Chapter 80 - Thorny Path
"Yes, I expected it, and I was prepared for it. There was a time when I thought, 'If I try hard enough, I’ll surely manage somehow'..."
In the Merchant Guild, in Gabriella's office, a man with mustard-colored hair let out a deep sigh.
In his hands, he clutched a bundle of documents.
"Ivano, first, take a seat. What’s this matter you wanted to discuss? And... what are those papers?"
"They’re the specifications and design documents for alternate versions of the foaming pump bottle."
"If my aging eyes aren’t deceiving me, that looks like an entire stack."
Gabriella remarked, narrowing her gaze.
Just how many pages were there? Or had he brought additional documents along as well?
"Yes, it’s all of them. I thought I had prepared adequately for dealing with Dahlia-san, but it seems I fell short when it came to the Gandolfi Workshop. For Fermo-san to expect this volume of work in a single registration—does he want me to split myself like a slime?"
Gabriella considered laughing at his comment, but the seriousness on Ivano’s face stopped her.
"So, I’d like to rent a business room from the guild. Please provide the necessary paperwork. Also, I’m planning to hire two or three clerks. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I’d prefer people with neat handwriting—they’ll be tasked with transcribing documents and drafting letters.”
The Merchant Guild rented out certain rooms to merchants who needed them.
It was often rented when foreign companies needed a place for initial meetings or when there was a lot of business to be done at the guild, and it was considered necessary to have someone stationed there.
However, the rent was steep—starting at two gold coins per month for even the smallest of rooms.
"I’d like a room on the second floor. With all the back-and-forth involved in registering profit contracts, it’s clear I’ll be spending a lot of time going between departments."
"In the end, it seems you won’t be able to distance yourself from the second floor."
"Indeed. I considered renting a place near the guild, but with the guild handover still ongoing, it’s not worth the wasted travel time.”
"What’s the current financial situation?"
"The payments from the guild cover 20%. I’ve already submitted a plan to Dahlia-san before. Once we get the alternate versions of the foaming pump bottle into production, we’ll see exponential gains, so I’m not too worried. That said, it all depends on how much the Gandolfi Workshop is willing to handle."
"Have you considered reaching out to other workshops?"
"I’ll be discussing the details with Dahlia-san this afternoon, but I’d prefer to keep it to a minimum. I’d like to elevate the Gandolfi Workshop’s reputation first. If I can earn their favor, I hope to secure them as Dahlia-san’s dedicated workshop and ally."
The man, who spoke casually, wiped the usual gentle expression from his face.
His deep indigo eyes fixed directly on Gabriella, and there was a much stronger light in them than when he had been a guild member.
"Gabriella-san, as the acting guildmaster, I’d like to consult with you on behalf of the Rossetti Company," Ivano began.
"Go ahead."
"For the noble-exclusive versions of the foaming pump bottle, I’d like the guild to act as an intermediary for about two years. You’re welcome to take a margin as a middleman or even tie it into Viscount Jedda’s interests—I don’t mind either way."
"That sounds like a ‘delicious deal’ for me, but are you sure? The profit margin will be considerable."
"Except for Volf-sama and the royal castle, I don’t want Dahlia-san getting involved with the wrong kinds of nobles right now. There are too many risks. Besides, I’m not there yet myself. Even if we increase our staff, it’ll take at least two years to properly vet and train everyone."
The company had been formed abruptly, with Ivano joining as part of his own initiative. While Dahlia’s innovations promised substantial profits, the company’s foundation was still shaky at best.
"So, the Rossetti Company’s contact address will be the guild, but where will the official base of operations be on paper?"
"We’ll use Volf-sama’s residence. Otherwise, there’s a chance people might start showing up unannounced at Dahlia-san’s house. I’ll coordinate this with Volf-sama beforehand."
"That’s probably for the best. Though, it might add to some existing misunderstandings."
"Add?"
"Apparently, not long ago, the two of them took the same carriage to visit the cemetery. One of the younger guild members saw them in passing but wasn’t noticed by either of them. Though I hear they split up partway—one heading to the commoners’ area and the other to the nobles’ area."
"A misunderstanding, huh...?"
Ivano tilted his head slightly.
To him, it seemed quite clear that Volf was deeply in love with Dahlia.
As for Dahlia, her feelings were harder to discern, but she at least trusted Volf as much as a close friend or family member.
Personally, Ivano couldn’t help but want to support the romantic aspirations of a man so determined to protect Dahlia from the shadows.
"Gabriella-san, speaking hypothetically, if a couple were to succeed in their relationship, would it be impossible for a count’s child to step down to a commoner’s status and marry into a merchant family?"
"It’d be very difficult for a count’s household—especially one poised to ascend to a marquisate in the next generation. If a handsome child were to leave their family without the backing of their noble house, they’d be swarmed with trouble. On top of that, the woman would face a mountain of envy and harassment from noblewomen."
"...What if the company expanded, became an official supplier to the royal castle, secured a high-ranking noble as a patron, and had its chairwoman recognized as a baroness? Would it be possible then?"
"Yes, in that case, it could work."
Though Ivano hadn’t mentioned any names, it was obvious whom they were discussing.
"Then, I’ll set that scale as the minimum goal for the company."
"You’re aiming high. But that’s a thorny path to tread."
That was likely a heartfelt opinion from Gabriella herself, who had risen from being a commoner to becoming the wife of Viscount Jedda.
That's why Ivano deliberately laughed loudly.
"Well, there's someone close to me who has 'overcome' that. Even if the directions differ, I can at least see the road ahead."
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