Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ivana's Request for Succession
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"Business... You mean you want me to help with the Nordal Lady's business, right?"
"That's right. I'm glad we're on the same page."
"Hmm."
What could I say? It was quite bewildering.
It wasn't something I had anticipated, but for her to investigate my past and approach me with this based on that information—it was downright absurd.
Sure, I had used similar tactics in my own business dealings back then.
But that didn't make the current situation any easier to comprehend.
"What exactly are you looking for? Do you want me to run the business myself? Or just advise the Nordal Lady?"
"Please help me achieve results."
"Results..."
Results in business was such an ambiguous term.
While it was fine to measure success purely in terms of money, there were all sorts of other outcomes possible beyond that. What kind of results was she referring to?
Profits?
Business growth?
Societal impact?
What sort was she talking about?
"Could you specify which aspects are most important? Or perhaps explain more clearly why you need to pursue this business in the first place?"
That was why I looked at Ivana and posed the question again.
She must have had solid reasons for asking me specifically, and if I was going to accept, I needed to hear them out.
I wasn't foolish enough to jump into something nonsensical without thinking.
"It's to become the Family Head."
"Family Head?"
"Yes. It's a way to prove myself... a test, you could say."
"Hmm..."
"To become the Family Head and the ruler of the North, I need the Leonhardt Lady's help to demonstrate my qualifications."
Ivana Nordal said this while looking straight at me.
Was she basing this solely on my past business history?
If so, it seemed like there would be far better candidates—more experienced merchants and noble houses with greater resources—than me.
"Won't others be better suited? Rather than asking for help from a mere first-year Academy student, a 13-year-old girl, surely there are stronger allies out there."
"You're right. Entrusting this to someone my age, or even younger, might seem lacking."
"Yes, so why bring this to me specifically?"
Truth be told, it looked bothersome, so I was saying this on purpose.
The conversation had come out of nowhere—Nordal family, ruler of the North... the scale was suddenly enormous.
I didn't want to get involved in anything tedious or burdensome.
"You topped the written Class Assignment Exam at the Academy, placed in the upper ranks for practicals despite half-assing them, and made a fortune from your previous ventures. All at just 12 years old."
"...That's true."
"A mere 12-year-old girl. Even starting with some initial capital, you amassed wealth comparable to several baronies combined in just a few years."
"......"
Hmm.
She knew that much?
I hadn't expected her to have details on my personal assets.
I'd spread them across various banks, and even entrusted portions to the Information Guild, yet she had this level of intel.
"You've done your homework."
"That's why I'm asking you."
"Haha..."
Now it felt like I couldn't refuse even if I wanted to.
Even if I turned her down here and said no...
"How about using that Wish Voucher I gave you last time? Seems like you don't have much else to use it on anyway."
"That works too. It looks like the Leonhardt Lady has already grasped the full situation."
"Haha..."
I hadn't pegged Ivana Nordal as this type at first.
She seemed far sharper, more meticulous, and intimidating than I'd thought.
Her perpetual blank, emotionless demeanor had thrown me off completely.
Unbeknownst to me, she'd dug up my info, even my Academy grades... hmm.
Of course, since most of what I'd done was already out in the open, I had no grounds to complain about her methods.
"...So, to sum up, the Nordal Lady wants my help in her bid to become the Nordal Family Head?"
"Yes, exactly. But that doesn't mean I'll burden the Leonhardt Lady with a ton of tasks. Just the business side—that's the only area where I'm lacking."
"Haa..."
I'd planned to steer clear of business or money-making schemes while attending the Academy.
Who could've foreseen this twist?
It was utterly unexpected and disorienting, but my answer was already set.
"I'll do it, so how about counting that Wish Voucher as used for this?"
"It doesn't matter to me either way. If that's what the Leonhardt Lady wants, then so be it."
Whether she used the Wish Voucher or not, I had to accept this proposal anyway.
Not just anyone, but Ivana Nordal—the Nordal eldest daughter who effectively ruled the North and was poised to inherit it fully.
She was asking for my help, but she was already the frontrunner for next Family Head even without it.
I didn't know exactly what the future held for me.
But befriending someone with immense power was an unmissable opportunity.
Sure, it seemed like a hassle?
"You're accepting?"
"Yes, I'll accept. How could I refuse when you're even offering a Wish Voucher?"
...It was practically coerced, but I smiled and replied.
Just like I'd worried before, bumping into scary assassin sisters from the North on the street was no joke.
"Then I look forward to working with you. I'm not sure how much help I can provide, but...?"
I extended my hand to Ivana as I spoke.
We were sort of partners now, so a handshake seemed in order.
"As expected... the Leonhardt Lady is a bit different."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. I look forward to working with you too. Since we're at it, how about dropping the formal titles and using given names?"
Ivana took my hand and said this.
Indeed, among the people around me now, Ivana Nordal was the only one still using "Leonhardt Lady."
With Karen, it was her name or "older sister"; Ella was just Ella; Grace had somehow become just Grace—we'd been on first-name terms.
"Hmm... sure, why not?"
I'd been leading the club so far, but Ivana had always felt a bit on the outside.
As club leader, wasn't it my job to help us all bond more?
"Miss Ivana? Hmm... feels a bit awkward."
"Hmm..."
"Is this okay? It hasn't quite rolled off the tongue yet, but it'll get better with time."
"...Yes, that should be fine. Camellia."
We'd had this somewhat abrupt conversation on the way back from classes, but it felt like a decent haul overall.
Sure, I'd gotten roped into something troublesome too.
But in the end, it was a solid okay.
*
"Miss Ivana, want to go somewhere together after Academy today?"
"Sure, Camellia."
The next day in the Academy classroom, I casually spoke to Ivana Nordal.
Naturally, this drew more stares from the surrounding students... but everyone already knew we were on friendly terms anyway.
No point hiding it now.
"...What?"
"What's up, Miss Grace?"
"No, what just..."
"?"
Grace was staring at me, her eyes twitching wildly.
Was something off?
My appearance today was the usual—stunningly pretty and cute, nothing out of the ordinary.
No issues came to mind at all.
"What's wrong?"
"Camellia, when did you get so chummy with the Nordal Lady?"
"Hmm... yesterday? We hung out and hit it off. Thinking about it, always calling her by her title felt too stiff."
I gave Ella a rough explanation for her question.
Not that there was much to explain anyway?
Anyway.
"Oh, Ella and Miss Grace, want to come along after Academy? I heard new clothes arrived at the Academy shop—could be fun to check them out."
I'd originally planned to bond with Ivana over business talk.
But skipping that and just hanging out as a group seemed fine too.
"...Tch."
I thought I heard something from Ivana behind me, but probably not.
If she had something to say, she'd have said it properly.
"How about it? Everyone good?"
"I'm fine with it. But shouldn't we check with the Nordal Lady too?"
"Oh, right. What do you think, Miss Ivana? Is it okay if Ella and Miss Grace join?"
"...I don't mind."
"She says it's fine."
With Ivana's approval, our afternoon post-Academy shopping trip was all but confirmed.
Karen wasn't here right now... but she always hung out with us after classes anyway.
Should be no issue.