New Business Announcement
New Business Announcement
The imperial capital of Croselia buzzed with the energy of the newly named Crown Princess.
The Imperial Household proclaimed the investiture to every corner of the capital, ensuring no soul missed the news.
The nobility, meanwhile, scrambled to read the shifting currents of power, desperate to survive the coming tide.
Those who had backed First Prince Zenon began frantically recalibrating their futures, while the few who'd gambled on Princess Diana at the final hour breathed easy, congratulating themselves on a wager well-placed.
The common people cheered the festival that her ascension had sparked, filling the streets with eager chatter about their future ruler.
"Her Highness rounded up the Demon King worshipers, didn't she? Someone who can crush those vile bastards — you mark my words, she's destined for greatness."
"And aren't we stuffing our faces with this fine food thanks to her?"
"They say she's received the gods' own blessing."
"The Saintess herself confirmed it. The same Radiance the First Emperor received now shines upon our princess."
A palpable wave of anticipation for Crown Princess Diana rippled through the empire.
The promise of a new era, the hope that tomorrow would be brighter — it painted a smile on every face.
"The public's expectations are higher than I thought."
From inside her carriage, Camilla quietly observed the citizens' reactions.
Clop, clop.
"Well, of course they are. You have the backing of none other than Camilla Wagon, head of the Golden Wagon Merchant Group. Is that not reason enough?"
Sitting across from her, Riman's words tugged the corner of Camilla's mouth upward.
"Don't flatter me. You've already hitched yourself to a new master."
"I meant what I said just now. I know how hard you worked to build Golden Wagon into what it is."
"And yet you abandon me for Lucas?"
"Do you not also hold Lucas in the highest regard?"
"...Yes. I do. But that's beside the point. We need to put on a proper show for the nobles."
"Absolutely. I intend to do everything in my power to ensure neither Golden Wagon's reputation nor Lucas's honor is diminished."
She studied Riman, now fully transformed into a sworn guardian of Lucas's interests.
Had this mage always been so chatty?
"Incidentally, what did you think of the lemonade? Lucas insisted I deliver it to you personally."
"...It was good."
The drink — lemonade, Riman had called it — had been a bright little revelation. He'd shown up declaring he would unveil a carbonation injection method, and then handed her something that tasted wholly new.
Which made sense, because she'd never tasted anything like it.
"I can guarantee this will sweep the nobility."
Plenty of aristocrats were already losing their minds over ramyun soup base.
"Once they try this, it's going to be chaos."
The reason she now rode with Riman toward Golden Wagon's grand estate was to announce the mass production of ramyun soup base and the debut of carbonated beverages.
A social party hosted by Camilla Wagon.
Anyone who was anyone wanted in. After all, it was the first major gathering thrown by the continent's wealthiest woman, the first to publicly align with Crown Princess Diana.
To stand before them, Camilla wore a gown as red as her own hair.
It was encrusted with jewels, but all she could feel was how suffocating it was.
"Isn't this wonderful? Today, Wagon Merchant Group launches a new enterprise."
"It is. It should feel wonderful. So why am I so bored?"
Leaning against the carriage window, Camilla's thoughts drifted far south, to a man who had set up a restaurant there.
"Haah. I want to eat Lucas's cooking. Soon."
"It won't be long. Once the announcement is over, let's head down together."
"I hope so."
She exhaled deeply, and it hit her — why the dress felt so stifling.
Lucas isn't here.
She'd always stood alone at Wagon family socials. As the head of Golden Wagon, the star of every party, she was forever rushing about to greet guests, perpetually solo.
She'd treated the frantic work of building the merchant group's success as her due, never keeping anyone at her side.
She was the head of Golden Wagon, after all.
Until now, she'd never felt the absence.
For the first time, the space beside her felt empty.
If I had my way, I would have announced the ramyun soup base with Lucas at my side.
It was his cooking.
Anyone could see it was his cooking.
Even eating it from so far away, the taste of his hand in the food sometimes made her ache for that little restaurant in the south.
But tonight, Lucas wasn't here.
That she couldn't share his achievements with him — it gnawed at her.
"Hohoho, you look like someone's stolen your pudding, lass."
Blackbeard, riding with them, let out a gravelly laugh.
"Is that disappointment I see, because Sir Lucas couldn't come?"
"......"
"You sweet on him, then?"
"Wh-What on earth are you implying?"
The dwarf's bluntness sent a rush of heat to Camilla's cheeks, turning them nearly as red as her hair.
"Was that not it? I'd have wagered you had a soft spot for the lad."
"Blackbeard! W-Would you stop spouting nonsense?"
"If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. No need to bite my head off."
Ignoring him, she stepped from the carriage as it drew up before the estate, now packed with guests, and strode inside.
Riman and Blackbeard fell in a pace behind her.
"Announcing the young head of House Wagon, master of the Golden Wagon Merchant Group, Lady Camilla Wagon!"
Every eye in the room converged on her.
Camilla Wagon, the star of this party.
And behind her, Riman.
"I hear there's to be an announcement about ramyun soup base today. Is that man the developer?"
"There's a dwarf with him."
"Isn't this the first time a dwarf has ever attended a human party?"
"I can't wait to hear what they have to say."
"You could practically hear the western nobles grinding their teeth from here."
Camilla Wagon first sought out her father, Relic Wagon — head of the Wagon family, who had arrived earlier to enjoy the party — and exchanged greetings.
"Father. You came."
"Hohoho, Camilla, there you are. I've been waiting. They say you're announcing a new venture tonight?"
"That's the plan."
The man who had handed her the merchant group's reins and now focused on managing the family territory offered her a warm, gentle smile.
"Tonight, a new wind blows through the culinary world."
And this venture would span the entire empire.
An ingredient not just for a handful of nobles, but accessible to commoners too.
A business that would usher in new fortunes.
"Good evening, everyone. I stand before you to announce Golden Wagon's newest enterprise."
Her eyes gleamed.
She was disappointed not to have Lucas beside her, but she had no intention of giving her duties anything less than her full attention.
Lucas trusted her with this.
And repaying trust in full — that was what a Wagon did.
Just as Lucas always met her expectations.
"Allow me to introduce Riman and Blackbeard, the developers of the ramyun soup base and the carbonated beverage we'll be unveiling to you tonight."
"A pleasure. I am Riman, an alchemist."
"Dwarf engineer. The name's Blackbeard."
Riman and Blackbeard stepped forward at her introduction.
This was the grand debut of carbonated drinks and ramyun soup base.
***
The debut was a triumph.
No — "triumph" didn't do it justice.
The mere fact that injecting carbonation into water produced an entirely novel beverage was staggering enough. But add the revelation that a splash of syrup could create an endless spectrum of flavors, and they had the entire room by the taste buds.
Nobles fell over themselves to invest.
Once again, Golden Wagon proved it was the merchant group that led the empire in innovation.
Was that all?
A research result born from a dwarf engineer and a human alchemist working together sent shockwaves through both the nobility and the academic societies.
"Collaborated with a dwarf? Those stubborn bastards?"
"Is he actually a real dwarf?"
"It's genuine. Forced carbonation injection, a perfect sealing technique, pressure stabilization, and the steel alloy to withstand it all — this is extraordinary."
"A monumental achievement."
Mages and alchemists reeled at the fusion of dwarven craft.
"Why would you share our techniques with humans?!"
"Setting that aside — you can't deny the quality of the work."
"Ahem! Well, Blackbeard's skill speaks for itself."
The dwarves, too, couldn't hide their admiration for the collaborative results.
This was more than a party trick for nobles.
This was nothing short of a technological revolution.
A revolution demonstrating what human alchemists and dwarven engineers could achieve together.
Of course, most dwarves still stubbornly refused to work with humans.
And human alchemists remained just as loath to collaborate with dwarves.
Mages and alchemists could be every bit as prickly as any dwarf.
True partnership between the two groups remained a distant dream.
Even so, they flocked to Golden Wagon's offices to study Riman and Blackbeard's techniques.
Where talent gathered, new advances followed.
Riman and Blackbeard turned no one away.
Those were Lucas's orders.
— Once they see what you two built together, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge it. You'll be the ones leading the next wave of innovation.
He'd said people would naturally gather to learn.
— Don't let them slip through your fingers.
As for the ramyun soup base — it had already stirred a tempest across the empire, so she'd leave it at that.
"So Lucas intends to expand the flavors by adding different syrups?"
"Precisely."
Camilla gazed into her clear champagne glass, watching the carbonated drink — lemonade, Riman had called it, made with a lemon syrup Lucas had sent — fizz and bubble.
"It's like champagne without the alcohol."
"Exactly."
"Far sweeter and tangier. Delicious."
"Those who cannot drink will be able to enjoy it. Children, too. And if we forcibly apply this technique to alcohol instead of water..."
"We could make affordable champagne for the common folk."
"Yes. It opens up a broad range of business possibilities."
"Haah..."
The more she listened to Riman, the more the ache to see Lucas swelled in her chest.
Riman might be the developer on paper, but the wellspring of ideas was undeniably Lucas. The partnership between Blackbeard and Riman? Also largely his doing.
In truth, this technology wouldn't exist without him.
That only made her want him more.
"I want to go. Soon."
She wanted to head south and see Lucas.
And tell him: you don't ever have to come to the capital. So what's stopping you from being mine?
Meanwhile, in the Britten territory.
"So... before I leave. Couldn't I have just one more meal?"
Andy, fully packed and ready to return to the capital, was practically clinging to me, begging for food.
"...You've eaten that much and you're still hungry?"
Her eyes were glued to the sparkling water, refusing to budge.
What was she, a ghost who'd died of carbonation deprivation?
Anyway. What sort of food pairs well with a fizzy drink?