Chapter 70 - Invitation to the Royal Castle
After finishing her meeting with Ivano, Dahlia visited Gabriella's office.
She handed over the documents from the Rossetti Company, intending to have them checked by Gabriella in her role as the acting guildmaster of the Merchant Guild.
As Gabriella flipped through the papers, Dahlia quietly watched her from the sofa she had been invited to sit on.
"These are fine. If Ivano has already checked them, there shouldn’t be any mistakes. I’ll handle the coordination with the other guilds."
After just a glance at the papers, Gabriella put them down, and Dahlia finally spoke up.
"Gabriella, it’s about Ivano-san..."
"Oh my, once I’ve let a man go, I don’t need him back."
She must have already predicted what Dahlia was about to say.
She smiled at Dahlia with complete composure.
"No, it's just... it all happened so suddenly, so it must be causing you trouble."
"Trouble? Well, losing one of our assets might be seen as a setback, but it won’t shake the guild. It’s Ivano’s choice, so there’s no need for you to apologize."
"Even so, the cause of this trouble is me..."
"Listen, Dahlia. I’m the acting guildmaster. I prioritize the guild’s interests over the Rossetti Company’s."
"I think that's only natural."
"You’re too naive. I could have easily kept you under my wing, prevented the company from growing too large, and made sure the guild continued to profit handsomely."
"I probably wouldn’t have noticed, even if that had happened. And even if I did, I would have just accepted that it was something I couldn’t change."
"Exactly. That’s why Ivano is essential to you."
The smile vanished from Gabriella's face as she finished speaking.
She adjusted her posture, crossing her legs and turning to face Dahlia directly.
"People have their strengths and weaknesses. Even if you start learning about business now, it might take years before you fully understand it. Ivano will fill in the gaps for you."
It was said that when her father collapsed at the Merchant Guild, Ivano was the first to rush to his side.
Dahlia remembered Ivano’s sincere gaze during her father’s funeral, when he apologized for not having been able to do anything.
"I’m truly grateful. Ivano-san coming to the company out of concern for me meant a lot."
"Don’t misunderstand, Dahlia. Ivano’s not that sentimental. He went because he has his own dreams as a businessman. He came to you for that reason."
"But the Rossetti Company is just me. If it’s about business, larger companies would be..."
"By taking charge of the company’s sales, he would gain access to more products and opportunities, with no one to stop him. It’s the perfect environment for a businessman, don’t you think?"
"It might seem like the perfect environment, but it doesn’t necessarily bring in profits. The cost of goods is high, and we’ve had our fair share of failed prototypes. This time, it just so happened that the five-toed socks fit the needs of the Chivalric Order. That doesn’t mean other products will be as lucky."
The five-toed socks, along with the insoles, would never have seen the light of day if Volf hadn’t brought them to the Chivalric Order.
Dahlia hadn’t even considered their potential to address issues like the internal environment of the knights' boots or foot fungal infections.
"You’re not seeing the full picture. Ivano would find a way to profit on his own. If you trust him, let him handle the business side, and you can focus on making magical tools."
"Ivano-san said something similar to me. He told me, 'Please make whatever you want.'"
Her father and Tobias had often scrutinized her work with magical tools. She’d been stopped from making certain things more than once.
Her father had always asked if her creations were truly necessary, useful, safe, and whether they would be widely used. After being asked these questions, she’d often lost interest and abandoned some of her ideas.
Now, hearing others say she could freely pursue her work was a strange feeling.
She then remembered something.
Her father, who had once loved creating magical tools more than anything, had slowed down drastically after her birth. She suspected it was because of her.
"...Gabriella, I... I have a question about my father."
"What is it? Do you want to hear more stories about Carlo?"
"Uhm... Was there anyone my father considered marrying after my mother?"
"As far as I know, there wasn’t anyone."
"Was my father’s lack of romantic involvement because of me?"
"That's not it. I know this might not be something his daughter should hear... but your father did receive attention from women. He’d even visited places where women worked. But I don’t think he was ever considering remarriage."
The words of the woman in front of her brought to mind the closet and dresser she was using.
They were delicately carved with patterns of lilies of the valley and birds. Those pieces of furniture belonged to her mother, who had never returned to the tower where her father had lived.
"...Is it because of my mother?"
"I’ve never heard Carlo mention 'that person.' What I do know is that Carlo cherished you very much."
"...I’m sorry for asking such a strange question."
Dahlia lowered her head.
She had apparently grown sentimental in the midst of all the recent turmoil. Somewhere in her mind, she had been wondering ‘What if dad was still around?’ or ’What would dad have done?’
However, thanks to Gabriella, Dahlia’s thoughts were now clearer.
"Please, Gabriella, let your ‘debt’ to my father remain as is."
"What do you mean?"
"It’s me who 'owes' you, Gabriella, not my father. I don’t know how long it will take, but I will definitely repay you."
"…I’m astonished,"
Gabriella said after a brief silence, her words coming out almost like a sigh.
Dahlia, feeling she had said something rude, quickly lowered her head again, thinking she had surely upset Gabriella.
"I’m sorry! I know it sounds presumptuous, but—"
"It’s not that. I told you before that Carlo said to me, 'If Dahlia ever faces trouble as a magical toolmaker or as a woman, give her advice.' There was a continuation to that."
"A continuation?"
"Carlo said, 'But if it’s my Dahlia, she’ll want to repay her debts on her own,' and he said it with such a smug look."
"My father did...?"
"Looking at you now... it’s almost like Carlo’s prediction has come true."
It seemed that her father hadn’t been satisfied with just having people be indebted to him; he had apparently set Dahlia up to rise to the challenge.
While part of her was pleased by that expectation, the sudden height of the bar made it hard for her to feel confident in overcoming it at that moment.
But even so, she couldn’t afford to remain downcast.
She was the one who had received the help; it was her responsibility, not her father’s, to repay it.
"Try to repay me if you can. It would be quite annoying if you had no debts left to repay me, so I’ll continue to have a say in things from now on."
"...Thank you."
Though she had made up her mind, when she remembered her father and looked at Gabriella’s warm gaze, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.
She smiled weakly, like a child trying to hold back tears.
A knock on the door interrupted the atmosphere between the two.
"I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation!"
Without much confirmation, Ivano slid into the room with a stern expression.
"An official envoy has come to see the head of the Rossetti Company, under the name of the captain of the Monster Subjugation Force, Marquis Grato Bartolone. The person is Vice Captain Grizelda Lanza-sama."
"Huh?"
"...Dahlia, what have you done this time?"
"I don’t remember doing anything... Wait, it’s not about the shoe dryer, is it?"
"Hey, I think I just heard the name of a new product. Can we talk about it later?"
Gabriella gave her a sharp look, and then smiled with just her facial muscles.
It was a stark contrast to the warm smile from before.
"Gabriella-san, don’t do that. I’ve already handled it on my side. Once the registration is done, I’ll consult with you."
"I understand. Then, I’ll hear the details from you later."
Dahlia felt a slight relief from Ivano’s intervention, but the tension remained thick in the air.
"Vice Captain Grizelda Lanza-sama has been escorted to the noble reception room. Could you please meet him?"
"Gabriella, um... would it be possible for you to join us?"
"Of course. If it’s related to the royal castle, I can represent the Merchant Guild."
They were in a hurry; someone important was waiting. The three of them quickly headed to the noble reception room.
・・・・・・・
"Nice to meet you. I am Grizelda Lanza, Vice Captain of the Monster Subjugation Force in the Kingdom of Ordine's Chivalric Order."
A tall man with blue hair stood up and bowed.
He wore the same black knight’s uniform as Volf, but his collar bore a glinting silver sword badge.
"Thank you for the greeting. I am Gabriella Jedda, Vice Guildmaster of the Merchant Guild. I will be serving as the representative in the absence of the Guildmaster."
"Nice to meet you. I am Dahlia Rossetti of the Rossetti Company."
"Thank you for your time. I bring a letter from the Captain of the Monster Subjugation Force, Marquis Grato Bartolone, and would like to ask for your confirmation, Chairwoman Rossetti-dono."
After the two exchanged greetings, Grizelda handed over a large white envelope.
The corners were adorned with silver thread, and the seal was made of blue wax. It was just an envelope, but it looked quite luxurious.
"Thank you for delivering this. I will accept it."
Dahlia, forcing a composed expression, took the envelope with both hands.
"If possible, I would like a response. May I ask for your confirmation? If you need time, I can wait."
She couldn’t afford to keep the Vice Captain of the Monster Subjugation Force waiting.
As Dahlia opened the envelope, hiding her trembling hands, she found a white, folded piece of stationery inside. Even the corners of the paper were faintly decorated with silver swords.
Reading the beautifully written words in the center of the paper, Dahlia could clearly feel the blood draining from her face.
"May I see this as well?"
"Y-Yes."
Noticing something was amiss, Gabriella called out to Dahlia. She quickly skimmed through the letter and narrowed her eyes slightly.
The letter contained polite greetings and expressions of gratitude.
However, to summarize, it read: "I would like to align my schedule with Chairwoman Rossetti if possible and meet with you at the earliest opportunity. I will be waiting for you at the royal castle."
It was an invitation to the royal castle, a request that left no room for escape.
"Chairwoman Rossetti, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
"...I'm free."
"Grizelda-sama, would a verbal response suffice, or would you prefer Chairwoman Rossetti to write it?"
"A verbal response will do."
"Then, how about tomorrow afternoon? If Marquis Bartolone is unavailable, we can wait at any later time."
"I understand. Thank you for confirming. Bartolone will be pleased."
The man smiled, exchanged formal pleasantries, and left without touching his tea.
"...Why did this thing come?"
In the leather-upholstered chair of the noble reception room, Dahlia stared blankly at the letter.
Though she called the letter from the Captain of the Monster Subjugation Force "this thing," it was no longer just a trivial matter; she was now in a state of panic, beyond the peak of her anxiety and utterly exhausted.
"Perhaps they are in a hurry, or perhaps they want to meet you."
"I can’t say I don’t understand, but doesn’t the condition seem strange? Normally, if it’s the royal castle, they would one-sidedly summon Dahlia-san on a much later date, right?"
Ivano tilted his head in thought, but there was no answer to be had.
Only Captain Grato would know the reason.
"So, Dahlia, what’s your real schedule for tomorrow?"
"Well, I was planning to finish some paperwork with Ivano and then visit the workshop."
"That’s postponed. Dahlia, you need to get ready immediately."
"Ready? ...Oh!"
Amidst her confusion and anxiety, Dahlia snapped back to her senses upon hearing the word "ready."
"Exactly. What will you wear to the royal castle? What about your hair and makeup for tomorrow? How will you greet Marquis Grato Bartolone?"
"Sorry, I have no idea..."
"I’m not an expert either, but I’ll make sure you learn the basic etiquette and greetings by tomorrow. We also need to consider my husband and Volfred-sama’s reputations, so make sure you remember everything."
"Understood..."
Dahlia felt as though a heavy weight had been placed on her shoulders.
Tomorrow noon was only a day away, but there was so much to prepare, so much to cram in.
Would she manage to fit everything in, or would it all spill out? Anxiety was all she could feel.
But in her previous life, she had crammed for exams in subjects she was bad at. She didn't score high, but she managed to avoid failing, so that too must be a valid approach.
Although, in regards to meeting the Captain of the Monster Subjugation Force at the royal castle, Dahlia decided not to think about what constituted a "fail."
"Ivano, carry her luggage as her servant from the carriage to the entrance. Wear the dark blue outfit you wore when you worked in the reception. Also, gather the prototype five-toed socks and insoles the Tailors Guild has been working on as a gift. You can say it's for research at the Rossetti Company."
"Understood, I’ll go right away! Oh, but the dark blue outfit doesn’t fit anymore since my stomach has grown."
"Then borrow something from someone, or stop by a rental clothing shop on your way. It should be navy blue or dark gray, not black."
"Got it!"
"When you come back, you should study with Dahlia as well. There will be more noble business at the Rossetti Company, after all."
"Understood..."
。
Nodding at Gabriella's fast-paced instructions, Ivano left the room with a face that seemed to have attained enlightenment.
She couldn't help but think, almost as if it were none of her concern, that it was impressive how he seemed unaffected by the task ahead.
"Dahlia, we’ll go borrow some clothes. We won’t make it in time to get something new. Next time, you should consult with a tailor and have something made."
"Understood..."
"Since there aren’t many female business owners who come and go from the royal castle... As Carlo’s daughter, you can wear a dress for a semi-noblewoman, but a matching set for a merchant might be safer. Or perhaps, since you're unmarried, a decorated dress with a jacket might be better... We’ll consult with a tailor. Oh, and you’ll need shoes too..."
Gabriella muttered to herself, and Dahlia hurried to follow her from just behind.
The day she had declared she would someday repay Gabriella’s kindness, today, that very same debt was snowballing.
She had no intention of running away, but she couldn’t deny that the long journey and the mountains she had to climb gave her a slight headache.
For some reason, she found herself recalling the childhood vaccinations from her past life.
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