outside.
They protested indignantly.
“How could we wait quietly when we were worried!”
“Inside, the master was shouting loudly and then suddenly went silent. We thought something happened!”
At that moment, Vineta entered and bowed to me.
“I apologize. I tried to keep them out, but they resisted too strongly…”
I told Vineta it was fine, then approached Cecil.
“These people care about you enough to risk disturbing a meeting arranged by the prince. Consider yourself lucky.”
No further words were needed.
Cecil looked at her subordinates, who only worried about her safety, realizing who she truly needed to protect.
Cecil asked for time to discuss with her subordinates.
I didn’t know what was said, but shortly after, she prostrated herself before me.
“I’m sorry! I spoke recklessly to you, Count Lucibius!”
She begged with desperate sincerity.
“I’ll accept any punishment! But please, give our guild one more chance! I’ll leave the guild and never return. It’s no longer my concern!”
I quickly helped her to her feet.
Cecil’s eyes, as she faced me, were clearer than before.
“You don’t have to leave. In fact, don’t leave.”
“Huh?”
“The strength of the Iver Guild lies in the bond between you and your employees. You cannot leave.”
“So you mean…”
“Submit a formal purchase request to me. I promise. No discrimination due to past incidents; it will be judged fairly like everyone else.”
A light of joy spread across Cecil’s face.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“You called me ungrateful earlier, right?”
“I… I don’t even know how to apologize properly…”
“I’m not blaming you. I’m suggesting that you experience and judge me directly from now on.”
“Judge?”
“You’ve never experienced me firsthand. That’s something you must judge for yourself.”
Cecil looked somewhat shocked.
She seemed surprised that she had never considered this simple principle before.
Biting her lips, she nodded.
“Yes! I swear on my merchant’s honor!”
I requested to meet the other guild members individually as well.
Cecil seemed curious about my intentions but silently invited me to the Iver Guild.
‘I like that she isn’t interrogating me about every little detail.’
Upon arriving at the Iver Guild, I picked out employees with particularly dull expressions and held enjoyable interviews while testing my blessings to the fullest.
Hours later, in the carriage leaving the Iver Guild, Vineta asked me:
“Was my acting too awkward?”
“Oh, when Cecil’s subordinates barged in?”
“Yes. I had no choice but to pretend to let them in, but I wonder if it seemed natural.”
“You timed it perfectly with my signal! It was excellent!”
“But Edel, how did you know they would act so recklessly?”
“The Iver Guild employees are famously loyal. So if they’re in a place where they can hear conversations in the room, it was only natural for them to act that way.”
I smiled contentedly. A little stagecraft was necessary for dramatic impact.
