I’m Reincarnated In Otome Game?

Randy returned to the reception room, his earlier confidence completely drained. After all, Elizabeth and her parents had caught him behaving in a less-than-gentlemanly manner. It was only natural that his shoulders would slump under the weight of his embarrassment.

The only solace for Randy was the reconciliation between Elizabeth and her parents, which seemed to be a big success.

The three of them were now enjoying the coffee Rita had brought and chatting amiably. Watching this, Randy let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"…Lord Randolph?"

"Huh? Oh, my apologies, I was lost in thought for a moment."

Snapping back to reality, Randy straightened himself to face the marquis and his wife, who were smiling kindly at him.

"First, allow me to express my gratitude for saving my daughter."

The marquis and his wife bowed deeply, leaving Randy and his father Alan flustered as they hurriedly responded, "P-please, raise your heads."

 Lucian, the marquis, merely chuckled, saying that a bow was a small price to pay compared to the life of his daughter.

Lucian seemed to be a man of principle, which was reassuring to Randy, though dealing with someone of his stature was nerve-wracking for a minor noble like Randy.

Thanks to Elizabeth's mediating efforts, they were able to move on to the main topic: the business negotiation.

"Marquis, our primary reason for reaching out to you was to inform you of Lady Elizabeth's survival," Randy began. Then, looking the marquis with a serious gaze, he continued, "However, as you may be aware, Lady Elizabeth was exiled from the kingdom. Since she is now under our protection, she is effectively a resident of this territory. Therefore, we cannot simply return her to you without following the proper procedures."

"That makes sense," Lucian agreed with a nod.

"Which brings me to my proposal," Randy said, shifting his tone slightly. "For the time being, I would like to hire Lady Elizabeth as an civil officer in this territory. I hope you will understand."

Bowing his head, Randy waited for Lucian's response. The marquis, who had already heard much of the story from Alan and Elizabeth, expressed his gratitude instead, bowing his head again.

Randy had anticipated this. He knew Elizabeth must have already explained the situation to her parents, but skipping over the details himself would have been improper.

This mutual exchange of respect continued until Elizabeth once again stepped in to urge them to lift their heads.

The conversation turned to lighter topics, such as Elizabeth's daily life and her exemplary work as an civil servant. Randy seized the right opportunity to shift the discussion.

"There is actually something I'd like you to see, Marquis," Randy said, presenting a small model that Elizabeth had been holding earlier.

"What's this? A miniature carriage Liza was carrying?" Lucian asked, furrowing his brow.

"Please, press down on the cargo area," Randy instructed.

Following the suggestion, Lucian pressed on the model's cargo compartment.

"Hmm? There's a difference in the way it bends…."

He furrowed his brow further, then lifted the model for a closer look.

 In reality, the variance in resistance was due to the independent leaf spring suspension system, which absorbed the pressure differently on each wheel.

"How was your ride here in the modified carriage?" Randy asked.

"Oh, it was remarkably smooth!" Lucian exclaimed.

This kicked off a presentation on the new suspension system. Since the marquis and his wife had personally experienced the improvement, they were really interested, and the discussion progressed smoothly.

What sealed the deal was Randy's statement:

"I have no intention of using Lady Elizabeth as a mere tool."

As a marquis managing a vast trading network, Lucian could easily foresee the flood of orders this innovation would generate. 

Randy's insistence on protecting Elizabeth's dignity and ensuring transparency in their business dealings only strengthened Lucian's trust.

"My apologies for assigning her tasks more suited to an engineer than a civil servant," Randy added humbly.

"No, Liza seems to be enjoying herself, and it's an excellent experience for her," Lucian replied warmly.

The conversation, which had maintained a light and amicable tone, finally arrived at its crux.

"I understand you wish to sell this technology to us," Lucian said, his sharp eyes narrowing like those of a man who had experienced countless high-stakes negotiations.

Though Randy had faced battles of a different nature, he recognized the weight behind those words. Lucian wasn't just a noble—he was a seasoned politician, businessman, and strategist, all in one.

Yet, here he was, speaking to Randy, a mere son of a poor viscount, as an equal.

The marquis's wife, Flora, and Elizabeth exchanged surprised glances at the unexpected turn of events.

"Randolph… no, Lord Randolph, perhaps I should call you that now," Lucian said with a measured tone. "What price are you envisioning for this technology?"

Randy met his gaze calmly and answered, "I have no intention of requesting any monetary payment from you for this technology."

　As Randy finished his bold statement, a surprised "Huh?" came from Eleanor, who peeked out from the side. In an instant, she was replaced by Elizabeth, likely having been subdued quickly.

In contrast to Elizabeth, who appeared tense, Lucian, the Marquis, narrowed his eyes even further, evaluating Randy with interest.

"There's nothing more expensive than something that's free… That's always been my belief."

"Indeed, I agree. However, in this case, I am not seeking monetary compensation for this technology."

Randy took a deep breath and continued.

"Instead, if I may ask, I would appreciate it if you could send a few skilled craftsmen to us. Naturally, their wages from that point forward would be covered by my family."

"Craftsmen?"

"Yes."

Randy nodded and explained that they needed skilled workers to bring Elizabeth's creations to life. 

This was a crucial investment for the future—far more valuable than taking a short-term payment.

 Establishing connections with skilled craftsmen would bring exponentially greater benefits.

"What if I were to send you workers who are craftsmen in name only?" Lucian asked, his tone sharp.

"In that case, I'd simply sell something even more remarkable to one of your rivals instead," Randy replied nonchalantly.

Lucian's eyes narrowed further, and the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

"You would use my daughter as leverage?" Lucian asked coldly.

"My apologies, but she is currently serving as a civil servant in my household," Randy replied evenly.

Elizabeth sat nervously, her unease visible. Flora, the Marquis's wife, maintained a calm demeanor but kept glancing worriedly at Elizabeth. 

Alan, Randy's father, wore a resigned expression as if to say, Well, whatever happens, will happens, while smiling faintly. 

Keith, the butler, stood silently by the door, always composed.

The tension broke when Lucian suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! As I thought, nothing comes for free. Very well. While I cannot spare my finest craftmens, I will send you craftsmen who will meet your expectations."

"Thank you," Randy said, bowing deeply.

As the tension dissipated, Elizabeth exhaled in relief. Everyone watched as Randy and Lucian shook hands firmly.

"My lord, I apologize if my words came across as impertinent," Randy said.

"No need to apologize. Your determination was impressive, especially for someone new to negotiations," Lucian replied, grinning.

"Thank you," Randy said with a smile, though inwardly, he thought, There's no way I can tell him I handled countless unreasonable demands from my boss in my previous life.

Keeping his thoughts to himself, Randy concluded the negotiation with a smile. 

With the agreement to provide the technology and receive skilled craftsmen in return, their work was done.

"Well then, since this is a rare opportunity for a family reunion," Randy said, rising from his seat. Alan followed, adding, "Please take your time until dinner."

As Randy moved toward the door, he was stopped by Lucian.

"Randolph, earlier, you mentioned having even more remarkable ideas. Can you give me an example?"

Lucian's gaze, filled with genuine curiosity, met Randy's.

"Well… This technology itself still has room for improvement. But, for instance, perhaps a box that enables the freezing of food for preservation…" Randy trailed off, mulling over his ideas.

( Let's see… toys would be classic. Oh, and beauty products too. There is so much to sell..)

"…Additionally, though it's just a concept, I'm considering a new hair oil for washing, or perhaps a lotion that leaves skin soft and smooth—"

"Lord Randolph, when will that be available?" Flora suddenly leaned forward, her eyes light up with interest.

Faced with Flora's hungry gaze, Randy realized for the first time how deeply women's passion for beauty ran across any world. 

Her intense enthusiasm—bordering on obsession—was evident as she repeated with a smile, "When can we get it?"

Randy glanced at Lucian for help, only to see him deliberately looking away. 

Coward, Randy thought bitterly.

"Soon! I'll start working on it as soon as possible," Randy promised, his voice rising slightly in panic.

"Thank you," Flora said, her smile radiant.

After somehow placating Flora, Randy hurriedly exited the reception room. He letting out a massive sigh as he walked down the hall.

"Randy…"

"Don't say a word, Father."

Seeing Randy's slumped posture, Alan sighed quietly but didn't press further. 

However…

"Make sure to prepare some for your mother Grace and your sister Clarice, too."

"Yeah, I know."

"Also…"

Before Alan could finish, a group of maids came rushing down the hallway with surprising speed.

"Don't run in the mansion!" Alan called, but the maids ignored him, stopping in front of Randy instead.

"Young Master, we heard you're developing something to make skin smooth?"

"Wait, how did you—"

Randy clamped his mouth shut, realizing he'd already said too much. Alan chuckled beside him, which only irritated Randy further.

"So it's true! We're looking forward to it!"

"My hands get so rough in winter…"

"My skin gets dry and flaky in the cold!"

Bombarded with complaints about skin troubles, Randy muttered to himself, "This is really troublesome…." But no one seemed to hear him.