The Regret Novel Female Lead with Unbreakable Mentality Chapter 56

His aide’s hesitant demeanor was hardly reassuring. As Marquis Berto glared at him as if to grab his collar, he carefully began to speak.

 

“I heard Count Florette gifted her a small coffee house. But thanks to a stroke of luck, the Kalinos family has a monopoly on supplying potions to that coffee house, so apparently, she has made quite a lot of money.”

 

“So, she got lucky with that insignificant inheritance.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And now she’s blatantly disrespecting me, is that it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Perhaps I should kidnap and discard her, like trash.” Marquis Berto picked up a quill with a sly smile. “For the insignificant woman daring to leave my side, I’ll give her one last chance.” He began to jot down a note with the quill.

 

* * *

I’ll be rolling in money soon!

 

That morning, in the private room of the coffee house, there was a gathering between Doctor Giyet, the merchant guild leader Kimar, the former duke Neslan, and the Senate President Hennessy.

 

“As a doctor and pharmacist, I’m honored to be appointed to inspect these precious potions.”

 

Listening to the voices seeping from the private room, I chuckled. It was amusing to recall Giyet, who had entered the coffee house earlier, looking at the small ‘Potion Market’ set up next to it.

 

Originally, Giyet was Marquis Berto’s potion expert, helping him rise to success. The fact that he was now appointed as an advisor to the Kalinos family’s potion business was truly astonishing.

 

After Giyet, newly appointed as the inspector for the ‘Potion Market,’ left, I secretly watched as Kimar of the Kimar Merchant Guild received his own appointment in charge of potion sales.

 

“It’s quite fascinating that they’ve set up a small stall next to the coffee house, a place frequented by many, to exclusively supply potions.”

 

“If it’s the Kimar Merchant Guild that sold us the <Recording Magic Artifact>, we can certainly trust him with handling potion sales too.”

 

At Neslan’s comment, Hennessy chimed in. “Kimar suggested that we start not with professional medical potions, but dilute them as general tonics. Even Doctor Giyet agreed as well, so we created a tonic by diluting the high-grade potion to 1/100th strength!”

 

The potions from the current Kalinos family were so effective that people would react, ‘Is it really safe for everyone to consume?’ Thus, we need to make it feel more down-to-earth, like somewhere between R*d Bull and Vit*min W*ter, to lower the barrier for people.

 

They looked at Kimar with admiration.

 

“How did you come up with such an idea?”

 

“It’s truly fascinating. How did the duke come to know the ‘Kimar Merchant Group’?”

 

Kimar, who couldn’t lie, broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly presented the contract and said, “A-Anyway, let’s just sign here first.”

 

“Alright.”

 

The ‘Kimar Merchant Group’ was mine, and the ‘Potion Market’ next to the coffee house was also mine. With both potion distribution fees and booth usage fees, I was able to take a double cut in commissions, a truly wicked business move.

 

I briefly recalled Kimar, who handles my accounting tasks, expressing admiration.

 

“You’re truly the best at being an unscrupulous businessperson.”

 

“Hoho, what can I say?”

 

“You’re truly the worst kind of evil. I should learn from this.”

 

But honestly, considering all I’ve done so far, isn’t even triple this amount too little? Besides, if I didn’t secure exclusive contracts like this, there’s no telling when Marquis Berto might appear. I’m secretly protecting you while also collecting royalties while I’m at it.

 

It was when all the contracts were done. Feigning ignorance, I entered the private room and greeted them. “Good morning!”

 

Neslan gave me a subtle smile.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“Just because it feels like our family has become happier since you joined us.”

 

Wait, that’s not what I wanted.

 

Hennessy responded with an enthusiastic expression. “Right? They say a family flourishes when the right person joins. This feels exactly like that.”

 

This definitely wasn’t what I intended! Why did I go to such lengths to hide my identity while working as ‘Wot’?

 

Both of them shouldn’t be saying this!

 

With comments completely missing my intentions, Neslan slowly whispered. “…Hoho, by the way, the duke will be arriving soon. You’ve been waiting and missed him so much, haven’t you?”

 

Wait, when did I ever wait for Duke Kalinos?

 

As Hennessy gave a broad smile and Kimar blushed shyly, I recalled the things I’d done in the past.

 

“Giselle must have been so down because the duke isn’t here that Giselle ended up messing with a strange potion!”

 

“Since the duke isn’t around, Giselle doesn’t have anyone to link arms with!”

 

“Ah. Giselle is sleepwalking! Isn’t that silly? If only Giselle could be in the duke’s arms, the sleepwalking would just disappear!”

 

I only used Duke Kalinos as an excuse to try to help Neslan recover.

 

“This is truly gratifying.”

 

Watching Hennessy and Neslan exchange proud glances, I felt a sense of despair. Up to now, I’d made plenty of money, obtained the textbook, and kept breaking the original story by taking things from Marquis Berto. But in doing so, I had neglected my employer’s order to ‘cause chaos.’

 

Damn it. Is there a way to escalate this situation into a disaster? For now, there seemed to be no immediate solution. It looked like I would need to consult with Duke Kalinos.

 

* * *

Duke Kalinos returned to the mansion that afternoon. Unlike the calm Yuliana and Duke Kalinos, Count Teren was visibly excited.

 

“I’m so moved that Father has regained his health, Brother!”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Even after hearing of his father’s recovery, Duke Kalinos remained unexpectedly indifferent. He had no particular thoughts, only a simple judgment: ‘He chose survival.’ Well, in truth, he did have another thought.

 

“Who are you planning to persuade?”

 

“Well, I need to persuade my father-in-law to keep living”

 

She succeeded.

 

He himself had failed to save his older brother, but Giselle had succeeded in saving Neslan.

 

So Giselle’s philosophy of life has won. Thinking this, he felt a strange sensation as he fiddled with his teacup.

 

Yuliana Kalinos spoke softly. “Since he chose to live, the rest of his life is up to him. It seems his survival instinct isn’t weak, which suits the family.” Her expression was impassive. She neither rejoiced nor felt particularly sad about her husband’s recovery.

 

But Vientin knew. She’s a bit more excited than usual. Perhaps Yuliana also wished for her husband to continue living. Maybe she had quietly waited for him to recover on his own.

 

At that moment, Count Teren, who had been watching the subdued atmosphere, clapped his hands and spoke. “But you know, ever since Lady Giselle came into our family, it seems like good things have been happening, don’t you think?”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes! Doesn’t it seem like Lady Giselle is a real blessing? Haha.”

 

Duke Kalinos didn’t respond, but Yuliana murmured quietly.

 

“Yes. Strong, bold, and beautiful.”

 

“Gosh, Mother! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speak so highly of anyone.”

 

“…”

 

“It would be nice if we could stay together happily like this in the future.”

 

Duke Kalinos was bewildered by his mother’s unusual demeanor. I definitely told Giselle to stir up trouble, and she’s followed that order. But how did things turn out like this? He started to think their marriage contract might last longer than expected.

 

“By the way, Brother! The way Lady Giselle feels about you is just amazing! That devotion, the romance!”

 

“Romance?”

 

“Yes, Brother! The duchess was said to be looking for you in a very ‘romantic’ way!”

 

“Giselle was looking for me?”

 

“Yes. She apparently longed for your return, was gloomy in your absence, wanted to link arms with you, and wanted to be in your embrace. Just like a newlywed couple!”