The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 66

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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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Chapter 66

10.

Artizea picked up a fluffy rabbit fur doll.

It had a round body about the size of two fists with long ears lined with pink fabric. The eyes were made of glossy obsidian.

That alone made it look exactly like a real rabbit.

The soft, fine fur brushed against her palm. Artizea smiled without realizing it.

“It’s adorable!”

The maids exclaimed in admiration.

Finance officer Jeiden, who had brought the rabbit fur doll, quietly let out a sigh of relief.

It had been a month ago when Artizea had assigned this task to Jeiden.

Artizea had examined all the financial records of the Evron Duchy. After that, she acknowledged that there was no particular way to overcome the duchy’s dire situation.

Whatever they did, as Cedric had said, human resources were the problem.

There were plenty of resources. There were several profitable mines, and she could list off numerous businesses that could be built around the vast coniferous forests.

But they lacked the capacity to develop them. Most of the healthy young men who would be the core of the labor force were enlisted in the military.

Otherwise, most were engaged in agriculture. Men’s strength was needed to plow the frozen ground.

This was a place where it was difficult to raise livestock. Using human labor was inevitable.

Women were mostly engaged in industries other than those two.

Everyone without exception was working. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the entire territory to continue surviving together.

‘With so many mines, they can’t attract investment from outside.’

They couldn’t carelessly let outsiders in due to security concerns. Even if they were determined to attract investment, the labor force couldn’t support it.

The cold made it difficult to accept immigrants. People who had lived in the fertile and mild mainland would find it hard to survive even their first winter here.

If this weren’t the Evron Duchy, they could have solved it by developing other industries and purchasing food.

Many regions in the south were developing in that way. In the central regions where commerce and industry were developed, there were already almost no places growing wheat.

Where money flows, people naturally gather, so population problems could also be solved.

But this was the Evron Duchy. Transportation routes were limited, and in winter, traffic was almost completely cut off. Commerce couldn’t develop in a land where logistics couldn’t move.

Most importantly, they always had to consider when the Imperial Court might control the supply routes. If the Imperial Court blocked supplies for even one year, they wouldn’t be able to hold out immediately. Unlike other lands, they didn’t have the ability to survive on roots and bark until the next harvest when food became scarce.

The population that decreased that way would never increase again. So the most important thing was maintaining food self-sufficiency.

As a result, even knowing what competitive businesses were, they had no choice but to prioritize agriculture above all.

The fundamental problem was the Imperial Court’s threat.

Artizea set her sights on the fur and leather business.

They couldn’t start new businesses that required large capital and labor investment. So it was important to first improve the efficiency of existing businesses and create financial breathing room.

“The leather business is our main source of income. We have to continue hunting anyway.”

Aaron explained.

“If we don’t hunt periodically, wild animals will encroach into areas where people live. It also serves as military training, so the army takes turns doing it by unit.”

“Most of the leather is being sold to trading companies as raw material.”

“Yes. We know it’s dirt cheap. But we don’t have the capacity to investigate the actual market prices on the mainland and distribute directly there.”

“Have you never tried to negotiate?”

Aaron made a troubled face.

“Is it that bad?”

Artizea didn’t know the wholesale prices of leather either. But just from the records, it was clear they were being ripped off.

Artizea didn’t blame Aaron since she had expected as much anyway.

Aaron was a soldier. He was only handling this kind of business as a territory administrator due to the duchy’s circumstances where commerce hadn’t developed.

It would be too harsh to expect excellent business acumen.

The finance officers were the same. They were sincere and meticulous. They were people who completed assigned tasks without mistakes.

They all had strong loyalty. In the past, even considerable money couldn’t create traitors.

Instead, there was no one with exceptional ability. To be honest, she wondered if there really were no capable people under a lord like Cedric.

It was probably because the Evron Duchy itself was behind in commerce and industry.

As far as Artizea knew, most of the talented people who had shown ability under Cedric were soldiers.

Artizea pulled over a new sheet of paper and wrote last year’s prices, then wrote the new prices next to them.

“Don’t sell for less than this. They’ll definitely whine about market prices and transportation costs, but don’t listen. If you feel your resolve wavering, tell them to come meet me.”

“Ah, understood.”

“When it comes to Evron leather, even I, who don’t know much about this industry, have heard the name, so negotiate with the mindset that it’s fine if trade is cut off for about a year.”

Artizea said coldly.

“For a deal of this scale, it’s already problematic that only three trading companies come and offer the same price. They’re definitely colluding and pulling some scheme.”

If caught, she wouldn’t let it slide.

Since it wasn’t something to be done immediately, Artizea just filed it away in her memory and finished that topic.

“Next is about fur pelts.”

“Ah, yes. This side is doing fairly well. Since so much is used domestically, our processing techniques are also good.”

The responsible finance officer answered respectfully.

“But it’s not something that sells year-round, and it’s a luxury item. If we put out too much, prices drop and profits actually decrease, so we’re controlling the supply volume.”

“We need to increase demand.”

The responsible finance officer looked at her with a troubled expression. If that were possible, no one would have been worried.

“Let’s try reducing the distribution stages for this. Sir Aaron, I think there must be some merchants of Evron origin active in the capital…”

“Yes. There should be.”

“Look into them. Find trustworthy people.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“Let’s try making things like animal dolls or fur decorative items.”

Artizea said that.

“For things like clothing, no matter how hard we try, we can’t lead fashion trends from here, but it’s different if it’s something that never existed before. It would be good if it’s a product that can fully showcase the luxury of fur.”

At Artizea’s words, the finance officers just blinked.

The first to understand her words was Jeiden, a junior finance officer.

“Ah, I understand. We should make accessories or dolls that are light enough to carry to parties without looking strange and valuable-looking enough to show off to others, right? Using lots of fur. Then they’ll continue selling even in summer.”

“You’re quick to understand.”

“Even if we start with luxury goods, trends eventually trickle down to the middle class, so demand for fur itself could increase tremendously. If done well, this could be huge. Considering how the Kingdom of Ients became wealthy just selling embroidered fabric.”

“Right.”

“But Your Highness, fur is different from Ients embroidery. It has no artistic value, and we can’t monopolize it. Fur is probably produced on the mainland too.”

One finance officer objected.

“That’s exactly why we need to make them thinking about beauty and texture, not just simple cold-weather gear. There’s nowhere that can supply more high-quality fur than Evron. Even if we lose in final products, the more popular it becomes, the more profit we’ll definitely make. If they’re decorative items, they’ll sell in the south where warmth isn’t needed too.”

Stopping mid-sentence, Jeiden exclaimed as if realizing something.

“If done well, couldn’t we sell all the way to the Southern Sea? If it’s a trend in the capital’s social circles?”

Artizea clapped twice.

“You’ll take charge of this project.”

“What?! I’m just a junior officer, Your Highness?”

“The person who understands what we’re trying to do should handle the work.”

Artizea said that.

That’s how Jeiden came to be in charge of this project.

“These are products to be presented in social circles. Feel free to use jewels or precious metals to make them. I’ll give the prototypes to your wife and daughter.”

Artizea said that.

Aaron asked worriedly.

“I understand what you mean. But would it really be that easy to make it fashionable in the capital’s social circles?”

“Don’t worry. Who do you think my mother is?”

Aaron and the finance officers, thinking of Milaire, bowed their heads with apologetic expressions.

But at the same time, they also thought it was possible. Her mother was the Emperor’s mistress who had dominated the Empire’s social circles for over twenty years. She would have sufficient experience in such matters.

And after several failures, these dolls were what they had created in a month.

“Is the black one fox fur?”

“Yes. It’s not black fox, but dyed.”

Artizea picked up an elongated fur piece. It looked like a doll, but it was also sufficient to wrap around the neck as decoration. It looked quite stylish draped over the shoulders too.

“The eyes are blue crystal.”

“I told you to use jewels.”

Since he said he was giving prototypes to his wife and daughter, it would have been better to use the most expensive ones.

Jeiden spoke with an apologetic expression.

“For my wife, even this level is sufficiently expensive jewelry. Your Highness has entrusted me with such an important task, so how could I take advantage of that opportunity to satisfy my personal greed?”

“Is that what you think of your wife?”

“My wife told me to say this.”

Jeiden confessed with an embarrassed face.

Artizea laughed softly.

“Having such a wise wife, you’ll surely succeed in the future.”

Jeiden just scratched his head.

Artizea called for Aubrey.

“Aubrey, go and bring my jewelry box.”

Aubrey, who had been standing behind Artizea the entire time, finally moved.

Artizea stroked the fox fur with a satisfied feeling.

Knock knock.

Just then, the sound of knocking on the door was heard. A maid ran to open the door.

Cedric entered carrying a plate of pastries, but stopped when he saw Jeiden was there.

“Oh, are you busy?”

“No. We’re almost finished with our business.”

Artizea turned around to speak, when a large hand gently approached.

“Mmph.”

A bite-sized pastry entered her mouth.

When she unconsciously bit down, the outer pastry crumbled with a crisp sound and the fragrance of baked apples spread in her mouth.

Artizea turned bright red and covered her mouth with her hand.

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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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