Chapter 8: 8

“Yes, the most important idea in business is to buy other people’s favors.”

“Others’ favors…?”

“For example, let’s imagine that this store has an item that will be in trend later on. They are looking for an investor, and the candidates are our family and the Tassio family. Which investor do you think will be prioritized by the manager?

“Ah…”

Farren nodded, understanding the underlying meaning.

“A little favor is not enough. Even if they favor our family, the store may choose a family with better financial conditions. This element will mainly come into play when the business has difficulty choosing between investors with similar financial conditions.”

“So you don’t mind losing money to buy that sincerity.”

“Of course, it’s impossible to buy a person’s heart with money. I think the best way to win a person’s heart is through sincerity.”

“Yes.”

“However, money can be an instrument to express your sincerity. It’s the best way to appreciate the time, material and effort they had put into creating the product.”

“…in other words, the amount you have just invested is also the sincerity you show to this store.”

“Yes,” Madenna nodded, “Showering someone with money for no reason is useless, and it may be burdensome. That’s not sincerity. However, if you spend money when it’s necessary, that will be considered as sincerity by the other person.”

Farren laughed softly at Madenna’s explanation.

“Is that how you spend money suitably as you said?”

“That’s right. You shouldn’t hesitate to invest in the future. Please spend your money wisely.”

“Yes!”

With a brighter expression than before, Farren took his teacup and sipped it carefully.

However, his eyebrows scrunched at the taste. It seemed like the tea was too bitter for him, a child who had not yet learned to appreciate the authentic taste of tea.

His childlike reaction made me laugh.

Farren, who had put down the teacup again, tilted his head and opened his mouth.

“…then, milady.”

“Yes?”

“Is milady showing her sincerity by investing in me?”

“…”

Madenna revealed a surprised look at his question as the thought had never crossed her mind.

That’s what she did to Suzanne. But in addition to the investment defined by money, she was genuinely fond of Suzanne and devoted herself to the girl.

If it was merely an ‘investment,’ it was bound to be a failure.

Yet, in the end, her love, money, and sincerity were returned with treachery and execution.

‘…I was thinking of having Farren purely as a business partner. If we sign a blood contract, there will be no chance for him to betray me.’

It was easy to acquire favors from others who might be helpful in the future.

You could hand bonuses to people who have performed excellently and solve problems in stores with money.

The boy was looking at herself happily with a look of anticipation.

Madenna did not invest in Farren to win such a form of favor.

“I didn’t invest in you to get a favor,” she said.

“With a blood contract, there will be no opportunity for betrayal anyway. However, if you think kindly of this cooperation, it will be better for both of us. If we phrase it that way, maybe we can consider it as sincerity.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Farren’s bright smile was beautiful. His sharp features turned innocent under the soft, blooming smile.

“I want to obtain sincerity from you, milady…. Milady has a lot of wealth, and I can’t show you sincerity with money. So, instead, I’ll do my best to serve you. By all means.”

“…I see.”

Even with his genuine words, Madenna still couldn’t open her heart. The scar of betrayal just ran too deep to be healed by simple words.

He was just a way for her to survive.

But every time she heard someone’s sincerity, she couldn’t stop her heart from softening.

“Milady, it’s all sorted out. I’m going to show you some other outfits.”

Then the manager came.

Madenna got up from her seat, pushing her complicated thoughts aside.

Farren approached and took her hand.

She could only hope that the boy’s warmth wasn’t another deception.

 

* * *

 

After the extensive shopping spree, Madenna and Farren returned to the mansion in the evening.

The head maid, who greeted the two in the hall, bowed politely upon their arrival.

“Milady, the Madame is back,” she reported.

“Mother?”

Madenna widened her eyes at her unexpected arrival.

At the time of her return, her mother was on a business trip.

Madenna was surprised at her return because she had heard she would only return in two weeks.

‘Did she come this fast when we agreed to sponsor Suzanne before she returned? It was a long time ago, so I can’t remember it.’

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“She said she came back a little early due to some complications.”

“She could have sent a letter in advance…”

“I think the madam wanted to surprise you.’

“The same as always I see…”

Madenna felt a lump in her throat when she said so.

Before she went back to the past, her mother had died of an unknown disease.

She was busy working on the orphanage’s matters after her return, but meeting her mother again felt unusual.

“She asked to have dinner with the boy you sponsored. We’ll serve you as soon as you are ready.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

Madenna glanced at Farren next to her.

He seemed nervous at the prospect of meeting the Countess.

“It’s all right. You can relax.”

“Milady, I don’t think the Countess will like me as you protege. I’m a mage.”

She didn’t know he had such a concern.

“Although she’s a strict woman, she’s not unjust. She won’t treat you with prejudice.”

“Okay, I’ll try to show her my sincerity and make her think favorably of me.”

Madenna could only smile in amusement at Farren’s attempt to implement the earlier story she had told.

‘Well, apart from being a mage. What if Mother doesn’t like Farren and tells me to get rid of him immediately. Will it be okay to let her meet Farren?

Trying to ignore her anxiety, Madenna changed her clothes and went to prepare for dinner.

 

* * *

 

The dinner was held at the greenhouse.

When Madenna and Farren arrived at the greenhouse, Luciola Rodenherg, the countess, was already seated.

It has been less than a century since women were allowed to hold titles in the Alleo Empire.

Although it was less common now, there was still a tendency to look down on females who held titles.

Most of them weren’t taken seriously. People considered it an empty title, and in reality, there were many cases where the husband was the one who held the power.

But Luciola Rodenherg was different.

She had been living as a countess, even after losing her husband and refusing to remarry shortly after Madenna’s birth.

She was criticized and ridiculed, but those mockeries didn’t change the fact that she was a countess, as well as a pioneer in business.

It was also her achievement that made Rodenherg’s family one of the wealthiest families in the kingdom.

Luciola’s face, although aged with time, still exuded an aura of dignity that had accumulated through the countless experiences she had faced in her 40 years.

Wearing an elegant green dress with beautiful pink-colored hair, she resembled an older Madenna.

“It’s been a long time, Mother.”

“Yes, It’s been a long time.”

She was feeling nostalgic at the sight of her healthy mother.

‘…before the return, I could not find the cause of my mother’s disease. This time, I have to invest more resources in the medical sector and find a cure for my mother.’

Madenna curtsied to her mother, lifting the hem of her dress.

“Yes, long time no see, Madenna. Is he the boy you’ve decided to sponsor?”

Her mother had always been frank with her words. She could never beat around the bush.

Madenna couldn’t help but feel the happiness at the sight of her mother.

“Yes, I brought him in a while ago. Farren, say your greetings.”

“Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Farren.”

Farren bowed politely – he had not taken formal etiquette lessons, and his stance was far from perfect, but her mother still returned the greeting.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Luciola Rodenherg. Please take your seats.”

When Madenna and Farren sat down, the maids immediately brought tea and appetizers to enjoy while waiting for the main course.

Farren hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage to raise his head, and said to Luciola,

“Countess, I haven’t learned anything yet, so I don’t know table manners. If my behavior is rude, please let me know.”

Luciola widened her eyes and smiled as she looked at Farren.

“It’s all right. Those aware of their ignorance and actively improve themselves have great room for development. There’s no reason to scold such a person.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

‘It seemed that my mother’s first impression of Farren was good.’

Madenna patted her chest with relief when she felt a sense of incongruity.

‘What was it like before my return? Did my mother have a chance to talk to Suzanne like this?’

Luciola was a very busy woman, and she rarely ran into Suzanne.

In Madenna’s memory, there had never been a conversation between the two.

‘I don’t think there was a scene like this in my previous life. Did things change because of my interference?

As Madenna was lost in thought, Luciola called her.

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