Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ivana's Bold Style and Business Talk
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"Ivana, are you sure it's okay to wear something that thin?"
"Yes. It's actually cooler this way, so I prefer it."
"That's good then."
Hmm... Did I underestimate Ivana more than I thought?
I just figured she'd throw on something moderately light and call it a day.
"Hmm..."
For now, we'd bought a bunch of clothes, and there were all sorts of paper bags in Ivana's hands, but what she had on right now definitely looked good. Pretty, even.
Unlike the short-sleeved shirts she'd picked out early on, the top she was wearing now was a sleeveless shirt that left her shoulders bare.
And for bottoms, incredibly short denim shorts.
"...Hmm."
How to put it—a little sexy.
It wasn't anything extremely revealing, but maybe it was her killer figure.
Plus, the outfit itself showed a fair bit of skin.
I'd already noticed those pretty legs of hers when she first stepped out after changing, and now with the sleeveless shirt, her arms were on display too... yeah.
Maybe it was because I was so used to seeing her in her uniform that this look hit different.
Or maybe it was how her skin was even whiter than most people's, drawing the eye like crazy.
Just looking at her sparked all kinds of thoughts.
"Why are you doing that?"
"Just—the outfit you're wearing suits you so perfectly. I didn't expect this style to look this good on you."
"Ah."
Had I been staring too much at Ivana walking beside me?
It wasn't like I'd been gawking nonstop or anything, just casual glances.
Was Ivana sensitive to that kind of attention?
Well, she was a duke's daughter, after all. She probably got stared at and fawned over plenty.
"Camellia, if you don't have plans later, could we maybe talk business?"
"Right now?"
"Yes."
Hmm...?
Ivana was the one suggesting we hit up a cafe together.
Of course, I knew she'd asked for my help with her business venture, but... she hadn't made an offer like this before.
In fact, aside from that initial business proposal, she almost never brought it up with me first.
No idea why, but she'd hardly ever taken the initiative on business talk... and now this out of nowhere.
"Shall we, then? Which cafe?"
"Somewhere not too crowded, quiet. It's family-related stuff, after all."
"Hmm... Let's walk a little farther first."
It was pretty sudden, but it wasn't like I couldn't make time.
She'd basically blackmailed me with that wish voucher into helping with her business back then, anyway.
And she didn't seem to know much about it herself.
"Hmm..."
*
The cafe we ended up at, thanks to Ivana's recommendation, was a room cafe.
The same one I'd hung out in with the Rosaki sisters before.
Made sense—we had to discuss business and family matters, so we didn't want anyone overhearing.
"It's a private room."
"Yeah, pretty much? The whole point is privacy—no peeking, no eavesdropping."
"I figured it'd just be a quiet cafe. Didn't expect this setup."
"Ah ha."
Fair enough.
Room cafes weren't exactly everywhere yet, and I hadn't expanded the business up north anyway.
Totally understandable reaction.
Anyway, we set our drinks from the counter down on the little table and got comfortable in some seats.
No one else around, so I stretched my legs out on the floor.
"Haaah..."
I'd definitely nailed it starting that room cafe business.
Hard to find spots this comfy to unwind otherwise.
"Is it okay to sprawl out like that?"
"Yeah, that's the vibe? If you couldn't relax like this, why bother coming into a private room?"
"Ah..."
"Soundproofing's solid too. We can talk freely."
"I see."
Ivana might not have adjusted to room cafes yet—who knows—but unlike me, she sat all prim and proper.
Her outfit made it look a tad mismatched, though.
Still pretty.
Didn't look bad at all.
Yeah, with her knees tucked under like that, her thighs were right there... definitely pretty.
I still had no clue what made her tick or what was going through her head.
"Pfft..."
"Why are you doing that?"
"Just? Anyway, what'd you want to talk about?"
Time to get down to real business.
No idea what Ivana Nordal wanted to hash out about her venture, but I'd agreed to help.
Business was one thing I took seriously.
"To become Family Head, I need to prove my abilities by twenty-two at the latest. I graduate the Academy at sixteen... think I can pull it off in six years?"
"Six years?"
"Yes. With Academy studies, managing a business seems... tough."
"Ah... yeah, it's a hassle. Exhausting."
I knew she needed to run a business to claim the Nordal Family Head spot, but I hadn't known the deadline.
Even so, building something solid by twenty-two? Not hard at all. No way.
Sure, juggling Academy work and business might be rough...
But it wasn't impossible by any stretch—not like she was fretting over.
"Hmm... It'll be fine. No big deal."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've got nearly ten years from now till twenty-two."
"That's... true."
"You're thirteen now, sixteen at graduation. Factor in till twenty-two... way too easy."
"...?"
Did my words sound ridiculous?
Ivana eyed me suspiciously, but I meant it.
"I don't know exactly what 'proving abilities' entails, but I kicked off my real business at eight or nine—and your starting funds are way more than mine were."
Money ruled all.
Abilities mattered, sure, but starting capital set your launchpad.
Difference between one gold and a hundred? Night and day. Hundred versus a thousand? Even bigger.
"No need to sweat the timeline. What else you wondering about?"
"I've brought it up before—what kind of business specifically..."
"Go for low-competition fields. Easiest that way. Especially for you—picking a direction's a breeze."
The Northern Region got few outsiders, minimal trade or exchange.
Perfect for Ivana to leverage.
Most of my plans for her tied into that anyway.
Sure, I had plenty of non-North ideas in my head, but North was the clear winner.
"Like I said before—Northern Region-themed travel and merchandise. Best bet."
"Hmm..."
"If you hate that, I've got tons of other ideas. Low competition isn't a must either."
"I see."
We kept chatting, me lounging casual.
Honestly, it'd been ages since I'd gone on like this about business—usually didn't bother. Kinda fun.
And her questions weren't tough ones.
"But Ivana."
"Yes? What's up?"
Mid-convo, something about her bugged me.
Not the stiff business or family stuff—more trivial. Kinda dumb, even.
"No matter how cushy the floor is, kneeling like that's gotta hurt, right? I couldn't do it."
"Hmm... Does it?"
"Yeah. Soft or not, it aches."
"Hmm."
"That's why every time I come here, I sit like this—or straight-up lie down."
Ever since we entered the room, Ivana had held the exact same pose.
Knees tucked the whole time. Was that comfy?
I'd mentioned it because it bugged me—I hated that.
Unlike my total slouch, legs splayed, manners tossed aside, her prim posture was fascinating.
"Not uncomfortable at all."
"For real?"
"Yes. I've trained hard for years, and like you said—the floor's plush."
"Fair, but..."
Still looked painful.
Not just now—usually, Ivana came off stiffest in our group.
Club room hangs? Back ramrod straight. Everyone else rowdy? Her, silent.
That sparring session, she was all feral wolf growls.
But day-to-day? Peak duke's daughter vibes.
"Hmm..."
"Why?"
"Nothing. Like I said earlier—just your outfit's so pretty, I kept looking."
"...That's it?"
"Yeah."
Something about these rigid noble types always struck me as living too uncomfortably.
Loosen up a bit, do your own thing—especially around friends like this.
"Hmm."
Whatever. Her call.
I decided to drop it.
Maybe once we got closer, she'd drop the lady act for something girlier, like Ella or Grace.
"Pfft..."
Ivana giggling and chatting like any other girl our age.
Couldn't picture it—made me chuckle.