Chapter 74 – Merchants Who Are Identified as Your Enemy Will Be Permanently Barred From Conducting Business With the Nobility
The clerk’s eyes were black and white for a while, but he finally calmed down and coughed once.
“W-Well, putting that maid aside… How is life here?”
“As you can see, I’m buried in paperwork every day.”
When I explained to the clerk about the current labor shortage, this time he was not surprised and nodded his head.
“That must be very troubling for you.”
“That’s right. Anyway, I don’t have any contacts, and even if I were to ask for an introduction via Yuzuriha-san, it would be difficult because this is a remote area—But even if I were to look for someone locally, it seems that the methods of the previous Margrave are widespread, and I wouldn’t like it if they copied that.”
“Absolutely.”
“Is there any good talent anywhere?”
I asked the merchant network in the lukewarm hope that he would introduce me to someone.
“Yes. Or rather, that’s why I visited today.”
“Ooooh!!!”
“Ayano-dono. This way, please.”
The clerk called out to him, and the young man in the hood, who I thought to be a fellow trader or apprentice, stepped forward quickly.
“Show your face and say hello.”
“…Your Excellency Margrave. My name is Ayano.”
Ayano-san, who took off his hood, had a gender-neutral face that, upon closer inspection, was well-proportioned but lacked charisma.
It’s what we call a mob face.
In other words, the same as me.
“Ayano-dono has incurred a significant debt with me. It is necessary for her to repay it—What do you think? Would you consider using her in the Lohengrin territory?”
“Eh? Are you sure?”
“Of course. Despite appearances, Ayano-dono is a seasoned professional with experience in domestic affairs and governance. I am certain Ayano-dono will be of great assistance to you.”
So, Ayano-san, were you a civil servant somewhere before, or were you an aristocrat but your family fell because of the hard times…?
Ayano-san’s past smells somewhat unhappy, but…
I am very grateful for that.
“Of course, it can’t be free. How about this much…?”
The price was acceptable, although a bit expensive.
And if Ayano-san is as good as the clerk says he is, he might be rather cheap.
When I looked at Yuzuriha-san to see what she thought, she gave a single broad nod.
“I think it’s a good choice.”
“You think so too, Yuzuriha-san?”
“Of course. Besides, this merchant is from a shop in the noble quarter of the royal capital. In other words, if they were to deceive you with substandard goods, it would be equivalent to picking a fight with that accessory shop…or even worse, the entire group of shops in the noble district. They wouldn’t take such a risky gamble. Therefore, we can trust this young man.”
“Is that so?”
“Ah, and moreover, the price demanded by this merchant was quite bold—In other words, Ayano-dono is undoubtedly exceptionally talented. He must be capable of performing work to the extent that even that reward seems inexpensive. One could say he possesses the talent to govern even an entire country.”
I understand what Yuzuriha-san is saying.
But I think that if the clerk betrays me, the premise doesn’t hold.
Such thoughts of mine seemed to show on my face,
“Don’t underestimate us merchants. Trust is the key to doing business with nobles. If it were revealed that I deceived you, I could end up ostracized.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No, I’m serious. It would be different if I were to deceive a declining aristocrat or a hated person, but quarreling with the current Margrave of Lohengrin would be worse than going against the royal family or the Sakuragi Duke family. After all, if I were to deceive you, I would not only have you as an enemy, but also the royal family, the Sakuragi Duke family, and even the high-ranking military officials who admire you.”
“Eh…?”
“If that’s the case, naturally, any intelligent nobles would eagerly follow suit. And as a result of the purge, there are no foolish nobles left in this country—As a consequence, merchants who are identified as your enemy will be permanently barred from conducting business with the nobility, regardless of your thoughts on the matter.”
When I had a ‘you’re joking’ look, the accessory shop assistant nodded as if it was only natural…
“Of course, I’m prepared for that level of risk… But the greater the risk, the greater the return. That’s why I’ve decided to entrust you with Ayano-dono.”
Well, in any case, there is no choice in the current shortage of staff.
I decided to hire Ayano-san.
…This is a side note, but there is one very silly reason why I am personally glad I hired Ayano-san.
That’s because Ayano-san is a so-called mob-faced boy.
I know I shouldn’t say this, but my sister Suzuha, my guest Yuzuriha-san and my maid Kanade are all amazingly beautiful girls. Moreover, they are all so beautifully styled.
I was the only one with an ordinary face, so I felt kind of small in stature.
In that regard, Ayano-san, upon closer inspection, possesses a well-proportioned appearance where the individual features of his face do not stand out, neatly fitting within the realm of an ordinary face. That’s just perfect.
So from now on, I would like us mob-face boys to deepen our relationship with each other.
Not in a homosexual sense, of course.
