Chapter 81: The Hijack
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: The Hijack
The faces of the three women, who had been thoroughly toyed with, flushed with a mix of humiliation and rage.
“Well, I’m quite busy, so I really must be going. I have an important meeting scheduled soon.”
With a smirk dripping with sarcasm, Cecilia swept out of the boutique.
Watching Meisel and the two young ladies trembling in her wake, the proprietress and the staff tactfully beat a retreat.
Meisel remained silent throughout the entire carriage ride back.
The two young ladies sitting across from her tried to strike up a conversation at first, but when Meisel failed to offer any reaction, they quickly devolved into gossiping amongst themselves.
“The Grand Duchess really is something else, isn't she?”
“Do you think she received successor training back in the capital?”
“She’s just a daughter, though. Why would she?”
“Still, the way she thinks is just… different from people like us. I heard it was the Grand Duchess who told Lady Cecilia to use those recipes in the first place.”
“I’m actually a little jealous.”
“Jealous? Of what?”
“Well, Her Highness can go wherever she wants, and she even runs her own businesses. And to think the Grand Duke supports her so staunchly…”
“Anyone listening would think you’re a prisoner in your own manor, Lady,” Meisel interjected testily, her irritation piqued by their choice of words.
The young lady simply shrugged. “Is there really anywhere for us to go besides a cafe or a boutique?”
Us? You think I’m the same as the likes of you?
Meisel clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding together.
Just watching me pick out a dress should be enough to elevate your tastes. Instead of being grateful for such a precious experience, you say what?
This was exactly why, even if they were rivals, one should only associate with people of the same caliber.
“To be honest, I’m jealous of Lady Cecilia, too.”
“I suppose. Being the Grand Duchess’s lady-in-waiting, imagine how many crumbs must fall her way.”
“There’s that, but she also writes articles under her own name. I heard she even gets paid for them.”
“How much could a pittance like that even be?”
“I suppose you’re right.”
The lady who had been dismissive also grew somber, likely recalling the way Cecilia had been idolized just moments ago.
“I think she mentioned the president of the publishing house is a distant relative.”
“Ah… I wish I had a relative like that.”
The more Meisel listened to them, the more the humiliation she’d felt at the boutique resurfaced, fueling her mounting fury.
— “Do you really think just anyone can handle being the mistress of Blenheim?”
Cecilia had definitely glanced at her when she said that.
How dare she act so arrogant just because she became a lady-in-waiting, when she has absolutely nothing to her name?
She clearly thought she had become someone important just by standing next to the Grand Duchess.
However, while Meisel couldn't touch the Grand Duchess immediately, that didn't mean she couldn't deal with the second daughter of a mere viscount.
The 'warnings' she had given Cecilia so far hadn't seemed to land as hard as she’d hoped. Cecilia had acted as if she didn't care at all about being insulted at tea times or social gatherings.
To truly pay someone back, you have to destroy the thing they want most.
At that moment, a brilliant plan struck Meisel like a bolt of lightning.
“Something urgent has come up. I need to stop somewhere else.”
Meisel’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the two ladies.
“Where to?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to let you off here.”
Instead of answering, Meisel had the carriage stopped and practically shoved the two ladies out.
“What? But then how are we supposed to…!”
“I’m sure you know how to hail a carriage. Get home safely!”
Meisel gave the coachman a new destination.
Soon, the carriage wheels began to roll vigorously again, leaving the two bewildered ladies standing in the middle of the road.
*
“Calm down and have a sip of tea first.”
Alcent, the president of the Northern News magazine, seemed a bit timid, but he had a generally pleasant and favorable impression.
I urged him to drink his tea as he sat there, looking restless the entire time.
After reluctantly wetting his lips, Alcent seemed to calm down slightly and began to speak slowly.
“Back when my father was heavily involved in the arts, he founded Northern News to promote plays and operas.”
I had already heard from Cecilia that most of those businesses had collapsed due to the Monster War, leaving only a few small ventures like Northern News behind.
“Recently, Northern News even managed to escape the brink of closure…”
Alcent added his thanks, saying, “It was all thanks to Your Highness.”
“Since opera is so successful in Rondoris, I took on a lot of investment to try and grow the business significantly in that direction again.”
“Was the investment from the Merchant Association President?”
Alcent nodded, dabbing the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.
“Besides Baron Gelfry, there are quite a few people from the association who invested.”
“And they suddenly said they’re withdrawing their investment?”
His face contorted in agony as he spoke.
“They told me to hand over the investment along with all the interest accrued so far. It seems Baron Gelfry bought up all the shares from the other five investors.”
“So, if you can’t pay back the money, you have to hand over the magazine instead?”
“They’ve had their eye on Northern News for a while, but I never expected them to move like this so suddenly.”
Alcent groaned, explaining that there was a loophole in the contract, and if they insisted on withdrawing the investment now, he was legally obligated to pay.
“Northern News is practically my father’s legacy, so I’ve been asking around to raise the funds, but…”
Alcent’s voice trailed off.
It’s probably not good to make a desperate man talk too much.
I had already heard the gist of the story from Cecilia anyway.
Instead of asking more questions, I pulled out the check I had prepared.
As I slid the check across the table, Alcent’s eyes widened into circles.
“Use this to cover the shortfall.”
Alcent’s jaw dropped when he saw the figure on the check.
“Will this be enough?”
“O-Of course! Your Highness, thank you so much!”
He had come with a faint hope of borrowing money when I said I wanted to hear the details, but he clearly hadn't expected me to lend him the entire missing amount.
Alcent scrambled to his feet and bowed repeatedly.
“I will surely repay this kindness.”
“I’m not giving it to you for free. I’m investing in your stead.”
“Of course!”
“And there’s one more condition.”
“P-Please, name it.”
At the mention of a condition, Alcent sat back down, looking a bit hesitant.
“I want to publish Cecil’s Recipe as a book.”
Alcent flinched at the word 'publish.'
“Are you saying you want to take Cecil’s Recipe away?”
“It’s not like that.”
I shook my head.
“Once enough recipes have been published in the magazine, I want them released as a book. I’ll cover the publication costs with part of my investment, and in return, I’ll take a certain percentage of the profits.”
Alcent weighed my words for a moment before nodding.
“If that’s the case, it’s more than possible.”
He offered a much more relaxed smile, admitting he hadn't thought of turning it into a book.
“We’ll also be able to pay royalties to the people who provided the recipes.”
It was an idea I’d had after Cecilia bragged the other day about how the staff were making scrapbooks of 'Cecil’s Recipe.'
If we published it as a book, we could sell it outside the North as well, so it would at least bring in some pocket money.
After Alcent left, bowing incessantly in gratitude, Cecilia returned to the parlor, biting her lip like a criminal.
“Your Highness, thank you. And I am so sorry.”
It was the first time I’d seen her looking so dejected.
“It’s because I acted so thoughtlessly…”
I practically dragged the moping Cecilia over and made her sit on the sofa.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Of course, the outcome might have been different if you hadn't provoked her, but trying to ruin someone else’s business like this is simply unacceptable.”
Only a few days after Cecilia had bragged about putting Meisel in her place at the boutique, Alcent had received the demand to hand over Northern News to the Merchant Association President.
Even without knowing the full details, it was highly likely that Meisel was behind the Association President’s scheme.
But investment is a matter of money… No matter if Meisel is the daughter of Count Arbor, can a mere young lady really exert that much influence over the Merchant Association President?
Perhaps the Association President also had a bone to pick with me, so their interests simply aligned.
Cecilia’s face had turned pale, worrying that Mr. Alcent was suffering because of her.
Regardless, Alcent had been caught in the crossfire while doing nothing wrong, so I couldn't just stand by.
Besides, I didn't want Northern News falling into the wrong hands.
Especially since 'Cecil’s Recipe' is partly my work, too.
Should I ask the Grand Duke to lend me some money?
Knowing him, he’d probably feel sorry, thinking my privy purse was insufficient, and call for Whitley immediately. Or he’d just write me a check on the spot.
The Grand Duke is secretly a pushover—no, he’s soft-hearted.
But I couldn't use the privy purse for such personal matters.
Paying off Reta’s debt was one thing, as she was a maid of the castle and could be considered family, but Alcent was different.
This is why a person needs a slush fund.
Just as I opened my safe and sighed at the meager amount of emergency cash left, my eyes fell upon the jewelry box Ferdin had given me.