Ch.225225. Does This Woman Think I’m a God?

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has been a while, Viscount Roden Parseche.”

After receiving all the coming-of-age ceremony participants in the afternoon, evening had arrived before I knew it.

Yet there were still people I had to meet privately in the reception room.

Specifically, Elina Parseche and her father, Viscount Roden Parseche.

Viscount Roden Parseche, holding a teacup, displayed a slightly displeased expression.

“Thanks to you, the Parseche family has been able to develop further.”

“Haha! I was also able to profit thanks to the Parseche family selling large quantities of monster blood.”

“…Is that so?”

“However, Viscount Roden Parseche, you don’t seem particularly pleased?”

Elina Parseche, sitting beside him, nudged her father’s side with her elbow.

Flustered, Viscount Roden continued speaking.

“Ah, not at all! Why wouldn’t I be pleased about my family’s advancement?”

“I wouldn’t know. I was merely expressing what I observed.”

Viscount Roden Parseche’s expression subtly shifted.

I knew exactly why.

Normally, when an engagement is broken off, the families become bitter enemies.

However, Elina Parseche and I had united under the banner of “business.”

Moreover, the fact that we were thriving and bringing prosperity to his family left him feeling conflicted.

Unable to either like or dislike it…

That was precisely the look in Viscount Roden Parseche’s eyes as he gazed at me.

“Truthfully, I don’t particularly like you.”

At Viscount Roden Parseche’s words, Elina Parseche beside him flinched.

“F-Father!”

Viscount Roden Parseche continued speaking, paying her no mind.

“This is a matter between men, so I’d prefer if you didn’t interfere.”

I also gave Elina Parseche a reassuring wink before turning my attention to Roden Parseche.

“Please speak freely.”

“However, that’s merely the feeling of Elina Parseche’s father. As the head of the Parseche family, I’m extremely grateful to you.”

“I assume you dislike me because of the broken engagement.”

“Ahem! I apologize for ruining the mood on such a good day.”

I smiled gently at the Viscount’s words.

“Not at all. Since Viscount Roden Parseche has spoken so honestly, I’ll be honest as well.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Do you know why I broke off the engagement?”

Viscount Roden tilted his head slightly.

“Well, I cannot know your thoughts.”

“I was a good-for-nothing from the eastern continent’s edge. When I saw that Lady Elina Parseche was willing to proceed with our marriage despite knowing this, I thought she was truly remarkable.”

“…”

“I could see how desperately she was working to restore her declining family. That’s what touched my heart.”

Viscount Roden set down his teacup and raised his head.

“What exactly touched your heart?”

“I thought of you, Viscount Roden Parseche. What father would be happy to arrange his daughter’s marriage with a good-for-nothing like me?”

“…”

“Thinking of your daughter, determined to go through with the marriage for the sake of her family despite your objections—it must have torn your heart apart and left a festering wound.”

The reception room grew as quiet as a library.

Adjusting my posture, I continued.

“That’s why I wanted to give someone as admirable as Lady Elina Parseche the opportunity to lead her family. A chance to restore her family without having to marry a good-for-nothing like me.”

To be honest, I was exaggerating a bit.

After all, I had acted partly because there was something for me to gain as well.

Nevertheless.

I spoke in such an exaggerated manner because I didn’t want to earn Viscount Roden’s enmity.

I had already confirmed the Parseche family’s capabilities through our Peil fruit and monster blood business.

While I did provide the ideas, what family would invest so boldly based solely on trust in me?

Therefore.

The Parseche family was suitable for future business ventures as well.

So I had to make an effort to clear away any lingering resentment.

“I’ve misjudged you greatly. To think you would consider even my feelings in that situation.”

“If I had even the slightest ill intention, I would have certainly proceeded with the marriage to Lady Elina Parseche.”

“…Is that so?”

“After all, isn’t Lady Elina Parseche’s beauty exceptional? Any man would be captivated.”

“Yet you broke off the engagement and helped the Parseche family through business instead.”

I shrugged my shoulders at Viscount Roden Parseche’s words.

“Lady Elina Parseche’s beauty is truly exceptional. However, knowing full well the intention behind the marriage proposal, my pride wouldn’t allow me to accept it so readily.”

“Haha, that’s understandable. No matter how beautiful someone is, living with someone who doesn’t love you wouldn’t bring happiness.”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

Viscount Roden suddenly rose from the sofa.

Then he bowed toward me.

“Thank you.”

“V-Viscount!”

“Don’t feel burdened. If I don’t bow to a man who cares so much about me, Elina, and our family, then who should I bow to?”

I also stood up from the sofa and bowed respectfully.

Looking at Viscount Roden Parseche’s expression, I could see it had softened considerably.

“From now on, the Parseche family will invest in all your business ventures without question.”

“…Thank you for your trust.”

“No, I should apologize for only now coming to trust you.”

Then Viscount Roden extended his palm toward Elina Parseche.

“I’ll take my leave so you two can talk privately.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Watching Viscount Roden exit the reception room, I sat back on the sofa and relaxed my posture a bit.

“You spoke well to Viscount Roden, didn’t you?”

“You were concerned about it, I see?”

“Being human, how could I not be concerned?”

“I’m sorry. It seems my father had some misunderstandings about you, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“Misunderstandings can always be cleared up.”

Elina Parseche demurely held her teacup.

“By the way, the price of monster blood will likely plummet for the next month.”

An accurate analysis.

While the Peil fruit’s price fluctuated as trees were planted, monster blood could be immediately supplied through monster hunting, causing prices to drop sharply.

I nodded at her sound analysis.

“We should sell off everything we have before then.”

“You’ve already sold all of yours, haven’t you, Lord Selden Alphonse? Since you released your stock a bit earlier than us.”

“Yes, though I haven’t received all the reports yet, I believe all the monster blood I had has been sold off.”

“Do you plan to continue selling monster blood in the future?”

I shook my head at Elina Parseche’s question.

“No. I don’t plan to buy any more except what we obtain from monster hunting. The price will stabilize.”

“Your thinking matches mine exactly. So what business do you plan to pursue next?”

“Haha, do you want to join me in business again?”

“Didn’t you hear what my father just said? The Parseche family will invest in any business Lord Selden Alphonse undertakes without question.”

Although I needed to keep the magical grass business secret, being too secretive would limit potential profits.

I smiled broadly and continued.

“We’re developing a medicine.”

“M-Medicine? Could it be… a medicine that can resurrect the dead?”

Does this woman think I’m a god?

How can she so naturally ask if it can bring back the dead?

Well, I suppose her faith in me has strengthened after I accurately predicted the surge in prices for both Peil fruit and monster blood…

Clearing my throat, I calmly continued.

“Ahem!! In a way, it could save people’s lives.”

“As expected… Did you develop it yourself, Lord Selden Alphonse?”

“Well, not exactly…”

“Regardless, it’s impressive. What kind of medicine is it?”

“It makes hair grow.”

“…Pardon?”

“When someone without hair drinks this medicine, their hair will grow.”

“W-What do you mean…”

I smiled gently at the clearly confused Elina Parseche.

“You don’t have any concerns about your hair, do you, Lady Elina Parseche?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“What would you do if suddenly your hair stopped growing?”

“Ah…”

Before my possession, hair loss existed among women in the world too, though not as commonly as among men.

The same was true in this world.

So naturally, Elina Parseche couldn’t quite grasp the concept.

‘Hmm…’

Elina Parseche’s beauty is in no way inferior to her original character in the novel.

Therefore, it’s obvious without saying that if she were to host a noble gathering, nobles seeking to establish even a slight connection with her would overflow.

Even with potentially impure intentions, people would flock to her.

Moreover.

This was truly an effortless opportunity.

Even if the medicine later becomes the talk of the town, attention would be focused on Elina Parseche.

I curled my lips into a smile as I addressed her.

“So here’s my proposal—why don’t you organize a gathering where nobles would want to attend?”