121. No, You Can’t Catch “Business Fever”!
“A jewelry brand launch?”
Seraphine looked at me in disbelief when she heard my ambitious business plan.
“It’s not just ordinary jewelry. This will be a masterpiece that shakes up the stagnant jewelry market. Can’t you already see the signs of a hit?”
My ambitious business plan was simple: start a jewelry business using the weapons store I acquired from Count Vermon.
“Hmmm… well.”
But Seraphine, surprisingly, was cautious. I had expected her—being favorable toward me—to immediately respond enthusiastically.
After a moment of thought, she asked carefully:
“But why expand your business? Isn’t the weapons store doing well as it is?”
“That’s true. But there’s no guarantee it will stay that way forever.”
“No guarantee?”
“Count Vermon’s weapons store grew explosively during the previous emperor’s conquest wars. But now, we live in a time of peace.”
Currently, the weapons store no longer supplies wartime materials but delivers arms to places that own knights and mercenaries, like the royal family or dukes.
“Domestic demand for weapons hasn’t been the same since the war ended.”
“So?”
“Count Vermon tried to open overseas markets to find new demand, but some variables came up.”
“Variables? I assume it’s still the magic stone supply issue?”
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, raw material supplies decreased, making market expansion nearly impossible.
“But couldn’t the shortage of magic stones be made up through trade with the Kingdom of Pyron…?”
“There’s always a ‘just in case.’”
Seraphine tilted her head, curious, but I couldn’t spoil more of the original story.
“In any case, I plan to diversify my business. Instead of supporting warfare with magical items, I’ll produce things for everyday use.”
“So that’s why you’re starting a new venture.”
When I had previously dismantled Count Vermon’s self-defense magical tools, I thought, What a waste.
Tools that could be useful for self-defense or daily life were only being used for killing.
“I’m not planning to scale up immediately. I’ll start with limited quantities and sell in small amounts.”
Magic stones are expensive and delicate to craft. The plan was to create high-end jewelry aimed at those who could afford it.
Unique jewelry, one of a kind.
And, of course, I had maxed luck. If I pushed things with sheer fortune, couldn’t anything work?
“Did the young marquis approve of this?”
“Of course. If I tried to do it secretly, my brother would surely turn around and come running to the ducal residence.”
“I suppose….”
Seraphine nodded. She had once faced restrictions on entering the ducal household due to Ecart’s peculiar rules. I had specifically gotten his consent through a letter:
“Do as you please.”
A reply so cool it was practically cold.
I wonder if Ecart is doing well. He must be busy adapting to the new environment.
Not long after I returned from Garrett’s estate, he had suddenly left the ducal residence.
On his right was Philip, on his left Count Vermon.
I could still clearly see him squabbling with Count Vermon at the very last moment before the carriage departed.
[Why is the count sitting next to me?]
[Allow me to watch from the side. If you leave my sight even briefly, I’d worry myself to death.]
[…Do you want me to kick you again?]
[If you kick me yourself, anytime. Even your kick would be a gift to me.]
[Just go away.]
I hope he made it through all right.
Our cash cow… no, our asset. Good luck to him.
“Are you really sure this is okay?”
“Don’t worry.”
Seraphine’s concern hadn’t completely vanished, but the only way to know the result was to try.
I handed her the prototype from the box.
“While we’re at it, I’ll give this to you as a gift, my lady. Keep it safe for me.”
Time passed quickly, and finally, the morning of the hunting festival arrived.
In the height of summer, the blazing sun radiated intense heat, but martial artists were ready to display their vitality in a tournament.
This has nothing to do with me, who’s a million light-years away from martial arts.
Once again, an invitation arrived from the royal family.
Is this what it means to live as an extrovert?
Or is it the fate of a possessed person who cannot refuse events from the original story?
Since the hunting festival was the second episode of the original story, I was traveling to Korn Village near the capital.
The original heroine, Seraphine, was in the carriage with me.
“My lady, look! Finally, the forest road.”
She was mesmerized by the exotic scenery outside the window. Unlike the bustling capital, Korn Village, surrounded by forests, gave off a mysterious vibe.
Exclaiming repeatedly, she suddenly turned to me.
“It’s raining outside.”
Just as the sky was clouding over, fine raindrops splashed against the carriage window as we entered the village.
“Did you know? Half the year in Korn Village sees rain.”
“If the rain cools things down, it might even make the hunting festival more enjoyable.”
Outside, the procession of carriages for the attending nobles was visible. The festival took place in the forest near Korn Village, one of the emperor’s private estates.
Tall trees stretched so high that they blocked the sky, creating an enormous, dark forest path.
Passing through it, a massive outdoor arena with spectator stands appeared.
That must be today’s stage.
The carriage slowed as we approached. As I prepared to get off, a system window appeared before my eyes.
Ding!
【SYSTEM: You have entered the event area for Episode 2.】
[Episode 2: “The Hunting Festival and the Owner of the Treasure” begins.]
[Restrictions on actions toward the villainess Roselia are now in effect.]
Finally, it was here.
“My lady? What’s wrong?”
I froze while stepping out of the carriage. Seraphine tilted her head, puzzled.
Sorry in advance, Lady Seraphine.
From now on, I would act according to the original story’s narrative, not my own will.
At the outdoor arena in front of the hunting grounds, nobles began stepping out of their carriages one by one.
“You thief! How dare you touch my necklace?”
A sharp voice pierced the peaceful forest.
Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to the source of the commotion.
“Uh, um… my lady, what are you talking about? This was a gift from you.”
The incident started with the necklace Seraphine was wearing.
A necklace adorned with rubies and pearls looked expensive even at a glance.
Roselia screamed that Seraphine had stolen it, leaving Seraphine flustered.
Even Roselia herself was a bit embarrassed, but…
So this is how the buildup goes now.
That necklace had been a gift from Roselia to Seraphine.
She gave it willingly, and now she’s accusing her of theft.
It was like a completely different personality.
Though I felt sorry for Seraphine, suddenly slapped in the middle of the night, I could understand the original story’s intention.
They probably want to portray the poor heroine being tormented by the villainess.
Some nobles gathered nearby, ready to play their part.
“What’s going on? Who stole what?”
“Seems like they’re fighting over a necklace…”
“Is it that Roselia girl again? I thought she’d been quiet lately.”
The crowd whispered, but Roselia didn’t care.
“Now you’re lying too?”
Excited, Roselia raised her hand. Slap!
Seraphine clutched her reddened cheek.
“M-my lady….”
The shocked Seraphine looked up at Roselia, tears shimmering in her glassy eyes.
Just then:
“Your Highness!”
Prince Perwin appeared, flanked by attendants.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea, some hastily bowing.
Ignoring the nobles, Perwin moved forward.
“Roselia, what are you doing here?”
He frowned at the source of the commotion.
Roselia quickly clung to him.
“Your Highness! This lady stole my necklace! And now she shamelessly denies it—it’s terrifying!”
This lady?
Perwin raised an eyebrow and looked at Seraphine, who was silently crying.
Roselia already knew what would happen next.
It’s predictable.
Feeling sympathy for poor Seraphine, Perwin would protect her, and Roselia would bear a grudge.
Of course, present-day Roselia had no such intention. She only wished this melodramatic scene would end quickly.
“Punish her, Your Highness!”
“As you wish.”
Perwin nodded at Roselia’s urging.
“But the hunting festival is about to start. Why don’t we go in first and sort out the details later?”
He calmly extended his hand to Roselia.
What is this gentle reaction?
Wasn’t Perwin supposed to glare at her like she was an insect when she caused trouble?
Roselia wasn’t the only one confused; the nobles watching were also unsettled.
At the same time, a system window appeared before Roselia.
【ERROR! Male lead Perwin has deviated from the original scenario.】
