CMOW Chapter 34

Seraphie delayed the sponsorship contract with Aidal to finalize the sponsorship contract with Bia first. After all, she wanted Bia to be the first person sponsored.

 

The sponsorship contract with Bia was successfully completed. Except for the brief delay caused by Bia crying tears of joy at Seraphie’s generous sponsorship terms, it was a very peaceful moment. Only after signing Bia’s sponsorship contract did Seraphie sign Aidal’s sponsorship contract.

 

News that Seraphie had started sponsoring two unknown artists spread quickly. This was thanks to Indira, the owner of the gallery. Indira was more than willing to spread the word to help Seraphie, who had upheld the gallery’s honor. Thanks to this, Seraphie’s reputation improved quite positively. And Seraphie quickly felt this change.

 

The first change was in the mail. The mailbox, once filled with threatening marriage proposals or superficial invitations to tea parties, began to receive more diverse letters. These were mostly invitations to gatherings related to the arts. Although these invitations still had the ulterior motive of establishing a connection with Seraphie, they were less burdensome than the previous ones. Moreover, the tone of these letters was slightly more respectful towards Seraphie.

 

And the second change was,

 

“I heard you’re sponsoring artists.”

 

It was on the day of the drilling for The Land Abandoned by God, which also marked the beginning of the first joint venture between the Vallidus and Felicia families. Orkis asked about Seraphie’s personal affairs for the first time. While preparing for the drilling operation, the two were waiting inside a carriage, watching the preparations.

 

“Who did you hear that from?” Seraphie asked with wide eyes.

 

Their conversations usually revolved around business. Although they occasionally strayed off-topic, it was rare for them to ask about each other’s personal lives.

 

“My father mentioned it,” Orkis replied, looking around at the temporary tents and piles of materials set up around the wasteland.

 

“The duke?” Seraphie’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected source. “…Did he criticize me?” She asked in a rather serious tone.

 

This time, Orkis’s eyebrows twitched as well. He was well aware of how Seraphie felt about his father, and he understood why she felt that way.

 

“My father may have a bit of a mischievous personality, but he’s not one to badmouth others behind their backs.”

 

“He does it right to their faces instead.” Seraphie looked at Orkis with eyes saltier than the sea.

 

“…Still, as his son,” Orkis confessed. “I can’t just outright call him a ‘b*stard with a personality beyond redemption.’”

 

“You’ve already said it all.” Seraphie chuckled, feeling a bit of sympathy for the duke. To hear such harsh words, even from his own son. But hearing such blunt words from Orkis made Seraphie feel a bit relieved.

 

A scary and ruthless man. Seraphie still got chills thinking about the day she rode alone in the carriage with Duke Felicia. If a similar situation were to happen again, she would rather knock herself out with a blunt object nearby.

 

“Still, doesn’t my father have a certain fondness to Countess?”

 

“You’re not very good at comforting people.”

 

For the first time, Seraphie wanted to hit Orkis.

 

“Is that what you call fondness?”

 

It was just a small favor for someone who brought unexpected profit. Moreover, the duke didn’t even bother to hide it. So Seraphie didn’t feel like badmouthing the duke.

 

When someone is that brazen, all you can do is be impressed. It would be exhausting to criticize someone with a vile personality.

 

“Still, the duke can live like that.”

 

Duke Felicia wasn’t respected and feared by the nobles for no reason. It was possible because he was such a shameless and ruthless person.

 

But to think he talked about me… Seraphie’s lips curled into a loose smile.

 

“The gathering the duke attended, it must be quite something, right?”

 

“No one there would dare to offend my father.” Orkis’s response implied that the gatherings Duke Felicia attended were composed of people worthy of facing and conversing with the duke. In other words, it was a gathering of the most influential figures in the empire.

 

For Seraphie to be mentioned positively in such a place was a very favorable change.

 

Not bad. In fact, it was very good.

 

As expected, money really is the best. With money, people didn’t look down on you, and with money, you could get sponsorships, which in turn improved your reputation. And the Felicia family, who had given Seraphie such a huge advance, was even more amazing.

 

“Come to think of it.”

 

Just as Seraphie wondered how far their influence had reached,

 

“Are you still receiving marriage proposals?”

 

“Marriage proposals?”

 

“From the Katio family.”

 

“Of course, they still come,” Seraphie answered nonchalantly, covering her mouth with a hand as she yawned briefly.

 

Marriage proposals from the Katio family had become a daily occurrence. She had even reached the point where she prepared rejection letters in advance to send them as soon as the proposals arrived.

 

“I see…”

 

Orkis nodded, looking as if they were seriously contemplating something. But Seraphie didn’t notice this. Instead,

 

“Still, I’m a bit happy that Lord is worried about me.”

 

“It’s only natural to worry about a business partner.”

 

“Oh dear, I would have been disappointed if we weren’t partners,” Seraphie teased, saying she might have missed out on this consideration side of Orkis.

 

Just as Orkis was about to smile,

 

“Countess Vallidus.”

 

“Sir Magician.”

 

Seraphie acknowledged the man approaching them. He was a magician from the Magic Tower with a pale and gaunt appearance.

 

“And you too, Lord Felicia.”

 

The magician in the green cloak greeted Orkis as well. But Orkis only received the greeting without returning it.

 

Goodness, such a temper. Seraphie clicked her tongue inwardly. It was enough to make her feel embarrassed just standing next to the magician, but the magician himself didn’t seem to mind. He was used to being treated this way by his superior, Peonia. After all, blood ties ran deep.

 

“Lady Peonia has finished preparing for the drilling operation.”

 

“Already?”

 

Seraphie looked out the window in surprise. People who had been working here and there in the vast wasteland were now heading outside one by one.

 

“Countess.” Orkis, who had gotten off the carriage first, extended a hand.

 

Seraphie took the hand and safely got off the carriage. In the meantime, Orkis placed a hat on Seraphie’s head, which he had brought from somewhere.

 

“Here.”

 

Seraphie fiddled with the brim of the hat on her head. Last time, it was a straw hat, but this time, it was made of a breathable fabric. And it looked expensive as well.

 

“I brought something to shield myself from the sun today though.”

 

“If it’s that parasol, don’t even think about taking it out,” Orkis said as he adjusted the hat on Seraphie’s head. “It would be worse than not using anything at all.”

 

The parasol was small, covered in lace for style, and didn’t provide much shade, which was an added complaint.

 

Seraphie pouted, feeling like a student scolded by a teacher for not doing homework properly. What was more annoying was that Orkis was right; the parasol was pretty but lacked functionality. It was even heavy, making Seraphie’s arm ache if held for too long. Well, whatever… What could Seraphie do when Orkis bought and gave things as he pleased?

 

“Thanks for the hat.” Still, it was a gift, so Seraphie expressed gratitude.

 

I should prepare a return gift too.

 

The only money Seraphie had at the moment was the advance payment from the Felicia family. But starting today, things would be different. Once the mining operation began in earnest, she would have money that belonged solely to herself.

 

“I’ll buy you a nice gift later.”

 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

 

“You don’t sound like you are though…?”

 

“It’s been a while since I received a gift, so I’m quite excited.”

 

Seraphie looked at Orkis with a sympathetic gaze.

 

“…I don’t think I said anything that warrants sympathy.”

 

The conversation between the two ahead was trivial and mundane.

 

Unbelievable…! Meanwhile, the magician following them couldn’t hide his shock. He was stunned to see Seraphie and Orkis getting along so well.

 

What did I just witness? He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand several times as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have. Eventually, the area around his eyes turned red.

 

There was only one reason for the magician’s surprise.

 

Is he really having a normal conversation with someone else? That Lord Felicia? This was almost like the world turning upside down.

 

Orkis was infamous in the Felicia family for his terrible temper and was known to detest forming relationships with others, even to the point of misanthropy. Orkis himself didn’t even deny these rumors. In fact, he minimized his interactions with people as much as possible. Yet here he was, having a normal conversation with Seraphie, even extending his hand first.

 

Is this what a business partner is like? Could it be that even the mighty Felicia softens when money is involved? The magician considered the most plausible explanation. But seeing Orkis crack a faint smile at Seraphie nearly made him faint.

 

* * *

The drilling work to create the entrance to the mine was handled by Peonia. Standing alone in the middle of the wasteland, Peonia tied her black hair up high and looked around. Her crimson eyes, slightly upturned, gave off a cold impression. Still, they were filled with confidence about the task she was about to undertake. In fact, Peonia’s red lips formed a relaxed curve.

 

“She’s really beautiful…!” Seraphie couldn’t take her eyes off Peonia. “Your sister is truly stunning.”

 

“At least she looks decent,” Orkis replied in a reluctant voice.

 

Wow, they look just like each other. Seraphie held back the urge to tease Orkis by saying that his face was just like his sister’s. It seemed that compliments between this sibling were like poison.

 

“Wow!”

 

“Look at that!”

 

At that moment, the crowd started cheering.

---

Hi, if you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~