After a great commotion like that,
I went to Ayla’s room with the shadow.
I knocked and waited for a long time, but there was no answer from inside.
Feeling cold sweat running down my back, I stood still and waited. The shadow standing next to me stared at me intently.
“Why? Is it not okay to go to the lady? Should I open it for you instead?”
“Please remain quiet.”
“If you’re going to say that, just speak informally. Just like you always did.”
“Right now, I am Ayla’s maid. As a maid, I cannot disgrace Ayla’s face while serving guests.”
“No, a maid who cares about her master’s face wouldn’t say things like ‘remain quiet.'”
Really absurdly, the shadow showed an incredulous expression toward me. The person who should be dumbfounded here is clearly me.
“Ha, really. The man who once fought dragons in a duel, what’s gotten so timid? Did your heart shrink as your height did?”
The shadow said this and stretched out his hand, not to open the door, but to knock again on my behalf.
After a brief moment, I heard a voice from inside, saying, “Please come in.”
I carefully opened the door and entered.
Ayla was half-lying on the sofa with a very displeased expression.
She looked like she found everything in the world bothersome. Still, I was relieved as the atmosphere was slightly different from when she first saw me.
I hesitated and knelt on the floor, looking for clues from Ayla’s reaction.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’m sorry, Ayla.”
“You seem to know well. Fine. For now, just stay kneeling.”
The expression of the shadow looking at me became more subtle, but I desperately tried not to look in that direction.
Ayla’s gaze shifted to the shadow that entered with me.
“I heard from Luna. You run an information guild, right?”
“Rather, I’m in charge of a more secretive organization, Countess.”
“I really dislike that title, so just call me by my name. We’re both ‘young ladies,’ after all.”
“Well, would that be possible?”
Ayla turned her gaze to a small sofa next to her. The shadow lightly moved toward it and sat down obediently.
“So, what exactly do you want that a mysterious person like yourself came all the way here? What do you think I have to offer?”
“Hmm.”
The shadow’s gaze briefly shifted to me.
It seemed like they were contemplating how much I had told Ayla.
Ayla had noticed that Daisy was a suspicious figure, but she didn’t know her exact identity. On the other hand, the shadow had heard all the information about the witch of the forest and had come here, likely excited by the news of being able to monopolize the witch’s goods.
“First, I was asked by an old friend. I had incurred quite a bit of debt in the past, so I couldn’t simply ignore it.”
“Oh?”
Ayla’s eyes turned toward me.
Since I was still kneeling, I felt it was a bit awkward to straighten my back confidently, so I decided to just stay silent for now.
“And I also wanted to assess the movements of the Baron.”
“Any particular reason for that?”
“I brought this information because of the debt I owe to a friend, but I believe this estate has a very bright future. If we strike a deal, I believe we could benefit each other in the long run.”
“You’re thinking completely differently from the Baron.”
“I’m thinking differently from other nobles. I see things differently.”
Ayla slightly raised her chin.
I liked that attitude. The nihilistic vibe she had when I first saw her and the gloomy atmosphere she had at the balls or banquets weren’t right for Ayla.
Although there was a somewhat mournful air to her, Ayla was someone who could be cheerful when the moment called for it. She had a certain pride about her too.
It wouldn’t be possible to fully return her to her previous state, and there was no need for that. I just hoped she would be like herself again.
Perhaps noticing my gaze, Ayla glanced at me as if to wonder why I was making such an expression and then spoke.
“Could you explain how you can bring benefit to the royal nobles?”
“Talent.”
The shadow said decisively.
“Talent.”
“Yes. All the talented people working here.”
“Those ‘talented people’ were all brought here by Luna. If they’re close friends, can’t you just ask Luna to have them work for you?”
“No, that’s not possible.”
The shadow said firmly.
“The biggest reason those people move is likely because of Luna, but the biggest reason Luna moves is not because of me.”
“But even if they are talented, they are still people. If they don’t come to the kingdom and work for you, doesn’t that make it meaningless?”
“Ayla, didn’t Luna tell you anything? Or are you trying to test me by asking that?”
“…Sorry. I was just trying to test you.”
Ayla sighed softly.
She knew how incredible the witch was. Already, Seila was tasting fruits that would never grow in this region during this season, fruits that don’t even grow on this continent. The quality of the food had also improved immensely.
All of this was brought by the witch from the forest. Although they only produced enough for us to consume now, if she wanted, she could produce enough to sell to other places.
Furthermore, it seemed like the witch really wanted to make a deal here. And the reason was because I was here. The people of the forest, including the witch, were all very exclusive to the outside world. They saw the forest almost like a sanctuary and were very cautious about letting outsiders in.
I, and my younger sibling, were among the few who had been recognized without being invited.
She was likely thinking of entrusting an external contact to a trustworthy outsider.
In any case, I was the person who had gone to the Empire at the witch’s request and brought back the real dragon’s head.
“If you’ve decided to trade, you should rush to it first. If it were the second, third, or tenth, I would have tried to bargain according to the market value. There would have been a price from the previous buyers. But the first time…”
“The first time, you could cut the price and buy it cheaply.”
“No? No, that’s not what I intend to do.”
“Then, does that mean you’re willing to buy it at an outrageously high price?”
“Of course.”
“To win my favor?”
“That’s part of it, but there’s something even more important.”
“Something important?”
At Ayla’s question, the shadow smiled brightly.
“To raise the price of goods, a justification is needed. If the cost is high, then the price at which it’s sold can be much higher. And nobles go crazy over expensive and rare items. Do you know that there were nobles who ate chicken covered in pepper when pepper was more expensive than gold?”
“Indeed.”
The goods that come from here will never be mass-produced.
Of course, if a competitor arises, the price will be lowered, but until then, it will remain the same.
I intend to sell only in a very limited manner to nobles who throw gold coins around for the best of the best, all because it’s labeled “the best quality.”
“So, please allow trade within this estate, with the people here. Of course, all transactions will go through Luna and Ayla. I believe this year, Count’s territory will be able to pay off all the ‘explicit debts.'”
“From what I’ve heard from the Baron, it seems that many people are eyeing the Count’s territory. Do you think they will just sit idly by as I take all the profits?”
“They certainly won’t sit idly by, but if they don’t know that the goods came from the Count’s territory, it won’t matter. This is where I can be a big help. I specialize in gathering and hiding information. I’ll become your distributor in the shadows. Nobles go crazy for goods that are traded secretly, the ones they only know about. And if there’s ‘justification’ attached to it, the price could go even higher.”
Of course, the market profits from the distribution process would all go into the shadow’s pockets.
By the time the nobles realize it, the Bluewood family will have acquired a tremendous fortune. They might even be able to buy parts of a noble’s territory drowning in debt. And the shadow is the best at catching such personal problems with precise accuracy. Of course, that won’t include the Count’s territory. Because I’m here. And so are my people.
I have a few ideas. The former Bluewood Barony.
Even with all the shadows around, nobility is still nobility. The shadow isn’t without a bit of pride or dignity.
And that’s the same for the Wellenborough family.
Excluding non-explicit assets, this Count’s territory is in much more debt. But with this kind of wealth, they could pay off all of their debts in no time.
“Oh, and there’s one more proposal.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Ayla, who had been lost in thought, nodded.
“The Count held many of the secrets of the nobles. Although I never faced him directly, I often did business through his servants, and sometimes, he would provide me with startlingly valuable information. I’m not sure how the Count left that information, but if there’s anything you’re looking for or have in your possession, I’ll buy it at a high price. In this kingdom, there probably isn’t anyone else who can pay more for ‘information’ than I can.”
And no one else sells information at a higher price than the shadow does.
At the shadow’s words, Ayla let out a small laugh.
“Let’s decide after consulting with Luna. You’ll stay until then, right?”
“Of course!”
The shadow answered brightly, as if it were the most obvious thing.