I put the shovel down and pondered.
'The problem now is that winter is approaching.'
It is difficult to sell farming tools directly to the nobility.
They wouldn't be interested in the first place.
I need a way…
'Good way, good way...'
Ah, I thought of something
Bump!
Bump!
Bump!
Bump!
Just then, there was the sound of books falling.
“Hey Anne, am I a little better now?”
Sofia gasped as she picked herself up from where she had fallen.
She tirelessly practiced her graceful walk day and night.
Thanks to her efforts, Sophia turned into a more socialite than before.
She often attended gatherings and made good connections at parties to which she was invited for the first time.
“Sofia is perfect.”
I smiled softly, my eyes shining.
“Who did you say was hosting the salon you were going to this time?”
“It's Countess Clementine.”
Sophia's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Is Anne going too?”
Then she realized her mistake and covered her mouth.
"Oh, how could I forget that Anne is hiding.
I'm sorry, Anne.
I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I know.
Besides, I wasn't invited anyway.
It's okay."
“Oh…”
When I pretended to look depressed, Sophia flinched and fidgeted around me.
I hunched my shoulders and made sure to fidget with my fingertips.
“Maybe because I haven't attended a salon in a long time...it reminds me of the old days...”
“I'm sorry, Anne.”
“It's okay.
Coming to Grunwald was lonely, unfamiliar and difficult, but thanks to your kindness, I remembered my days as a noble miss, and I really appreciate it.”
Sophia's eyes filled with sincere emotion.
“But if I could attend such gatherings... it would be really nice, wouldn't it?
I could be closer to you, Sofia...”
“Oh…!”
Sofia looked like she was about to panic, not knowing what to do.
“Hyuk.”
She pretended to wipe away the tears and took Sophia's hand.
"I'm sorry, Anne!
I was really reckless."
“Huh, no, how could it be Sofia’s fault?”
I looked at Sophia.
She was getting paler.
Good.
This should be enough.
I carefully wiped my tears and looked at Sofia.
“So, Sophia, I can’t go, but... can you take this shovel with you and substitute for me?”
"I will!
I will!"
Sophia quickly took the shovel.
“If I brought this to the salon, wouldn’t Anne be sad?”
“Of course...”
I raised my head and wiped away my forced tears.
“Thank you, Sophia.”
“No, it's a pleasure to be able to help you, Anne.”
Bump!
Bump!
That was the sound of my conscience being hit by arrows.
“But how will this help Anne?”
“Countess Clementine may not be very knowledgeable about gardening, but she is very interested.”
"It looks like it.
But why?"
“Tell the Countess this is a gift to the Countess for gardening.”
I put a note in Sophia's hand explaining how to use it.
“If you told her that this piece was special just for her, she would be very happy.”
"truly?"
“Gardening is a noble woman’s art.”
When did I become so good at lying?
I spoke shamelessly.
“The Countess will appreciate it and be grateful to you, Sophia.
I am sure of it.”
Sophia nodded, seemingly convinced.
“Yes, I will cherish this shovel as if it were Anne herself.”
“Great.
Thank you, Sofia.”
There was no better place than the salon for rumors to spread quickly.
* * *
Marianne Clémentine was an elderly countess.
Having lost a child in her youth and recently lost her husband, she lived a solitary life, her only hobby being tending to the garden her husband cultivated.
And hosting salons.
Aside from that, Marianne's main interest was gardening.
“But isn't this just work?”
Marianne was unwittingly experiencing the daily life of a gardener firsthand.
She had taken it upon herself to maintain the greenhouse her husband had left behind, but after a year, she regretted her decision due to her aging body.
Marianne was born into a wealthy noble family, married into the gentry and maintained the family name.
Once a noble woman made a decision, she had to follow it to preserve her pride.
However, whenever she struggled with heavy cultivation tools or ended up killing plants due to her poor skills, she couldn't help but regret her words.
“Tsk, tsk.”
Marianne blamed herself for her mistakes.
‘The best place to set up a salon is a greenhouse.’
There was nothing she could do about the mess she had made.
She would rather burn everything than show this mess to her guests.
That was Marianne's pride.
“Ma’am, the salon is ready.
All the ladies have arrived.”
“Okay, let's go.”
“I have a gift for you, Countess.”
“Who is young Miss Grunwald?”
Marian's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.
Sophia handed her a carefully wrapped rectangular box.
It was a wonderful velvet box.
At first glance it looked like it might contain jewelry.
Moreover, it was too large for a piece of jewelry.
“This is…”
Marian opened the box, her wide eyes filled with curiosity.
She thought she had seen everything in the world, but here was something she did not recognize.
“Is it a weapon?”
“This is called a ‘shovel’.”
"shovel?"
Upon closer inspection, it looked somewhat like a weapon, but was it called a shovel?
“What is this thing used for, young lady?”
“I heard you like the greenhouse, Countess.”
“Indeed...”
So, was this young lady interested in her?
The hosting of salons was for political rather than social purposes.
It was a battlefield where only women could enter.
Marianne Clementine had retired from the active social scene.
However, she had no heir to continue the Count's line which became the subject of great interest among the nobility.
The reason Clementine held salons was partly to monitor potential heirs.
She had to adopt someone from outside the family, which meant bringing in a male relative or a second son as her heir.
This young woman is different.
Marianne was delighted with the innocence of the young woman who was unaffected by the social world.
But a gift...?
“This is a guide on how to plant and care for plants.
I asked my only friend to bring it to you.
I hope it will be useful.”
Marianne looked at the book that the young woman carried so bravely.
It was entirely handwritten.
“Is this entire book written by your friend?”
“Oh, this...”
Marianne laughed when she saw Sofia's confused reaction.
“Did your friend also make this shovel?”
"Yes, this is correct."
“Thank you, Miss Grunwald.
I will accept the shovel and book gratefully.”
If this could help recreate the greenhouse as it was during her husband's reign, it wouldn't be so bad.
“Let's see.”
* * *
The plan was a great success.
"Anne!
Anne!
Countess Clementine loved her!"
"truly?"
Two weeks later, Sophia told me excitedly.
“She rarely shows the greenhouse but she opened it just for me.
And when I saw her...”
“And?”
“It was complete chaos.”
Sophia whispered apologetically.
With a shy smile, she handed me a crumpled piece of paper.
“So, Anne, the Countess wants another 100 of these.”
"one hundred?"
“Is this too much?”
“…It should be good, right?”
I wasn't the one making the shovel.
The alchemist was the one doing the hard work.
Even though he wasn't getting paid for the herbs, he was definitely working hard.
But he doesn't have a hundred hands.
"Can you tell her that we can start with ten?
And that we will need the Countess's influence to produce more?"
"Oh!
Influence?
Got it!"
“Just don't say so frankly.”
“I know that now, Anne.”
Sophia smiled brightly.
“So, are you going to the academy now?”
“Yes, the Countess is looking after me.”
Over the past two weeks, there have been changes for Sofia as well.
Countess Clementine seems to have liked her enough to offer to be her patron in the social world.
Sophia, being the daughter of a viscount, did not necessarily need a sponsor, but having the support of Countess Clementine was quite different.
The Countess had personally persuaded Lord Grunwald to provide Sophia with a formal education.
“Ann, I've been thinking, what if we establish a business relationship with a merchant guild?”
“Merchants Guild?”
“Yes.
Countess Clementine has shown an interest, and I am sure it will be successful for you, Anne.”
In fact, I had already thought about a certain merchant guild.
“Kelfelt” Syndicate.
The largest guild on the continent, reputed to be the best in the empire, with branches everywhere.
All roads, even the smallest paths through valleys, were taken by the Keelevelt Guild.
They were known for finding and selling profitable goods from the most treacherous places, earning them the nickname “money dogs.”
After parting ways with Sofia and returning home, I kept thinking.
Rosanna was well acquainted with the Kellyvelt Guild.
She was the guild master's daughter, after all.
From what I remember, the guild master had about five sons.
The Guild Master's rule was clear.
'The son who brings in the most money will inherit the guild.'