Chapter 43

I apologize for any typos or omissions. Thank you for reporting any typos.

The palace is new.

The territory at the edge of the kingdom is constantly threatened by monsters. The southern side, which does not face the sea, has a wide range of appearances, and the three lords of the Pasotto, Rengland, and Stewart territories have been barely managing to protect their respective lands in such harsh conditions. Six years ago, the Pasotto territory went bankrupt, and the lord and his heir, the son of the Rengland territory, were killed by monsters, leading to the decline of two territories at the same time.

Despite the surplus of nobles in the central territory, no one wants to become a border lord. The Stewart territory's lord died from injuries sustained during a monster hunt, and his son had just taken over. The lack of a ruler for the territory with frequent monster appearances is a major issue for the country, and ultimately, by royal decree, the three territories were placed under the control of the Earl of Stewart, who governs the Stewart territory.

Joshua first met the Stewart family six years ago. His father, who was in business in a territory near the capital, decided to move to the newly formed border territory called the Palace. The thing Joshua dislikes the most while helping his father's business is flattering the nobles.

"Got it, Joshua. No matter what they say, you have to endure as usual."

Father always emphasizes this. They are a superficial people who only care about appearances and are careless about substance. All the nobles Joshua knows are arrogant. He simply couldn't understand why they could be so haughty.

"I know, Father."

Today's job is to be ridiculed. Joshua responds with a pout. Unfortunately, the Stewart family, which he is visiting today, has a son and a daughter around his age. In his previous territory, he had his favorite clothes torn by noble children, who said things like, "You commoner, don't wear such good fabric."

"To do business in the Palace, we must be in the lord's good graces."

Father seemed a bit nervous about starting business in the new land. Even in the borderlands, it is unacceptable to offend the Stewart family, the only noble family in the vast land of the Palace.

The Stewart family, who have governed the border territory for generations, had the most modest mansion Joshua had ever visited among the noble residences. The garden was reasonably large, but there were no lavish decorations inside the mansion.

Unlike the past, where he would be canceled or kept waiting for a long time even after making an appointment and arriving on time, he was immediately led to the parlor on this day.

"Nice to meet you. I am Daniel Rothschild."

Father steps back a step and bows. He is careful to bow deeply, as a slight bow can quickly ruin a noble's mood, and he is not allowed to raise his head until the noble permits it.

"Thank you for your polite greeting. Please raise your head. I'm sorry, but it's a bit messy. Please sit over here."

When he raises his head, he sees white cloths everywhere in the parlor. Except for the sofa he was offered, the room is filled with delicate lace and high-quality silk.

Among them, there was an angel.

Golden hair that shone and green eyes. A soft, gentle face. A simple dress in the same color as her eyes suited her.

"These are very good fabrics."

While seating Joshua on the sofa, Father speaks to the Earl. Indeed, they all looked superior to the silk fabrics Father handled.

"The Stewart territory is known for sericulture. Welcome to the Palace. I am the lord, Leonardo Stewart."

The Earl naturally shakes hands with Father and then turns his gaze to Joshua.

"This is my son, Joshua."

The Earl, with the same golden hair as the angel, smiles and shakes Joshua's hand. It was the first time a noble had asked for a handshake. Father, though not showing it on his face, was surprised.

"How old are you, Joshua?"

"I turned eight this year."

Father answers for Joshua.

"Wow, you look quite mature. You're a year younger than Georg."

The Earl murmurs and calls the children over. Two boys appear from among the white cloths. When the angel is called "Emma," she raises her head, pushes aside the cloth, and climbs onto the Earl's lap.

"This is my eldest son, Georg. He is nine."

The boy called Georg grins and gives a light bow.

"The second son, William, is three."

William, mimicking Georg, grins and gives a light bow.

"And this angel is my eldest daughter, Emma. She is almost six."

The Earl strokes the angel's head. It was clear that she was indeed an angel.

"There are no children of the same age nearby. I would be happy if you could be friends with Joshua?"

The sturdy Earl, being a border lord, lightly bows to Joshua. Even for the sake of children, it was unusual for a noble to bow to a commoner like Joshua. What a strange noble... He had never seen a noble who wasn't arrogant.

Then, the angel stares at Joshua's face. Joshua has freckles. He has been teased and belittled by noble children with high aesthetic standards, who called him dirty. Some of them even used heavy makeup to cover their own freckles. Freckles have been Joshua's biggest complex since he was old enough to understand.

For some reason, he doesn't want to be disliked by the angel in front of him. Moreover, if he were scolded by this cute angel, he might develop a strange taste.

The angel approaches Joshua. She seems to be trying to see his freckles up close, bringing her face closer.

Unlike Joshua, her skin is so fair that it has no freckles.

As he stares at the angel, her face gets even closer...

*chu*

For a moment, a soft sensation lands on the bridge of Joshua's nose.

"Wh-What?!"

Joshua and the Earl exclaim at the same time.

"Joshua, being friendly doesn't mean that."

Joshua is scolded in a very low voice, but he has no time to respond. His face is beet red. Being kissed on his most complex area, his freckles, was a huge shock.

The angel giggles. It's a smile so divine it could be called an angelic smile.

"The freckles on your face look like lots of caterpillars. They're lovely."

It was the smile Emma would later show when looking at bugs. Just that made his complex turn into a charm point. The angel, Emma, said they were lovely. He feels so happy he could ascend to heaven. He's glad he has freckles.

"Joshua, being friendly doesn't mean that, you know."

The Earl, holding Emma's hand and placing her back on his lap, warns Joshua in a low, stern voice. Unfortunately, Joshua can no longer see Emma in any other way.

The door clicks open, and a strong, beautiful woman enters with a tea set. She gracefully and slowly pours fragrant tea, which helps the Earl and Joshua calm down a bit. After serving everyone, the Earl introduces the woman.

"This is my wife, Mersa. Mersa, Daniel has come to greet us before starting his business in the Palace."

Indeed, the Earl's wife is a renowned talent in the capital. The fact that this talented woman is serving tea like a maid finally breaks Father's poker face.

"Ah, to be served tea by the lady of the house! What a great honor!"

Father panics, and Mersa smiles.

"Yesterday, a large number of one-horned rabbits appeared, so everyone in the mansion is busy processing the fur. I can't guarantee the taste of the tea, but please enjoy it."

One-horned rabbits appear in groups. The fur needs to be processed quickly, which is why everyone is involved, as the Earl explains.

"I think they will be on the market next week. You might want to try buying some. They don't sell well in the Palace because it's warm, but you might make some pocket money if you take them to the north."

Not just pocket money, one-horned rabbit fur is popular in the capital, and if the hunters are not skilled, the fur might not be usable. If they can secure a large amount, it could be a significant profit.

"How much do you sell them for at the market?"

Father's eyes light up. The Rothschild Trading Company handles everything and has sales routes both domestically and internationally.

"Since a large number appeared this time, let's say two silver coins each?"

Father and Joshua can't help but gasp.

Cheap. Too cheap. Is this lord bad at business?

Even Joshua, who has never helped with sales, can tell something is off. The market price for one-horned rabbit fur is at least twenty silver coins, even for the lowest quality.

"Lord, I'll pay ten times that. Can I buy all of them?"

Father jumps at the unexpected profit. If he can get a substantial amount, it will expand his business.

"Hmm? That's too much. How about I give you the 100 we caught as a token of friendship?"

The Earl agrees without hesitation.

Let me repeat: Is this lord bad at business? The white cloths spread out in front of them could sell for a high price. Yet, neither Joshua nor his father knew the Earl was involved in sericulture.

"Um... Lord... What will you do with these cloths?"

He asks hesitantly.

"Oh, sorry for the mess. Our maid is getting married! The family is making her wedding dress. We're running out of time."

Homemade! No, no, if you sold these cloths, you could buy several wedding dresses in the capital. And the delicate, intricate lace... it's of a quality fit for a queen... As he looks at the lace, he sees it extends to the Earl's hands.

"Sorry, we're really running out of time."

The Earl's hands are moving at high speed, weaving the delicate, intricate lace.

He's a craftsman!

Looking closely, the youngest, William, is sewing white, glowing beads onto the white cloth in perfect balance, and Georg is making flowers so realistic they could be mistaken for real ones, while the angel is showing her father a lace design.

"Um... About the dress... We handle them in our business. Would you like to purchase one?"

Father suggests, watching the Earl's fast-moving hands. His face clearly shows he wants to buy the lace being made.

"No... Our territory is poor, so we have to make everything by hand. We've sold most of the mansion's items."

The Earl answers, blushing, but his hands continue to move at high speed.

Ah, this lord is bad at business.

And he's the worst in the world.

With super-high-value items right in front of him.

Someone should tell him. What? The citizens are bad at business too? No way!

"Lord Stewart... Can I manage the territory's specialty products?"

Father speaks, not so much jumping at the big profit as feeling compelled to help. The Earl's skills alone could buy several houses just from weaving lace. He wants to know how one can be poor with such skills.

"Really? You can take it?"

The Earl agrees immediately. He must have been deceived many times before. It's worrying to think this is a lord. Joshua can feel it, and Father probably even more so.

I have to do something to help.

Thus, the high-quality specialty products of the Palace, thanks to Father's efforts, finally see the light of day. The Stewart family, who had been barely managing the territory by selling items from the mansion for generations, turned things around just before they had to sell the mansion itself.

A few years later, the silk, already of high quality, became the finest due to Emma's efforts, making the Palace the richest territory in the country. Father, Daniel, and Lord Stewart became drinking buddies and got along well.

"Joshua, the store you managed this year did well. Which store do you want for your next birthday?"

Father asks while looking at the ledgers of three stores. Joshua's answer is set.

"Father, I'll return those three stores to you. Instead, can I take over the branch in the capital?"

Father holds his head.

"Are you serious?"

The branch in the capital is the only one in the Rothschild Trading Company that is in the red due to a boycott by the First Prince's faction. There are frequent reports of harassment at the store.

But.

"Next year, Lady Emma will be in the capital. Don't worry, Father, I won't lose to the Second Prince."

Joshua answers with a face he never shows in front of Emma. He doesn't want her to get hurt like this time. No matter how many hearts he has, it wouldn't be enough. He can't bear to lose Emma.

"I also want to attend school, so let's buy a title soon?"

If you have money, you can buy a baron's title. It's just that the amount is so large that it can't be bought easily.

Joshua is always serious.

---

The next part will likely be set in the capital.

Just a side note...

One gold coin is about 100,000 yen.

One silver coin is about 1,500 yen.

One copper coin is about 100 yen.

I'm writing with these values in mind. I'm not good with numbers, so I might make mistakes someday.