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Chapter 48
“Shall We Work Together Once?”
Duke Benoît was a man of few words. He listened silently as she spoke about “financial investment.” Rose, facing his impenetrable demeanor, felt for the first time the sheer wall of resistance in negotiation.
“Not a single change in expression.”
After a long pause, the duke finally spoke, but his answer was crushingly flat.
“I must refuse.”
“It’s not a matter that can be resolved simply by renovating Eretia’s facilities. The entire riverside flowing into the provinces needs to be rebuilt as well.”
She emphasized once again the importance of this project.
“Your Highness, you should request any additional funds from the Imperial Treasurer.”
“The Imperial Treasury said they cannot provide more than what has already been allocated.”
The treasury, which she had visited before coming to the duke’s residence, was practically a battlefield. The unexpected deployment had caused unplanned expenditures, and the treasurers were on edge trying to balance the accounts. Rose had not even dared to mention the word additional and was brusquely shown out.
“Duke, this is for the empire. Would it not enhance your reputation if the people knew that the Benoît family supported this project?”
“You need the power of the guild, don’t you? My reputation has nothing to do with it.”
The duke strictly distinguished between the guild and the Benoît family.
“From a merchant’s perspective, this proposal yields no benefit whatsoever.”
Rose realized that invoking his noble title would no longer work. As the most prominent family in the empire, the Benoîts had no need for extra prestige. This project was purely a loss for him.
“Then I must persuade him by other means.”
“What if Tanasia’s intentions align with mine?”
This time, his expression twitched slightly, as if her words had some effect.
“As you know, before Tanasia went on campaign, he entrusted me with this matter. He instructed me to complete it before the plague resurges.”
“……”
“But to do so, all the piping must be replaced. He wouldn’t be satisfied with partially completed facilities.”
“Tanasia didn’t exactly say that, but it’s not entirely wrong either.”
If he were the protagonist she knew, he would have drawn the same conclusion. After that, the duke said nothing, then suddenly asked:
“Why do you think I serve Prince Tanasia?”
“Excuse me?”
Rose tried to read his intentions. She had hoped that by presenting her opinion as Tanasia’s, she could persuade his loyalty. But his reaction now didn’t quite align with a mere follower’s obedience.
“What’s this? Isn’t he supposed to share Tanasia’s intentions?”
“Is it because I’m the legitimate heir? The Benoît family supports the emperor, after all.”
The duke slowly nodded as if her answer had some merit, but then shook his head, rejecting it.
“That’s not necessarily the case.”
“Then why?”
“If you do not know, I have no reason to assist Your Highness.”
It was a sort of homework assignment: discover why the Benoît family supports the prince, and only then would the investment be secured.
“It’s not like it’s a quest or anything.”
After receiving the same unwavering refusal as at the start, Rose reluctantly decided to retreat for the moment.
“What did he say?”
Herya asked immediately as she left the reception room. Rose replied with a face as if she had bitten into a worm.
“A perfect refusal.”
“So… what now?”
Herya yawned, his indifferent concern only emphasizing her helplessness.
“Do we really just renovate Eretia and leave it at that?”
As she wandered in despair, she encountered Ellar in the corridor.
“May the blessings of the fairies be with you. I am honored to see Princess Rose.”
“It’s been a while, Miss Benoît.”
“Please call me Ellar, Your Highness.”
Unlike Duke Benoît, Ellar’s warmth and friendliness made her endearing.
“How could a daughter so gentle and approachable come from such a rock-like duke?”
“I heard you visited the Benoît residence, so I came to greet you. Is the duke’s home comfortable?”
“It’s to my liking. If time weren’t so short, I’d want to stay a few more days.”
Since the coming-of-age ceremony, Ellar looked drained, and closer inspection revealed dark circles under her eyes.
“You look tired, Ellar.”
“Oh my, is it that obvious?”
Ellar covered her reddened face with her hands.
“Lately, I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Still?”
“Yes. I haven’t slept properly for over four months.”
Rose recalled that she hadn’t been sleeping well due to the heat before. Ellar was suffering from severe insomnia.
“If she wakes from heat at night, she must have a naturally high body temperature.”
Despite it being early winter, she wore only a thin dress that exposed her skin.
“Ah!”
A sudden idea struck Rose. She reached into Herya, who was following, without warning.
“Ah! That tickles!”
Twisting and wriggling under her hands, he didn’t stop her. Rose retrieved what she wanted, leaving Herya laughing, and turned to Ellar with a proposal.
“Ellar, shall we have tea together?”
Ellar, noticing the pouch in her hand, agreed willingly.
“Is it a rare tea?”
“Hmm, it is rare, but also a tea that you really need.”
Ellar guided Rose to the garden where towering trees grew. Behind them, Herya grumbled in dissatisfaction.
“Feeling up the priest, how indecent, Your Highness.”
“Quiet.”
“You little… the princess tempts me.”
Rose glared at Herya, who shrugged, having said all he wanted.
“What are you planning to do with that?”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan. You’re of no use anyway.”
“That’s cruel. There’s nothing worse than giving and then taking it back.”
Ignoring Herya’s constant grumbling, Rose reflected. The tea pouch from the royal pharmacist Ian was still intact; none had been used. Knowing that Herya didn’t drink tea, it would have gone to waste. It was better to give Atropa tea to the heat-prone Ellar. And at the same time, request a favor: borrow money from Duke Benoît!
“There’s no better negotiation than one that heals a daughter’s illness.”
Ellar’s treatment was secondary; securing investment for the main project was the primary goal. Serving the tea, brewed from the special leaves, Rose placed it before the two young women.
“Try it. It should lower your fever.”
Ellar drank it hesitantly, then widened her amber eyes in amazement.
“Oh my! What tea is this?”
“Atropa tea. How is it? Has your fever gone down?”
“Yes! Amazing. Nothing else worked.”
“This fruit shows different effects depending on the person, so it isn’t well known.”
“I see. Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll be able to get through the night safely.”
The girl’s expression brightened considerably.
“Drink this before bed for the time being. I’ll send more when you return to the palace.”
Rose placed the pouch in front of Ellar.
“That’s mine.”
She stopped Herya mid-protest by poking his side. Ellar clutched the pouch of berries, tears welling up.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Please say it. I’ll do it.”
Rose smiled softly.
“Actually, I came today to borrow from the Benoît family.”
“Borrow?”
The girl frowned at the idea of a princess coming to borrow money.
“Have you heard that we’re renovating the Catarlos River’s water and sewage systems?”
“Yes. I heard they are replacing it with very unique piping.”
Rose briefly explained the situation and got to the point.
“To prevent the plague, all regions must be upgraded.”
“So that’s why additional funds are needed.”
True to her merchant upbringing, Miss Benoît immediately grasped the financial problem.
“Yes. Before construction in Eretia even began, all the allocated funds were already spent.”
Rose was unsure how to explain further. Could such a young girl understand? But then Ellar spoke quickly.
“The stone cost for replacing piping is roughly 2,700 gold, the herbs for purification cost 5,000 gold, and the labor wages are 1,000 gold per day.”
She calculated instantly, as if tapping an abacus. Then she continued:
“But that’s only for Eretia. You mean to expand this nationwide? We’d also need to account for extra funds for the winter cold.”
Ellar now rested her chin on her hands, deeply considering. She seemed to be sizing up the scale of the project. Rose was dumbfounded; it was a completely different persona from moments ago.
“Is this really the same person as before?”
“Wow, I don’t understand a word of what she’s saying.”
Herya summed up Rose’s thoughts perfectly. Though he understood, he was equally astonished. Ellar had precise and rapid calculation skills and a full grasp of the project’s progress. Rose cautiously asked:
“How do you know all this in such detail?”
Ellar fumbled, realizing her slip:
“Ah… sorry. I actually saw a report in my father’s study.”
The report must have been a financial document sent to the Imperial Treasurer. How it got to the Benoît family was one thing; why Ellar saw it was another. She answered immediately.
“I help my father with the guild’s affairs. Since large amounts of stone were ordered, I saw that all were delivered to the palace.”
“The Benoît family controls the guild?”
“Yes. It’s a small transaction, but recently some were handled independently.”
Rose was stunned. A girl not yet of age manipulating the empire’s largest guild! Of course, the duke ran things in practice, but this showed he trusted her capabilities.
“Honestly, I’m surprised. I didn’t think you were so good at calculations.”
“Noblewomen showing interest openly is frowned upon.”
Ellar said with a bitter smile.
“Earning money” was taboo for noblewomen. Even knowing that money was essential for the market, they outwardly considered it vulgar. In this society, where women’s virtues centered on socializing, it was stricter still.
“No wonder other young ladies reacted poorly at tea time.”
The duke likely kept guild affairs hidden from his daughter for this reason. But Rose thought it a waste for Ellar’s talent to go unused.
“Aren’t you frustrated? Someone this capable should be doing bigger work than minor tasks.”
“I have no choice. I’m still young, and revealing it publicly would bring overwhelming responsibility and danger.”
She feared the repercussions of exposure.
“Of course. The world isn’t ready for it yet.”
What Ellar needed now might be a good opportunity: a debut under the right circumstances.
“Like a national project, perhaps.”
Rose gently grabbed Ellar’s timidly fidgeting hand, drawing her closer.
“Ellar. Shall we work together once?”
