Wow, I'm the next owner of Fermor Trading Company?

Yeah. I want Elsie to do it.

Can I ask you why?

'Yeah, this is like ...... atonement.'

Atonement?

...... style ...... I'll explain it to you.
　Take a breath.
　He made up his mind and began to explain.

"Before Elsie was a slave, she worked in a liquor store, right?

Yes, it's my mother and father's shop.

I've been buying booze there since I was young. Since my grandfather Elsie's day.

'I didn't know that. ......

"They were very nice. They offered me drinks I might like and ordered whatever I asked for.

My parents' store is all about kindness.
　Elsie's face was proud as she said that.

'It really was ...... just as I was starting to become a total mess, ...... I started making unreasonable orders to that store that had been so kind to me.
　I did a really stupid thing: .......

　He took another breath and began to talk.
I asked him to order a large quantity of sake that would be very difficult to get one or to order a phantom bottle ...... Normally I would have refused.
　But your kind father did his best. But your father tried his best, but ...... he couldn't do it after all. ......

'I didn't know that happened: ......
　Elsie had an indescribable look on her face.
　Is she angry with me .......

'No. ...... That's not all there is to it. ......
　And then I stopped buying booze there. Ordered my guys to get some for me.
　And I was always bad-mouthing that store. Everywhere I went, I'd go to ....... I didn't understand ...... my position, my influence. .......
　Those idiots who were trying to curry favor with me started harassing that store .
　Well, I was stupid enough to be happy about that report: ......

I see. ......
　Elsie was still not angry and her expression had not changed.

'And I remembered the shop when I saw Elsie's face a month ago. I'd seen Elsie a few times when she was little and I'd helped her out.
　As soon as I saw how big she was getting, I saw Elsie's collar and realized that the store was gone.

　The store had never crossed my mind before.
　At the time, I felt really bad about it.
　I just wanted to get away from Elsie.
　But after working with her for a few days, it felt like a sign from God.

"You will pay for your sins.
　I had a feeling.
　So I decided to give Elsie all my money and come up with this plan.

I didn't know that ...... my father and mother are gone now. My father was poor and couldn't see a doctor and died of illness. And my mother worked too hard to pay off her debts and fell ill ...... and died of her illness. And I became a slave because I couldn't pay off the rest of my debts.
　Elsie said matter-of-factly.

I'm really sorry.
　All I can do is apologize: .......
　So ...... those two are dead. .......

'Yeah...... I honestly have mixed feelings about it, because I've known for the past month that Colt is a good man...... and I want to be angry, but I'm not even going to get mad at Mr. Colt at ...... and .......

"Oh, I killed Elsie's parents, remember?

It's also not ...... direct, and it's not ......

But it was my fault.

Okay. I'm not angry with you.

What?
　You're not angry?

'You want me to be mad at you to make you feel better, don't you?

...... Yeah, maybe so: ......
　Surely you might want to ease yourself out of this ...... guilt.

"Then I wouldn't be angry. . that's your punishment.

"Wow, okay. ......
　So ...... I'll have to live with this for the rest of my life. .......

And ...... I can't take over Colt's store. I can't possibly run that big store on my own!

That's okay, ......, because I could do this too. I'll make sure you're supported.

Still, I'm Mr. Holland's slave.

That's okay too. Once a slave is bought, it's up to the master to decide whether or not to release her. You pay the slavers to take off your collar. And since my shop will now be under my brother's umbrella, you won't have to worry about that much.

What do you mean?

From now on, Fermat will be the Holland Company. Fermat's image is going to look bad. You're going to be part of my brother's shop.



'So, but Mr. Hollant is not going to increase the size of the store: ......

　I checked that too.
"It's just a formality, so you'll never have to run my shop. "It's a formality, but he'll stay out of my business.

Is that so ...... but I still need to take over?

'Yeah, because when Elsie, who used to work here, becomes the manager, the customers will think it's really my brother's store.
　I had to come up with this reasoning beforehand to convince Elsie.
　I knew that Elsie would shy away and say no, so I've given it a lot of thought.

'Is that so?　I don't think many people remember me, do you?
　After all, Elsie doesn't seem to agree to this easily: .......
　But I'll have to use my storytelling skills.

No, Elsie is famous in the Imperial City. Kind, beautiful, talented clerk.
　It's true.
　Elsie stands out more than my brother, she's the face of this shop.
　And now everyone in the Imperial City knows it.

Really?

Yeah, that's true. Can you talk to me when you're out there?

Speaking of which: ......
　I think I know who Elsie is.

That's the idea.

'But, but!　What about your employees?　I can't collect them, can I?

That's okay too. I'll get my ex-employees to come back to me with their heads down.
　This has been a rough month for me.
　Well, it's all my fault.
　I'm surprised you got your ass back in a month.

Oh, really? ......
　Elsie seems distressed.
　This one won't last long.

"It's all right. My people are good at what they do. They've kept the shop going while I haven't been doing my job. And my brother's been training our workers, so I don't have to worry about that.
　My men are really good at what they do.
　I got my brother to bow down and give him an expensive drink and he said yes.

But you can go to ......
　Okay, one more push.

And we'll get Leo to be your advisor. That should give you peace of mind.
　'Huh?' from the edge of the room. But I don't care.
　With Leo here, the store's merchandising will be fine.
　He's got a lot of interesting ideas in his head.

'Oh, I'm sure it's a relief, but ......, are you sure it's me?'

Yeah, it'll have to be Elsie. I don't have kids, and I don't have anyone else to ask.

Okay. ...... Okay. I'll do it then.
　Yes!

Good. ...... Thank you. Thank you so much.
　I kept bowing my head.