CHAPTER 16
The two of them were caught off guard and couldn’t speak for a moment.
Really? Could it be true? They still looked skeptical.
Well, I had prepared for this reaction too.
“Look at this. I’m this serious.”
To prove that, I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the inner pocket of my dress and unfolded it.
“My financial situation is generally in a state of crisis, but the most urgent issue is with the merchant guild.”
On the paper was a single, distinct line—a straight line that plummeted from the top left to the bottom right without hesitation.
“Do you know what this is?”
“Hmm…”
Aldensis pondered with his characteristic gentle but indifferent expression.
“An abstract drawing? It seems to depict something plunging headfirst without a hint of hesitation. Ah, there’s a title at the bottom—?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The thing that’s plunging headfirst without hesitation is precisely the performance of our merchant guild.”
I answered.
Below the graph, the failed business ventures were listed in a neat row:
High-end fabrics, premium teas and sweets, an arts troupe, gemstone-based cosmetics, an atelier, a rare bookshop…
They had one thing in common—they were all established businesses taken over from others.
Businesses with a stable customer base. The so-called “cash cows.”
Like dairy cows that provide milk as long as they’re raised properly, these were low-risk, high-stability businesses.
They handed me those valuable cows. They spoon-fed them to me in a way that would’ve yielded good results even if I just sat still…
‘And yet you still managed to ruin every single one of them because your head was off in the clouds.’
This was a serious problem.
Not only had I become the laughingstock of the industry, but my performance paled in comparison to that of a collateral branch family who was thriving in the top tier.
It had completely destroyed my reputation and standing as a noblewoman.
“That’s why, when I saw the article about the trade guild summit, my eyes lit up. Coincidentally, it happens to fall on the same date as the imperial ballroom event. I heard it was scheduled by a royal elder attending as a guest of honor?”
Most of the major financial players were expected to attend the imperial ball, so the merchant guild summit would be relatively quiet.
The article described it as a dark cloud looming over the summit, but to me, it was a ray of light.
If you have a brain, you’d seize this opportunity.
‘Get out of the Crown Prince’s shadow, and land a worthwhile business deal.’
This summit was the perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone.
By boldly skipping the ball, I could show that I had something more important than the Crown Prince.
At the same time, I could seek out a new venture for our merchant guild. I wasn’t aiming for a jackpot, just to show I was putting in the effort.
‘It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.’
Thinking that, I looked at the two people in front of me.
“Hmm…”
The Duke of Canel looked like he wanted to say something but held back with a sour expression.
And Aldensis… after a brief silence, spoke gently.
“I see. Good luck. I look forward to it.”
Then he gave me a dazzlingly radiant smile.
In the past, I would’ve been mesmerized. But now? All I felt was a chill.
‘He can flash that smile even at someone he regards with complete indifference…’
I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
I stood up to follow them and subtly took a step back.
“Well then, I must hurry to work on revitalizing the merchant guild.”
And with that, I quickly escaped the audience chamber. Outside, Duke Canel stared at me.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t returned this yet.”
He handed me a small pouch.
Inside was a ring, with tiny numbers etched all along its surface.
‘Ah, an account ring!’
The knowledge and memory came rushing back.
This was a personal account ring produced and sold by the Mage Tower.
Once linked to a bank account, it could be used to conveniently store money or transfer funds.
Duke Canel had confiscated it when he confined his daughter. If she were to be executed, he planned to bury it.
“There’s not a penny in it anyway, so I forgot about it. You seem to know you’re flat broke, which was surprising. In any case, don’t expect a single coin of support from the family.”
“Oh, yes, of course. I wasn’t expecting any.”
“Really? I thought you’d secretly hope for it, but it’s good to know your place. Well then, figure things out with your bare hands. Or don’t. I don’t care.”
With that, the Duke turned away.
So cold. So heartless.
He clearly didn’t care about my business at all. But at the summit, some of his merchant guild advisors would be attending.
Naturally, they’d witness how hard I was working, and that information would eventually trickle back to him.
‘I planned for that too.’
Smiling inwardly, I slipped the account ring onto my finger.
Now, shall we check the balance?
I hadn’t been able to sell off the household’s belongings because no one wanted to do business with the infamous disgraceful noblewoman…
But I did find two coins tucked away in a winter coat.
‘I should deposit those. Better brush up on the process to avoid looking suspicious. I recall it works like a click—just a tap thanks to the stored biometric info…’
Following my memory, I tapped the ring with my fingertip. A voice sounded.
“Please enter your 4-digit PIN.”
Maybe it was my birthday? I entered our shared birthday: 1031.
“Activated.”
A magic circle-like display appeared in the air, and then numbers showed up inside it.
And then…
I stood there, mouth agape.
It wasn’t just a zero.
1,000,000,000.
A ten-digit figure stood tall in glowing pride.
‘A billion?’
My eyes nearly popped out.
Duke Canel, you…
How is this “broke”? With this, I’m not starting with bare hands—I’m starting with golden fists! What kind of household has this kind of financial logic?
Good thing I checked. Staring at that number, a newfound confidence surged inside me.
‘Now then…’
I flipped over the to look at a memo I’d written on the back.
According to the information I’d gathered in advance, the summit would be held at the Imperial Palace’s Guest Hall. The royal elder’s participation had secured the venue.
So I came prepared with the relevant application details written on the back.
Fast and efficient. No delays.
That’s my motto.
‘See how diligent and hard-working I am?’
Conscious of everyone’s eyes, I went straight to the Guest Hall to submit my application.
Despite not knowing the way, I found it quickly enough…
But then I hit an unexpected wall.
“You are not qualified to enter the summit, Lady.”
…What?
I was stunned by the official’s words.
Turns out there were entrance qualifications. I’d never attended before, so I had no memory of this at all.
‘Was that why the Duke looked so displeased?’
The official tried his best not to make eye contact as he explained.
“Not every guild leader can attend the summit. I’m sorry, but I ask for your understanding. If we allowed just anyone who opened a guild, even street vendors would try to enter.”
“But I’m not a street vendor…”
“We know. Of course, Lady, you’re not. But any guild below a C-rank isn’t permitted to enter.”
“So, anything below C-rank is treated like a street vendor?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“What rank is our guild?”
Instead of answering, the official handed me a magic paper.
“If you write your officially registered guild name here and insert it into the scanner, it will tell you.”
I took the paper and wrote the name:
.
Aristina had named it lazily out of annoyance.
I inserted it into the machine, and the black window above the door displayed the rank.
“F-rank?”
“Yes. The is ranked 94th.”
So they already knew the rank without checking.
Ninety-fourth place.
Even though I expected it, the number was still a shock. But I kept a straight face and said calmly,
“Well, at least there are six guilds below us.”
“No. There are 95 total, so there’s only one below you.”
“…So, I’m not last, huh? Who’s the 95th?”
“Coco.”
“That sounds like a dog’s name.”
“It is. Coco is a dog. Countess Mariana created a guild in her pet’s name. She ties papers to biscuits and scatters them around the estate. The one Coco brings back is the one she invests in. The Coco and Black Rose guilds constantly compete for 94th and 95th.”
…I shouldn’t have asked.
The lowest-ranked human—and sometimes, the lowest among mammals.
“…”
With “F-rank” boldly displayed above the door, I slumped onto a bench, dazed.
‘Am I really not allowed in?’
This won’t do.
Skip the ball, land a contract, distance myself from the Crown Prince, and improve my standing.
That solid plan now had storm clouds gathering over it.
‘Of course. What else did I expect.’
The mocking expressions of Aldensis and Duke Canel vividly appeared in my mind. I shook my head fiercely.
‘I can’t back down like this.’
Maybe it means nothing to others—but to me, this is a matter of survival.
Grabbing both temples, I fell deep into thought.
This isn’t fair.
Suddenly, it struck me that there might be a huge loophole in the system. I sprang to my feet.
“…!”
The official flinched when I marched toward him, glaring like fire.
“L-Lady!”
Instinctively shielding his face with a thick rulebook, he gasped as I spoke.
“Don’t you think the entry qualifications are too rigid? S-rank, A-rank, B-rank… it’s always the same people attending. That’s no way to respond to a fast-changing market. Stagnant water always rots! You people are the reason the empire’s commerce is decaying! As a noblewoman of the empire, I cannot stand by!”
He lowered the book.
“Oh? That’s quite the sharp observation.”
“What? So you admit you’re rotting commerce?”
“Ah, no, not at all! We’re the ones obsessed with making money. We toil day and night for the empire’s commercial prosperity.”
He rubbed his nose and pointed to a machine beside the entrance.
“That’s why we made that.”
“What is it?”
“A ‘Public Interest Rating Meter’ developed in collaboration with the Mage Tower.”
He explained:
“If a guild submits a commercial item they plan to bring to market, the machine estimates its potential attention level and assigns a temporary grade. Even lower-ranked guilds can gain entry if they score C or higher here. It’s only a corner seat—but still.”
To me, that seat was more than enough. Finally, a lifeline.
‘But I don’t have any item…’
Our guild had already ruined everything. A perfect wasteland.
“Hmm…”
I stood before the official, thinking hard.
After much brain-racking, something finally came to mind.
“So I just have to pass the standard of that ‘attention meter,’ right?”
“That is the rule, but…”
Sensing something in my tone, the official looked a bit nervous.
I shared my plan with him.
“…Excuse me?”
He stared at me in disbelief.
“Let’s just try it.”
I began to carefully write my ‘item’ on the magic paper.
