# 18
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Damian maintained a calm expression despite his servant's panicked whispers.
In fact, he himf was so shocked that his insides flipped over twice as if in a storm.
'What is this? Were the Cliffords planning a similar project?'
Because the basic structure that Ariana Clifford was talking about just now… was exactly the “superstore” that he called this in the business structure.
Instead of visiting small stores one by one, everything is gathered in one place. Without bargaining, it is operated with a fixed price system to minimize the loss of buyers...
When he first came up with this business idea, his heart was beating hard, but he couldn't bring it into the support project this time.
“It seems like it would be convenient...but who cares?”
Therefore, think about this proposal for a long time.
But no matter how interesting it was, it was difficult to get huge investments without certainty of success.
“Ah, that doesn't seem right.”
Unsure of how people would respond, Damien turned to the art market he was accustomed to.
Before the final discussions began, there was one last opportunity to present a secondary plan...
Damian looked directly at the woman in front of him.
His feeling that she was dazzlingly beautiful as if she were a work of art, as he had felt during the banquet, had not changed. But if the conversation continues like this, his perspective must change.
“Ma’am, your opinion is really interesting.”
“You are exaggerating.”
“I know how to flatter, but I don't talk nonsense, ma'am.”
His playful smile disappeared, and a sharp look appeared in his gray-blue eyes. He added a question: “So I would like to ask something else. If such a project were set up… would it succeed?”
“Yes, I think if it takes place, it will have a chance. Especially among middle-class women to begin with.”
Ariana was carefully rolling the sugar cube in her cup while thinking hard.
She was tense, her insides twisting as she tried to connect what she knew about the future to what she had learned in the past with an elegant explanation.
'But I have to do it well.'
She had to prove that her business ideas were valuable and that she could offer more in the future.
‘This man differs from Kenneth in his business approach.’
The nobles of Cremisa tended to despise commerce, but it was different in Dobris. So, despite their long acquaintance, their annual meetings were few.
If she could build a secret relationship with this man, she would be safe in a foreign country.
Not just her, but little Baby too.
'It may not matter if I'm alone, but I can't let Baby suffer in a foreign country.'
She was a child who was supposed to be the mistress of the duke family, but due to her mother's circumstances, she would live in another country. So, she had to prepare the best possible environment for her.
“A few years ago, with the advent of railways, everyone could travel, right?”
"correct."
“But I heard that those who use the trains the most are second and third class passengers. This means that the middle class has become financially powerful.”
Ariana felt a little sad while explaining.
Josefina always scolded her because going to school was the most uess thing. But she silently listened to many of the materials despite the reprimand.
'If I can't be Kenneth's lover, can't I at least maintain a relationship with him through business, like my brother?'
I don't want to get involved with someone else.
Even if I am made fun of as a spinster, I want to be valuable to him in business.
But what if eighteen-year-old Ariana knew that this dream would never come true? If she knew that no one would give her a chance to speak...
Ariana suppressed her sadness deep in her heart and smiled:
“So I think the Duke Family Hotel project is similar.”
“And if there is a place that collects a lot of goods, it will at least be pleasing to the eye.”
When she finished speaking with a slight rise in her tone, there was a silence filled with the soft chirping of birds and the rustle of tree leaves like water running in the ears.
Finally, Damian smiled with crescent eyes:
“It seems I met Fortuna (ruler of fortune) here.”
***
The place Kenneth visited today was the Royal Grace Palace in the capital.
From above, the palace appeared to be a long rectangle, with striking towering towers, a historic building that has been around since the beginning of Claude's royal family.
But nowadays, it has transformed from a royal residence into a place that combines the House of Nobles and the House of Commoners.
From the guards at the entrance to all the deputies he met, everyone greeted Kenneth politely: “Welcome, Sir Duke!”
When Duke Clifford joined the House of Lords, the nobles welcomed him with open arms.
Even the nobles could no longer easily ignore the popularity of the masses in this era.
With Kenneth, weren't laws that royalists could have previously passed by ignoring the opposition failed?
Most importantly, they were very reassured that the young duke had not stirred up a revolt out of revenge.
'If Republican rebels emerge because of this, it will be a disaster.'
The nobles held this concern, but in fact, the people of Cremisa, even the non-nobles, were very conservative.
For three hundred years, they have been eating Claude's family with potatoes for dinner, and they want to continue to enjoy it for another three hundred years.
Kenneth knew their intentions well, and reached a peace settlement with the royalists.
'As long as the Claude family doesn't commit more foolish things.'
But as he was examining a case raised by the Common Council, Roger, the secretary waiting behind him, whispered as he leaned in: “Look over there, sir.”
Kenneth only moved his eyes to look at the place Roger had pointed.
In the area opposite them, there were people he had never seen before mixed in the audience.
After assessing the area and the number of people, Roger added cautiously:
“The number of deputies from the temporary nobility has increased since last time.”
There were three classes eligible to serve in the House of Lords:
The first are hereditary nobles such as Kenneth, the second are the high clergy, and the last are temporary nobility who are granted titles that are not bequeathed to their children.
No matter their backgrounds or origins, there was reason to be wary of them.
‘Because the power to appoint the seats of temporary nobility belongs to the current Emperor Alexander.’
Andrew's runaway father.
After the Emperor had been watching Kenneth warily for a while...
“Huh.”
Kenneth remembered the man with the bulldog face who courted him at every meeting. If he faced him now, he would reply: “What’s wrong with granting temporary nobility titles to those who have contributed to the country?”
So…
“Roger, check their backgrounds carefully.”
"Good."
If he reveals what they are hiding behind the masks of titles, he will know what the royalists are planning.
Kenneth looked at the General Council case papers as if nothing had happened.
'Opposition to increasing the royalists' budget...'
This was quite appropriate for this situation.
Kenneth laughed lightly and decided to vote in agreement.
***
Hours later, the meeting ended, and people began to leave noisily.
Everyone tried to invite Kenneth to their clubs, but he silently declined by slightly tipping his hat.
The driver waiting outside the palace greeted him with astonishment at his early return: “Sir, where are you going? Are you visiting the office?”
“No, go straight back to the palace.”
In fact, his absence from the palace for half a day due to parliamentary matters was bothering him.
'What is Ariana doing foolishly now?'
He wasn't telling Ariana about his movements.
So, she always greeted him with a confused face.
“Kenneth, how was the meeting today? I'm sorry I didn't come out to greet you sooner...”
He didn't want to be nice to her.
However, I love seeing her blue eyes sparkle with confusion and guilt.
'Lately, her strange behavior has been bothering me.'
When he came back today, if Ariana acted like this, he might be a little lenient.
After a year of a very strict marriage, maybe it's time to lighten up.
But when he arrived at the palace, he did not find the woman running, holding the hem of her dress with quick steps.
He turned his gaze to the servant who looked disturbed: “It seems that the news of my arrival was delayed.”
“I apologize, sir. I conveyed the message, but-”
“So, where is Ariana now?”
“She is now with the guest in the garden.”