Chapter 24.1: Challenge My Former Boss

On the first floor of an inn near the Royal Castle, Rishe sat at a table.

The people who were drunk around her had already been collected by the innkeeper.

The guests who had been watching and cheering, gathered around Rishe - the winner of the drinking game.

"Miss, that was a spectacular drink! I'm not much of a drinker, so I won't challenge you, but let me buy you a drink to thank you for such an entertaining show.

"Oh, thank you."

"Let me treat you. A chicken and cheese combo goes well with wine."

"Looks great! I'll take it."

Looking at the wine and food lined up on the table, Rishe chuckled to herself.

All the food in this tavern was delicious. The liquor must have been carefully preserved as well. She'd like to take her time and savor them, but her rival was sitting across the table.

Tully, the Trading Chairman, looked at Rishe with a twitchy smile.

"Whoa, I beg your pardon. I would have never thought that you'd be able to get my subordinates drunk and wasted."

"Hmm, so everyone here is from your company, right? They're very pleasant people, so I couldn't help but drink more."

Of course, she knew them well.

After becoming a member of the Trading Company in her first life, Rishe won the drinking game at the first drinking banquet as well. It seemed like the people she drank with earlier were the same people from back then.

(The look on your face now is the same as it was then.)

During her time as the Duke's daughter, Rishe got accustomed to drinking as part of her queen's training.

Whether that training paid off or not was unclear, but she never got drunk with a simple dose of alcohol. The things she had learned during her time as the Duke's daughter had also been useful in her lives.

Tully stared at Rishe's hair as he accepted the drink he'd ordered.

"Nevertheless, you've dyed your hair quite beautifully."

"Thank you. My hair color stands out a bit, so I've chosen this color for tonight."

It was the herbs that the knights picked on the way to Garkhain that dyed Rishe's hair chestnut. They came in handy when wanting to change looks temporarily because it could come off cleanly in warm water at a certain temperature.

"If I say I'll sell you this craft, will you negotiate with me?"

"Haha. No way!"

A sharp glint flashed in Tully's eyes as he propped his elbows on the table.

"You'd be the one making a fortune."

"..."

She'd expected that reply, but he was still horrible.

"Come on, from here on, let's talk business as you wish. I'd like to make a toast."

"First things first. When we are out of sight from the castle people, please speak comfortably. If an elder speaks to me so politely, my identity will be compromised."

"Cheers, I'll take you at your word, then. Feel free to change the way you speak."

"Thank you for taking my situation into consideration. It makes me uncomfortable when you speak so politely to me..."

"...? No problem, that's alright."

As Tully raised his drinking glass, Rishe matched it with her own. Tully drank about half of it in one go and then gasped.

"So? Miss, no more, 'I need a wedding dress' rubbish. Speed is the name of the game in big businesses. You've been trying to establish contact with us as naturally as possible, but let's skip that tedious nonsense."

"Yeah, it was impossible for such tricks to get past you."

"Sweet."

After a friendly grin, Tully downed the other half of his drink.

"My gut is telling me, Miss Rishe should be wanting to be a business partner, not a customer."

After all, that was how she was lured out here.

The reason he mentioned about staying in the Garkhain Kingdom for a while was probably because he thought that she'd get in touch with him again. He definitely didn't feel like she was an enemy.

Still, she must beat Tully in this lifetime.

He was once her boss and someone who would always be there for her in the end, but not this time.

"Let's talk about all the profitable schemes you have planned."

"Mr. Chairman..."

"I'm not going to be a part of a plan that I know nothing about. But rest assured, I have a good work ethic, despite my appearance. Just as you're probably thinking right now... No, I promise you more than that!"

"Mr. Chairman."

"I'll formulate the perfect strategy. Come now..."

"I can't tell you."

Tully's shoulders jerked.

"What?"