Chapter 21
“I think it’s a good idea too…”
Belia smirked as she watched Barun trail off.
The displeasure flickering in his eyes amused her.
Even the way he clenched his fists betrayed his childishness.
“Yes. We’ll need to discuss the details, but I think Belia’s idea has market potential.”
People turned to look at Belia with a newfound interest.
It was a business proposal captivating enough to win over even the seasoned members of the merchant guild.
And despite her young age, the way she calmly voiced her opinion was anything but ordinary.
Until now, Barun had been the sole successor to the guild. But that changed today.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Barun hurriedly approached the Marquess.
“Then… Father, who will be in charge of this project?”
“In charge?”
“Yes.”
“In charge, you say.”
As the Marquess stroked his chin, the capital branch chief quickly spoke up.
“How about having the young lady who came up with the idea of applying woven fabric to bags lead the project?”
“Belia?”
“Yes. I was quite surprised by her today. If she was able to create such a bag, she must already have a workshop and a craftsman in mind. Isn’t that right, young lady?”
“Ah, yes.”
“She’s clearly a genius. I believe she should be the one to take the lead. Marquess, I see gold coins behind those bags. It’s an idea worth dreaming a golden age of the guild upon.”
The capital branch chief, a pillar of the Arphedi Merchant Guild, sparkled with excitement, and the Marquess let out a hearty laugh.
“It’s been a while since I’ve heard you speak with such conviction.”
“Our forefathers would agree.”
“What do you think, Belia?”
The Marquess looked at her.
“Of course I want to do it.”
“Father, Belia is too young. I agree with your view—it’s a wonderful business idea,”
As expected, the objection came from Barun.
Belia furrowed her brows.
“Belia should not be the one in charge. To properly establish this idea within the guild, someone with experience must take the reins. So I’ll handle it.”
Belia raised one hand to her mouth, as if to suppress laughter.
He just couldn’t stand the thought of his younger sister taking the lead on a business before him.
Did those eyes look the slightest bit worried?
Belia turned her head and replied with a confident smile.
“I may not have experience, but the very fact that I came up with such an idea is proof of my talent. I can do it, Father—or rather, Guild Master.”
Belia looked straight at the Marquess.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind him, and the aide who had followed said nothing.
“What does she even know how to do?!”
“Belia will be in charge of this project. Barun, you will assist her.”
At the Marquess’s decision, a smirk clearly flickered in Belia’s black eyes.
A mocking smirk.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Barun pounded the desk repeatedly.
“How dare she…!”
This was a challenge—a blatant insult.
He wanted to argue right away, but the memory of his father’s earlier thunderous reprimand kept his mouth shut.
“Find out who Belia’s working with in the guild and which workshop is making her bags.”
“Yes, sir.”
Barun clenched his teeth.
“I was willing to go easy on you. But you crossed the line first, Belia.”
Brilliant carriages arrived one by one at the flower-decorated entrance.
Ladies dressed to the nines stepped out and headed toward the designated venue.
Red roses, the symbol of the Duke of Doltan’s household, adorned the roadside in full bloom.
Most of the invited ladies had already arrived when one of them pointed toward the entrance.
“Oh my, it’s Lady Belia.”
All eyes turned toward her.
Not everyone had arrived yet, but the one who drew the most attention was Belia.
This year’s Lady of the Year and the trendsetter for the most fashionable dress in the Empire.
The more fashion-savvy ladies had even paid extra to pressure their salons into making dresses similar to the one Belia was wearing at the ball.
“Lady, your dress is beautiful today.”
“It really is.”
Unlike before, the young ladies now gathered around Belia.
“Oh, it’s been a while, everyone.”
Belia greeted them warmly.
Thanks to rushing preparations right after the guild meeting, she thankfully wasn’t late to the tea party.
Now that she had secured the textile business, her social standing was just as important.
These young ladies, approaching her in colorful dresses, were future customers—and potential devoted supporters—of her handbag business.
Belia smiled more brightly than ever.
“Lady Toro, that dress suits you so well.”
“Oh, really?”
“Absolutely.”
Belia chatted pleasantly with the ladies around her.
True to the scale of the Duke of Doltan’s gatherings, the venue was enormous.
Normally, the host would arrive early to welcome the guests, but everyone already knew that the duke’s daughter always made a dramatic, late entrance.
So the ladies passed time chatting among themselves.
Soon, the small groups naturally converged around Belia.
Though she was technically at the edge of the crowd, the conversation centered around her.
“Oh, Sonb!”
“Welcome.”
Belia rose to greet Sonb as she arrived.
“Ah, I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”
Sonb looked mildly surprised to see Belia at the center of a group.
“Not at all. The host hasn’t even arrived yet. How could you be late?”
Belia’s pointed remark drew light laughter from the others.
Though no one voiced it aloud, many of the ladies had complaints about the host who had invited them but still hadn’t shown her face.
The Duke of Doltan’s family held such social sway that no one dared complain openly.
“She’s especially late today.”
“I wonder who even sent the invitations.”
Though they were still young ladies, they were well-versed in the nuances of social conversation.
With refined smiles, they subtly criticized the Duke’s daughter.
In truth, most of the ladies here today had some hope in Belia.
Not only had she embarrassed the duke’s circle of ladies at the last ball, but she had also become this year’s Lady of the Year.
Until now, the Duke’s daughter had faced no real rivals in society, but Belia had changed that dynamic.
The ladies seated closest to Belia were clearly trying to form a new social circle centered around her.
Belia, of course, saw right through their intentions.
“I don’t see those girls today, either.”
“Exactly. The Doltan house usually has those girls who take care of everything on behalf of the host.”
A count’s daughter spoke, and the others chuckled.
“Oh, Lady Belia, may I ask something?”
“Yes?”
“Is it true you had dinner with the Crown Prince?”
All eyes turned to Belia.
She scratched her cheek and gave a small nod.
“Oh my, really?”
The ladies’ eyes lit up with intrigue.
“What was it like?”
“Hmm… nothing much, really.”
There was nothing particularly special about the dinner.
She had briefly worried her family might start talking about a potential engagement with the Crown Prince, but surprisingly, no one said anything.
Both her father and mother had simply said, “Oh, so you had dinner,” and left it at that.
It seemed that such meetings were customary for the Lady of the Year.
“What was His Highness like?”
“Hmm… he was kind.”
Belia answered, recalling the meal.
He was humble and well-mannered—that was about it.
“Isn’t he handsome?”
A baron’s daughter asked in a curious tone.
“Oh, my lady…”
“What? It’s just us girls. Isn’t that what we talk about?”
After all, they were still young. What fun was there in discussing poetry or literature?
Encouraged by the baron’s boldness, the other girls began to chime in.
“Well, that’s true… I’ve always been too scared to really look at the Crown Prince.”
“Same here. My parents are a bit…”
“Because of that incident?”
“You mean the fire?”
Just as the ladies were about to start gossiping about the Crown Prince’s rumors, Belia cut in with a bright smile.
“The Crown Prince was very kind in person. The food was delicious, too.”
“Oh, weren’t you scared?”
“What is there to be afraid of?”
Belia answered firmly.
The man she met that day wasn’t someone deserving of the rumors of being cursed.
She remembered how he had once been mocked as a fraud, and the memory still left a bitter taste.
So she changed the subject with finality.
“That fire was simply an accident. His Highness did nothing wrong. Don’t you think so?”
