Chapter 37
Yuliya was overwhelmed by Fiene's smile.
It was simple: Yuliya could not pay enough to match the right to use Fiene as she pleased. How many merchants could offer something worth as much as Fiene, let alone more?
Probably no one.
Was Fiene aware of that or not?
Yuliya found the smiling Fiene frightening.
If Yuliya offered something of equal value, she could not simply turn around and say she had changed her mind.
It was like smiling in the middle of a trial before the verdict was announced.
Yuliya could hardly call it sane. At the same time, Fiene did not seem insane to her.
That was what piqued her interest.
"Do you understand? If I offer the compensation you want, you won't be able to complain no matter what happens to you!"
"I understand. But if that's the case, that's fine by me. I only want to be of use to Al-sama and Leo-sama."
"So you'd let anything happen to you for the sake of your faction? Is someone holding something over you?"
Yuliya sensed something sinister in Fiene's utterly unreasonable self-sacrifice.
Yuliya looked at Linfia as well as Fiene, but Linfia looked just as surprised.
"No one is holding anything over me. I simply want to be of use."
"Is Leonart Leaks Adler really a prince worth supporting to that extent?"
"Of course. Even if I have to die, I will make him Emperor. I will do anything I can to achieve that. If you can offer me something of equal value to me, I will gladly offer myself. What do you say?"
"...No. I can't offer anything of equal value to you. You win. Let's begin negotiations. What do you want? Go on, tell me."
With that, Yuliya conceded.
Yuliya never backed down of her own accord during important negotiations. She had never even lowered her price by a little. But even Yuliya realized that she could not overpower Fiene as she was now.
Bluffs did not work against someone who was serious.
Reading Fiene's eyes, Yuliya realized she was no ordinary young lady, so she decided to move things along.
This negotiation was important to Yuliya. Even if the terms were somewhat unfavorable, reaching an agreement would still bring her a reward.
After all, she might be able to get the Imperial capital branch, which she had thought unusable, up and running again.
"I'll leave the specifics to Linfia-san. Please go ahead."
"Ah, yes. Our demand is funding. The struggle for the throne will require considerable funds. We can never have enough to win over influential people on the other side. Can you provide us with assistance?"
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Second, we want you to deal a blow to merchants and trade companies with deep ties to the factions supporting the other candidates for the throne."
"You want us to beat them at their own game? Fine by me. Just say the word. Is that all?"
"That's all for now..."
"Then let me state our demands. We will accept every one of yours. In return, we'd like to use Fiene von Kleinert's name and, if possible, her likeness."
That was exactly the proposal Linfia had expected.
It was so predictable that it was almost anticlimactic.
After all, it was what every merchant in the Imperial capital wanted.
Even vegetables would fly off the shelves if merchants could claim they were recommended by Fiene. That was how overwhelmingly popular Fiene was in the Imperial capital.
The only reason no one did so was that using her name without permission would incur the Emperor's wrath.
But with Fiene's own permission, they could use it. And if they were also permitted to use portraits of Fiene or illusions of her created by magical devices, the effect would be even greater.
To merchants, the popular Fiene was worth more than a mine filled with gold and silver.
"Are there no other demands?"
"No. I thought I might try to talk you into giving us favorable terms, but I've changed my mind. The Emperor of this country certainly has a good eye for people. Fiene, you're a fine woman. You're cute, and you've got guts. You make me want to take you as my mistress."
"That's a generous offer, but if I became someone else's possession, my value would decrease, so I can't accept."
"Oh my. Are you bringing the princes' struggle for the throne into this, too? I'm curious what makes you go so far."
Fiene hesitated over how she should answer Yuliya.
She did not know which answer would fit best. So she offered two answers.
"I am the daughter of a duke. I hold a position that allows me to interfere in the struggle for the throne. That is why I believe I have a duty to support an Emperor whom all the people can be proud of. Setting that position aside and answering solely from my personal feelings... Isn't it only natural to support someone you love dearly?"
That answer surprised Yuliya.
The first half held nothing of interest, but the second half was different.
It was exactly the kind of answer Yuliya liked.
"Support him because you like him, eh? If I remember correctly, the princes in your faction are twins. Which one do you like?"
"That's a secret."
Fiene touched a finger to her nose and winked.
The charming gesture made Yuliya start drifting toward Fiene, but Linfia judged it dangerous and stepped between them.
"The negotiations are over, aren't they? Then we will take our leave!"
"What, you're leaving already? Stay a little longer. I'll serve you some special tea."
"As if we'd drink something when we don't know what's in it..."
This vampire woman might drug them with some strange concoction.
Taking every possible precaution, Linfia backed away inch by inch while shielding Fiene behind her.
Seeing Linfia like that, Yuliya sighed.
"You're wary of me now... What have I even done?"
"Why don't you ask yourself that?"
"Hmm... The answer I got was that I haven't done anything."
Linfia's cheek twitched at Yuliya's completely unapologetic reply, but Linfia knew there was no point trying to reason with this type.
For that reason, Linfia chose to leave as quickly as possible.
"We'll contact you if necessary. Until then, please refrain from contacting us."
"Okay-dokay."
"Well then, farewell, Yuliya-san."
"See ya!"
With that, Yuliya watched Linfia and Fiene leave.
After the two of them had gone, she slowly looked at her own palm.
Her hand was sweaty. Fiene's gaze had intimidated her.
What kind of man could put such intensity in that kind-hearted young lady's eyes?
With her curiosity thoroughly piqued, Yuliya climbed down from the desk.
And then.
"Hurry the preparations for opening. We need to show results as quickly as possible and pitch ourselves to Leonart's faction. Otherwise, I won't get to meet him."
Yuliya muttered as she gave instructions to the secretary waiting nearby.
If the man Fiene had feelings for turned out to be someone capable of satisfying her curiosity...
"Well, do you think he'll let me have a little taste?"
Yuliya licked her lips and bared a sharp canine tooth.
Seeing that, the secretary sighed.
There she went again with that bad habit.
The head of the company couldn't resist anything valuable—even when it was a person.
Hopefully, things would not become too complicated.
With that thought in mind, the elf secretary silently set to work on the preparations.