“Child, Rosenia.”
My father gathered the documents neatly into a stack and placed them inside his desk drawer.
Then, like a teacher slowly explaining something to a child with poor comprehension, he spoke to me.
“Pepper is produced only in the Kingdom of Croa. A disease has spread there, and the labor force has decreased, so pepper production has dropped. Therefore, imports are impossible. Do you understand?”
“Why is Croa the only pepper producer? Medidas exists too.”
“Medidas is hostile to the Empire. There’s no way trade would happen.”
“No, that’s no longer true. Our Empire’s princess is scheduled to marry the heir of the Kingdom of Borsha next spring. And Borsha’s heir is the beloved nephew of the Queen of Medidas.”
For a moment, my father stopped putting on his gloves and turned to look at me.
I smiled faintly and continued.
“The Queen of Medidas’ younger sister married into Borsha, but she died early after giving birth to a son. That’s why the Queen is especially fond of her nephew. If it’s the wedding of such a beloved nephew, they’ll surely prepare a magnificent gift, won’t they?”
“...That’s true.”
“And since that same prince is marrying our Empire’s beloved princess, there will be many things needed for the journey to Borsha. It would be better if someone with a large trading company took care of it. And I believe there is only one person capable of handling such an important task.”
“…Yes… If we trade with Princess Penelope, we could begin pepper trade with Medidas through the imperial wedding…!”
Was he imagining gold coins already piling up?
My father burst into loud laughter, the corners of his mouth stretching as if they might tear.
“Hahaha! So there was such a method! Why didn’t I think of this!”
He truly loved this sort of thing.
Maybe there was no need for me to even have lunch with him after all.
Sensing instinctively that this was my chance, I clung to my father.
“Did I help you, Father?”
“Hahaha! Of course you did! As expected of my daughter.”
“Then… how about I join Father’s trading company and work? I’ll continue what we just discussed.”
“The trading company? You?”
“Yes. The princess’s intentions are most important in this matter. We’ll need to meet her often, and it would be difficult for my older brother to handle that role. After all, she is a bride-to-be.”
I couldn’t drive out Nathaniel right away.
Because Father, the lord of the Pierre family, protected him.
So I decided to start with what I could do.
I would take Nathaniel’s purse.
The reason Nathaniel could behave like a reckless wastrel was entirely because of his abundant finances.
Not only did he receive allowance from Father, but as deputy head of the Pierre Trading Company, he also had access to limitless funds.
“First, I’ll take the position of deputy head…”
I’ll cut off Nathaniel’s money supply first.
Originally, I planned to approach this slowly—but if there was a shortcut, there was no reason not to take it.
“I’ll handle more than just pepper as well. It’s been decades since trade with Medidas stopped, so there must be other goods that can stimulate imperial demand.”
“So you’re saying you’ll act as a bridge.”
“Yes. Rosenia Pierre, your clever daughter who resembles you, will do it.”
I subtly praised him while also highlighting my own abilities.
No one dislikes being flattered.
“Haha, indeed.”
The atmosphere was good. My father was still smiling, and I thought I had shown enough of my capabilities.
But what came next was not what I expected.
“That’s enough. What trading company? What could you possibly do?”
“…Pardon?”
“And an unmarried woman working outside will only invite gossip.”
What nonsense is this?
I stared blankly at him, speechless, and he clicked his tongue.
“Do you think running a trading company is some girl’s plaything? It’s far more difficult and demanding than that.”
He was even lecturing me like I was a rude child.
Wow… so this is what the marquis was like?
He trusts his useless son’s future potential and leaves him in charge, but refuses to let his daughter even touch the letter ‘b’ of business?
I hadn’t expected him to be this closed-minded.
To be honest, I was stunned.
“Girl’s plaything?”
It seemed my father had completely forgotten that the person who just suggested the pepper import solution was me.
“Father, didn’t you just say my idea was good?”
“That was just conversation, Rosenia. The idea was your father’s.”
He’s even taking credit?
This old man…
The smile on my lips deepened.
“Is that so. Still, wouldn’t I be the most suitable person to meet the princess?”
“I don’t think so. More importantly, why are you suddenly so interested in the trading company?”
“Because…”
Because if the trading company stayed in Nathaniel’s hands, our family would collapse.
Because I wanted to end my suffering from my bloodline’s chaos in this life.
“Father, I can be of help to the company. You know my eye for things—if it’s not the highest quality dress or jewelry, I won’t even wear it. With me, Pierre can lead fashion trends.”
“Rose.”
“And I’m confident I can perfectly prepare for the princess’s wedding. As a woman, I can understand her feelings better, and I can prepare everything she needs properly. So—”
“Rosenia, child.”
My father grabbed my shoulders and sighed deeply.
Looking at his face, I realized it instantly.
None of what I said was getting through.
As expected, he said something infuriating.
“Don’t waste your attention on useless things. Women shouldn’t be interested in such things.”
“Father, I really can do it. I can even promote through noble ladies of high society—”
“Enough! Why are you being so stubborn? Fine, your idea did help a little. So I’ll give you a gift. Choose whatever you want—jewels are fine.”
“Father!”
I finally raised my voice.
Why is a businessman so frustrating?
“That’s not what I want!”
“You still haven’t given up? I said no! How could a woman dare to involve herself in trading company affairs—”
“Why not? If I’m told to do it, I’d do it well.”
A voice suddenly cut into our escalating argument.
My father and I both turned our heads sharply.
A man was leaning casually against the doorway, watching us.
Nathaniel Pierre—this household’s wastrel and my older brother.
After possessing this body, I had never met Nathaniel.
He had been abroad on trading company business.
Was he really on business? Or just on vacation?
Anyway, my first impression of him was…
So we really are siblings, huh.
Dirty blond hair slightly darker than Rosenia’s, and the same crimson eyes beneath it.
Anyone could immediately tell.
That man was my older brother, Nathaniel Pierre.
“Son!”
With Nathaniel’s sudden arrival, our argument temporarily cooled.
My father rushed over and hugged him tightly.
“Haha! My boy is back! When did you return?”
“The day before yesterday.”
“What? Why didn’t you come home immediately?”
“I stopped by the trading company to handle urgent matters first, so I was a bit delayed.”
Urgent matters, my foot.
He was probably off somewhere drinking.
Despite my cynical thoughts, my father’s face was full of joy.
