TFLMLD 41

Chapter 41

Let’s Raise the Stakes

“What… do you mean?”

“Where did the rumor about you being a villainess even come from? It’s such an ill-fitting nickname.”

If I told him I was possessed, just imagining what kind of face Macaron would make was funny in itself. But more realistically, he would probably make a huge fuss, yelling to summon the empire’s best doctor. I didn’t want to stir up that kind of commotion.

“It’s just… a baseless rumor. Like the rumors attached to Your Highness.”

“I see.”

Macaron let out a short chuckle, like air escaping. Then, when our eyes met, he quickly turned serious and nodded. That day, we had taken just a single step closer to each other. But even that small step felt like a big leap forward.

Unlike usual, the normally peaceful Craide territory had been in constant turmoil. The barrier reinforcement work was taking far longer than expected. The tears and marks left behind were too abnormal to dismiss as just low-grade monsters fooling around. And since this was already the second time, suspicion naturally turned inward—someone from within.

Macaron’s expression hardened at the thought. Fortunately or unfortunately, no culprit had been found among the knights. They were fully devoted to the investigation, tension stretched tight, but no progress was made.

While Macaron led the search, I made a magical tracking device and handed it to him, hoping it might help. That was all I could do. He looked both grateful and apologetic when he accepted it. He knew, as I did, that the next Changer auction was approaching.

From then on, Macaron deliberately made sure I didn’t have to worry about the barrier at all, setting up an environment where I could focus entirely on the Changer business. Thanks to that, the new models came with an ever-growing variety of designs and filters. The Changer’s functions grew richer, and its popularity at the auctions skyrocketed.

Thinking that it could help not only Macaron but also the children filled me with deep pride.

Craide territory had become more prosperous under Macaron’s rule, with steadily growing harvests. But agriculture remained its only main source of income. That meant even the smallest variables could shake the territory badly. Macaron built storage houses to prepare against that risk, but… it wasn’t enough. For true stability, a new industry was necessary—and commerce was the most promising sector in terms of profit. I intended to start that with the Changer.

As expected, the newly released Changer achieved great success at the auction. But then, unexpectedly, the auction house contacted me through a familiar to say its owner wished to meet me.

It was strange to be summoned by the auction master. Still, I had always been curious about what the auction house looked like and how it operated. I’d planned to visit someday.

On the appointed day, the sight that greeted me was a palace-like building, far more splendid than I had imagined. The long corridor was decorated in rococo style, angel statues striking elegant poses, drawing smiles from anyone who passed.

The room I was led into was filled with luxurious tiles, intricately engraved with beautiful patterns. While I was busy admiring the unexpected grandeur, a familiar face walked in.

“Madam Marie?”

It took only a short conversation to realize that she was the auction house’s master. Until then, all I had ever heard was that the owner was a “great merchant.” I had never imagined it would be someone I knew—Madam Marie.

It turned out she ran the auction house for commercial review and contracting, befitting someone of her stature in the empire. Smiling brightly, she walked up to me.

“I thought it might be… and it really is you, Teacher.”

From the very first time she had seen the Changer, she said I had come to mind, and she expressed deep delight.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been searching for you, do you?”

“For me?”

Her eyes reddened, as if she were reuniting with lost family.

“You disappeared without a word. Everyone was so worried.”

“……”

“I really wanted to see you again. I’m so glad we could meet like this, at least.”

“Me too.”

Madam Marie was a special person to me. She was the one who helped me enter Moon Knight. Even after nearly a year apart, she still looked just as cheerful and generous.

“What on earth have you been doing all this time?”

Her gentle reproach was heavy with concern. She had been the greatest help in adjusting to this world after my possession. Not only that—she had supported me so completely, even more than an older sister might have.

‘I really should have told Madam Marie before I left…’

Shame flushed my cheeks. Yet even now, I couldn’t tell her anything. Because Macaron hadn’t yet made our marriage public. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Marie—but it wasn’t something I could reveal lightly.

“I had to move suddenly… I’m sorry.”

A brief silence fell, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Was there some problem with the Changer auction?”

“No, no. The reason I wanted to meet you was… ah, if you’re uncomfortable with me calling you Teacher, please let me know.”

That consideration was just like her.

“Call me whatever you like. I don’t mind.”

I smiled. Relaxing, she continued.

“There’s a great merchant who wants the Changer.”

“A great merchant?”

She nodded, speaking quickly.

“He runs one of the largest trading companies in the Kingdom of Quinzelet.”

The moment she said “Quinzelet,” my heart pounded.

“Did you just say Quinzelet?”

I knew that kingdom better than anyone. Quinzelet was the very first country I had targeted for the globalization of makeup. It was ruled by a queen. Politically, it wasn’t particularly powerful, but its commercial activity was unmatched. Even more important, it possessed the world’s largest reserves of high-quality magic stones—essential for magical device production.

Demand for makeup in Quinzelet was even higher than in the Romantic Empire. The difference was in demographics: in the empire, the demand was evenly split between men and women, but in Quinzelet, male demand was overwhelmingly high. Quinzelet placed great importance on male beauty, yet their cosmetics industry lagged behind. As a result, they depended heavily on imports—making it the perfect export market I had long set my sights on.

So it wasn’t surprising that a Quinzelet merchant would covet the Changer. Still, Quinzelet had many established trading companies, and I had already chosen the one I wanted. If it wasn’t them, I had no intention of meeting.

“Don’t tell me… it’s not the Merzen Company, is it?”

But it was. The Merzen Company.

The dream I had long cherished—taking the Changer global—suddenly felt within reach. If the deal went through, it would also greatly benefit Craide territory. Just imagining it brought a smile blooming to my lips.

“I’ll meet them!”

Marie blinked in surprise at my unusually eager response, then clasped my hands.

“You made the right choice. A hot item like the Changer deserves more than just the auction house.”

She rang a bell, and a stranger entered the room. Marie excused herself, leaving us alone.

“Good day. I am Merzen, master of the Merzen Company.”

Since the Kingdom of Quinzelet also used Imperial, there was no language barrier. Meeting Merzen was undeniably a huge opportunity.

The elderly man was clearly no ordinary person, his presence alone enough to prove it. With a polite nod, he got straight to the point.

“Our company wishes to mass-produce your Changer. We will cover all production costs. All you need to do is sit back and count your money.”

It sounded tempting, but he had left out the most important detail.

“What about the profit split?”

“Eighty for us, twenty for you.”

An 8:2 split—the standard contract. In other words, it meant they weren’t desperate for the product, or it was just a starting offer. Considering that most Changers I’d released so far had been for women, it wasn’t surprising.

“It doesn’t seem like you want the Changer that badly.”

Merzen raised an eyebrow, then adjusted his posture. Instead of answering, I smiled and carefully laid out my new prototypes from my pouch onto the table.

“What are these?”

“Men’s Changers. Just born a few days ago.”

Since contracts were often struck at auctions, merchants sometimes acted in secret. I had brought the newly completed “bad boy” Changers just in case—and they turned out to be very useful.

With sparkling eyes, Merzen tested each one, calling for a mirror so he could see his reflection change. Each transformation left him wide-eyed with wonder. By the time he tried the last one, his gaze had shifted completely. The balance of power between us had reversed.

“What terms do you want?”

“Seventy-thirty.”

“That sounds—”

“Seventy for me, thirty for the company.”

Merzen looked startled, as if he had never heard such terms before.

“That’s a bit too much…”

In business, the side with more to lose always concedes. Judging by his hesitation, the outcome was already decided.

“There are plenty of other companies eager for the Changer. If you don’t want it, just say so.”

My words were firm, though my heart pounded nervously. Truthfully, no company in Quinzelet had a distribution and trade network that could match Merzen’s. Even if he refused, I still intended to sign with him. This was just the usual push and pull of negotiation.

“How about sixty-forty, with an advance payment of one hundred million derks?”

A hundred million derks—the same enormous sum Macaron had once offered as settlement. For someone with Merzen’s business acumen to propose such an amount meant he truly believed the Changer was worth even more. I was thrilled, but I also had confidence. The Changers I had created were far more valuable than that.

Money wasn’t my biggest concern. For mass production, what I really needed was a stable source of magic stones, which were always fluctuating in supply.

“Instead of the advance, give me the Vellica magic stone mine your company owns.”

In the Kingdom of Quinzelet and in the Holy Kingdom, fierce struggles between priests and mages had ended a few years ago with the priests’ victory. Cast out, the mages had nowhere to go, and magic stone mines had plummeted in value. For Merzen, giving me a mine at that price was no loss compared to a hundred million derks.

“…Very well.”

Though he hesitated, he agreed. A man with his foresight surely knew the mine’s value could rise again. Especially since Vellica was famous worldwide for its highest-quality magic stones. If he was willing to let it go, it meant the future was uncertain.

But I knew. At some point, a mana wave would occur, and then the value of magic stone mines would skyrocket a hundredfold.

In other words, this was a gold mine.