Chapter 89

Countless lights shot up into the sky, and I was overwhelmed by an indescribable rush of emotions.

 

“That’s why… it’s such a shame.”

 

The look of bliss on Freyer’s face vanished, replaced by a sinking gloom.

 

“Because today is the last day of this happiness.”

 

The last day? As my eyes widened in surprise and I stared at him, Freyer added to his words.

 

“I have to head to the Oneren Kingdom urgently tomorrow.”

 

Why did a stain of disappointment spread through one side of my chest? I hurriedly shook my head and replied with forced composure.

 

“The reason you came here in the first place was for the kingdom’s diplomacy, after all.”

 

I managed to force a smile, but my heart was already heavy with disappointment.

 

“Do you… have to go right now?”

 

“The political situation isn’t good.”

 

“……That’s a pity!”

 

The moment with him felt so much like a dream that I wanted to grab his sleeve and beg him to stay with me just a little longer. I desperately tried to change the subject so he wouldn’t catch on to my inner thoughts.

 

“I heard they set off countless fireworks on the last day of the festival, and it’s a shame you won’t get to see them.”

 

‘Lilithia Baimery, why would you bring up something so ridiculous?’

 

Diplomacy is far more important than the fun of a festival; I had chosen a terrible point of comparison.

 

“I see. If I visit the Oneren Kingdom, the festival will likely be over by the time I return.”

 

“…….”

 

That was as good as saying it would take quite a long time. This year’s festival in the Pearching Kingdom overlapped with the Princess’s birthday, so it was scheduled to last about two weeks.

 

As I was distractedly tracing the windowsill with my fingertips, Freyer’s voice made my heart flutter.

 

“I hear the firework festival in the Pomponio Kingdom is quite beautiful.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

Why the sudden mention of the Pomponio Kingdom’s firework festival? I turned my head to look at Freyer, and he gave me a beaming smile.

 

“Let’s go there together next time.”

 

Freyer had read right through my silly grumbling.

 

“It would be too disappointing to let the festivities end like this.”

 

My heart fluttered so violently that I felt like I was losing my mind.

 

 

***

 

 

The next day.

 

“Has His Highness already departed?”

 

“He left at the crack of dawn.”

 

“I see….”

 

The young lady remained despondent after learning that Prince Freyer had left, but then, she suddenly grabbed a sack of sugar and refused to leave the kitchen.

 

“What is she doing…?”

 

Winnie watched with a troubled expression as the young lady made crashing noises in the kitchen.

 

Sugar, vinegar, and flour—it was a bizarre combination to create a new product for the merchant guild. She had been like this when developing the original fabric, but this time, the combination was undeniably strange.

 

Pssh—

 

Once again, something boiling over on the stove emitted a pungent smell that filled the second floor.

 

“My lady! Are you alright?”

 

Cough, cough—

 

Winnie reflexively covered her mouth and was about to rush into the kitchen when the young lady appeared with a broad grin, holding a glass jar filled with a light brown substance.

 

“Winnie! Look at this!”

 

Seeing Lady Lilithia covered in white flour smudges and sticky sugar head-to-toe, Winnie couldn’t help but sigh, but she tried her best not to show it, seeing how proud the lady looked.

 

“What is that?”

 

“A black sugar mask!”

 

 

***

 

 

“My lady, are you sure this actually works?”

 

“Of course, naturally.”

 

My primary goal in visiting the Pearching Kingdom was to purchase wool and to sell off the fabric that hadn’t been selling due to strange rumors. But now, I also had to test the reaction to a new product.

 

The item I came up with this time was the ‘Black Sugar Mask.’ For a guild whose main product is fabric, a skincare item might seem out of left field. But we sell black tea, plates, and even silver bells for doors; why couldn’t we sell skincare?

 

Our merchant guild’s primary customer base is women. Wealthy merchants and noblewomen who visit us to make beautiful dresses would surely snap up skincare products if we had them.

 

Based on my past experience, the empire’s cosmetics focused only on creating a glossy, glowing finish and were completely lacking when it came to exfoliation.

 

‘True skincare starts with removing dead skin cells and tightening pores.’

 

Add to that whitening and moisturizing effects—it was the kind of thing that would make female customers go wild.

 

Winnie, who was currently wearing the black sugar mask, looked skeptical. After about ten minutes, I nudged her toward the washroom.

 

“Go on, wash your face and look at your skin.”

 

After about a minute of splashing water, an “Oh?” came from the washroom. The door swung open, and Winnie emerged with skin that was literally glowing.

 

“My—my skin!”

 

“The effect is great, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes! My skin has never felt this good!”

 

Winnie rubbed her face several times as if she couldn’t believe it, then clenched her fists.

 

“This is a total hit! Every woman will want to buy this!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Absolutely!”

 

Seeing Winnie mutter to herself about how unbelievable her skin felt, I felt certain that I had come up with a great idea.

 

This was destined to be the star product of the Baimery Merchant Guild.

 

“Be the wings for our guild!”

 

I began the guild’s business operations, hoping it would make us fly high.

 

 

***

 

 

A few days later.

 

“People just aren’t coming in.”

 

I washed my face with my hands, staring out the window with a dejected gaze.

 

Our temporary base, tucked away at the end of an alley, was doing terribly. There was a bit of foot traffic, but no one showed the slightest interest in the shop.

 

It was the textbook definition of a shop where the only things flying were flies. To run the guild smoothly, we needed a new location.

 

“Right. We need to find a new spot.”

 

As soon as I made up my mind, I took Winnie with me to see a real estate agent who came from a long line of property brokers in the Pearching Kingdom.

 

“So, you need a new base for your merchant guild.”

 

“The current location is so poor that people aren’t visiting.”

 

“Hmm….”

 

The agent spread out a map and pointed to the locations currently available for rent.

 

“These are the only ones.”

 

“…….”

 

Every spot the agent pointed to was far from the plaza and difficult to find. Looking at the map, I noticed a vacancy near the plaza marked with a red dot.

 

“According to the map, this spot right here is empty. Why can’t I have that one?”

 

“Those are for sale, not for rent.”

 

Since I was staying in the Pearching Kingdom for at least two weeks and at most a month, buying property wasn’t an option. Buying a building only made sense if I planned to establish a permanent branch here.

 

‘Should I ask the price just in case…?’

 

There was no harm in asking. But when the answer came, though I kept my face neutral, my heart sank.

 

“100 gold coins…?”

 

The agent nodded, and I instinctively covered my dropping jaw, forcing a smile.

 

“The price is… higher than I expected?”

 

I fidgeted with the item in my pocket. I currently had about 5 gold coins on me. It was nowhere near enough. Between the carriage and everything else lately, it felt like every price started with “gold.”

 

“It’s because it’s the festival period and the Princess’s birthday; merchant guilds from all over are flocking here, so every building is being rented or bought up.”

 

Then I had to find the best alternative. I compromised and asked for the price of the best-looking rental spot, only to let out a sigh as the harsh reality set in.

 

‘40 silver coins for a single day’s rent…?’

 

For a month, that would be 15 gold coins just for breathing. I couldn’t choose a place like that without being certain my goods would sell.

 

‘The place Winnie found was actually a steal.’

 

At about 5 silver coins a day, it was incredibly cost-effective.

 

“What will you do?”

 

“I’ll… think about it a bit more.”

 

I hurried out of the building and stared blankly at the sky. It seemed like everyone in the world but me had money.

 

Just then, Winnie shook my arm and called out to me.

 

“My lady, I’ll go to another agent and see if there are any other good buildings.”

 

“No, it’s fine. The building you found was the best in terms of price and location. I guess I went on a fool’s errand.”

 

“Still, we don’t know if there’s a better place out there.”

 

“The situation will likely be the same elsewhere.”

 

Winnie said we might as well check, gave a bright smile, and pointed down the alley.

 

“You know you have to go straight up here to get to the temporary shop, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Please go back to the shop first. I’ll be back soon, my lady!”

 

Winnie walked quickly down the alley, and I trudged along with heavy steps, looking up at the clear sky. I wished the sky matched my mood, but my heart was full of dark clouds.

 

As I reached the shop and was about to enter, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned my head to see a child of about eight years old, who asked me tentatively: “Do you know what materials are needed to make clothes…?”