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Chapter 328.1. Covered In Despair
-Miu's POV-
Mii-chan was in despair. She trembled with quivering hands, her eyes welling up with tears.
I had fallen into an unexpected situation and was overwhelmed by a sense of despair as if she were about to kneel at any moment.
However, Takano Miu was like a phoenix, rising from the flames, undying even if trampled like a weed.
So, she once again let the flames spark in her eyes, looking ahead with determination. She didn't look back; that was Mii-chan's way of life.
"Mama, one more! I think it will work this time. No, it will definitely work! I believe we can build the candy house!"
"No, you can't! We can't waste any more candy. You've already failed. Look behind you."
"I won't look back; that's the rule."
Mii-chan pouted and was scolded by mama, who playfully tugged her cheek. Mii-chan's cheek isn't made of mochi, mama.
"I'll look back in 5 minutes."
"No, we'll eat everything by then."
"Nan-chan is our staff!"
"Just kidding. I'd eat even ikura or uni."
Sounds of crunching and munching came from behind, and the reassuring voices of my friends could be heard. The cursed old building they had just created must have been cleansed.
"At home, we managed to build it just like the song says. It's true. The scene from Yamiyo-chan's shooting video is proof!"
"I saw it, so I know! It was slightly bigger than the palm of your hand, right? What about this?"
Mama pointed behind. Mii-chan turned around slowly.
"1/246th scale our Takano mansion."
"You're trying to make a candy house that size? No way!"
It might have been a bit too big. It unexpectedly turned out to be a spooky mess. The reason for the failure might have been pouring chocolate fondue over the mansion.
Chocolate fondue can be surprisingly hot. The waffle walls held together with candy crumbled apart.
If it weren't for Nanra, the monster, the old building might not have been cleansed.
"Marchioness Takano, are you once again doing something foolish at the peerage ceremony?"
A boisterous man called out to Mii-chan, who was being scolded in the middle of the hall. It was Aguni Enraku, and it was papa. Papa held a wine glass in his hand, his other hand resting on his forehead, his face contorted.
Is he already drunk? You'll recover, papa. But, interestingly, Papa and uncle Enraku became friends, despite their contrasting personalities.
After finishing the comedic performance, Mii-chan attended the peerage ceremony hosted by the Emperor.
Everyone who had been observing from a distance finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the candy house discussion had come to an end. However, because papa and uncle Enraku were present, they didn't approach to avoid interrupting their conversation.
Instead, mama was taken away by the ladies. Dad looked somewhat troubled and gently stroked Mii-chan's head.
"I think you might have gone a little too far, Mii-chan, don't you think?"
"That was necessary, you know. Otherwise, I'm sure the Prime Minister or someone else would have imposed it on us!"
Although they allowed her performance during the audience, papa still found it somewhat awkward and gave her a piece of his mind.
So, I waved my hands in disagreement. There was a deeper meaning to it, indeed. The proof was that the Emperor, who probably never thought he would acquire assets that were supposed to be gone, had left early for discussions.
"Well, in my opinion, you should accept cash and stocks at least, Marchioness Takano."
Uncle Enraku made a greedy comment, but that was a mistake.
"No, that won't be enough. The companies handling that cash will come as a set. And the stock certificates go without saying."
"Are you saying it's dangerous to accept Duke Kanna's assets here?"
The surrounding nobles might hear about the situation, but I didn't mind. In fact, it was precisely because of that consideration that Eganura's man was broaching the subject.
"Yeah, high-ranking nobles who joined the rebellion get the death penalty. Lower-ranking nobles have their titles stripped and are sent to prison. Their families are all in miserable situations. People who managed Duke Kanna's companies are almost all gone."
In my previous life, for a corporation, there was a high probability of recovering management through bank loans, recruitment of talented individuals, or headhunting from other companies.
However, that wasn't possible in this world.
This world had its unique problems. Corporations heavily relied on various kinds of magic, including Enchantment Magic, magic construction, and transportation. Therefore, companies that depended on the magic used by magicians were bound to run into an unimaginable mess.
"So, it's going to become an incredible debt. I see. So, during the chaos, some family companies will take over the market, right?"
"I don't know, but we might have a few years of operating at a loss. Some companies might be recruiting the people who have ended up in dire straits, though. After all, there's never enough magicians for the Kanto-wide development!"
"They'll be grateful for unexpected help. After all, they're the family of the rebel army. They probably wouldn't have been hired anywhere else by rights. So, Marchioness Takano, you've secured your workforce."
Uncle Enraku grinned, and papa sighed, realizing that the Great Mage Emperor's imperial policies were problematic.
Some nobles who heard about the recruitment left in haste. They would pass on this information to their former noble friends.
"Goodness. I kept my mouth shut because it was convenient for His Majesty the Emperor, but try not to overdo it, Marchioness Takano."
Another man joined Mii-chan's school performance. It was a distinguished man in a formal kimono, Teijou Ouga. Beside him were Mashiro, Ninny, and Yamiyo.
Ouga approached Mii-chan with a wry smile.
"The Emperor can grant new things to commoners, right!"
It was apparent that they couldn't manage the assets and would have to sell them. The money from the sale would go into the Emperor's pocket. If Mii-chan received a grant, she wouldn't be able to sell them on her own, but the Emperor could do it freely.
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