Let's Trade
The banquet was supposed to continue until tomorrow, but Julia Lawrence had returned early.
It was because Countess Veloz had shown up looking perfectly fine, leaving her to suffer every kind of humiliation and disgrace.
She wasn't shameless enough to stay at the banquet hall with a brazen face.
"I never knew the Grand Duke and Countess Veloz were acquainted!"
If she had known that, she never would have considered carrying out her plan at Grand Duke Fenrihart's birthday banquet.
But regretting it now was too late.
The deed had already been done.
She naturally had to compensate Countess Veloz for the harm caused by her false accusation.
And since she had thrown the birthday banquet into chaos and ruined it, she would also have to compensate Grand Duke Fenrihart.
A single mistake was about to cost her dearly.
To raise money, she was selling everything she had, whether she could spare it or not.
That was why Julia had come to the black market now.
Originally, going in and out of the black market was the eldest son's job.
But since he had been dragged off to prison, Julia had to take over the task.
"He's truly useless! He gets dragged off to prison and loses the black market ticket on top of it. I went through so much trouble getting a new one, and now I have to come to the black market myself?"
She didn't like being at the black market.
She didn't like being awake at the hour she should be sleeping for her skin, either.
And she didn't like having to walk the streets mixed in with insignificant commoners.
But the thing she disliked most of all.
Was having to go around with an ugly slave.
"What are you looking at!"
Julia swung her whip toward the wheeled iron cage.
The whip struck the bars with a crack.
The slave trembled and shrank back, curling up deeper inside.
Originally, this slave had been Julia's punching bag.
But to raise compensation money, she had been put up for auction at the black market.
It was the head of the family's order.
Julia simply could not understand it.
Would a worthless slave with no strength and low intelligence really fetch any money?
She was useless except for venting frustration.
But contrary to Julia's thoughts, the head of the family said that since her face was decent, she would sell for a high price as an old noble's plaything.
Even after hearing that, Julia still couldn't accept it.
"What's pretty about a wretch like this? She'll be lucky to sell for even a single coin."
Ominous ash-gray hair that called to mind the remains left after a fire.
The imbecility of a full-grown adult who couldn't even speak properly.
Pointlessly large breasts like Countess Veloz's.
That last one in particular was the biggest flaw, Julia thought.
A woman's charm lay in breasts so small they were barely there, unobtrusive.
Just like Julia's own.
Glaring at the slave beyond the iron bars, Julia swung her whip once more out of sheer irritation.
-Swish
-Clang!
Since the slave was merchandise to be sold, she couldn't leave wounds on her body, so she had to settle for striking the bars.
Normally she would have tied her up and beaten her all day.
Just then, someone came running toward her.
With a sturdy build and wearing a black market mask, he was Sir Bell, a knight of House Lawrence.
"My lady, I have returned."
"Hurry up, why don't you?! The longer you take, the longer I have to be alone with this slave wretch!"
Sir Bell felt wronged by the nagging that pierced his ears the moment he arrived.
A significant part of the reason for the delay lay with Julia herself.
Since the information shop admitted people on a first-come, first-served basis, every minute and second mattered.
But just before entering, Julia had said the black market mask was ugly and rummaged through the room looking for her own mask.
Because of that, their entry into the black market had been delayed by a full three minutes.
As soon as they entered, Sir Bell had even used mana to run to the information shop, but the line had already grown long.
But how could Sir Bell blame Julia?
She was someone who might become his master someday.
"I apologize."
Sir Bell, a knight of the family, bowed obediently and held out a paper.
It was the paper with the information he had received from the information shop.
What they had requested was information on House Fenrihart, Countess Veloz, and an alchemist called 'Star.'
Until two weeks before the banquet, Countess Veloz's face had been a mess, as if smeared with filth.
Julia had even confirmed it directly through Sera, the maid she had planted in the count's household.
But in that short span, Countess Veloz had completely cured her skin condition.
And appeared with a clean face without a single scar.
She even seemed to have a glow about her face, as if she had become even prettier than before.
According to what they had learned by interrogating Sera, someone called 'Star' had visited the mansion about a week ago.
Since she had said it through tears, it didn't seem like a lie, so Julia was certain that he was the one who had treated Countess Veloz.
So she had commissioned the information shop, and yet.
"This is all?"
[Height of 180 cm, build on the lean side]
[Has black eyes and black hair, but it is presumed to be the effect of the white mask-type magic tool he wears.]
[The nickname Star came from the star picture drawn on his potion bottles, and his potions are very delicious.]
The thing she was most curious about—Star's relationship with Countess Veloz, or the method by which he treated the skin condition—was not written down in a single word.
It was shoddy content.
So much so that she resented having spent money to receive such information.
"And his potions are delicious? No matter how little usable content there was, they shouldn't have made up such absurd nonsense."
As if potions could be delicious.
Julia inwardly disparaged the information shop's standards as she read the next part.
"Countess Veloz was friends with the grand duke's son and daughter during her academy days? So that's why the Grand Duke helped Countess Veloz."
If so, then she, who had insulted his friend, had properly landed on Grand Duke Fenrihart's bad side.
"Then the northern expansion plan we prepared falls apart, doesn't it?"
The North, an unknown region where the cosmetics market had yet to establish itself.
A place that preferred scarred faces over clean ones.
And valued beard care over skin care.
House Lawrence had planned to target the North, which even House Veloz's Rose Garden had failed to conquer.
With the 'Beard Gloss Potion' made by working the family alchemists to their limits.
But to enter the northern market, there was a procedure that had to be followed.
They needed the permission of the northern grand ducal house.
To prevent dangerous goods from entering the North, all trade goods had to pass inspection by the grand ducal house.
But of all people, Julia had properly landed on the bad side of the northern Grand Duke.
"Ugh! What do I do?"
In her anxiety, Julia twisted her tied-up hair around her finger.
Thousands of bottles of potion had already been made in advance, assuming they would sell.
Because they had been made solely for the northern expansion, the design and effects made them awkward to put out in other regions.
If she couldn't sell them, House Lawrence would suffer enormous losses beyond comparison to the compensation they had to pay.
"Since it's come to this, I need to get some leverage."
As she quickly read through the documents to find something to seize on, Julia's gaze stopped at one spot.
[Lady Runea of House Fenrihart has a history of seeking a scar treatment potion.]
"Even if she's a battle maniac, a woman is still a woman, I suppose?"
Come to think of it, the Grand Duke was often away on campaigns, while his sister, Lady Runea, handled the North's finances and day-to-day affairs.
For House Lawrence, which needed trade permission, it didn't matter if they'd fallen out of favor with the Grand Duke—as long as they could persuade Lady Runea.
"It does bother me a little that Lady Runea was friends with Countess Veloz.... But is an old friend a friend forever? A friend is someone who helps me right now."
To Julia, who'd sell out a friend for immediate gain, winning Lady Runea of House Fenrihart over didn't seem all that difficult.
"If I can just get my hands on a scar treatment potion, I can make up for all the losses."
Wait, losses?
Normally, far from losses, she should have made a big profit.
So how had it come to this?
'Right, that bastard Star is the problem.'
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
If Countess Veloz had treated herself, she wouldn't have been this angry.
But some complete stranger.
Suddenly appeared and tore apart the board she had spent a year preparing.
There was no way she couldn't be angry.
In the end, unable to contain her rage, Julia kicked open the auction house door and shrieked.
"Who the hell is that son of a bitch Star to ruin our plan?!"
At her noisy entrance, the eyes of the people in the lobby fixed on Julia.
She was used to such stares, so she wasn't flustered in the slightest.
'Of course they're staring because a beautiful woman with a good figure appeared. With noble elegance radiating from me, how could they bear not to look?'
It was brazenness born of an ironclad delusion.
But there was no loyal retainer by her side to correct that delusion.
Julia strode confidently toward the reception desk to consign the slave for auction.
Her time was more precious than gold, so she intended to snap at the man standing in her way to get lost.
But for some reason, though she had never seen him before, he felt familiar.
A man about 180 cm tall, with black eyes and black hair....
Wearing a white mask....
Selling potions with stars drawn on them....
What stood before her eyes was the very person she had been cursing and tearing apart just moments ago.
'Star?'
Until just now, Julia had regarded Star as her mortal enemy.
But now that he was actually in front of her, her mind changed.
'Is there any need to be hostile?'
Because of her unlikable behavior at the banquet, more and more people had come to look at Julia with disdain.
In this situation, rather than increasing her enemies, it was more important to steal the other side's allies.
Having quickly assessed the situation, Julia pressed her body against Star's arm and spoke in a nasal tone.
"Oh my, isn't it the famous Star? What item have you come to sell?"
"...I came to register a potion with the auction house."
Star answered meekly, bewitched by her charming bosom.
At least, that was what Julia thought.
"What kind of potion~?"
"A Scar Removal Potion."
"You made that?!"
For a moment she forgot her cute young lady act and shouted in her real voice.
It was that surprising to Julia.
The thought that it might be a lie crossed her mind for a moment.
But he had brought the item himself.
He wouldn't be unaware that the auction house verified efficacy, so it meant he was confident.
'With the skill that treated Countess Veloz's skin, is it not impossible?'
Julia recalled Countess Veloz's face from yesterday.
Skin so clear it was hard to believe that her entire face had been red and swollen just two weeks ago.
'What if that was thanks to a Scar Removal Potion?'
Julia's heart pounded.
As it happened, a Scar Removal Potion was exactly what she had been trying to obtain.
As if the world was helping her, what she wanted had appeared right before her eyes.
'I have to get it right now.'
Fortunately for Julia, the potion was just about to be registered for auction.
It was the first Scar Removal Potion to appear in the world.
If it went up for the main auction, the price would surely skyrocket.
House Lawrence, which had spent enormous money on compensation and developing the Beard Gloss Potion, would have to sit back and watch, sucking their fingers.
Julia glanced at the contract Star was filling out.
Instead of premium registration, which provided promotion and special presentation in exchange for a higher fee, the normal registration box was checked.
'He still doesn't know the value of the potion he has.'
He hadn't submitted the contract yet.
Julia was certain that now was her chance.
"Would it be possible for me to buy it before you put it up for auction? It happens to be something I desperately need. In return, I'll pay you generously."
Julia tried acting cute and rubbed her chest against his arm.
But what came back was an indifferent, stone-like reaction.
Rather, he pulled his arm away and asked firmly.
"How much can you offer?"
But Julia couldn't answer readily.
Because she had no money on hand.
She had come here to sell the slave in the first place precisely to raise money....
"I don't have money on me right now, so... would it be possible to pay later?"
"Deferred payment is a bit much in a black market where neither of us knows the other's identity."
Julia wanted to reveal her identity.
I'm Julia, the next head of House Lawrence.
Come to House Lawrence to collect the money.
She wanted to say it confidently like that, but she had to act in secret.
If it became known that a noble was openly involved in slave trading, it would be a disgrace to the family.
In the end, Julia had to bend her pride against her will.
She pointed at the slave in the iron cage that Sir Bell had brought and spoke.
"I'm planning to put this slave up for auction. She'll sell for quite a high price, so would it be possible to pay with the proceeds after the slave is sold?"
To persuade him, she had to make the slave look like an expensive item.
She would need to be as demure and pretty as possible to seem valuable.
The slave was pressed flat against the bars like a beast before its prey, drooling.
'I did starve her for a few days to slim down that dull-looking body, but there's nothing to eat here...?'
What she was looking at wasn't all that important.
At this rate, she might be taken for a cheap slave with something wrong with her.
Julia struck the iron cage with her whip—thwack—as if telling her to snap out of it.
But the slave still clung to the bars and wouldn't let go.
"You only come to your senses when it hurts. Do you want a beating?!"
Just as Julia was about to swing the whip through the bars.
Star hastily spoke up.
"Or, how about we trade that slave for the potion?"
Trade an ugly, dim-witted slave for the first-ever Scar Removal Potion?
No matter how highly one valued the slave and how low one priced the potion.
There was a difference in worth between the two that couldn't even be compared.
Literally, even if she just took the potion and resold it at auction, it was a guaranteed profit for Julia.
And if it was a potion that completely removed scars.
She could present it to a distinguished person and gain favor that money couldn't buy.
Julia was tempted by his offer.
So much so that the terms were too good and actually made her suspicious.
She thought the potion itself might be a fake.
It could be a trick targeting people like herself who tried to buy potions before they were registered at the auction house.
If so, the absurd offer, as if he didn't know the potion's value at all, was explained.
"The slave is quite to my taste."
But Julia's fortress-like suspicion crumbled at that single sentence.
At the same time, she understood why Star had helped Countess Veloz.
'Ha, so an ugly woman like Countess Veloz was his type?'
