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IGF 26
I didn't know what the maids thought of my identity, since I didn't even know it myself. A guest of Prince Aiden? Or perhaps, since I had said I would start working as soon as I recovered, they had already been told I was his partner. Not knowing how she should carry herself in front of the maids, she could only stand there awkwardly. It seemed she needed to meet Prince Aiden as soon as possible.
The maids quickly dressed the blankly standing woman. They dressed her in a white indoor gown adorned with subtle lace and combed Roselyn's curly hair, braiding it to one side. After applying toner to her flushed face and a reddish moisturizer to her lips, Roselyn stared vacantly into the mirror.
It had been so long since she had worn makeup, having seen only herself in a nun's habit or wearing an apron. She wondered if others would think it didn't suit her.
"Wow..."
Once their work was finished, the maids bowed deeply and quietly exited the dressing room. Their disciplined manner was enough to make her feel how thorough the servant training was here. At the sight of Roselyn blinking awkwardly while looking at her reflection in the mirror, Bertha let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
She had thought she was beautiful when she saw her at the Marquess's estate, but dressed like this, she was a beauty that made even a fellow woman's jaw drop. She had heard the woman was described with epithets like the "Rose of the Empire," and it was certainly well-deserved. Was that why the Prince had singled out Roselyn and made such a proposal? Certainly, her beauty was such that no one would doubt she had bewitched Prince Aiden, who had shown absolutely no interest in women. Even Bertha, who knew the inside story, felt that the Prince might have fallen for Roselyn at first sight.
"You are truly beauti—no, you look beautiful."
Bertha hurriedly corrected her speech, recalling her etiquette teacher's instruction to fix the stiff tone characteristic of a knight. Roselyn's cheeks flushed a soft red, embarrassed by the praise. Replacing a thank you with an awkward crinkle of her eyes, Roselyn hesitantly spoke.
"Um, could you tell me where the servants' dining hall is? I'm hungry..."
"Oh my goodness. I am so sorry. Look at me!"
It was only natural that she would be hungry, having spent two whole days lying down without eating anything. To think she hadn't realized it even after seeing that body, which looked as though it would collapse with a single touch due to a complete lack of muscle. She felt she deserved a disciplinary action.
A pale-faced Bertha pulled the summoning bell and ordered a meal to be prepared. Perhaps it had been ready in advance, as the maids quickly entered the room pulling a tray. Seeing the food filling the table, Roselyn looked at Bertha with a slightly overwhelmed expression. From thin soup and white bread that would be easy to digest, to glistening grilled fish, sliced lamb, cooked vegetables, and a green salad. It was the typical dining style of nobles, who paid no mind to leaving food behind. Looking at the variety of dishes, hunger and pressure rushed over her simultaneously.
"So much... One plate is enough for me. I won't be able to eat it all."
"It's alright. You need to eat a lot to get strong."
Bertha gave Roselyn's shoulder a light push to seat her at the table. As Bertha pushed the thin soup toward her so as not to burden her empty stomach, Roselyn, who had been hesitating with her utensils, looked at her pleadingly.
"Please eat with me, Bertha..."
Having a habit from both the convent and the Marquess's estate of eating only the single plate allocated to her, seeing this much food made her feel as though she might get indigestion. The overwhelming amount made her hesitate to reach out. Fortunately, Bertha sat down opposite her as if she had heard the most welcome news. Licking her lips with her brown eyes shining, she glanced briefly at the empty doorway and whispered.
"Please keep this a secret from His Highne—from the Prince."
"I will."
After watching Roselyn take a couple of spoonfuls of soup, Bertha turned her attention to her own plate. Roselyn, tearing off a piece of bread and putting it in her mouth, watched Bertha eat. She was a knight, so was using a knife a form of swordsmanship? Bertha seemed to be swinging the knife haphazardly, yet the meat was sliced cleanly. Watching Bertha empty her plate in just a few movements, Roselyn let out a small laugh with an expression that looked almost like she was about to cry.
"What is it?"
"I'm just happy. It's been so long since I've eaten with someone."
Roselyn was grateful to Bertha for treating her comfortably and without prejudice. She had thought she was fine being alone all this time, but it seemed she wasn't. Seeing how such a small kindness could make her feel this good.
"Ah..."
Bertha, looking flustered, quickly chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth. Not knowing what to say, Bertha's mouth hung open for a moment before she set her plate down with a determined expression.
"Please eat plenty! I will eat with you often from now on."
"Yes. I'd like that."
Roselyn chuckled softly and picked up her fork again. Originally, she had intended to ask various questions while eating, but she changed her mind. These were facts she would find out eventually, even if she didn't want to. She didn't want to break the peaceful time she was experiencing for the first time in a long while.
In the room where the sunlight shone peacefully, the late lunch hour flowed by in silence.
"I heard the Arita Port is nearly finished with its renovations."
"Yes. They say trade can begin in another month or two. They are now sending people to Lomport for trade permits."
"Keep monitoring it. When a task is nearly complete, the losses are greater if it fails at the final hurdle."
"Understood. Also, I have found suitable sites to establish exchange offices. In both the Empire and Lomport."
Jeffrey bowed once and approached Aiden to hand over some documents. Picking up the papers from the office desk, Aiden's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"It's good that it's close to the port. We should hurry the construction."
"Yes."
Even he hadn't expected the Arita Port renovations to proceed so smoothly. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Russell, blinded by greed, was pouring every available resource into it.
Then again, Marquis Russell was half-right. If he could secure exclusive trade with Lomport, he would certainly grasp immense wealth, just as he intended. The problem was that there was already someone who held the exclusive trade rights.
"But the more I think about it, you truly are a genius. How did you think to get into the currency exchange business?"
Jeffrey marveled, shaking his head. When Aiden told him to look for land near the port, he thought he was building a logistics warehouse, but instead, he was setting up exchange offices. He was puzzled at first, but after learning the reason, he was impressed by Aiden's sense of money. He was making money not only through exclusive national trade but also by utilizing individual merchants.
Despite Jeffrey's fuss, Aiden kept his eyes fixed on the documents. He was already well-accustomed to his aide's excitability. He had decided to enter the exchange business as soon as he resolved to pursue northern trade. Since intercontinental trade involved vast distances, merchants had to bear the risk of carrying heavy gold coins over long journeys.
He planned to establish exchange offices so that merchants could carry simple documents instead of heavy currency. The merchants would reduce the hassle of carrying gold and the risk of becoming targets for crime, while he would generate profit while sitting still by adding small interests under the guise of exchange rates. Although the Great Temple forbade the financial industry, foreign exchange transactions weren't technically "banking," so they wouldn't be able to object.
He had to gather funds as quickly as possible to build a foundation to rival the Russell family. This was one of the reasons he had proposed a deal to Roselyn Bluebell. By using a scandal with her to squash the marriage talks with Russell and lower his own standing, he could divert the nobles' attention toward Roselyn so they wouldn't notice the business he was conducting.
The image of Roselyn, who was likely resting upstairs, briefly flashed through his mind. Recalling the curves of her voluptuous body beneath her clear face, Aiden swallowed a sigh and pressed his hand to his forehead.
'Haa...'
He felt like some common street thug. He gritted his teeth to snap back to his senses and set the documents down. At Aiden's sudden shift in atmosphere, Jeffrey flinched and cautiously tucked the documents back into his coat while reading the room.
"How is the salon? Is the art collection nearly complete?"
"Yes. I am purchasing works centered around the ones you specified. But... will this really be effective?"
"Of course it will. There are plenty of people who would sell their own houses just for the sake of playing the noble."
Aiden gave a dry laugh and crossed his long legs. Everything was going smoothly. Except for the woman upstairs. He needed to finalize the deal with her, so he would have to meet her around tomorrow. Just as he was lost in thought while half-heartedly accepting Jeffrey's bow, he heard Jeffrey's bewildered voice as he reached for the doorknob to leave.
"Eh? Lady Roselyn?"
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