CH 217

Epilogue (3)

“I refuse to bid for Count Devon and Marquis Barth.”

“The Duchess of Jaxen?”

Countess Harrington and other nobles standing behind were seen swallowing in surprise.

“No, but Countess Devon, to the Duchess of Jaxen, the red fox fur…”

“Yes. She cared for me like a sister.”

It’s not true, but Ezet smiled in agreement.

“And the Marquis of Barth has handed over exclusive distribution rights for five years.”

“But why…”

“I’ve received great gifts, and I’ve been taught by them how to behave as a nobleman, and I’m still not good at manners, right?”

Ezet smiled and raised Countess Harrington’s hand.

“I cannot be rude to the two ladies who have taught me precious things, so from now on, Count Devon and Marquis Marquess. All transactions between the two families will be made exclusively through Count Harrington.”

“Come on, Duchess of Jaxen?”

Countess Harrington shuddered with more surprise. Ezet smiled without letting go of her hand.

“Countess Harrington is more well-mannered than I am. Please treat both ladies with respect for me.”

It means that Count Devon and Marquis Barth must be seen well by Count Harrington to make deals with Jaxen in the future.

“Of course, you’ll only get as much rail access as you get from Count Harrington.”

“Well, well, the Duchess of Jaxen. But we’re in a situation where we’re going to buy that much stake… ”

County of Harrington has a long history and is a family that deserves to be invited to the Imperial Family, but financially not at all. To the point where one has to sell their land for one concentrate of Pibrus’ fruit.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Edmond stepped forward.

“From this year onward, regardless of the stake, we’re going to unify the price of the ticket.”

Everyone looked at Edmond with astonished eyes. What do you mean by unifying prices regardless of their shares?

“So you’re saying you’re paying the same money, someone takes more, and someone takes less?”

“That’s right, but I’ll give you the lowest price.”

The murmur in the hall intensified. The minimum stake limit is renting a railway once. No matter how much the stake is, the fact that they will meet the lowest price means that they will pay the same fee even if they borrow all 24 hours of 365 days. If that were to be done, it would profit as much as a few dozen to as much as hundreds of times.

“Then the prices are all the same, so how do you decide on the stake?”

Edmond looked at Ezet. Their eyes met. Edmond always blew bombs, and Ezet was surprised and embarrassed, and now Ezet could see what Edmond was thinking.

Whatever accident Ezet caused, he said he’d take care of it. As Ezet smiled lightly, Edmond seemed satisfied, cleared his throat, and turned to the other nobles in the hall.

“I’ve been thinking about a lot of things. First come, first served, randomly picked, initials… ”

The nobles in the hall were nervous as more and more grotesque noises came out. First come, first served would be a blood race. There are some communities whose prices will rise further by buying and selling rights.

They waited for Edmond’s following words, hoping that there would be no circumstances for a person to die.

“I couldn’t come up with a plan, so I decided to let my savior and my beloved wife decide.”

All the eyes of the people in the hall turned to Ezet. He said he’d take care of it, but she thinks this is too much. Ezet’s complexion turned white.

“Edmond!”

“You said you’d only deal with Count Devon and Marquis of Bath through Count Harrington, right? The same goes for the rest. Please decide which family you are dealing with and how much of your share of the family you are giving. I’ll follow your wishes.”

She was going to give a blow to Countess Devon and Marquis of Bath, but Edmond’s bombshell set the aristocracy on fire.

If they can’t see Ezet well, it means that the deal will be blocked, let alone the stake.

“Then shall we go? Milady, you’ve taken too long.”

“Edmond, wait a minute!”

“Thank you for coming to meet us. I’d like to say hello to each and every one of you, but my wife is so weak. I’ll definitely invite you to the wedding, so we’ll talk slowly then.”

Edmond snatched Ezet into his arms and walked out of the hall. The gaze on the back of his head was hot, not prickly.

“Well done, Milady. I’ve been bothered by the bidding competition every year, but thanks to you, I’ve solved it in one go.”

“What kind of solution is that? I don’t know anything about business… ”

“You’re just deciding on a stake. There is still about a month left until the disclosure date. In the meantime, take a closer look.”

“What am I supposed to look at?”

“Who’s putting their utmost effort into you. First of all, there are two, Count Ritten and Count Harrington. You’d better organize the rest of the list. If you don’t want to divide the order, you can just write down their name and choose by darts.”

He talks so casually about the rise and fall of a family. Ezet was amazed.

“But if you set your share of the voucher at its lowest price, wouldn’t your profits be reduced?”

“The profits from using the railway are already sufficient. Furthermore, if the price of a rail pass is drastically lowered, the merchants who used to trade ships will turn to railways.”

Then, the price of the ticket to use the route will inevitably go down. Edmond was planning to buy all the rights to use the route.

It’s enough to raise the price afterward.

“Edmond, I told you to develop empathy. Please be considerate of others.”

“Of course I will. I think I’ll be as polite as I can be to someone who cares about you.”

If they can see Ezet well, Edmond will be as convenient as possible, and if they offend her, even soup will not be there. {TN – He means that they won’t be worthy of even something as little as soup.}

“…what if I misjudge and disrupt trade?”

“Didn’t I tell you I’m taking care of it?”

“But still…”

“Try it, anything. Spending money, doing business, negotiating, and sharing friendships. You can make mistakes and fail again and again. Until you’re used to it, until you’re relieved, do as much as you want.”

It’s up to him to clean up. Edmond’s eyes were as warm as they could be.

He is a vicious dictator who shakes the world with a single word, but why did he become such a friendly husband who accepts anything in front of Ezet?

Ezet clung to Edmond’s neck with her arms around her.

“Edmond, you’re gonna teach me how to ride when you get back, right?”

“I did.”

“I’m going to see an opera.”

“Because I got a present from Countess Ritten.”

“Did the… dollhouse arrive?”

“I got a call from my deacon at dawn. It’s a perfect unopened product, so all you have to do is unpack it.”

“I don’t think I can unpack…”

Ezet fiddled with Edmond’s collar, blurring the end of her speech.

“Why?”

“It’s right first to say thank you to the person who bought you the gift.”

Ezet tilted her head slightly and kissed Edmond on the chin.

“I’d like to say thank you in bed.”

“Ezet.”

“You’re going to take it, right?”

As she looked up, blushing, Edmond’s red eyes shook. She never thought she’d see this guy panicking like this.

“If you don’t give it to me, I’m going to force it.”

Still babbling, Edmond overlapped his lips with Ezet’s.

[End of Main Story]