Since the passage you provided doesn’t mention any of the characters whose names and genders you noted earlier, I’ve translated the text without referring to them. Here’s the translation:

Since it was the first contract, I had put a drastic price in the proposal. So from the next contract, I can trade as I call it. If my proposal is not satisfactory, they don’t have to deal.

Mrs. Hedes smiled at my explanation and wrote the special provision into the contract with her hand.

“Heh heh, a fair statement.”

Contrary to her quick action, there was something she wanted to say in her expression.

‘I don’t think there will be a second contract, so why go this far…….’

Mrs. Hedes, who had completed the contract, put the teacup to her lips.

There were still things to say, but it looked like she was taking a breather, so I also tasted the tea.

She resumed the conversation after emptying a cup of tea.

“But Countess, if you open a candle shop that big, there will be leftover retail space…… Wouldn’t it be better to consider other items?”

“Other items?”

“I have the highest quality products that exactly fit the Countess’s dignity.”

She quickly brought the product list and showed it to me. It was composed of really highpriced items.

“The distribution stage will increase, so the price will be about 10% more, but isn’t your store’s location so good? If you also handle our boutique’s products, there will surely be profits.”

Her words made sense. But I had no intention of following the proposal of a business partner who was stingy with just candles.

“The general goods store is fine, but I don’t have the competitiveness now. I’ll add others gradually.”

“Competitiveness? Even though there’s a big competitor called Linuar Merchant in candles? Also, candles are not lowcost, are they?”

I gave her a light smile.

“Will Linuar Merchant and I compete in candles?”

This was a game where I would definitely win.

She admired my relaxed response.

“Even though you know, you’re pursuing the business…… Even though I’ve known you for a long time, you seem to be no ordinary person.”

Perceptive, she had interpreted the meaning of my words in reverse. So now she was indirectly saying, ‘You’re probably going to fail miserably.’

I gently fanned myself and raised the corners of my mouth.

“You’ll soon find out how special a price I got for these candles.”

“Yes?”

“Yeah. Because you’re the first contractor. I’m planning to charge a higher price for the next linked businessman. Maybe ten times more?”

Mrs. Hedes smiled nervously at my confident words.

“Oh my, what an honor.”

“I’m counting on a good display in the window for three months.”

“Heh heh. I will try hard to sell.”

“Just having it there will be enough. It will sell well on its own.”

“I hope so. It would be nice if a recontract was possible.”

It was an affirmative answer, but Mrs. Hedes could not hide her incredulous expression. Her tone was also full of nuance that there was no chance of that actually happening.

I pretended not to know her inner thoughts and entreated.

“Then, be sure to come to the grand opening.”

“Yes, I will definitely go.”

I’ll have to watch the face of someone dying to get an exclusive contract.

(This is a time separator.)

‘Phew.’

Philip leaned back in his office chair and quietly sighed.

Lately, it was a very busy time with two big things.

One was the problem of Marlboro’s throne succession.

The King’s health was deteriorating daily, so the atmosphere of the royal palace was like thin ice.

But Philip wasn’t too worried.

It had been a plan for several years. Now Philip had secured enough evidence that the princes were fake and had gathered quite a few nobles to support Marlboro.

A bloody incident might happen due to fake princes, but if things continued like this, the succession issue would be resolved without much trouble.

The other was the management of the territory, especially the issue of money flow.

He was diversifying debts or postponing deadlines, attracting funds from outside, and organizing the territory. But the procedure was complicated, and it was not something to be done with ordinary brains.

So every few days, he yearned to go elephant hunting.

But he didn’t. He couldn’t, recalling Ellen’s horrified look.

“Ellen.”
A faint smile appeared on Philip’s lips as he muttered the name. It felt as if his fatigue was lifted just by thinking.

Lately, Philip felt good every time he thought of Ellen.

Even more so when he would observe the morning magic lessons every day.

Ellen was lovable and cool, and he liked Laila’s passion for learning.

‘When Ellen yelled “Welcome to the world,” I thought the gates of hell would open.’

He thought he would torment Laila more, but he didn’t know he would treat her so well.

‘Maybe I did it because her initial depression when she first arrived here was unpleasant?’

Philip recalled when Laila first arrived. The princess must have thought she would marry a prince.