Chapter 103: 103

“What, protests?”

As soon as she heard Frances, Lilia rose from her seat.

“Yes. It was so noisy while passing by, and when I saw it, there was a protest against the hot spring business.”

“………I must go.”

Lilia had no time to think, and she stood up. After changing into modest clothing, she got into the carriage. The carriage that left the mansion stopped near the site where the hot spring burst. Lilia, who got out of the carriage, looked around. People holding signs were protesting in groups.

“How are we expected to live with this?”

“Bloden’s tyranny!”

“How can we see the sunlight, when you are constructing such a big building in front of our house!”

Each person was complaining. Since the hot spring site is not a residential area, most of the protesters seemed to be nearby small merchants. Though a small number of residents were concerned about the violation of the right to sunlight and the noise pollution around here.

Lilia watched the scene for a moment with a serious face. In fact, it was common for rich noble families to eat the surrounding commercial districts. It was because there was no legal problem even if a store from the same industry was built right next to it.

Therefore, aristocrats often found out which stores worked well and opened stores nearby that sold the same thing. It grew by stealing customers one by one from existing stores by setting prices low.

It was very unfair from the perspective of the store where customers were taken away, but they did not dare to oppose the aristocracy. They were prone to retaliation.

However, this time Lilia’s spa business was an unprecedented large-scale business.  It seemed that all the nearby merchants felt a sense of crisis, and they all decided to gather together.

‘I made a mistake.’

She just thought of building a large-scale recreation facility that had never been there before, but did not take into account the surrounding commercial area.

“What should I do? Should I contact the Countess?”

Frances asked, shuffling his feet. In her mind, Lilia also wanted to call Violet. However, since it was her first time in charge of a large-scale project, she also wanted to get through it on her own. Didn’t she take a management class to do that?

“I’ll come forward.”

Frances and Malek clung to Lilia for cover. Lilia stepped out in front of the protesters. The protesters paused and looked at her. Lilia opened her mouth calmly,

“I’m Lilia Bloden, the head of the spa business.”

“Lilia Bloden……?”

There was a moment of tension as someone murmured. And people started talking amongst themselves.

“The power of the Bloden family……?”

“I heard she tamed that crazy dog. With such a small body……….”

Lilia was perplexed by their words.

‘Real power? Crazy dog?’

All of this was unknown to Lilia. Far from being the real power in the Blodon family, she was still learning. What else do they mean by crazy? Lilia opened her mouth again, looking at the people who were gossiping.

“I want to hear your situation. If it’s a problem I can solve, I’ll do my best, so can you give me a bit of your time?”

The people who were murmuring at Lilia’s polite request nodded. Lilia, who was looking for a suitable place, rented an entire nearby tea house.

“I’m buying the drinks, so don’t feel pressured.”

The protesters’ eyes grew round. Only the owner of the teahouse, who suddenly sold dozens of drinks, screamed with joy.

Lilia decided to gather people with similar complaints and listen to their story. And Malek naturally helped Lilia sort out the situation.

“Neighborhood residents complain that the building shadows the house, preventing sunlight and there is now a surrounding noisy environment.”

“Well, it’s a difficult problem.”

The hot spring exploded here, so she couldn’t move it.

“I’m sorry, but how about selling your house to us? I’ll give you enough money to move.”

“Well, as long as you pay us well…….”

Most people reacted positively. Overtime, it became unsuitable for living, and there were only outdated buildings around. There was no need to turn away someone willing to buy a house that otherwise wouldn’t sell. At that time, a middle-aged man jumped up from his seat and shouted,

“Suddenly being pushed out, and all you will do is pay me! Three generations have stayed..…,”

“I’ll give you 100,000 Kroel separately.”

“……Well if I’m going to live, I should at least live well!”

All you had to do was give money. The middle-aged man sat quietly as if he had never raised his voice. When all the nearby residents stepped down, small merchants were next in line.

Lilia listened to people’s stories one by one. It ranged from those who complained of sympathy to those who complained in grievance. Most people were worried that the large business would make them lose customers.

” As I researched, I noticed this place is far from downtown, so there is a small floating population[1]. I think that the commercial district will be revitalized if resort facilities are built.”

Lilia spread the data she had researched so far to people.

“And we will consider avoiding opening a store in the same industry.”

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Those who were worried that the same store as theirs would come in nodded as if they were relieved. Lilia did not offer them compensation. The promise to give compensation to the residents earlier was because it violated their right to live there.

But in this case it was a little different. If they were given compensation, even unrelated people would rush for money. It was better to find a way to coexist together. Lilia, who was thinking carefully, said,

“I’d like to hold an event where one can get a discount on the hot spring ticket if they bring a receipt from one of your stores, how about it?”

“What?”

Everyone looked at Lilia in surprise. Certainly, if such an event occurs, hot spring users are more likely to use nearby stores.

“That’s good with me.”

The hesitating merchants began to agree as soon as someone answered. Lilia said with a smile.

“Thank you for agreeing. I’m also happy to collaborate with good stores.”

Even those who were in a bad mood were relieved. When the work was done, Lilia apologized again, saying she was sorry for causing trouble. And because she was busy with work, she let them know she would go back first. The people who came to argue began to huddle and talk.

“I’ve never seen such a good aristocrat.”

“As expected, the power of the Bloden family is different.”

“From today, I will only buy things from Bloden.”

They were all faces full of goodwill. A woman untied the band around her head. “I am against this spa business association,” she said, putting her headband in her trash can.

“I’d like to get a job with the Bloden family, do you know what to do?”

***

The crystal glass was filled with dark red wine. Expensive imported furniture, glossy rugs, silk wallpaper……. The room with all the finest seemed to speak of the owner’s luxurious life. The man sitting on the wooden chair slowly shook the glass containing wine.

“It’s boring.”

The place where he is staying now is surrounded by the sea, so at first he felt like he was on vacation. However, it was only good for a while, and after a year, it was so boring. Compared to the imperial capital where he was born and raised, this place was like the countryside.

“How long will I be stuck here?”

The man took a sip of wine with a frown. He was enjoying a more colorful life than anyone else, but complaints were only piling up. Then someone knocked on the door outside.

“Mr. Blair, I have a letter.”

“Come on in.”

The person who opened the door put the envelope on the table and stepped down. The man, Blair Evantheon, stared at two letters on the table.

One was sent by his mother, Rebecca Evantheon, and the other was a letter from a scout planted in the imperial capital.

About a year ago, Blair had killed people and fled here. He was a member of a secret society when he was in the Empire. It was a gathering of aristocratic children who dreamed of deviance, opium, gambling, and numerous criminal acts were prevalent.

Blair enjoyed playing cards after drinking and taking drugs as usual. Then, he got into a quarrel with an opponent, and in anger, he hit the man’s head with a bottle and killed him. Unfortunately, the one who he killed was the only son of a Count.

Blair, who came to his senses late, tried to bury it. He cracked down on witnesses and covered up all the evidence. The members of the group who were there were also afraid of Blair’s retaliation and kept their mouths shut for fear that they would be caught attending an illegal gathering.

However, the Count, who lost his son overnight, did not stay still. The Count persistently pursued, and eventually one of the witnesses confessed. It was Blair Evantheon who killed his son.

The Count immediately went to the Evantheon family. The Evantheons’ side attempted to reach an agreement with the Count, who was running wild accusing him. In the meantime, Blair fled to a foreign country.

The Count refused to settle and tried to press charges, but there was no evidence. Even the witness who confessed the truth refused to go to the trial as a witness. Eventually, the Count’s side was paid a huge settlement.

The Evantheon family also said they would give a settlement to protect Blair’s reputation and honor, but they have yet to give it because it is such a large amount.

Blair picked up one of the two letters on the table. It was a letter from Rebecca.

[How are you doing? I miss you a lot these days.]

The letter, which began as a greeting, was all about worries. Blair’s eyes stopped reading with indifferent eyes, wondering if there was any useful information.

[Money is being prepared. And by the time you return, I plan to send Karhan to the conflict zone.]

Blair’s eyes have narrowed. He had already heard that his younger brother, Karhan, had taken over as successor on his behalf. It was only temporary anyway. Karhan was not prepared to succeed, so there was nothing to worry about.

Blair laid down his mother’s letter carelessly and picked up another letter. The letter said what happened recently in the imperial capital. Blair’s face, which had been roughly calm, gradually subsided.

The letter stated that Karhan’s reputation had improved greatly and that Karhan was dating Lilia Bloden.

“……He’s been stuck in a corner.”

The letter paper crumpled in his hand. Blair now recalled his dim-faced brother. A person who has threatened his position since birth. A true genius who will surpass himself in one go.

“Now he dares to aim for my place……?”

The Duchess was on Blair’s side, but he was still anxious even though he had already buried Karhan into the ground. He thought Karhan would rise if he let his guard down. Throwing the letter to the floor, Blair slowly rose from his seat.

“I think it’s time to go back to the Empire.”

***

[1] Floating population is a terminology used to describe a group of people who reside in a given population for a certain amount of time and for various reasons, but are not generally considered part of the official census count.

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