38 – 38. Blockade
Princess Anaïs stood before the investors in the form of a prisoner.
Her presence was not voluntary. After all, what was the point of cracking down on investors now when it was already over?
Anaïs was only following Siena’s orders.
She wanted to refuse, but she couldn’t. It was because Siena had warned her about the consequences if she didn’t cooperate.
“As long as I do as instructed, I’ll receive a relatively light punishment. If I do well, maybe it will end with the dissolution of the monastery. Of course, you can refuse if you want. It’s interesting in its own way. I’m just going along with Alan’s wishes.”
…I had no choice but to comply, sensing that Siena was actually expecting me to refuse.
I didn’t believe in the idea of someone coming to help.
But I was certain that if I refused, something worse would happen, not just ruin. The floor was already falling apart, and I didn’t want to explore the underground beneath it.
Her given mission was to confess her sins in front of the investors.
In the end, it was a public confession. Even though it felt like torture, it was better than being manipulated. At least I didn’t have a noose around my neck.
“Let’s finish this quickly and get it over with.”
Anaïs opened her mouth with a crawling voice.
“I know you must be shocked, but please listen to me for now.”
“Your Highness!?”
“…Just listen.”
She lowered her gaze and mechanically began listing her sins.
…
The warnings from Alan Maydoff and Siena Calla were all true.
Mahwang was a dangerous medicine that shouldn’t be used carelessly.
If you take more than the prescribed amount, you have to leave your fate to the heavens.
I knew that, yet I started the business without verification, and you all invested in this business knowing everything. It’s just that the inevitable has happened.
Anaïs closed her eyes tightly and concluded.
“Everyone. Oh, not just the nobles… Anyway, I’m sorry, but the production and distribution of the health syrup will be suspended from today.”
“No, then we need to come up with a plan…!”
“There is no plan. It’s embarrassing, but even I can no longer guarantee the future. I might even face ruin. I’m sorry for causing unintended losses, but it would be best for all of you to restrain yourselves. …If you don’t want to end up like me.”
And with that, the public confession came to an end.
The reactions to this were varied.
There were humans who blinked as if in disbelief, others gripping their waists while staring into the empty air. There were even cute types whispering conspiratorially at an age that didn’t quite match. Except for Professor Bobby, who suddenly began sobbing sorrowfully, the overall atmosphere remained calm.
‘Has the reality not sunk in yet?’
At that moment, when there was a strange feeling in the air and heads were just shaking in confusion, there was an individual who approached quietly and spoke to her.
“Um, Lady Third Princess?”
He was Rikyus Marquis, who once held a position in the Anais Fabel.
Anais looked at him, expecting a common word of comfort. Still, after having some years of acquaintance, she couldn’t just let him pass by without saying anything.
“Yes. Say anything.”
But what came out of the Marquis’s mouth was not a word of comfort.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Um, is it not prohibited to cultivate and use the Mawong itself?”
What?
Anais, who opened her eyes wide, wondered if she had misheard.
‘Am I looking for business when I might be demolished at the monastery soon?’
For Anais, who had lived her whole life enjoying the peace of mind, whether it was the dissolution of the monastery or the lifelong pension, both were like hell. If you had to choose, the dissolution of the monastery was worse because the solitary nunnery was automatically attached.
In any case, it was a punishment where she had to barely survive while withering away.
‘What’s going on in his mind? Has he gone crazy?’
A situation that could not be understood at all. However, Marquis Rikyus, with a smile even, began to cautiously persuade Anais.
“Your Highness is only seventeen years old. Would Her Majesty the Empress just watch silently? You may not know, but in 1 or 2 years, the dissolution measure will be withdrawn through the petition of Her Majesty the Empress. Don’t worry too much.”
Who caused my downfall like this to say such things. Anais was momentarily moved, but she decided to listen more to what he had to say.
“Health syrup is a business that the Queen first started. We can’t let it end in vain, can we…? There were mistakes in the early stages, but with wisdom, we can improve. We need to reduce the risks and preserve the efficacy.”
“So?”
“If we establish this business, Lady Anais’ return will be even easier. So please, speak. Isn’t the use of mandrake itself not prohibited?”
He couldn’t bring himself to agree.
Anais turned to the faces of others, with a slight hope in her heart.
Though everyone had a gloomy expression, amidst that, they were earnestly looking in this direction. There were even people clasping their hands in prayer.
It was clear what their behavior meant.
‘After sending me away, they plan to continue the business among themselves.’
They were clearly intent on continuing to make money, whether Anais was abandoned or not. They were even using the techniques she had taught (though she hadn’t thought of it that way at the time).
No matter how much they claimed to have no family in front of money, it made him wonder if they were truly people with human hearts. Even the momentary hatred for Siena faded away.
I can’t believe I trusted these people and started a business with them. A bitter smile escaped.
“Lady Anais? Are you okay? You look pale.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Oh! Well, that’s a relief.”
“Relief…? Yes. Whether it’s a home pension or the closure of a monastery, what does it matter? In the end, I was defeated by Siena and Alan Maydof. It’s just sad that I have to move as they manipulate until the end.”
Thanks to the investors, moving on to the next stage was much easier.
In the next moment, Anais turned to the lieutenant who was by her side, exhaling a sigh.
“That guy outside? …Bring him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
That guy? There was a murmur among the investors, but it was brief.
It was because of the man who entered the lobby right after me.
“I heard it roughly. It seems they also have a good relationship with Princess Third.”
The human who appeared while muttering such words was Alan Maydoff.
Perhaps considering the exchange as the heart of finance, he was neatly dressed for conquest.
His appearance was not at all likeable to anyone. It wasn’t because he was ugly. It was because vitality emanated from him, but his appearance itself was decent.
However, in his hand, there was an old Morning Star.
Anais lowered her head, thinking, “Let it be as it may.”
**
As soon as I entered the exchange, all eyes turned towards me.
Originally, I wanted to leave the finishing touches to Siena. It is the duty of a vassal to yield difficult tasks to the lord.
But still, the reason I stepped forward was due to the Emperor’s request to Siena. The Emperor said he couldn’t tolerate a situation where his beloved second daughter was being manipulated by the youngest.
Siena must have had no choice but to accept that order, so it was my turn. After all, there was no one else who could replace me.
“Yeah. It’s better if I do it.”
While clutching the familiar Morning Star, I looked around at the investors. I didn’t bring it to use, but just in case.
“Why do you have weapons at the exchange…?”
I heard a surprised voice, but I ignored it and immediately got to the point.
“Regardless of the downfall of Princess Third, it seems that there are lingering sentiments towards Mahwang. Do any of you have any intention to start a new business?”
“That… is it illegal?”
“It could be made illegal, but I don’t want that. Mahwang is a herbal medicine with overwhelming effects on asthma, cough, and rhinitis. And if you all have thoughts as well, you will be more cautious in the future, so the harm will decrease.”
Yeah. Honestly, it’s difficult to cut off the source.
There were ways to monitor them.
“You can carry out your business as you please. …However, let me tell you one thing. If you venture into business, I will immediately prepare products using Ephedrine.”
“What?”
“More precisely, I will manufacture and distribute Ephedrine. If you think of Morphine, it will be easier to understand. Morphine uses op*ium as its raw material, but Ephedrine’s efficacy is more than ten times that. Ephedrine is superior to Morphine.”
By this point, it seemed like everyone understood what I was saying.
The faces of the investors began to stiffen rapidly. Still, since the game was already in progress, it was better to firmly drive the point home.
“I guarantee it. If you compete with me, you will definitely fail. You will suffer losses on a scale incomparable to this time.”
There was no response.
It didn’t seem like they were stumbling because they couldn’t understand my words. They couldn’t possibly dismiss the words that came from my mouth, having already succeeded in manufacturing Morphine and even supplying it to the military.
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“They must be curious if I will really make a mistake.”
Finally, one of the investors voiced that doubt.
“…We can’t do it, but you can?”
“The exaggeration may be a bit much, but it’s acceptable to understand it that way. I know how to make money without killing people. I don’t sell to just anyone on the streets, and I have no intention of mixing it into syrup.”
“You won’t leave it alone in the palace…!”
Of course, I have confidence in obtaining cooperation from Her Majesty the Empress. Think about it. Why would Empress Anais be in front of all of you?”
“……”
The expressions of the people staring at me began to distort.
Frustration, astonishment, must it all be like this? Such emotions were bursting forth.
In my opinion, it was a picture of wielding the power of the state to block the birth of a competing cartel, but there was no other way. There was no point in trying to reason with them.
In times like this, it’s better to be assertive. To deliver a clearer message, I pointed to Anais as the Morning Star.
“Even the third princess is standing in that position because she ignored my advice. If you jump into this market, you will get hurt even more than she did.”
Some of the twenty-six investors stared blankly at the pieces of paper that were presumed to be Chandelier Siroop stocks.
Stocks that had practically become garbage.
Some of the investors started to sob, as their last hope had been shattered, but I ignored them.
It was better for them to get hurt than for the number of swindlers to increase.