Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Right now, I’m with the newly organized people.
[The Strategic Planning Office people.]
[Irina is the team leader.]
Right, I prepared for the new business with the Strategic Planning Office people.
After some preparation was done, we spent a long time reporting on future business plans.
We briefly finished reporting on the future business direction, targets, and annual performance goals, and it was already midnight.
“You should rest, I’ve been interrupting.”
“You just realized that now?”
Roen, who had been struggling alongside me, grumbled.
“No, I don’t usually sleep well at this time anyway.”
“Really? Your insomnia hasn’t gotten worse, has it?”
He shook his head, saying it wasn’t like that.
But I don’t believe it.
It’s definitely not nothing.
Cassis had dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping properly.
Instead of urging Cassis, I immediately urged Roen.
“Mr. Roen. You should also check Cassis’s sleep status. Please also ask the therapist to continuously monitor his health condition.”
“I’m already doing that. Don’t worry, I’m handling it well.”
I clicked my tongue inwardly while carefully examining Cassis’s pale face.
‘The hero who will save the world needs to take care of his health in advance.’
[You’re really making a fuss.]
Roen showed the same reaction as the system and came up to me, placing a letter in front of Cassis.
“Cassis, what should we do about the imperial banquet?”
[What? Banquet?]
[The banquet where you wear dresses, hold wine glasses, dance, and fight with words?]
The imperial banquet at this time is the New Year’s party that is held during the last week of the year and until the first day of the new year.
Seike was a humble county in the south, so we had never received an invitation from the imperial family.
A grand duke is still a grand duke.
Even when bankrupt, he still receives an invitation from the imperial family.
“Well…”
“I suppose… we should attend this time too.”
Cassis sighed deeply with a face that clearly showed his dislike.
This was the first time in my life I’d seen Cassis dislike something this much.
[Irina, you haven’t even known Cassis for a year.]
‘It’s just a figure of speech.’
“Doesn’t the principality originally have the right to refuse the imperial banquet?”
After all, a grand duke is like the king of a principality.
It’s a right that even the imperial family acknowledges.
“That’s true. But our lord’s bankruptcy was largely influenced by the imperial family.”
“Ah…”
“So this invitation is to make Luwin a laughingstock in front of all the nobles.”
Cassis calmly continued Roen’s words.
“What the emperor wants to convey is this: ‘Look, the once-mighty Luwin has fallen to the bottom. Don’t dare to go against my will. If you don’t want to end up like Luwin.’ That’s the kind of event it is.”
It seems like a place where you can’t exercise your right to refuse even if you have it.
I thought Luwin had honor, even if it had no money or power due to bankruptcy, but looking at everything, it seemed that honor could plummet in an instant.
Honor, above all, can quickly sink when manipulated using power.
“Irina, since you haven’t been with Luwin for long, it would be better if you didn’t attend.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to subject you to such a harsh situation from the beginning.”
Even Roen, who had been strict with me, nodded in agreement that it would be better this way.
I wonder how much ridicule they must face to show such an attitude.
“If it’s that kind of event, shouldn’t we go even more?”
“Irina, you don’t seem to understand, but at events like these…!”
I interrupted Roen mid-sentence.
“I briefly contacted my brother yesterday, and he said they received an invitation from the imperial family.”
As soon as I heard about this from Ijin, I thought it was due to Luwin’s influence.
But I didn’t want to bring it up to make Cassis worry.
“I was puzzled as to why Seike, which they normally wouldn’t care about, received an imperial invitation, but after hearing this whole story today, I think I understand.”
This event is, in short, to show that ‘Seike has attached itself to Luwin’.
“It seems like a place with added warnings.”
“Then it’s better not to go.”
I shook my head.
“That’s why we should go.”
It’s not about fighting the imperial family.
How could I fight the imperial family?
Moreover, the imperial family currently includes the abandoned princess, who is the female protagonist of the original story.
I think it’s worth attending just to meet her.
However, my bigger purpose lies in my personal ambition.
“It seems the imperial family is very interested in Luwin, to the extent that they personally invited Seike, which just makes wine in the south.”
“…”
“In such a situation, wouldn’t everyone be interested in Luwin?”
If it’s the empire’s New Year’s party, one of the biggest events, it will be a gathering of not only the empire’s but also neighboring countries’ key figures.
Is this what they call an integrated political and business event?
If it’s a place that attracts everyone’s attention, someone preparing a new business must absolutely attend.
It doesn’t matter if the attention is negative.
I’m confident I can draw that attention towards me, even if it’s that kind of gaze.
“Rather, I think it could be a good opportunity to announce Luwin’s new start.”
There’s a lot to prepare.
I picked up a calendar and checked the days left until the New Year’s party.
Time was quite tight.
“It seems that the fact that Luwin chose me, the owner of Seike Wine, is attracting quite a lot of attention.”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Cassis nodded with a sigh, as if he already knew.
I wondered why he didn’t tell me if he knew.
[Why do you think?]
“Did you know?”
“We’re not completely disconnected from social circles or political circles. We’re not isolated.”
“I would appreciate it if you could inform me in advance from now on.”
That way, I can use everything that can be used.
I stood in front of a large magic blackboard.
“Although we don’t have anything right now, it seems there’s quite an expectation that Luwin can improve just by the fact that they newly hired me.”
And I attached a few newspaper articles from the capital that I had prepared to the blackboard.
The newspapers were focusing on the fact that Luwin had hired me, and covering how Seike Winery had succeeded.
Some articles even discussed whether hiring me would bring a new wind to Luwin.
Roen, who seemed to already know about these articles, countered:
“Most of the content is negative. The main trend is that although they hired Irina Seike, what can a mere failing southern county lady do?”
“That’s right. They’re all expecting to see how much more incompetent I can be. Everyone is expecting to see what kind of foolish things Luwin will do.”
Sad to say, but most people desire the failure of those who were once brilliant rather than their success.
Just like they love the fall of a hero.
There were plenty of people who wanted Luwin to fail again this time, and to be irreparably damaged.
That was evident just from reading the newspapers.
I smiled gently and tapped the blackboard.
The attention of everyone – Cassis, Roen, and even the few vassals still present – was focused on me.
“Expectations, whether good or bad, attract people’s attention.”
“So that attention is good?”
“Yes, whatever we do, they’ll have to look at us, even if it’s just to criticize. Being able to start a new business in this situation is no different from starting from an advantageous point.”
Having people look at us once.
Even if it’s a gaze expecting failure.
I might not feel good about that gaze, but I don’t think it’s bad.
Anyway, Luwin is in a hurry and in no position to be picky.
[Wow, Irina is so confident.]
[Impressive.]
I smiled at everyone, meeting their eyes one by one.
Of course, I also have the idea of selling ice cream on the side.
It would sell much better in the capital, which has more money and parties, than in this cold and poor north.
Just watch.
I’m definitely going to earn 10,000 jurang by selling ice cream.
[You had ulterior motives all along.]
‘Of course. Who likes being criticized?’
It’s all for money.
If I can make money, I don’t mind being criticized a bit.
However, I can’t suggest making ice cream, which I’m not even sure about, as Luwin’s main business item, so that’s my own plan.
If I go and try selling ice cream directly, I’ll get a feel for it.
It’s also a good opportunity to see how people view and treat ‘ice cream’, how much business potential it has, and accordingly, how to develop this business.
‘Until then, I absolutely need to level up my cooking skill and increase the success rate of ice cream production.’
As I was thinking deeply about this, Cassis asked me.
“Have you experienced the social circles in the capital before?”
“Hmm.”
I thought for a moment.
I had attended once or twice.
Although it wasn’t this kind of official social gathering, I had the chance to observe when I was selling wine.
I was wondering if I should say I had experience, when Cassis asked:
“I’m used to being a laughingstock, but I’m a bit worried about Irina.”
“It’s okay.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
You might get criticized sometimes in life.
And if I can reduce part of this debt by being criticized a bit, I’m fine with it.
“I think we should think of it not as going to an imperial banquet, but as going on a business trip.”
At my words, Roen burst out laughing.
“That’s good. It’s not going to the imperial party, but a business trip.”
The faces of the people, which had been gloomy when the New Year’s party was first mentioned, now showed faint smiles.
Not just Roen, but the sighs of relief from others were much lighter.
I felt proud for no reason, even though I hadn’t actually done anything yet.
As much as I felt proud, my desire to succeed grew stronger.
‘Even if we fail, I should prepare more diligently.’
[Yes. You can do it.]
