Chapter 78

# 78

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At those words, everyone except Nabiya wore a puzzled expression.

A travel bag all of a sudden?

"At this time of year...?"

Winter was approaching, and not only would social activities cease, but the weather would become harsh and the roads would be covered in snow, reducing the number of travelers.

To make a travel bag in such a situation?

'Ah, is she preparing to sell it next spring?'

If that was the case, it made sense.

Nabiya smiled as if to say that it was understandable for them to be surprised.

"Yes. To quickly get on board with the upcoming successful business... In fact, we should have prepared earlier, but it's not too late now."

"Get on board with a successful business? What do you mean by that?"

Not only Schleman, but everyone present found it hard to understand Nabiya's thoughts.

What kind of business could be successful, and how was it related to a travel bag?

Nabiya gave them the answer.

"Among the nobles, a new hobby called 'train travel' will soon become very popular, following reading clubs and coffee houses."

At this, Schleman and Margaret exchanged glances.

They were not particularly well-informed about the trends in high society or the latest cultural developments.

After all, Schleman was 63 years old, and Margaret was 58, both having retired from high society long ago.

Margaret, who had never been a chaperone or a lady's companion, was just as unaware of such news as Schleman.

"Currently, the magic train is at a level where it's almost embarrassing to say it's commercialized."

However, with only about twenty passengers and only one round trip per day, 'train travel' was still a highly notable affair.

Anyone with even a slight interest in economics or trends could see its potential.

"What kind of scene do you imagine for the ladies' travel?"

Schleman stroked his beard, lost in thought.

The train platform.

Ladies in their luxurious fur coats.

Servants struggling to carry trunks filled with dozens of dresses.

Margaret let out a voice of amazement, as if something had just occurred to her.

"Ladies show off their husbands' wealth by how many outfits they change into in a day, so they would need a lot of travel bags."

Nabiya nodded in agreement and added to the explanation.

"The best packer I know is very skilled at packing and is a talented woodworker who can make bags according to their purpose."

This person had gained a reputation as a packer for influential ladies and eventually became the personal packer for Queen Diana.

Nabiya finished her drawing.

It was indeed a trunk of a shape that had never been seen before.

There was a reason she could draw the trunk so accurately: she had already conducted this business several times.

"The name is Ricardo. Please find a young woodworker from the Poplar Woodworkers' Guild. He is the key to this business."

She then handed over the drawing of the trunk she had made.

"He will agree immediately when he sees this."

The three of them had already gathered around to admire the trunk Nabiya had drawn. The drawing also included explanations.

"Made of canvas instead of leather, what does that mean?"

"Canvas is the fabric used for oil paintings. When treated with glue, it becomes waterproof."

When Nabiya explained this, Minerva, who had knowledge in this area, immediately understood.

"Moreover, it will be very light...!"

"Exactly. There's a weight limit for luggage on the train, so the heavier the bag, the less luggage you can bring."

Nobles typically went on train trips for at least two weeks, usually a month.

Just the clothes, jewelry, hats, and shoes needed for such a trip would be a significant amount of luggage.

"So, the wood frame of the bag is exposed because it's made of fabric."

'How does Miss come up with such ideas? She must be a genius...!'

Minerva was completely captivated by the travel bag, which was not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly practical.

Schleman, in fact, had no talent for business.

What he knew how to do was politics or fighting.

That's why, while Nabiya's idea sounded quite appealing, he was still unsure if a single bag could really make money.

"It seems like a good idea, but to start such a business, you need to set up a workshop and hire workers. You also need to consider the cost of raw materials."

Schleman, forgetting that he was talking to a child, suddenly wondered if Nabiya could understand all of this.

While everything he had said so far was not something a child would normally say, it still seemed out of the ordinary.

Nabiya nodded as if it was a natural question, showing no sign of having thought about it.

"In the beginning, we'll proceed with custom orders. Once word of mouth spreads and we have a certain number of orders, we can run the workshop more stably."

'Of course, there will be a surge of orders from the start, so we need to be prepared.'

This was a business that could not fail as long as the magic train was in operation.

Schleman, thinking that custom orders would indeed be less risky and thus acceptable, felt relieved. At that moment, Nabiya glanced at Minerva.

'The nightgowns and shoes Minerva made are of very high quality.'

This level of design and craftsmanship was something she had never seen outside of the Ancier Boutique.

No, in terms of freshness, the two nightgowns Minerva made were far ahead.

'This isn't just about riding the wave of capitalism spreading in the era.'

Packer, dress designer.

These were the outsiders who could most easily penetrate the daily lives of the nobility.

'Through them, we can naturally gather information.'

So, if it became popular, it would be a business that would bring both money and information to Esselred.

While Minerva's potential was unknown, it seemed she could create a much larger workshop than expected.

'Besides this, there are other ways to make money.'

Nabiya hoped that Creed's financial situation would be stable before he arrived in Esselred.

She wanted to repay the kindness he had shown her, even a little.

Schleman looked at the trunk Nabiya had drawn with a pleased smile.

It was because such a conversation felt like it had been a long time.

Investing in this kind of business was not a problem.

The real issue was Lark's approval.

"It's a good idea, but I'm not sure if my lord will allow it."

At the mention of Lark, Nabiya fell silent.

"Don't push any further. That's all you can do."

Would this business have to be abandoned?

"…If it's difficult, it's okay."

In any case, this business would surely succeed with Ricardo's hands, and even if she sold the poplar wood at a higher price, she could still make a profit.

'Let's just ask for a small commission for now. We'll take it step by step.'

"First, please continue to supply the wood. Selling the wood alone will bring in a significant profit."

She would do her best within the limits of not causing trouble.

Thud.

Suddenly, a strange sound caught Nabiya's attention.

"Why are you looking like that?"

But it seemed no one else had heard it.

'Did I mishear?'

"It's nothing. Let's go down now."

Nabiya continued, gazing out the window.

"Because the Duke of Agnes will be arriving soon."

#13 .

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3rd floor