章 30: 2.12 I am pretty useless
"Okay. I will give you a chance. If you fail, you will accept your defeat. If you succeed then I will decide what you are capable of and give you what you deserve." Aldo said.
"Thank you father, I will surely not disappoint you." Elena decisively replied.
"You have already disappointed me as a daughter by your yesterday's actions, You just have to not disappoint me as a business women."
It's okay, I will not fail.
"It's Isabel who will be competing with you on the same project not Xavi. It will not be a fair judgment if you and Xavi are stand together. You should already know that" Aldo stated.
"What but father - "
"No arguments, and you are not allowed to use underhanded means. If Leo doesn't come back alive, I can tell that your brother will get really angry at you. I can't save you forever."
Elena didn't argue. For her killing Xavier wasn't a big issue but now that father confronted her his words had slapped her face over and over again. She will definitely make father recognize her as the winner. It is just little izzy, what can she do?
Shu XinYi had listened in to their conversation for the day since he had nothing to do and could only wait for Leo. Aldo was a very decisive man. He not only tested and confronted Elena and gave her a fair chance but he also showed her the reality without looking down at her.
Now it doesn't matter if Elena fails or succeeds since she won't be becoming the heir while Xavier stays alive but he can't let Elena get the easy way out.. Obviously he has plans to get his revenge on Elena, for harming Leo like that. He waited until dinner time and stayed locked up in his room allowing no one in. There was a knock on his door at this time. "I will have dinner later, Carla."
Someone still opened his door and came in. Before Shu XinYi could turn around, someone hugged him from behind. It was obviously Leo.
"I am back Shu XinYi."
Shu XinYi turned around to meet with the phoenix eyes. He had too many questions in his head right now, he had anticipated that maybe Leo had regained his memories as that unidentifiable being or something but in the end the first question he could ask was "How are you now?"
Leo gave a little smirk and said "Is that what you want to ask me? Aren't I standing in front of you alive and well? I will forget all my memories in 15 minutes and remember only this worlds memories."
"Then what is your name?" Shu XinYi lightly pushed away Leo to ask.
"Don't you already know? My name is Leo."
"So you can't tell me your name." Shu XinYi stated.
"As usual you are attentive of everything. Yes I can't tell you anything about my reality nor can I say anything the reality of these worlds. It will only create problems for you." Leo honestly stated.
"Then what can you tell me?" Shu XinYi asked sitting down on the bed.
"I can tell you universal facts that don't change and have nothing to do with the worlds reality, like I love you Shu XinYi." Leo sat down beside him.
"Idiot." Shu XinYi was a bit embarrassed.
"Hmm... All I can say is, that the journey ahead will not be a simple one. These worlds they.. they shouldn't exist. A sick game. A gruesome parody of reality itself. Maybe you can stop all this but even I can't be sure." Leo said in a reminiscent tone, he had already said all this once before to Shu XinYi, but at that time he didn't have faith in anything.
"Will you stay?" Shu XinYi asked.
"You will know." Leo had so many words to say, but he chose to reply like this.
"Then what is the cod- mmph"
Leo had already silenced Shu XinYi by taking his lips. After having a taste he said "You will know. I can't tell you anything nor can I do much to help you. I am pretty useless."
"You cook well..." Shu XinYi thoughtfully said.
"Is that it? Isn't my technique good too?" Leo said with a hint of disappointment.
"Techni- Shut up."
"I will become Leo soon. Tell me that you found the antidote or something. Whatever you say I will definitely listen to you." Leo said while laughing.
"But you won't remember any of this?"
"No, my memories will be gone and only memories of this world will exist. I will still be me but a me who faced a different life, but my feelings and subconscious will always remain. So I will always be hopelessly in love with you doesn't matter if my memories are gone .. Shu XinYi, I am hopelessly in love with you." Leo said looking very deeply at the carpet in Shu XinYi's room.
Shu XinYi couldn't form a reply and he wanted to hide his face somewhere so he just hugged Leo's chest and hid himself.
"I-I love you too, So stay with me okay."
"Okay."
Leo hadn't told him much but Shu XinYi could speculate. Not only did Leo know about these world but he also understood them. That's why he knows what he can and can not say. He also knows that I am trying to make a virus code to defeat the main system, Moreover Leo is anticipating, that I end this "sick game". Whatever the case, Leo means no harm and has the same goal as me.
Shu XinYi stayed by Leo's side and he saw Leo's face change as he clutched his head, seems like his memories are gone.
"Leo how are you feeling?"
"Ah, what happened XinYi. Are you okay? I will be fine so don't worry."
"Idiot, you were the one who was poisoned. It's okay now I have already given you the antidote. Stay here for a while I will bring some food okay." Shu XinYi said gently.
Leo just nodded as he smiled looking at Xavi. Shu XinYi went down to get food for his amnesiac husband.
They had dinner together and during dinner Leo suddenly said "oh no."
"Hmm?"
"Ah Bunny, don't be angry but I um in front of father I may have hugged and kissed you." Leo was panicked as he said.
Shu XinYi didn't get angry and just said "Ah I should have realized when father was putting much emphasis on "your Leo" while he was talking to me. Well it is what is is."
Leo hadn't expected Xavi to be so unbothered, he was anticipating atleast some scolding but it seemed like it didn't matter to him if father knew or not. For Leo too it was the same, he didn't really care about someone knowing, but he also didn't want to create unnecessary problems for Xavi.
If father hadn't confronted Xavi that means that he is somewhat accepting of the fact.
Shu XinYi kept notice of all the conversations Elena had with anyone. A week after Leo had been poisoned, Father called both Elena and Isabel in the study.
"In three days a trader from City X will be visiting our house. He is willing to sell raw spices and herbs at a negotiable price. He owns a shop in city X but he is looking for a market here. I want both of you to deal with him separately in your own ways." Father said.
"Is this a test father?" Isabel said. She had gone with father on various feats and father had tested her before as well. Isabel had learned about a lot of things through them. She was also a very curious child and loved learning new things and experimenting.
"Yes it is. I want to see what both of you have learned all these years. Even though I plan to make Xavi the namely heir, I don't want to be an irresponsible father. I have done my best to teach you all these years, so that you know how the world works and I have seen potential in both of you."
"Thankyou father." both Isabel and Elena said.
"Remember this is not a race you have with each other but a test you have with yourself. You decide what makes you better. Go now prepare for these 3 days based on the information I gave you."
"Father if I face a difficulty then can I seek help from brother Xavier?" Isabel asked.
"Brother Xavier is allowed to question you the right questions but he can't say the right answers. It is on you to think the right answers understood? I have already explained Xavier, what he can and cannot say so you may seek help from him." Aldo said to both of them.
Elena and Isabel left the room. Elena went out to tour the city to gain information and Isabel went to make notes in her diary. She writes all things she has learned on this notebook and it had many recipes for hebal and medical teas that she has made and their uses. She also has a collection of some random facts and figures.
She wrote down what father told her about the trader and then evaluated the information. After spending an hour in her room she went to the study to find brother Xavier. The study room was open so she entered. Both Leo and brother Xavier were examining some sample products.
"Brother Xavi, Leo. I want some guidance. Is it possible for us to buy another shop in city X? It can be a small shop and the location doesn't matter." Isabel shyly asked.
Leo and Xavi looked at each other and Xavi asked "Why do you ask Izzy?"
"Hmm... I feel like that trader doesn't want a bulk buyer but more so a regular buyer. You know about the trader that will come in 3 days? Father must have told you."
"Yes he has. Go on you were saying." Shu XinYi replied
"Yeah so I think he doesn't come here necessarily because he wants to sell in this city but because he is unable to sell in city X. Nor does he want to sell in bulk otherwise he would have gone to doctors or restaurants. Not father who doesn't have anything to do with spices or herbs."
"Then why do you want a shop in city X?" Leo asked.
"Oh because umm I want to open a small shop of my own so I can also earn and be independent."
"Ahh that's right. Little Izzy you can open a shop in this city too no? It will be convenient and more effective." Shu XinYi said with a smirk.
"Don't tease me brother Xavi. You know I have been missing my Lisa a lot. It's only natural for me to look for ways to be near her. Moreover I think a small tea house will do better in city X."
"Okay, okay. But why do you think it will do better there?" Shu XinYi said.
"Oh it's pretty simple. There are a lot of tea houses here but in city X there are way less. I think the reason may be that the nobles living there don't bother with the tea houses or maybe they haven't found their taste. Also I have seen a lot of travelers and traders in city X that look for tea houses. So I think it will run well in the market district."
"The market district is an expensive area to even rent shops and here you are wanting to buy. How will you accomplish that and where will you get the money?" Shu XinYi said.
"Oh no. Then what shall I do?"
"Hmm. First of all don't rush your decisions. The trader is selling raw spices and herbs, How will you manage to grind and cook them along with the responsibilities of handling the shop alone? If you hire workers then how will you trust them to not mess up your recipe or ingredients?" Shu XinYi asked.
"You're right brother, I didn't think of these things. Seems like I still too behind." Isabel said with a painful smile.
"Don't be impatient. Why do you think the trader is not selling cooked and grinned spices at his own shop?"
"Why?" Isabel asked.
"How will your brother know Miss Isabel. Only that trader knows why he is willing to do so." Leo.
"Hmm okay. I will first have a conversation with the trader and then I will make a decision. Thankyou for your help brother Xavi. Elder brother Leo."
Isabel left them alone in the study and went to her room to make even more notes. Meanwhile Elena had already talked to several doctors and food shops that were locally popular. Almost all have them had a regular supply of herbs and spices of their needs. Things like spices and herbs are best sold in retail shops, Elena analyzed. Or you can do wholesale which will also gain market attraction.
Opening a shop takes expenses and time. So Elena decided to buy in bulk from him and sell in wholesale. She also found a few retail buyers, some of them also gave her money in advance to book her. People knew that the Xalvadore family is very reliable and they trust them, that's why they were not reluctant to give money in advance.
Isabel went to father the next day to tell her ideas as she did with brother Xavi. Father neither denied nor approved.
"Are you willing to live in city X alone? Have you thought that how will you manage that?"
"Yes father, I have thought about it. Tea houses are already abundant here. So it will be no use trying to open a shop here. Maybe our family name may serve a purpose but didn't you say this test is for me to grow. I don't want to use our family name to earn a living for myself."
"I as a father will be naturally be worried about your well being, If this deal goes well, then I can only do my best to assure your well being in city X."
Aldo had never thought of him as a good father since much of his life had been used to bring the Xalvadore family name, back to prosperity. He only did his best to teach his children all he could about the world and let them chose their own paths. He didn't want to make Elena face defeat but only show her the reality. What she does with that reality is on her to decide.
In three days the spice trader arrived in the Xalvadore house, both Elena and Isabel got their own time to talk with them alone. The trader talked with both of them one by one but didn't finalize a deal with any of them. After Elena and Isabel left, Aldo entered the room with Xavier.
"So did you make a deal?" Aldo said.
"Sir I have made a decision but I will need your permission for that." the man said.
"hmm go on make your request." Aldo said.
"Lady Isabel says that she will work with me in my shop and cook herbs and medicines on demand. I have been looking for such a person, just now she made tea for me and it tasted exquisite. Nothing like what I make for myself. I must say she is talented."
"Yes, she is indeed. Every morning she makes fine tea for everyone and insists on doing it herself." Shu XinYi said.
"I think that it is rude of me to appoint her just as a worker, so I denied. Then Lady Isabel made an offer. She seems to have trouble finding a shop so she says that she will buy raw materials from me and sell it after refining it, on a separate stand in my shop. She also agreed to pay rent for occupying shop space."
"Then, what request do you have from me?" Aldo asked..
"She is your daughter, I would obviously have to ask you. If you allow her to work in city X and you don't find it rude, Only then I can sign a deal."
"Do you think my daughter will make a request that she hasn't told me about? Obviously I know and It is not my place to allow her. If she wants to do it, she is capable of doing it and it brings no harm to her then naturally I won't stop her."
"Oh, Mr.Aldo I am really sorry for my assumptions. Then I will make sure Lady Isabel faces all fairness while she works with me."
"hmm. What about Elena, didn't you like her proposal?"
"Mr.Aldo, Lady Elena she .. I don't mean to be rude but her proposal was not very intelligible. Let me explain. She tells me that she will buy large stocks from me but I already have my own shop which runs good enough. If I start selling in bulk then I won't have stock for my regular customers."
"She must have agreed to buy from you at a higher rate, so that you don't face loss when selling to her. No?"
"Yes Mr.Aldo. She did say that but I don't think it will be profitable for her that way. I have checked the market in this city and the supply here is relatively higher then city X, So the prices for spices are lower. If she buys from me at a higher price then how will she manage to make profit?"
"Is the deal Elena proposed beneficial for you Mr.Lione?"
"Uh- I."
"Be honest. What Elena wants to do with the things she buys from you, should be none of your concern. If you find it profitable for yourself then accept her deal. You don't have to worry about my daughter's failure or success."
"Yes Mr.Aldo it is profitable for me but then what about Lady Isabel?"
"Mr.Lione are you telling me that there is no way you can accept both their offers without making it difficult for yourself?"
"No, I mean ofcourse there is. Then I would like to meet them again to sign our contracts."
Aldo nodded and left with Xavier. "Father is it okay for little Izzy to travel and live alone in city X?" Shu XinYi said.
"Why do you ask? Don't you already know she has Miss Lisa waiting there for her?"
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