The Emperor’s Embroidery
**BACKTICK**CHAPTER_TITLE: Dragon Embroidery, Merchant Envy, and a Quiet Chess Game
Embroidery was one of many items sold in Marseille.
Pillows, coasters, cushions, clothing—anything you could imagine.
Even a single piece of cloth woven with a massive dragon design could be sold on its own.
Picture-perfect.
From black silk to golden threads, every detail crafted with the highest-grade materials.
The dragon embroidery itself was a premium product.
“How did it look to you two? Without the background, without the details—just the product itself.”
I turned to the chief administrator of Marseille, Gunter, and summoned the mansion manager, Glock, for an honest evaluation.
My own eye for design wasn’t particularly sharp, after all.
On the other hand, both of them were well-versed in noble etiquette and the market for luxury goods.
They would give me an objective verdict.
“Excellent.”
Gunter nodded with a serious expression.
He had always been the type of man you’d never expect to sound so sincere.
“Really?”
“Yes. The craftsmanship is beyond praise, and the uniqueness of the material draws the eye. You know what art is, don’t you? It’s all about grabbing attention. The ability to add a touch of bravado is crucial.”
“That’s true.”
The stronger the universal emotion it stirred, the better the art.
That was how ordinary art worked.
But it could also be elevated through exaggeration and pretense—if the quality held up.
“In that light, this piece seems to leave plenty of room for storytelling.”
“That’s music to my ears. Glock, what’s your take?”
Gunter had passed the test.
Now I was curious about Glock’s judgment.
As the butler, he had a keen eye for such things.
“If you intend to sell it as a product, I believe it holds sufficient value.”
Glock spoke with a calm, straightforwardness that needed no florid praise.
He simply agreed with Gunter.
“Then it’s settled. Gunter, go ahead and move forward.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll arrange promotion and sales through the Meyer merchant group.”
“Good. Just deduct the shipping cost, and the entire profit goes straight to Amelia. I’ll handle the commission myself.”
“So little?”
Gunter tilted his head in mild surprise.
He could have asked for more, yet he had drawn the line immediately.
He was starting to lose that edge.
In the beginning, he would have refused outright.
He probably never would have dreamed of profiting from the heroes’ work.
“That’s more than enough. This venture was meant to ease their burden, not to make money from it.”
“I understand.”
“And when you sell it, hide Amelia’s name at first. You can reveal it later, but let the product’s own value speak for itself.”
“Understood.”
Gunter nodded without protest.
Glock did the same.
By giving the war heroes meaningful work, you restored their self-worth.
It was a form of welfare, a kind of rehabilitation training.
So even if they offered repayment, we must never extract more than our due.
If the idea of “selling the heroes” took root, it would corrupt the people who once protected them.
“Thank you for your time. You’re both free to go back to your stations. Gunter, take the samples with you.”
“Yes, young master.”
Both men bowed respectfully and left the room.
Only Aaron and I remained in the quiet corner.
“Whew…”
I let out a long sigh and slumped onto the sofa.
I wondered how many stars Amelia’s embroidery would earn.
If the score was too low, her self-esteem would suffer.
I could find her another job, but the emotional wound might still remain.
All because of me.
‘Should I change my mind right now?’
My heart suddenly pounded like a war drum.
Anxiety twisted inside me.
It felt exactly like hiding a broken pot when my mother wasn’t home.
Fortunately, my Intuition didn’t activate.
It wasn’t a crisis.
‘No. Just believe it.’
So I pushed forward anyway.
Later, the unease lingered, but Amelia’s embroidery was undeniably attractive.
It would sell well.
#
Gunter wasted no time.
He called Roderick at once.
Once a simple peddler, he had grown into the head of the Roderick Merchant Group thanks to Yohan’s wisdom.
“You summoned me?”
The man with the neatly trimmed beard entered the administrator’s office.
He carried the weight of a successful merchant.
“Yes. I have something I’d like to ask of you. Please, sit.”
“Of course.”
Roderick sat, his expression growing tense as he guessed the nature of the request.
Before he could settle, Gunter placed the embroidered cloth on the table.
Roderick’s eyes widened in genuine shock.
“What is this?”
“The item you are to sell on behalf of young master. It is embroidery made by Lady Glachel herself.”
“Lady Glachel…”
Roderick’s voice trembled.
The name of a legendary war hero had just left Gunter’s lips.
“That’s right. She mentioned embroidery as her hobby, and young master took notice of it. Now, evaluate it purely on its own merit—without the background or the hero’s name.”
Gunter sat as he posed the question.
An odd tension filled the air.
If Roderick’s judgment passed the test, the item would be ready for sale.
“…Yes. I’ll take a look.”
Roderick exhaled deeply, forcing his heart to steady.
He was a merchant who had survived the cruelties of war.
His merchant instincts were sharp.
He examined the embroidery with pure commercial eyes.
At first glance, the idea of using embroidery like a painting wasn’t surprising.
Anyone could have thought of it.
But the imagery on the cloth was something no one else could have created.
A creature no one had ever seen before.
Dragon patterns were auspicious symbols, and they had been used for rule and governance.
Only Yohan knew that.
“Impressive.”
Roderick nodded, his voice sincere.
“Truly?”
“Yes. The design is both lavish and eye-catching, and the uniqueness adds to its appeal. Did you design this, young master?”
“Mmm. The pattern was my idea, but the embroidery was made by Lady Glachel.”
Roderick stayed silent, only blinking.
His sharp intuition screamed danger.
His keen judgment of people.
His growing artistic instinct.
Yohan’s depth still left him unable to predict the man’s next move.
“Indeed, young master. I cannot begin to guess.”
“Mmm. It means the Meyer family’s future is bright. Anyway, do you believe the value is there?”
“Of course.”
Roderick nodded without hesitation.
Even without seeing Yohan’s inner world, he could gauge the work’s worth accurately.
“Your endorsement means a great deal. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Yes. But must we sell it in a hurry?”
“Hmm? No. You showed no urgency, and you don’t seem to need speed. Why? Because the longer we take, the better the result?”
“I believe so.”
Gunter stroked his chin in thought.
Yohan, his master, had made no demands.
He had only said, “Sell it.”
Meaning time was on their side.
As long as it wasn’t rushed.
“If the outcome is good, young master will be satisfied. Just be careful it doesn’t drag on too long.”
“Of course.”
Roderick’s eyes sparkled with fierce resolve.
A short answer and that gaze carried unshakable confidence.
#
Life moved forward on its own.
I wandered the streets of Marseille, enjoying a rare day off.
This was the life of a noble, wasn’t it?
Still, important reports kept arriving.
Especially those concerning the war heroes.
Regarding the embroidery sales, they said it would take a little time.
I answered that it was fine.
There was no rush for money.
On the contrary, rushing would lower the value.
“Young master has arrived.”
As Aaron and I walked toward the harbor, the fishermen greeted us with respectful bows.
“Good day. Are you all well?”
“Yes. Thanks to young master.”
Tax relief.
Support for ships.
Rescue operations.
Thanks to our help, the people of Marseille were at an all-time high of goodwill.
Almost religious in fervor.
That alone made the propaganda of “show respect to the heroes” far more effective.
After all, it was the wish of the heroes’ benefactor.
“That’s wonderful. Everyone, please take some time to enjoy yourselves. The wives are so strict, you know?”
I patted Aaron’s shoulder and laughed.
By teasing him, I was also tightening the discipline.
Thanks to me, even the once-sharp-eyed fishermen smiled awkwardly.
“Let’s go.”
Before the awkwardness could deepen, I steered Aaron away.
Toward Reina’s shop.
“Welcome… wait, young master?!”
When I opened the door with a flourish, the nearby employee nearly dropped his tray.
Because of my face, no one ever forgot me.
“Rough day? How’s business? Is it going well?”
I glanced around, taking in the bustling atmosphere.
Even without asking, the answer was clear from the crowds.
Still, I asked for the sake of politeness.
“You can see for yourself—it’s booming. Adding simple bets makes more people come.”
That made sense.
Betting was one of the strongest dopamines this world had to offer.
“The stakes are strictly limited?”
“Yes. We follow the principle of keeping things simple. And….”
The employee glanced toward the second floor.
There, alone at the chessboard, sat Reina, and his eyes were fixed on her with a mix of admiration and mischief.
“She’s here too.”
“Indeed.”
I nodded.
Even with Reina’s presence, the shop’s lively energy was welcome.
But
No one else approached her.
They treated her like royalty.
‘I’ll have to emphasize closeness when I go up there.’
I thanked the employee and headed upstairs.
Our eyes met.
“Oh? What brings you here?”
Reina’s eyes widened in surprise.
On the table lay a neatly arranged chess set.
I let out a small sigh.
I had once played chess alone too.
“I came to play. I heard you were bored.”
“You came at just the right time. Sit down.”
She smiled brightly and offered me a seat.
Then I sat.
“Forgive me.”
I took the opposite chair and studied the board.
The harbor was a city of fishermen.
People here rarely enjoyed sophisticated games like chess.
They wanted something intuitive.
Simple.
That was why chess was such a hit.
“Shall we play a game?”
“Yes.”
“Great.”
Reina smiled like a blooming flower and set up the board.
The sight of a worthy opponent clearly excited her.
“You’re white. First move.”
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t good at chess.
I barely knew the rules, so I was clumsy.
But
Danger detected in 3 seconds. Red highlight on board activated.
