Published: August 25, 2025
After our contract magic was dissolved, a new contract magic was arranged under Aub Ehrenfest's leadership to enable the expansion of the paper manufacturing and printing industries.
To ensure that the lord could manage the paper manufacturing and printing businesses even after the change of generations, the contract was made with Aub Ehrenfest rather than Sylvester. Similarly, Benno made a contract as the Plantin Trading Company, anticipating the transition. As the lord’s adopted daughter and the one practically expanding the printing business, I signed the contract personally to receive profits from the business expansion. However, Lutz, who was merely a dabbler of the Plantin Trading Company, was not included in this new contract.
With the new contract, Aub Ehrenfest essentially purchased the rights I previously held to decide on the paper mill and the sales rights Lutz had. The Plantin Trading Company would continue to receive a portion of the profits related to paper manufacturing and printing. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same share as before, and other guilds could now also handle buying and selling.
“...Plantin Trading Company, is this acceptable?”
Benno, who had been staring intently at the new contract magic paper handed over to him, nodded.
“We are deeply honored by Aub Ehrenfest’s consideration and the unprecedented treatment granted to the Plantin Trading Company.”
Benno showed gratitude for the new contract’s contents, which maximally considered the Plantin Trading Company and myself, who had been building the business until now.
...He calls it unprecedented treatment.
For me, just the fact that Lutz was excluded from the new contract meant it was anything but special.
After Benno signed and stamped the blood seal, I also signed in agreement. Lastly, Aub Ehrenfest received the contract magic paper from the clerk and signed it.
Enveloped in golden flames, the contract magic formalized the new contract.
Lutz’s name was not there. Mother said it was fine to build new connections with the new contract, but I couldn’t make new connections. Even though we had worked together all this time, being faced with such a huge distance from Lutz made my heart turn cold.
...I want to hug Lutz tightly.
I want the security of unchanging bonds. The touch, the warmth—things I can no longer get now that I’m a noble—are desperately needed.
...I want to go home.
After the contract magic ended, the clerk spoke about renovations in downtown. While rebuilding everything at once using creation magic would be fastest, there wasn’t enough mana to spare for downtown, so they said—using rather roundabout language—that it should be done manually.
At the mention of rebuilding the city all at once, the Guild Master and Benno immediately declined, pale-faced.
“That would be a terrible bother to Aub Ehrenfest. We will make all arrangements on our end as much as possible,” they said.
It was understandable. The Guild Master and Benno had witnessed Hasse’s small temple being built by magic. The mere thought of such treatment being applied to downtown was frightening.
I stepped between the clerk and the merchants and spoke.
“I will instruct the clerk to arrange the budget for downtown maintenance, but the actual work will be done by the townsfolk, with the Merchant Guild leader Gustav overseeing it. It will be a major project. Please start with the main street from the West Gate to the East Gate, where foot traffic is heavy. How to beautify the city can be discussed later.”
“As Lady Rosemine commands.”
The merchants bowed at my words, relieved.
Then we were told to disperse, and the merchants were escorted out by the clerk. As they left the audience chamber, there was no hesitation in their movements, but Lutz never looked this way once.
Once the discussion with the merchants ended, I was immediately summoned to the lord’s office. Surrounded by the leadership and many clerks, the clerk reported on the day’s discussions to the high priest and my mothers, who were not present.