Becca nodded with a blush. "That's right, it would look bad on our noble prestige if I wasn't eating peanuts whenever I wanted."
I chuckled, "I don't really care about noble prestige haha. I just want to make you as happy as possible."
Becca finally dropped the act. "Thanks, Nick. I really am happy to get back my favorite snacks. But make sure to negotiate with this farmer well, don't let them take advantage of the fact it's a gift for me to make you overpay."
I scratched the back of my head. I had been thinking for a while that I need to find someone to handle the Duchy's finances and negotiate all our business ventures, but it hurt when Becca said it to me so straightforwardly. "Do you think I'm that useless?"
Becca scrunched her lips as she thought of the right way to word what she was about to say. She put her hand on top of my hand and explained, "everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. It's not a bad thing that one of your weaknesses is that you are too generous during financial negotiations.
Actually, I think it's one of your strong points, which makes me attracted to you. You're only bad at it because you are a kind caring person who lacks greed and would rather help everyone.
It's just in the cut throat world of business, if someone knows you have this weakness, they will use it to take advantage of you. And in the long run, the more money we can procure from our businesses, means more money and power we can use to help people and enact our desired change."
I lift my hand with Becca's still on top and lightly kissed the back of her hand. "You're right, Becca. Sometimes I forget I'm only one person, I can't be good at everything. That's why it's good to have a team around you that fills in for your weaknesses.
Thanks for not just being a yes man for me and challenging me when I am being lead astray. We can both start looking for a good financial advisor to bring into the Duchy soon."
Becca nodded confidently. "Of course I won't just sit back and do whatever you want! You might have misunderstood since so far we have agreed on most things, but I can be very stubborn and argue with you a lot if you do something that is against my principles."
Becca's words reminded me of how she was when I first transmigrated to this world. She thought I was the original Nicolas and would argue with me at the drop of a hat. It's really surprising how different a person can be when they are around someone compatible to them.
Becca continued, "also, there is no need to feel bad about your lack of business skills because if it was so simple, I would have volunteered to help instead, but I too don't have nearly enough business ability to manage the finances of the Duchy. Right, James?"
James added in his two cents, "yes, even I am only confident enough to manage the payroll of the servants and the daily budget of the manor. Before Nick lost his memories, the Duchy did not do much business besides the ones it had been set up many years earlier, so negotiations were never necessary. I'll try to start looking for some candidates to hire soon."
They both made me feel much better. "Okay, thanks you two."
James seemed to have more information to let us know. "By the way, I want to remind you both that all the nobles of the Duchy will be visiting this weekend for your rescheduled wedding banquet."
This caught me completely off guard. "What?!?! Why is this the first I'm hearing about this?!"
James sighed, "the other nobles have been putting some pressure on me to reschedule the wedding banquet after you cancelled it before it started. I have set it up as simply as possible, so that you and Rebecca can be in and out within an hour without insulting any of the nobles. We can probably move it back another week, but the nobles that we need to get on our side for your proposed laws will be even angrier than they already are…"
This was a real catch 22…either we go in unprepared this weekend to relief some of the nobles' anger or we take an extra week to be prepared, but have to deal with extra angry nobles…
"What do you think Becca? It will be our first time having to show off our good relationship in public and my first time speaking to all the nobles. Is it okay to make it as simple as possible? Do we need more time to prepare?"
Becca looked as anxious as me, but her words put me at ease. "Don't worry, Nick. I will see to it that this party is as elegant as possible. One thing my Mother drilled into me was how to host a party worthy of a Duchy.
The one thing I'm worried about is the dress…I do have the one I was going to use for the original wedding reception, but I make it specifically ugly because at the time I was unhappy to marry you…"
I chuckled, "you are really petty, Becca. We can at least go to the shop and find the best ready made dress they have available. I also have some ideas for your hair style that I can show you later."
Becca sighed, "I promised that I would blow all the nobles out of the water with my transformation of being true to myself and confident, but it's going to be a tough first impression when I will be the only one wearing a ready made dress."
"Becca, you will naturally be the most beautiful woman there. Don't worry, I will help you shine."
Becca resigned herself, "even if I don't make the best first impression, there will be plenty of chances in the future to change that."
Sadly, I couldn't help her get a dress made out of no where. According to James, most dresses took at least of month to custom make. That's why I couldn't bank on the dresses I asked Linda to make since it had only been a week and a half since I asked her. I also didn't know the quality of Linda's sawing skills or the material she would be able to procure.
So all I could do at the moment is pat Becca's shoulder and tell James, "you heard it James. Give Becca all the information and help her set up the wedding banquet for this weekend as good as possible."
I felt bad for putting so much on James' plate. However, he replied without reluctance, "yes my Lord."