MTLNOVEL Chapter 55
Had a day passed since I sent the newly launched tumbler separately?
At the break of dawn, news arrived that Baron Pavron was requesting an audience with the Grand Duke and me.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke. And my lady.”
In a small reception room attached to the Grand Duke’s residence.
Baron Pavron, whom we met there once again, looked noticeably better.
“I don’t even know how to properly express my gratitude….”
Baron Pavron, who had been fiddling with his neatly tied cravat, let out a deep, overwhelmed breath.
Worried that he might burst into tears in front of the Grand Duke, I gently shifted the conversation.
“You must be busy taking care of your sick wife. Is it alright for you to visit this early?”
“Yes. The physician is tending to her at the moment, so I was able to make some time. Hahaha.”
Baron Pavron let out a light laugh and then turned his gaze toward me with a small smile.
“Besides, if I didn’t come to express my gratitude first, my wife would see me as even more of a hopeless man.”
Awkwardly scratching the back of his head, the Baron wiped away the few tears that had gathered in his eyes.
“The tumbler not only kept the soup warm for a long time, but the food inside didn’t stick to the container or spoil easily. What kind of magic did you use…?”
“The mages of the Magic Tower are in charge of production. They work hard to ensure the product functions properly.”
Even at this very moment.
Hearing my words, Baron Pavron’s eyes lit up, and he replied in an excited voice.
“As expected of the Magic Tower! Thanks to it, my wife and I can travel long distances. We were actually thinking of visiting our hometown soon.”
“Your hometown? It must be quite far from here.”
“Not extremely far, but…”
While I was listening contentedly to the Baron’s thoughts, a commotion started nearby.
“Let go of me this instant!”
“You mustn’t do this, madam!”
Bang!
With the startled voice of an attendant, the firmly shut reception room door burst open.
And with a booming rebuke, someone appeared—
“You wretched fool!”
A noblewoman, dressed in an obviously expensive gown.
‘Huh? Did she come to the wrong palace?’
Now that I thought about it, there were many guests staying at the imperial palace, and I had heard that some occasionally lost their way.
I assumed this was another case of mistaken location and expected the noblewoman to apologize and leave.
However, rather than leaving, she addressed the Grand Duke with a fierce expression.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke Blaire.”
“…Marchioness Ambrose, why are you here?”
“I never thought I would have to show my face over such disgraceful matters. Haah. Pardon my intrusion.”
With a chilling voice, she stepped inside and shot a sharp glare at Baron Pavron.
The most surprising thing was Baron Pavron’s reaction upon seeing this uninvited guest.
“M-Mother!?”
What? She’s his mother? That wealthy-looking noblewoman?
The contrast between her appearance and Baron Pavron’s circumstances was so stark that I was briefly taken aback.
The Baron, now pale as a sheet, began trembling and backing away, looking utterly pitiful.
But why had Baron Pavron’s mother come all the way here?
Fortunately—or unfortunately—that question was quickly answered.
“You fool… You got yourself dragged away by knights for being involved in an illegal auction? Are you trying to bring disgrace upon our family!?”
“M-Mother! That’s not—Ouch!”
Smack! Smack!
Closing the distance in an instant, she began slapping his back before he could even finish his sentence.
What in the world is happening?
Unable to comprehend the situation, I stood there blankly. Then, I met eyes with the Grand Duke beside me.
“Do you… know her?”
The Grand Duke looked equally bewildered but nodded in response to my question.
Bending down slightly, he whispered into my ear.
“She’s Marchioness Ambrose.”
“What!?”
I clapped a hand over my mouth in disbelief.
“Ambrose? You mean the Marchioness Ambrose!?”
“Yes.”
“So, you’re saying Marchioness Ambrose is actually Baron Pavron’s mother?”
There was a good reason for my shock.
Because Ambrose Trading Company was…
‘A massive trade guild that delivers goods with unmatched speed, thanks to its vast capital and network.’
In simpler terms, it functioned similarly to South Korea’s Coup*ng.
Of course, their services were expensive, making them inaccessible to commoners, but Ambrose was renowned for its unparalleled delivery speed.
Moreover, thanks to the trust it had built over the years, the company had fewer restrictions on customs clearance.
That meant it was far more convenient than the Magic Tower, which took months just to process international shipments.
Perhaps because of its crucial role in logistics, Ambrose Trading Company was a major player in the original novel.
I had encountered Marchioness Ambrose before through the original work.
And I was also aware of her complicated circumstances.
‘This is an incredible stroke of luck, isn’t it?’
The Magic Tower was already overwhelmed by consumer demand.
Production could keep up, but shipments were getting delayed due to customs issues…
I had considered working with Ambrose before, but they valued long-term partnerships, so I hadn’t had an opportunity.
And yet, here we were.
‘I can’t let this chance slip by!’
Having been overworked in both modern-day South Korea and this world, I knew all too well what it was like to be on the suffering end.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch the Magic Tower struggle.
Gripping the hem of my dress tightly, I took a step forward.
“Wait a moment, madam?”
“What is it?”
Unlike Baron Pavron, Marchioness Ambrose had a fierce presence that made even speaking to her intimidating.
Her impeccably maintained appearance reflected her meticulous nature.
But the reason she was acting this way was likely because she truly cared for her son.
Undeterred by her cold tone, I clasped my hands together respectfully and approached her.
Then, I gently placed my hands over hers, which were still gripping Baron Pavron’s collar.
“Whatever you’re worried about, please don’t be. We have already taken care of your son’s situation.”
Wearing the brightest ‘business’ smile I could muster.
* * *
“…So, you’re saying you created the tumbler after hearing about your incompetent son and sick daughter-in-law?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Held in place by April, Marchioness Ambrose observed her with a displeased expression.
For someone who was a businesswoman to the core, scrutinizing a person upon their first meeting was second nature.
Recently, the capital—no, the entire continent—had been swept up by the popularity of comic books, blackout curtains, and tumblers.
It was surprising that the young lady sitting before her was behind all of them.
Moreover, she had assumed that the tumbler had been created simply to meet market demand, yet the truth was that it had originated from concern for her sick daughter-in-law.
‘Hmm.’
Her narrowed eyes deepened as she recalled Pavron’s wife, Elena.
She had married off her eldest son and youngest daughter based on family status, but lately, she couldn’t help but notice the shortcomings in their character.
Perhaps, despite coming from a humble background, her second son’s wife—who was both capable and skilled in managing a household—was the better choice.
She had never planned on cutting ties with her son, but that fool had left on his own, blinded by love and misunderstanding.
In the end, the ones who had suffered the most in this situation were the Marquis and Marchioness of Ambrose.
‘That foolish boy probably won’t even think about making amends first.’
Marchioness Ambrose stole a glance at Baron Pavron, who stood a short distance away.
She had never even seen her daughter-in-law’s face, let alone imagined that her illness was so severe…
If she had known sooner, she would have done everything possible to help treat her.
As she carefully went over April’s explanation in her mind, she finally spoke.
“So, you want me to help distribute the tumblers?”
“Not just tumblers. I’d like you to handle other products as well, including comic books.”
“You’re proposing a business deal. What are your terms?”
Countless merchants had sought partnerships with Ambrose Trading Company before—too many to count. This was likely no different.
However, since this person had helped her son, she was willing to spare some time to listen.
But then—
“You are currently looking to expand trade with the Ilamena Union, aren’t you? You also want access to their cheap labor.”
April’s response completely shattered her expectations.
“I can introduce you to the representative of the largest trade guild in Belle, one of the Union’s nations—Count Golbro’s daughter, Ginevra Golbro.”
“What did you just say…?”
“The representative is Count Golbro’s daughter, Ginevra Golbro. You’ve heard of her, haven’t you?”
Marchioness Ambrose’s mouth fell open.