Marked as the Tyrant's Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 32

***

“While Arinel went to the palace to meet the Emperor, Adam was busy preparing for the red sugar beet tasting event, setting up stalls in the square in advance.

‘My trampled honor.’

Adam shook his head to dispel the rising gloom as he thought of the merchants in the market who had treated him like the scum of the earth.

‘Recovery is not far off now!’

Those who insulted him would come to regret it once they learn how delicious the red sugar beets are – the very ones the young lady cherishes.

“…Ahem.”

Adam cleared his throat again and regained his cool composure.

Just then, someone’s feet stopped in front of Adam.

There were so many people passing through the square that he didn’t pay attention, but the person spoke to Adam first.

“Hang it a bit lower.”

“…”

Adam raised his body, which had been bent over hanging the banner, at those words. And his eyes met with the man who had spoken.

As soon as he saw the man, his face stiffened in surprise.

He had seen his face once when serving the Marquis long ago.

It had been a very long time ago, but he couldn’t forget the cold intimidation he felt the moment he encountered him.

The man raised his coldly gleaming glasses with his white-gloved hand and moved his lips.

“Products need to be in clear view to attract attention, and attention is needed to draw crowds.”

“Du… Du…”

Looking at Adam, who was too surprised to speak properly, he raised his white-gloved index finger to his lips.

“Shh!”

“Y-Yes, yes!”

After silencing him, he continued speaking.

“Madam Alens’s efforts alone were not enough to improve the perception of red sugar beets, so I lent a hand.”

“…”

“I spread rumors that it makes weak children strong and is good for men’s vitality.”

“…Ah!”

Adam’s eyes wavered.

“Purchasing power is inherently greatest among women, so when trying to sell something, one must understand what the target audience needs.”

He smoothly ran his hand, gloved in spotless white, over the stall.

Then he tapped it firmly with his fingertips.

“The material isn’t sturdy enough for glass bottles, so you’ll need to reinforce it with steel plates. To avoid looking shoddy from the first moment you present the product to the public, you see.”

“Y-Yes.”

Adam quickly took out paper from his shirt and started writing down what he had just said.

Click, click.

The sound of expensive high-quality shoes was heard.

The man with long brown hair tied in a single braid also tapped the pillars of the stall.

“This doesn’t seem to need more reinforcement.”

“Yes!”

“Did you use yuzu paper for the tasting cups?”

“No. Yuzu paper was too stiff, so I was looking into paulownia paper.”

“Wrong choice. Paulownia paper has a nice soft texture, but it gets soggy quickly when food is put in. Above all, its strong distinctive scent can affect the taste of the samples. Yuzu paper is better.”

“Oh, I see. I’ll change it right away.”

He was able to grasp all the information just by looking and even pointed out the flaws and how to replace them. As expected of the empire’s greatest mind.

“And.”

He reached out and took the paper and pen Adam was using.

Then he drew two lines with the pen on one of the sentences Adam had written.

To the puzzled Adam, he said,”Keep it a secret that I was here.”

“But Duke Siegfried, Your Grace, why…”

“That child doesn’t know who I am yet.”

The Iron-blooded Finance Minister, Duke Siegfried. He pushed up his glasses again.

The reflected sunlight suddenly made his eyes behind the glasses invisible.

“Moreover, I’m officially in charge of a very important task right now. It’s about to be finished, but until then, I intend not to reveal my identity.”

“Ah…”

“Besides, the protagonist of every play should appear at the climax. You need to make a very strong impression to stand out among the products.”

Adam couldn’t understand what Duke Siegfried was saying, but he nodded dazedly.

In any case, the advice he had given today seemed like it would be of great help in assisting with the preparation of Arinel’s business.

***

“Arinel won again!”

“Yay!”

After playing ball excitedly with even a goal post set up, I hugged the ball and trotted over to Parmes.

“Oh, there’s something I haven’t told you, Uncle. After everyone left, I made a good friend in Galnem village.”

I told Parmes, remembering Mas.

If it hadn’t been for Mas during that year I spent alone in the empty village, I might have spent every day crying with puffy eyes from loneliness.

“A friend?”

“Yes, a friend wearing a white mask. I gave him a name. Mas… I don’t know his age or real name, but he was there for me so I wasn’t lonely. If I get the chance, I’ll introduce him to Your Majesty!”

There are no secrets I can’t tell Uncle Zimmer.

As he watched me talking about my precious friend, a sudden joy flickered in Parmes’s eyes.

“I see. A friend of Arinel’s, I’m really looking forward to it. Introduce me later.”

Unlike Parmes who was usually curious about everything about me, he didn’t ask more about Mas.

And he made a different suggestion.

“Well then, Arinel, if you’re bored with playing ball, shall we go inside? I’ve prepared the best dessert for you. And… some jewelry that would suit Arinel, and a necklace… hmm…”

Parmes, who had handed the ball to an attendant, started listing things he wanted to give me.

He always tried to send something with me whenever I visited the palace.

“You know, Your Majesty. I’m always grateful for the gifts, but…”

I walked alongside Parmes in the corridor.

I could feel him walking half a beat slower to match my small stride.

“Don’t you think it’s better not to overdo it?!”

“Overdo it?”

“I mean, don’t use expensive things and save them well. There might be difficult times later, and public sentiment might turn bad. People shouldn’t criticize that the Emperor’s finances are in danger because he’s spending too much money on a little kid like Arinel…”

“…Arinel.”

Parmes stopped abruptly.

“Are you… worried about me…?”

I smiled awkwardly at Parmes who seemed touched as he looked at me.

To be honest, it was less personal concern and more a hope that Parmes wouldn’t become the tyrant from the original story.

The Parmes I had read about in the original story was a villainous tyrant who squandered finances as he pleased and even exploited the people.

He seems like a completely different person when dealing with me, but…

Just looking at the nobles’ fearful gazes towards Parmes at the masquerade ball last time, you never know what might happen!

“Arinel’s warm heart always moves me.”

***

“Phew, Adam. Are you ready?”

“Everything is perfect, Miss Arinel.”

The next morning, I stretched my arms wide, breathing in the clear air.

There’s a saying that you should row when the tide comes in.

Thanks to Madam Alens, the sweet flavor of red sugar beets that had been spreading by word of mouth among noble ladies has now, they say, spread more widely to a broader range of classes.

Although unintended and without scientific basis, rumors have been circulating that red sugar beets are good for virility and brain development, and I hear that commoners have been looking for red sugar beets these days.

And what we’ve prepared today.

Something that will contribute to the popularization of red sugar beets to help overcome the famine, attract people’s attention, and be of great help to the business we’re about to start…

It was a ‘tasting event’!

Adam, wearing rubber gloves, was stirring pickled sugar beet salad in a container.

This was to ensure that the spices enhancing the sweet taste were well absorbed into the sugar beet pieces.

Newly hired employees in hygienic clothing were also busy moving sugar beet containers.

A tent for today’s event was prepared in the square.

“What’s that?”

“It smells sweet over there.”

“Sniff, sniff, you’re right.”

I could see a child and mother passing by nearby, tilting their heads curiously.”