The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 31
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 31
This wasn’t something I was doing to make money in the first place. That’s why I could propose such conditions.
Of course, I couldn’t reveal that honestly, so I brought up something else.
“The inheritance my father left behind is quite substantial. And I’m confident I’ll achieve great success.”
At my confident voice, Frill had a serious, contemplative expression.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, she slowly nodded.
“Alright. Let’s remove the latter condition and I’ll only take 60% of the net profit.”
She seemed anxious that accepting both conditions might ruin the life of a young lady who didn’t know how the world worked.
“However.”
And a meaningful voice immediately followed.
“There’s a condition I’d like to propose…”
***
I looked up at the small building in front of me.
‘Is this the place?’
The workshop Frill mentioned.
“There’s a glass workshop nearby. At least until my contract period with you ends, you must use bottles made there. That’s my condition.”
It was a simpler condition than I expected, but also a difficult one.
‘Making a contract shouldn’t be hard, but their work might not meet my standards.’
Just then, a girl suddenly appeared in my field of vision.
“Excuse me, what brings you here?”
She had a very cute appearance. She looked about three or four years younger than me.
Seeing her somewhat shabby clothes and the black ash on her nose, I guessed she worked at the workshop.
I immediately stated my business.
“I’m planning a perfume brand, and my business partner Frill mentioned this workshop. She said she wouldn’t work with me unless I used bottles made here.”
“…Huh, what?”
The girl’s eyes widened in surprise.
“P-please come in.”
The girl quickly guided me inside and brought a chair.
‘Hmm, somehow.’
I thought I understood why Frill had attached such a condition.
It seemed Frill cared for this young but hardworking girl.
Just like how she had looked after Diana before, and now she was looking after this young lady working at the workshop.
‘Maybe she contracted with me because she saw passion rather than money.’
The girl, who had even brought me a glass of water, spoke with a flushed face.
“W-well then, I should introduce myself first. I’m Riniel, and the owner here is my uncle, but he’s not in right now. But that won’t interfere with our consultation at all! Oh, if there are any samples you’d like to see, please feel free to ask.”
I listened to Riniel while looking around the workshop.
Though it was a somewhat shabby and old workshop, the work pieces visible here and there were…
‘Clean and to my liking.’
While it wasn’t at the level of extraordinary craftsmanship, considering Frill’s condition, it was definitely worth contracting.
I traced the size of an imaginary bottle in the air and said.
“Then could you show me bottles about this size? With the most luxurious and sophisticated design possible.”
“Oh, yes, yes!”
Riniel jumped up and started looking for samples.
I rested my chin on my hand and watched Riniel, lost in thought.
‘But why does this name sound so familiar?’
Her face also seemed like I’d seen it somewhere…
A corner of my mind kept feeling uneasy, so I tried hard to think.
‘Have I seen a girl like her before?’
Then…
‘Ah.’
I realized who Riniel was.
‘Lord Lionel’s younger sister…!’
“My younger sister likes Miss Mary, so I have a favor to ask…”
“Yes, then here’s Riniel Dafite…”
The girl who liked me and even asked for an autograph was right in front of me.
But since I was hiding my identity, I couldn’t let on that I knew her, so I only felt joy inwardly.
Just then, Riniel approached with bottles of different designs in both hands.
“Would this be enough?”
I took the bottles with a nonchalant expression, pretending not to think much of it.
“Oh, by the way, you can speak casually to me.”
“Hmm, should I?”
I didn’t bother to decline.
While I could easily speak formally to Frill since she was nobility, with Riniel I had to consciously think of myself as a commoner or the formal speech wouldn’t come naturally.
“I’ll probably request designs more complex than these samples, is that okay?”
“Oh, of course! My uncle is really skilled.”
“I’ll probably order large quantities in short periods, is that okay too?”
“More than okay, I’d be completely grateful. We haven’t had much work lately…”
Riniel continued with a darkened expression.
“Actually, lately they’re saying they’re making this into a port city or something, so no one comes down this street. It’s all just bureaucrats, workers, and navy people who came here for work…”
That’s why she couldn’t hide her joy at seeing me as a customer.
Riniel let out a cheerful laugh again.
“Anyway, what I’m saying is, you can order as much as you want anytime. I don’t know exactly what kind of business it is, but we can meet all the deadlines on our end!”
Hmm, the naive young lady who should be receiving Frill’s concern seems to be this one…
Still, her enthusiastic attitude was cute.
I unconsciously raised the corners of my mouth slightly, then quickly managed my expression.
“Then let’s make a contract right away. As for the price and conditions…”
Just then, the door opened and a familiar man entered.
***
For the first time, Louis regretted being born in a maritime power.
“Huh? Lord Louis? That wooden cross-section looks a bit warped, doesn’t it? The color seems slightly off on just one piece, doesn’t it? Looks like you’ll have to go get it from Lord Buchanan again, doesn’t it?”
“…”
“Why do you look like that? Are you offended?”
Melvin and his cronies were mocking him.
Louis bit his lower lip in anger.
‘Damn, damn, damn, damn!’
By status, he could easily crush these opponents.
Even Melvin, who had the highest status among the navy guys in front of him, was merely the fifth son of a count’s family.
But Louis was in a situation no different from being exiled to Semaphelaz.
Moreover, these guys weren’t low-ranking soldiers forcibly called up, but were actually from the Westport Line.
Even though he was furious, he had no choice but to grovel for now.
‘But this is too much.’
Louis had been working non-stop since arriving in Semaphelaz without even a moment’s rest.
And all while listening to the infuriating commentary from those damned navy men.
‘No, putting everything else aside, that bastard’s way of speaking is just so irritating…!’
Louis ground his teeth and said.
“Does it make you feel better to see someone like me struggling in the field like this? As fellow nobles, you could at least maintain some dignity instead of…”
At that, Melvin tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.
“Huh? Didn’t Viscount Remington, who’s in charge, tell you? He said to become a noble who sets an example for the commoners? There’s also a slogan that Chadde, the Count put up at the Imperial Palace these days? The content is that since we’ve decided to work for the country, we’re not nobles but servants of the people? If you have complaints about this, it seems like you should go argue with Chadde, the Count instead of me?”
“…”
Once Chadde, the heir of a prestigious family and a model of a true public servant, was mentioned, he couldn’t argue further.
Louis suppressed his boiling anger and changed the subject.
“Ha, really… Well, fine, I get that. Then why aren’t you guys doing anything and just moving your mouths?”
“If you feel wronged, why don’t you go suffer at sea for a year like us? Our Colonel told us to take care of our bodies? This seems like something you should go argue about with the Colonel at the naval base?”
“…Just say you don’t like me.”
“Yes, we don’t like you, Louis.”
At the nonchalant voice as if asking why he would even ask such a thing, Louis finally grabbed his own hair.
Then Melvin laughed as if it were ridiculous.
In the end, Louis retreated while fuming.
To get a new piece of wood from Lord Buchanan…
‘…Damn it, I don’t know anymore.’
Then he impulsively changed direction.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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