Chapter 110: The Tree Frog and the Gardener

After responding with a smile to the greetings of the two, I asked Xavier.

“Xavier, are you going out?”

“I suddenly have an urgent appointment. Is something up?”

Today, Xavier looked busy again.

He glanced at me while tying his cravat and accepted the documents Rexton handed him.

“It’s nothing urgent, but I have something to tell you.”

“Really? Rexton, just three minutes.”

“You need to go quickly.”

“I know. Being three minutes late won’t change anything.”

With that, Rexton stepped back.

“I need to tell you now. Thank you.”

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

Xavier turned from the full-length mirror to look at me.

“Do you know about sunscreen?”

“Sunscreen? What’s that?”

“It’s a functional cosmetic that prevents your face from getting sunburned and helps prevent freckles and spots.”

“I see. Do you want me to buy one for you?”

“No, I plan to start a business. We need funds to supply the holy power storage devices.”

“Is that what you meant? Feel free to do it.”

“Really? It is a sure business, but… I might mess it up.”

Xavier’s words were meant to be considerate, but I felt a bit disappointed.

I wanted to have this conversation in a relaxed setting, but we don’t even have time to talk.

Xavier asked with a serious face.

“Do as you wish, Yuria. What can I do to help?”

No, despite being busy, Xavier made time for me.

Why feel disappointed? It’s not like he’s doing it on purpose.

Looking at his serious face, I felt foolish for thinking this way.

Were you anxious because you hadn’t spent much time together for a few days, Yuria?

You shouldn’t do this to a busy person.

I composed myself and spoke honestly.

“Then, invest some of the gold coins in the bank.”

“…….”

“I’ll multiply it several times over.”

I smiled cutely.

Careful not to let my disappointment show on my face.

“Rexton, contact the central bank and empty one of my vaults.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Despite claiming to be busy, Xavier nodded at me with his eyes and immediately left the bedroom.

‘……In the past, he would have kissed my forehead.’

What am I thinking? Am I being greedy?

While I was chastising myself, Maya approached me in the hallway.

“My lady, everyone has gathered.”

“Well done. What about the sunscreen?”

“I’ve already placed it in the hall.”

I had Daniel make dozens of sample sunscreens.

‘My job is to promote. If there’s no one to use it, it’ll fail in no time.’

“My lady, did you call for me?”

Besides the maids of the ducal household, I had also summoned young ladies from lower noble families who had applied for the maid exam to the Duke’s residence.

Since my private office was too small to accommodate many people, I decided to hold interviews in the hall. Seeing dozens of talented individuals standing in a circle in the spacious hall already made me feel full.

Everyone had their heads bowed, waiting for my words.

“I called you all here for one reason. Maya.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Maya began distributing pretty silk pouches and square bags to everyone.

The silk pouches contained sunscreen, and the square bags held small bottles of samples.

“Try applying what you’ve received for a few days, and spread the word about its effects to those around you.”

“What is this?”

“It’s sunscreen. It prevents your face from getting sunburned and helps lighten freckles and spots.”

I had asked Daniel to add freckle treatment effects to the sunscreen. Since it’s a functional cosmetic, it’s good for sales. Fortunately, the genius magical engineer had deep knowledge in both medicine and herbalism, so he made it without difficulty.

Despite my explanation, no one reacted for a while. Most of the maids tilted their heads in disbelief, and the young ladies openly looked at me with skeptical eyes.

“I’ve already tried it, so the effects are certain. You’ll know once you use it. When introducing it to acquaintances or family, inform them of the benefits and precautions, and recommend them to buy the full product.”

“Precautions?”

Questions mixed with murmurs began to arise here and there.

“Not bad points, but precautions. Don’t forget to inform customers of any side effects in advance. If rashes or redness occur on the face, tell them to stop using it or clean off the contents. In such cases, say that the used product will be exempt, and refunds will be given unconditionally.”

“Refunds?”

“Returning the money.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Do you have a problem with me offering refunds?”

“N-no, my lady.”

“Consider it a temporary promotional activity for product promotion. For two weeks, the one who secures the most customers will be promoted to head maid if they’re of commoner origin, and those who applied as maids will receive the bonus of being selected as my direct maid.”

“Head maid?”

“Direct maid?”

The flames of capitalist desire began to burn on their faces.

‘I have secured sales representatives.’

I smiled softly.

＊

As noon approached, an unexpected guest visited the Graham household.

Naomi happened to be dressed in gardener’s attire, organizing the mansion’s rear garden. It was then that Lady Sophia appeared in the garden. As soon as she saw her in an emerald-colored anglaise dress, Naomi smiled bitterly.

Arriving unannounced without prior notice, how shameless.

Because of this, Naomi had to greet her in the drawing room in her gardener’s outfit.

“Oh my, sister-in-law. You seem to be living quite the life. Oh, the smell of fertilizer.”

Sophia scanned Naomi Graham, who sat across from her, with a seductive gaze from top to bottom. Naomi, wearing a public smile, silently counted numbers as she looked at Sophia.

‘This tree frog… One.’

“I’m naturally blessed. Didn’t you know? Unlike some, I have enough leisure to do this as a pastime.”

Sophia’s twitching eyebrows furrowed and then straightened.

“Oh ho ho, sister-in-law, you’re as leisurely as ever. But for a noble to volunteer for gardening work? That’s unbecoming of a noble.”

“Isn’t visiting after notifying in advance more noble-like? I’ve told you repeatedly before, Lady Sophia.”

Sophia’s fingers turned white from gripping the fan she brought. Seeing this, Naomi sighed and took a sip from her teacup.

Since being tied to the family by marriage, Naomi had always thought of Sophia as a tree frog. Someone who couldn’t stand seeing others do well, who never did as told, and only picked out what she was told not to do.

That was Sophia Cornwell.

However, Sophia was not an easy opponent. Like a tree frog secreting toxic substances, she spewed venom when provoked.

“Why should we contact each other? Honestly, shouldn’t you be visiting me now, sister-in-law? Our social standings have changed.”

Watching Sophia speak with half-closed eyes, Naomi quietly counted again in her mind.

‘Two.’

Of course, all the while maintaining a gentle smile on her face.

In autumn, other tree frogs would don gray-spotted clothes and prepare for hibernation, but this tree frog came out instead of staying home, unnecessarily irritating others.

“Lady Sophia seems to like green. Around this time, tree frogs wear gray-spotted clothes.”

“What are you talking about? Out of the blue?”

“I often see tree frogs while working in the garden. That’s why I said it. If you don’t understand, just drink the tea and leave.”

Naomi casually replied and was about to rise from her seat when Sophia spoke.

“Didn’t you say you met my brother-in-law on the battlefield?”

“And?”

Naomi, who had stood up, asked back.

“I’m curious about the details. It’s hard to believe a noble lady went to the battlefield.”

“Why? My father was a general. I could visit him.”

Naomi, originally from a count’s family known for producing distinguished generals from other countries, was confident. Sophia envied her for it.

“Hmph. Let’s see how long you can keep up the noble act. By now, the trading company must be in chaos. Oh ho ho ho, what to do.”

Feigning concern, she burst into laughter. Grabbing her belly, she stomped her feet on the sofa, displaying utter vulgarity.

In contrast, Naomi’s mouth fell open in shock before firmly closing into a straight line.

“What did you say?”

“Ahaha. Sorry, it was too funny.”

“Three times.”

“Sister-in-law?”

The graceful and kind smile was gone, replaced by green eyes filled with venom, staring at Sophia.

‘She’s just looking, but it’s terrifying.’

The murderous aura filling the drawing room was something the culprit Sophia couldn’t handle. Seeing the frames on the walls trembling, Sophia’s eyes widened to the size of plates, and her lips quivered.

“I warned you when you visited under the guise of helping after I had a difficult birth with Yuria, didn’t I? That if you crossed the line more than three times, I wouldn’t let it slide?”

“S-sister-in-law! Calm down. What’s this about three times?”

“What did you just say? Tell me what you meant about our trading company.”

“Well… I was just worried.”

Looking around for help and finding none, Sophia mustered her strength and shouted.

“I’m the mother of the Crown Princess! Don’t do this!”

“You demanded a huge sum and pocketed it because you didn’t want Rosetta in the family. What a great maternal love.”

“W-what are you talking about? Rosetta is my lost biological daughter! Sister-in-law shouldn’t treat the Crown Princess’s biological mother like this. You should be trying to win my favor!”

“Go on, keep babbling.”

“Do you think I can’t? Don’t be surprised, my son Percy became an inspector. By now, the inspection team must have turned the trading company upside down.”

＊

Having recruited temporary sales representatives, I headed to the Graham Trading Company. I had an appointment with Joseph of the Graham Trading Company to secure distribution channels later.

It was when the carriage arrived in front of the massive trading company building—

“Why has the signboard fallen?”