🌷 Chapter Twenty-One –
“Are the documents you brought me with you today related to glass artifacts?”
“How could you...”
Hans tried to get up and follow Annette towards the dining room, but he sat down again in shock.
His voice trailed off as Annette's gaze turned to the bag he had brought with him.
The briefcase contained a report on a recent flood on Morata Island, famous for its glassware industry, damaging workshops and reducing production of handcrafted items.
How could she know the contents of the documents he hadn't shown her yet?
Of course, since Morata Island was one of the Scheringen family's territories, one of the goals of today's visit was to tell Annette about this problem and find a solution to it together.
But the incident happened only recently.
It was very suspicious that Annette, for whom Hans was the only source of news in the villa, had brought up this topic first.
Is it possible that this woman is not really a spy, a fortune teller or a fortune teller?
“It's an important area run by the Scheringen family.
All the glassmakers in Murata are under the patronage of the Scheringen.
So the damage will be great, but we can use it to our advantage.”
“Not only did the work stop when the workshop was swept away in the flood, but all the products that were previously manufactured were swept away.
They say that even the basic facilities are all down, so it would be faster to build new workshops there.”
"I know."
“No, how would you know that...”
“Glass artifacts are one of the industries that the Audentia Empire promotes, so if we delay the restoration of the facility, trade will be affected.
Right now, when the imperial family will order handmade gifts, we will need to find something to replace the glass artifacts.”
Hans looked at Annette curiously.
Morata Island was a kind of prison made to train workers who could work with glass, where the method of making glass and the artisans were kept locked up on the island so that they would not escape or information would leak out.
Thanks to this, the Scheringen family monopolized the glass-making technology for a very long time, and Murata glass became a valuable luxury item that could be compared to rare jewelry.
Due to its known value in other countries, it was also one of the Odentia Empire's major exports.
The Emperor had a diplomat take a Murata glass to him whenever he had an important international conference, so much so that it became a popular belief that negotiations would only succeed if the discussion took place while drinking from this glass, so Odentia Diplomacy was also called Glass Diplomacy.
It was all thanks to the glasswork thanks to which the name Scheringen became a symbol of the Odentia Empire.
Therefore, the Morata Island flood was not just a simple natural disaster, it was about money and family honor.
Not a single glass cup would hinder the Odentian Empire's diplomatic movement, but it was the Scheringen family that would undergo a major change in such a special event.
If the delivery date of the glassware, which was supposed to be delivered within these few days, was not met, the diplomatic gift item would change and the Sheringen family name would be erased little by little from the imperial court.
Hans doubted that Annette would be able to understand the whole situation and come up with a useful solution.
“At this point, Mr.
Hans refuses to acknowledge me and my abilities, which is unfortunate.”
“Honestly, what do you have to do that I should trust you, Miss Annette?”
“I feel like I've heard you ask this question before...
Why don't you trust His Highness's intuition and ignore your own?”
“This is the most suspicious thing.
What does His Highness see in you that makes him trust you so much, in the name of the Creator of this Earth?”
“Well… hasn’t His Highness made a bet recently?”
Annette asked cautiously.
Hans would never know, but in fact, it was this topic, not the Morata Island topic, that Annette really wanted to ask him about.
She wanted to know to what extent Theodore was listening to her and accepting her words.
“How do you know that...
Is it possible that Miss Annette was the one who instigated His Highness’s bet?
How did you know the identity of the winner?”
Hans was shocked.
Theodore's win in the Mermaid Statue bet caused quite a stir in the Capital Lidder a few days ago.
The mermaid statue itself had been a topic of debate, but since it was Theodore's first victory over Hugo, rumors spread like wildfire.
Everyone wondered where Theodore got his information and how he met the unknown artist.
Hans was also interested in the source of this information.
To be honest, Hans also expected Theodor to be defeated and thought that he was wasting his money on useless things.
That's because it's always been this way.
Even on the day the mermaid statue was unveiled, Theodore continued talking about gods and all that crazy stuff that didn't fit his character for a long time.
Annette, whether aware of such a surprise or not, continued to ask questions, ignoring Hans' reaction.
“Are you satisfied with your weekly wage increase?”
“Did the Grand Duchess really convince His Highness to increase my salary?
I couldn’t believe it in the….”
“Have I just been recognized as the Grand Duchess?
I was wondering whether or not I should talk to His Highness about Master Hans, but it seems I made the right choice in telling him to take care of you.”
Annette smiled weakly.
It was an ordinary smile compared to the level of her scary remarks.
Hans felt ashamed of Annette teasing him, and his cheeks burned red.
* * *
Theodor stared at Hans who had returned to the lieder and had been eating nervously for a while.
Although Hans was more emotional than Theodor and Annette, he was not mature enough to control his temper in front of others.
The fact that Hans was very angry was an issue that came up when Theodor was being mocked and compared to the Crown Prince.
But a man like that was now...
“What are you so upset about?”
“The plan to reclaim Morata Island that I reported to Her Highness the Grand Duchess is a big problem.”
The man who had never said the word “mademoiselle” until a few days ago spontaneously called Annette “the Grand Duchess.”
Of course, he didn't realize he'd done it either.
'That woman finally succeeded in convincing him.'
Even without Theodor's interference, Annette easily won Hans' loyalty.
With the naming problem solved, it's time to tackle the next seemingly unsolvable problem.
“Do you know what Her Highness the Grand Duchess said?
Let us abandon the island!”
Flood damage on Morata Island was catastrophic.
The central furnace of the factory was submerged in water and all kinds of furniture and machinery were washed away there.
Most of all, the greatest damage was that some craftsmen were permanently disabled.
It will take a long time and a lot of money for the island to return to its old glory.
In response, Annette offers Hans to give up the island.
Her answer was a bit provocative.
The Morata Island flood was unusual this year, but it was a recurring annual event.
Restoration was not a fundamental solution because this disaster would happen again due to the island's low terrain, which was below sea level.
Therefore, Annette was of the opinion that they should instead build a new factory off the island, and establish a foundation to teach glass craft making.
This was a right decision, but it was difficult for Hans to accept that Marquis Scheringen's successor had come up with it.
“What does the Grand Duchess think about this?
Why do you want to give up Morata Island?”
The reason the Scheringen family chose the island rather than nearby land on the mainland was to prevent the emergence of new craftsmen who could handle glassmaking.
The makers were not allowed to leave the island without permission and were subject to constant and strict surveillance.
It was an island created to protect the scarcity of glass, but now Annette was trying to destroy the system.
It will no longer imprison craftsmen, but will establish schools to train young people to make glass.
“The value of the glass will go down, but it will make us money.”
Theodore tapped his finger on the wood of his desk at a monotonous pace.
After completing short calculations in his head, he came to the conclusion of Annette's method.
Building a school to teach people will increase glass production in the long run as the number of technicians increases significantly, but scarcity will decrease.
However, the name of Scheringen would become widely known in the empire.
“Until now, Murata Island glass would have been rated as the best in the world, but it will now become known that it was the Scheringen family who taught all the glassmakers throughout the empire the craft and will become the official sponsor of world glassmaking.”
It appears that the monopoly of the glass industry is declining, but in reality, the extent of the monopoly market will increase.
When the unit price fell due to increased production, common people, not just nobles, could buy glass as well.
Common people will spend their extra money on glass if they think they can have something exclusive only for aristocrats.
As a result, Annette will earn money and Scheringen's reputation will further flourish.
“How the hell did Annette Scheringen come up with an idea like that!”
“So you don't like her idea?”
“It's great!
I like it very much, so it's a big deal.
Damn… even the craftsman who lost his arm will be able to use his skills until he dies by being a teacher in an educational institution, and the art of Morata Island will become widely known!
Even if the island disappears, the Shiringen family name will live on forever!”
Hans was angry that Annette had given him a way to be appreciated.
No matter how much he thought about it, this was not a way a typical aristocratic girl could think.
This method of liberating artisans and passing on skills to everyone was not something that could come from a high-ranking aristocrat like her.
Aren't the nobles the ones who hide what they have and benefit from it even if they pay dearly for it?
Annette was an aristocratic girl as well, and this was how the Scheringen family had monopolized the glass-making technology until now.
Why would such a brilliant idea come to the mind of a thoughtless woman who always wanders around at parties with an empty mind?
If she continued like this, it would become a reason for Hans to accept her and follow her orders as the Grand Duchess of the Kleist family.
It was an intolerable insult for Hans to acknowledge Annette, whom he considered a mere fool, as the Grand Duchess.
Theodor thought as he looked at Hans who couldn't get over his anger.
Either Annette had now evolved to the point where she could see the flow of events throughout the Empire and freely use them to her advantage, or she was exceptionally gifted or perhaps educated in this field.
Whatever the reason, what mattered to him was the result.
It is a strange world for her that she has only read about in a few books in a small villa, but now she has become someone who can provide a solution to a problem.
Theodore wondered how freely the chess pieces moved in her head.
Annette may transport the aristocrats of Odentia, as well as Theodore himself, to places they cannot even imagine.
Her chess piece was roaming all over the office while playing, not just on the chessboard.
Theodore realized that there was no need to waste time anymore.
Then he said to Hans, who was still burning with anger.
“Hans, we need to expedite our preparations.
It is time to bring the Grand Duchess to her home.”
"when?"
"as soon as possible."
“It is difficult to be able to bring her this week due to my busy schedule.
I will try to make time as soon as possible to go to...”
“I will bring her here myself.”
“Will you go get it yourself, Your Highness?”
Hans opened his eyes wide in surprise.
He had never imagined in his life that Theodore would personally go to fetch someone.
Theodor ignored Hans' surprised reaction and stood there.
Today's newspaper was on the table next to him.
Theodore had no difficulty predicting the headlines that would adorn the newspaper a few days later.
[Annet Scheringen returns.]