When reading it as a novel, she had cheered that the protagonist was making good money and was competent, but seeing the actual situation, it was extremely serious.

“I shouldn’t say this, but honestly, things were better before Her Highness’s shop opened. Back then, there was a variety of food.”

Millia continued in a whisper.

“That shop over there used to make really delicious canapés. But now they say they’re closing down.”

Seeing Millia licking her lips regretfully, Reibella became curious. How delicious could they be to make her react like that?

“Shall we go see?”

“Please go ahead! I’ll wait in line at the princess’s shop. I’ve tried their food many times already.”

“Then I’ll buy some canapés. Millia, wait here and buy all the different types of desserts.”

“Yes!”

As Reibella took the lead with her purpose set, Charlotte stuck close beside her. Charlotte’s eyes grew even sharper as she surveyed their surroundings.

‘Completely ruined.’

On the way to the shop Millia recommended, there were several other dessert shops—some selling nearly identical menus, while one or two stood completely empty.

The recommended shop was also in poor condition. They had products but no customers, giving off an atmosphere of impending bankruptcy from the entrance.

“The interior is elegant.”

It was a shop that felt somewhat old-fashioned, yet also had a classic ambiance. It seemed like the kind of place that would attract quite a few people who appreciated its style.

“The canapés are delicious, Miss.”

Charlotte, who had finished making the purchase, tried one first and then offered it to Reibella. As she put the beautifully fruit-decorated canapé in her mouth, her expression naturally softened.

“This is really delicious. I should buy some to take back. Royan would like it. And the Du…… and the knights too!”

“Let’s buy plenty, Miss.”

“Yes.”

She ordered several other desserts as well, and it was certainly a place worthy of Millia’s recommendation. Everything was so delicious that it was truly a shame to see it going out of business.

“What do people who quit their jobs usually do for a living?”

“I’ll ask the shop owner. It would be troublesome if you melt from curiosity.”

“No, it’s fine……”

She tried to say it was fine, but Charlotte’s actions were much quicker. In an instant, she brought the shop owner and pastry chef before Reibella.

The man in his mid-50s, who had been suddenly dragged over, hid his flour-covered hands and answered Reibella’s question with a bewildered expression.

“I’m planning to return to my hometown and farm.”

“Farming?”

“I need to make a living somehow.”

A pastry chef who would suddenly turn to farming. Both were admirable professions, but knowing it was an unwanted closure made it feel regrettable.

“What about opening a shop in the countryside?”

“I’ve thought about opening a bakery, but it’s not easy to make a living. I’ve decided I want to live a relaxed life now.”

Come to think of it, he was someone who had been doing business with nobles and wealthy merchants. For rural commoners, he might think the earnings wouldn’t be satisfactory.

‘This is certainly concerning.’

Right now it was just a problem with dessert shops, but the princess’s business was set to grow enormously in the future. From clothing to trading companies, and eventually even treating patients after becoming a saintess. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the entire Empire would sway according to the princess’s movements.

Naturally, similar situations would arise in other fields as well. All businesses in Vicheravali territory were at risk.

‘Is there no way to handle this?’

She had come out with a light heart, but it was turning into a day of deepening concerns.

* * *

“I want to hold a fair.”

The next day, Reibella visited the Duke and handed him a thin document as she spoke.

The Duke of Vicheravali skimmed through the document Reibella had presented, then smiled as if impressed and passed it to Henan. Henan also quickly went through the document and asked Reibella with sparkling eyes.

“How did you come up with this idea?”

“Because I think private businesses targeting nobles shouldn’t fail.”

Businesses targeting nobles needed to thrive for the territory’s residents to enjoy prosperity alongside them. The wealthy would spend their money, pay taxes, and those taxes would ultimately lead to welfare for the territory’s residents.

Moreover, when shops went bankrupt, the residents lost their jobs, naturally increasing unemployment rates and the number of people living in poverty.

For the Duke managing the territory, if collecting taxes became difficult, maintaining good welfare conditions would be impossible. Then some people would leave the territory, further reducing tax revenue—creating a vicious cycle in many ways.

‘If the princess’s business grows larger, the losses will become even greater.’

While Vicheravali wouldn’t fail since it had diversified interests, territories whose main businesses overlapped with the princess’s would naturally become dependent on taxes from the princess’s businesses. It was a natural progression for the imperial family’s influence to strengthen within the territory.

In reality, it meant money and power were accumulating even more with the princess, who already had more than enough.

“Business is done by individuals, but I think the lord should appropriately manage it when necessary.”

“Is the fair for that purpose?”

Reibella nodded at Henan’s question.

“Usually, fairs are held to showcase expensive, rare items or new products that haven’t appeared before, but there’s no rule saying we can’t do it for desserts, right?”

“That’s true. It would be refreshing. Quite a few nobles will be visiting Louvindisi for the young master’s birthday banquet.”

That was exactly what Reibella was aiming for.

As rumors about the mana stone mine had spread widely, most nobles would try to attend Royan’s birthday banquet. Since they couldn’t enter the banquet alone, they would surely bring someone along—most likely their wives or children.

While those who came for business would be busy, their companions would likely be bored with their free time. If they spread rumors about the dessert fair to target these people, they would undoubtedly want to check it out at least once.

There would certainly be people among them who would want to be the first to claim anything new and unusual.

“This won’t solve the problem all at once, but it can pour water on an overheating situation.”

Even if the fair was lucky enough to be a great success, things couldn’t return to how they were before the princess’s shop opened. Since that shop would never fail anyway, coexistence was the only answer.

The purpose of this fair was to let everyone know that there wasn’t just ‘one’ choice but ‘multiple’ options.

If people began to perceive existing things not as ‘boring’ but as ‘consistently good,’ they wouldn’t fanatically seek out just one place like before.

“It’s a good idea. For you to already be so concerned about territory affairs… I can see that Felicity’s reputation wasn’t established without reason.”

“She’s my daughter now.”

The Duke of Vicheravali, who had been silently listening to their conversation, suddenly interjected and glared at Henan, who closed his mouth tightly with an expression that suggested he had made a mistake. Then he asked Reibella again.

“How do you plan to proceed?”

“Well, time is tight, but I think we should do things in order, so first I plan to ask dessert shops if they’re interested in participating. No matter how much I want it, it won’t work without any participants. If possible, I want to have a time where we taste everything and provide improvement points to each dessert shop.”

To attract participation, she planned to promote that the castle’s chefs, who were among the best, would taste the desserts and provide feedback on areas for improvement.

To survive against the princess’s powerful desserts, they needed to be both popular and have distinct individuality. She intended to suggest improvements that would maximize their strengths.

“However, since I’m still young and have just become part of Vicheravali, I feel uncomfortable doing this under my name…… Would it be alright if I borrowed Henan’s name?”

“……My name?”

“Yes, Henan is the Duke’s aide, so the territory’s residents trust you.”

As she looked at him with sparkling eyes, Henan nodded willingly.

“Very well. It would be my honor.”

“Thank you, Henan. I’ll do my best not to tarnish your name. I look forward to working with you!”

“In the future as well……?”

She didn’t plan to deal with just the dessert business. Since things had come to this, and she knew what businesses the princess would enter, she intended to prepare for all of them. To prevent the Vicheravali duchy from falling into the imperial family’s grasp. She wanted to cultivate enough self-sufficiency to not lose to the princess.

She believed that was the first step for everyone to survive together.