The Merchant
“My lady, you have a guest from the Fulvous merchant.'' I was informed while I was laying pondering my future in my room.
It’s been five years since the negotiation with King Dietrich with the silver ore mine exclusivity with the royal family and of course, it was a huge success. We were able to establish a stronger foundation not only for the Marquess Schauss family but also earned the trust and support of the royal family. Though we need to keep the other aristocrats in the dark, we made a pretense that the mine found in the Southern Fief of Schauss was controlled by the Royal Family and is only bestowed the handling to the Marquis. Of course rumors around that, me, lady Arissae has thrown a tantrum during the birthday celebration and brazenly requested that the silver works be a privilege for her. Saying her greediness even at a young age circulates around the social circle and soon reaches even the commoners.
“I just wonder what Ari did for such rumors to be talked about in the capital, when both her and myself haven’t stepped foot there.” It was one dinner conversation with my doting father and brother. I have come accustomed to their sweet affection towards me as the youngest. Even the servants in the manor and aggregated with those false accusations.
“Wouldn’t it be more dangerous if we let those baseless accusations come to you Ari? I better tell the butler to investigate this matter.” It was the same worry of Aries and my father.
“It’s fine, that would make me a tougher subject and they wouldn’t even dare to make a move.” I told them, it is unusual for a young lady myself to be tough, my attitude that reflects as an adult has been normal to them. They thought that I have only matured early, enduring those who throw rocks on my reputation as the lady of the house. Thus, being strong has been my facade and they all supported me with no questions.
The original Arissae was actually taken advantage of by her kindness and later on was polluted by those who manipulated the young girl. They have molded her to become villainess using her anxiety and inferiority complex. The game story has only talked about how envious and greedy for the crown princess position is Arissae, but it never talked about how the complicated childhood of her has affected the wellbeing.
The young child was seeded with insecurities with her origin not being a pure blooded Seok noble, the anxiety of the Marquis condition who became crippled in the original story, the supposed to be position as the fiance of Seok’s prince but instead of a foreign princess of Jeon and many more that has build up to her and grew.
In this current time, the Marquis is not crippled, my brother Aries was not forced to have an early enlistment to the Imperial knight, while I, even though being the topic of rumors, now have a silver ore business with the royal family and our were able to get authority to train over the Callix knights that will be my trump card to prevent my doom as a villainess.
“I want to stop by first with brother Aries.” I told the maid, then she guided me towards the garden. I saw him together with the other researchers that we have hired to start with the medicinal field.
Aries is not born to hold a sword and face battles, he is one with the plants and nature.
It was a side story that was held for his birthday celebration, though being the Villainess’ brother he gathered attention of the players for his one line appearance in the death flag of Arissae.
“My sister Arissae, remember, until the end you will always be the most beautiful and noble blood among those thorns.”
*Takkkk!
I even cried at the scene, he sees her as his pure little sister up until the end, the scene of the Dramatic ending of each Male Targets’ route has all the same scenario. Either being exiled, decapitated, poisoned or even being sent to another world. The dramatic ending of Aries '' has been trending all over social media. That is when the developers decided to give us a side story of Aries Schauss and a little bit of their childhood.
Right now, I back hugged this amazing brother that I have. In my human life on earth, I have no brother to lean on or turn to, but this time, Aries is like the sunlight that warms up my cold thirst for familial love. Being reborn as the villainous daughter isn’t bad at all.
“Oh, Ari!” He smiled brightly and hugged back the little sister.
“Aries, the merchant has come, let's greet them together!” he nodded and told the rest of the researchers to continue. As we walked hand in hand along the hallway the servants adore us with loving eyes, seeing how the siblings get along.
“How was the research on Farabella brother?” I asked for the progress of that same plant that is meant to poison the Marquis and has caused trouble with brother Azure.
“It was a bit hard as we are all starting from scratch and the research was only established two years ago.” For the past five years, we have gathered resources and scholars from the territory of Schauss, where the medicine institute was established. However, the research of the Farabella plant is a secret, since it was a poisonous plant and it is punishable by law, we risk it for the benefit of its citizens only the Royal family and Marquis of Schauss knew of this.
Last month, the Marquis Altan, was sent to subdue the commotion caused by the infected Aureolins in the Min Kingdom. They are magical beasts- shapeshifters like humans. In the deep Min forest lies the Farabella plants. It is lethal to humans but is healing to their kind. The late king of Min has forbidden humans to enter the forest as they were often getting invaders from other Kingdom and is using the plant for their evil intentions. It was after the incident that King Dietrich reached out to the Min Kingdom, it was known that the Aureolins are hostile against the humans, however, the long silence raised suspicions from the other kingdom that something was wrong. Behind that news, the Marquis’ troops have a hidden agenda accepting and volunteering it is to gather as much as Farabella and grow it within the Schauss territory to find a cure.
An antidote.
As we reached the drawing room where the merchant was waiting, we were greeted by a pair of a father and a son.
“Greetings to the young lord and young miss.”
“Mister Fulvous, it’s a pleasant morning.” My brother who is the current highest person in the Marquis house welcomed the merchants who traveled year long by the sea.
“Hello Mister!” Behind is the cute and clumsy daughter of the Marquis that I pretended to be in front of this merchant.
Pavlio Fulvous, a rising businessman from the Jim island, when we are looking for merchants to bring in different kinds of seeds and herbs to be brought for the research institute. Sir Angelo, the house butler and right hand man of my father recommended him.
Based on the news, he is a man who can provide all trades.
“I see, the rumor can’t hold against the beauty of the young miss of the house of Schauss.”
“Really? Am I popular enough to be known even by the merchants?” He started humoring a child, let’s see then.
“Yes, it is.”
“Then there must be a lot of rumors about me that it even reached your ears?” He was taken aback, Aries who is beside me widened his eyes, telling me ‘not now’.
I ignored him, and continued to tattle at the merchant, “I haven’t been able to debut yet but I am already popular?” I looked at him straight to his eyes, making him feel pressured. At this time I slowly used my aura to suppress him. Just like the father and Aries, a knight's blood runs in me as well, with enough training I was able to control my own aura too. This is a discovery that was not mentioned in the story game, and since then I took advantage of it and learned a little of how to control this trait to be part of my surviving plan.
Does he think that because we are only noble children that we don’t know how to deal with people like him?
It is true to what Sir Angelo recommended, Pavlio, is not only a merchant but also an intel, that if he thinks of the other party as insignificant he won’t make the deal, even if they were to offer a large sum or even property.
You have to get him on his curious side.
It was clear that he felt a little prick as my aura reached him, however I was suddenly cut off with the interference of another force.
“..!” I took a sideway glance at Aries, however it was not him. Who else knew how to use an aura?
“You!” Then our attention was caught by the young boy beside him.
“You really are a villainous woman!” The child is the same height as me, tanned skin, golden eyes and silver hair. Those familiar descriptions.
Isn’t he the last member, I mean route to be revealed in the game Beloved Daughter of empire?
Raphelle Fulvous!