Chapter 3: First Come, First Served

In any novel, the existence of a spiritist is rare.

Few are born with a high affinity for nature, and even fewer form contracts with high-ranking spirits. It is not easy for trading companies, guilds, or even the imperial family to scout a water spiritist. Their value is high, and they earn a lot of money, which makes them arrogant.

I scanned the five spiritists lined up in front of me. Their attire was shabby compared to their reputation.

‘Hmph, a good-for-nothing.’

Interestingly, spiritists are also in need of money.

What good is it to contract with a spirit? To nurture a spirit, you have to feed it expensive special ores three times a day.

Of course, this is a secret known only to spiritists.

“What are the conditions proposed by the Graham Trading Company?”

A tall spiritist with water-colored hair looked me straight in the eye and asked. It was not the attitude of someone coming for an interview.

“Please, have a seat first.”

I smiled gently and offered them the chairs prepared in front of them. As the water-haired spiritist reluctantly sat in a nearby chair, the other spiritists also took their seats.

“If the conditions don’t match, we can’t make a contract.”

Following the water-haired one, the other spiritists nodded.

‘It seems the water-haired one is their representative.’

“If it’s not better than the conditions offered by other trading companies, we’ll leave immediately.”

Such audacity rivals Yuria’s. But that’s where it ends.

“Fine. Spiritist Connie, how many tons of water can you extract in a day?”

“What?”

Connie, the water-haired spiritist, asked back, dumbfounded. The arrogant expression from moments ago was nowhere to be found.

“The amount of water you can produce in a day is the contract condition.”

“What I asked was the conditions of the Graham Trading Company! Not what you want from us!”

Following Connie, the other spiritists shouted in unison.

“How can you be so rude to a water spiritist!”

“ Graham Trading Company, this won’t do! Do you think we’ll just stand by?”

“I can’t take this!”

Oh, one of them is already trying to leave.

I leisurely picked up a quill pen and answered.

“You were the ones who entered the interview room without manners first. So, I have no choice but to respond accordingly. Now, go ahead and tell me. How many tons can you extract in a day?”

I took out a sea-colored magic stone the size of my fist from the drawer and placed it on the desk.

The spiritists’ eyes all focused on it at once. Even the spiritist who was about to leave couldn’t take their eyes off the magic stone, frozen in place. I chuckled softly.

“With this ‘Hudor Magic Stone,’ the spirit Undine would like it, right? Ah, if spirits Nix and Neq eat this, they’d become very strong too……”

I clasped my hands together and blinked my eyes prettily a couple of times.

“How, how did you know that!”

“How do they know our secret?”

“Is that really a Hudor spirit stone? My goodness, our Nix only eats regular magic stones every day!”

“The Hudor stones have been off the market for over 20 years. This is unbelievable!”

Their eyes began to burn with greed for the Hudor stone.

In fact, even before Yuria was born, the Graham Trading Company had been dealing in magic stones and other ores. When I urged Joseph to check the ore inventory, the amount of magic stones hoarded by the Baron of Graham for over 20 years was enormous. Among them were a large number of Hudor stones.

‘Father seemed to have bought them when magic stones were cheap.’

Thanks to that, I could purchase them a little cheaper through the trading company.

“I will provide one Hudor magic stone per month for a year to the three spiritists who sign this employment contract. You just need to supply water on the battlefield for one month.”

“……”

A strange silence ensued between me and the spiritists.

It must be troubling. Using spiritists as water suppliers is quite shocking.

The army led by Xavier in the Bern Mountains, where war has broken out, would be struggling with a water shortage.

Nevertheless, the Duke was a monster who overcame such harsh conditions and returned victorious. Although he would win without my help, this was the only point I could exploit to approach him.

Solely to survive.

‘I must make this deal happen.’

I deliberately rolled the Hudor stone toward them.

“I’ll give a special bonus gift to the first person to sign the contract. First come, first served.”

I raised the corners of my mouth into a smile.

They wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“My spirit is Undine!”

Connie was the first to raise her hand.

Game over.

“So, how many tons per day?”

“10 tons are possible!”

“You’re quite capable. No wonder you’re arrogant. Accepted!”

“Are you really giving this precious Hudor away?”

“Of course.”

As I nodded with a smile, Connie hugged the blue spirit stone and even shed tears.

“Thank you, Representative! I will work hard.”

The other spiritists, who were staring blankly at Connie bowing at a 90-degree angle, began to volunteer in quick succession.

“7 tons! I, I’ll do it too.”

“I can do 8 tons!”

＊

Thus, I successfully hired three excellent water suppliers.

As I boarded the family carriage Joseph had prepared, he praised me endlessly until his mouth was dry.

“Miss, you’re truly amazing! Hiring the notoriously picky water spiritists. And three of them at that!”

“The other two will also join the trading company.”

Besides the three to be taken to the battlefield, I even made the remaining two spiritists part of the trading company. It was a complete victory for me.

“Really?”

“Instead, write the report well and send it to Father immediately. It should be possible by tomorrow morning, right?”

“Ah, of course.”

“There are things that are embarrassing to say directly. Don’t you agree?”

Joseph’s face brightened as he looked up at me smiling.

“Don’t worry!”

Joseph’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

‘It took two months to change the look he gave me, as if I were a scoundrel, to one of admiration.’

Watching Joseph bow through the window, I tapped the window toward the coachman to start the carriage.

Joseph would diligently and thoroughly report to Father. About my achievements.

‘I’ve done all the groundwork, now I just need to persuade my parents.’

“Shall I take you home, Miss?”

The coachman’s gruff voice came from the front.

“To the training ground first, then home.”

Ah, I’m tired. If I draw a death flag, I’ll just lie in bed all day, munching on macarons.

＊

It was late in the evening when I finally returned to the mansion. It was tiring, but to improve Yuria’s tissue-paper-like stamina, this was the only way.

‘Back in Korea, running 30 laps around the track was nothing, tch.’

The moment I stepped into the entrance, Maya was the first to greet me.

“Miss! Why are you so late? Weren’t you coming from the trading company?”

“Yes.”

“Did you go to the training ground again? Why do you keep going there when it makes your hands rough? What if you get hurt?”

Maya seemed ready to scold me again. Her brown eyes were filled with concern.

The maid Maya, who grew up with Yuria since childhood, was very kind to me. I heard she didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, even while getting slapped by the ill-tempered Yuria.

“Yes, I’ll apply cream to my hands and be careful. I want to take a bath first.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Maya sighed softly, took my coat, and quietly followed behind me.

After washing in the bathwater Maya had prepared, I sprawled on the bed.

‘Ah, this feels nice.’

Lying on the soft blanket that gently wrapped around my body, my eyelids slowly closed. As I couldn’t resist the weight and gradually fell asleep, I heard the bathroom door close and the sound of slippers shuffling softly. It was clear that Maya couldn’t resist her urge to talk and was approaching.

“But, Miss, why every day……”

I reluctantly half-opened my eyes and only moved my mouth.

“‘Are you exercising at the training ground’?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

Maya’s brown eyes blinked as she rejoiced at my response.

“But…… how did you know I was going to say that?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

“Ah……”

“I’m building up my stamina. I’ll need it soon.”

“Need it? Where will you use your stamina? Perhaps when you get married…… you plan to use it?”

Her cheeks turned red. I glared at her and issued a warning.

“Maya!”

“Miss, you should sleep, right? I have to take the clothes to the laundry, so I’ll be going now.”

Maya hurriedly hugged the clothes and left the room.

‘She really doesn’t fit the original setting of this era.’

After watching Maya’s retreating figure, I succumbed to my heavy eyelids and fell asleep. Wishing earnestly in my heart.

＊

With a click, the door closed.

A faint smile appeared on Maya’s small lips as she held the doorknob.

When she emerged into the hallway with the laundry, the maids who had been hiding somewhere swarmed over.

“Maya, did the Miss yell at you again? Did she slap you?”

The maid who ran over first asked.

“It’s nothing. But why are you all hiding here instead of staying in your rooms?”

Despite Maya’s sharp response, another maid guessed.

“Oh, she must have messed up the matchmaking today? That’s why the Miss was yelling, right?”

‘These girls… how dare they talk about the Miss!’

Maya bit her lip and approached the maids, speaking firmly.

“That’s because only strange guys showed up. I think our Miss is too good for them. And you all!”

“Wha, wha, what, why?”

“Stop gossiping about the Miss behind her back, okay?”

The maids put on faces of disbelief at Maya’s cold advice.

“But Maya, she used to slap us just two months ago.”

“Yeah, I got slapped too.”

“I got a double slap.”

Sympathetic glances lingered briefly on the maid who just spoke before returning to Maya.

“The Miss has changed. She’s still willful, but she doesn’t hit anymore.”

Maya looked each of them in the eye and spoke with conviction.

“……Oh, she does greet us when we run into her in the hallway.”

“Yes, I spilled tea, and she didn’t yell.”

“See? Now go wash your feet and get some sleep.”

Maya breezed past them with the laundry. With no more gossip to be had, the maids watched her retreating figure blankly before scattering.

Maya mumbled as she walked briskly down the hallway.

“Our Miss is living so diligently these days. She’s definitely matured.”

A happy smile spread across Maya’s face, who firmly believed in her Miss.

Unaware of the wish her master had just made as she fell asleep.

‘If I can shake off the Duke, I won’t have to work…’