Chapter 78: A New Challenge
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: A New Challenge
“Open your very own shop on the shores of Valpid Lake!”
“What?”
Gelfry, who had been squinting at the letters while fighting back a wave of nausea, suddenly snapped his eyes wide open.
He snatched the magazine from Jamer’s hand and scanned the article at breakneck speed.
「No capital? No problem! Can’t read? That’s fine too! Anyone with a product they want to sell and a spark of passion can become a shopkeeper in the new shopping district. ...To apply for a lease, please visit the Shopping District Management Office by the lakeside. On-site eligibility screenings are currently underway.」
Below that, the article detailed unprecedented benefits offered exclusively to the first round of applicants. They were the exact same conditions Gelfry had previously demanded from the Merchant Association.
“This... this is a complete lack of business ethics!”
Gelfry couldn’t hide his irritation, hissing the words through gritted teeth.
“It’s not just published here! Notices have been posted in every surrounding village. They’ve even dispatched criers for those who can’t read!”
“What about the subsidies? What about our leases?” Jamer asked impatiently.
“Can’t you see for yourself?”
The copy of Northern News in Gelfry’s hand was crushed mercilessly.
“Negotiations have collapsed.”
“Negotiations collapsed? Are you joking? We delayed our own applications because we believed your word that we’d get those subsidies!”
“Good grief! Why are you being so hasty!”
Gelfry pressed hard against his throbbing temples.
“Do you really think anyone else has the capability to apply for a lease if we’re excluded?”
“Look at this man!”
Jamer turned to the other merchants who had come with him and clicked his tongue.
“The man who calls himself the Association President is completely clueless.”
As Gelfry frowned, wondering what he meant, one of the merchants standing behind him spoke up, barely suppressing his rage.
“We just came back from the Shopping District Management Office ourselves.”
“What? I specifically told you all to stay put...!”
Gelfry pointed an accusing finger at the merchants.
“So, did you all go and apply? Blinded by those measly benefits? This is a betrayal! If you chase your own interests like this, the other shop owners will—”
The merchants snorted in unison at his words.
“You really don’t know anything. The waiting line for consultations was so long we couldn’t even get our names on the list.”
“What does that...?”
“Forget the first round of leases—the entire application process is already over!”
“It seems the few remaining spots will be decided by a screening process from those already on the waiting list.”
Gelfry felt his hangover surging back with a vengeance.
“The leases are already gone...!”
Sensing that further argument was pointless, the merchants each threw in a final demand for a solution before turning their backs on him.
Jamer, who remained until the end, glared at the groaning Gelfry.
“We were desperate for a spot by the lake.”
In fact, he had visited Gelfry several times to confirm if they would truly receive the benefits even if they missed the deadline.
“Because of you, Mr. President, we’ve suffered an immense loss. I will make sure you take responsibility for this later.”
Gelfry stood dazed for a long time in the spot where the merchants had swept through like a storm.
*
Milo and his wife stood side by side, blinking in surprise.
‘A new shopping district is opening by the lake. Anyone who wants to do business can apply for a lease.’
That was the content of the announcement a crier had read in their village a few days ago.
— “Should we try applying?”
— “What do you know about running a business?”
Besides, we can’t even read...
His wife had been worried, but Milo thought differently.
The couple raised sheep. However, under the current system where they simply handed over wool to the merchant guilds, it was difficult to make any real money no matter how hard they worked.
‘But they say they’ll help us open a shop even if we don’t have money.’
To Milo, this felt like an opportunity that would never come again in his lifetime.
In the end, the couple gathered their courage and headed to the Management Office early in the morning.
The area in front of the office was already bustling with people who had come to apply just like them, but Milo was lucky enough to pass the first and second screenings and make it to the final interview.
With hearts pounding, the couple entered the office. Seated at the head of a table surrounded by several officials was a lady dressed in elegant attire.
‘She looks familiar. Where have I seen her?’
It was a face not easily forgotten.
As Milo racked his brain, the face of the kind lady he had spoken with at the inn’s dining room a while back flashed through his mind.
‘Back then, the innkeeper definitely introduced her as...!’
“I—I greet Her Highness the Consort!”
Realizing the lady’s identity, Milo hurriedly took off his hat and bowed his head.
His wife, hearing the identity of the lady from her husband a beat later, also bowed deeply.
“Oh, do you know me?”
The Grand Duchess of Blenheim smiled brightly at them.
It was just as Milo was mumbling, not knowing how to respond.
The Grand Duchess, who had been observing the couple closely, let out a soft “Ah” of recognition.
“You’re the lady who recommended the ‘Today’s Menu’ back then, aren’t you?”
The wife spoke, her face clearly showing her nerves.
“I beg your pardon, Your Highness. I failed to recognize such a high-ranking personage...”
“Don’t give it a second thought,” the Grand Duchess said, waving her hand dismissively with a pleasant expression. “I was very happy that you spoke to me back then.”
The Grand Duchess truly seemed delighted to meet them again.
‘Is Her Highness personally conducting the interviews?’
Milo harbored a small hope that their previous encounter might earn them extra points, but he lost his confidence rapidly as soon as the interview began.
“...And so, we are currently raising sheep.”
“Have you ever done business before?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“And as for literacy... you said neither of you can read?”
“Yes.”
“Then, do you plan to sell wool?”
“T-That is correct.”
“But I don’t think wool will sell very well by the lakeside.”
“I... I suppose not.”
Milo felt like he was becoming more of a fool with every answer he gave.
“We also have goat milk and cheese, but...”
Seeing Milo stammer, his wife hurriedly added an explanation.
“So, the things you can sell are wool, goat milk, and cheese?”
The Grand Duchess took on a contemplative expression.
‘It’s hopeless.’
Just as Milo was about to swallow a dejected sigh.
“Adem?”
The Grand Duchess suddenly called out to the administrative official sitting next to her. He scanned his documents, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“A cheese shop is scheduled to move in one block away.”
“The cheese overlaps, then,” the Grand Duchess murmured. “Wool is unique, so it would be good to include it as a product.”
“But even if it’s processed, would wool sell during the summer?”
At the official’s response, the Grand Duchess thought for a moment before suddenly turning to the couple.
“How about something like a sheep-crafting kit?”
“Pardon? A... kit?”
“You sell a bundle of materials—a bit of wool and some decorations—so people can make a tiny sheep doll.”
Understanding her meaning, Milo’s wife nodded vigorously.
“We do sometimes make small dolls out of scraps.”
“Since many children will be visiting, it would be nice to have something for them to do while the adults drink tea. Adem?”
The official nodded and took notes.
“Let’s make the sheep-crafting kits and goat milk the main items. Since the cheese shop will be selling platters, let’s think about small packaging for this shop that can be spread on bread.”
“I will organize it that way.”
“Cecilia. The sign should emphasize the sheep. Make it something children will like.”
The Grand Duchess turned back to the couple, who were listening to the conversation in a daze.
“This is just my suggestion, so if you come up with better ideas, discuss them with the official. Your contact person will be Administrative Official Adem over there.”
“U-Um, Your Highness...” Milo asked, scratching his head. “Does this mean... we passed the screening?”
“Oh, look at me.” The Grand Duchess crinkled her nose playfully. “Congratulations on securing a spot in the Valpid Lake Shopping District.”
“But we have so many shortcomings...”
Milo was about to say something tactless when his wife stepped hard on his foot.
“You two just need to work hard. There are plenty of people here to help with whatever you lack.”
“...We are confident, Your Highness,” Milo said, clutching his hat tightly. “We will work harder than anyone else.”
“Good. I look forward to it.”
The Grand Duchess gave a satisfied, beaming smile.
Even though they were indoors, the couple felt as if sunlight were radiating from behind her head.
*
“Grand Duke, are you listening to me?”
Seeing her pouting cheeks, Loik snapped back to his senses.
“I—I am listening.”
“It seems there’s more work than I expected. It’s going to be too much for the officials to handle the management office duties on top of everything else. So...”
The two were sitting at a table in the middle of the glass greenhouse.
Night had already fallen, and the moonlight was streaming in.
The atmospheric greenhouse was filled with the sweet scent of Nephras flowers.
Because the Grand Duchess had mentioned she liked Nephras, Loik had filled every empty space with the white flowers, but the Grand Duchess herself was too preoccupied discussing the progress of the shopping district to notice the scenery.
‘It was nice at first...’
When the Grand Duchess first started working on the shopping district and began visiting his office, Loik had praised himself for giving her the job. It provided an excuse to be stuck by her side all day under the guise of work.
Furthermore, because the clever Grand Duchess handled matters so skillfully, the officials’ expressions had all brightened. It went without saying that Loik’s own workload had become much lighter.
‘But isn’t she working a bit too hard?’
Lately, it had become difficult to even see her face, except for breakfast.
Even today, he had rushed out mid-wash the moment he heard she was calling him to the greenhouse, yet she hadn’t looked at his face once, focusing entirely on her work.
‘Though, that side of her is even more lovely.’
“Strangely enough, almost no clerks with prior experience applied.”
Seeing the Grand Duchess frown, Loik unconsciously reached out toward the space between her eyebrows.
As he gently smoothed out the furrow with his thumb, her blue eyes grew wide.