Has it been a day since you sent the new mug separately?
At daybreak, news arrived that Baron Bavron requested an audience with the Grand Duke and with me.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke. And Madam.”
In a small reception room attached to the Grand Duke's residence.
Baron Bavron, whom we met there again, seemed noticeably better off.
“I don't even know how to properly express my gratitude...”
Baron Bavron, who was fiddling with his carefully tied tie, let out a deep, irritated breath.
I was afraid that he would burst into tears in front of the Grand Duke, so I gently changed the course of the conversation.
“You must be busy taking care of your sick wife. Is it okay for you to visit her this early?”
“Yes. The doctor is taking care of her right now, so I was able to find some time. Haha.”
Baron Bavron let out a light laugh and then turned his gaze to me with a small smile.
“Besides, if I don’t come to express my gratitude first, my wife will see me as an even more desperate man.”
The Baron awkwardly scratched the back of his head, then wiped away the few tears that had gathered in his eyes.
“Not only did the cup keep the soup warm for a long time, but the food inside didn’t stick to the pot or spoil easily. What kind of magic did you use…?”
“The magicians of the Magic Tower are in charge of the production. They work hard to ensure the product works properly.”
Even at this very moment.
When Baron Bavron heard my words, his eyes lit up, and he responded in an excited voice.
“As expected from a magic tower! Thanks to it, my wife and I can travel long distances. We were already thinking of visiting our hometown soon.”
“Your hometown? It must be very far from here.”
“Not very far, but...”
While I was listening contently to the Baron's thoughts, a commotion began nearby.
“Leave me now!”
“You shouldn't do this, ma'am!”
explosion!
With the voice of a panicked employee, the tightly closed reception room door suddenly opened.
With a loud scolding voice, someone appeared.
“You miserable fool!”
A noble lady, clearly wearing an expensive dress.
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 of them sometimes lost their way.
I assumed this was another case of misplacement, and expected the noblewoman to apologize and leave.
But instead of leaving, she addressed the Grand Duke with a sharp expression.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke Blair.”
“…Marcion Ambrose, why are you here?”
“I never imagined that I would have to go public over such shameful matters. Huh. Sorry for interfering.”
With a frightening voice, she stepped inside and shot Baron Bavron a sharp look.
What was most surprising was Baron Bavron's reaction upon seeing this uninvited guest.
"My mom!?"
What? It's his mother? That rich-looking noble lady?
The contrast between her appearance and Baron Bavron's circumstances was so stark that I was momentarily stunned.
The Baron, his face as pale as death, began to tremble and fall back, looking utterly pitiful.
But why did Baron Bavron's mother come here?
Fortunately – or unfortunately – this question was quickly answered.
“You idiot… Did you get yourself dragged away by knights for participating in an illegal auction? Are you trying to bring shame to our family?!”
"Mom! This isn't… ugh!"
slap! slap!
Quickly, she began patting his back before he could finish his sentence.
What on earth is going on?
I could not comprehend the situation, so I remained standing in amazement. Then my eyes met the eyes of the Grand Duke standing next to me.
“Do you know her?”
The Grand Duke looked equally confused, but nodded in response to my question.
He leaned down slightly and whispered in my ear.
“It is the Marchioness Ambrose.”
"What!?"
I put my hand over my mouth in disbelief.
“Ambrose? Do you mean the Marchioness Ambrose?!”
"Yes."
“So, you're saying that the Marchioness Ambrose is actually Baron Bavron's mother?”
There was good reason for my shock.
Because Ambrose Trading Company was...
“A huge merchant guild that delivers goods at unparalleled speed, thanks to its capital and vast network.”
In simpler terms, it worked similarly to the South Korean coup.
Of course, their services were expensive, putting them out of reach of the general public, but Ambrose was famous for its unparalleled speed of delivery.
Moreover, thanks to the trust the company has built over the years, it has fewer restrictions on customs clearance.
This meant it was much more convenient than Magic Tower, which took months to process international shipments alone.
Perhaps because of its crucial role in logistics, Ambrose Trading Company was a major player in the original novel.
I was introduced to Marchioness Ambrose before through the original work.
I was also aware of her complex circumstances.
“That's an amazing stroke of luck, isn't it?”
Magic Tower was already experiencing tremendous pressure due to consumer demand.
Production was able to keep up with demand, but shipments were delayed due to customs issues...
I had considered working with Ambrose before, but they valued long-term partnerships, so I didn't have the opportunity.
And yet, here we are.
I can't let this opportunity slip away from me!
Having been exhausted in both modern South Korea and this world, I knew all too well what it meant to be on the side of things.
I couldn't stand by and watch the Magic Tower struggle.
I grabbed the hem of my dress tightly, then took a step forward.
“Wait a minute, ma’am?”
"What is this?"
Unlike Baron Bavron, the Marchioness Ambrose had a powerful presence that made even talking to her intimidating.
Her elegant and meticulously maintained appearance reflects her delicate nature.
But the reason she acted this way was probably because she truly cared for her son.
I was unaffected by her cold tone, so I respectfully clasped my hands and approached her.
Then I gently placed my hand on top of hers, which were still holding Baron Bavron's collar.
"Whatever you're worried about, please don't worry. We've already taken care of your son's situation."
I wore the coolest “business” smile I could create.
* * *
“…So, you’re saying that you made the mug after hearing about your incompetent son and sick daughter-in-law?”
"Yes, this is correct."
As April held her, Marchioness Ambrose watched her with a dissatisfied expression.
For someone who was a businesswoman in every sense of the word, scrutinizing a person upon first meeting was very natural.
Recently, the popularity of comic books, blinds and mugs has swept the entire capital – indeed the entire continent.
It was surprising that the young woman who was sitting in front of her was behind all of them.
Furthermore, she assumed that the mug was created simply to meet market demand, but the truth was that it arose out of concern for her sick daughter-in-law.
‘Hmm.’
Her eyes narrowed and her gaze deepened as she remembered Pavron's wife, Elena.
She had married off her eldest son and youngest daughter based on their family status, but lately, she couldn't help but notice the shortcomings in their personalities.
Perhaps, despite being brought up in a humble environment, her second daughter-in-law – who was capable and skilled at managing the household – would have been the better choice.
She had never planned to cut ties with her son, but that idiot left on his own accord, blinded by love and misunderstanding.
In the end, it was the Marquis and Marchioness of Ambrose who suffered the most in this situation.
“That foolish boy probably won't even think about fixing things first.”
Marquis Ambrose glanced at Baron Bavron, who was standing a short distance away.
She had never seen her daughter-in-law's face, let alone imagined that her illness was so severe…
If she had known this earlier, she would have done everything in her power to help her with her treatment.
As she carefully reviewed April's explanation in her mind, she finally spoke.
“So, you want me to help distribute the cups?”
“Not just mugs. I would like you to handle other products as well, including comic books.”
“You are proposing a business deal. What are your terms?”
Countless merchants have sought partnerships with Ambrose Trading Company before – too many to count. This was likely no different.
But since this person had helped her son, she was willing to take the time to listen to him.
But then—
“You are currently seeking to expand trade with the Ilamina Federation, right? You also want to take advantage of their cheap labor.”
April's response completely shattered her expectations.
“I can introduce to you the representative of the largest merchant guild in Bel, one of the nations of the Federation – Count Golbru’s daughter, Ginevra Golbru.”
“What did you just say…?”
“The actress is Count Golbru's daughter, Ginevra Golbru. You've heard of her, haven't you?”
Marquise Ambrose's mouth opened in astonishment.