Mercedes was beginning to somewhat understand the fact that Carlos was interested in her.

If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have listened to her annoying questions and requests.

However, as she understood more, anxiety also surged that everything would end if his interest waned.

‘You are not a nest……’

You’re a straw that could be easily pulled out if mishandled.

She inwardly sneered at herself for having to grasp at even such straws.

And she turned her body towards the nobles.

She saw those who had been staring at her endlessly startle and quickly shift their gazes.

Although she couldn’t actively join in as she needed to appear innocent, there would be things to learn if she delved into their midst.

‘Well then.’

Mercedes turned her gaze to find the woman Carlos had described, Nadia. And she was able to find her before long.

It was because nobles were swarming around Nadia. Standing in the center, she was leading the atmosphere, bursting into very hearty laughter.

‘Can I squeeze my way in there?’

Mercedes clenched her fist. She needed courage.

There were several reasons why she targeted Nadia Ford, the head of the Antler Guild, the largest guild in the East.

It was because she was someone Carlos needed, someone who could move the East, as his influence on high society was almost non-existent compared to the Empress Dowager.

Also, the achievement of building the largest guild in the East as the second daughter of a viscount family, who normally would have just waited to get married, moved Mercedes.

‘She must be a smart person.’

Having her by one’s side would be of great help.

And if she could use the Antler Guild……

‘It would also connect to Cromwell.’

Count Cromwell was very fond of luxury goods. Mercedes remembered every detail of the Count’s residence.

The eastern part of the empire had a unique topography with a desert in the middle while facing the coast, so the climate was warm.

As such, the cultural and artistic products that poured out were unique and exotic.

It was quite difficult to buy these exotic luxury goods of the eastern empire in Shaim. The luxury items themselves were expensive, and since Shaim bordered the western part of the empire, it was far from the east, so shipping costs were not insignificant.

It was the pride of Shaim’s nobility to have bought, with such difficulty, the expensive luxury goods from the Antler Guild, which was said to deal only in the highest quality.

Mercedes clearly remembered the days when Count Cromwell invited all sorts of nobles to show off his luxury goods.

She took a deep breath, downed another glass of champagne, and headed in that direction.

People parted along the path she walked. In front of the Empress Dowager who was watching with piercing eyes, no one could approach her.

Walking was easy thanks to the people who parted to avoid her, but her heart beat anxiously.

A woman who was constantly stared at, yet the number one person to be avoided.

That was Mercedes today.

“So you’re saying the people who reserved that jewel had to fight each other?”

“As expected of the Antler Guild. Any guild will kneel before the might of the Antler.”

“Oh my. Isn’t that too much praise coming from the Baron who owns the great mine?”

As she approached, she could hear the conversation. It was about jewels, the timing was quite good.

“Are you having an enjoyable time?”

Mercedes greeted them with the most cheerful voice she could muster.

The faces of the nobles, who had smiled thinking a cute noble lady had come, instantly hardened.

The head of the Antler Guild, Nadia, was no exception.

“I’m Mercedes. It’s an honor to meet the genius who built the largest guild in the East, the head of the Antler Guild.”

Mercedes smiled shyly.

Nadia looked her over once with a stiff face.

“Ah, yes… Well. Nice to meet you.”

What came back from Nadia’s side was an answer that had sold all courtesy. The surrounding nobles held contemptuous looks in their eyes.

Mercedes wasn’t bothered by this at all. She had been disregarded all her life anyway.

It was just that the presence of so many people was burdensome.

Mercedes smiled and took another step closer. The nobles who had been gathered in a circle quickly retreated.

They must have moved like that to be mindful of the Empress Dowager, but it ended up clearing a path to Nadia.

“It seems you were talking about jewels. I come from a small country, but I’ve heard a lot about the Antler Guild. They say you only deal with the best!”

Mercedes said in a dreamy voice.

“…Yes. That’s my pride. Did you have something to say to me?”

Nadia Ford barely held back a sigh as she replied to Mercedes.

As a guild master who deals with commoners but makes big profits from high society, she couldn’t help but be mindful of the Empress Dowager.

At the same time, she couldn’t completely ignore a woman said to be favored by the Emperor who had approached her first. It was truly a dilemma.

Nadia was only frustrated as to why this woman, who looked clearly stupid and seemed likely to end up as just one of the Emperor’s concubines later, had chosen to speak to her of all people.

Thinking she would have to send a separate gift to clear up any misunderstanding with the Empress Dowager that her conversation with Mercedes was nothing significant, and considering how much money that would cost, she started to get a headache.

“Yes! I couldn’t help myself when I heard talk of jewels. I like pearls the most among jewels. What kind of jewels do you all like?”

Mercedes said, shyly blushing.

At those words, Nadia’s eyes changed for a moment.

‘Pearls? Does she know what she’s talking about?’

Pearls were a headache for the Antler Guild, no, for the entire East.

The highest quality pearls that only came from the eastern coast were very beautiful, but after sweeping through high society once, they started to be treated as old-fashioned jewels.

Only old-fashioned noble ladies would make brooches with pearls or use them for hair decorations for indoor use at home.

Large workshops for harvesting and polishing pearls had sprung up during the high society trend, but now they had become nominal, and craftsmen with incredible skills had lost their livelihoods and were doing menial jobs.

Although as a merchant, taking care of her own money was always a priority, Nadia, who cared for the people of the East, occasionally bought pearls at a loss.

And they were all rotting away in the guild’s warehouse, very well managed.

“…You like pearls?”

“Yes! They’re elegant and beautiful, aren’t they? Actually, I felt unfamiliar with how extravagant my dress is today. I wore it because His Majesty gave it to me… but I told him that next time, I’d like the jewels decorating my dress or hair to be pearls!”

Though her tone seemed to be childishly begging for jewels, as Mercedes continued speaking, the abacus in Nadia’s mind clicked rapidly.

It would be right to avoid this woman.

However…

The faces of the people from Ford territory in the East flashed through Nadia’s mind.

Among them were many grateful people who had caught the tomboy Nadia, who often ran away from noble etiquette lessons as a child, and taught her about life.

‘I can’t be hated by the Empress Dowager. But.’

Nadia knew.

The dress this woman wore today was unique, extravagant, and beautiful.

Moreover, she was the woman who received the first favor of the Emperor, who was said to be uninterested in women.

It would surely become a trend in high society, with a similar shape, maintaining just enough similarity to not upset the Empress Dowager’s mood.

Nobles were the kind of people who loved to imitate those who received attention.

And for her to mention pearls?

The solution to the problem that had always weighed on her heart was right in front of her. Nadia had to think very intensely in that brief moment.

“Pearls… How old-fashioned.”

At that moment, a noble began to drive the atmosphere. It was natural, as the perception of pearls was actually like that, and there was also animosity towards Mercedes.

“That’s right. It feels a bit dated, doesn’t it?”

“They might like pearls in small countries… But in the Empire, it’s a bit. It would harm one’s dignity.”

One by one, they joined in the criticism.

And as they did so, Nadia’s expression gradually hardened. It was unlike the great merchant who usually hid her true feelings well.

While everyone was putting down Mercedes under the guise of criticizing pearls, only Mercedes noticed Nadia’s expression.

Mercedes thought this was an important timing. She quickly racked her brain and opened her mouth.

“Is that so? His Majesty showed me diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds… all kinds of jewels, but… I can’t forget the hard and beautiful pearls that emit various colors. I’ve loved them since I was young.”

Mercedes said with a casual smile.

“Have you seen pearls when they catch the light? It’s like the night sky where an aurora blooms. They might not shine strongly, but all pearls are like stars carelessly guarding the sky.”

At this story that sounded like a young girl’s daydream, everyone snickered. But Nadia, who had been staring blankly at Mercedes, quietly smiled.

“…That’s right. It’s like the night sky where an aurora blooms.”

Then she agreed with Mercedes’ opinion.

Nadia was always the type to speak after careful calculation. In high society, even a small mistake could lead to a slip-up.

But this time, it wasn’t an answer that came out after calculation.

“Wow! It’s interesting that you have similar thoughts to mine, Guild Master!”

Mercedes responded in an endlessly vivacious voice.

‘…Did I make a mistake?’

She couldn’t take back the words she had impulsively blurted out. But she felt it didn’t matter.

That’s how much pearls were truly an object of love and hate for her.

Those damn jewels lost their luster if they were mismanaged even a little. So they were more of a headache.

She had to pile them up in the guild’s warehouse and manage them as best she could, so she had to look at them often.

She was angry that no one knew their value and they wouldn’t sell, but she didn’t dislike looking at them. After all, they were the pride of the Eastern people.

Nadia, who managed the pearls, had thoughts similar to Mercedes’ stories.

So… she had agreed without realizing it.