Chapter 28

Now here comes the kicker.

"Now, here is my proposal Marquis, so long as you provide the amount of Likrelstien I need. I will buy it exclusively from you, however, if you are unable to prepare enough for me, I may have to start outsourcing. Also, the 25% discount applies here too, I did the math and you sold the amount of Likrelstien needed for one bar of soap for about 6 silver in the past, but it only cost you about 2-3 silver to acquire it, so I think buying it for 4.5 silver is still a fair price considering you will be making millions of silver per year if you do this."

"Yes! I'll do it!" He jumped up at my proposal.

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh god, this is too easy, I still have more to go.

"Wait a moment, I have one more thing to add on, Marquis."

I was originally going to go with that price, but because he jumped up so eagerly, I might as well squeeze a little more out of him.

"Really? Oh, I apologize for my unsightly behaviour."

"It's quite alright. Now, this is a little extra deal for you. If you sell me the Likrelstien for 4 silvers per bar's worth and negate the clause I discussed earlier about me being forced to buy the same amount of products for Selena, then I have something else to offer you."

He seemed to ponder it. "The clause about you buying a certain amount from me has no meaning if this other business of yours really makes this much money. But the extra 50 copper per bar of soap is a lot to ask. So what is your proposition."

I smiled, this part is purely for my own benefit. I benefit on both sides of this transaction, I'm only making it seem like he profits instead of me.

"Now, remember that the document you signed earlier states that you cannot speak of this conversation nor use these ideas if I don't allow you too."

He nods.

"Then, I have zero intention of becoming king. So you should support my brother Julian. I know that you have been staying neutral in hopes that the Pute Marquiss family would get screwed over if I ascend to the throne, but I will never do that. So, I offer you the chance of a lifetime. Your only reason for staying neutral is because you think the Pute family will benefit more than you will if you join my brother's faction, is it not?"

"You're right, it is."

"Then, what if you gain more than them?"

His eyes widened for a split second before he steeled his expression. "What do you mean?"

I chuckled. "My step mother Harper is an idiot, all you need to do is make a deal with her. Now, for this deal to work, you need to make sure you do something similar to what I've done today, force her to make a decision on the spot and don't let her consult with anyone."

He took a second. "Did you just call me an idiot?"

I waved my hand in front of my face. "Potato, Potato. That's not the point."

He just sighed.

I continued on. "Alright, so this is the deal you make with her, I wrote it down but I'll just explain it out loud since I'm here. Basically, you offer to join her faction on two conditions. One is that she starts advertising for my business, give her sample products like the ones I just gave you and get her to tell the people in Julian's faction that this is the best new product. Then we will have both the queen and queen consort telling the people that our product is perfect and amazing and then everyone will want it, especially the commoners."

He cut in. "Isn't this just beneficial for you?"

I held up my arms in surrender. "While I admit, this does help me, but as you will be the exclusive provider of all my materials, any good business for me is good business for you. Besides, you didn't let me get to the best part. You need to ask her to appoint you as the treasurer of the kingdom when Julian rises to the throne. Now, you MUST get this on paper, on a magic contract. This is also the reason you need to speak with her alone, otherwise someone might catch onto how beneficial this is to you. Ah, also make sure you call it an advisor, not treasurer, I know it means the same thing but if she hears you say the word treasure she will think you're after her money. Which you are but I digress. Anyway, you just need to tell her that you wish to advise Julian on how he will make more money, as well as save it up, make sure you don't say anything out loud about the fact that you will have control over how he can spend it or how much he makes from taxes. You will have some access to those things but if she finds out even she might realize it's a scam and back out. So, how's about it, you willing to become one of the most powerful people and families in the empire for a mere 50 copper discount?"

"Ha, hahahaha, HAHAHAHAHAHA! Will this really work?" He asked.

I nodded. "I can't say 100% but probably like 95%+. You just need to make sure you frame it so that it seems like you will be helping her and Julian make more money if you get the position, which I'm sure you actually will. You'll just make sure they don't waste it and fix up the economy a bit."

He calmed down and seriously pondered the situation. "What if my negotiations with the queen consort break down?"

"Then, if you do join her faction on the sole condition that she promotes our product I will still be taking the 4 silver per bar of soap deal, but I will still purchase as much as Selena does for the next 5 years. However, should you decide to not join her faction at all and stay neutral, then we go back to the original deal of a 25% discount at 4.5 silver per bar as well as me matching Selena's purchases for 5 years."

He pondered. "So basically, the more I get from the queen consort, the more you take from me?"

I nodded. In truth, I couldn't care less whether he becomes the financial advisor, I just want him to join Julian's side. Either way I win in this situation, I only said those things just now to make him think that I would prefer if he stayed neutral. Otherwise he might realize that I'm just wringing extra money out of him for no reason.