CHAPTER 21
A Public Showdown with an Investor?
People looked so dumbfounded that they couldn’t even voice such a question.
“……?”
Zikren blinked blankly as well.
By the usual pattern, I should’ve been desperately trying to win that contract. So he must’ve been diligently crafting his own countermeasures.
Not that it would’ve amounted to more than brute force anyway.
‘But now it’s all for nothing, huh?’
His bewildered expression was so satisfying, I even gave Zikren a little “hmph” and lifted my chin.
“Besides, as you saw earlier, His Highness the Second Prince doesn’t want me involved in this matter. Do you think a project forced into motion like that will actually succeed?”
I walked along the line of booths with a loud voice.
“Just because you got a bit of intel doesn’t mean you should jump in without knowing when to act or back off. That’s not the kind of business I’m aiming for…”
I slapped a business card down onto the desk in front of me.
“This is the business I’ve chosen.”
It was my royal grandaunt’s desk.
That’s right. The business I chose to make money with was music boxes.
After reading through a pamphlet listing the hottest topics at this general assembly, I came to a conclusion.
‘This music box is our new cash cow.’
What do I really know about business anyway? I’m just riding the coattails.
There was no need to strain my brain—there was already a model answer.
A cash cow business.
The family had selected only that kind of venture for me, likely because it was the safest option given my situation.
Even if it wouldn’t bring in a fortune, it had a secure customer base and would run steadily and reliably. And that perfectly described this music box venture.
‘The family experts already did the analysis—I just have to show up and claim the credit.’
I was committed to working hard, so I didn’t care about any other information. Even if it was high-level intel from the Imperial family.
My royal grandaunt seemed pleased with my decision.
“Well thought out. What do investors know? They only dream of striking it rich. You should take their words with a grain of salt. Closed-door bids are incredibly risky. Unless you’re hoping to cozy up to a future emperor, there’s no need to throw yourself into that mess. This here is the real deal.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Someone responded clearly and firmly.
“That side’s already so cutthroat, it’s turned into a brutal price war. Even if you get close to the princes, it’s not a profitable deal for merchants like us.”
The one speaking was a noble lady. A shiny “S-Class” badge gleamed on her chest.
‘She’s upset that I was the only one praised, huh?’
There were quite a few rivals aiming for the cash cow. In addition to the one S-Class, most were A and B-Class.
“Good. Very good.”
My grandaunt seemed pleased with the number of applicants.
“Now, come this way. Let them do their thing, and we’ll do ours.”
“Yes, gladly.”
As I followed my grandaunt, I suddenly felt a prickle on the back of my neck and glanced behind me.
Is it Ruelian? I wondered, but it wasn’t.
He looked like he’d lost all sense of reason after taking a metaphorical slap to the back of the head…
But perhaps because the psychic Zikren was present, he was buried in the crowd for now, carefully watching.
The one glaring at me was Zikren himself. He ignored the questions from prospective contractors and simply frowned deeply in my direction.
“Your Highness!”
Noble ladies quickly surrounded Zikren.
Even if he wasn’t as popular as his older brother, the younger prince had his share of devoted fans. Maybe fewer in number, but even more passionate.
They were exactly that type. Their excited voices reached my ears.
“Your Highness! I know you’re bothered that that person is strutting around, but they’ll get eliminated in the early stages anyway!”
“That’s right! That person has the ‘cursed hands’ that ruin everything. Even the businesses spoon-fed by her family all collapsed. How’s she going to land a contract?”
“Exactly! Exactly!”
Their excessively loud voices made people around me flinch.
“Please, keep going.”
When I murmured that, the onlookers turned pale like they’d just seen a snake crawling in front of them.
No, seriously, I’m asking—keep talking!
The more they spout nonsense like that, the more relaxed my competitors will get. They’re actually doing me a favor!
‘Louder! More dramatic! Yes! Perfect!’
Cheering on the Second Prince’s die-hard fans, I squeezed into the crowd of merchant leaders.
“When will the contractor be selected?”
At the S-Class lady’s question, my grandaunt responded eagerly.
“If it were up to me, I’d decide right now! But as you know, this will be a lifelong business and my personal retirement plan, so I’ll be making a careful decision after tomorrow’s interviews. Here—this has the location and important instructions.”
She handed out envelopes to all the merchant leaders.
“Thank you.”
They all bustled out.
‘Perfect. I’ll blend in with them and escape too.’
I naturally slipped into the group of merchants and dashed out of the palace.
The villainess Aristina never moves in a group. No one even realized I was among them. Not even the merchants.
“How is everyone planning to prepare for the interview?”
As someone asked the question and others looked around, they finally noticed me and flinched.
‘What, surprised?’
I gave a slight nod and said,
“There are many types of interviews, aren’t there? Personality interviews, skill-based interviews, group discussions…”
“Where was the location again? Did anyone read the info sheet?”
The S-Class lady ignored my comment and asked the group.
“No, let’s take a look now?”
The merchant leaders opened their envelopes. I opened mine too.
“The interview is at noon tomorrow, at the Silver Dove Palace. And…”
Everyone paused.
There was an additional note at the bottom.
“A hidden test?! We could’ve been in trouble if we’d opened it later!”
I said, and the merchant leaders all looked up at me.
An A-Class lady asked with fake concern,
“My Lady, will you be able to proceed? You probably don’t have staff to send to the lumberyard…”
“I do, actually. Thanks to spending thousands a month just on upkeep.”
“Oh, that’s great. You must be very wealthy, my Lady. But…”
She hesitated.
“As far as I know, the current state of your merchant group is, well…”
She pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at something.
She didn’t say it aloud, but it was clear she’d found the perfect metaphor.
We all turned to look.
A discarded cart lay overturned, broken beyond repair. Its wooden wheels were so rotted that it looked impossible to fix.
Really? A metaphor? Just say it! This is worse!
Of course, that was probably the whole point.
“Yes, you’re right.”
I smiled at the merchant leaders.
“My merchant group is currently as nonfunctional as that cart.”
“Oh, my Lady, I didn’t mean it like—”
“But!”
I cut her off.
Then I walked over, picked up a wooden plank from the cart, and struck one of the wheels.
Smash!
The rotten spokes shattered, leaving only the round axle in the center. I did the same to the opposite wheel.
Smash! Smash!
Only the circular cores remained on both sides.
Dusting off my hands, I said,
“Now it won’t move unless I make it.”
The wheels were ridiculously small now, but when I pulled the handle, it scraped along the ground and started moving.
“……”
Everyone looked at me like I was insane.
Whatever.
I took out a fan from my bag and snapped it open.
I’d planned to overhaul the place soon anyway, so this worked out. Those merchant guys have probably been freeloading off the young lady for a while now?
But you know what? The good times just ended.
