♡ TL: Khadija SK
✧✧✧✧✧
“Are the documents you brought me today related to glass artifacts?”
“How could you…”
Hans attempted to rise and follow Annette towards the dining room, but he sat back down in shock.
His voice faded when Annette’s gaze turned to the bag he had brought with him.
The bag contained a report about a recent flood on Murata Island, famous for its glass artifacts, which had damaged workshops and reduced the production of handmade items.
How could she know the contents of the documents he hadn’t shown her yet?
Of course, since Murata Island was one of the regions under the Scheringen family’s domain, one of today’s objectives was to inform Annette about this issue and seek a solution together.
But the incident had occurred only recently.
It was highly suspicious that Annette, whose only source of news at the villa was Hans, spoke about the matter first.
Could it be that this woman was not truly a spy, a seer, or a fortune-teller?
“It’s an important region managed by the family. All the glassmakers on Murata are under the patronage of the Scheringen. So, the damage will be significant, but we can use it to our advantage.”
“Not only did production stop when the workshop was washed away by the flood, but all previously made products were also swept away. They say even the basic facilities are all down, so it would be faster to build new workshops there.”
“I know.”
“No, how could you know that…”
“Glass artifacts are one of the industries promoted by the Odentian Empire, so if we delay the restoration of the facility, trade will be affected. Right now, when the imperial family will request handmade gifts, we will need to find something to replace the glass artifacts.”
Hans looked at Annette curiously.
Murata Island was a kind of prison designed to train workers capable of handling glass, where the method of making glass and the artisans were kept on the island to prevent escape or the leakage of information.
Thanks to this, the Scheringen family had monopolized glass-making technology for a very long time, and Murata glass had become a precious luxury item, comparable to rare jewelry.
Due to its known value in other countries, it was also one of the Odentian Empire’s primary exports.
The emperor had a diplomat who would take Murata glass to him whenever there was an important international conference, to the point that a common belief emerged that negotiations would only succeed if discussed over a drink from this glass. Hence, Odentian diplomacy was also referred to as glass-cup diplomacy.
It was all thanks to the glassworks that the name Scheringen had become a symbol of the Odentian Empire.
Therefore, the flood on Murata Island was not just a simple natural disaster—it was about money and family honor.
One glass cup would not hinder the diplomatic movement of the Odentian Empire, but the Scheringen family would undergo a significant shift in such a special event.
If the delivery deadline for the glassware, which was supposed to be delivered in the coming days, was not met, the diplomatic gift would change, and the Scheringen name would gradually be erased from the imperial court.
Hans doubted that Annette could understand the entire situation and come up with a beneficial solution.
“At this point, Mr. Hans refuses to acknowledge me or my abilities, and that is unfortunate.”
“Frankly, what distinguishes you so that I can trust you, lady Annette?”
“I feel like I’ve heard you ask this question before… Why don’t you trust His Highness’s instincts and ignore your own?”
“That’s the most suspicious thing. What does His Highness see in you that makes him trust you to such a degree, by the God’s seek?”
“Well… Hasn’t His Highness made a bet recently?”
Annette asked cautiously.
Hans would never know, but in fact, this subject, not the one about Murata Island, was what Annette really wanted to ask about.
She wanted to know how much Theodore listened to her and accepted her words.
“How do you know that… Could it be that lady Annette was the one who provoked His Highness to make the bet? How did you know the identity of the winner?”
Hans was shocked.
Theodore’s victory in the mermaid statue bet had caused a huge stir in the capital, Laider, a few days ago.
The mermaid statue itself had been a topic of debate, but since it was Theodore’s first victory over Hugo, rumors had spread like wildfire.
Everyone wondered where Theodore got his information and how he discovered the unknown artist.
Hans was also curious about the source of this information.
To be honest, Hans had also expected Theodore to lose and thought he was wasting his money on worthless things.
This was because it had always been that way.
Even on the day the mermaid statue was unveiled, Theodore continued talking about the gods and all those crazy things that didn’t suit his personality for a long time.
Annette, whether she was aware of such a surprise or not, kept asking questions, ignoring Hans’s reaction.
“Are you satisfied with your weekly wage increase?”
“Did the Grand Duchess really convince His Highness to raise my salary? I couldn’t believe it when…”
“Was I just acknowledged as the Grand Duchess? I had been wondering whether I should talk to His Highness about you, Mr. Hans, but it seems I made the right choice by telling him to take care of you.”
Annette smiled lightly.
It was an ordinary smile compared to the terrifying nature of her statements.
Hans felt embarrassed by Annette’s teasing, and his cheeks burned red.
* * *
Theodore stared at Hans, who had returned to Laider and was nervously eating for a while.
Although Hans was more emotional than Theodore and Annette, he wasn’t mature enough to control his nerves in front of others.
The fact that Hans was very hot-tempered was a problem that emerged whenever Theodore was mocked or compared to the Crown Prince.
But now, this man…
“What are you so upset about?”
“The plan for the restoration of Murata Island, which I reported to Her Highness the Grand Duchess, is a major issue.”
The man who had only called Annette “lady” a few days ago now naturally referred to her as “Grand Duchess.”
Of course, he didn’t realize he had done so either.
‘That woman has finally succeeded in winning him over.’
Even without Theodore’s intervention, Annette had easily won Hans’s loyalty.
With the naming issue resolved, it was time to address the next, seemingly insoluble problem.
“Do you know what Her Highness the Grand Duchess said? Let’s abandon the island!”
The flood damage on Murata Island was catastrophic.
The factory’s central furnace had sunk underwater, and all sorts of furniture and machinery were washed away.
Most importantly, the greatest loss was that some artisans had sustained permanent disabilities.
It would take a long time and a lot of money for the island to return to its former glory.
In response, Annette suggested to Hans that they should abandon the island.
Her answer was somewhat provocative.
This year’s flood on Murata Island had been unusual, but it was an annual event that kept repeating.
Restoration wasn’t a fundamental solution, as the disaster would happen again due to the island’s low terrain, which was below sea level.
Therefore, Annette’s opinion was that they should instead build a new factory off the island and establish an institution to teach glass craftsmanship.
It was a wise decision, but it was hard for Hans to accept that the heir of Marquis Scheringen had come to it.
“What does the Grand Duchess think about this? Why does she want to abandon Murata Island?”
The reason the Scheringen family had chosen the island instead of nearby land on the mainland was to prevent the emergence of new artisans capable of handling glass production.
Artisans were not allowed to leave the island without permission and were under constant, tight surveillance.
It was an island made to protect the rarity of glass, but now Annette was trying to dismantle that system.
She wouldn’t imprison the artisans anymore but would establish schools to train young people in glassmaking.
“The value of glass will decrease, but it will bring us money.”
Theodore tapped his finger on the wood of his desk with a rhythm resembling a steady metronome.
After completing a brief calculation in his head, he arrived at the conclusion of Annette’s method.
Building a school to train individuals would increase glass production in the long run, with the number of technicians growing significantly, but the rarity would diminish.
However, the Scheringen name would become widely known across the empire.
“Up until now, Murata Island glass could be assessed as the best in the world, but now it will be known that the Scheringen family is the one who taught all the glassmakers across the empire this craft, and they will become the official patron of the glass industry worldwide.”
It seemed that the monopoly over glassmaking was declining, but in reality, the market’s monopolistic scope would expand.
When the unit price dropped due to increased production, commoners, not just nobles, would be able to buy glass as well.
The common people would spend their extra money on glass if they believed they could own something that had previously been exclusive to aristocrats.
As a result, Annette would make money, and the reputation of the family would prosper.
“How did Annette Scheringen come up with such an idea, by God’s seek!”
“So, you don’t like her idea?”
“It’s brilliant! I really like it, and that’s exactly why it’s such a big problem. Damn it… Even the craftsman who lost his arm will be able to use his skills until the day he dies by becoming an instructor at an educational institution, and the art of Morata Island will become widely known! Even if the island disappears, the name of the Scheringen family will live on forever!”
Hans was angry because Annette had given him a way to gain recognition.
No matter how much he thought about it, this was not something a typical aristocratic girl would think of.
The idea of freeing craftsmen and passing down their skills to everyone couldn’t have come from the mind of a high-ranking aristocrat like her.
Aren’t the nobles the ones who hide what they have and exploit it, even if it means paying dearly for it?
Annette was also an aristocratic girl, and this was the way the Scheringen family had monopolized the glassmaking technique until now.
Why would such a brilliant idea occur to the mind of a frivolous woman who constantly wandered around parties with an empty head?
If she continued like this, it would be the reason Hans would have to acknowledge her and follow her orders as the Grand Duchess of the Cleist family.
It was an unbearable insult for Hans to admit that Annette, whom he had considered nothing more than a fool, was now the Grand Duchess.
Theodore thought as he looked at Hans, who couldn’t control his anger.
Either Annette had developed to the point where she could now see the flow of events throughout the empire and use them freely to her advantage, or she was exceptionally talented or perhaps educated in this field.
Whatever the reason, what mattered was the result.
It was a world foreign to her, one she had only read about in a few books in a small villa, yet she had now become someone capable of providing a solution to a problem.
Theodore wondered how freely the chess pieces moved in her mind.
Annette might move the aristocrats of Odentia, as well as Theodore himself, to places they couldn’t even imagine.
Her chess piece wandered all over the office during the game, not just on the chessboard.
Theodore realized there was no need to waste time any longer.
Then he spoke to Hans, who was still fuming with anger.
“Hans, we need to speed up our preparations. It’s time to bring the Grand Duchess home.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
“It’s difficult for me to bring her this week due to my busy schedule. I’ll try to make time as soon as possible to go…”
“I will bring her here myself.”
“Will you go to bring her yourself, Your Highness?”
Hans widened his eyes in shock.
He had never imagined in his life that Theodore would personally go to fetch someone.
Theodore ignored Hans’ surprised reaction and stood up.
Today’s newspaper was lying on the table beside him.
Theodore had no trouble predicting the headlines that would grace the paper in a few days.
[The Return of Annette Scheringen.]
✧✧✧✧✧
I like Annette’s carefree confidence) thanks for chapters))