C135
"Why?!"
Liena's face darkened at the sudden declaration.
"Why are you doing this so suddenly?!"
"Not suddenly. I've been saying it for a long time. My research is incomplete. There are still more experiments to be done."
Liena searched her memories. Now that she thinks about it, Kais did say something like that.
"But it's almost complete. You said it would be done in just half a year."
"I said that would be the case if the experiment succeeded."
"So, what's the problem? It's just half a year. You just need to speed up a bit!"
In response to Liena's impatience, the parrot emitted a sound that sounded like a sigh.
"I'm not a doll that comes up with inventions when the princess orders me to."
"... What do you mean by treating you like a doll?"
"Speed up? Is that easy? I wouldn't say this if you understood my work."
Liena rolled her eyes in annoyance.
It was the first time she encountered such a strong attitude in over ten years of interaction with Kais.
Except for the fact that he insisted on not meeting Liena, he was generally weak in assertiveness.
Although initially reluctant, when Liena took a firm stance, he would change his mind and say, "I guess I can't defy the princess."
"But I can't move forward in this situation..."
Cooling her feverish head, Liena rationally analyzed the current situation.
Was it a mistake to push away the eccentric inventor with the hope of regaining his former glory as soon as possible?
But no matter what, she can't quarrel with him yet.
He was a person who could bring Liena several times more wealth in the future than he had brought her so far.
Liena decided it was time to take a step back, and a hesitant voice came out of her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you would hate it so much. And what I said earlier was a mistake."
"... Is that so?"
"Can you forgive me?"
After shedding a few tears, the spirit of the weak-hearted magician was completely shattered.
"Forgiveness is not something big enough to use big words... Well, fine."
Liena smiled to herself.
"Really? I'm happy! According to your opinion, I'll postpone the new business for half a year! So, is that okay?"
"No, no."
"What? Why?"
"Didn't you hear what I said a moment ago? I clearly said I won't do any more business with you."
"I said I would postpone it!"
"That's a separate matter."
"... Damn it, fine! Then I'll give up on new business."
Of course, she really had no intention of giving up, but Liena lied to change Kais's mind.
"Instead, we'll market other inventions as before, okay?"
"That's not possible either."
"What?!"
"Regardless of what the princess says, there will be no more transactions than this one."
"What happened? What did I do wrong?"
"Anyway, I can't tell you the detailed reason. There's no obligation to do so."
"... that's too much. How could you do this to me!"
"I don't understand. When we met, wasn't it the princess who promised to cleanly break off when mutual need disappeared?
That's what I wanted to say to seem like a cool and daring person! Liena struggled to swallow her words.
At that moment, that was a way to approach Kais, who was very cautious.
But there were no plans to continue that relationship.
As time goes by, no matter how Kais is, he will show a gap in Liena, and she thought all she had to do was make him fall for her charm.
However, Kais's wall was much higher than expected, and the progress of the relationship was slow.
"Do you no longer need me?"
Seeing the parrot lift its wings, Liena continued desperately.
"Why? Even if Iver no longer exists, if I build a new one, I can sell more of your inventions than anyone else in the world! It's been like that until now."
"I'm sorry, but I've already made a decision. Thank you for everything."
"Wait a moment, Kais! A bit more...!"
However, despite Liena's sad plea, the parrot flew away and disappeared into the sky.
Liena looked out the window in despair.
"Is this the end with Kais?"
A desperate possibility crossed her mind, but then she shook her head violently.
That can't be possible. How many years did he and I spend together?
Above all, the eccentric inventor is a good person who helped Liena for a long time.
He wasn't even a villain, so there was no way he could be her enemy.
"It's okay! Kais is just a little upset right now."
Liena muttered to herself as she walked around the empty room.
"He must have been angry because I pressured him too much. Maybe he wanted to get my attention this way."
Now that she thinks about it, she was busy with other things, so she couldn't pay enough attention to Kais for a while.
The people around Liena often competed to monopolize her affection.
"What do you think?"
Liena called her maids, who had temporarily stayed away due to the sudden appearance of a parrot, and asked them.
Although they were servants of the palace of Mikhail, they tended to follow Liena more because she had frequently visited the palace of Mikhail since she was very young.
"In her right mind, no one would dare to hate her!" A maid confidently responded after hearing only Liena's fragmented explanation.
To not be left behind, other maids also added their words.
"How can you hate someone so beautiful and cute?"
"Moreover, every time she comes here, she gives a lot of money for pocket expenses!"
While listening to those words, the anxiety that had been bothering Liena until a moment ago was completely relieved.
Liena has always been loved by many people, and it is clear that she will continue to be.
So, Kais will definitely come back after a while if Liena consoles him well.
At that moment, the door opened, and Tara entered.
"My lady, I brought the materials you mentioned to the study."
"Thank you! After all, I only have Tara!"
"... You're welcome."
In the face of Liena's praise, the other maids opened their eyes and looked at Tara.
Liena headed to the study, secretly enjoying their blatant jealousy.
The study desk was filled with materials related to the new business Liena was about to start.
She sat at her desk and looked at various documents, but after a while, she threw her pen.
"Oh, I don't want to..."
There was no reason to delay the guild's launch just because the disclosure of the new business was postponed.
Liena still had the exclusive right to market many of Kais's inventions, and the benefits she could get from it were significant.
However, the work involved was extremely boring, and she had no motivation.
"In the past, Cecil and Elliot took care of almost everything."
Just when she missed their presence again, an unexpected visitor came to Liena.
"Why are you sighing with such a cute face?"
"Uncle!"
Isaac Cassius entered the study.
"Did you come to play today too?"
"That's right. If I don't see my niece even for a day, thorns grow in my mouth."
Indeed, recently Isaac entered the palace whenever he could, to the point that Mikhail showed signs of discomfort.
"But are you worried about something?"
"Actually..."
After hearing Liena's story, Isaac smiled sweetly and snatched the documents from his niece's hand.
"It's simple. I'll help you."
"Uncle?"
"Don't you remember? I used to make a lot of money through business. I got tired and quit immediately."
"... That's right, that's how it was."
Although each of Duke Cassius's brothers took a position and lived happily ever after, Isaac's business skills were among the most outstanding.
"Are you really going to help me?"
"Trust me and leave it to me. You're not the type of person who gets buried in trivial documents like this."
It was as he said. There were many more important things for Liena, such as negotiations with the temple and appeasing Kais.
There was no time to calmly review resumes one by one to select the best employees.
"Thank you very much! I only have you, Uncle."
Excited, Liena fell into Isaac's arms.
"I'll have to work hard for this."
Liena had no way of knowing what kind of expression Isaac was making as he gently rubbed her back.
"Then I'll ask you this favor, Uncle. I have to start preparing the celebration banquet urgently."
Liena left the study and looked back.
"Celebration banquet?"
"It's a celebration for the founding of Bunny Guild."
"... The name is really cute."
"Hehe, it's a bit embarrassing, but it's a lovely nickname given to me by my family."
"When is the celebration banquet?"
"In two weeks!"
"Oh. That's soon."
"I was in a hurry because I wanted to announce the resurrection of a guild as soon as possible. You can start the actual work later, so don't feel too pressured!"
"That can't be possible. You can go."
Liena quickly walked away when she was dismissed by her uncle, who waved with a kind expression.
This week passed quickly.
The celebration took place in Duke Luciano's banquet hall, who willingly promised to provide a place for Liena.
"Princess Cassius, congratulations!"
"This time, you made a guild yourself, that's amazing!"
"The name is so cute!"
Liena enjoyed the banquet surrounded by people who showered her with praise.
Then, at some point, a strange tension suddenly began to float in the banquet hall.
"Oh my God! Viscountess Lucibiu has arrived!"
Someone's cry caught everyone's attention.