Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The Lombardi mansion was bustling. I looked out the classroom window to find dozens of visitor carriages parked along the road that led from the front gate to the main building. The staff also seemed busier than usual.

As I stared blankly at the scene, someone called my name.

“Lady Firentia.”

It was Clerivan, looking particularly dashing in a navy tunic.

“Lady Lorraine just said that a merchant’s most valuable asset is a ‘trustworthy business partner.’”

“Oh.”

I had momentarily forgotten that I was in the middle of class. Clerivan, true to himself, insisted on holding class even on such a busy day.

“What do you think?” Clerivan asked again, noticing my blank stare.

What do I think? What else would I think?

“I think she’s right.”

A trustworthy business partner was critical for a merchant. Because it wasn’t easily obtained, it indeed qualified as a valuable asset.

“So you agree with Lady Lorraine’s opinion? That a business partner is the most valuable asset?”

“Hmm. Not exactly. I think something similar, but a bit different.”

“Well, it is your turn, so please give us your response to the assignment.”

I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed. There was no definitive answer to such a question. Everyone had different values.

“I think that a merchant’s most valuable asset is ‘people.’”

It might sound like a cliché, but this is what I believe.

“In the end, it all involves people. Every important decision and every difficult choice has to be made by a person.”

Watching my father work had led to my realization. Originally, the coroy textile business had been doomed to fail, and it would have caused considerable damage to the Lombardi family.

The family would have been able to recover financially, but there would’ve been irreversible damage elsewhere.

The source of the problem was the trust of people purchasing the unfamiliar fabric purely based on the Lombardi name. In the original scenario, Grandfather would’ve had to cover the unsold fabric losses backed by the Lombardi name, causing an even larger dent in the family’s finances.

But this time, I intervened.

I wasn’t an expert in the textile industry, but I did make one change. I replaced the person in charge, swapping out Viese and replacing him with my father. That single change made a tremendous difference.

“And when a merchant makes more and more money,” I continued, “they can’t do everything alone. Having trustworthy people around them becomes even more valuable, doesn’t it?”

In fact, that applied to more than just commerce. It applied to emperors and patriarchs as well.

The emperor had scraped together all of his wealth to establish the academy, and he married off his descendants to powerful noble families. Those moves ensured that he had trustworthy allies.

Grandfather dedicated his energy to collecting talented individuals for the same reason. Moreover, Grandfather didn’t just stop there. He ran a scholarship system to educate and nurture such promising individuals.

All of those investments were ultimately to acquire ‘people,’ which is why I planned to walk a similar path.

The difference between my grandfather and me lay in probabilities. I chose to look at the likelihood of those talented individuals not reaching their potential. I also considered the possibility that some loyalties would extend beyond the Lombardi family.

Because the scholarship system was not a form of indentured servitude, many participants completed their studies and found a different noble house to work for. Though Grandfather never specifically talked about it, I imagined that it was quite painful each time it happened.

But I’m different. I plan to befriend and invest in individuals who will make a significant impact in the future. Moreover, since I already know their exact wants and needs, I can swiftly make them “my people.”

Not people of the Lombardis or the second-born prince. My people.

I pictured the faces of individuals I planned to recruit.

My resources for taking action are currently limited, so I’m not able to reach out to all of them just yet.

I sighed internally and looked at the first person I intended to make my ally.

“What do you think, Teacher?”

Clerivan—the commerce guru who started with nothing to his name, yet created one of the top merchant guilds in the empire—was right in front of me. I wasn’t going to let him get away.

My recruitment began with giving him the cutest, smartest smile a child could give.

“Good idea.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

How is anyone going to reject a young child who’s not only smart and cute, but respectful with a lot of charm?

“Ahem.”

Of course.

I watched a small smile creep onto the right side of Clerivan’s mouth.

It looked like Clerivan was going to continue teaching until he suddenly turned around, wiped his hands, and said, “That’s all for today. Considering what day it is, we’ll end early.”

Giliou and Mayron celebrated enthusiastically.

“Yay! We’re done!”

“Freedom!”

Are you two enjoying this a little too much?

Clerivan quietly began to organize his books.

“I will see you all at the banquet hall in a little bit.”

With that, the twins each grabbed one of my arms and started to pull me.

“Let’s go, Tia! Hurry!”

“I’m hungry! Let’s go before all the good stuff is gone!”

There was no way food would run out at an event hosted by the Lombardi family, but the hungry ten-year-olds ran like angry bulls.

I tried to calm them down.

“I’m the star of the show today. The food won’t come out until I arrive.”

“Oh, really? Then we really need to rush!”

“Yeah! Let’s eat all the good food first!”

“Jeez.”

I was basically in a half-sprint while being dragged by the twins. As I started to run out of breath, and my heart began to race, I felt increasingly joyful.

I couldn't help but laugh as I ran down the Lombardi mansion’s grand hallways, which felt even more immense because I was a child.

“Happy Birthday, Tia!” Mayron and Gilliou shouted.

That’s right.

Today is my eighth birthday.

***

Eleanor Hall, where most of our parties were held, was bustling.

An orchestra was playing cheerful music, and a delicious aroma emanating from the kitchen tantalized my senses. Everything was of the highest quality, from the plush carpet to the ornate centerpieces on each table or the long curtains draped over the windows.

It was easy to identify those who were attending a Lombardi party for the first time. They couldn’t take their eyes off the lavish paintings and sculptures that adorned the high ceilings.

As the twins and I entered the banquet hall, I surveyed the scene as if seeing it for the first time. I couldn’t help but mutter, “It’s great being a Lombardi...”

What other family in the world could host such a grand and splendid banquet?

All this for an eight-year-old.

In my previous life, my eighth birthday had been extremely average.

I had played games with my father that morning, and in the evening I’d had a family dinner. I’d gone back to my room to find presents on the floor. Of course, those presents were more expensive than average, but it had been a pretty low-key affair.

“Whoa! Yippee!”

“Look! Jesters!”

The room held quite a few children from other noble families (likely because it was a child’s birthday party). And, as the twins mentioned, there were also jesters.

“Why are there so many people here though?”

There’s no way all these people came just to celebrate my birthday.

Some people probably attended simply to see what a Lombardi party was like, but the event wasn’t important enough for the typical nobles to get off their heavy butts and observe.

Suddenly, someone tapped on my shoulder.

“Happy birthday, Tia.”

“Lorraine.”

Lorraine looked even more beautiful than usual. Half her hair was pulled back into a braid and held in place with a ribbon that matched those on her dress.

“The rest of the family is over there, in the front. Let’s go.”

Eleven-year-old Lorraine grabbed my hand and walked me over to the area.

“Take us with you!” cried the twins, who had been busy eating the fruits while they waited for the banquet to start.

The crowd appeared difficult for a group of four children to navigate, but something odd happened. The loud, busy throngs of people suddenly parted like the sea and allowed us to walk easily through.

They must be conscious of us.

Despite my own shock, Lorraine and the twins seemed quite familiar with the situation. My father did not often join noble events and parties, so I had not attended many banquets.

That wasn’t the case for my cousins. They had accompanied their parents to many banquets.

After walking through the attentive crowd, I saw the rest of the family gathered in the front, just as Lorraine had mentioned. Shananet, Viese, Laurel, and their families were all in attendance.

They looked quite impressive.

Seeing the Lombardi family from a distance, regardless of what they were like on the inside, attracted the envy of other nobles. One could say there was an aura about them.

“Firentia, come here,” grandfather beckoned with a smile.

Lorraine let go of my hand, and I dashed over to Grandfather with a grin of my own.

“What do you think about your birthday banquet?”

Should I be honest?

I decided to be a kind granddaughter and chose my words carefully.

“I’m so surprised. So many people showed up to my birthday, Grandpa.”

My grandfather laughed heartily as he patted me on the head.

“Grandpa summoned some of his friends. I asked them to wish you a happy birthday, Firentia.”

“Wow! I see!”

“You might not understand at your age, but for adults, who comes to celebrate you is more important than what is being celebrated.”

Of course I know, Grandfather.

I looked around at the attendees with a new perspective. They were all definitely top-tier nobles with great power. Their status at my party symbolized the social standing of both me and the Lombardis.

“And just as many of the people here were invited by your grandfather, many others are guests of your father.”

In terms simplified for a child, that implied many people were trying to form connections with my father.

I suppose this is the aftermath of Father’s textile business becoming a success.

“But where is Daddy, Grandfather?”

Grandfather looked slightly startled at my question, but answered, “Well... he mentioned he might be a little late. He said he would come straight here after a quick visit to the workshop, so he should be here soon.”

“Okay.”

Father’s success is a hundred times better than a birthday party.

Grandfather smiled at me and raised his glass. Remarkably, the bustling banquet hall fell silent at the gesture.

“Now that the birthday girl is here, shall we begin the festi—?”

Someone opened the door behind me and entered. At first, I thought it was my father.

However, a different figure walked elegantly into the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“What...?” I mumbled in surprise.

The figure, accustomed to hundreds of eyes on him, approached slowly and greeted me first.

“Hello, Firentia.”

Grandfather always said that those who celebrate you are more important than the celebrations themselves. I looked inquisitively up at my grandfather.

Umm, Grandpa?

What happens when the first-born prince shows up as an uninvited guest?