Duke Hesman entered Prince Cassian's imperial palace with unstoppable strides. He walked around, remembering the reports from the three spies he had planted in various places.
'Sheria will be back soon.'
The spy report planted with the competing businesses, the spy report embedded with the collaborating businesses, and finally...
'Did I mention that Meldenik Babelloa is also preparing for business?' The Duke recalled a report from the spy he had sent to Meldenik.
'Where did you say you were going to lure a stupid sorcerer and set up a small shop?' He thought of the gloomy eyes of the three spies who reported the news. Somehow, their pupils seemed empty. However, these were the ones he had brainwashed and directly planted in Meldenik's vicinity. They couldn't lie.
"Meldenik, your rebellion is unusually long." He smiled. "Anyway, if the annulment isn't accepted here, that's enough, but it's stupid." The annulment letter that Meldenik Babelloa had sent him had long since been forgotten in his mind.
Had she ever done a proper job? He wondered how much business she would do, on the subject of saying harsh things to him, and how shameless she would be. After all, Meldenik was Meldenik.
'It's obvious and not funny. She's going to try to do business again this time, but she'll fail and drag it out.' A woman who was always pathetic. However, she was a useful piece, so she would be treated like a valuable tool until marriage.
"From now on, if she talks about anything, I'll have to kill her spirit." Lennox snorted and stepped into the parlor.
"It's been a while, Cassian."
"Yes."
Duke Hesman, who sat across from Prince Cassian, crossed his legs arrogantly. "It's troublesome to get approval one by one." However, a cause was always important. He had to explain his plans for the new business to Cassian, the Second Prince who was in charge of the imperial family's finances. This new launch project was even more meaningful because it was planned to be a collaboration between Hesman and Babelloa.
He had conquered the adult social world without difficulty. Most noble families bought goods from the Hesman Company or the Babelloa Company. Now, their target was not mature adults. The family business was to target children and teenagers, and a growing number of elderly people, as potential customers for more than fifty years. Negotiations between Hesman and Babelloa had already concluded, and the development of a prototype was nearing completion. Soon, after receiving approval from the imperial palace for the business plan, they planned to hold a grand launch party. Just as his life was an undefeated streak, there would never be a failure this time.
"Lennox."
"Yes."
"I have confirmed the business plan you submitted to the Imperial Palace beforehand." Cassian looked at Duke Hesman, who was sitting across from him, and his expression hardened.
'Did you say you were doing a business targeting a certain age group?' However, he was following the old method. It planned to pour initial capital and push it to the extreme, and play a game of chicken with other large and small merchants. It also said that they would spend a lot of money to promote it in order to win this chicken game. Was there any place in the Empire that had the ingenuity to take on his capital-driven business? There was not.
Cassian read the business plan and brushed his silver hair back to speak. "Show me the prototype."
Duke Hesman's confident face was filled with pride. He took out a small perfume and a fountain pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. Cassian held the fountain pen that Duke Hesman had left on the table, and he was slightly excited.
"Fountain pens and perfumes?" The body of the fountain pen was elegantly and delicately carved. In the central part was a sculpture that looked like an angel's head. If it were not for Hesman, no one would be able to craft a fountain pen so delicately.
"It's a work of art in itself. Unlike ordinary fountain pens, diamonds are embedded everywhere." Prince Cassian looked at his fountain pen and whispered softly, "Wouldn't it be inconvenient for children to use? They're going to get calluses."
"That's the point."
"I don't think it will have a good impact. It's too much."
Duke Hesman laughed lazily. "A good influence? What does that have to do with this?"
"..."
"Invest. Success in our business is guaranteed. Kids always copy adults, right? And they don't have the financial power. The real target is parents. And they're our top loyal customers." If you thought about money, it wouldn't be wrong.
Prince Cassian's blue eyes looked down at the fountain pen. But was this fountain pen harmless to children? A fountain pen with jewels in a small, delicate hand seemed to be quite uncomfortable.
Cassian, who had seen his arrogant attitude, rested his chin indifferently. Duke Hesman didn't care and spoke again. "Besides, I'm going to partner with the Babelloa family this time. In particular, Madame Hildegard and Lady Sheria will be with me." Hildegard took on the role of a moneylender, and Sheria went into business with him. She had gone on a business trip to the Holy Land for a while under a new business plan.
'He seemed to enjoy the sick-company vacation as well.' Remembering his lover's happy time, Duke Hesman smiled softly.
Cassian, who was watching him, rubbed his temples tightly. "Yes... Babelloa and Hesman's collaboration, it will never fail." But he felt like something was stuck in his mouth like sticky sand.
Cassian was aware of the rumors of a scandal between his friend and Lady Sheria, which had spread widely in social circles. Everyone praised their beautiful love story. They were also good business partners, and that was also admired in the social world. But now Cassian had a different idea.
"I want to ask you something. Are you just a business partner with Sheria, or are you thinking of getting married?"
Duke Hesman's eyes narrowed. "My marriage partner is Meldenik Babelloa."
Cassian raised one eyebrow and said, "Then you'd better stay away from Lady Sheria."
"...What does that mean?"
"You have a fiancée, Lady Meldenik. Excuse me for both ladies." Perhaps he felt that his privacy had been invaded, Duke Hesman's complexion hardened severely. However, Cassian was adamant in his tone. Whatever the character of Lady Meldenik, weren't the two of them engaged?
"Because of your actions, the social world is already predicting your breakup with Lady Meldenik."
"I see. I guess it's because her behavior is so bizarre." Duke Hesman frowned, remembering her leaving after shouting at him to get out.
Cassian raised an eyebrow at his nonchalant expression. "If you're going to marry someone, shouldn't you protect Lady Meldenik's honor?" Prince Cassian had heard of Meldenik Babelloa's bizarre behavior. But there was something he had to make clear. "If you really want to take Meldenik as your Duchess, you should treat her like a proper companion." It wasn't that he was particularly interested in Meldenik. But it wasn't not interested, so he just added a few words.
At Cassian's words, Duke Hesman narrowed his eyes. "It's a family affair, so you don't have to worry about it." There was no one who did not know about the corruption and evil deeds of Meldenik Babelloa. She even ignored his sister, Lady Sheria, and tried to kill her. There was no reason to respect such a woman.
"And she even told me to shut it down." Duke Hesman chewed the inside of his cheek. He just wanted to take advantage of Meldenik. That's what his father ordered. But why was a woman who had been acting well according to his wishes suddenly like this? They said he would throw her away properly after using her.
"Compared to what she does, I'm still treating her like a human being."
Cassian stared at Duke Hesman's frowning brow and tightened his mouth. "I don't think it's possible for the Imperial Palace to invest."
Lennox sneered lowly, as if he hadn't expected it. "What... The imperial family doesn't usually get involved in large-scale projects, so I understand." At Cassian's words, Duke Hesman nodded with a face full of regret. "But it's a shame to pass up an opportunity that would be quite profitable for the palace's budget."
If Duke Hesman's work could make the empire stronger and embrace all the common people, he was willing to invest as much as he wanted. However, Duke Hesman always worked only for the revival of his duchy and for himself.
"...With the Hesman Company's control over most of the capital's streets, the rate of self-employed people closing is increasing. There is no reason for the imperial family to agree to it."
"Isn't it better to be a slave to our family than to be the owner of a damn business that is of poor quality anyway?"
"..."
"You know, the weak are defeated."
How should he answer? Cassian pressed his throbbing temples. He did not know where to start or how to persuade Duke Hesman. It felt like the relationship between them, which had maintained a friendly façade, was creaking. The more they talked, the more tired he became.
Lennox replied, changing his expression neatly. "...Well, yes. I guess the conclusion is that you can't invest."
"Yes."
"Hmph, I'll take my leave."
As Cassian looked at Duke Hesman's confident back, Axion's words came to mind. "Mel wants all the children to be happy!" Wanting all children to be happy was a nonsensical and absurd statement. In Cassian's experience, people who make overly idealistic claims are usually scammers.
"That's why I came to the Academy!" But he kept thinking of Axion's crackling voice and happy face. The words that "I came to the academy for the happiness of all the children" were ringing in his ears like a bell.
Prince Cassian muttered in a low voice as he folded the business plan that Duke Hesman had offered him in half. "I'd rather be an idealist." Of course, most idealists like the woman who owns 'Mel's Stationery Store' are frustrated by the bitterness of reality. The nobles who use others as a means of making money, such as the Duke of Hesman, usually claim the final victory.
He took a sip of the slushie that was still on the table. The cold first taste and the sweet end lingered in his mouth.
'A stationery store for the happiness of all children.' He felt very sentimental. This slushie reminded him of the cold and sweet snacks he used to eat when he was a child. He reminisced about the past when his younger siblings were alive and washed his face dryly. It was time to return to reality.