Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Arselia Rosenheim
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Tap tap.
Arselia muttered lightly, tapping her lips with her gloveless hand.
"I remember he hasn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet..."
Arselia had learned of 'Julian's' existence purely by a stroke of coincidence piled upon coincidence.
As usual, she was pondering how to grow her own merchant guild—not her family's—and achieve independence, eventually founding one under her own name.
She had stepped out into the open without hiding her identity anymore because the businesses he was running had grown too massive to manage solely through proxies.
The empire's moneyed business folk feared one place above all: the 'Audit Bureau,' which had begun to stir slyly.
Everyone minimized taxes, but no one evaded them outright—that was the deterrent embodied by the bureau itself.
Just the fact that the 'Audit Bureau's Fourth Division,' which employed a sword master's prized disciple as its executor, had gotten restless was enough to terrify merchants across the empire.
If the imperial guard was the sharpest sword pointed outward, the Audit Bureau was the keen blade carving inward.
Everyone held their breath, wondering whose neck it would sever this time—especially since it was the Fourth Division on the move.
"Right, and unusually for them, the Everglow Family stayed quiet on that front but got busy in other ways..."
When people rushed, they left traces behind.
They had done their best to erase them, but the haste meant some clues lingered.
And by sheer luck, it wasn't the Rosenheim Merchant Guild that got hold of them—it was Arselia herself.
Recalling that moment still made her question if what she'd seen had been a dream.
Now practically lounging on the sofa, Arselia placed a hand on her ample chest and reminisced.
Late evening.
After wrapping up her now-familiar overtime, she was exhausted from battling paperwork all day on nothing but light snacks and tea.
Having pulled all-nighters for days and worked late right up to the end, she didn't head straight home like usual—instead, she ventured out into the streets.
Nothing was worse for her figure than late-night eating, but she couldn't resist despite knowing better.
Her body was fiercely demanding a reward for all her hard work.
Still, she kept makeup minimal and took only her most trusted attendant, heading somewhere she hadn't been before.
She didn't know it then, but it was a restaurant tied to Julian's businesses.
And then...
"Mm, well, whatever happened back then, today's contract went smoothly enough. That's plenty."
Sometimes, forgetting was the key to longevity in her line of information.
She neatly wiped that scene from her mind, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the dazzling lights.
Even so, the brilliance seeped through her fingers, making her eyes swim.
Was it her tangled emotions, like an unspooled thread?
Despite lying down, she felt no rest at all. With a sigh, she sat up.
Her limbs felt heavy, as if she'd drained all her energy, and though she wanted to call it a night, she couldn't.
For some reason, she had to finalize the details of the contract with the man who had shown her unexpected 'goodwill.'
Her days were tied up with Rosenheim Merchant Guild duties, so building her own guild meant sacrificing personal time like this.
She lightly swept back her disheveled hair from lying down and muttered.
"Still, I've taken that important first step."
With a light clap, she tapped her cheek to focus, picked up her pen, and got to work.
Scratch scratch.
The clauses she agonized over would one day form the foundation of her own merchant guild.
Arselia's dream.
Not Arselia 'Rosenheim's'—hers alone.
A modest yet desire-filled goal: to possess something that was truly her own, not the family's.
To break free from the Rosenheim family's vast influence in the empire's economy and build her own guild.
"Ugh, if I'd known he'd agree so readily, I would've aimed higher...!"
She regretted playing it safe out of needless fear.
She knew it was better than overreaching and blowing it, but the regret lingered.
Still, her hand kept steadily filling out forms and documents.
After wrestling with stacks of paper for ages, she finished the draft and flopped back, spent.
She rotated her aching wrists to loosen them, then carefully packaged it away in her thick personal safe—out of sight from the guild's other members.
Remembering to pocket the key, she grabbed her coat and stood.
Night had fully fallen; the moon hung high.
"I'll escort you."
Her silent attendant, who had waited patiently for her to finish, drove the carriage home.
The first thing she did upon arriving was bathe.
Prepping tensely for the meeting with Julian had left her more fatigued than usual.
Soaking in warm water melted the tension away, naturally curling her lips upward.
A happy tune escaped her lips.
At the same time, his face from earlier flashed in her mind.
A lean face suited to his tall, stately frame.
The feel of their clasped hands.
Not a single discourtesy—he even positioned himself thoughtfully toward his counterpart.
The very model of a noble gentleman.
"But why did he seem so sharp-edged...?"
Curious where that impression came from, she hugged her knees, her full breasts pressing against them.
"His eyes, maybe?"
She tucked her damp hair behind her ear, recalling his appearance from earlier that day.
Flashy without excess, manners befitting a noble merchant.
Young—almost boyish, even.
Yet he carried an air of being chased by something.
Unlikely for a son of an earl's family, though.
"Ah, someone like me?"
The type with their own goals, never content with the status quo, always hustling.
What others called workaholics.
That would explain it.
She'd danced around the point, but when she cut to the chase, he'd agreed immediately—like he'd been waiting for it.
"Now that we're in the same boat, I can take my time getting to know him..."
Recognizing him as a kindred spirit boosted her inner affinity for him.
She didn't notice her lips curving up while thinking of him, though.
On the way back from the Rosenheim Merchant Guild in the carriage.
The negotiation had gone better than expected, lifting her spirits into a cheerful hum.
Gazing out the window, she watched streetlights flicker on one by one as dusk deepened.
Streetlights everywhere, yet no hotels? Well...
Probably a matter of face.
High society was a jungle of beasts.
Gathering prime-age men and women? Scandals and rumors swirled daily.
And those who wielded rumors best climbed the pyramid.
She wasn't one for crowds, showing her face only occasionally...
But after her coming-of-age ceremony, invitations would pour in for a while, no doubt.
She'd dodged them so far; once she started, it'd be nonstop.
Before then, she had to prep the hotel opening...
"You seem in high spirits today, young master."
"Oh, yeah? That obvious?"
"Not just a little—very."
"Guess it's 'cause it went so smoothly and easy. Got a bit nervous when he called me just to see my face."
Sion tilted her head at his joking tone.
"Is there no other reason, young master?"
"Arselia-noona I met today was pretty, yeah."
"...I trust you won't let a pretty face ruin your business."
"Not like that. When have I ever?"
He waved it off, reassuring her.
"You haven't. That's what worries me."
"Huh?"
"If it were the second young master, he'd be a playboy, but at least he'd have experience with women."
"Ah, 'cause I don't have much experience with girls?"
Sion nodded in agreement.
Probably because they'd just seen her second brother earlier.
"Well, yeah, but you think I'd mix business and pleasure? Even a beauty wouldn't sway me if she wasn't good for business—I'd have walked."
Her expression was her usual blank, but her tail stood stiff—she wasn't thrilled.
He insisted otherwise, but her second brother did have quite the reputation with women...
Their parents were unusual; other nobles kept mistresses despite wives.
Not enough? Paramours too.
The church preached chastity, but that just proved no one followed it.
That was why he'd started the hotel idea—and why their house had a 'model room' in an empty chamber.
Their mansion was grand and beautiful, but poor soundproofing was its flaw.
Really.
All night, creaking beds and muffled sounds.
Half his insomnia probably stemmed from that guy, her second brother.
"Ah, thinking about it pisses me off. Gotta make that jerk pay full price for the furniture no matter what."
Heat rising, he swept back his bangs.
Some folks dated nonstop while he hustled without time for that.
"Young master?"
"Don't worry, Sion. When have I ever misjudged people? Maybe picked bad business ventures, but never bad partners."
"...True. Sorry, I overstepped."
"Nah, I appreciate you looking out for me."
Perfect spot, so he stroked her head after ages.
As kids, they'd been inseparable, but as she grew, she insisted attendants stayed behind their masters...
Sion seemed pleased after so long, purring contentedly as she leaned in.
She'd been a tiny kitten back then; now a tall beauty—stroking her felt odd.
Arselia-noona was a jaw-dropper at first sight, but Sion matched her in his eyes.
"Plus, after years with a beauty like you by my side, why chase noonas?"
"Pardon?"
"Lucky to have a stunner like you around."
"...Even so, you still have work to finish tonight."
"Damn, you've been around me too long—too sharp!"
Her tail swished happily, though—good call on the compliment.
Women loved praise on looks, huh.
They bantered idly, watching scenery roll by.
His ventures were many, but not enough to dominate the capital—other signs abounded.
"In a world without monopoly laws, I'd sweep 'em all up..."
Pondering how to boost name value and expand, an idea hit.
"Oh yeah, we've mostly finished the building, right?"
"Exterior's done; just interior finishing and furniture left, as I understand."
"Already? Thought there was more last check."
"Second brother helped in various ways."
"Magic's amazing..."
He couldn't use it, but the guy was useful.
"Anyway, let's do one event."
"An event, you say?"
"Weddings are at church, but receptions are elsewhere, right?"
"No way..."
"No venue set yet, so how about our hotel's banquet hall? Gotta check with Dad and brother, though..."
"They'd likely approve. Still, best to inspect the site yourself first."
"Good call. Tomorrow, then—too late today."
"Added to tomorrow's schedule. About the lottery...?"
"Ah, like open beta. Y'know, a preview taste?"
He'd poured into the interior; others had liked it before...
"Gotta test it for real. Fix issues before official open."
"Understood. How to select the event venue?"
"For this, chocolate's the way."
Event name: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
Ah, copyright—no go.