TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 54

“A partnership with the Medean royal family? Is that… even possible?”

Helene, who had planned to use this opportunity to announce that the land was actually hers, muttered with a dazed expression.

Even famous companies from their home country often wait for months only to be put on hold, but in such a short time?

“Cynthia. No matter how difficult the situation, you shouldn’t lie using the queen of a powerful nation. You won’t be able to handle the consequences.”

“Th-that’s right. What if the queen, angered by the princess’s lie, cuts off aid to Rutemia?”

Those fiends, Helene included, seemed to hope it was a lie rather than not believing Cynthia’s words.

To this, Cynthia raised her head arrogantly and said:

“As it happens, I brought something because we needed a partner as the scale grew. Dahlia, please bring the letter from the royal family.”

Dahlia brought the letter with her characteristically solemn expression.

「Establishment of joint venture with Medean royal family and decision to secure 100 billion in initial investment.」

“100 billion…?”

Everyone’s jaws dropped at the enormous amount.

The Dowager Duchess smiled broadly upon seeing the royal seal in the letter.

“My goodness, Snow White has done something incredible! Truly amazing! Getting investment from the haughty queen is like plucking stars from the sky.”

Amidst the hushed crowd, conflicting reactions leaked out.

In the face of such massive capital, the explorer family’s exposé was meaningless.

Soon, a few who had quickly assessed the situation approached Cynthia.

“Our family has been in the construction business for generations. Do you perhaps need our services?”

“Princess, you’ll need supplies for the workers, right? Our merchant group can provide goods at the lowest prices.”

Those who had been criticizing Cynthia kept their mouths tightly shut.

One lady who had spotted an opportunity to make a huge profit said with a beaming smile:

“Let’s work together on the steel side! Those over there seem skeptical about this amazing project.”

The daughter of the steel family, pointed out by the lady, bit her nails. She was the woman who had just been scolding Cynthia not to lie.

‘Damn it, if father finds out, he’ll want to kill me!’

It was as good as missing an enormous opportunity.

Meanwhile, those who maintained neutrality by staying unresponsive to the end smiled victoriously.

‘If you stay still, you’re halfway there.’

Cynthia could feel the power of the Medean royal family as she observed the various reactions.

‘Well, they are the strongest nation of the current era.’

“I’ll invite you to the official residence next time. If you’d like to come, please give your business card to my aide Dahlia, and I’ll send you an invitation.”

Dahlia, who had suddenly become an aide, cleared her throat while managing her expression.

Those who had been openly mocking approached Dahlia and casually handed over their business cards.

Cynthia didn’t miss the fiends’ vile change of attitude.

“Ah, you don’t need to give your card! It’s useless except as goat feed.”

“Pardon? I…”

Cynthia turned to Helene with the same bright and cheerful voice.

“Sister, don’t invite those people anymore. Disrespecting me is the same as disrespecting you, which means they’ve been looking down on the Dukedom, isn’t that right?”

The faces of those singled out turned bright red, and the Dowager Duchess and princesses frowned fiercely like beasts and gestured.

“Helene. Associating with such vicious creatures, do you have no eye for people? Get rid of them immediately.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Helene’s lips twisted hideously as she bowed her head.

* * *

After the unfavorable article about Masera was published, Brigadier General Steve was in high spirits.

He personally took care of the documents he usually left to Major Rodriguez and visited the official residence.

‘Serves him right! If he doesn’t want to go bankrupt, the only option is to grovel before me or Duke Rukanosa.’

This time, I’ll treat him properly like a slave.

He went straight to the office and approached Masera, trying to hide his excited expression at the thought of mocking him.

“I heard the news. The Nox land has become useless, hasn’t it? What happened? Were you scammed by the princess? I heard the duke’s wife is the one who really inherited the estate.”

Masera maintained his usual expressionless face.

Brigadier General Steve continued, as if urging him.

“You must be very worried, considering the substantial amount of money already invested. Where has the princess gone? She didn’t run away after being caught in a lie, did she?”

“She went to the duke family’s tea party.”

Masera answered in a flat voice.

“A tea party in this situation. The princess sure is something.”

Brigadier General Steve pretended to look regretful as he touched his forehead. Then he took out a cigar from his breast pocket and placed it on his desk.

Offering a cigar also meant proposing a negotiation, so Masera shook his head.

“I don’t smoke anymore.”

“Did you quit because you got married? You must be very upset after being betrayed by the wife you trusted.”

Seeing Masera frown, the corners of Brigadier General Steve’s mouth twisted upwards.

“You’re not in a position to refuse. Don’t you need money?”

“Not particularly.”

Brigadier General Steve, revealing his true intentions, picked up a cigar and put it in Masera’s mouth.

“Masera Guise. Just because you and I stood on the same level for a moment, do you think we’re equals?”

Unlike himself, who had followed the elite course and was commissioned as an officer, hadn’t Masera struggled miserably as a boy soldier and barely climbed up?

Masera grinned with the cigar in his mouth.

“Equals? So that’s what you thought. I didn’t spend the entire war sitting in headquarters and just going out to meet women.”

“That’s precisely what I mean by being on different levels. The situation of me, who was commissioned through proper procedures, and you, who became a boy soldier out of hunger, isn’t the same, is it?”

Brigadier General Steve added, wiggling the cigar between his fingers.

“Should I have recruited you with chocolate? You’re crazy about sweets because you couldn’t eat well.”

It was a mocking reference to the anecdote of Masera receiving chocolate while running errands for soldiers during his time as a boy soldier.

“…”

For a moment, Brigadier General Steve flinched and shrugged his shoulders as he saw the purple color surrounding Masera’s pupils spread and darken like ink.

But soon he puffed out his chest and smiled arrogantly.

‘What can he do anyway? He’ll go bankrupt without my help.’

Brigadier General Steve approached the door and grabbed the doorknob, turning back to look at him.

“Think carefully, Masera. I’m not such a heartless person. If you show your respect for me and kneel down, I could immediately…”

Just as he was about to mock him to his heart’s content and finally get to the point.

BANG!!!

“Argh!”

Brigadier General Steve let out a scream as he was suddenly hit in the face by the door.

“Brigadier General! I’m back! You won’t believe what happened today!”

Cynthia, who had forcefully flung open the door, was calling for Masera when she discovered Brigadier General Steve kneeling on the ground.

“Huh? Brigadier General Steve, why are you kneeling before my husband?”

As it turned out, he was the one who ended up kneeling first.

Blood trickled down the nose of Brigadier General Steve, who was groaning in pain.

Cynthia’s wide eyes landed on Masera, who had a cigar in his mouth.

‘What’s with this noir-like situation where a man with a nosebleed is kneeling, and he’s got a cigar in his mouth?’

But that wasn’t the important thing.

“Um… do you smoke cigars?”

At the slightly disappointed question, Masera spat out the cigar and shook his head.

“No, I was just trying to look tough.”

Flustered, Masera gave a strange excuse.

He knew that Cynthia disliked the smell of tobacco.

In the past, when he went to pick up Cynthia at Count Queensguard’s mansion, he had seen her passing by soldiers smoking on the street, fanning her hand and saying, ‘Ugh! Smoking on the street, I hate it so much!’

He absolutely hated being despised for such things, so he had quit on this occasion.

“Ah, I see.”

Cynthia passed by Brigadier General Steve, who was groaning in pain, and showed Masera the royal letter.

“Brigadier General, the Queen is going to invest. 100 billion for the first round.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Before Masera could react, Brigadier General Steve, covered in blood, stood up abruptly, holding his nose.

Masera was staring up at her with wide eyes, frozen like a statue.

“In exchange, they proposed joint ownership of that land with the Medean royal family. In other words, a partnership. Please read it and sign if you agree. And Brigadier General Steve seems to be in pain… It might be better to stop hitting him.”

Brigadier General Steve blinked as he listened to Cynthia’s words.

“100 billion investment and a partnership? Th-that’s imposs…”

Thud.

The impact from hitting the door had been quite severe, so he staggered and fell backwards.

‘Masera should be the one fainting from joy, why is it that guy?’

Cynthia had no idea that she was the real culprit behind his nosebleed.