“Ha, you call this a feast to honor your benefactor? It’s nothing but a display of gaudy, nouveau riche tastes. Absolutely shameful.”
Franz moved his bulging, sleepless eyes in disbelief and plopped himself down on an empty chair.
“Franz! How dare you speak like that in front of Leonora-san—”
“Ah, you must be the famous Saint of Selflessness, Leonora von Hakenberg. It’s a pleasure. I am Franz, the eldest son of the Bernstein family.”
Despite his father’s reprimand, Franz did not soften his tone—in fact, his words grew even sharper. He leaned on his elbow and stared intently at Leonora.
“Indeed, you are beautiful. But is it true that you are selfless? You enjoy Uvaik wine, Gubelk beef, and handle Tanstedt knives, while listening to a full orchestra and indulging yourself. Truly remarkable.”
“Franz!”
Hagel scolded sharply and bowed deeply to Leonora. “I apologize sincerely.”
Oscar, caught between confusion and irritation, spoke up to his brother.
“You don’t have to put it that way, big brother. Besides, you said you couldn’t make it today—”
“Hmph. So the troublesome failure gets left out, huh? Hey, bring me some of that wine and steak too.”
Ignoring the tense atmosphere, Franz haughtily called for the servants and began his meal alone, chomping noisily.
(Oh, there’s always one like this in every group.)
Leonora observed him calmly, thinking he probably wasn’t popular. But when Franz sarcastically remarked,
“Training? You waste absurd amounts of money on this. Do you know how much it costs to hire an orchestra? Money should be saved, not spent like this.”
Her heart raced.
(This guy… he’s capable!)
Leonora looked down at the cutlery she held and the gourmet food she had been consuming. Indeed, she had taken advantage of the free meal, indulging without appreciating its value.
Realizing this, she was overcome with bitter regret.
(Damn it, I’m such a fool. Just because it’s free, I didn’t even bother to assess its worth. True gratitude should accompany every bite, understanding the value it brings.)
Her mind, previously clouded by immediate events, was now cleared by Franz’s words, filling her with a newfound respect for him.
Even his lone, unabashed eating now seemed like the actions of a solitary maverick. She didn’t even think to comment on how he was enjoying the more expensive wine and steak.
Leonora felt she had found a kindred spirit, someone worthy of respect.
“Leonora-san, Franz is, as you see, quite eccentric… truly, I apologize.”
“Forgive us, Leonora. Big brother, your attitude is out of line. If you have an issue, we can—”
Oscar began to reprimand Franz, but Leonora abruptly stood up.
“Excuse me.”
With eyes shining with excitement, she softly spoke.
“May I speak with you a bit more?”
More surprised than anyone else was Franz himself.
“W-what?”
Unlike his handsome brother, Franz knew he was not blessed with good looks. He was aware that his words were mostly criticisms, and just now, he had unfairly belittled the family’s benefactor.
Why would she want to talk to him?
(Hmph, I see what this is.)
Franz quickly realized her intent. This girl, hailed as a saint, must be dissatisfied that no one ever questioned her. She probably wanted to “convert” him by talking directly.
(Some saint she is.)
Though she was undeniably beautiful—Franz had to admit—he was certain her true nature was rotten. No girl had ever shown interest in him before.
With his thoughts twisted, Franz decided to accept the “saint’s” invitation.
“Very well. It seems you have finished your meal. Shall we move to the parlor for some tea? I have recently acquired some exquisite tea leaves. The genuine kind.”
Subtly hinting that he saw through her facade, he tried to intimidate her. However, the girl simply smiled brightly, catching him off guard.
(Hmph, she’s quite formidable.)
Despite objections from Oscar, Hagel, and the women, the girl insisted, and Franz ended up moving to the parlor with her. The boy who was her attendant glared at Franz with a mix of anger and resentment, and Oscar and the others watched anxiously from a distance.
Amused by the rare attention he was receiving at home, Franz focused on the girl before him.
“How do you like this tea from Rehberg?”
“It is very delicious. The aroma is enchanting.”
The girl, with her small nose twitching adorably, praised the tea. Rehberg tea leaves required meticulous temperature control, incurring significant costs and labor to maintain their delicate fragrance, which the girl quickly recognized.
Franz, unsure of how to converse with a girl, especially one as attractive as this, bluntly asked,
“Let’s get straight to the point. What is your aim?”
“My aim?”
“Don’t play dumb. I’m not as charming as my brother to attract someone like you.”
He shrugged sarcastically, and the girl widened her big eyes even more.
“Why? I want to hear your thoughts, Franz-san.”
Her earnest tone left Franz genuinely astonished.
“My thoughts? Mine?”
“Yes.”
Taken aback by her serious expression, Franz clutched his chest.
“Your ideas are deeply philosophical. Strong principles lead to strong actions. You will become someone great. That’s why I want to hear more from you.”
Leonora, hoping to gain valuable business insights from Franz, genuinely admired his shrewdness. Unaware of her ulterior motives, Franz felt overwhelmed by her unexpected admiration.
“Well, such praise… my stories are dull. Unlike my father, I don’t engage in grand international trade. I just deal with small-scale businesses among commoners.”
“Indeed?”
Leonora found this even more intriguing. Eager to learn about his ventures, she pressed on.
“Why focus on commoners?”
“That is—”
Franz doubted a girl like her would be interested in business. Yet, her keen interest in his words compelled him to answer sincerely.
“Recently, commoner researchers from academies have advanced the refinement and development of magical formations. If commoners could wield magic previously reserved for a few, the power dynamics of this country would shift dramatically, altering all demands. Bernstein Trading must be prepared to cater to the new winners. Currently, we are testing commoner-focused stores and securing exclusive rights to magical cloth that can embed formations.”
Bernstein Trading was renowned for sourcing and distributing top-quality goods, including those for the royal family. Franz’s approach was unconventional, something he had never fully explained to his father, Hagel, who favored his brother.
Franz’s father, who valued Oscar’s effortless success and charm, often overlooked Franz’s hard-earned insights.
“Franz…”
From the parlor, Hagel murmured in astonishment.
Franz, assuming his father was disapproving, averted his gaze, feeling embarrassed.
“Wonderful…”
The girl, listening intently, took Franz’s hand and exclaimed.
“Wonderful! I thought the same. Franz-san, you are amazing! Your foresight is brilliant! So radiant!”
Never had Franz heard such praise. The girl’s soft, silky hand made him almost lose his composure.
“Hmph!”
He couldn’t be fooled. No girl would be interested in someone like him without an ulterior motive. Panicking, Franz blurted out something he didn’t mean.
“W-what is your real aim? You must want money, like some merchant’s daughter!”
He quickly pulled away and tossed a small silver coin, freezing the atmosphere.