Chapter 123
Chapter 123: I Came to Do Some Business. (4)
“U-um… There was some cosmetics that arrived as a gift recently…”
“Cosmetics?”
“Y-yes, it’s a skin beauty cream… from some Baron…”
The maid stammered at the unusual demeanor of Meriel.
Frustrated, Meriel turned to the head maid and asked what was going on.
“A while ago, a Baron named Penris distributed gifts to various noble families. I believe he sent a separate gift and letter to the Count as well.”
“Baron Penris? That’s a name I’ve never heard before.”
“It seems he’s just arrived in the capital for the first time.”
“So he sent gifts around. But he sent something to my husband and nothing to me?”
Although Count Ailzbur held significant power, he was still inferior to Meriel.
She was the eldest daughter of one of the few Marquis families in the kingdom and completely dominated the capital’s social scene.
“My husband should be trying to impress me. How pathetic. Even if he’s unfamiliar with the capital, that’s just unacceptable…”
It might have been because he had just come from the countryside and hadn’t quite grasped who the real power players were, but it still hit her pride.
Feeling flustered, she fanned her warm face again and asked,
“Did he give him something better as a gift?”
“No. It seems he sent a root of Mandragora to the Count.”
Meriel chuckled dismissively.
“Just a Mandragora root? He must be a really poor noble. But where did he even get all this cosmetics from? There seems to be enough to gift all the maids.”
“I heard it was developed directly by Baron Penris’s merchant group.”
“Developed… directly?”
Meriel wore a mixed expression of admiration and disbelief.
A rural lord’s merchant group developed cosmetics, huh?
In her usual mood, she would have laughed it off, but knowing now that the cosmetics actually worked made it hard to dismiss.
After some contemplation, Meriel quickly made a decision and turned to the head maid.
“Cancel today’s gathering. Tell them I’m feeling unwell and cannot attend. And you, come follow me.”
She brought along the maid whose skin looked the best and began to ask detailed questions about how to use the cosmetics.
Meriel examined the cosmetics she had received for a reasonable amount of money, studying it from every angle.
“Hmm, should I use this or not?”
If it turns out to have no effect, that would be a relief. But if there are side effects, her future would become troublesome.
She’d have to face the scorn of countless noblewomen and young ladies, not to mention her well-built reputation would collapse.
However, her instincts kept shouting.
Don’t let this opportunity slip away.
You must seize it before anyone else.
“Right. No one has had side effects. Some even showed improvements that were noticeable. Let’s give it a try.”
Meriel washed her face thoroughly and began to apply the cream slowly.
‘Ah, is this what it feels like to apply the morning dew?’
At first, it felt slightly sticky, but it was quickly absorbed into her skin. She soon felt moisture building from within.
This is it.
Feeling reassured, she evenly spread the cream over her face and went to bed early.
It wouldn’t have a dramatic effect in just a day or two. But when Meriel woke up, she didn’t miss the subtle changes.
‘It’s clear. It works. It’s not visible on the outside but something has changed. And since there haven’t been any side effects so far, the effect is definite.’
Dragging her feet to wait any longer would be a foolish move. Meriel had no intention of letting this good opportunity go.
She immediately called for the head maid.
“Where are Baron Penris and his merchant group staying?”
“They are currently staying in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the capital.”
“The outskirts… Could it be that haunted house? The Crow Mansion?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Looks like they really are short on funds. Well, that works in my favor. Heh heh.”
Meriel was planning to monopolize these cosmetics.
How many would sell if a product made by a noble recently arrived from the countryside? It still had no recognition, and its price wouldn’t be too high.
If she could tie them up with an exclusive contract now, she’d be able to control the distribution.
This would not only help her maintain her beauty, but also assist her in building wealth and power.
“Let’s go meet Baron Penris right away.”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Meriel ordered preparations for her outing.
*
A splendid carriage crossed the heart of the capital. Several guard knights went ahead, clearing the path.
The displaced crowd murmured among themselves, but fell silent as they checked the noble family insignia stamped on the carriage.
Claude, waiting for visitors at a small consultation desk beside the mansion’s entrance, gaped in astonishment at the scene.
“W-what… Is the queen making a visit? If that were the case, we would have gotten a prior notice.”
Even knowing it wasn’t true, he couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the grand carriage and the surrounding knights.
The carriage stopped in front of the mansion, and the head maid got out.
She seemed to have tidied herself up, but still looked disapprovingly at the shabby entrance as she spoke.
“Lady Ailzbur is here. I’ve heard that Baron Penris is residing in this mansion, is that correct?”
“Y-yes? Ah, yes. That is correct.”
Claude nodded with a dazed expression.
The head maid, who held her chin high, looked as refined as any noble. The number of guard knights and their armament were also impressive.
He’d seen many noblewomen in Sairon, but nobody radiated such overwhelming presence like this.
‘Is the Countess this imposing? Truly, the great powers are different.’
In fact, even in Ruthania, only a handful of noblewomen had as much influence as Meriel, but Claude was unaware of this.
One of the guard knights opened the carriage door and helped Meriel descend gracefully.
The mercenaries guarding the mansion couldn’t help but gape at the sight of her.
‘Wow…’
She was a beauty reminiscent of a lavish rose.
She appeared quite aged, but perhaps that added to her elegant and dignified atmosphere.
To the mercenaries, who had lived in rural North all their lives, she looked like someone they could never approach.
Although they’d seen noblewomen and young ladies from the North, they felt like commoners compared to her.
Meriel easily absorbed their stares as she took in her surroundings.
The head maid started to speak about their visit’s purpose again, but Meriel raised her hand to stop her and spoke instead.
“I’m Meriel of the Ailzbur family. I’ve come to see Baron Penris.”
“……”
Claude and the mercenaries stood there, mouths agape, as if they might drool.
A swift kick from Belinda snapped Claude out of his daze.
“Ah!”
Only after getting hit in the shin did he regain his senses.
“What are you doing? We have a guest!”
Belinda shot him a dirty look and clicked her tongue as she returned inside the mansion.
Claude rubbed his sore shin and quickly racked his brain.
There could only be one reason for a countess to visit a mansion rumored to be haunted.
‘The cosmetics must be effective!’
With both hands rubbing together in excitement, he bent forward.
“Are you perhaps here to buy cosmetics? I can guide you…”
“I came to see Baron Penris.”
“First, let me explain—”
“I came to see Baron Penris.”
Meriel elegantly smiled as she kept repeating the same line.
She wouldn’t budge until she met the lord.
Claude sighed. This was something he couldn’t handle.
“Please, come in. He should be in the garden right now. I’ll guide you.”
He was nervous about the bumbling lord causing problems, so he wanted to handle this as best as he could.
“Thank you.”
Meriel flashed a slight smile and entered the mansion, accompanied by several maids and knights.
As soon as she stepped into the garden, she slightly frowned.
The garden, greyed and lifeless, and the crows flying around it, were quite bothersome to her.
No matter how poor one was, she couldn’t imagine living in a place like this for even a day.
‘It really must mean they are short on money. This should make trading easy.’
She relaxed a little and followed the mansion’s servants into the garden.
Ghislaine was crouched in a corner of the garden, feeding crows.
“Lord, Lady Ailzbur has come to visit.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Ghislaine slowly rose, with a crow perching leisurely on his shoulder.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ghislaine Penris.”
Caw!
Meriel was startled by the crow’s cawing and shivered.
‘This guy’s the Baron Penris? He looks way too young.’
Meriel glanced up and down at Ghislaine, feeling slightly flustered. He had a striking appearance and looked youthful.
It was rare for someone so young to hold the title of Baron and land.
He might come from a somewhat powerful family, but…
Given that the name Penris wasn’t familiar to her ears, it was likely that they were just another noble who hadn’t extended their influence to the central region.
‘Seems like he just got lucky and ended up with a small territory. His father probably gave him the land.’
Still, it was commendable that a rural noble kept his composure even when facing her.
Meriel concealed her mixed feelings and slightly bowed her head.
“I’m Meriel of the Ailzbur family. Let me get straight to the point. I’d like to discuss the cosmetics manufactured by your merchant group.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Ghislaine’s eyes lit up.
She was worried that noblewomen would speak in circles while trying to appear elegant, but it seemed he was more straightforward than she thought.
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
Ghislaine led the way into the mansion, wearing a smile.
‘Looks like I’ve hooked a big fish.’
Upon hearing the name Ailzbur, he remembered. The noblewoman before him held significant sway over the social scene in the capital.
Even the mere rumor of her using a particular cosmetic would lead to it selling out instantly across the capital.
Knowing that a proud noblewoman had come to visit him made Ghislaine think he might accomplish his original goal quicker than expected.
*
Meriel sat down in the reception room and immediately got to the main point.
“You just developed cosmetics and brought them to the capital, right? I’m here to talk about an exclusive contract for that product.”
She seemed quite straightforward.
“An exclusive contract, you say?”
“Exactly what I mean. I’ll purchase all the amounts produced. You just need to handle the development while I manage the distribution.”
She even threw in a hint of intimidation.
“If you want to establish a foothold in the capital, you’ll need an ally. Other nobles and merchant groups will try to keep tabs on you. I can help fend them off. Conversely, if you refuse, it’ll be tough shopping in the capital.”
No unnecessary back-and-forth.
Ghislaine nodded as though he understood.
“Well, I don’t mind if I can just sell the cosmetics… but the price is a bit high. Are you sure about that?”
Meriel internally scoffed.
‘What does it matter when you bring up money in front of me?’
This was why she couldn’t waste time talking to people who knew nothing.
“The Ailzbur family is one of the wealthiest in the capital. If I can’t do it, nobody can. So how much?”
“100 gold per piece.”
“What… did you say? 100 gold for just one?”
Meriel tilted her head, wondering if she misheard.
Ghislaine emphatically repeated himself.
“100 gold ‘per piece.'”
It was the moment when the cracks finally appeared in Meriel’s elegant smile.
