The Scorned Noble Lady Picks Up The Path of Alchemy in Her Second Life
The Last Contract (Zeel's Side 6)
Translated by: S3
-Horizontal.jpg)
*****
While Mia, walking her second life's path, was savoring her happiness.
In the reception room of a certain alchemist shop in the royal capital, Zeel and Catarina were breaking out in cold sweat.
「Why?! I cannot accept you suddenly wanting to cancel the annual contract!」
「That’s right! The potion delivery date isn't for a while yet, is it?」
Seated opposite them was their client, Count Bruce. However, his eyes were extremely cold.
「My apologies. I have had a change in circumstances on my end.」
Zeel had assumed a penalty fee would be incurred if the contract was unilaterally terminated, so he never thought an annual contract would be cut short like this. He was clutching his head.
「Please don't say that. We have dealt in potions for many years, and there has never been a single issue!」
「I am not complaining about the potions. I am proposing to cancel the contract because I have decided to re-evaluate my association with you.」
「That's absurd! You have no reason to re-evaluate when I haven't caused Count Bruce any trouble!」
Having lost his composure, Zeel involuntarily raised his voice.
Seeing him, Count Bruce sighed heavily in exasperation.
「Judging from the atmosphere of the shop, I would not say it is thriving. There are no products, no customers, and no vitality. It makes one wonder who truly managed the shop until now.」
「W-what are you talking about? This is my shop. The person who managed it is clearly me—」
「At the very least, no one thinks it was Lord Zeel. Not your employees, your customers, or your business partners. I only recall one woman who acted as if she were the person in charge of this shop.」
Zeel averted his gaze from Count Bruce, who was staring him straight in the eye.
It wasn't Zeel who gave instructions to the employees on customer service, entertained the business partners, or showed his face in the shop. That errand had been Mia's job.
「I was the one who made the shop's potions, so I am the person in charge.」
「What nonsense are you saying? As an alchemist shop, it is only natural to provide high-quality potions. I am saying that the person who added the supplementary value of trust and bore the responsibility is now gone.」
No one would call Zeel, who hid in the workshop to blend and indulged in recreation once his work was finished, the person in charge. Improving the relationship with Count Bruce had become quite difficult.
「I cannot continue a contract with a shop that has lost its trust. Don't you think breaking the contract is a natural consequence?」
Zeel fiercely resisted Count Bruce, who was relentlessly forcing him to face reality.
「Are you sure about that? I'm going to get serious, you know? I'm going to give it my all right now and make an incredible potion. If you want to resume the deal later, it will be too late.」
Count Bruce gave him a pitying look at the childish threat.
「Are you familiar with noble etiquette, Lord Zeel? My Noble House is a military family. While I have a deep relationship with the Hopewell family, I have no intention of continuing business with the foolish Voitos family. Perhaps you underestimated a Viscount House and made yourself a little too noticeable.」
Stung by the harsh words, Zeel came to his senses. This person in front of him was a client and the head of a Count's house. He regretted adopting such a belligerent attitude despite being in a weak position.
「Ah, you're talking about the rumors. Those are merely fabrications spread by Viscount Hopewell, and...」
「That is precisely the point, Lord Zeel. If you create potions that save people's lives, you should present a more sincere demeanor.」
「W-what are you saying? It's all Mia's fault! Mia is lying!」
He made a desperate excuse for self-defense, but there was no way he would be believed. The person Count Bruce trusted was Mia, not Zeel.
「Those who have had dealings with Viscount Hopewell's daughter never speak ill of her. Nobles as well as adventurers say the same thing, so she is impeccable.」
Bluntly denied, Zeel recalled words that sounded strangely familiar.
When he attended noble parties, people always praised Mia.
「You met a wonderful fiancée.」
「I envy you.」
「She's too good for you, Lord Zeel, isn't she?」
He had dismissed them as superficial remarks that nobles often used, but now, Zeel couldn't tell what the truth was. However, the tone of Count Bruce's voice didn't sound like flattery.
「When requesting an escort in the royal capital, she always met with the adventurers face-to-face. Even if it was early in the morning and pouring rain. She is a kind girl who always takes care to ensure that no trouble arises between the client and the contractor.」
Thinking back, Mia helped with the shop work without ever showing displeasure. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and prepared the potions earlier than anyone else, even on holidays.
He had thought that was a given. He thought it was normal for a fiancée.
But, surely, in the wider world...
「She was a good fiancée, wasn't she, Lord Zeel?」
「T-that's not—」
Just as he tried to weakly deny it, Catarina, who had been listening by his side the entire time, gently took hold of Zeel's hand.
「Lord Zeel, I... I feel like you don't have to deny it anymore. I've had a faint feeling all along that everything was going well thanks to Senior Mia.」
Even after hearing the words of Catarina, who could be called his closest ally, Zeel's feelings remained unchanged. He slowly pushed Catarina's hand away and shook his head.
「I am... a genius alchemist. I cannot simply admit to that.」
If he acknowledged Mia's existence, he would also have to admit his own incompetence. Zeel absolutely couldn't do that, even when faced with Count Bruce's scathing attitude.
「Is that so? It is impossible for me to deal with a person who cannot even acknowledge past mistakes. You should reflect after you have fallen as far as you can fall. Though it may be too late for many things.」
After saying that, Count Bruce departed, leaving Zeel with a look like he had bitten into a bitter worm.
—To be abandoned by one person after another just because I've fallen into an alchemy slump. I will admit that Mia worked hard. But that's all. None of them can see what's truly important.
With his last contract severed, Zeel couldn't hide his frustration. Yet, on the other side, Catarina wore a somewhat refreshing smile.
「Maybe... I admired Senior. I was jealous of how adventurers, commoners, and nobles all liked her, and maybe I was just taking advantage of the situation.」
Zeel felt a complicated emotion toward Catarina, who so easily admitted her fault. It was a feeling that was embarrassing, unsightly, and perhaps envious... an inexpressible emotion that only made him angrier.
「Are you planning to start over now?」
「Hmm, it might be difficult to get Senior's forgiveness. But... there's one place that might give me a chance to start over.」
Zeel's anger was uncontrollable toward Catarina, who was reflecting and trying to start over on her own.
「Nonsense! I am absolutely not wrong! You will all regret insulting me, the genius alchemist!」
Zeel stood up abruptly and headed toward the workshop, knowing that the herbs he had forced himself to buy were running out.
While Mia, walking her second life's path, was savoring her happiness.
In the reception room of a certain alchemist shop in the royal capital, Zeel and Catarina were breaking out in cold sweat.
「Why?! I cannot accept you suddenly wanting to cancel the annual contract!」
「That’s right! The potion delivery date isn't for a while yet, is it?」
Seated opposite them was their client, Count Bruce. However, his eyes were extremely cold.
「My apologies. I have had a change in circumstances on my end.」
Zeel had assumed a penalty fee would be incurred if the contract was unilaterally terminated, so he never thought an annual contract would be cut short like this. He was clutching his head.
「Please don't say that. We have dealt in potions for many years, and there has never been a single issue!」
「I am not complaining about the potions. I am proposing to cancel the contract because I have decided to re-evaluate my association with you.」
「That's absurd! You have no reason to re-evaluate when I haven't caused Count Bruce any trouble!」
Having lost his composure, Zeel involuntarily raised his voice.
Seeing him, Count Bruce sighed heavily in exasperation.
「Judging from the atmosphere of the shop, I would not say it is thriving. There are no products, no customers, and no vitality. It makes one wonder who truly managed the shop until now.」
「W-what are you talking about? This is my shop. The person who managed it is clearly me—」
「At the very least, no one thinks it was Lord Zeel. Not your employees, your customers, or your business partners. I only recall one woman who acted as if she were the person in charge of this shop.」
Zeel averted his gaze from Count Bruce, who was staring him straight in the eye.
It wasn't Zeel who gave instructions to the employees on customer service, entertained the business partners, or showed his face in the shop. That errand had been Mia's job.
「I was the one who made the shop's potions, so I am the person in charge.」
「What nonsense are you saying? As an alchemist shop, it is only natural to provide high-quality potions. I am saying that the person who added the supplementary value of trust and bore the responsibility is now gone.」
No one would call Zeel, who hid in the workshop to blend and indulged in recreation once his work was finished, the person in charge. Improving the relationship with Count Bruce had become quite difficult.
「I cannot continue a contract with a shop that has lost its trust. Don't you think breaking the contract is a natural consequence?」
Zeel fiercely resisted Count Bruce, who was relentlessly forcing him to face reality.
「Are you sure about that? I'm going to get serious, you know? I'm going to give it my all right now and make an incredible potion. If you want to resume the deal later, it will be too late.」
Count Bruce gave him a pitying look at the childish threat.
「Are you familiar with noble etiquette, Lord Zeel? My Noble House is a military family. While I have a deep relationship with the Hopewell family, I have no intention of continuing business with the foolish Voitos family. Perhaps you underestimated a Viscount House and made yourself a little too noticeable.」
Stung by the harsh words, Zeel came to his senses. This person in front of him was a client and the head of a Count's house. He regretted adopting such a belligerent attitude despite being in a weak position.
「Ah, you're talking about the rumors. Those are merely fabrications spread by Viscount Hopewell, and...」
「That is precisely the point, Lord Zeel. If you create potions that save people's lives, you should present a more sincere demeanor.」
「W-what are you saying? It's all Mia's fault! Mia is lying!」
He made a desperate excuse for self-defense, but there was no way he would be believed. The person Count Bruce trusted was Mia, not Zeel.
「Those who have had dealings with Viscount Hopewell's daughter never speak ill of her. Nobles as well as adventurers say the same thing, so she is impeccable.」
Bluntly denied, Zeel recalled words that sounded strangely familiar.
When he attended noble parties, people always praised Mia.
「You met a wonderful fiancée.」
「I envy you.」
「She's too good for you, Lord Zeel, isn't she?」
He had dismissed them as superficial remarks that nobles often used, but now, Zeel couldn't tell what the truth was. However, the tone of Count Bruce's voice didn't sound like flattery.
「When requesting an escort in the royal capital, she always met with the adventurers face-to-face. Even if it was early in the morning and pouring rain. She is a kind girl who always takes care to ensure that no trouble arises between the client and the contractor.」
Thinking back, Mia helped with the shop work without ever showing displeasure. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and prepared the potions earlier than anyone else, even on holidays.
He had thought that was a given. He thought it was normal for a fiancée.
But, surely, in the wider world...
「She was a good fiancée, wasn't she, Lord Zeel?」
「T-that's not—」
Just as he tried to weakly deny it, Catarina, who had been listening by his side the entire time, gently took hold of Zeel's hand.
「Lord Zeel, I... I feel like you don't have to deny it anymore. I've had a faint feeling all along that everything was going well thanks to Senior Mia.」
Even after hearing the words of Catarina, who could be called his closest ally, Zeel's feelings remained unchanged. He slowly pushed Catarina's hand away and shook his head.
「I am... a genius alchemist. I cannot simply admit to that.」
If he acknowledged Mia's existence, he would also have to admit his own incompetence. Zeel absolutely couldn't do that, even when faced with Count Bruce's scathing attitude.
「Is that so? It is impossible for me to deal with a person who cannot even acknowledge past mistakes. You should reflect after you have fallen as far as you can fall. Though it may be too late for many things.」
After saying that, Count Bruce departed, leaving Zeel with a look like he had bitten into a bitter worm.
—To be abandoned by one person after another just because I've fallen into an alchemy slump. I will admit that Mia worked hard. But that's all. None of them can see what's truly important.
With his last contract severed, Zeel couldn't hide his frustration. Yet, on the other side, Catarina wore a somewhat refreshing smile.
「Maybe... I admired Senior. I was jealous of how adventurers, commoners, and nobles all liked her, and maybe I was just taking advantage of the situation.」
Zeel felt a complicated emotion toward Catarina, who so easily admitted her fault. It was a feeling that was embarrassing, unsightly, and perhaps envious... an inexpressible emotion that only made him angrier.
「Are you planning to start over now?」
「Hmm, it might be difficult to get Senior's forgiveness. But... there's one place that might give me a chance to start over.」
Zeel's anger was uncontrollable toward Catarina, who was reflecting and trying to start over on her own.
「Nonsense! I am absolutely not wrong! You will all regret insulting me, the genius alchemist!」
Zeel stood up abruptly and headed toward the workshop, knowing that the herbs he had forced himself to buy were running out.
*****
Thank you for reading.
If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below.
Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.
OR
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
-Horizontal.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment