novelraw Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Chapter 122. No Banquet is Complete Without a Young Lady (1)
Time flowed on without pause.
Early dawn. Having put the finishing touch on the ritual by offering Cola produced at the factory as a dedication, Stella made her preparations to depart.
"Could you cinch these backpack straps tight for me?"
"You still can't tie your own straps properly?"
"No, it's not that. It just reminded me of old times."
Come to think of it, back when Stella was just a little girl, Jurgen had always looked after her like this. It was something like a ritual between the two of them. Jurgen pulled her backpack straps tightly for her.
"Thank you for making such a long journey. And it was good to see your face."
"You're not going to say that and then just cut off contact again, are you?"
"Of course not. I'll write letters from time to time."
"But……."
Stella, who had been hesitating, asked with a deflated look.
"Honestly——was I not actually much help?"
"Hm? Why would you say that?"
"The article ended up being so small…… considering how much I ate and received, I don't feel like I was of much use to you."
Well, it was true that Cola was, at this point, a smash-hit product already breaking records unlike anything before it. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that an article along the lines of 'the product was put through a Consecration Ritual so that the Saint may partake of it' was simply too small a pebble to make a ripple in a pond with sales volume this enormous.
The original purpose of the invitation had been to keep Clarisse in check to begin with.
"Don't worry. You were more helpful than anyone."
And Stella had delivered well beyond expectations. The good she had done had traveled in circles and moved the heart of Hector, one of the elders of the Rosemore family.
Hector, who had originally come to pressure Penelope, had afterward come to find her again and apologized for his wrongdoings. And not merely a perfunctory nod of the head with empty words to accompany it. He had pledged to actively mediate the approval process for recognizing Y&P Trading Company as a family external business, and to repair the broken relationship with Clarisse.
It was an outcome that even Hanbin, had he been the one to step in instead of Jurgen, would not have been able to achieve.
Seeing things like this, one had to think. As they say——it is the sun that strips the coat, not the wind……
"Take care of yourself. I'll send beef ribs from time to time."
"Never mind that——letters. Properly."
After one last embrace. Stella boarded the first train and departed, with no crowd to see her off.
Jurgen himself had done a great deal of reflecting over this whole affair. No matter how buried he had been in work, to have forgotten even that a colleague had gotten married——
"Once this matter is wrapped up……."
He had been neglectful for so long that he would need to meet people far more often.
He was already dreading what he was going to hear. But in order to do that, it was now time for Jurgen to attend to his own affairs.
***
Clarisse was staying in Albion, working to reach an agreement with the royal family.
Hailed as a genius and seasoned in both politics and management, even Clarisse found the process of negotiating with the royal family to be no ordinary source of stress.
"Lily Fontaine."
That woman who was meticulous to a spine-chilling degree. Lily Fontaine, who always appeared with that dry, sullen expression, seemed to Clarisse like someone barely human.
She never forgot anything she had heard or seen even once, and the moment she spotted even the slightest gap, she moved to pry out information in return.
Wielding the royal family's vast intelligence network as her weapon, she had unerringly probed the weaknesses of the Northern nobles Clarisse had trusted, relentlessly hounded the families that held a strained relationship with Rosemore, and shaken the entire board.
The fruits of that maneuvering were now manifesting as unrest that rattled the North. While all eyes were fixed on the Rosemore succession as a monumental undertaking, Lily Fontaine had already long since made contact not only with anti-Rosemore noble houses but with Rosemore collateral lines as well.
Rosemore had always concentrated its power in the 'main family.' But to gather power into a single point was to accept that much sacrifice from the edges. The grievances of the collateral lines, who had endured 'necessary sacrifices,' had ripened well enough to be easily swayed by the royal family's honeyed words.
In all likelihood, the internal documents that woman Lily brought with her had leaked out through those very cracks.
At this rate, there was no chance of reaching an agreement before the patriarch's funeral.
The vacancy of the family head. Just that alone——how much loss it would bring Rosemore was enough to give her a headache.
With every minute and second precious, diverting her attention to Penelope was an unnecessary indulgence.
And then.
Early morning. There was an article that caught Clarisse's eye sharply as she read through newspapers from eight different companies alongside her meal.
[The North's Beloved Cola, Consecrated by the Saint]
"Ha."
Clarisse let out a sigh. She was not naive enough to believe this article was the product of coincidence.
Bell's sudden death, to whom she had entrusted the task of keeping Y&P in check. The Saint's visit to the North and the Cola Consecration Ritual, timed as if on cue.
It was an easy enough threat to read. Penelope had sent word saying, 'We know about Bell's connection to the Dark Mage, and we also happen to have ties with the Saint.'
"What on earth has Hector been doing?"
"Miss Clarisse, there is a message from Sir Hector."
As she pressed her throbbing temples, an attendant came in carrying the telephone. Clarisse bit down on her lip and picked up the receiver.
"Great-Uncle, I was just about to contact you myself. I believe I had asked you to deal with the matter of Y&P Trading Company."
Hector was a stubborn old man, but he was one who understood the values of tradition and moderation. He was also a soldier who could set emotion aside and distinguish between what was and was not worth protecting.
"Might I ask how things have been progressing?"
She had trusted that he, of all people, would cleanly prune away the side branch that was Y&P Trading Company——
[Clarisse. Let this be enough.]
What came back was an incomprehensible reply.
[Penelope is not a child who poses a threat to the family.]
"Great-Uncle, everything has its degree of importance."
[You are right. Everything has its degree of importance. I came here also to prune away the small branch that is Y&P Trading Company. But having come and seen, I found a poison rotting Rosemore from the very roots. It is the foolish conflict between you and Penelope.]
"……."
[Forgive Penelope. She is not a child who would do anything to harm the family.]
"I lost Bell."
[Bell was not truly your family, was she?]
This mad blood-obsessed old man. Clarisse swallowed down a curse.
[Y&P Trading Company's business potential is real. I intend to stand as guarantor and bring it under the family as an external business.]
"But, Great-Uncle. In the current situation, giving Penelope more power is the same as inciting her to shake the very foundations of the family. The royal family has long since made contact with members of the Rosemore family. The collateral lines that have held their tongues under the authority of the main family will each begin to sharpen their blades."
[I will not stand for it.]
Hector's character was like steel. There was no way of knowing for what reason he had changed his mind, but Clarisse recognized that any further conversation was pointless and ended the call.
"……I-I'll take my leave."
The attendant, alarmed by the fury distorting the air around Clarisse, hastily backed out of the room, dragging the telephone cord behind him.
As if passing a baton, a man in lavish attire stepped in. A handsome man with golden hair that shimmered with soft waves and crimson eyes.
"Rupert, Elder Brother."
The legitimate heir of Rosemore. The eldest son, Rupert Rosemore.
He, who had been focused on overseeing the family's business affairs, had set foot in the royal capital for the first time in quite a while.
"Clarisse, why such a dark expression?"
Wearing a gentle and warm smile, he ruffled Clarisse's hair in the casual way that close siblings might tease each other.
"What brings such a busy person all the way here."
"Well, because I wanted to see my beloved little sister——isn't that reason enough?"
Rupert pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards, grinning broadly. Clarisse pushed her gaze upward toward the ceiling and let out a long, displeased breath.
"Oh, by the way——Penelope's name keeps coming up these days."
"So it does."
"Apparently our youngest is finally stepping into the light? Even awarded a Royal Warrant. As an elder brother, I find that quite admirable, you know?"
In truth, to both Rupert and Clarisse, Y&P Trading Company was no more than children playing house. And yet Rupert seemed so pleased about it for some reason, his smile bright and easy.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
To Clarisse's eyes, it was a smile concealing words he was being roundabout with.
"Clarisse, I heard about you too."
"About what?"
"Penelope, I mean. I'm sure you'll handle it as you see fit, but from where I'm standing, it seems like you might be going a bit too far. You don't need to worry so much. After all, it's just a small shop at the end of the day. Something changing because of that level……"
"May very well happen. And there's no reason to leave variables around."
"Even so……."
Clarisse cut off Rupert's words sharply.
"Elder Brother, please stay out of it. I will handle this myself."
Rupert, who had been smiling, sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
***
Winter came. Much had changed at Y&P Trading Company as well.
First of all. Under Hector's strong recommendation, Y&P Trading Company was incorporated——not as a Rosemore internal business, but as an external business.
This was not because Hector had abruptly changed his word, but because it had been Penelope's request.
Being recognized as an internal business would have meant receiving astronomical levels of support and infrastructure, but it equally meant unavoidable interference in management at every turn. That would mean not being able to focus solely on the Culinary Revolution.
But being recognized as an external business and receiving investment was sufficient.
The large sum of money deposited into the Y&P corporate account in a lump sum through the family trust exceeded three years' worth of Y&P's total revenue. The annual interest rate was nearly 0%, and the only requirement was an extremely modest royalty.
On top of that, they received a contract to supply goods produced in the Demon Realm at a fraction of the cost, an offer to permit construction of a factory on idle land, and even a distribution network that stretched like capillaries across every corner of the kingdom.
Of course, it seemed Hector had thrown in a little extra on top…… But even Jurgen could not help but stare in disbelief at such favorable terms.
If this was what investment in an external business looked like, what kind of rocket booster did an internal business come equipped with?
Perhaps this was how venture entrepreneurs felt receiving the manic investments of private equity funds at the height of the dot-com bubble. It had the feeling of investing in the possibility of a future rather than short-term returns, as if to say 'I'll give you everything you need. Give what you want to do a try.'
The difference was that this investment was made with a view of at least ten years ahead, and it came from a place of deep substance. One could begin to understand how Rosemore had come to occupy the position it held today.
On the foundation of this investment, Y&P Trading Company was able to pursue everything it had ever wanted to try without worrying about money.
Rotating new menu items at CCC to assess their business viability. Expanding the Cola factory. And now, rather than limiting distribution to the North, they had begun placing Cola on shelves across the entire kingdom. All of this had happened in just over four months.
Y&P Trading Company had now established itself as a company that no one in the North was unaware of.
And.
Today was the day of the annual North social circles charity event.
In name, it was a gathering to share overflowing wealth with neglected neighbors out of a spirit of compassion, but in essence it was far removed from that. It was also an important occasion where all the notable Northern nobles gathered, and so the schedule spanning three nights and four days——balls, hunting competitions, charity auctions and more——was in truth an aristocratic social party for solidifying the noble cartel.
"Penelope, are you ready?"
Jurgen, dressed in formal evening attire.
"Of course. You look surprisingly sharp, actually. It suits you."
Beside him, Penelope in a gorgeous party dress.
"Penelope, are my heels alright?"
"I said they're fine."
"I'm worried they might be too low……."
Serena, also dressed in splendid attire, swallowed nervously.
After completing the final check, Penelope gave a nod to the footman.
The footman cleared his throat and opened the firmly shut doors of the ballroom. Beyond them, a feast of candlelight and the shimmer of golden radiance rippling like waves.
"Lady Penelope Rosemore of Y&P Trading Company has arrived!"
Drawing every eye in the room upon themselves, the three entered with their heads held high.