Weekly chapters (1/2)
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Rishe-sama kawaii~ ❤
Enjoy~
Translator & Editor: Raizu
Chapter 22 – Confront Your Former Boss
Flower petals fanned by the wind fall on the Imperial Castle of Valkhyne.
Rishe, wearing a linen dress, was using a hoe in her hand to gently level the mounds of soil.
This is the part of the courtyard that she asked Arnold to borrow for the evening party the other day.
(If I have this much space, I’ll be fine for the time being.)
Rishe looked around at the area that she plowed yesterday and felt satisfied.
Several buckets placed nearby were filled with leaf mold. It’s nutrient-rich soil collected from under deciduous trees in the garden.
She managed to pick up the bucket and began to spread the leaf mold on the plowed ground. By the time she finished spreading it evenly, her arm was completely numb.
(…I have to start training my body seriously…)
This body, which until recently was that of a frail young lady, lacks physical strength and muscle strength. Her current body is inferior compared to her life as a knight, let alone her life as a pharmacist working in the fields.
Even though her head understands how her body moves, her body cannot follow.
However, she wants to take it one step further. Rishe regained her composure and begins chopping away at the soil that has been sprinkled with leaf mold with the hoe in her hand.
Be careful, yet firm. She mixes soil and humus to incorporate air into the soil.
Even though she removes the visible roots of weeds, she doesn’t pay too much attention to them. Sometimes it’s interesting to see completely unknown flowers and flowers sprouting between the plants that she’s growing.
The knights standing a little further away were also watching Rishe’s work with interest. Diana came in and looked surprised.
[Rishe-sama, what on earth are you doing!?]
[This? I’m cultivating a field.]
[A f-field…even though you’re Your Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée…]
After carefully mixing the leaf mold, fluffy ridges of soil were created.
She would like to sow the seeds right away, but it would be better to expose them to sunlight for a few days to let them acclimate. Rishe wipes the sweat from her forehead and smiles at Diana’s still gaping look.
[Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, can you show me what you’ve been thinking about?]
[Ha! Yes, please!]
Diana held out the document in her hand with a nervous look on her face.
Along with her careful writing, there are cute pictures of brooms, rags, and other items.
[I thought, why not make the newcomers learn to read and write the cleaning tools first?]
Diana, who was wearing a maid’s uniform without the apron, was fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
Rishe gave one command to her, who was appointed as the educator of her fellow maids. Her task was to 『Determine the initial content to be taught to newcomers』.
[That way, I think it will be easier for them to feel that what they have learned just now is useful because they will be using it in their daily work.]
[Yes. I think it’s very good.]
When Rishe smiles and nods, Diana’s face suddenly lights up. However, her self-doubt quickly clouded over.
[…But, I was worried. I thought it would be better if they remembered their own name first rather than the names of the cleaning tools.]
[That’s right. It’s certainly effective to make them interested, but…]
What Rishe remembered was the sons of the mansion that she had come into contact with during her life as a maid.
They learned how to write her name from a tutor, practiced hard, and came to show it to Rishe. Although she feels nostalgic as she remembers that scene, she tells Diana what she thinks.
[If that were the case, the students would not be able to review each other’s lessons or teach each other when they have forgotten something. Even the teachers can’t explain everything all at once, so it takes time.]
[Ah! I see, that’s certainly true!]
Hearing Rishe’s words, Diana lets out a sigh of relief. Apparently she had been wondering about this for a long time.
[Just as Diana thought, “it’s wonderful to be able to use what you learn at work right away”. If I were your student, I’d be very happy.]
[Yes, thank you very much…!]
Diana’s eyes lit up as she hugged the paper that Rishe had returned back to her.
[Rishe-sama, things like this are fun. It’s much more fun thinking about how to help everyone than thinking about what kind of mean words to say to them.]
[Fufu. I’m glad to hear that.]
[But, why are you doing this much for us, Rishe-sama?]
[That’s――…]
When Rishe hesitated a little, her maid Elsie came from the other side.
[Rishe-sama. It’s almost time to get ready.]
When she hears the call from her expressionless maid, Rishe nods.
[Diana, I’m sorry, but I have to go now. Regarding the teaching materials, can you proceed as we talked about?]
[Yes! Please leave it to me!]
[Diana-senpai…Could you please teach me some more about studying after dinner today…?]
[Fufu. Of course it’s fine. I won’t let you sleep until you finish two pages today, so just keep that in mind!]
After watching Elsie and Diana’s conversation with a smile, Rishe headed to her room in the villa.
[The bath is ready.]
[Thank you, first I have to wash off all this sweat and mud. After I get out of the bath, I have to dry my hair and change into the most expensive dress I have… Elsie, can you help me tie my hair?]
While imagining the guests who would come after this, Rishe gathered her spirits. Elsie, who was walking behind her, tilted her head curiously.
[I heard that the customer is a merchant. Do you need the most expensive dress…?]
[…That’s right. For now, it might be one of the preparations.]
[?]
==========
A few hours later, Tully, the chairman of the Aria Trading Company, arrives.
Aria Company is the company to which the merchant group who picked up Rishe in her first life. And the chairman, Tully, was the one who taught Rishe what it meant to be a merchant.
How to judge the value of things and trading partners. How to use money, how to increase it, and what kind of money-making idea that she shouldn’t put my hand on.
For Rishe, Tully is her Master (shisou) in business.
If she can make them her ally, her options from now on will expand considerably.
When the time comes if Rishe gets divorced and kicked out of Valkhyne, or when she run out of supplies due to future wartime, the trading company will surely help her. Of course, if Rishe would pay the appropriate price at that time.
(Anyway, if I can make a track record of making a large transaction even once, that will connect me with them. The question is, how will that Chairman accept?)
While cleaning her body in the bath and changing into a fine dress, Rishe did a lot of calculations.
(The Aria Company of this era had just been established and was not that large yet. If it’s a business deal involving the Valkhyne Royal family’s wedding, a normal company would want to get it no matter what… it should be the case though.)
She felt like letting out a sigh as Elsie tied my dry hair. Eventually, Rishe finished getting her ready and checked her appearance in her mirror.
Her hair is curled up and her eyes are bright red. She wears as many accessories as possible, from her earrings to rings, and holds a feathered fan in her hand.
(Hmm… Maybe if I made myself a little more flashy, I would look like a 『golden goose who loves shopping』. It’s okay to say, 『I’m trying to show off and spend a lot of money on the wedding』.)
[It’s a shame. I would love to make Rishe-sama look cool and dignified today, with her hair tied up and swept back to match her dress…]
Elsie is a little sulking. She was the one who tied her little sisters’ hair and picked out their clothes every day, so she was extremely good at preparing outfits. Rishe is thinking of asking Elsie to help her, who can get ready by herself, from now on.
[Thank you, Else. But today, this is my battle armor.]
[…?]
Meanwhile, the news of Aria Company’s arrival arrived.
Accompanied by two escort knights, Rishe headed to the reception room of the main castle. The villa where Rishe lives doesn’t yet have a room that can welcome guests.
When she stood in front of the reception room, the butler bowed politely and opened the door. First, the knight goes inside first, makes sure it’s safe, and then bows to Rishe.
She responded to the bow and entered the reception room, where a man was standing.
[This is my first time meeting you. My name is Cain Tully, and I am the chairman of the Aria Company. I would like to congratulate you on your marriage.]
At first glance, Tully, who had a friendly smile on his face, bowed towards Rishe.
He had shaved off the stubble that he always had, and his hair was slicked back because it tended to bounce when he slept, so he was different from the man that Rishe knew well.
Apparently, he doesn’t have a hangover today.
[My name is Rishe Irmgard Werzner. Thank you for coming all the way. Please make yourself comfortable.]
[Now, please excuse me.]
He waited for Rishe to sit down first, and Tully also sat down in the chair across from her. Although he was smiling, he looked at Rishe for just a second with his drooping eyes, which the women at the bar praised as “sexy and wonderful”.
(…As expected. Even though we just met, I felt like he could see through everything.)
Nevertheless, even if she wasn’t on guard from the beginning, she wouldn’t notice that she was being appraised at all.
[Well, it’s a good season anyway. Was Rishe-sama’s wedding ceremony in the middle of the eighth month? You will become the bride of the summer sky. Truly amazing! I’m envious of the people of Valkhyne that such a beautiful person is the future mother of the nation.]
[Oh my. I’m flattered.]
Even as she smiles and dodges the social compliments, the scenes from the past flash through Rishe’s mind.
『――Buhahahaha! ! As expected, you idiot couldn’t tell that the sapphire was fake! I was making a bet with everyone at the company whether or not you’d get caught by that middleman. Thanks to you, I won, and thanks to my inexperienced subordinate, I’m making a lot of money.』
『Okay, Rishe, it’s your graduation exam. If you want to continue working in my company from now on, please recover the 5 million gold lost by your seniors. Oh, let me tell you, it’s within a week.』
『Please, Rishe, please! Please explain to Aria that the woman I was with is just a friend!!』
Somehow, she ends up accidentally looking off into the distance, in her previous life. Naturally, Tully is right in front of her, but he probably doesn’t know that Rishe can see right through his true face.
[I think a white wedding costume would go well with Rishe-sama’s hair color. For example, how about something made of multiple layers of thin silk?]
[!]
Before she knew it, the flowing small talk turned into a discussion.
Does this mean that they have entered into business negotiations? It seemed like they had reached the first stage, and Rishe was relieved.
[That would be lovely, Chairman Tully. I’m sure you’ve already heard, but I’d like the items used for my wedding ceremony to be provided by the esteemed Aria Company.]
[Dear me! What an honor to receive your kind words to a small and weak trading company like us!]
[First of all, do you have any items you bring for today? I would love to see them.]
I have told the messenger beforehand that I would like to discuss business-related to the marriage ceremony. The company must have loaded a horse-drawn carriage with lots of items that could be sold to Rishe.
(Once a deal is concluded, anything can happen. As long as I can get through the first business meeting with the chairman…)
[Rishe-sama.]
Tully looked at Rishe and laughed.
[I have nothing to sell you.]
[…..]
Nega Translations 