Chapter 36
“Business rights that will bring in enormous money?”
“Hmm… I wonder what’s so enormous about them.”
Seeing the greed lighting up in the nobles’ eyes at my words, I knew they had taken the bait.
“For example, with the Lyle Silk fabric business rights, you could produce the brooch that’s currently trending among noble ladies and earn a fortune.”
Soon, it would be revealed that Lyle Silk causes sneezing, and a boycott against it would begin.
“The Oris tree wood is also in high demand overseas. It’s a business that can earn great money.”
Oris wood is a luxury material, but speculative foreign forces have driven its current price to its peak.
“What about the goat milk business rights? Nothing softens the skin better than goat milk. I use goat milk cosmetics myself.”
After the revolution, when cattle were struck by plague and milk prices soared, goat milk was subjected to government price controls to stabilise daily life. Using it for luxury products was banned.
Thus, all the business rights I mentioned would soon become worthless like chicken ribs – not profitable nor useful.
“Ha, to hold such precious business rights yet not be able to use them. I’m too busy with other businesses to pay them any attention, alas.”
Hearing my boastful lament, one noble spoke up carefully.
“Ah, our Count’s family handles Kenbel timber, and we already have a good distribution network, so we could manage Oris wood as well…”
I glanced at him.
Seeing other nobles’ reactions, he coughed awkwardly and said,
“So, if you sold the Oris wood business rights to me, it wouldn’t go to waste. It would be good for both sides, wouldn’t it?”
Dissatisfied coughs echoed from around the room.
If a cousin buying land makes one jealous, no noble would just sit by and watch another gain a profitable opportunity.
“If you’re selling, sell it to me.”
“Marquis, I asked first.”
“Hmph. Your family only distributes wood. Ours produces furniture. The Oris business rights would be far more useful to us.”
As another man tried to butt in, I crossed my legs and spoke.
“How amusing. Those who were desperate to snatch the Frozen Lands management rights from me are now begging me to share business rights.”
The buzzing nobles gradually fell silent at my words.
They had tried to devour me but came begging when they were in pain themselves. If they had any sense of shame, they’d feel it now.
“If I were to sell, I’d sell for no less than 300,000 Den.”
At my words, the nobles flinched.
These minor business rights usually sold for around 100,000 Den at best.
“But… that’s far too expensive.”
“Indeed. We did treat you harshly, Princess. Could you not give us some leniency…?”
“Please, Princess. I am sorry. Can’t you reconsider the Oris wood business rights?”
I crossed my arms and answered coldly.
“The price of business rights is calculated based on the amount recoverable within five years. All the rights I hold can recover 300,000 Den within five years.”
Of course, in truth, they looked promising now but would lose over half their value soon.
“That’s why I quoted that price. Trying to bargain it down makes you no different from when you stabbed me in the back and divided up the Frozen Lands management rights among yourselves.”
They didn’t know the future, so to them, it just looked like an expensive business right being sold for its worth.
“Hmph.”
“Hmm.”
I shook my head lightly and stood up.
“I thought I’d at least offer you the price out of pity, but if you want to play coy with a chance to become rich, I see no reason to be generous.”
Turning away, a faint smile lifted my lips.
Their eyes trembled.
Soon, someone shouted urgently.
“I-I’ll buy it. The Lyle Silk business rights!”
The man who raised his voice was none other than Marquis Regallo.
My former prospective father-in-law, always belittling women with sexist comments, father of Philios Regallo.
“Sell it to me, Katrin.”
I paused and slowly turned to look at him.
His eyes were filled with expectation.
I had heard the Regallo estate’s finances were in dire straits lately. Every business he started failed under his cursed “minus touch”.
“How will you pay?”
At my question, he flinched slightly and shrugged.
“W-well, slowly over time.”
I spoke with a cold smile.
“Your wording is too casual, isn’t it?”
“Huh, what?”
“In a public business transaction, such casual speech shows unreliability. Though personally, we’re already done, aren’t we?”
His brows furrowed at my remark, but he stood up.
“Princess, please sell the Lyle Silk business rights to the Regallo family. I will write a performance guarantee and pay the 300,000 Den within a month.”
“Then pay half of it as a deposit now.”
“Ha, but I don’t have that much ready cash.”
I looked around at the nobles and declared,
“I will only sign contracts with those who can pay at least half as a deposit immediately.”
Marquis Regallo jumped up, blocking my path.
“I will pay. Even if I must empty our entire estate treasury, I will pay. The contract must be with me.”
“Fine then.”
I gave him a radiant smile.
Seeing one contract closed, other nobles raised their hands in a frenzy.
“Sell me the Oris wood business rights.”
“I will pay 350,000 Den.”
“No, I will buy it for 400,000 Den.”
Seeing the nobles losing their minds in greed made me feel satisfied even without eating.
Meanwhile, Marquis Regallo sighed in relief, thinking he was lucky to snatch the Lyle Silk rights before the bidding war for Oris wood escalated.
“150 million Den in such a short time. Incredible.”
Heros admired as he organised the piles of money and gold filling the reception room.
Just the deposits for eight business rights had netted me 150 million Den.
Once the remaining payments arrived, it would total 300 million Den – over 30 billion KRW.
Their transfer contracts piled on my desk.
“Don’t record this money in the ledgers.”
Heros’s hands paused at my command.
“I insisted on cash transactions for a reason.”
Business rights sales incur heavy taxes, but I suggested cash dealings, saying it benefited both parties to avoid them.
The nobles desperate to evade taxes brought cash, and I wrote “free transfer contracts” instead of cash amounts.
In other words, refunds were impossible under any circumstances.
“Ah, I almost forgot.”
Then Heros asked,
“Will you use this money as sponsorship funds again?”
“Yes.”
The filthy money the imperial nobles extorted from the people would now fuel the revolution to punish them.
“There isn’t much time left. We must accelerate.”
⚔️ [Revolutionary Army Status]
-
Military Power: Insufficient
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Equipment and Supplies: Insufficient
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Comfort Level: 72%
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Funds: 150 Den
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Progress: 75%
In a short time, their funds dwindled while progress rose. They were clearly working faster.
In the original novel, Etias always suffered terribly overcoming each obstacle. But with my secret help, he was breezing through trials.
“Quietly leave 100,000 Den at each of the four pillars. Food can go through the Sistina poorhouse, but there must be places that need cash. We’ll have to take some risks.”
“…My lady.”
Hearing Heros call me, I looked up.
He spoke with a complicated gaze.
“Didn’t Prince Etias say your fate is bound with his, like an ancient magic binding?”
In ancient magic eras, a binding oath of fate could cause one’s heart to stop if the other died.
“If there was a way to break it… would you do it?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Perhaps if we used every method possible, we could find a solution.”
I pondered briefly before parting my lips.
“I don’t need it, Heros.”
“…But, my lady.”
“What about the order I gave last time – the investigation into the Scavengers’ Guild Master?”
I coldly diverted the topic, ignoring his worried expression.
Even so, my heart was beating lightly, thump-thump.
“No, not yet.”
Heros’s eyes wavered with unspoken emotions.
