Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Translator: Latte Editor: Sasha

The manufacture of red ginseng was carried out successfully. Elody gave it to the servants, and the results were satisfactory.

‘As expected of red ginseng!’

Elody felt like she had already made a fortune.

News of her success spread by word of mouth, and the knights began to take an interest in the medicine. To make things fair, Elody also gave a generous amount of pills to the knights and guards.

“I wish I could mass-produce it. I need more plots in the greenhouse.”

Unfortunately, for now, she had no way to grow them in large quantities. So she had no choice but to rely on her magic.

Her cultivation method produced a higher yield in a shorter amount of time. Like that, she would be able to mass-produce it through magic.

Furthermore, a single root was enough to produce quite a lot of pills.

“Madame, are you tired?” Anna asked anxiously, but Elody shook her head.

“I’m all right. Thank you for worrying about me, Anna.”

The first person to test the effects of the red ginseng was Elody.

Overwhelmed with fatigue, Elody relaxed by taking the pills, and it had high efficacy!

Elody added a red coating to the outer part of the pill and named it ‘Red Pill’ with the alias ‘Panacea.’

After preparing batches of red ginseng pills to send to Caville, Elody called Sirka to visit the mansion.

“You came here sooner than I expected.”

“Of course.” Sirka smiled.

Sirka sat across from Elody and studied her expression.

‘Such confidence!’ He thought as his heart pounded from excitement.

Everything from the way she held herself, the way she spoke, to that look of unassailable confidence, which said she could do it. He couldn’t do anything but put his trust in her.

Elody took out the pill from a small box and held it out to him.

“This is…”

Sirka took the pills with his trembling hands and scrutinized it. They had a pretty color, just like a jewel.

“That’s right. It’s called the Red Pill.”

“Oh… I see.”

“You can also label it as Panacea. Do you know why?”

“No, I do not,” Sirka said while shaking his head.

“Because it’s a remedy for a lot of diseases. Now, listen carefully. As far as this medicine goes….”

Elody began to explain the efficacy of the pills like a real merchant while Sirka listened to her attentively.

“First of all, it strengthens the immune system and helps lower the recurrence of diseases. It is also safe to take, even if you have a fever. Lastly, it reduces fatigue and increases one’s energy.”

“Wow…! Really?” Sirka exclaimed as his eyes glistened after hearing Elody’s words.

He looked like he would buy them even if he had to sell his house.

“Young people want to take care of their skin these days, don’t they?” Elody grinned, “Well, these pills can also improve your skin! Whether you’re a man or a woman!”

“For the skin!” Sirka clapped his hands in admiration.

“Yes. If you take these pills regularly, your skin will glow and become very smooth!” Elody exclaimed, “Now that I see it, don’t you need to take care of your skin? It feels very dry, right?”

“That’s right! I’ve been apprehensive about my skin lately…”

Sirka looked dejected, but Elody smiled as if telling him not to worry.

“You don’t have to worry. Look at my skin. I only sleep for a few hours in a day, yet my skin still feels silky and smooth.”

“So, these pills were the secret?!”

“Yes! I won’t be this confident if I haven’t tried it myself.”

Sirka was astounded. If he sold this in his country, he would be able to dominate the trade market.

“Is there another one?”

“Of course. This one is… Oh my… how do I say this? It’s very effective for men.”

“Th-that’s…… “

“It’s good for men.”

Elody’s expression was filled with confidence and determination.

“Really?!”

Sirka went wide-eyed, and his eyebrows arched towards the sky.

Elody’s mouth felt dry from talking so much, but she still continued.

“The pills will take effect as soon as they enter your body. You’ll feel something like this; ‘Huh?! No… My body?! Huh? This is how good it feels?!’ like that.”

“Madame is a genius!”

“It relieves stress and is good for older women. It’s so effective that I don’t know what else to say.” Elody said with the most benevolent smile.

Sirka nodded his head vigorously at her words. The pill seemed credible enough to save the dead.

“But it’s a little bit more expensive than the usual drugs. “

It was time to get to the main point.

Sirka’s face fell into a nervous expression.

“How much…?”

Without a word, Elody took out the papers and placed them on the table.

This was their way of talking.

Elody preferred to give out papers first before negotiating, and Sirka was already used to it.

“…You’re going to lose. Hmm… I don’t think it would be bad to sell to aristocrats.”

“I’m planning to sell them to the commoners, too.”

“But wouldn’t it be difficult for the commoners to buy it at this price?”

“It’s possible through pull marketing strategy.

“Oh…? What could that be?”

“It’s a strategy in which we aim to increase the demand for the red ginseng and pull the consumers to the product through promotional acts.”

“As expected of madame… you should just work with us…”

“Will you give me the highest position?”

“That’s not… …but. Umm…”

“Well, I’ll think about it if I have the chance,” Elody said while slightly nodding.

“Really?”

When he heard such a definite answer, Sirka was surprised.

Elody looked at him, wondering why he was so surprised.

She had nothing to do in the mansion after getting divorced. So it was only right to continue her business rather than to stay around and do nothing.

That way, she could continue to help Caville.

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“You can think about my words however you want. Anyway, I’m signing this. Will you sign it too?”

“…Oh, yes! I will buy whatever the duchess makes.”

The granting of exclusive rights was enough.

The down payment, on the other hand, was a little too much. But Sirka knew that the product would become successful again.

‘Madame never produces a loss.’

Sirka put his absolute trust in Elody.

* * *

After completing the contract, Elody was drinking tea in her room. It was her long-awaited break.

Suddenly, the scribbles on one side of the wall came into Elody’s sight.

Those scribbles were marks that recorded her and Caville’s height every year.

“Um…”

Elody walked to the wall and began measuring her height whilst putting her back against the wall.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Madame, I brought you refreshments.”

“Come in.”

Marie came in with a plate full of cookies.

After putting the plate on the table, Marie glanced at Elody, who rested on the wall.

“Madame, what are you doing?”

“I’m measuring my height.” Elody responded, “I’m glad you’re here, Marie. Can you measure my height?”

“Alright, madame.”

Marie put her hand on top of Elody’s head to mark her height.

“Huh? I…”

Elody was speechless.

‘I… Why am I so short?’

“Is this really my height? Shouldn’t I’ve experienced a growth spurt?”

“No, madame. You were always this tall.”

The height difference was so little. It was a shocking reality that she didn’t want to believe.

‘Will the red ginseng make me taller?’ Elody thought for a moment.

“Is there a possibility for me to grow taller next year?”

“I don’t think so. I stopped growing taller when I was 19.” Marie said as Elody’s expression sank.

Marie was much taller than her.

Elody was not very short. But she wasn’t considered tall. To put it bluntly, her height was average.

“…….”

Marie held back her laughter.

The duchess was diligent and smart, but Marie saw her as her cute little sister. It’s because she had taken care of her since she was young.

“But Emily grew half an inch taller even after she turned 20.”

“Really?” Elody said in a very cute tone.

“Yes! So don’t complain about the food, eat all of it, get enough rest, and then you’ll grow taller!”

“Are you su~re?”

Elody’s childlike way of speaking made Marie burst into a loud, harsh cackle of laughter.

It was just too cute.

Elody too, dissolved into a puddle of laughter and Marie could see her stomach shaking as she fought the gale of giggles.

Elody laughed with Mary and then glanced back to the wall where she engraved traces of Caville’s height.

‘Caville will be so tall. I can’t even compare myself to him.’

Somehow, she was sad and envious. She expected it, but she still wanted to be tall. How wonderful it’d be if she could increase her height.

Elody had such a good laugh with Marie. Her mood was good that day even if she kept thinking of Caville in the corner of her mind.

Then, time flew by…

Unfortunately, after four years, Elody’s height remained the same.

Since last year, Elody had decided to stop marking her height.

One day, Elody went to Emily with a question.

“Emily, I heard that you grew taller even after you turned 20. Was that true?”

“Huh? No, madame. I’ve been this tall since I was 16. I’ve had the same height since then!”

“……”

“Madame, you want to grow tall, don’t you? If you eat well….”

“I’m done!”

Marie fooled her. The maids, who have seen Elody since childhood, all giggled at her cute self.

On the other hand, the new maids looked surprised to see the older maids treating her in such a friendly manner without hesitation.

It was unusual for servants to play tricks on nobles like this.

But as time went by, they also adapted to the unusual atmosphere of the mansion.

Unlike other aristocrats who are as cold as ice, the duchess always had a warm personality.

The servants regarded each other as a family, and the duchess was kind to them.

Elody’s expression was filled with betrayal, but Marie still grinned playfully.

‘How can I become taller….’

It was sad and unfair, but it couldn’t be helped. Her growth seemed to have permanently stopped.

On the bright side, Elody was very rich.

Her red ginseng business with Sirka became a huge success.

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