Chapter 65

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"Georg, I brought them here."

A voice called out from the entrance.

"Ah!"

"Oh!"

"Father!"

Komei was followed by Leonardo, who came up the stairs, looking rather angry.

"Georg, William!! You didn't even inform us and went out without permission, making us worry!"

"\"We're sorry!\""

Georg and William straightened their backs and apologized. Leonardo approached them and gave each a punch on the head, making a dull sound that clearly hurt.

"Really, what if something happened to Emma?"

"\"We're sorry!\""

"Try not to worry Emma too much, okay?"

Leonardo, holding Emma, emphasized this point. The disparity in treatment among the Stewart siblings was severe. While this pampering contributed to Emma's lack of common sense, Harold lacked the courage to advise his father.

"Sorry, Father. A lot happened."

Emma clung tightly to her father.

"There, there, nothing dangerous happened, right? I couldn't sleep, worrying about you not coming home. I came here as soon as I could, guided by Komei."

It had been a while since Emma had clung to him, and Leonardo looked delighted. However, he didn't notice that Emma, who was clinging to him, was smiling with a mischievous grin.

"Um... Father...?"

Harold hesitantly spoke to Leonardo. With his golden hair and purple eyes, the well-built, strong-looking man didn't seem like the father of the three siblings. Even if they fought, it was clear that Harold wouldn't stand a chance. Despite his casual attire, the quality of his clothes was far beyond what a commoner could afford.

"Yes, it seems our children have been taken care of... I am Leonardo Stewart."

Leonardo... Stewart... Hearing the familiar name, Harold jumped.

"Stewart, as in the Stewart of the Palace Estate?"

"Hmm? Yes, that's right. We now live in the capital to send our children to school."

Until recently, Harold had wandered the country and heard many rumors about the Stewart family. Shortly after inheriting the estate, the head of the family was tasked with governing three territories plagued by monsters. In just a few years, he turned them into one of the richest estates in the country through the success of silk production. He was known for his pathological love for his daughter, even naming the highest-quality silk produced in his estate after her. The silk was called Emasilk...

The boy being held by Leonardo, Emma, was... the beloved daughter of the Earl... Emma Stewart???

"I'm very sorry! I shouldn't have let such an important child stay in such a dirty place for a night..."

A chill ran through Harold's body. It was unacceptable for a noble child to spend a night in the slums.

"No, no, the children seem fine, so it's not a problem. It would have been a different story if something had happened."

Leonardo laughed, but Harold's chill only worsened.

"Father, Harold is making an amazing ink. I want to use it for dyeing silk."

While appreciating the trembling middle-aged man, Emma proposed. This ink might be useful in the dyeing process, which had been a long-standing issue. It could dye vividly in one application and wouldn't fade. This would revolutionize the traditional method of washing and dyeing repeatedly. It would also reduce costs and water usage in the Palace, where water was precious.

"If Emma wants to, she should try it right away. Mr. Harold, can we buy this amazing ink?"

Taking Emma's suggestion at face value, Leonardo offered to buy the ink from Harold, even saying he would pay any price.

"Please wait a moment!!"

Joshua, out of breath, appeared at the entrance of the room, having been left behind by Leonardo, who had run up the stairs.

"Joshua?"

Georg and William, rubbing their heads where they had been hit, turned to see Joshua doing the same. He had been scolded by association.

"Mr. Leonardo, purchases related to the business must go through the Rothschild family."

Joshua, catching his breath, interjected. He had seen this family's poor business skills for years. If left alone, they would quickly return to being a poor earl. No matter how many times he warned them, the earl would still say things like "I'll pay any price" or "You don't need money, just take it."

"Excuse me for the sudden intrusion. I am Joshua Rothschild, the manager of the Rothschild Chamber of Commerce's capital branch and the business advisor to the Stewart family. Please ensure that all future contracts go through me."

Seeing the freckled child formally introduce himself and propose a business deal, Harold's chill worsened. ...What did he just say?

"Rothschild... Chamber of Commerce?"

The wealthiest merchants in the kingdom, with extensive connections both domestically and internationally, known for handling everything.

"So, the store that got the ink spilled on it was yours?"

Hue, who had been listening to the three brothers, asked Joshua.

"Yes, that's right. Is it possible to remove the ink from our store?"

Joshua looked at Harold with hope, but the answer remained the same.

"Unfortunately..."

Joshua's shoulders slumped. The reputation damage from the store being covered in red ink like blood would be severe. It would cost money to remove or replace the floor stones, and the store would likely lose customers.

"I'm sorry..."

"No, we were prepared for this, as our store often faces harassment."

Joshua forced a weak smile.

"Mr. Harold, can this ink be layered?"

Emma, who had moved away from Leonardo, was looking at the wall drawings Harold had made. They were vivid depictions of plants.

"Hmm? Yes, once it dries, it won't come off, but you can layer colors without them mixing. It's a great ink for drawing."

Despite continuously apologizing, Harold had originally made the ink for his own drawings. It would adhere firmly to any surface and not fade. Layering colors on top would not mix or be overshadowed by the underlying colors. It was a dream ink for artists.

"Joshua's store could have Harold draw something? Since it's red ink... strawberries? It would definitely be Instagram-worthy."

If the ink wouldn't come off, drawing something would be the solution, Emma suggested. The wall drawings were impressive enough to satisfy even Joshua, who had seen many paintings. The vivid red, as Emma suggested, could be recognized as cute strawberries rather than a gruesome sea of blood. Most importantly, Joshua had no choice but to accept Emma's proposal. He didn't understand what "Instagram-worthy" meant, but...

"Mr. Harold, could you draw strawberries in front of the store? Of course, we'll pay you. Depending on the response, we could have you draw new ones seasonally."

"Um? Sure... I guess..."

Joshua quickly advanced the contract, writing the necessary text on the contract he always carried and signing it.

"If this is acceptable, Mr. Harold, could you sign here? This is the contract for an exclusive artist, and this is the agreement not to sell the ink to anyone else until the product is finalized."

"Um? ...Sure... I guess..."

"Hey, big brother! You've been saying the same thing over and over. Are you okay?"

Hue, worried, tugged at Harold's shirt.

"Ah, yes. This is a dream come true for me... The terms are fine."

However, the amount written in the contract made Harold tremble. It was a dream-like offer.

"For us, it's much cheaper than removing or replacing the floor stones. Our target customers are mainly girls from the academy, so a cute and eye-catching store is ideal."

Joshua, satisfied, took the signed contract and agreement from Harold. A mutually beneficial deal was quickly settled.

"Hey, big brother, what happened?"

The children, unable to understand the situation, crowded around Harold. In just ten minutes, the situation had completely changed since Joshua's arrival.

"I've found a job. You all will have food to eat every day for at least a year."

The children looked at each other in surprise. Every day? Food? Is that even possible?

"Big brother, are you sure you're not being tricked?"

Good things often have a catch. The slum children started to worry about Harold.

"That's rude! The Rothschild Chamber of Commerce doesn't trick people. That's why we have contracts."

Joshua, indignant, proposed further benefits to Harold.

"Since the store is a bit far, would you like to move to the citizen's district instead of the slums? We have several buildings..."

"No, we can't move."

Harold immediately refused.

"We can provide a larger building where all the children can live."

Joshua made an even more generous offer, but Harold still refused.

"The raw materials for the ink are in the underground of this slum. If we leave, someone else might move in, and we might not be able to make the ink."

The mushrooms growing in the basement of this dilapidated building were rare and only found here, even after his travels.

"If the ink-making method becomes public, there's a risk of over-harvesting."

They decided to continue living in the slum and keep the mushrooms a secret. Harold was then asked to go to Joshua's store to draw, and the three brothers were told to return home with Leonardo.

"Mercy is worried, too. We need to get back quickly to reassure everyone."

The moment Emma heard Mercy's name, she shuddered.

"Mother... was she angry?"

Only Mercy could scold Emma in the Stewart family. It was easy to imagine that Emma, a girl, would be scolded more than the boys, Georg and William. Even the doting father and Komei couldn't help her in this situation.

"Being scolded by your parents is a luxury!" Hue said, but Harold's steps were heavy as he got into the carriage. Komei, the last to enter, made the carriage even more crowded.

"What... happened to Komei?"

Komei filled every gap in the carriage. Despite thinking it would be impossible for everyone to fit, the cat-like Komei managed to squeeze in.

"...You know, cats are liquid..."

"Meow~"

The carriage, filled with fluffy Komei, provided a brief moment of comfort before the inevitable scolding from Mercy. If liquids can change shape based on the container, then cats are indeed liquid... it seems.