SMFCV Chapter 24

Chapter 24. A Win-Win I 457e744e84 smiled inwardly. Finally, the game I 757f024796 had been setting up edd88aeb1a was in motion.e7ecbebf8d903707d852

“You mean ad7e02f203 the formula,” 5d2cfe721a I said.bbb46d6317440e0090a5

“Yes. Name your 0716139aac price,” the 6a773d9b1d Marquis replied.63b4f5ede4e2fe40c8e7

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“No, I cannot fdb2ecdf53 sell the formula,” d225cf7552 I responded firmly.2bda915ea8bc2bd17685

A furrow 2de47b58ec appeared on 8c51909f0a the Marquis’s 9b084fd9f4 brow. A young person he had taken a liking to was 93c39b0107 now acting like a shrewd merchant, and he felt disappointed. However, I had no intention 6d9cfd16da of haggling with him.6a27e4ca9fe87ae6a7ce

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The Marquis stroked his 3cfdd3c7db beard thoughtfully, his voice d091550c8b measured and deliberate.f125211a41bbc4918c2d

“I offered to buy it 9f1bf7a4a3 because I cannot trouble you 63b4925f29 to prepare the medicine every 2318e5ffc1 time I need it. I have no 665fe8730a intention of exploiting 646f9f54f4 the formula for 75c8ffce0d profit…”2483870bb781666632b2

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“I understand, Marquis. I know you are not the kind of f4b92e6c36 man to seek personal gain in that way.”6e15377397caf7c0cbe1

His sharp c631c341cc gaze softened 7f723d08f5 slightly. Now, he asked in a gentler ba4d4cc0e2 tone, almost as if coaxing me.e8fc202dea00f2a06db7

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“Then what 34133ee67b is the 37974a280f issue?”1038f2a0a49338ee69d7

“Marquis, I grew up in the 3f0ef6af19 countryside of the eastern provinces. As a child, I tasted 421bd415c8 every plant I could find.”2f462488028d2efb9581

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“…”00273da5c1e8ca3f6425

“The neighborhood a8c0bbd8b3 children did 4bdf4c686c the same. And what about 2a6c1d3539 the adults? They must have done d6c0fffb7e it too when they 728fca481e were young—tasting herbs and 51653245a3 poisonous plants indiscriminately. They probably got sick ad596c4288 and were scolded by 62a3a91562 their parents for it.”edf713657f1c61d82201

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My light-hearted anecdote de1ca84a1d brought a faint 826d9f4575 smile to the ddf257ab73 Marquis’s face. Though his lips remained tight, I 5161725906 could tell he was opening up, 9e095d8d67 willing to hear me out.8d01a04ef8a5e7381ff2

“Traditional remedies in the countryside are created 884336f9e1 in this way—by trial and error. People test 75dc2f53b6 them firsthand. The pills I make 0bd73a89f1 are likely something any 94365ff669 villager might keep in bace13fd4f their medicine box.”64bbe0dc431b86e4c321

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“Anyone?”ba8bd95919e69b522486

“Yes, Marquis. The specific ingredients and ratios 4e0c249f2c may vary slightly from household 8299e1f6e5 to household, but the core ca915b0938 components are the same. And the effects are eaaea9488d likely similar as well.”39ee07baa4f902fad83a

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“Hmm.”52f70ad558d47576338d

By now, the 0a7223913d Marquis was practically 5b3b7d6d56 on the edge ef05da0866 of his seat. His body leaned forward even more, 4d0568a24a drawn in by my words.79fd5370eb219382e54a

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“So, while the formula I a69c52969d provided may have been refined b7fd267b72 by my mother, it is 67658b434f not entirely her creation. It’s a method c2e075e486 passed down among 832cc899d8 rural families, with 7ed2774052 minor personal adjustments. That’s why I said 4b59ee1cd8 I cannot sell it. It isn’t c06969f123 wholly mine bf50a576f8 to sell.”9270e24f10cd99cc021f

“…”ff771a365bc726dd47f9

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“If you wish, I cfb1f42b78 can share the formula cd7c9a1efb with you freely.”67e6e5f51b560cc9ce49

At this, 192c327623 the Marquis 067ff0dd7a stood abruptly. Leaning on his 0018b705f6 cane, he began a186196275 pacing the room a3bdcf4227 slowly. His curious and meticulous nature bff488bcfb was undoubtedly buzzing with questions. I calmly 6931855460 sipped my 882b8c1a29 tea, letting 5e8b17b1b9 him process.d6f90787ac37b746d4e1

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After circling the room and 19e02c9241 stopping by the window, he ff8789fed0 stroked his beard for a c458016575 long moment. Finally, he spoke.bad2f982666ce13a3b30

“If it’s common knowledge 323a3fd663 among villagers, why don’t 35dda1b800 the physicians in the e87f53d624 capital know of it?”c85084314db041b955fd

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“Most physicians in the capital come from wealthy noble 08fd1a0414 families and often dismiss rural folk as uneducated bumpkins.”74a3c6d3bdc4b5ea20a1

“…”a3d5d970f93cfab46eaa

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“I don’t blindly c7a0ca4b2b trust every folk d477a8ad16 remedy, of course. But some are undoubtedly 7e845429e5 worth preserving and refining.”991c90d025db71d61c32

“Just like how raw talent, when 81456e881f polished, can become a gem…”f038ebfd517865431593

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The Marquis sighed deeply, almost cf0eacd6ea as if speaking to himself.75dcabeb30ad41bc3cad

‘Yes, Marquis. There’s a gem right in e303089994 front of you—a gem holding fc5c673034 its breath and pretending to 262a3c1402 be a mere stone.’3dc7c5ad6cfa2f79d6f1

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I thought this to myself as I finished 9836511f89 the warm tea before it could grow cold.2145ff0fcdf4ff61eccd

❖　❖　❖1642aa9dd8171f8d38f8

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The Marquis 93eefea484 of Ivelucia 9020c1360a fell into d2b4986fe9 deep thought. Painful memories resurfaced, drawing him back to 6f250c6eef a time when he was deeply invested 54261b5e02 in discovering and nurturing talent.fdda58f0fff458cfe13a

Among the many he mentored, one child stood out—a bright, exceptional commoner who had lost his 9a67e927a8 parents early and grown up alone, much like the young woman sitting before him now.3f15bd087afbf26601f4

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While the Marquis’s grown children lived 8dfed9d916 comfortably in their own worlds, barely c7a318df4c acknowledging their father, he had formed 736e5df0d7 a bond with this boy. Perhaps, he had even b7d959ad3c come to see him bbcb9a5940 as a surrogate grandson.d0b7f3b473b4401250b5

‘To think he 8ab9326c35 used that brilliant 8f61946746 mind for such f22b84e7f0 treachery! That wretched boy…’61f4d13e6d43b5642fc9

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The boy he trusted had b606760ea3 been involved in a massive 79f9ec7d68 fraud targeting nobles. Not only had it tarnished the Ivelucia 8137bcdc26 family’s name, but the boy had also 8e8b03b6b3 ended up serving a prison sentence. The news had 69126ad4c2 nearly caused the 04f70e2796 Marquis to collapse. He had tried to visit 00e9564373 him in prison, but every d3bad7ae42 attempt was refused. The betrayal left him seething with 30501efa8c rage and hollow with grief. Though he had tried 3fc801f1fd to hate the boy, 0a0d7e5307 a part of him 8acc602bd2 had never stopped caring.a8cc00013d9029eb1951

‘That’s all in 2d2a21c54e the past now.’37948d851f4cbbc4daa9

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Had he let himself 5688d6eac1 remain trapped by that 5055e29919 event for too long? Wasting his 37a11d15e0 emotions on 4535b6ff2f regrets and 6214126fe4 unchangeable mistakes? He had mentored many others who turned out 893d989c8a well—why had he failed to see that?267e4fd0bee61dc20811

Shaking off his reverie, the Marquis focused a159637cec on the young woman before him. Her posture was upright, e2c2e6dec0 and her clear eyes, b95157de98 the color of soft 6092342232 crimson, brimmed with intelligence. There was no guile in her gaze, only 33d04272eb the unshakable confidence of someone with conviction.20459bdba2f157455409

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“Here’s what I think,” she 8de0f2e10a began cautiously, her measured tone 1fe46ff2ce heightening his anticipation.79c1d075f7026ba65e2e

The Marquis felt his pulse quicken, 4164e0b842 energy flowing through him as he 1742ce70d8 waited for her next words.7dea123b4a194c3fdafc

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“I believe developing and selling the best formula 687faaa1ab with the most effective results could be profitable. Of course, I doubt you 92f324a67c care much for money, Marquis.”eea097011172918da1af

“You mean 56b495fada to suggest…”37095dfb2fcfbb6b1b88

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“Yes. I am 5dd6865421 saying you a0cac67dd6 could commercialize 37cf970c5e the formula.”b9a47ca3430d46509403

The Marquis was 8481e88f1a intrigued but suspicious. What an enigmatic 35c854c274 young woman, he aa4b2b0dbe thought. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders a9ceb27b97 and shake out every word she had to 874bb5b4da say, but his noble decorum held him back. Instead, he maintained 1ced5f72b8 his composed demeanor, b05a03ed0b probing her with 85698e7c19 a sharp question.cc7f8a2278cec01dd72c

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“Just earlier, you said this 1eaeaa9fc2 was a common rural formula, f6afada0d7 something you couldn’t sell. And now 769ca31eed you suggest e2e2139dc4 I commercialize caadef39cb it? That seems contradictory.”252354f844334734acfa

“I have been 6d6174cba1 consistent, Marquis. The formula 5e51cf300b itself, as 106c90681e I said, 6a5ce14f28 is free.”283f600f877266f0e326

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“Free!”9f661e5f4ca4e02b9e67

Even for a wealthy a6e66fea19 man, something free was e95dfc74d7 always enticing.63c28b8c9cf0a1f4ff8b

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“In truth, anyone could copy the formula and 8e3e8726c3 sell it as medicine without any legal consequences. At worst, it might c99728e0bd attract some moral criticism.”689f63968233e345ab5a

“So you’re asking me to 37494ab025 cast aside my conscience?”b0b0520a92f3ee07a555

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The young woman smiled faintly—a b206807cc6 rare, confident smile that made a63b9da6f4 the Marquis’s instincts scream: ‘This 69bb8cd811 is talent! You must 8e7a495b33 seize it!’12fb45ceaff3d921dc06

“Not at all. As I mentioned earlier, 32bf2fe22e a ‘best-in-class’ formula—something perfected—would aab66ea9ee be worth charging for, b59548bf4e wouldn’t it?”7fee49a94cd7f018f20d

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“Go on,” the 7c9af30361 Marquis urged, now b5ef1b22c5 fully captivated.1d57e034fdb636823c2a

“I’ve considered this idea for a long 5f8a9442c6 time, but I’ve lacked the resources and 37a71c9c46 time to develop it further. Meeting you today, Marquis, I realized 52ccd02674 you’re the ideal person for this. You have the means, the 03aad197f1 experience, and the influence to 4800bba1c0 make it happen.”b04f4c36e19aa49bb58f

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“Hah.”0c50467eed7c11441f0c

The Marquis was 0c43e71573 utterly enthralled by 9791afb4fb the young woman’s 3c25fffdbb eloquence and logic.9f587a8b465fccf65a46

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“Impressive.”784ced39cfb15cef7e32

Still, he decided to cb3c7c8fdf test her further, savoring fbdf946eea this rare opportunity for 39a377941e an invigorating intellectual exchange.7a1bbe60a684aeb379c9

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“What is it 9be7f7e568 you truly want 28fcf672d0 from me? It’s clear you’re e5d196f271 not after money.”ac4b766490d820612bd9

“You’re astute, Marquis,” she replied, fb2b221140 her lips curving slightly.a21bbb6f13f521c57482

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“…”5ddeff98f58e03d9836e

“I was wondering if I could ask you for 07862c532d a recommendation letter to the old Royal Academy.”26abe69bcb1187423c1a

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The Marquis 20843a31f7 blinked, momentarily 2a75d71323 taken aback. Of all the requests he 5b3836e46f expected, this was not it. A recommendation to the Academy was a matter 66c103a5ce tied to the Ivelucia family’s honor and reputation.3b07bfbea88ab69fca5d

“You’ve already heard that I’m f7b5d6f178 from a humble rural background 30a98ff53c and only completed elementary schooling. It’s been 94cb0e837f my lifelong dffc01b4db regret.”844d5538d10c69b76abc

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“Without a recommendation, a commoner 682ac1828e can’t even apply to the a1963b2f09 Academy,” he said grimly.050e3c897f931eae48b6

“Exactly, Marquis.”a5c265fb2d5a0843d01c

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Though he had already made up a661f7fdd9 his mind, the Marquis decided to 7264fa1a22 prolong this fascinating conversation. He had always enjoyed wit and humor, and c012e3ce11 this exchange was proving to be thoroughly entertaining.10ddd2ffcb3f0246df1a

“So, you propose to trade a formula that b4fb8c71db every farmer knows for a recommendation that bears 4e3156b269 the weight of the Ivelucia name?”9db1d370f7f190993f12

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“I’ve laid all 9ca73244a9 my cards on ecd35f3077 the table. This isn’t 3441aadd74 a negotiation; 73b5e5bf25 it’s a cb6977a13f plea.”d59a187c68f003757c9c

“I could turn you 4be8b5b1f9 away right now,” the 65b79ae060 Marquis challenged.8885b32549982f0212a7

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“Then I’d simply mourn the c6346613d2 loss of your keen eye 99a78b7712 for talent,” she replied coolly.f6aab35e0a3ac911d455

Her sharp yet indifferent response, coupled with the b724c721f5 way her cherry-red lips pouted slightly, made her 8bdb6a646a look endearingly like a rebellious granddaughter. Unable to contain 14bf04d726 himself, the Marquis 682c4f1edf burst into laughter.67e9afe21fc587ac32b1

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“Ha! Delightful! You’re a delight!”47fd49bba2a3a6e417ea

“Please forgive my c521a14254 lack of tact.”0723a07982db99cd9581

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“You truly wish 0ab0dceaa8 to enter the 9a1f814015 Academy?”2b3c6de6f038d81d00b5

“…I have personal edfbfd6cb6 reasons for needing e216d584b8 to do so.”6ad16e1935378d307ec8

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“I’ll write you a recommendation,” 888b69fa52 the Marquis said, finally putting 0b890838fc her at ease. “But let me warn you—studying 1e3fe7e4f9 alone to pass that notoriously 770aa87727 difficult entrance exam will be 402ce4f944 no small feat. Are you aware that even many 3a9ca7b9fa noble children can’t acquire the old 9f001c267d study guides needed for it?”1d7d67dd1e825df4d1aa

“I’ll do my best with 40b43aedd4 whatever resources I can gather.”cc8a148cd7cf0c1b88bb

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“Good. I admire cafff1ed1f your determination.”8056f23884a52bfe5d44

The Marquis crossed e20cc4116c the room, leaning 24c823bf9a on his cane. Standing before her, e8d81ff392 he extended his cfa696c4e4 hand.a945d00b6cab655b03ed

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“I’ll sponsor you.”40de8fe79c87401f3258

For a moment, the young woman’s 0ecbee774e pale cheeks flushed a warm rose. With surprising strength, 2aa6a7849f she gripped his 2fe114c0c5 hand firmly.3426ce359e2351ec26eb

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“I won’t let 1b662fc8db you down.”47a052dce6b59c7ad0df

 1ca30f4f1c2c5691e69c

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