Chapter 622: The Beauty Potion
CH622 The Beauty Potion
***
"Would you like to spar with me?" the man asked.
Though phrased as a question, the heavy battle lust radiating from him made it feel anything but.
"Master Dalton, this is a guest of Lady Rosa," the butler interjected carefully.
He tried to signal with his eyes, but Dalton ignored him entirely.
"So?" Dalton replied flatly.
His gaze remained locked on Alex.
"From what I can see, the lady seated there is the one meeting Rosa." He tilted his head slightly. "Why don’t you stretch your legs while the women talk?"
Alex smiled faintly, then shook his head.
"You are a Combat Master, while I am merely at Gold rank," he replied calmly. "It wouldn’t be a proper spar for you."
"Especially since I am a guest in your home."
"Quite a glib tongue you have," Dalton’s eyes narrowed. "You speak as though you’re conceding, but your eyes tell a different story."
His aura sharpened.
"You believe you can face me on equal footing... Or even defeat me."
He was amused.
Alex said nothing. He only smiled.
That was enough of a response.
"Oh..." Dalton’s battle intent surged. "Now I really want to test you."
"What is going on here?"
A calm yet authoritative feminine voice cut through the tension.
"Why are you threatening my guests, Dalton Asheton?"
All eyes turned.
The butler immediately bowed.
"Lady Rosa."
"Don’t slander me, Rosa Mercier," Dalton replied. "I’m merely inviting this warrior to spar."
"If you intend to spar," Rosa said evenly, "then wait until after my meeting. I will not have your rudeness souring my negotiations."
Her gaze sharpened slightly into a warning.
"And that’s if he even agrees to it."
Dalton looked like he wanted to argue. But, surprisingly, he held himself back.
"...Fine."
He waved at a nearby maid, who quickly brought a chair.
And thus, he sat and waited.
Alex’s smile thinned slightly but he continued to maintain his silence.
"I apologise for his behaviour," Rosa said, turning to Alex and his group. "All he knows is how to fight."
"No problem," Alex replied smoothly. "I understand his enthusiasm."
"For a warrior, facing new opponents is one of the best ways to grow."
As he spoke, he subtly stepped back, shifting the focus back to Eleanore.
It was a small gesture, but not one that escaped Rosa’s notice.
Eleanore stepped forward gracefully, taking control of the exchange.
"Lady Rosa, it’s a pleasure."
She gestured lightly.
"This is Alex Fury, leader of the Fortuna Company. And beside him is Udara Kael, one of the group’s captains."
"So, you’re the leader of the rookies making waves recently." Dalton’s voice cut in from the side. "I suppose their success makes sense... if they have someone like you leading them."
Alex shook his head lightly.
"It’s nothing more than a few small successes, hardly worth mentioning." he replied. "Compared to the BattleBane Guild, our little party is child’s play."
"I wouldn’t be so sure," Dalton said with a knowing smile.
Alex returned the smile, saying nothing more.
—
Lady Rosa’s eyes flickered subtly as she observed the exchange.
She wondered what relationship Eleanore had with the Fortuna company.
’What exactly is her relationship with this Fortuna Company?’
Her attention drifted back to Eleanore.
’A simple business partner... or something else?’
She silently changed her evaluation of Eleanore and her little business.
Eleanore was no longer just a promising alchemist with an interesting product.
While Rosa assessed them, they were doing the same.
Alex’s gaze lingered on her briefly.
’A middle-aged woman who takes care of her appearance.’
A simple first impression.
’Not surprising for a merchant, I guess. Appearance is part of the trade. Plus, she is a woman as well.’
She wasn’t on the same level as his wives, but she didn’t need to be.
What she lacked in raw beauty, she made up for with elegant refinement and a mature charm none of his wives could yet rival.
"I received your gift," Lady Rosa said, resting her chin lightly on her hand.
"I must admit... it wasn’t what I expected. A beauty potion, was it?"
Eleanore smiled politely.
"It is more accurate to call it an age-reversal potion."
"It does not enhance beauty directly. It simply reverses the visible effects of ageing and nourishes the skin."
She paused slightly, then flattered, "It only appears to be a beauty potion, because it was used by a natural beauty such as yourself, Lady Rosa."
Rosa smiled.
She knew it was flattery, but well-delivered flattery still had its effect, especially coming from someone like Eleanore.
Even beneath her veil, her beauty was evident.
Which made the compliment feel more worthwhile.
Still, flattery was flattery while business was business.
"Let’s skip the pleasantries," Rosa said, straightening slightly. "Let’s discuss the real matter."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Sell the rights to the potion to the Jadewell Merchant Company."
"I want the exclusive rights. All you need to do is focus on production and supply. My company will handle everything else."
Lady Rosa’s offer would have surprised most, but Eleanore’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
Her professional, composed smile remained.
"Exclusive rights are not possible," she said calmly. "However, bulk purchasing is something we can certainly accommodate."
Rosa lifted her teacup with measured elegance, taking a slow sip before setting it back onto the saucer resting in her lap.
Her gaze returned to Eleanore.
"You must understand," she began, her tone smooth but firm, "doing business in BloodIron—and the Wildlands as a whole—is not simple."
"Exporting beyond this region is even more difficult."
She leaned back slightly.
"No matter how exceptional a product is, if it cannot reach the right markets, it will struggle to generate meaningful profit."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Yours is a new business."
"The fact that you approached my Jadewell merchant company, already tells me you lack confidence in marketing this product yourselves. At least... from a shop of your current scale."
Eleanore sighed inwardly.
That was the weakness of their current approach.
If not for their time constraints, she would have preferred a slower, more controlled entry into the market.
But Alex had insisted.
The man in question sat leisurely to the side.
He poured himself a cup of milk while casually working through the cakes set before him.
Udara followed suit, though with far more tactful restraint and grace.
To any observer, it would seem as though the negotiation had nothing to do with them.
Alex’s eyes flicked briefly toward Eleanore.
He trusted her ability.
But even so, he was curious how she intended to overcome the handicap he had imposed.
Eleanore set her teacup down gently.
Her smile never wavered.
"You are correct," she said. "It is difficult for a new product to break into a market, especially when its supplier is an unknown entity like us."
"However—" Her eyes sharpened just slightly. "That only applies to ordinary products."
"Every so often, a product emerges that is so... revolutionary, that the market bends to accommodate it."
"Distribution networks form on their own and demand carves a path for it."
She leaned forward just enough to meet Rosa’s gaze directly.
"You’ve used our product, right, Lady Rosa?"
"You tell me—
"Do you think our potion is such a revolutionary product?"
***