Chapter 8
The only person who treated him kindly in the Muton Ducal Castle, where everyone else sought to exploit him, was the Duchess.
‘Ron, you’re a child destined for greatness.’
‘M-me?’
‘Of course. I’ve never met a child as clever and smart as you. Someday, I might even need your help.’
‘Really? If that happens, I’ll definitely help you. I promise I will!’
‘Thank you. Just hearing that makes me feel reassured.’
Priscilla Muton had truly been a kind and wonderful person. When everyone else opposed Ron’s independence, she secretly supported him from behind the scenes.
For that kindness, he had always wanted to work for her at least once in his life.
But…
‘She passed away under tragic circumstances.’
There was no longer any way to repay her kindness.
For that reason, he couldn’t, in good conscience, dump his failing trading company on her niece.
“She overestimated me. I’m not as talented as she thought. I wasn’t bad when I worked at the Muton Trading Company, but once I became independent, my flaws were quickly exposed.”
A deep shadow passed over Ron’s face.
When he left the Muton Trading Company, they hurled all kinds of curses at him.
Ungrateful wretch, you think you’re so great, but you’re nothing on your own, you only succeeded because of the ducal house’s power—you won’t accomplish anything by yourself…
At first, Ron denied their words and worked hard to prove them wrong.
But strangely, contracts would fall through, clients would change their minds and disappear, or vital goods would be stolen—disasters kept happening.
Repeated failures eroded Ron’s self-confidence. He began to wonder if the talent he’d shown at the Muton Trading Company was only possible because of the duchy’s influence.
‘I was never more than this.’
Faced with a grim reality, his passion for business dwindled, and his dream of becoming as successful as his grandfather faded.
His personality grew cynical and pessimistic.
The once optimistic young man, who believed tomorrow would bring a better future, now helplessly watched his trading company edge toward collapse and lamented his fate.
Even when customers came, he felt no joy and had no expectations.
At least, until today.
“My trading company and I are doomed anyway. No, it’s as good as dead already.”
“So, do you want to return to the Muton Trading Company?”
Franz, quietly observing Ron’s self-deprecation, asked the question. Ron flinched.
“…I don’t want to, but if I’m cornered, who knows what I might do? Turns out, I’m better suited to working under someone else.”
He had fled from the Muton Trading Company after enduring overwork and exploitation, but working alone wasn’t much easier.
He’d even started to think that working under someone might be less stressful and more comfortable.
“In that case, work under us.”
Claire leaned over the desk between them, placing her hand on it.
Her lively, spring-green eyes met Ron’s with confidence.
“I believe you’re talented, and I don’t want you to go back to the Muton Trading Company.”
“Why?”
“Because after all the trouble I went through to find you, I don’t want someone else benefiting from your skills.”
Claire shrugged lightly. Ron stared at her, bewildered.
How could she rate him so highly when she barely knew him…?
Suddenly, he remembered his first meeting with Priscilla.
On the deck of a ship, she had reached out a hand to help a young boy who had fallen.
Claire was both similar and different from her. It wasn’t just the length of her hair—Claire’s eyes were much…
‘Full of life.’
There was a trustworthiness in those eyes that he couldn’t quite explain.
If his feelings toward Priscilla were about repaying a debt of kindness, Claire felt like someone who could offer him something more.
Grasping her hand felt like it might lead him somewhere new. Ron straightened up and gazed firmly at Claire.
“…You might regret this later.”
“Never. I believe you’re destined for greatness.”
“Is that so? Hearing that again really makes me feel good.”
Ron smiled faintly, tinged with nostalgia.
Perhaps, Priscilla had sent her niece to repay her kindness in his place.
In the end, Ron decided to work under the Ravellos.
Claire stepped out of the office with a cheerful expression.
Franz glanced down at her and chuckled lightly.
“You look overjoyed, Claire.”
“Of course! Muton worked so hard to get Ron back, and I scouted him instead.”
As Priscilla, she hadn’t been able to actively oppose their underhanded schemes.
She hadn’t had the power to do so.
Even secretly supporting Ron when he became independent had been difficult and risky.
“The Muton Dukes were never capable of handling Ron. Especially Brian Muton—his heart’s as small as a grain of sand.”
Claire believed in Ron’s talent and his hidden connections.
The Muton Dukes’ interference had been the only obstacle. Many of Arthur Fervin’s old clients still supported Ron.
Once he started running his business properly, there were plenty of people ready to trade with him.
Although the Muton Dukes refused to acknowledge it, Claire knew well how much they had benefitted from him.
“Our trading company will definitely succeed.”
***
Ronald Trading Company was renamed Minerva Trading Company and started anew.
“The trading company my grandfather ran was called Scorpio. I’ll do my best to make Minerva Trading Company even more successful.”
Ron was determined not to let Claire’s trust in him go to waste.
The lifeless eyes she had seen when she first entered the trading company were gone, replaced by the passionate spark of his former self.
Claire provided him with 20 million gold and made a suggestion.
“How about cosmetics for your first venture?”
“Cosmetics? What exactly are you suggesting?”
“You know the cream sold by the Divar Trading Company, right?”
“Yes, but wasn’t that what led to Divar’s downfall?”
Divar Trading Company was once renowned for its cosmetics. However, its ambitious new product, Galaxy Cream, became controversial late last year and ultimately led to their closure.
Galaxy Cream promised to improve skin texture and eliminate acne and blemishes with just one application.
Despite its high price of 50 gold per jar, it sold out as people clamored to buy it…
But earlier this year, users began experiencing severe skin issues and rashes, leading to an enormous backlash.
One of the victims was the Empress herself, prompting an immediate and thorough investigation into Divar.
The company eventually confessed that the cream’s original main ingredient was Blue trut, known for its star-like luster. However, due to its rarity and high cost, they substituted it with Red True Root, which absorbed moonlight instead of starlight.
Using an ingredient inconsistent with their research had caused the adverse effects.
“We’ll make it a success.”
Since reading the detailed report on Divar Trading Company in the newspaper, Claire had been determined to capitalize on this opportunity. It might seem a bit opportunistic, but she was ready to make it work.
After all, she had the power to revive even extinct plants.
“But how do you plan to obtain Blue trut, which is nearly extinct…?”
“I’ve already got it.”
Claire pulled a glass bottle from her bag. It was filled with the roots of a plant glowing a mystical teal as though dusted with white powder.
She had painstakingly cultivated Blue trut, which absorbed starlight, using a botanical guide.
“How did you manage to find that?”
“My father once used it for research long ago, so I know how to acquire it.”
Claire gave a plausible explanation. Franz had indeed worked with Blue trut in the past, so it wasn’t entirely a lie.
Ron was amazed but also expressed some concern.
“Even if we have past research, the results might not meet expectations.”
“Or they might exceed them. If you only focus on the negatives, you’ll never achieve anything. Blue trut has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which makes it an excellent ingredient for cosmetics.”
Claire added that its pure composition made it suitable for all skin types.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
As he listened, Ron gradually became convinced. His tired eyes began to sparkle with excitement.
“Besides, we have the perfect conditions to address Divar’s failure. We’ve got a magician who can source the genuine ingredients and a merchant who can strategically sell the product.”
Claire smiled and gestured toward Ron. Her words, filled with trust, made him blush slightly.
There’s no better feeling than having someone recognize your abilities.
“So, what do you think? Are you ready to take on the challenge?”
“Yes. What do you need me to do?”
“I heard that when Divar closed, their researchers scattered. Can you recruit a few of them?”
“Understood.”
Ron nodded without hesitation.
He quickly gathered former researchers from Divar Trading Company. Using their previous data, they began developing the Starlight Cream.
Surprisingly, the person who took the lead instead of Ron was…
“Blue trut’s effects are maximized when steeped in hot water rather than cold. I’ve used it in research before, so I know this well.”
…Franz.
As a magician, his specialty lay in crafting. Many referred to him as not only an eccentric magician but also an expert in magical concoctions.
While cosmetics differed from magical potions, they shared similarities in combining and utilizing various ingredients.
“Ahem. If you need my help, feel free to ask anytime. I, uh… I’m always available…”
Having lived alone for so long, Franz wasn’t used to working with others, but he made an extreme effort at sociability for Claire’s sake.
Though his voice trembled—quite a lot, actually—his abilities were beyond question.
He led the research team and completed the first batch of samples within a week.
Then he and Claire brought them to Ron.
“Here, Ron. This is the Starlight Cream sample.”
The cream, contained in a transparent jar, shimmered with a mystical beauty, like a swirling sky of clouds and stars.
Ron, seeing it, reacted like a child seeing something magical for the first time.
“Wow, it’s… it’s really a cream…”
“We even ran a preliminary test, and there were no issues. Yesterday, Franz—uh, my dad—applied it to just his right hand, and the difference from his left hand was clear.”
“Take a look for yourself.”
Franz extended his hands. His right hand was soft and hydrated, like it was brimming with moisture, while his left hand was pale and dry.
Ron studied the hands with a fascinated expression as Franz added,
“For now, we’ve mostly replicated the Galaxy Cream’s formula, but if we add herbs that complement Blue trut, the effects will improve even further.”
“That makes sense… If we can sell it well, it could be hugely successful.”
Ron’s eyes sparkled like a treasure hunter discovering gold.
Claire recognized that glint in his eyes as the look he got when he “smelled money.”
“So, did you come up with a good idea?”
—
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