A man and woman sat across from each other over a table in a small drawing room on the second floor of a luxurious mansion, illuminated by the setting sun. There were two pieces of paper set down between them. A middle-aged butler stood behind Euphylia, and her distant relative, the daughter of Viscount Morland, Louisa, sat by her side.
Standing next to the table was a man dressed in a monochrome suit carrying a valuable looking bag. He was a financial official of the Archduchess’s residence.
Even while surrounded by people far above his social standing, the man sitting across from her fluidly ran his pen across the paper and signed his name. Euphylia nodded, and the financial official placed the heavy bag atop the table.
“With this, the investment is settled.”
“So, you finally managed to palm off this piece of paper for gold.”
Paul didn’t show any signs of paying the archduchess’s sarcasm any mind as he confirmed the contents of the bag. The heavy bag was filled with metal glittering in the setting sun. It was enough money for a company of his size to expand multiple times over.
“Oh, yes, how goes the election for the guild representative?”
Paul changed the topic as if simply gossiping about a popular matter.
“Does it interest you?”
“Even without voting rights, we’re still more or less a part of the Culinary Guild.”
“You certainly have a penchant for spouting nonsense. Aren’t there rumors of your status being raised to a silver company going around?”
“They are nothing more than that — rumors. That’s still far and away for our company.”
The archduchess put down her fan and took the contract, the stock certificate, in her hands once more.
“The details state that the stockholder is to be given some merchandise as a reception gift.”
“Yes. It is for the purpose of cultivating a better understanding of our company’s merchandise,” Paul replied in a frivolous tone.
Euphylia looked to Louisa.
“Mr. Ricardo Weinder said that he wanted us to come at a certain date and time, at a certain place, to pick it up. Also...” Louisa relayed the words her underclassman at the Academy told her.
“Even if the prime minister supports the second prince, it doesn’t mean... I see. Tell him that we agree.”
Now holding partial ownership of the Weinder Company, the grand noble picked up and closed her fan. She then placed it against her brow, and lightly shook her head.
“Being a stockholder can be quite a troublesome matter, can it not?”