Chapter 44: CHP 44

"It is so amazing!"

As soon as I checked the smoothie sales, the Blancia Master sent me, I pounded my pillow like crazy.

'The sales are huge! I knew it would be a success!'

On top of Armand's income I raised the monthly service fee for my formula, but nobody cared, and the number of subscribers even increased dramatically after I presented another formula.

'I did a good job promoting my "Premium Improved Formula", such a good name...

Premium, a magic word that makes everyone want to have it, since it sounds luxurious, it was well received by everyone.'

I grinned while I opened the thick bag of money I received from the Imperial judiciary.

'The amount of money earned from the patent this month is double than last month. Even though it was tiring, it was worthwhile to attend the lectures at the Wizard Association.'

My eyes twinkled as I looked in the leather bag filled with gold, silver, and copper coins.

'This patent is valid for 15 years. It is practically like winning the lottery every year.'

I was rolling on the bed while hugging my pillow and day dreaming about my future plans, when I suddenly saw an envelope on the table.

It was a letter from the Academy, and the content was really unexpected.

'What? I am the top student in the Academy?... Is this a spam mail? No impossible!

There isn't a person in the whole Empire who would forge the signature of the Academy's President only to play me a prank.

What did I do to get first place?

Because I improved that formula? I thought that I would become an excellent student in the magic department but not the Academy's best student.

I can't believe they gave the title of the best student to a student with such a bad reputation.

This Academy doesn't seem to value the morality of the students that much.

I have no real talent. Didn't they think about the Empire's future if they give me such a position.

I can now understand why Duke Seymour was worried about the future of this Empire...'

I soon let go of all my suspicions when I saw the huge scholarship that was written at the bottom of the letter.

'Why did he write the most important thing with such small letters?

Well if an adult gives you money, it is not polite to decline.'

"Ahem,Ahem..."

While I was happy because of the big amount of money that I received, the contents of the novel suddenly popped in my head, and I dropped the letter.

'I almost forgot, Mia Vinoche was chosen to be the top student in the novel because of her tremendous divine power, and she decided to donate the huge scholarship to an orphanage.

Thanks to that, Mia's reputation in the social circles grew immensely, and the members of Omicron, who ignored her because she was the daughter of a fallen family, started to acknowledge her little by little.

On the other hand, this became a catalyst, and Deborah's feelings of jealousy and inferiority in the original story grew out of control, and, like a villain, she gradually chose the wrong path.

But the events have changed and now I am the one who received the top student award and the scholarship.'

There was nothing bad about this situation but I didn't feel so good, so I laid back down on the bed.

'Mia will be fine no matter what, so I am not worried about her.

I know why my heart feels so heavy, I don't want to pocket the money that was supposed to be for the children from the orphanage in the original story.

I know that I decided to live selfishly in this life, but I can't be spiteful towards some poor children.

Just like how I just think that Enrique is cute, I just care about him for no special reason.

Haaa...Why did I have to be the top student? This is so annoying.'

While I laid on the bed staring blankly at the colorful chandelier, I suddenly, thought of a good idea.

...

"What do you think about it? Master."

Princess Deborah's eyes sparkled like rubies as she brought a proposal, saying that it was a new business strategy.

But, Isidor looked silently at her face, feeling conflicted.

'Even though this proposal is unexpected, somehow it just feels like her...

She always, cleverly, exploits people through psychological methods and uses unheard of strategies to get what she wants, but, strangely enough, she doesn't feel greedy or atrocious.

She is completely different from the rumors. That makes her seem even more special maybe that is why she constantly aroused my interest.'

Today, the feelings that Isidore, tried to bury deep inside, began to burst out. Just like boiling water that suddenly starts to bubble his feelings get out of control.

So he stayed silent for a while because of the strong waves that were taking place inside him.

Princess Deborah didn't seem to notice his inner turmoil and continued to show him her meticulously written proposal that was done to convince him about how beneficial her idea was.

"I don't want it to be just a one-time donation. By creating the Armand Children's Foundation and making regular donations, we will let many people know how much Armand is contributing to the community."

After taking a sip of her tea, she continued.

"In addition, when the business grows, I want to create the Armand Scholarship Foundation that will scout many talented people from different back..."

'So now she wants to donate the entire scholarship she received from the Academy to the children of the orphanage.

Who would have ever imagined that one the most feared villains in the Empire would make such a proposal?'

"I think that's a good proposal. In fact, I was so surprised that I couldn't even give you an answer at that moment."

"Why is it so surprising?"

Princess Deborah slightly raised her eyebrows because she couldn't understand what he meant.

"I was moved to see your compassionate and kind side, Princess Deborah."

Her long and purple eyelashes fluttered finely while her sharp eyes gradually began to turn redder.

"I-I am not the kind of person that does good deeds out of the kindness of her heart."

Princess Deborah suddenly raised her tone, and Isidor trembled slightly.

Cookie, who was licking Deborah's finger, also opened his eyes wide and quickly hid behind Isidor.

"This is a campaign. A campaign meant for the public interest. Donating is one of the most effective ways to improve the image of our shop."

Princess Deborah started to speak with great enthusiasm while veins appeared on her neck.

"The children and students who receive help from Armand will publicly phrase our shop in the future! They are all investments in my eyes.

Oh... and also, if I create a sponsoring Foundation, we will definitely receive tax relief from the Imperial family just like when I donated the clock tower! I never make a move if there is no profit for me. Do you understand?"

"I understand your intentions very well, Princess Deborah."

Isidor smiled lightly.

"The Academy scholarship will be donated as you wish and I will check with the Imperial Administration Office to see how much tax savings we will receive if you make a sponsoring Foundation."

"Alright."

Princess Deborah quickly flapped her fan with a cold face

'Is she embarrassed?'(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

Isidor looked at her earlobes, which were glowing red and clenched his fists hard.

'She is so cute...What am I thinking right now...!!!'

While Isidor was deep in thoughts, Deborah suddenly folded her fan again and changed the subject and atmosphere all together.

"We have succeeded in launching the new menu and have also attracted many new customers to Armand, so now we have to move on to the next step."

Deborah slightly raised the corner of her red lips and spoke confidently.

"Now that the jousting season is about to start, it is the perfect time for..."

'She put a lot of effort into planning this, she didn't lie when she said in the beginning that the concept of selling the business name is only one of her many ideas.

Until now she has been, aggressively, using ingenious business strategies while launching unique items, and her business sense is so good that she can turn a quiet, dessert shop in a crowded place in an instant.'

Even though the business skills Princess Deborah has shown him in a short period of time would intimidate even the most outstanding business owners, what she was trying to do now was so interesting that made Isidor forget all the previous things, because it was a very unconventional idea even for her.

"If this plan succeeds, we can make a great profit...But because it's so different, it may not be easy for customers to accept in the beginning."

As her business partner, Isidor advised her about his concerns.

"True, and there is only one person who is perfectly suited to promote this item."

Princess Deborah said in a whisper while she fiddled with her fan.

"I will contact that person. Who is it?"

"Isidor Visconti."

'Why me again?!'

In that moment, the sound of something heavy falling from behind the bookshelves was heard, and the fog that Isidore made to spread on the floor fluttered in the air.

"What was that noise?"

Princess Deborah narrowed her eyes and looked around.

"... I think something fell from the bookshelf."(⁠･⁠o⁠･⁠;⁠)

Isidor promised that one day he would slap Miguel properly and then asked her.

"What do you mean by he is the perfect person for this?"

"Honestly, Sir. Isidor is very handsome... According to your research, he is the most handsome man in the Empire.

So... even if he just lightly sweeps his head, he can turn the social world in an uproar."

"Hmm..."

Isidor bit his lips, which were about to curl up in a smile, and touched the nape of his neck.

'Even Princess Deborah acknowledged that I'm handsome. Until now, I thought she had a bad eye for men, but... just as I expected, she lost her appeal for Philap.

She must have, right? ತ⁠_⁠ʖ⁠ತ???'

"You have a good eye, Princess Deborah."

In fact, Isidor wanted to say 'your eyes have finally returned to normal', but the fact that she found him handsome made him feel so good, that he implied it as a compliment.

"Hmm..."

But then, Princess Deborah's eyes narrowed like that of a fox.

"What's wrong?"

"To be honest I am suspicious that you have ulterior motives. I have no prejudices against that kind of relationship, but still..."

She mumbled the meaningful words in a whisper while looking at him suspiciously.

'Don't tell me, she thinks I like myself...?!'

(⁠ ⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥́⁠⌢⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥̀⁠) ┻⁠┻⁠︵⁠ヽ⁠(⁠'⁠Д⁠'⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠︵⁠┻⁠┻

Again, the mist from the floor began to lift in the air, and Isidor clenched his fists with such strength that his black gloves almost ripped.

"It's not what you think, Princess."

Isidor said with a sullen face.

"But, Master you liked it so much when I said that Isidor is handsome, like you were the one receiving the compliment. You are behaving suspiciously."

Because of Deborah's keen instinct, Isidor quickly made something up.

"Princess, you are always suspicious and wary of him, you even asked me for an investigation? But you didn't believe my research data."

"That is correct."

"I was just a little surprised because I thought that you had a change of heart. What I mean is that if you would still find him suspicious, you wouldn't think of working with him.

So are your doubts about him gone now?"

To escape his embarrassing situation, Isidor mixed the question with a bait to satisfy his personal curiosity.

"To be honest... I still find him very suspicious."

Princess Deborah frowned slightly and quickly hit the palm of her hand with the fan.

'Still? Damn it. Why is she so wary of me?┻⁠━⁠┻⁠ ⁠ヘ⁠╰⁠(⁠ ⁠•̀⁠ε⁠•́⁠ ⁠╰⁠)

Even the son and daughter of the Senate family, who are against the Imperialist Visconti family, are friendly to me as an individual.

That is one of the reasons why I have such a good reputation in the social world.

I've never done anything bad with my real identity. The bad acts are unconditionally done in the form of the Blancia Master.'

A simple example of what the Blancia Master had done is to cause Louis Gargell's to fall from his horse, by using magic to make it seem as an accident.

"You are still suspicious of him, but want to entrust him with such an important job. Isn't that a contradiction?"

Princess Deborah was looking with a sharp stare at the Blancia Master, who was bluntly telling her the truth, and then opened her mouth while she fiddled again with her fan.

"If you hear my plan, you will surely understand it immediately."

Her bright red eyes gleamed like that of a cat that saw a big tasty fish, and Isidor felt the need to moisten his dry lips while a somewhat uneasy feeling came over him.

'What is she scheming again?'(⁠｡⁠ﾉ⁠ω⁠＼⁠｡⁠)

...

After I finished talking with the Blancia Master, I returned home and looked out the window at the red sunset feeling conflicted.

'So are your doubts about him gone now?'

For a moment, I felt as if the Blancia Master was trying to figure out my innermost thoughts. Am I too sensitive?

I don't want to doubt him... Since I started this partnership with him, the gratitude I feel towards him has grown bigger and bigger.

I can't explain it in any other way than gratitude. He is like the best bus driver I have ever met, the ride with him is so comfortable.

I only had partners who wanted to be spoon-fed, whenever I was doing group assignments, because of that I was able to feel the Blancia's Master initiative and competence even more deeply.

In all my life, I have absolutely never thought that I would ever benefit from my teammates.

My first impression about the Blancia Master was obviously fear, sitting there in his misty, dark office, he emitted an eerily dark and empty like feeling, like an abyss, it made one fear him instinctively.

But from a certain point, he became the person that understands me the most and a reliable helper.

He is actively supporting my business planning ideas and my unconventional methods, which for others might seem reckless at first glance, and he is always giving me helpful advice.

Renovating a building in a new architectural style would have been impossible without his help, he put a lot of effort into it. He also quickly agreed to help me donate my scholarship without anything in return.

This man is not a cold-blooded person who only likes gold.'

"But, apart from my growing appreciation for him, I don't really know anything about him?

What is his true identity?"

'Since he often uses metaphors, I assume he is a noble, and considering his excellent business skills, he is unlikely to be the eldest son. The nobles here despise involving themselves in commerce.

If he had land to inherit, he wouldn't have been interested in commerce.'

I tried to find out his identity from the few things I knew but I immediately shook my head.

'I really don't know. In the novel, even the Crown Prince didn't know anything about him other than that he is the head of a secret organization.

But the Blancia Master, who is usually so meticulous and strong, has shown me a suspicious attitude whenever Isidor is mentioned.

He is losing a little from his composure whenever I mention Isidor, even more so today...I don't think he is just a simple male fan.'

I tried to figure out what exactly is the relationship between the Blancia Master and Isidor, until the sky became dark, and then I decided to write a letter to Isidor.

'I can't figure it out, and the only person who is suitable for this job is still Isidor...So I have to hurry because the jousting season is getting closer.'

.................