Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Lirian's Bold Proposals
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello, Young Master."
Lirian smiled.
"Good morning."
"......"
What the hell.
Why is she being so friendly?
Last time I saw her, she had this cold vibe. Sharp, calculating, the epitome of a merchant lady from a trading house.
"May I come in?"
"...Pardon?"
"I have something quick to discuss."
Lirian flashed a bright smile.
"......"
I let her in for now.
Lirian stepped into the room.
"Oh my, your room is so tidy."
"......"
Her words were full of praise.
But her eyes were elsewhere.
The bed. The table. The curtains. The carpet.
Every time her gaze swept over them...
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
It was like I could hear the abacus beads rolling.
"Northerners really are different. Such refined elegance, wouldn't you say?"
"......"
Her lips were smiling.
But her eyes weren't.
"By the way, Young Master."
Lirian looked at me.
"Your eyes are sparkling today."
"......"
My eyes?
"Is it the morning sunlight? They're dazzling. And your skin is flawless. Must be from growing up in the crisp northern air."
"......"
This lady...
She's after something.
That's when...
Lirian's gaze stopped on something.
On the table.
There were the sunglasses. Leftovers from yesterday.
"Oh."
Lirian's eyes lit up.
"Is this the trendy glasses everyone's talking about?"
"...Pardon?"
"Mind if I take a closer look?"
Before I could answer, Lirian picked up the sunglasses.
"......"
Something felt off.
She wasn't just looking.
She peered into the lenses. Held them up to the light. Touched the frames. Folded and unfolded the hinges.
"......"
Her expression had changed.
The friendly warmth was gone. Now she was eyeing it sharply, calculating.
"......"
Her lips moved slightly.
Like she was muttering to herself.
"......cost in silver... condition... durability..."
"...What was that?"
"Oh, nothing."
Lirian smiled. But her eyes stayed glued to the sunglasses.
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
That sound again.
"......"
A moment later.
Lirian's pupils dilated.
Her eyes sparkled.
Looked like her calculations were done.
"Hoo..."
The corner of her mouth lifted.
Like a cat that smelled money.
"...This is truly an impressive item."
"...Is it?"
Just your standard northern sunglasses. Nothing special.
"Yes. Truly impressive."
Lirian's voice trembled.
She was trying to hide her excitement. But failing miserably.
"......"
Her eyes were screaming.
'The profit margins on this are insane.'
"......"
Gave me the chills.
"...So."
I said.
"What brings you here?"
"Ah, yes."
Lirian kept her smile as she spoke.
"Actually, I have a great proposal for you, Young Master."
See?
I knew it.
"A proposal?"
"Yes."
Lirian pulled something from her bosom.
A document.
"The Goldwin Merchant Guild would like to take you under our wing."
"...Take me under your wing?"
"Yes. A management contract."
Management?
"We'll handle all your activities."
Lirian unfolded the document.
"Schedule management, image management, sponsorship connections... We'll take care of everything."
"......"
"You can just relax, Young Master."
"......"
"We'll handle it all."
"......"
I looked at the document.
It was packed with fine print. Tons of clauses.
I skimmed it.
[Party A holds exclusive rights to all external activities of Party B.]
[Party B cannot enter any contracts without prior approval from Party A.]
[Revenue split: Party A 7, Party B 3.]
[Contract term: 10 years.]
"......"
Hold up.
This...
Do I look like a total pushover?
7-3? 10 years? Exclusive?
This is a slave contract.
"What do you think, Young Master?"
Lirian smiled.
"Not bad terms, right?"
"......"
Not bad?
This?
"No thanks."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not doing it."
"......"
Lirian's smile froze.
"...Pardon?"
"I said no. Not interested."
"......"
"......"
A brief silence fell.
Lirian blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
Her mouth hung slightly open. Wide eyes. Stiff expression.
Like a drowned cat.
"......"
But she recovered quickly.
Merchant family training, I guess. Poker face on point.
"Oh dear, my apologies."
Lirian folded the document.
"I must have brought the wrong one."
"......"
Wrong one?
"This was for someone else. Tee-hee."
"......"
I know it's a lie.
"The real one I meant to offer is this."
Lirian pulled out another document.
"Sunglasses exclusive contract."
"......"
"I checked all the guilds you were approached by."
Lirian unfolded it.
"Ours is the best offer. Generous."
"......"
I looked at the document.
[Exclusive rights to manufacture and sell sunglasses]
[Signing bonus: 5,000 gold coins]
[15% of sales revenue to Young Master]
[Contract term: 3 years]
"......"
Better than the first.
Much better.
But.
"What do you say?"
Lirian asked.
"Better than the other guilds."
"......"
"We're the Empire's largest merchant guild. Vast distribution network."
"......"
"You just lend your name. We'll handle production and sales."
"......"
Lirian smiled.
Confident expression.
'She'll accept this.'
That's what her face said.
"......"
I set the document down.
"Get out."
"...Pardon?"
"No thanks. Not doing it."
"......"
"Get out."
"......"
"......"
Lirian stared at me.
Incredulous look.
"Um, Young Master?"
"Yes."
"These terms... not to your liking?"
"Yes."
"......"
"Get out."
"......"
Lirian opened her mouth.
Like she was about to say something.
"Get out."
"W-Wait a moment!"
Lirian said urgently.
"We can adjust the split!"
"Get out."
"7-3! With you at 7!"
"Get out."
I pushed Lirian toward the door.
"No, 8-2! Young Master!?"
"Get out."
"Wait, we can shorten the term too! 1 year! No, 6 months!"
"Get out."
I opened the door.
Pushed Lirian outside.
"Young Master! We can pay upfront! Up to 10,000 gold coins...!"
Slam.
I shut the door.
"......"
Phew.
Annoying one's gone.
As I turned...
Shh.
"...?"
A sound from under the door.
I looked back.
Something was sliding through the crack.
"......"
Sparkle.
Gold.
A business card.
Pure gold business card.
"......"
"If you change your mind, call anytime!"
A shout from outside.
"Available 24/7! Even 2 a.m.!"
"......"
"Young Master!"
"......"
Footsteps faded away.
I looked at the card on the floor.
[Goldwin Merchant Guild]
[Lirian de Goldwin]
[Call anytime ♡]
"......"
Why the heart?
The hallway.
Lirian stood before the closed door.
"......"
She still clutched the documents. Crumpled.
"......"
What?
Why did I get kicked out?
It didn't make sense.
Great terms. Went up to 8-2. Even offered 10,000 gold at the end.
"......"
According to my intel.
Northern Grand Duke's second son. The overlooked spare. Doesn't train in swordsmanship or magic. Just a lazy idler.
Spoiled young master. Naive to the world. Butter him up, and he'd fold easy.
"......"
So why?
"......"
What's wrong.
Lirian tilted her head.
Click-clack.
Abacus beads rolled in her mind.
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
"......"
The math didn't add up. Something missing. But what?
"......"
Lirian looked down at the crumpled contract.
A sigh escaped.
"...Gotta rework this."
She muttered.
She started walking down the hall.
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
Click-clack.
The abacus wouldn't stop.
Slam.
The door shut.
"............"
"Hweeeee..."
Tension melted away.
Forgetting how cool I'd played it in front of Lirian, I dove onto the bed like a floppy squid.
Sink.
Buried my face in the pillow.
Drained.
Totally drained.
That Lirian lady's energy is no joke.
Pressuring with that sweet smile.
Ha...
Merchant ladies are scary as hell.
Roll.
Rolling around.
Then something hard touched my hand. I looked up—leftover croissant from earlier.
"............"
Shoved it in my mouth.
Munch.
Crunch crunch.
...Tasty.
Crunch crunch.
Feeling recharged now.
"............"
Ah.
Wanna rest.
Really wanna chill.
But gotta do what needs doing.
I sighed and picked up the crystal orb on the table.
Opened the menu.
Not the gallery. Something else.
Insta.
This world's Instagram.
Still in super early days. Barely anyone using it. Just starting to catch on among nobles?
Most are like, "What is this? Uploading pics via crystal orb?" Amazed at the novelty.
But.
I know.
How big this'll get.
Saw influencers in the modern world.
One live sale: thousands?
Print money laughing.
Over 100k followers? Money-printing machine.
The catch?
Becoming a popular influencer is a bitch.
Start at 0 followers, grind content, ride algorithms, years to get traction.
But.
I manipulated the crystal orb and logged into the gallery.
Number at the top.
[Live viewers: 41,283]
"............"
40k.
I already have 40k rabid fans.
Distribution network?
40k fans'll handle it.
Manufacturing?
One mine-owning lady among 40k, easy.
Crafting?
Someone'll sort it.
Marketing?
One selfie post, done.
I'm invincible.
40k rabid fans are gods.
"............"
Corner of my mouth twitched.
Heh heh.
Heh heh heh.
Couldn't help it—kicked my legs on the bed, hugged the blanket, rolled around.
Heh heh heh heh.
...Calm down.
Get a grip.
Ahem.
Alright.
Time to make an Insta account.
Switched menus to Insta.
[Create Account]
Nickname input popped up.
What to pick.
Hmm...
ID should show true self.
A wolf, but one that doesn't hunt.
Not in the north—in the warm capital south, under the sun, casually collecting gold once a month. A peaceful wolf like that.
"............"
Closed my eyes for a sec.
Sunflower-filled garden.
Hammock between big trees.
Lounging there, napping.
Hungry? Bite into a fresh croissant.
That life.
"............"
Kruuuh.
Bliss.
That's my dream.
Northern blizzards? Lifetime potatoes? Screw that. My goal: 'Idler Under the Sun'.
Yeah.
Nickname locked in.
[@Sunlight_Idler_Wolf]
Entered and hit confirm.
[Account created.]
Heh heh.
Perfect.
Good. Now first post.