The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 256 Evil Boss Nigel (5) - Tumbler "Princess. This pearl was transported from the distant northern sea. Pearls with this size and luster are not common even if you search the entire continent." "How about this bracelet? It's woven with gold thread thinner than hair, making it very light and beautiful." "New porcelain has arrived from the Liu Empire. Look at how graceful and elegant these curves are..." "Boring." At the single word uttered by Fariza, the precious daughter of the Baharah Family that rules Shurabasti, the faces of the merchants who had been eagerly appealing their brought goods all hardened at once. Regardless, Fariza continued her harsh criticism in a blunt voice. "Northern sea or whatever, pearls are all the same. I probably have dozens of those just in my warehouse." "And that bracelet there is just the previous necklace with the body part changed. At least try changing the design boldly." "Aren't you sick of that porcelain? In any decent household, everyone and their dog has those things, so what makes you think it's special?" "Don't you have something different? Something others don't have. Something that didn't exist before. Something that would surprise people just by showing it!" The merchants fell silent all at once. They realized that making any kind of rebuttal here would only provoke her temper. That action was wise. Instead of saying more harsh words, Fariza waved her hand as if it was too bothersome to speak and drove them away. After the merchants left, a sigh escaped from her lips. "Hah. To break that bitch Rushala's arrogance, this kind of stuff won't do." The Baharah Family she belongs to is one of the prestigious families in the Markanda region. The founding head, who was a great wealthy man and excellent engineer, saw through the fact that if a city were built in this area, it would prosper tremendously as a trading center, and to make this a reality, he dug a qanat that connected from distant mountain ranges to this land. Water flowing underground doesn't evaporate during transport and doesn't get contaminated by sandstorms or salt mixed in the soil itself. Water transported this way collects in widely dug reservoirs or ponds, and the oasis currently existing in Shurabasti was also not natural, but an artificial oasis existing at the end of such a qanat system. The tremendous power gained by seizing control of the qanat. The wealth obtained as a result of occupying the crossroads between East and West. Born as the only daughter in such a family, even in a household teeming with men, Fariza's status was truly enormous. She had obtained everything she wanted since childhood, and even the princesses of other oasis cities around her showed respect and admiration to Fariza. Since each oasis city is treated as a separate nation, they don't distinguish between count's daughters and baron's daughters like they do in the western regions, but the stronger a family's power and prestige, the stronger the voice of its members becomes. However, recently such status of Fariza was gradually being shaken. Rushala Orsini. Her family, which had snow-white skin and blue eyes as if to prove that blood from the central regions flowed through them by Markanda standards - that is, western regions when viewed from the entire continent - was relatively new to the Markanda region. It was laughable to even compare them with the Baharah Family, which had been reigning as natives of this region for hundreds of years. However, just as the Baharah Family had built great wealth through eastern trade, the Orsini Family had strong connections with the central regions, and through this they were showcasing various exotic goods and gaining great popularity and interest among Markanda's upper class. Music boxes and clockwork watches that flowed in from the distant republic. Seven-colored shining stones that mages of the central kingdoms were said to have created. Even dresses with unique designs that were trending at the western edge. Of course, the items that Fariza showed off were not inferior in value either. Whether silk or porcelain, gold and jewelry crafts, there were plenty who desired them. However, there was bound to be a difference in terms of topicality between 'precious items already seen frequently' and 'precious items never seen before.' For Fariza, who had monopolized all kinds of attention and gazes since childhood, this was a very displeasing situation. She was looking for something new to break through this situation, but unfortunately, items that could satisfy her eyes did not appear easily. That is, until a certain empty-brained evil boss came to visit. "...You want to offer this to me?" "Yes, Princess." "Hmm." Fariza looked at the man before her eyes. Black hair and black eyes. And skin that was whiter than ordinary people of this surrounding region, though not as much as Rushala who made Fariza grit her teeth. His attitude of calling her Princess was polite, but it didn't give the feeling of groveling. If she were to summarize various impressions in one word─ '─He's different.' And that was very good news for Fariza. Right now she needed something different and special. Fariza grasped the object that the man before her, Nigel, had offered with her hand. "First impression isn't bad. It's smooth, has nice silver luster, and surprisingly light." Compared to the cups she usually used, which were full of all kinds of ornate craftsmanship, it did have a somewhat plain feeling, but the clean and smooth surface that reflected faces had its own charm. However, that was all. "But it's just not bad. At best, it's just a pretty cup, isn't it? It doesn't seem like the strange and unique item I was looking for." "I thought you might say that, so I prepared a few more. Noa." When Nigel gave a signal, the beastkin slave who had been waiting behind him offered two cups of the same design as the one Nigel first presented to Fariza's attendants. When the attendants sent glances, Fariza signaled for them to bring it as if it was fine. The new cups were tightly closed with lids, and Fariza's eyes narrowed as she checked their contents. "...Qahwa?" It was qahwa, a beverage very familiar to Fariza as well. However, one side was hot enough that heat could be felt as soon as the lid was opened, while the other side had ice floating around. The former was quite familiar to Fariza as well, but the latter was unfamiliar even to her. Wait, ice in qahwa? "Won't the aroma and taste all disappear like this? Are you trying to make black sewage water?" "Ahem! Ahem! That's not the important part, Princess. The contents in those cups have been in there for over 2 hours already." "What?" Fariza's eyes widened. She checked the ice in the cup. Whatever the case for ordinary commoners, ice wasn't that unfamiliar an item to Fariza, who could be called the wealthiest person in this city. It could be harvested from the frozen oasis surface on winter nights, or obtained by having a mage use ice magic. However, ice obtained that way starts melting rapidly the moment it leaves a dedicated freezer built with thick insulation of over 2 meters. If put in an ordinary cup, its form would disappear in less than 30 minutes. But the ice in this cup had mostly maintained its shape. "If you find it hard to believe, you can have your attendants verify it. Or you could try experimenting by putting ice in directly yourself." When Fariza sent glances to her attendants, they nodded. Not missing the fact that her eyes lit up, Nigel continued speaking. "As you can tell if you touch the cups now, neither the cup containing hot qahwa nor the cup containing iced qahwa is hot or cold on the outside. This means the temperature doesn't transfer to the outside." "That means the things inside will maintain their temperature no matter how much time passes?" "It's not permanent. But if you keep the lid properly closed, it would maintain for about a day. Even if left open, it would last longer than an ordinary cup." "Good." A smile appeared at the corners of Fariza's mouth. That would be enough to show off at gatherings where princesses met. "But is this a magic tool? If you need to supply mana to maintain its performance, tell me in advance." "Magic was used in the manufacturing process, but the item itself doesn't require separate mana. However, after about 10 years, it might not function properly." "10 years... well, fine. That's not such a short time." Fariza nodded as if satisfied, then put down the cup. Nigel looked slightly disappointed that she didn't taste the qahwa inside, but for Fariza it was natural behavior. Why would she put to her lips a beverage whose making process she hadn't seen directly, and which wasn't made by trusted attendants? "So, what do you want? You wouldn't have just offered this for nothing." "I'd like my business in this city to not be interfered with. Since I'm an outsider, there are difficulties in various ways." "You want me to block local hostility, is that it? Got it." Fariza answered without much consideration. Ordinary people would have considered internal city interests or merchant complaints, but the princess of the Baharah Family, which held absolute position in Shurabasti, didn't need to worry about such things. Even Nigel himself wouldn't have been able to have this audience with her if not for the fame he gained from selling sports drinks. "Thank you, Princess. And I will not sell these tumblers in the store, but offer them exclusively to you, Princess. About three per month should be possible." -Of course, how you use them is entirely up to you, Princess. At Nigel's added words, the corners of Fariza's mouth curled up. The meaning of offering all tumblers to her was that only those she permitted could get their hands on these items in the future. When Fariza started showing off these tumblers, all the wealthy people of Markanda would desperately try to get their hands on them, but the only way to obtain them would be to receive them from Fariza. Naturally, her voice and value would inevitably rise day by day. Three per month might seem like a small quantity, but it didn't matter. Rather, limited quantities would make them more valuable, which was good. 'Conversely, the moment this merchant goes wrong, these items can no longer be obtained. He used his head well.' If it ended with supplying the items once, the protection could easily end with Fariza's whim. But if items were continuously supplied, Fariza would also have to protect Nigel and his store to continue obtaining the items. The appearance of trying to use her was slightly annoying, but... "Ah, and this one is called a thermos. It might be slightly less convenient to use than the tumbler, but its performance in preserving contents is much more powerful. If you put ice in here, it would maintain for about 3 days." "Give it to me right now." ...At this level, she could overlook the annoyance. At the thought of showing off new items in front of Rushala, Fariza beamed with a bright smile.