Chapter 15 - Profit Contract
By early afternoon the next day, Dahlia visited the Merchant Guild.
Until now, she had been working under a joint registration with Tobias, but from this point on, she would be handling things on her own.
She had planned to take some time off after getting married, but that was no longer necessary.
She intended to first check the revenue from the profit contracts for her registered magical tools and take on new work within her capabilities. With that in mind, she climbed the stairs to the second floor amidst the lively chatter of the guild.
"Ah, Dahlia-san! Perfect timing."
As soon as she reached the second floor, a male staff member responsible for orders called out to her.
"A request has come in for you from the Courier Guild: ten waterproof sheets for carriage covers."
"Understood. Let me confirm the details."
"Here you go."
Reviewing the request, Dahlia confirmed it was for the same specifications as the previous waterproof sheets.
Given that it came from the Courier Guild, it was likely Marcella who had been thoughtful enough to arrange it.
The fabric for the covers would be provided, and there were no issues with the deadline or payment, so she accepted the job. Arrangements were made for the fabric to be delivered to the Green Tower in a few days.
Relieved to have secured some work, Dahlia headed toward the counter for contract-related matters.
"Good afternoon, Dahlia-san."
"Thank you for your assistance the other day, Ivano-san."
Behind the counter stood Ivano, who had recently acted as a witness for her.
He smiled gently, seemingly reassured by Dahlia's smile.
"So, what brings you in today?"
"I’d like to check the revenue from my registered magical tools. Could you provide the contracts for review?"
"Of course. I’ll bring your profit contracts right away."
Ivano disappeared into the back room and returned with a flat, brown wooden box.
Inside were the profit contracts for the magical tools registered by Dahlia and her late father, Carlo.
For magical tools registered with the Merchant Guild, a portion of the sales profit was paid to the developer.
The details differed in many ways, but it was a system similar to patents from her previous life.
The registration period lasted seven years, after which revenue ceased.
The waterproof fabric Dahlia had developed was registered when she was 18, so it would continue to generate revenue until she turned 25.
However, the dryer she had co-developed with her father had been registered over a decade ago, meaning its profit-earning contract had already expired.
At the time, Dahlia’s name hadn’t even been included due to the age restriction of 15 years or older for contracts.
"Carlo-sama's two profit-earning items and your profit contracts for waterproof fabric and raincoats have generated this amount."
As she reviewed the documents, Dahlia tilted her head.
"What about the contract for the compact magical stove I registered last month? It doesn’t seem to be included here."
"The compact magical stove’s profit contract... I’m terribly sorry. It seems to have been misplaced. Let me check right away."
Ivano stood, his chair scraping against the floor. It appeared the document might have been mixed up in another box.
As Dahlia relaxed for a moment in her chair, the back of the office grew noisy.
"I’m so sorry! I was the one who handled the compact magical stove’s profit contract!"
A young female staff member ran over, bowing deeply in front of Dahlia.
"I'm sorry, I mistakenly registered it under Tobias-san’s name."
"Huh?"
From behind the tearful and flustered staff member, Ivano came running with a stack of documents in hand.
Scanning it, Dahlia saw that the profit contract for her compact magical stove—something she had developed—was indeed registered under Tobias’ name.
Tobias had only reviewed the final blueprint to check for omissions; otherwise, all the ideas and work had been hers.
When Tobias had mentioned he’d take care of the registration on her behalf during a busy period, citing business with the Merchant Guild, it seemed he had taken the liberty of changing the registration to his own name.
"Um, Tobias-san came in last month for the registration and claimed it was done with your approval. We assumed it was meant to be under the husband’s name after marriage..."
Normally, when the one who wrote the specifications and the name of the registrant differed, the guild required direct confirmation from the developer or a letter of authorization.
However, since their engagement paperwork and joint registration were already on file in the Merchant Guild, the staff had misunderstood it as a post-marriage arrangement.
Hearing the explanation, Dahlia felt the familiar sting of a headache.
It was true that some married couples registered items created by either spouse jointly or under one partner’s name for management and profit-sharing purposes.
But Dahlia has no recollection of Tobias ever having mentioned such an arrangement.
"I understand the situation. However, I have not transferred any rights to Orlando-san. Additionally, my engagement to him has been dissolved, so we are now strangers. Could you please tell me what I should do to change the name on the profit contract under these circumstances?"
Dahlia’s tone was impartial, with no trace of blame.
"If you'll excuse me, I would like to apologize as well. I will escalate this matter immediately. May I ask for some time?"
Ivano, standing beside the female staff member, bowed.
When you develop a magical tool, ensure your name is attached to it, and take responsibility for its future―that’s what Dahlia’s father taught her.
Had Tobias, her senior apprentice, forgotten those teachings?
The thought left her saddened.
・・・・・・・
After some time had passed, Dahlia found herself in the office of Gabriella, the vice guildmaster, accompanied by Ivano.
The room was adorned with a luxurious geometric-patterned carpet, a white table with beautiful carvings, and white leather furniture, exuding an atmosphere of leisure. Yet, the air in the room was oppressively tense.
"I’ve heard the details. Dahlia Rossetti-san, in the absence of the guildmaster, I extend my apologies as the representative of the Merchant Guild."
Gabriella stood up and bowed deeply. She remained motionless in that position.
"Vice Guildmaster, please, lift your head!"
Dahlia quickly stopped Gabriella, alarmed at the sight of her beautiful ivory hair nearly brushing the floor.
Gabriella held the bow for several seconds before slowly straightening, and making no effort to hide her sigh.
"I’m truly sorry for causing you such trouble. I’ll ensure stricter oversight to prevent this from happening again."
At Gabriella’s invitation, the three of them finally sat down at the table.
Ivano, already exuding exhaustion, opened a folder of documents and began explaining.
"We’ve reviewed the paperwork for the compact magical stove, and both the blueprint and specifications are undeniably in your handwriting, Dahlia-san. We also have statements from the responsible party. We’ll formally protest against Tobias-san immediately and amend the records. As a penalty, Tobias-san will face a temporary suspension from Merchant Guild contracts, and the staff involved will be demoted—"
"If you could simply change the name on the contract, that would suffice."
When he was interrupted, Ivano widened his eyes and looked at Dahlia.
"Dahlia-san, are you sure that’s enough?"
"If you wish, Dahlia-san, we could pursue this as contract fraud. Since it occurred during your engagement, it could devolve into a debate over who said what, but we can appoint a representative on your behalf. Rest assured, the guild will cover all associated costs."
"Thank you for your consideration. However, if we take that route, Tobias’s career as a magical toolmaker would be over, wouldn’t it?"
"Yes. If this is deemed contract fraud, he would never again be able to trade as a magical toolmaker at least within the Merchant Guild.”
Gabriella's deep blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"Dahlia-san, you don’t still have feelings for him, do you?"
"As a fiancée, I feel nothing for him anymore—if anything, it’s the opposite. But he is my senior apprentice."
After graduating from the academy at nineteen, Tobias had become an apprentice under Dahlia’s father.
When she first met him, her father had introduced him as her “senior apprentice.”
With a watch in one hand and a metal plate in the other, Tobias had offered her an awkward bow.
Although Dahlia had been learning from her father since she was a child, it wasn’t until after her own graduation and two years assisting an academy professor that she officially became her father’s apprentice.
Technically, Tobias was indeed her senior.
"...If he willingly terminates the profit contract and I re-register afterward, could we avoid penalties for Orlando-san and the staff involved? Of course, I don’t mind if this past month is excluded from the registration period."
"If that’s acceptable to you, Dahlia-san, we have no objections."
"In that case, I’ll go speak to Orlando-san and arrange for an immediate termination."
"You could summon him here. If you’d prefer, I can accompany you."
"I’ll handle it alone, but if things go awry... I may seek your advice."
"'If things go awry,' you say? Very well."
Dahlia bowed and left the room. Ivano and Gabriella watched her silently until the door closed behind her. Even then, both of them remained seated and neither of them spoke.
"...She has no lingering feelings for him. Frankly, he’s someone she has every right to hit, and yet… is this what a senior apprentice means to a magical toolmaker?”
The man said, almost as if muttering.
In response, Gabriella gave a weary smile.
"Not quite. She probably doesn’t realize it herself, but the one she’s trying to protect is likely Carlo."
"She’s protecting the late Carlo-san?"
"Yes. If Tobias, her senior apprentice, were to quit as a magical toolmaker or face punishment, it could tarnish Carlo’s name or cause him sorrow—whether consciously or not, I believe that’s what’s on her mind.”
"Ah, I see... That makes sense..."
Ivano turned his head away and closed his eyes for a moment.
He recalled the image of a middle-aged magical toolmaker with sandy-colored hair and a kind, gentle smile.
On an early summer day, the man had collapsed suddenly in the guild’s hallway. Ivano had been the first to rush to his side.
The man, with just a few labored breaths, became still in front of him without leaving a single word behind.
By the time the doctor arrived, it was too late—nothing could be done.
"Carlo-san was so young. He must have had unfinished business."
"Indeed... That man should have lived another twenty years—at least ten more, at the very minimum."
To let in the outside breeze, Gabriella opened the window of the office.
No breeze entered, there was only the sight of Dahlia’s retreating figure walking steadily away.
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