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Chapter 24
“My ability?”
LeBlanc was slightly startled by the unexpected question and repeated it.
In fact, she had expected the name Arnetio to come from Jill’s mouth. To most people, LeBlanc was more recognized as a member of Arnetio than as Count Peronto.
Ironically, that name—the one LeBlanc had always found most dreadful—had also been the biggest marker of her identity. Since her return, this was the first time she had been recognized not as Arnetio, but as LeBlanc herself, by a complete outsider.
“Yes. The Count recently purchased Yubon seeds from our guild. An unprecedentedly large amount, too. At the time, I was away, so I didn’t handle it personally, but had I been there, I would have surely offered my proposal earlier. From what I heard from the person who purchased the seeds, they chose Yubon because the land on their estate had little moisture, and Yubon grows well even in dry conditions.”
“That’s right. Since it’s a crop that grows near deserts, I thought it would thrive even in low-moisture environments.”
Indeed, Yubon was a highly versatile crop. It didn’t require much care like Ruava during cultivation, its fruit was delicious, and it yielded abundantly. Moreover, the fibers extracted from its stalks could be used to make lightweight clothing.
Of course, the empire doesn’t yet know these facts.
In a few years, Yubon would begin circulating widely throughout the empire, and most commoners would wear garments made from its affordable fiber. Nodding at LeBlanc, Jill seemed to read her thoughts and spoke the same words aloud:
“Yubon fruit tastes good and can be harvested in large quantities at once. Our guild is also experimenting with making clothing from the fibers extracted from Yubon stalks.”
“Clothing from Yubon?”
LeBlanc feigned amazement, as if hearing this for the first time. Jill showed her the sky-blue cloth draped over her shoulders.
“This is clothing made from Yubon. As you can see, it’s light, breathable, and comfortable. Plus, it’s inexpensive, so we can supply it in large quantities. Yubon is an extremely useful crop. The problem, however, is that very few people know just how useful it is.”
“Yubon isn’t used in the Kingdom of Iubon?”
“The seeds were included in the items recently delivered to the royal family. Not only for the royal family, but we’re also trying to sell Yubon throughout the kingdom. Yet, most people understand its usefulness but still cannot easily accept it.”
“Why is that?”
Jill’s expression darkened noticeably at the question. After a brief hesitation, she took a deep breath and spoke honestly.
“Because the people of the Kingdom of Iubon consider anything from the desert, especially the civilization of the Heia tribe, inferior.”
“Ah…”
LeBlanc let out a small sigh. She had assumed that useful crops like Yubon simply hadn’t spread in the empire because exchanges with the Iubon royal family had been delayed. But to hear that Yubon was still unknown even within Iubon herself was slightly surprising, given her knowledge of the future.
At the same time, LeBlanc studied Jill’s face closely. Jill sat before her with confidence and an upright posture, yet there was a palpable sense of urgency.
It was clear that Jill had been working tirelessly behind the scenes, running from place to place, until Yubon spread across the continent to benefit countless people. Every step of the crop’s expansion carried the labor of Jill—or rather, La Heia herself.
Even though LeBlanc showed no visible reaction, Jill steadfastly continued.
“Our guild handles a variety of goods like any other guild. But my ultimate goal is to spread the beneficial products that the Heia tribe has preserved for centuries under our guild’s name.”
“You mean you want to create a distinctive niche for your guild by focusing on desert products?”
“Exactly. Initially, I only intended to expand within the Kingdom of Iubon, and for almost a year, I worked tirelessly. But as long as people perceived the Heia’s products as inferior, there were limits to what I could achieve. Then, I heard that a large quantity of Yubon seeds had been purchased from the Peronto estate in the empire, and I changed my approach.”
“So you plan to spread desert products from the empire, and then bring them back into the Kingdom of Iubon?”
“Precisely.”
A confident smile spread across Jill’s face. LeBlanc Arnetio—this woman was wiser and sharper than expected. She grasped Jill’s intentions immediately and responded in kind, leaving Jill no choice but to admire her.
Though she had lived as a noblewoman all her life and only recently received her countship and estate, her understanding of commerce was surprisingly keen. Jill genuinely admired LeBlanc.
“All fashion trends in the kingdom come from the empire. If the Tier Empire uses desert products, the people of the Kingdom of Iubon will accept them without resistance. This will allow the guild to grow faster than ever, bringing in greater funds.”
“I appreciate your trust, but I’m not sure how much help I can truly be in achieving your guild’s goals.”
LeBlanc concealed her inner thoughts behind a neutral expression. A deal with Heia’s guild was worth pursuing even if she had to sell everything in her estate to make it happen.
Following Jill’s plan from the empire back to the kingdom was far more efficient in terms of time and effort. Yet, this was markedly different from the future LeBlanc had witnessed. Accelerating the cultivation of Yubon among the empire’s people by several years would surely bring about many changes. Yubon was that versatile a crop.
“As I mentioned, I am still inexperienced as a minor estate holder.”
Because the proposal was so attractive, it was also risky. LeBlanc had to step back slightly and maintain a cautious stance. As expected, Jill’s voice quickened slightly with impatience.
“No one in the empire has ever taken an interest in the Kingdom of Iubon’s products, especially desert civilization—except for you, Count. Your unbiased acceptance of desert civilization is enough. The goddess of fate, Pirtia, said that a true sage walks their path through the fog without hesitation. I am confident I can make this succeed.”
“…”
LeBlanc’s mind raced. Running a guild required three things: massive capital, quality goods, and excellent talent. That was why she had hesitated to venture into the guild business—but now, both quality goods and talent had presented themselves.
The problem is capital…
Given the estate’s size, even if the guild thrived in the Peronto lands, its impact would be limited. To expand and spread desert goods, they would need to reach beyond the estate. Even with Heia’s guild’s assistance, managing a guild of that scale would not be easy.
Yet LeBlanc had little concern. She had a very solid source of funds.
Rubbing her lips with her index finger, she pondered deeply. Her gaze shifted to the tea, cups, and desserts on the table. At the same time, an idea crossed her mind. Slowly lifting one corner of her lips into a smile, she nodded.
“Very well. Just as you trust my abilities, I will trust your judgment as the guild leader.”
“Thank you…”
At that moment, Jill felt a surge of emotion. She had worked so hard to reach the position of guild leader at such a young age. She had endured the desert’s hardships alone, yet now, for the first time, she faced someone who would grasp her hand and trust her vision. She had never imagined that hearing someone say they believed in her could feel so warm and sweet.
Jill took the hand extended to her. The warmth of the two women seemed to flow between them.
It was a moving scene: two women who had lived in harsh environments, unable to fully utilize their abilities, meeting and choosing to share their strength. At the same time, it was a moment destined to mark a turning point in the history of the empire.
