Chapter 49: Chapter 35.2

“Please, don’t get me wrong.”

Rishe interrupted Tully as he tried to bow down.

“I’ll give you the records about the concoction without any conditions.”

“Nah…” Tully looked at her, disbelief all over his face.

“Of course, I’m going to provide you with the herbs to make it, too. I’m not pushing for a contract in exchange, so please don’t worry.”

“What do you mean?　I tried to dodge a deal with you. Isn’t this why you brought this trump card out?!”

“It’s my trump card, yes. But I don’t want to use your sister as a leverage,” Rishe replied to a stunned Tully.

“But I would like you to reconsider.”

“…”

“People living in the slums are also worried about their families. There are many brothers and sisters who would sacrifice their own dreams to make sure their little brothers and sisters don’t fall sick and are fed properly.”

Remembering Elise, Rishe clasped her hands together.

“I think it should be the country who saves them, but I have no power as the Crown Princess. I am powerless without help. The only thing I can offer you at the moment, as I mentioned earlier, is that poor method.”

If it were Tully, he’d be able to build it into a much, much bigger enterprise.

If it were Arnold, he’d have used the Trading Company to develop bold and significant measures.

There was too little she could do.

“I don’t believe that the tide has turned or anything like that. So please, Chairman Tully…”

Rishe bowed deeply.

“Won’t you conclude a deal with me?”

“――…”

Silence reigned in the reception room for a few seconds.

Would Tully still consider her naive?

If she were still living as his subordinate, she might not have been allowed to be independent.

Just as she was thinking that, she felt him get up from his chair.

“Please raise your head, Lady Rishe.”

“Eh…”

Tully then knelt beside Rishe and bowed reverently.

“Chairman Tully! Please don’t, wha!…”

“I understand if you can’t forgive my past rudeness. But, I just realized how inexperienced I still am and have a long way to go.”

“No, uhm! Ho-really, please stop!”

She really was flustered and didn’t know what to say when her former boss said something like that.

“Being a merchant is to work to enrich everyone involved. The merchants who take the money, the craftsmen who make the goods, and every customer who gets a product and feels like they’re willing to pay the price to get it, will all be enriched… And yet, I was impossibly naive. I’ve been a pompous asshole, thinking I could choose my customers.”

His tirade startled Rishe.

“The people in the favelas have never been my customers. The truth is I didn’t care what happened to them. But you’re right, there are a lot of kids there, like my sister.”

Tully looked up at Rishe.

“Your business of enriching a lot of people is far more respectable than a man like me could ever hope to come up with in business. Irrespective of my sister’s medicine, I should be ashamed of my arrogance.”

“Ah, Mr. Chairman…”

After saying that, Tully remained on his knees and bowed his head deeply once more.

“The Aria Trading Company will henceforth provide you with what you desire in the name of Kane Tully.”

“Thank you very much!”

With widening relief, Rishe felt herself relaxing.

***

Finally, I’ve secured a supply route.

In the reception room where Tully and his colleagues had departed from, Rishe was leaning back on her chair.

I’m glad I was able to develop the samples in time. The medicinal herbs are growing well, and all the maids will be able to work on their own soon. It’s about time to start other preparations…

While mulling over that, she felt a shuddering pain in the back of her head.

The medication must be wearing off.

She was aware that she’s been pushing herself too hard the past few days.

Tending to the field, educating the maidservants, making educational materials and developing products, she had no time to spare.

On top of that, she had to conduct all sorts of research to negotiate with Tully today.

The only way she managed all these was to cut down on her sleep time, which was obviously very difficult for Rishe, whose stamina was currently poor.

Really, I need to get in shape.

She examined herself and confirmed she had no cold or any contagious illness.

It was probably just a mild overwork. With a little rest, she should be able to recover.

But first, I just need to get one more thing done.

As she was thinking about this, the knight who escorted Tully and the others out of the reception room returned.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Rishe-sama. We’ll send you to your room.”

Rishe mended her slump and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Rishe-sama, is something the matter?”

“…”

She looked down and exhaled softly.

Her vision became blurry.

She was feeling normal until a few minutes ago. As soon as the pain reliever wore off, she found herself in this situation.

“Pardon me. Could you please call my maid, Elise?”

“Yes, sure!!”

Perhaps sensing her anomaly, the knight hurriedly rushed out of the reception room.