Cornelia felt a heavy wave of exhaustion wash over her now that the discussion with Trois had reached a tentative conclusion. As a noble daughter, she should have swallowed her fatigue and maintained a mask of composure, but she lacked the mental reserve to do so. Her weariness was written plainly across her face.
Count Sharon, who ordinarily would have rebuked her for showing such weakness in a social setting, found himself unable to blame his daughter this time. After all, even as the head of a count house with years of political maneuvering under his belt, he felt as though his own exhaustion might leak through if he let his guard down for even a second. It was only natural that Cornelia, with her far more limited experience, would reach her limit.
(...It isn't over yet, and there is still so much to prepare for... but I don't want to think about any of it right now. I just want to soak in a warm bath and settle my nerves. Maybe some aroma oils and candles to help me relax...)
Between the negotiations over a revolutionary technology that would undoubtedly rewrite the history of magic tools and the conversation with a rhetorical giant like Trois—who was so far above her that she realized she’d been dancing in the palm of his hand—the mental strain had been immense.
When she thought about the future, legendary names like Bacchus, Gluttony, and Amel were still waiting in the wings, but she couldn't bring herself to face that reality just yet.
As Cornelia was lost in these thoughts, Trois spoke up.
"Well now, our business regarding the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company is finished, but I have a message for Lady Cornelia on a separate matter. May I share it with you?"
"Eh? F-For me?"
"Yes. It is from Tetra, the Special Advisor of our Accounting Department. However, she sent this not in her official capacity, but as a personal message."
"Lady Tetra... Um, what could it be about?"
Cornelia tilted her head in confusion. She had been introduced to Tetra by Kaito once and they had exchanged greetings, but she couldn't imagine what business Tetra would have with her as an individual rather than as a representative of the trading company.
"Before I play it, I would like to confirm something. According to our information, am I correct in understanding that Lady Cornelia will eventually be taking over as the representative of the Victor Trading Company? If this is a matter you cannot yet disclose, you don't have to answer."
"That is correct. We plan to install Cornelia as the representative of the Victor Trading Company in the near future... but does that have something to do with Lady Tetra's message?"
Count Sharon saw no problem in Trois having this information. Although it had only been officially decided a few days ago, Cornelia's appointment was something they had been preparing for quite some time. It wasn't strange that a company like Seditch had caught wind of it, and there was no particular reason to hide it.
"Yes. In that case, please listen to this item Tetra entrusted to me."
"What is this magic tool?"
"It records and plays back audio. The production cost was far too high compared to its utility, so we scrapped plans for mass production, but Tetra purchased the prototype for her own use. Perhaps this new technology might make commercialization feasible one day... but for now, just consider this a recording of Tetra’s message."
Trois placed the audio-recording magic tool on the table. It was a failed prototype that could only hold a few minutes of sound despite its complex formula and exorbitant cost. After a brief explanation, Trois touched the device, and Tetra’s voice began to play.
"Lady Cornelia, please forgive the rudeness of sending such a sudden message when we have only exchanged brief greetings. Since I cannot record a very long message, I'll get straight to the point. You may have heard a bit from Trois, but it's about the Victor Trading Company. I hear you're taking over as representative, but despite the need for massive investment to expand facilities, won't it be difficult to find backers without other nobles trying to sink their claws into you?"
Tetra’s point hit home. There was no doubt that substantial capital would be required for the workshop expansion, the transition to Cornelia's leadership, and future marketing efforts.
Normally, seeking out investors would be the standard solution, but doing so carried the risk of greedy nobles maneuvering for a piece of the pie. Cornelia was currently like a goose that laid golden eggs, and they were desperate not to give other nobles any opening to interfere.
Since Cornelia lacked a strong backer at this stage, the Sharon Count House had been prepared to invest a massive sum themselves, even if it put a significant strain on their finances.
"...Therefore, I have a proposal. How about making me your investor? This has nothing to do with the Seditch Trading Company; it's a personal investment from me. In my name as the Ruler of the Gold Vein, I promise to provide whatever funds you require."
"—!?!?"
Tetra was a titan of the financial world. While Kuromueina was the wealthiest person in the world, Tetra’s personal assets were easily within the global top ten. Even the Sharon family, relatively wealthy among the Arclesia nobles, possessed a fortune that couldn't even begin to compete with hers.
"If you're wondering 'why,' the answer is simple. Actually, some time ago, Kaito directly asked me to look out for you. I'm the type who can't say no to a request from the person I love. Since he asked, I intend to help you with everything I have. If you'd like, I can even serve as a personal deterrent to the nuisances around you... I wouldn't mind becoming your personal backer."
"Awawawawa..."
"Please, do give it some thought. Until we meet again."
The message ended there, leaving Cornelia trembling as if she had been stranded in an arctic wasteland.
(...Lady Tetra as my backer? Wait, the scale... the scale has become far too massive! Kaito-samaaaaaaaa!)
Shuddering at the terrifying reach of Kaito’s influence, Cornelia let out a silent, pained scream in the depths of her heart.
Kaito: "Please look after Cornelia-san."
Tetra: "Leave it to me. Since it's a request from you, my beloved, I'll support her with all my might."
Cornelia: "Hieee..."
Serious-senpai: "Isn't it terrifying? This is 100% goodwill, you know. Kaito probably just meant 'Hey, be a bit nice to her,' but because Tetra is so head-over-heels for him, her going 'all out' for his sake has resulted in Cornelia’s stomach being obliterated... It's strange. Everyone is acting out of kindness, so why is this such a tragedy?"