Chapter 114 - The Head of the Tailors Guild and the Company Employee
Author’s Note: This is Ivano and Fortunato’s chapter.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Luini-sama.”
“No, I haven’t been waiting long. I was the one who imposed on you.”
A short distance from the delivery carriage station, Fortunato, the head of the Tailors Guild, was waiting in a black box-shaped carriage. Dressed in a summer-appropriate navy blue suit, his striking blond hair stood out beautifully.
As Ivano took his seat, the carriage began to move.
“Thank you for the shoe dryers today, Mercadante-kun. They arrived this morning, and I had a chance to try them out. They’re excellent products.”
“I’m glad you liked them.”
“I would have appreciated a heads-up about the mass production plans, though. I could have made time for it.”
Fortunato’s slightly chilly tone was met with Ivano’s professional smile.
“My apologies for the late notice. As a mere company employee, I hesitated to contact the head of the Tailors Guild directly... If there’s anything related to clothing in the future, I’ll be sure to consult you.”
“I’ll look forward to it. By the way, have you decided on your next product?”
“We’re still discussing a few ideas.”
Fortunato’s gaze was cool, almost unaffected by the summer heat. But deep within his blue eyes, there was a probing light.
“Have you considered registering with the Tailors Guild as well? I can make some arrangements for you.”
“That’s a very generous offer, but we don’t have the manpower for that yet.”
“Two members and two assistants, right? That does sound challenging.”
Since the Rossetti Company rented a room within the Merchant Guild, it wouldn’t be hard for Fortunato to find out such details. Ivano decided to take it as a sign that Fortunato was genuinely interested.
“Shall I introduce some people to you? I can provide as many trustworthy individuals as you need, with guarantees and even Covenant Magic.”
The sudden offer caught Ivano off guard.
Trustworthy individuals with guarantees and even Covenant Magic were rare. It was an incredibly generous offer. However, it was clear that Fortunato would have some influence over these people.
“That’s a very kind offer, but we’re only two months in, and the company is still finding its footing. There may come a time when we need to seek your guidance, and when that happens, I would be grateful for your assistance.”
As Ivano skillfully deflected the conversation, the carriage came to a stop.
Stepping out, they found themselves in a corner of the noble district.
The shop they entered was modest by noble standards but still impressive to a commoner. They were led to a corner room on the second floor, where a knight and a shop attendant stood guard by the door.
Ivano couldn’t help but feel somewhat out of place at the sight of the anti-eavesdropper placed on the table as if it were the most natural thing.
“Since you’ve already had dinner, I thought we could try some unique wines.”
Two bottles of wine were placed on the table, along with a variety of snacks like cheese and prosciutto.
“This white is the youngest wine the shop has. The red is a dry herbal wine, a bit older. Shall we start with the younger one?”
After a toast with Fortunato, Ivano took a sip of the white wine.
It was unusual for a wine to retain the fresh aroma of grapes. The sweetness and flavor reminiscent of grape juice were followed by the taste of wine and the sharpness of alcohol.
It made sense that it was the youngest wine. While it lacked depth, it was still enjoyable.
“With about ten years of aging, this could become quite delicious.”
Fortunato seemed slightly dissatisfied with the taste, as a faint frown appeared on his brow.
“Moving forward, how about the three of us—Chairwoman Dahlia, you, and I—occasionally have lunch together?”
“That’s an honor, but we’re all quite busy.”
“Then just you and I would be fine. I’d like to hear about new developments as early as possible.”
“That’s very kind, but most of our products are commercial rather than clothing-related. The shoe dryer, for example, is a derivative of the hair dryer. I’m not sure I’d have much to offer that would interest you.”
If Fortunato got wind of the Rossetti Company’s plans early, he could find opportunities to get involved in mass production or sales.
However, the Rossetti Company had no obligation to the Tailors Guild, as they weren’t registered with it. And if they weren’t mass-producing, they didn’t need Fortunato’s help.
Unless Fortunato offered favorable terms, Ivano had no intention of giving in.
“Speaking of the past, when waterproof fabric was first introduced, I was hounded from all sides about why it wasn’t handled by the Tailors Guild. We were able to manage the Raincoats immediately, but... I had many stomach-churning days with the guildmaster at the time.”
Ivano felt a pang of sympathy at Fortunato’s almost soliloquy-like words.
Indeed, waterproof fabric was a type of cloth. It could have been handled by the Tailors Guild.
Dahlia’s waterproof fabric had been registered and sold through the Merchant Guild. The former head of Orlando & Co. had set up the initial sales channels and production system, ensuring that neither Carlo nor Dahlia were burdened.
However, this was the first time Ivano had heard about the impact it had on the Tailors Guild.
“Now, if I’m inviting you to lunch, it would be rude to come empty-handed. Instead of flowers, I’ll send a letter to the footwear-related businesses registered with the Tailors Guild about the Rossetti Company’s shoe dryers. Of course, it will be under my name.”
“...If possible, could you also mention it to your major clients?”
“Of course, I’ll send them letters as well.”
“Then, if you could let me know, I’ll do my best to adjust my schedule and meet with you.”
Ivano responded with a smile, though his back was drenched in sweat.
Fortunato had offered some very favorable terms, but such situations often came with hidden dangers.
Fortunato opened the second bottle of wine and poured it into their glasses. The pace felt a bit too fast.
“By the way, you used to be a Merchant Guild employee, right? When did you join the Rossetti Company?”
“That day. I asked the chairman to let me in.”
“Your judgment and decisiveness are impressive.”
They clinked glasses and drank the red wine, which had a pleasant, wine-like aroma. It was smooth, with a balanced sweetness and acidity, and the glass emptied quickly. The slightly bitter aftertaste was likely due to the herbal infusion, though there was no trace of a grassy smell.
“Mercadante-kun, if you ever leave the Rossetti Company, let me know before you decide on anything else.”
“That’s a great honor, but I think the only way I’d leave is if the Rossetti Company ceased to exist or if I died.”
“...I see. Well, if you ever run into trouble, let me know. I can at least lend an ear.”
“Thank you. Our company is still small, so we’d appreciate your support.”
“Then, please call me Forte. Chairwoman Dahlia as well. It might improve the attitudes of some in the Tailors Guild.”
“Thank you. Please call me Ivano.”
When Ivano had looked into Fortunato, he was surprised to find that they were around the same age. Yet, Fortunato looked younger and carried himself with the gravitas of someone much older.
Like Volf, Fortunato was strikingly handsome, but he had a more flamboyant and enigmatic air.
“Once the company’s name becomes well-known, Chairwoman Dahlia—no, Lady Dahlia—will attract all sorts of attention. Ah, perhaps this isn’t something I should be saying to you.”
“I’ll take it under advisement. If it were Lucia-san, she’d probably swat away any pests with her words.”
“She certainly would. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up training those pests to obey her.”
They shared a light laugh as they refilled their glasses. The smooth wine quickly emptied their second glasses.
“Still, I never expected you to take such an interest in our company.”
“I’ve already seen the usefulness of the Rossetti Company. If Volfred-dono weren’t by her side, I might have considered asking Lady Dahlia to be my second wife.”
Ivano instinctively knew that Fortunato wasn’t joking.
Marrying for convenience was commonplace among nobles. Personally, Ivano found it distasteful.
“Our guarantors are quite impressive. Volf-sama and Viscount Jedda and his wife hold the chairwoman in high regard.”
“I see, an ironclad defense. But then... why does Lady Dahlia’s background seem so mismatched?”
“...That’s because her father, Carlo, protected her fiercely.”
“Was the waterproof fabric truly developed by Lady Dahlia alone?”
“...Yes. She’s been visiting the guild since her student days. She worked hard to gather materials.”
“And the socks and shoe insoles? Were they also developed by her alone?”
“...Yes, of course.”
“After her engagement was broken off, her father and foolish fiancé were gone, and Volfred-dono picked her up. Who brought those two together? Was it Gabriella, or was it you?”
“...Neither.”
Wait, what was he saying?
Ivano realized he was letting slip things he hadn’t intended to say. He bit his lip hard.
Unable to speak due to the pain, he wiped away the spilled blood with a handkerchief when a potion was offered to him. Ivano drank it without hesitation, healing the cut on his lip.
“My apologies, was it too strong? This wine has a slight relaxing effect—it makes one’s tongue a bit looser. Since this is our first ‘business meeting,’ I thought it would be good for us to speak freely. Ah, of course, I’m drinking the same thing.”
As he spoke, Fortunato ran his finger along the rim of his empty glass. Ivano had been drugged, albeit with his implicit consent.
This must be the noble way of doing things, he thought, feeling frustrated. However, more than anything, he reflected on how easily he had fallen for Fortunato’s test.
“As an apology, here’s a personal gift for you.”
“A ring?”
“Yes, a protective ring. It guards against poison, confusion, and charm. If you’re going to do business with nobles, consider it essential. Be careful with food and drinks, and watch out for women who might approach you. Lady Jedda wasn’t particularly skilled in that area, was she?”
Though his words were polite, Ivano heard the underlying message: “Your mentor, Gabriella, hasn’t fully prepared you for dealing with nobles.”
Most of the Merchant Guild’s dealings were with merchants. Nobles usually interacted through companies. If they were going to deal directly with nobles, there were things they needed to learn.
“...Thank you. I’ll accept it gratefully.”
Ivano slipped the silver ring onto his right middle finger and took a deep breath.
The ring, responding to his modest magical power, cleared his slightly foggy mind.
The taste of blood from his bitten lip still lingered.
“Shall we have drinks together occasionally from now on? I can offer some advice on dealing with nobles. I also have some influence with noble ladies. In return, I’d like to hear about any new products as early as possible.”
Though his expression was gentle, the gist was: “I’ll teach you, but you’ll have to keep me in the loop.”
If they continued doing business with nobles, Ivano’s current approach wouldn’t suffice, and there would be traps and troubles. If Fortunato could be tied to the company’s products, he would offer guidance and assistance.
It seemed Ivano had inadvertently annoyed Fortunato.
While he found the man somewhat disagreeable, he was well-suited to teach him about nobles. Since Ivano wasn’t at a level where he could compete, it was better to bend his knee for now.
“Understood. If the chairwoman approves, I’ll accept.”
“I look forward to it.”
Fortunato’s radiant smile was slightly irritating.
“...Forte-sama, we also have a gift for you, from our chairwoman.”
As Ivano handed Fortunato a white envelope, he put on his professional smile.
He had gotten Dahlia’s permission to “share this with Fortunato.”
On the day they first visited the royal castle, Dahlia had returned utterly exhausted.
When Gabriella and Ivano asked what had happened, she replied with a tearful expression, “We ended up talking about foot fungal infection.”
At that time, Ivano had asked about the measures for foot fungal infection.
Thanks to that, he had completely rid himself of a five-year case of foot fungal infection.
Today, he had brought a summarized version of those notes, neatly written on cards, in the white envelope.
“...This is quite something...”
It didn’t take long for Fortunato’s confident smile to turn into a complete grimace.
“I don’t have it myself, but this will be invaluable information for those who do.”
“Yes. How about you share this with the noble ladies, Forte-sama?”
Women weren’t immune to foot fungal infection, and if their families had it, the chances of getting it would be even higher.
Fortunato himself had passed it to his wife and faced heavy complaints.
“It’s a bit too delicate a topic.”
“True, but you could frame it as advice for husbands, fiancés, or lovers. If you ever find yourself in that situation, you could discreetly ask for advice under the guise of helping someone else. Men would be delighted if their beloved women showed concern for them. This could earn you some goodwill.”
Fortunato’s eyes widened slightly, and his expression faded.
“...Ivano, I say this without flattery: you are exceptionally capable.”
“Thank you. That’s high praise.”
“However, if you’re going to make such a proposal, you should have avoided saying that this was from Lady Dahlia. What if I misunderstood the ‘beloved women showing concern’ part?”
“...I’ll correct myself. I brought it with the chairwoman’s permission.”
Ivano, who had intended to press the advantage, found himself countered.
Seeing this, Fortunato chuckled.
“Nobles have many ways of phrasing things and catching others off guard. You should warn Lady Dahlia as well. Though by now, Volfred-dono has probably already drilled it into her.”
“Did our chairwoman do something?”
“At the first meeting, she said, ‘I trust you, Fortunato-sama, so I leave everything to you.’ That was... quite something.”
The way Fortunato spoke, as if reminiscing about a lover, made Ivano tilt his head in confusion.
“Wasn’t that about business matters?”
“In noble speech, when an unmarried woman says that, it means ‘I want you to be my knight.’ It’s a heavy expression of admiration. Any knight would want to hear those words at least once. As someone who’s no longer a knight, I thought I’d never hear them, but she’s made my dream come true.”
“My apologies. Our chairwoman had no idea what she was saying...”
Ivano recalled Dahlia desperately memorizing etiquette cards and felt a distant look come over his eyes. It was hard to tell her to try even harder.
“Of course, I understand. Ah, there’s more. In a recently popular opera, those words became famous as something a woman says to a man on their first night together. Whether by luck or misfortune, anyone familiar with that opera would definitely make the connection.”
“I don’t know what to say... Nobles are really complicated, aren’t they?”
The slip of honesty made Ivano chuckle wryly.
Across from him, Fortunato burst into laughter.
“You’re absolutely right. Noble interactions, phrasing, and manners are bound by mountains of rules. Still, over 75% of the Tailors Guild’s profits come from nobles. The effort is worth the returns.”
“That much...”
“Yes. The profit margins are different. If you want to grow your company, direct dealings are the way to go.”
This connection with Fortunato might not be so bad after all.
Just as Dahlia had taken Ozwald as her teacher, Ivano could take Fortunato as his teacher in dealing with nobles. If there was something to gain, feelings and instincts could take a backseat.
“After this, how about visiting some beautiful places? Of course, I’ll cover everything.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have three beloved women waiting for me at home.”
“I didn’t know that. You have quite the reach, Ivano.”
“Yes, my wife and two daughters keep me busy.”
At Ivano’s answer, Fortunato looked slightly puzzled.
Perhaps, just as Ivano didn’t understand nobles, Fortunato didn’t fully understand commoners.
“Forte-sama, do you have plans for a second wife?”
“My wife is urging me to marry soon. She wants to share the responsibilities of the household and work... What about you, Ivano? Once your company grows, having a second wife could be helpful.”
“My three beloved women are enough. Besides, imagining having two wives only makes me think of more trouble...”
“Well, it’s true that even one can be quite a handful...”
Perhaps the herbal wine had gotten to Fortunato as well.
Though their expressions were awkward, it felt like they had finally found common ground.
“Let’s leave business talk aside for now. Next time, let’s order a wine made purely from grapes. I’d like to hear more about your wife and daughters.”
“I’d love to hear about your wife as well, Forte-sama.”
Fortunato left the room to request an additional bottle from the shop.
When he returned, his expression was somewhat mischievous.
“This wine reminds me of my wife.”
The red wine was brought to the table by a server, and Ivano couldn’t help but laugh at the label.
“The Fleeting Beauty Who Stole My Heart Became My Strong Wife”
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