“Exactly, it’s a right to use for a certain period. I’ll offer it as a dowry.”

Philip wanted to give me ownership outright, but he said it was impossible due to kingdom laws. However, resources emerging from the ground could have rights transferred for a maximum of 50 years, according to kingdom law.

After finishing the unbelievable statement, Philip pulled on the reins.

“It seems time is insufficient for the delayed schedule and related matters. I must leave first. Please return safely, Ellen.”

Stunned by Philip’s abrupt conclusion for a moment, I returned to the boutique.

The first-floor store of the boutique had already sold out its daily stock during the morning and was closed for the day.
So, naturally, I went up to the still-open cafe terrace on the second floor to inform Mrs. Faulter that I had returned and planned to go to the third-floor office.

However, as I approached, two middle-aged men with brown straight mustache and a black handlebar mustache, sitting at one of the tables, looked at me with caution.

Feeling a friendly atmosphere, I quietly asked Mrs. Faulter.

“Who are those gentlemen?”

“They’ve been waiting since morning, saying they want to meet the president. I told them to come after making a prior appointment, but it seems they didn’t get the message.”

Upon hearing that, I approached the two men.

They stood up as if they had been waiting and respectfully bowed their heads to me.

“We’ve been waiting, Madam President. I am the steward of Viscount Ondera.”

“Pleased to meet you, Madam President. I am the steward of Marquis Pulp.”

‘Ah, those were their names.’

They were the stewards of the aristocrats who had discussed the candle business during the previous opening ceremony.

“You’re here earlier than expected.”

“Yes, we’ve been waiting to schedule a meeting.”

Both stewards seemed to be synchronized, as if rehearsing what to say. However, their eyes glancing at each other briefly indicated an underlying tension.

Anyway, rather than seeing them immediately, I nodded in agreement that we should schedule an appointment.

“Yes, we need to set a schedule.”

The steward of Viscount Ondera stepped forward.

“Madam President, our master requests you to come to the Arua Hotel at three o’clock.”

‘Oh? What’s this?’

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at their attitude, as if it was natural for me to go there.

They had been waiting all day to set a meeting schedule, and now they were trying to bring me to my master.

‘Could I have done this if I were still the Countess of Morris?’

Then, the steward of Marquis Pulp laughed warmly.

“Then, if you could come to the Inimata Hotel where our master stays at two o’clock, it would be great.”

The steward of Marquis Pulp’s words, extending the time by an hour, seemed to displease the steward of Viscount Ondera. The steward of Marquis Pulp only narrowed his eyes, as if asking what the problem was, and turned the hands of the clock in the air.

I kept my mouth shut for a moment, observing their atmosphere. Despite being well aware of my reputation as a villainess, there was no sign of them being uncomfortable around me.

I felt a sense of arrogance, which couldn’t be avoided unless you looked down on others.

‘An eye for an eye.’

I clenched my fist, squinted my eyes, and gave them a decisive conclusion, as if asking what the problem was.

“Please inform your employees in advance. Come tomorrow morning at ten, leisurely tour the first floor without any reception, have lunch and tea on the second floor, and then come to my office at two in the afternoon. Both of you.”

The eyes of the two stewards widened.

“What? How can that be?”

“What do you mean? What’s the problem?”

“Madam President, our master is an extremely busy person. Moreover, an appointment at the same time as Viscount Ondera?”

They claimed to be busy and laughed when they said they had been waiting since yesterday.

“I apologize, but our Viscount Ondera is someone a mere business owner can’t summon or dismiss…”
“What? Just a business owner? Don’t you want to collaborate with me? Then why did you come?”

I immediately interrupted the stewards and delivered the necessary words.

“If you’re going to put it that way, I am a business owner, and aren’t you in front of the Duke of Linoir? Don’t you even know a mere steward like me? What kind of people my father and brother are…”

I might not know what kind of people my father and brother are, but I asserted my status first.

The mouths of the two stewards were shut more than I expected.

I purposely raised one corner of my mouth, gave a wicked smile, and did a slight chin gesture. To look like a heartless villainess.

“Both Viscount and Marquis should have prepared proposals for collaboration, so you must have brought them when you came, right?”

The expressions of the two stewards froze like statues.

They seemed to understand that I was telling them to bring better conditions from their masters than just being candidates for collaboration.

“As you both know, I’ve been busy going back and forth for various matters recently.”

Although the stewards seemed offended, whether they liked it or not, I raised my fist and straightened my head.

Since the candle business was already thriving, there was no reason for me to be lured away by them, especially by the servants of other families.

I held the reins of this business.

“I know the value of my business well. I don’t want to waste time squabbling over who goes where, even with a small matter like that.”

Sweat dripped from their foreheads.

“You both can directly experience the field, and tomorrow at two in the afternoon, nothing else. If you don’t want to do as I demand, you can pretend it never happened immediately. I will send a letter with the specific reasons for the cancellation to each of your masters.”

A quick nod came from the steward with the brown straight mustache, who was Viscount Ondera’s.

“We apologize for the intrusion. Please forgive us, and we will deliver your message to our masters.”

“Should you be concerned about what you said?”

The steward of Viscount Ondera swallowed a silent groan and bowed his head.

Upon that, the steward of Marquis Pulp, with the black handlebar mustache, quickly bowed his head too. Perhaps to prevent any sparks from flying, he had a much more polite attitude.

“We will also deliver the message first.”

Both stewards left room for the possibility that their masters might not comply with my demands.

“You won’t regret it. I hope you make a wise choice.”

The next morning at ten, Mild Gyeong came to the office.

He bowed politely to me, dressed not in knightly attire, but in a suit. Since there was still no steward, he would play the role of a steward today.

Anyway, Mild Gyeong’s suit seemed to suit him well.

“It suits you.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

He responded to my compliment with a pleased and gentle smile, then reported on the task I had assigned.

“I’ve checked the first-floor store.”

“Good. Did Viscount Ondera and Marquis Pulp come to the first-floor store on time?”

Now, let’s see who is more sincere in this collaboration.