Sophia was momentarily stunned when Croze mentioned offering his youngest daughter. She composed herself, smoothing her hair, and asked softly, "Is it worth it?"
Croze forced a bitter smile. "It's not about worth. In the North, there's a saying: 'When adults make mistakes, they pay the price.' It's very fitting here."
"You misunderstand me," Sophia said, raising her chin—a sign of her anger. "I may not know your son, but your daughter often visits me. She has great potential. Is it worth trading a precious gem for an unremarkable sesame seed?"
Croze finally understood that Sophia valued his daughter more than his son. "This isn't just my decision; it's also Belia's. She told me that without cutting off her retreat, you might not help us. And yes, it's worth it."
"Alright," Sophia nodded. "Stand up. I'm now curious to see what talents your son has. He better not disappoint me."
Croze, realizing that Sophia had agreed to let his son take charge and would help with the aftermath, was overjoyed. He struggled to his feet, profusely thanking her.
Sophia allowed him to express his gratitude before turning to her maid. "Anna, inform my uncle that tonight's meeting is canceled. Tell him it's rescheduled for three days later and ensure he stays here and doesn't get into trouble."
"Yes, Mistress."
"And arrange a meeting with his bodyguard for tomorrow at noon, here in the study."
"Yes, Mistress," Anna replied, noting the instructions before delegating tasks to other maids.
Sophia then turned back to Croze, who had returned to his seat, and asked, "Your son's matter will be handled. Now, give me a rough estimate of how much gold I'll need for the initial investment."
With his son's issue resolved, Croze was straightforward. "30,000 gold coins. This estimate is based on past store costs and the unique design requirements. The profit margin is projected at 30% to 40%, but if the coffee addiction claims are true, it will be a stable long-term business. This margin is quite respectable. I reviewed your personal funds, and you have 8,966 gold, 57 silver, and 49 copper available. There's a significant gap. However, our family has substantial idle funds due to the shipping business—over 140,000 gold. After setting aside reserves and upcoming payments, at least 50,000 gold is accessible. You could borrow from the family, but I don't recommend it. Given your reputation, many guilds would be eager to invest at lower interest rates."
"I understand," Sophia nodded. "Your son will handle it. Now, one last question: how should the shares be divided among Ethan, my uncle, and me? You know what I mean by 'fair,' right?"
"For Lord Saberi, though his investment might not exceed 10%, considering his role, he should get 10% of the coffee business and only 1% of other ventures," Croze explained, taking a sip of water before continuing. "As for Ethan, that's up to you, but I suggest no more than 0.05%."
Sophia smirked at the small share. Though she didn't comment, she doubted Ethan would accept such a minor stake, potentially jeopardizing the plan. However, she nodded, "Thank you for your advice. That's all for today. I hope you can finalize the plan soon."
"Understood, Mistress," Croze bowed and left, tidying the dining table on his way out.
After he left, Anna approached Sophia. "Mistress, are you sure about letting that old fox's son handle this? He's always scheming and can't be trusted."
Instead of answering, Sophia asked, "Do we have any information on his son?"
"No, he's not on our radar."
"Then find out everything you can about him before offering advice without any knowledge," Sophia replied, irritated.
"Yes, Mistress," Anna nodded, ready to leave but was stopped by another question. "Has there been any news from Oliver?"
Anna hesitated, dismissing the other maids before leaning close to Sophia. "I just received some shocking information and didn't want to say it in front of others. Please forgive me."
Sophia, intrigued by Anna's expression, smiled. "You did the right thing. Now, tell me."
Anna glanced around, ensuring they were alone, then whispered, "Oliver used his disguise talent to infiltrate the Midnight Circus by impersonating the captured assassin. He's uncovered that many legitimate knights are involved, including members of our family. But the most shocking revelation is that the leader of the Midnight Circus in the Southern Plains is none other than Duke Stan's seemingly insane second son, Lyon Stan."
Sophia's pupils contracted. "He's been pretending to be mad?"
"Yes."
"Wow," Sophia marveled. "He played the part well, even eating dog feces in public. This will cause quite a stir in the Duke's household."
"Indeed," Anna agreed. "Should we inform the eldest son, your fiancé?"
"No," Sophia shook her head. "It's their family matter. It doesn't concern us. Whether I marry the eldest or the second son, it makes no difference as long as they inherit the title."
"Understood, Mistress. Shall we remove the infamous 'best breeder' to make way for our knight's new bride?"
Sophia hesitated before nodding. "Yes, hang her and her children in the room where she committed her infidelities. Make it look like the Midnight Circus did it. Leave a note suggesting they couldn't tolerate her actions anymore. Exclude Croze's illegitimate grandson."
"Yes, Mistress."