Soap (8)
Melania de Umbra. As both a dragon and the true ruler of the Vicken Duchy, she kept nodding along with Helen’s words, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"So the reason you came to see me is because you wish to invest?"
"Yes."
Helen Wagner, the genius alchemist who lived in this very territory, had come seeking investment. To Melania, she was practically the model of a dutiful daughter. For some reason, Helen had chosen to reside here, even paying her taxes dutifully, and now she wanted to invest? It was nothing short of excellent news.
"Very well. Where exactly do you wish to invest? Just say the word and I shall make every convenience possible. Wellington, Treasurer, you heard her, yes?"
"Yes!"
Wellington and the treasurer bowed their heads in unison. From their perspective, there was no reason not to welcome an investor with open arms.
"Then I would like to invest in the project that Sir Alpha is currently planning."
"Hm? In something Alpha is doing?"
"Yes."
Melania tilted her head in confusion. The department Alpha belonged to had created a simple pregnancy test kit and had been working on something ever since, but their results had been minimal at best. It couldn’t be helped, she supposed. According to Alpha, they lacked the budget to produce any meaningful countermeasures against the Black Death right away. Instead, he had been steadily improving the Breeding Chamber to raise pregnancy rates and tinkering with various other things. She had read all of that in the reports.
But was there really anything worth investing in?
Melania pondered for a moment but couldn’t come up with anything. For a dragon like her, curiosity was something that had to be satisfied. It was inevitable. For dragons, the masters of magic, curiosity was an impulse that simply had to be resolved.
"What exactly are you trying to invest in?"
"I’m not entirely sure myself."
"Pardon?"
"The truth is, he came to me to purchase the copyright for caustic soda. I told him I would think about it and sent him away. But the more I thought about it, the stronger the scent of money became. So instead of selling the copyright for the caustic soda I created, I decided I wanted to invest instead."
"…Hmm. Bring Alpha here."
Since even Helen didn’t know the full details of what Alpha was planning, Melania summoned him so she could hear the full story.
"Ahem. Lady Helen? Alpha is nothing more than a Breeder. There is no need for you to address him with such honorifics."
In the short time before Alpha arrived, Wellington decided to use it to correct something that had been bothering him: Helen’s overly respectful way of addressing Alpha.
"Oh my. I’m perfectly fine with it. One cannot be rude to the head of a department."
"Even so, there is such a thing as noble dignity. Addressing someone lower than a commoner with ‘Sir’ would not be looked upon favorably even in a Count’s household…"
"Baron Wellington. If the project Sir Alpha is attempting succeeds, he will no longer be someone we can call lower than a commoner."
"……."
What is this?
Wellington, who knew Helen’s personality well, found it incomprehensible that she would defend Alpha so staunchly. Still, he decided to keep his mouth shut. After all, an investment into the territory was a good thing no matter what.
"You’ve arrived, Alpha!"
Melania greeted the newly arrived Alpha with obvious delight.
Insane. This is insane…!!
On the other hand, the moment Helen saw him, she had to clench her thighs tightly to keep herself together. Just looking at him was enough to make her pussy grow soaking wet. She had to fight the overwhelming urge to drop to her knees right then and there and press her forehead to the floor in submission.
At least for now.
*
By the time I arrived, the conversation seemed to have already moved past me, and the investment talk progressed rapidly. That aside, the amount Helen was investing far exceeded my expectations. I never imagined she would pour a staggering twenty thousand gold straight into my hands. And she was doing it without even knowing what I was trying to create. At this point, I could probably forgive the rudeness she had shown me a few days ago.
This wasn’t the world I came from. Back there, even if she offered her entire fortune and went into debt, I would never have forgiven a female for such insolence. But here, unlike my original world, Alpha Males held no inherent power. In that case, I needed to show some flexibility to match the situation.
"Welcome, Lady Helen."
"Oh my~ Lady Elisa, you’re here as well?"
"Yes. I’ve been learning a great deal in this department."
Since I had received Helen’s investment, I needed to explain what we were doing, so I brought her to the department office. The moment we entered, the sharp tension between Helen and Elisa became immediately apparent. I didn’t know the exact nature of their relationship, but it was clear they weren’t on good terms. Whether it was personal or a matter between their families, I couldn’t say.
"Thank you, Lady Helen."
This was not a place where Erika or Elisa were fully my females yet. I lowered my head slightly toward Helen, giving her a subtle signal to behave.
"Not at all. So, what exactly are you planning to make with the caustic soda?"
She seemed to understand my hint. She immediately asked about the amount I had received and what I intended to do with the caustic soda.
"Soap."
"…Huh?"
Helen’s expression twisted. She clearly thought soap had no business potential whatsoever.
"Control your face, you bitch. I’ll forgive the rudeness you showed me with this investment. Smile. If it succeeds as much as you’ve invested, I’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded."
"…Yesss…❤︎"
I had no time to explain everything in detail. I whispered softly into her ear, as if sharing a secret. At my words, her stiff expression melted completely. She gazed at me with loving, adoring eyes.
"Well then! I have other duties to attend to, so Lady Elisa will explain the project we’re working on."
Her gaze was far too blatant, so I quickly changed the subject and left the office.
"It would be good if Sir Erika could accompany you."
"Yes. I mean, understood, Department Head."
Outside the office, Erika spoke to me casually, but inside she used honorifics out of respect for the department head. She still wasn’t used to it and occasionally slipped up.
"What the hell is this?! Did you come up with this, Elisa? You’re saying we can actually make soap like this?!"
"Tsk. Your voice is still obnoxiously loud as ever. Our department head is the one who created a women’s pregnancy test kit using nothing but wheat and barley. He is not someone you should dare to doubt."
The moment I stepped out with Erika, the sound of Helen and Elisa bickering drifted out from the office, which had zero soundproofing.
"Let’s go."
"Ahem. Right."
Even though we were heading out to handle official business, we were still outside the office. Erika spoke to me casually and slyly took my hand.
"Everyone’s discipline has grown so lax lately. What are we supposed to do if a Breeder runs away? Going outside like this… Ahem! Don’t misunderstand. This is purely to prevent you from running off on your own. Even though you defeated the Knight Commander, I’m still nothing compared to her, but I should at least be able to stop you from walking away!"
Misunderstand? There was no room for misunderstanding. The way she blushed bright red while holding my hand was the unmistakable behavior of a female who was interested in me.
Once the time came when I no longer had to work as a Breeder… I would have to embrace her to my heart’s content.
"So where are we going?"
"To the Knight Commander’s office."
"W-what?! Y-you, don’t tell me right now—"
"…Please don’t misunderstand. It’s not for that kind of business."
The Knight Commander owed me a debt. After losing the duel, she had come to the Breeding Chamber and offered her body as payment. Erika must have thought I was going to collect on that debt, because she looked visibly flustered.
"Ahem. S-sorry. B-but… even if it was a duel, the Knight Commander is still a knight. I hope you will respect her honor."
"Yes. In any case, I had no such intentions."
That was the truth. When I dueled her, I had only provoked Leona to win. I hadn’t planned on claiming her then. Well, I would claim her eventually, but not now. With my influence still weak, publicly touching the Knight Commander would only invite interference from jealous Beta Males and females trying to block my path. For now, demanding something else from her was the rational choice.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"It is Knight Erika and Breeder Alpha. May we enter?"
"Alpha?! Eek! Hng! Uhh! C-come in!"
When I knocked, Leona made strange noises as if she had bitten her tongue and invited us inside.
"Ahem… So, what brings you here?"
"I’ve come to claim the reward from our duel."
"…Erika. Step outside for a moment."
"Alpha! You said you wouldn’t do something like that…!"
"Enough! The defeated have no right to make excuses. Since he has come himself, I must pay the price of my defeat."
"B-but… Knight Commander…"
"Lady Erika. There’s no need to worry. I won’t be doing what you’re thinking."
Twitch.
My words must have struck a nerve. Leona’s tail, which had been swaying gently, suddenly shot straight up.
"Erika. Leave us."
"…Yes."
Erika looked at me with an expression full of doubt until the very moment she stepped outside and closed the door.
"Silence. The fact that you’ve come can only mean one thing. For the next ten minutes, no sound will escape this room. Do as you wish."
Even though she had lost the duel, Leona was being far too obedient. Was the information that stronger beastmen had stronger pride completely false?
"Ah, I don’t desire your body, Lady Leona. I wish to receive something else instead."
"What…? What?"
Plop…
Tears began to well up in Leona’s eyes.
…What the fuck is this?
This was my first time seeing a beastman female’s reaction, and even as an Alpha Male, I had no experience with it. I couldn’t predict what would happen next.