I Plan to End This Possession — Chapter 10

I REFUSE TO SEE MY DAUGHTER REMAIN A MERE CONCUBINE.

ESPECIALLY NOT GETTING PUSHED ASIDE BY THAT WENCH DANA!

THE TRADE BUSINESS IMPORTING MOONLIGHT FLOWERS FROM THE SOUTHERN CONTINENT-

ENTRUST IT TO ALICE, I SAY!

AH-!

OUT OF THE QUESTION!

SISTER! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW IMPORTANT THIS BUSINESS IS?!

JUAN, YOU...!

JUAN IS RIGHT THIS TIME, DARLING.

THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER VENTURE IS SOMETHING EVEN THE VATICAN HAS INVESTED A GREAT DEAL INTO.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WE'LL BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

—IN THIS ERA, RELIGION IS SPLIT INTO TWO FACTIONS.

THE NEW RELIGION FACTION, WHICH EMBRACES THE MOON GOD.

AND THE OLD RELIGION FACTION, WHICH REJECTS THE MOON GOD.

WHAT WAS USED IN THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN THESE TWO FACTIONS WAS NONE OTHER THAN

THE FLOWER SYMBOLIZING THE MOON GOD—

—WAS THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER.

IT'S A KIND OF PROPAGANDA TOOL.

I KNOW THAT! THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I'M SAYING THIS...!

IF JUAN CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T ALICE?!

BESIDES, THE AIDE'S HANDLE ALL THE PRACTICAL WORK ANYWAY

SISTER! YOU'VE BEEN CROSSING THE LINE THIS ENTIRE TIME!

WHAT?!

DID I SAY ANYTHING THAT WASN'T TRUE?!

I WANT TO DO IT.

I REALLY DO.

NO, I CAN DO IT!

PLEASE ENTRUST THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER BUSINESS TO ME!

ALICE?

YES. WORD IS SHE TOOK CHARGE OF THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER BUSINESS ALONGSIDE LORD JUAN.

DANA'S PERSONAL SECRETARY, LETHE.

MY GOODNESS.

HOW UNFORTUNATE FOR HER.

TO BECOME MASTER OF A SANDCASTLE ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

EVEN WITH ALICE MEDDLING, NOTHING CHANGES.

LETHE, ACQUIRE SEVERAL FORGED IDENTITIES,

THEN ATTEND THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER AUCTIONS AND WIN THE BIDS.

AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICES.

...DON'T TELL ME YOU INTEND TO DRIVE UP THE PRICE OF MOONLIGHT FLOWERS?

YES, EXACTLY.

IT'S A TACTIC OFTEN USED AT AUCTIONS.

USING SHILL BIDDERS TO DELIBERATELY STOKE COMPETITION.

HOWEVER, THE POPULARITY OF THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER ORIGINALLY STEMS FROM

SUPPLY FAILING TO MEET DEMAND.

THE NEW RELIGION FACTION RESTRICTED THE QUANTITY OF MOONLIGHT FLOWERS TO DRIVE UP THEIR VALUE.

ALL SO THEIR PROPAGANDA TOOL

WOULD BE PERCEIVED AS RARER,

AND FAR SUPERIOR.

-AND THAT IS THE VERY LEVERAGE I INTEND TO EXPLOIT.

CLEVER LETHE MUST HAVE ALREADY CAUGHT ON TO MY INTENTION.

MY LADY, COULD THE METHOD YOU ARE PLANNING BE...

DANA, SISTER!

WH-WHAT? SISTER?

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT?

N-NO MATTER HOW HEARTBROKEN YOU ARE OVER THE BREAKUP WITH THE CROWN PRINCE...

TO HAVE AN IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH A SERVANT—?!

YOU MAY LEAVE, LETHE.

YES, MY LADY.

HUH? WAIT...

SORRY IF I UPSET YOU!

I HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE YOU, SISTER.

TA-DA!

IT'S A MOONLIGHT FLOWER, SISTER. YOU WANTED ONE, DIDN'T YOU?

LAST TIME, HIS HIGHNESS GAVE THIS FLOWER TO ME INSTEAD OF YOU, REMEMBER?

SO I BROUGHT THIS FOR YOU.

YOU'RE GIVING ME FLOWERS IN LAIOS'S PLACE?

WELL, YOU SEE...

I WAS JUST PUT IN CHARGE OF THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER BUSINESS, TOO!

STILL!

YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A GIFT FROM THE CROWN PRINCE!

HOW IS IT? DO YOU LIKE IT?

THANK YOU, ALICE.

SISTER, YOU FINALLY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL-

I'LL GLADLY ACCEPT YOUR CHEAP PITY.

PITY?!

I JUST WANTED TO COMFORT YOU, SISTER...!

COMFORT? AH, NOT PITY...

WAS IT A CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR STEALING MY FIANCÉ?

THAT'S NOT IT!

I ONLY WANTED TO MAKE UP WITH YOU, SISTER!

WHY DO YOU ALWAYS TWIST EVERYTHING I SAY...?

...YOU MAKE ME SICK.

BELIEVING UNTIL THE BITTER END THAT YOU'RE JUST A SWEET, INNOCENT LITTLE GIRL.

AND GENUINELY EXPECTING ME TO FORGIVE YOU!

STILL...

I SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT I CAN.

IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE AMENDS, YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT SOMETHING MORE PRECIOUS.

AFTER ALL, HOW VALUABLE COULD A BUSINESS RUN BY SOMEONE LIKE YOU POSSIBLY BE?

THAT'S NOT TRUE! I-I CAN DO A GOOD JOB TOO!

IS THAT SO?

THEN CARE TO MAKE A BET, ALICE?

I GUARANTEE YOU.

THE MOONLIGHT FLOWER BUSINESS WILL BE RUINED WITHIN A MONTH.

AND WHATS MORE.

ITLL BE BECAUSE OF YOU.