“Could it be that you didn’t like the letter…? Did I give it too hastily?”

I should have waited until after breakfast. Regretting strangely, Rosemary saw Luna lower her head.

“No, it’s not that… I never thought about such a thing. I’ve never received anything like this before…”

Fersen wasn’t the type to send such things. He would rather come visit one more time. The Baron did receive a greeting card, but it wasn’t from Luna.

Suddenly, Rosemary bit her lip unable to hide her sorrow upon discovering Luna’s sad past.

She felt angry about the fact that this good and beautiful person had suffered due to some wicked people.

“You will receive a lot today and tomorrow. Also, you should write as many letters. So, please read it quickly. My mother and father are eagerly waiting for a reply. And so am I.”

Luna, bright-eyed, tore open the letter. It was typical, with nothing much eye-catching.

That being said, it wasn’t entirely unexciting. Luna slightly smiled at the message asking for cooperation over the coming year.

Of course, there were some sentences that caused a bit of worry.

“A New Year’s party… I had no intention of attending, what should I do?”

“Eh?!”

Rosemary showed a disbelief response.

“Why? The New Year’s party is an important occasion attended by all nobles including the royal family, isn’t it?”

“That’s why I don’t like it.”

Because Fersen will also be there. Despite having judged him legally, he was an extremely unpleasant character. There was no need to willingly encounter someone with whom you don’t get along.

But Rosemary thought differently. She began persuading Luna, insisting that it was absolutely necessary.

“Last time, I couldn’t showcase the closeness between the young lady and myself much, so I wanted to show how close we are at the New Year’s party…!”

Of course, it wasn’t particularly persuasive. Knowing it wouldn’t make a difference, Rosemary didn’t give up and kept persuading Luna.

“The young ladies of the gathering are eagerly waiting too. Now that I, the youngest, have become an adult, everyone is really looking forward to meeting us at the New Year’s party.”

Of course, trying to persuade her with the young ladies of the gathering didn’t work. They were good people who sided with her, but if asked whether they were close, the answer was ‘Well, not yet.’

However, the following words couldn’t be ignored.

“Moreover, rumors have just started spreading, so you should show yourself more. All past rumors are false! The new spreading rumors are true! That person is bad! Speak out like that. It’s too unfair to stay silent, isn’t it?”

Among all the words Rosemary had said so far, these were the most convincing. Now that the rumors had spread, it was necessary to show more of oneself and respond confidently.

The one who had failed by hiding was Luna. She didn’t do anything, but malicious rumors snowballed and were spread as if they were the truth.

The original Luna did the same. Reflecting back, she also wasn’t a boastful character.

No, she barely had any encounters with Seira, and whenever they coincidentally met, she only got in trouble with Seira’s friends. So, there was no accurate description of what she had done.

‘Thinking back, it’s absurd. Just changing the point of view, good and evil are reversed. I didn’t do anything, but people around me got hurt, things were destroyed, and I even received terrible gifts.’

In the end, even death. Of course, the misunderstanding created by that bad guy Fersen was the cause, but anyway, Luna didn’t do anything.

Realizing that keeping quiet only resulted in being treated like a mute, Luna quickly made a decision.

Even if she heard curses, it was better to hear them face to face and deny them.

“Alright. I’ll attend. It seems Lady Rosemary is right. I’ve only lost out by living quietly so far.”

“You’ve made a good decision. There won’t be any unpleasantness with many nobles, including me, on your side.”

If something happened, Rosemary said she would smash a broken glass bottle, to which Luna smiled slightly.

“It’s okay. If something really happens,  I’ll be the one holding the broken glass bottle. It’s dangerous, so Lady, you hide behind me. These things should be settled between the concerned parties.”

She had never seen a good outcome when others intervened. It was better to do it herself.

Although it meant that, Rosemary, who misunderstood it as a protective phrase, couldn’t hide her emotion.

It seemed like the situation was sorted out, and Laura, who had been quietly watching the two, suddenly interrupted the conversation.

“Miss, what will you do about the dress then?”

“Dress? When was the New Year’s party? It was sometime between early and mid-January, right? There’s not much time, so it would be better to alter the dress from last time.”

It was indeed fortunate to have enough time. Besides being an excuse, it was also good not to waste that beautiful dress as a one-time wear.

Just by changing the details of the decoration, it could look like new, so Luna was going to do that, and gestured towards Rosemary, who smiled a peculiar smile.

“Don’t worry. In fact, I brought a catalog knowing such a thing would happen. How about tailoring a dress again this time? To commemorate the new year and winter, themed around snow.”

As if waiting for it, the maid handed them the catalog. It hasn’t been long since the coming of age party, yet new designs of dresses filled the front of the catalog.

“That’s great, Miss! Since there will be many people meeting you for the first time, choose the most glamorous and pretty dress. It’s like showing off to those who looked down on you for being poor.”

With such pushiness, even to the point of dragging in past painful memories, the time to refuse had long passed.

‘Yeah, what can I do by earning and saving money? The economy thrives when the rich spend money.’

Although the dress was very expensive, compared to the amount Luna earned, it was but a drop in the bucket.

When it could be found was uncertain, but if diamond mines were discovered in the future, it would be as small as dust.

“Okay. But just keep the basic design the same as last time, and change the rest. You understand, right?”

“Of course.”

Rosemary still smiled brightly as if that was sufficient.

* * *

Fersen, who checked the signature on the contract, smiled with satisfaction. Major companies that were dealing with Antes had fallen into his hands.

“This is all thanks to you, Lady Seira.”

He said to Seira, who was staring at him while sitting on the office sofa.

Really, all of this was thanks to her. She connected him to several clients through her family. Of course, even without her, he could somehow contact and snatch the clients, but it would have taken quite a time.

If so, Antes would also find a way to respond. That bastard is very low and cruel, surely would have struggled.

“You say so, but I don’t know what to do. I haven’t done anything special…”

Despite playing a significant role, Seira modestly brushed off Fersen’s compliment as he embraced her waist.

Then, as if she was waiting for it, she nestled in his arms and asked with a somewhat worried voice.

“But it seems you paid quite a large penalty, is it alright? I know you matched even better contract terms than Antares had…”

Considering the advantageous terms of Antes’ contract with the client, Fersen, who paid off the hefty penalty, might not be able to cover the losses in his lifetime.

In response, Fersen answered with a quite confident voice.

“Don’t worry about that. It won’t be long before we can clear all the penalties.”

“How?”

It would be perfect if there was such a way. To ease her worries, Seira asked with her emerald eyes twinkling.

“We signed a net profit contract with all these clients. After deducting the costs of distributing, storing, and managing the products, we agreed to share the rest.”

“I know that. You agreed to give 80% of the net profit, right?”

Even excluding the amount required for distribution, giving 80% of the profit was rare.

Initially, if he pays 80% to the other party, the amount left for Fersen is only 20%.

However, Fersen had pre-arranged the plan to have the maximum profit.

“Yes. So, we are planning to insert intermediaries under the Ducal family.” 

“…Intermediaries?”

As Seira still seemed unable to understand, Fersen explained while brushing her cheek:

“The intermediaries will take a certain amount as a commission. Even inserting two would significantly increase the amount falling into my lap.”

“…!”

Seira finally understood Fersen’s words. An 80% share of the profit seemed like a good contract term at first glance, but it was a cunning trap.

After having all sorts of commissions siphoned off by the intermediaries inserted by Fersen, the remaining money would be a pittance.

Taking 80% from that pittance wouldn’t amount to much. The rest of the money would all fall into Fersen’s hands.

“With such a contract… isn’t there a possibility of termination in between?”

Seira cautiously asked as she would have done the same.

In response, Fersen explained while brushing her hair, telling her not to worry.

“There won’t be such an instance. We’ve placed a hefty penalty, plus the contract term reaches a hundred years. Everyone seems to want to interact with our family for a long time.”

Fersen smiled quite happily, but Seira did not. If what Fersen said was true, this was close to a fraudulent contract.