[It is an honor to meet you Sir. Benjamin.]
Sir. Benjamin brought Yukino to his office. The Alden manor consisted of Sir. Benjamin and his 3 brothers, and although this manor was smaller than the Lochward's it was very pristine.
Yukino and Sir. Benjamin sat down while the servants poured them a cup of tea.
[ So, what brings you here today Ms. Lochward?]
Sir. Benjamin began to sip tea with a smug look on his face. He was a well built and rugged man with deep tan skin. He had brown eyes and scarlet colored hair. Most people thought that his rough appearance didn't match his intellect but he was a highly trusted individual.
Sir Benjamin wondered why the daughter of a duke would want to start a business. He wondered if she was serious or if she was just going to waste his time.
[Nobles always approach me with the hopes of increasing their wealth. Their all greedy bastards who only desire to gain more assets. I bet she doesn't even have a proper business plan!]
These thoughts began to fill Sir. Benjamin's mind. He was tired of being used by nobles who have never had to work a day in their lives. All the things he gained were from pure determination so it felt unfair that nobles who grew up with silver spoons in their mouths had the audacity to want more.
[ Let's just get this over with.]
[I have a new product that I would like to create. During the winter most of us have to stay in our homes due to the extremely cold weather. So I thought it would be a good idea to use the fur from animals and beasts and make coats out of them.]
[I would like to create shops within this country that will attract not only nobles but commoners as well!Here are the plans that I have made along with designs and the projected sales for the next 5 years.]
Sir. Benjamin was extremely shocked! No noble especially a noble lady had ever been so serious about a business venture.
He scrolled through the detailed papers that Yukino had given him. There were 20 pages worth of information about potential designers , venues, costs and so forth. Benjamin tried his best to find flaws but he couldn't find a single one.
[I'm very impressed Milady! I have never seen anything like this before! But may I ask why you have decided to embark on this trade?]
They both sat for a moment in silence. Benjamin didn't expect much from Yukino at all.
[I want to use the revenue gained to become independent. I don't want to have to continue to rely on the Lochward household and I want to be able to choose my path in life!]
Benjamin was almost speechless.
When Benjamin looked at Yukino he began to reflect on his past.
During Benjamin's childhood, the Alden manor began to decline and lose influence. Many Nobles began to look down on the Alden household including the Lochward's, but Benjamin was adamant about changing their fate. He did whatever he could, even working with the nobles he despised in order to save his family. He went through years and years of unfair deals, breach of contracts, and betrayal but in the end the Alden manor became the most influential merchant household in Britola. And Although Benjamin was the middle child, his outstanding achievements made it possible for him to become heir.
Benjamin realized that he and Yukino were one in the same, they were both trying to achieve things on their own and the odds weren't in their favor. Yukino was a woman and in the present society woman weren't known to have business of their own let alone one's that succeeded.
At this moment Benjamin decided that he wanted to do everything that he could to make Yukino's vision come to life.
[ I would love to work with you Milady and I look forward to seeing our future as business partners.]
Benjamin said these words with a sincere smile.
Yukino was very happy to see that she had succeeded.
[ Thank you for having faith in me.]
Yukino smiles with tears in her eyes. In her previous life there weren't many people on her side and almost everyone around her lost faith in her. She felt as if she was drowning with no one to save her. She would fall deeper and deeper into the abyss and darkness surrounded her. But now she could finally see light!
Yukino and Sir. Benjamin immediately began working on the project. They hired hunters to gain the furs that they needed and world class designers to create the product. They started out with two locations: one in Eastern Britola where nobles would shop and one in Western Britola for commoners. The shop in Eastern Britola would sell coats with high quality beast fur that would appeal to nobles while the Western shop would sell coats with a mix of normal animal and faux furs. This allowed commoners to wear high end clothing without having to pay the high prices.
Within two months everyone in Britola were wearing furs! The two locations were so full that Yukino and Sir. Benjamin ended up needing to open two more locations. They opened one in North Britola, which was closest to capital where the Royal family lived, and they opened one in the South.
[We did it Milady!]
Sir Benjamin and Yukino were over the moon! Their coats were the most sold products in the country!
Yukino knew that the location in North Britola needed to be the absolute best because highly influential nobles might decide to shop there so she decided to survey the shop for a few days to make sure it was handled properly. Yukino used an Alias and a disguise because she didn't want her father to find out and try to steal everything she worked so hard for.
After surveying the shop for three days Yukino saw that it was in good hands and was ready to leave.
Then, as Yukino began to close the shop for the night she heard the door open.
[Hello, are you by any chance still open?]
~Chapter 5 end~