The Master fell into silence at my request and put down the empty teacup he was holding.
I was nervous and swallowed dry at his unusual reaction.
Slowly he started talking, with a serious look.
"… How much do you want to know about that man?"
"How much can you tell me?"
He thought for quite a bit while pressing his fingers.
It seems that it is quite difficult, as he is a Prince from one of the most prestigious families.
‘He can't refuse. He's already looking into Louis Gargell…'
I sipped my tea, giving up halfway.
After dwelling on it for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.
"I think it's possible to know his height and weight. Even his foot size if you want…"
"Huh?"
"More sensitive areas are a bit… Of course, I am not without confidence."
As he continued, I almost spit out the tea I was drinking.
Of course, there are likely to be young ladies all over the academy who want to know the size of Isidor's feet, shoulder width, and thigh circumference; but I am not an obsessive fan to dig out sensitive personal information like that.
"Who do you think I am! I want nothing like that, you must have heard about his secret reputation behind the scenes or a rumor."
"Something like that…"
The Master's eyes shook like those of a doll. It seemed that he was shocked because of his wrong guess.
He saw me as a fan of Isidor. I am also shocked.
"Reputation and rumors. … That's what you meant."
"That man. There seems to be something suspicious, so look into him."
As there seemed to be landmines everywhere that did not appear in the original work, I intended to figure Isidor out in advance.
"… Seeing that face and being suspicious…"
He had been murmuring about something since earlier.
"What did you say?"
"I was saying that I accept your request to look into whether Isidor Visconti is a suspicious person."
He answered in a harsh voice and poured tea into the empty teacup.
This time, he added 5 spoons of sugar. He seemed to like sweets quite a bit.
He stirred the teaspoon violently with a cold expression while looking at me with his mineral-like eyes.
"Princess. Are you done with your business?"
"No. I like the scent of this tea, so I'm thinking of drinking it all."
"Tea costs 1 gold."
"What? That's too expensive, when there isn't even dessert."
"I am a high-quality person."
You're capricious. As I unconsciously looked at the Master, who seemed to be resentful, I quickly started a conversation.
"By the way, do you sell this tea at Maisond?"
I asked, giving him a piece of jewelry with pearls.
"It's an expensive tea."
Looking a little annoyed, he shook his black gloved hand, as if he would not accept it.
I put the necklace back in my bag, feeling lucky.
‘That's weird. It says in the novel that the Master charges a price for every question.'
"It's teatime now, so I have no intentions of working."
Ah, he didn't mean to be asked.
"That's unfortunate. I was thinking of making a good proposal during teatime."
"If you tell me how you tamed my Cookie, I will listen."
"All right, I will talk, so just listen. It's a deal that won't cause you loss."
"Wow, you're really stubborn."
"Are you aware now, that I am this kind of human?"
It's so comfortable to be in possession of a character like this.
Even if I badmouth someone or act condescending, they will all say it was just Deborah being Deborah.
I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and stubbornly put it on the table.
"What do you think?"
He sipped his tea with indifference; and then, whether he was interested, he started observing the drawing on the paper with his arms crossed.
"This. What is this? A woman…?"
"Correct."
What I drew was an iconic purple logo with a woman.
It's my coffee brand.
I drew it from time to time, whenever the classes at the academy were boring.
This body was born with such good dexterity that I was able to make it with the vibe of a professionally designed logo that I had seen in my previous life.
"It's a schematic and stylish image. It's also unique. Did you draw it yourself?"
He started showing a little interest, as if it was surprising that I knew how to draw.
"That's right, I drew it. I'm thinking of running a dessert business with this seal."
It was a good thing that I didn't have to explain to the smallest detail what a brand logo was, as there existed the concept of a ‘seal' here.
"Why do dessert shops need seals? Does it feel grandiose?"
"It is necessary to make people remember it. I plan to keep expanding branches with this purple seal to a second shop, a third shop, and even a 100th shop. I'll set up a shop on the outskirts of the Empire, and even on an island. Just looking at the color purple will make the people in the Empire instinctively think of this seal."
"How is it possible to endlessly expand branches? There must be a limit to the manpower and money you own. Even the Emperor can't do that."
My eyes sparkled as soon as the Master took the bait.
"I don't have to use my own manpower. I can rent the business name to others."
"Rent the business name?"
His eyes widened in shock.
"That's right. It will be very easy, as long as the main shop is successful. I will offer a second shop, with the same menu and interior as the main café, to those who want to reduce competition. In return, I will get paid a fee for the name rental and for providing know-how."
"…That's an amazing idea."
To my surprise, after ‘tax haven', the Master seemed to immediately understand the concept of ‘franchise'.
The speed at which he nodded his head was phenomenal. I may be a modern capitalist, but he isn't.
Hiding my unpleasantness, I continued.
"For your information, if you have more branches, you can reduce the cost price of raw materials, such as flour and tea leaves, by purchasing large quantities."
"It is a way of doing business where the more businesses you get, the more it is profitable for the person providing the business name."
"That's right. But if you expand the shops too recklessly, it won't be good."
"No wonder. If the commercial districts overlap, I will be doing harm to myself. It would also be difficult to maintain the quality. But, Princess."
"Hm?"
"Why are you sharing this unique way of expanding branches with me?"
‘He's extremely quick-witted.'
"Form a partnership with me."
I picked up the piece of paper with the purple logo on it.
"Invest in this."
Opening a café was my dream in my previous life, and, as a caffeine addict, I also couldn't afford to lose my Iced Americano.
‘Being in business and working in areas you're interested in is good for mental health.'
In addition to that, I did research on the café business three times as a group project during the marketing-related liberal arts class.
Back then, I didn't have money to start a business, so I wondered why I was doing research; but I am using it in this life.
"Please teach me your business know-how. Things like management of manpower, recipes, and raw material procurement."
Since I have no practical experience, I could decrease the trial and error if I partnered with him, who runs various stores. In addition, I would be able to save time.
"For your information, I have a lot of ideas to make a dessert shop a success. The idea of renting the business name is just a very small part."
"A small part…"
"Also, I'm going to put my creativity into this."
I looked straight at him, who was intrigued.
"What do you think? Are you interested in my business?"
I thought he would be troubled for a moment, but the Master gave a positive answer right away.
We wrote a partnership agreement that day.
And so, my café business, which will color all the Azutea Empire purple, took its small first step.
***
‘The more you think about it, the more brilliant it is. Selling a business name instead of a product…'
Princess Deborah may not have any experience of opening a real shop, but she had a unique perspective on money.
She could be said to be a so-called genius. There's no way he would dare refuse the investment request she suggested.
‘She's really attractive.'
While he was looking at the purple seal she had left behind, Miguel, who had been hiding in the back during the entire request, suddenly appeared.
He had a terribly haggard expression.
Because he had spent all his energy in trying to hold back laughter.
The moment the princess asked to investigate Prince Isidor, he even squeezed his thighs in order to hold back his laughter.
‘I experienced my limits. I almost got caught.'
He never expected a surprise rival called ‘hold back your laughter' would appear while he was hiding in the shadows.
‘I can't believe she found my lost laughter. I mean, she is kind of likable.'
As he raised his judgement of Princess Deborah a little bit, Miguel opened his mouth with delicate eyes.
"Prince. You received a really difficult request. The Prince should take on this request personally."
"Is this a funny situation?"
"How is that possible? Princess Deborah is also very thoughtless. How can she request a background check on the successor of the great Visconti family? Without fear."
"You look less fearful… "
Miguel hurriedly changed the subject when he saw Isidor snapping his big hand.
"B-By the way, you had an opportunity to greatly extort her of the request fee; why didn't you ask for a proper price?"
"I have received enough for the request."
Isidor picked up the seal drawn by the Princess.
"What does this seal with a woman mean? It's cool, but…"
"Wealth."
"I have no idea what the Prince is up to these days."
"… Ahem."
Looking at Miguel, who had no understanding of the business expansion proposed by the Princess, Isidor clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘That's a given.'
Like Miguel, most of the aristocrats were ignorant of the law called money and thought that commercial activities were not noble.
Princess Deborah was a unique case.
She must have grown up in an aristocratic environment more than anyone else, yet last time it was an illegal secret fund, and this time it was a partnership proposal.
"I have no idea what goes in the Princess' head."
Rather than relieving his curiosity for Princess Deborah a little, he hasn't been able to approach her so far, as she is very wary.
Isidor tapped on the table and opened his mouth, with serious eyes.
"Miguel."
"Yes. Prince."
"What kind of style do you think Princess Deborah was most interested in?"
"She always passed by with indifference; but when the Prince wore the black frock coat with the pomade hairstyle, it seems like she stared at you for about a second."
"So, she likes a manly style."
Isidor muttered with a serious face.
"You should push with that."
"But there is something I haven't tried yet. Take a look."
Suddenly, Isidor took off his black robe and his bracelet, and pulled something out of the drawer.
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