Chapter 22………………………………………….
“The next dish here is soft tofu soup. It’s much softer than the tofu used in the tofu steak, but made from the same ingredients. It’s a little spicy, but that flavor is unique, and I’m sure you’ll keep going back for more.”
Listening to Ariana’s explanation, Schwaben scooped the reddish tofu soup with his spoon and tasted it.
He praised the flavor, visibly impressed.
“I thought it was odd—red like tomato soup, yet not tomato soup—but the umami is incredible.”
As Ariana had guessed, Schwaben had been so busy with work that he hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time.
As a high-ranking noble, he couldn’t publicly admit that he ate carelessly, either.
But now, to eat like this, in such a leisurely atmosphere…
Even that would have been enough to make him happy.
But on top of that, a cute granddaughter had thoughtfully prepared a top-tier meal just for him.
For the first time in his life, Schwaben truly understood the meaning of the word “filial piety.”
“I never thought I’d become a connoisseur of food. Humans really do live long enough to see anything.”
“Grandfather, I’ve been cooking diligently since last night. Do you like it?”
“Like it? Of course! Amazing work, Ariana. Where on earth do you come up with all these creative ideas? You must have worked hard.”
Ariana lowered her head humbly, even in the face of Schwaben’s praise.
Don’t underestimate a reincarnated romance-fantasy protagonist, grandfather.
Even so, her ambitious thoughts continued to churn in her mind.
Around the time of my coming-of-age ceremony, an economic crisis will hit the continent. I’ll use that as an opportunity to systematically edge out the competition for the Berkshire succession.
The first chance for Ariana would be the tulip bubble she had already planned.
Making billions is only the beginning. To win the Berkshire succession, mere charm or cuteness toward the powerful won’t be enough.
Seed money was just the starting point.
Next, she planned to use information from the original story to invest and multiply her capital dozens or even hundreds of times as quickly as possible.
She would secure trillions in cash before the economic crisis struck.
That would become a powerful card to pressure Schwaben when the recession hit.
Ariana’s first target would be the shipbuilding company her grandfather obsessed over.
Even though it was running at a loss, Schwaben didn’t liquidate it and kept investing.
The reason is that grandfather’s dream was the discovery of a new continent.
The Papal State had declared that a family discovering a new continent would receive 20% of the profits from the land. Naturally, the Papal State would keep 10% for itself.
Schwaben had even positioned himself as a godparent to the saintess, lobbying the Papal State sincerely.
Discovering a new continent had been a long-held dream of Schwaben’s since childhood.
Even the seemingly charitable donations—astronomical sums to the Papal State every year—were investments in his mind.
Grandfather believed that only the Berkshire family could build ships capable of withstanding attacks from sea monsters.
Only a family with enough money, technological skill, and talented people to continue investing like this could achieve it, he thought.
Thus, grandfather’s ultimate dream was to name the newly discovered continent after himself.
However, according to the original story, the new continent was actually discovered by a minor border noble named Colombusch.
Ah, the author’s sense of naming…
Normally, it would have been Perez who recognized Colombusch’s talent and invested. But this time, I’ll be the one to find him first and invest.
The 20% royalty from discovering a new continent was tempting.
Yet Ariana already knew which area of the continent Colombusch would discover might gush oil.
I only need that land. I don’t care if the continent is named after my grandfather. Honor doesn’t interest me; only profit matters. I’ll be the first investor in Colombusch’s discovery and become an oil tycoon. Even before my coming-of-age ceremony, that would prove my capabilities.
For Schwaben, discovering a new continent was both the last exciting dream he wanted to achieve before death and a hope that had helped him endure a bleak childhood.
It also served as material in his frequent pride battles with his only rival, Grand Duke Bannerbelt.
Currently, Schwaben’s second son, Günter, was considered the most likely Berkshire successor.
The fact that Schwaben entrusted him with the shipbuilding company shows he is practically confirmed as Berkshire’s heir. After inheriting the shipbuilding company, Günter’s stake became 8%. But in the original story, the head of the Berkshire family would be Hamilax, not Günter.
Hamilax was the father of Dandolo, who had pushed Ariana into the fountain, and also the husband of Raullet, who killed her mother.
In reality, it’s not Hamilax but a succession battle with Raullet. Hamilax is easily swayed by Raullet’s words, and since Raullet killed my mother, I’ll make sure she suffers the most.
Hamilax currently inherited 2.7% of Berkshire’s shares.
He owns an advertising company and controls newspapers and media freely.
Since Hamilax is essentially a walking Berkshire advertiser, the arts sector is mostly dominated by Schwaben’s third son.
Summarizing Berkshire’s share distribution:
Grandfather: 87%, Father (owns military company): 1%, Günter: 8%, Hamilax: 2.7%, youngest daughter Arpe (recently came-of-age): 1.3%
Relying solely on Schwaben’s favor was risky.
Ariana followed all the typical strategies a protagonist in a parenting/family-focused story might use, but her fundamental personality wasn’t similar.
Of course, even I admit I’m cute, my father and brothers are handsome, and yes, like a parenting-story cliché, my mother is dead… I sometimes half-wished I had been reincarnated into a parenting story. But… in the end, I can’t be a cutesy, affectionate child like in those stories.
It was simply her innate temperament.
Ariana had been a noblewoman for four months already.
She could meet her grandfather regularly at lunch, paid for by his maintenance allowance, and seemed to have grown quite close to him.
But she hadn’t once seen her father or brothers since the title ceremony.
Not even once.
My genre isn’t a parenting story.
There is no such thing as a parenting-story protagonist obsessed with making money.
Ariana lowered her head and ate the tofu steak she had made.
Though she cooked it herself, it was certainly high-quality.
“Grandfather, I have a question.”
“Ask anything.”
“How old was Aunt Arpe when she got engaged to her husband?”
Arpe, Schwaben’s youngest daughter, had recently had her coming-of-age ceremony.
Schwaben seemed intrigued by Ariana’s unexpected question.
“Hmm. She was formally engaged at 18, but got to choose at age eight, during her birthday ball. She picked your uncle, Helli, as the most handsome among many candidates.”
Ariana had seen Arpe and Helli at the title ceremony.
Judging by how Arpe had often blushed around Helli, it seemed she genuinely liked his looks.
“…But Father is more handsome. Did Aunt really think her uncle was more handsome even though Father was older?”
Ariana’s words slipped out unconsciously. Schwaben laughed, sipping his soup.
“Helli wasn’t so bad when he was young either.”
In truth, Ariana’s real concern was elsewhere.
The creditor who hadn’t appeared despite her not being repaid for four months—Perez.
