"Our plan is simple."

Amelia and Zinnia, realizing that the Imperial Family intended to pair Rupert with Iolin, formed a temporary alliance.

Though both women were aware of their rivalry over Rupert, they had no choice but to join forces against a greater threat.

“Will this really work?”

Zinnia hesitated, doubting the effectiveness of Amelia's scheme after hearing the details.

‘Imperial marriages are exceedingly strict.’

Amelia’s plan hinged on the rigorous procedures of the Imperial Court.

No matter how distant their bloodline, members of the Imperial Family were tightly managed under stringent laws. This was especially true for Iolin, whose status was directly tied to the line of succession.

A royal marriage couldn’t proceed carelessly under any circumstances.

‘Even His Highness the Crown Prince had his engagement annulled after a scandal was uncovered about the other family.’

The Emperor’s inability to finalize the Crown Prince’s marriage also stemmed from these reasons.

Firstly, potential partners had to match the dignity of the Imperial Family. Not every noble was considered suitable.

Secondly, even if they were of appropriate standing, their family’s power couldn’t be excessively strong or too insignificant.

Lastly, there could be no disqualifying factors for the individual or their family. Among these factors, reputation was often the most scrutinized.

• "There are rumors that the young lady of the Yura family was promiscuous with men during her academy days."

The Imperial Court would dig up not only the present but also the past. Any minor flaw could immediately disqualify someone from marrying into the Imperial Family.

However—

‘Of course, this is stricter for the Crown Prince. The standards for Princess Iolin will be slightly more lenient.’

The issue lay in the fact that the criteria for disqualifying a suitor were not as severe in Iolin’s case compared to the Crown Prince.

For example, even William, the Second Prince, was engaged to a daughter of the Tena family, a match that would have been considered unsuitable under stricter standards.

The Tena family’s countship was slightly below par, and their reputation was tarnished by allegations of bribery surrounding the father, Count Tena. Normally, this would have excluded them from consideration. However, the Emperor deemed the Tena family’s power balanced—not too threatening to the Crown Prince yet significant enough to maintain oversight—and approved the engagement.

In contrast, Rupert’s reputation, family status, and abilities were flawless.

It was no surprise that the Emperor saw Rupert as an ideal match for the Princess. Furthermore, Rupert’s close relationship with the Crown Prince meant that his marriage to Iolin could potentially strengthen the Crown Prince’s position—a perfect arrangement.

‘It won’t be easy to find a disqualifying factor.’

That was why Amelia decided to team up with Zinnia.

‘I would never do anything that would harm Rupert!’

With the power of the Bluewell Duchy, Amelia could have spread slanderous rumors about Rupert and tarnished his reputation.

However, such an option was entirely unacceptable to Amelia. Instead, she chose a more subtle method: rumors about Rupert’s romantic relationships.

If rumors spread that Rupert, who was being considered as a match for the Princess, was already intimately involved with other women, the Emperor would undoubtedly hesitate.

‘But I can’t do this alone.’

For the plan to work, Amelia needed someone else’s help.

In this world, reminiscent of the medieval era, it was not uncommon for an unmarried nobleman to be involved with one woman.

However, if rumors circulated that Rupert was simultaneously involved with Amelia and Zinnia, the situation would take a sharp turn.

It would become nearly impossible for someone with such a tangled romantic life to be accepted as a match for the Imperial Family.

“This is the only way….”

Although Zinnia initially felt reluctant about Amelia’s proposal, she ultimately agreed.

After all, the thought of losing Rupert to someone else was something she could never accept.

"It seems we’ll need to select a secondary workshop site outside of the Somerset estate,” Esteban remarked casually, sipping the coffee Alain had personally served him.

“Our estate’s land can no longer handle the scale we’ve reached,” Rupert agreed.

The once-spacious grounds of the Somerset mansion were now packed with workshops, including the Somerset Workshop and numerous merchandise factories. While Marquess Bradley often lamented that his estate resembled an industrial park rather than a noble household, Rupert regretted that he couldn’t further expand there. The centralized location had helped reduce costs and maintain security, making the estate an ideal production hub.

“Do you have a location in mind?” Rupert inquired.

“I was thinking about building the new factories on the lands of the Sleepy estate,” Esteban proposed.

“That’s a good idea. It’s close by, and the land prices in the devastated Sleepy estate are very affordable,” Rupert replied.

“That’s not my primary reason,” Rupert clarified, his tone softening.

Although Rupert hadn’t been directly responsible, the Sleepy estate had suffered significant damage due to Satanail and his Night Servants. Rupert couldn’t shake the guilt he felt over its condition.

He had poured his resources into supporting its recovery, and his brother Richard, along with the elves, had been working to restore the area. But that wasn’t enough for Rupert.

“The harvest season is approaching, but the damage has left most of the locals without work. I want to provide the people of the Sleepy estate with a way to make a living,” Rupert explained.

Esteban felt a pang of embarrassment. As a merchant to the core, he often prioritized profits over altruism. Yet, moments like these reminded him of how Rupert’s values reined him in, preventing him from making rash decisions. In hindsight, Esteban realized that Rupert’s steadying influence was likely the reason for his own unblemished success in business so far.

“Marquis Demian’s bold decision was unexpected,” Esteban commented, changing the subject.

“Indeed. On the surface, the trading companies will remain separate as they’ve been, but internally, it’s essentially a merger,” Rupert replied.

This sudden expansion was prompted by Marquis Demian, who had approached Rupert and Esteban with an audacious proposal: to merge his Vera Trading Company with Yuren Trading Company, positioning Vera as a subsidiary.

“This couldn’t come at a better time. The sheer volume of book and merchandise sales had nearly paralyzed our operations,” Esteban remarked.

“Exactly. The frequent overtime at Somerset Workshop was becoming a concern, so this is a welcome relief,” Rupert agreed.

At first, Demian’s offer seemed almost too favorable, raising suspicions. However, his terms were clear:

‘In exchange for this merger, Vera Trading Company will exclusively handle Yuren’s subcontracting, and I’ll acquire 10% of Yuren’s shares. Conversely, I’ll transfer 20% of Vera’s shares to Yuren.’

This mutual exchange symbolized a unified partnership. The Marquis’s calculations were shrewd: though Vera wouldn’t outpace Yuren’s growth, monopolizing its subcontracting work would yield substantial profits. By aligning himself as a stable second in command, Demian secured a solid foothold under Yuren’s rising influence. Rupert and Esteban had accepted the terms, finalizing the subcontracting of portions of production and sales to Vera Trading Company.

“The pre-orders for Rupert’s Fables alone are overwhelming,” Esteban noted.

“It’s likely because we didn’t aim for profit and had Imperial sponsorship, making it incredibly affordable,” Rupert replied.

Without Vera’s support, managing the massive influx of pre-orders would have been nearly impossible. The timing felt like divine intervention.

Rupert’s Fables, Rupert’s newest and first educational work, aimed to benefit the Empire’s children. Rupert had proposed selling it at cost with no profit margins to maximize accessibility. The result? It became the most pre-ordered book in their publishing history.

“This is a long-term investment,” Rupert explained when Esteban initially questioned the lack of profit.

Esteban now understood. The children reading these fairy tales and comic books would grow up, create families, and remember the joy Rupert’s works had brought them.

“It’s brilliant,” Esteban admitted, marveling. “Those same children will eventually buy the merchandise and books they couldn’t afford before, and they’ll purchase them for their children, too.”

Rupert’s strategy of distributing low-cost books to foster future loyalty was sowing seeds for a generation of devoted customers. Esteban could already envision a future where Somerset’s foundation was unshakable.

“At this rate, your grand vision of Somerset Land will finally come to fruition,” Esteban remarked.

“Yes. One of my ultimate goals is for children who grew up with my works to visit Somerset Land with their families,” Rupert replied, his eyes gleaming.

The concept of a theme park based on fairy tales and comics was still foreign to Esteban, but he could now begin to see the outline of Rupert’s dream. The empire’s future seemed brighter with Rupert at its helm, weaving a cultural legacy unlike any other.