The Goal is to be Self-made

T/n: There was a little misunderstanding in the pronunciation, and so from this chapter onward, Sheldrick will be changed to Sheardrick.

Since the tragedy of the former Duke and Duchess of Etzel was such a famous story, there was no need to ask why.

The Grand Duke died protecting the Emperor, and the Grand Duchess, who was deeply shocked, also passed away.

Sheldrick became the next Grand Duke at the age of thirteen, after the death of his parents.

That was six years ago, so the wolf must be at least six years old.

“Is this guy that old already? He looks young though.”

“Oh, no. He only looks small now because he’s curled up, but he’s bigger than you thought once he stands up properly.”

“I see.”

Still, even when he curled up, he covered her entire lap.

He would be much bigger when properly stood.

“He doesn’t have a name?”

“You can call him however you want.”

“I don’t have a talent for naming things…”

The wolf’s fur was dark black, so she couldn’t help but think of Sheardrick. Since his hair was also of the same colour.

“…Sid (Shead).” (but Sid sounds better so..)

For her, who had no talent or experience in name application, it was the best she could come up with.

“I’ll call him Sid.”

As soon as she decided on a name, Nisha widened her eyes.

“Is he named after the Grand Duke?”

“Yes. Doesn’t the colour of his fur resemble the Duke’s hair?”

“Oh, you’re right.”

Nisha agreed strongly, as if she had come to notice it for the first time. 

Even for someone who had worked in the mansion for as long as her, she was trying too hard to please her new master. She felt the bitterness of society once again and patted the wolf. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind that this might be rude.

“Oh. Do you think the His Grace would be offended? That I gave the wolf a name after his?”

“Oh, our duke is not that narrow-minded.”

“Is that so?”

She still hadn’t been able to figure out exactly what kind of person Sheardrick was.

It was because it felt quite three-dimensional and real, unlike the 2D character she saw when playing the game.

It was the same for other figures such as the Duke of Basel and Vivian.

She recalled Sheardrick’s expressionless face.

There was often a perception that an expressionless face was cold, but his face was closer to insensitive. He gave the impression that he was indifferent rather than cold-hearted. She would say that it was more like the sensation of living on while thoroughly killing and burying deep his emotions.

Therefore, it was quite difficult to understand his feelings.

He was completely different from Duke Basel or Vivian, whose desires were clearly revealed.

“If you are concerned, you can ask His Grace yourself.”

“The Grand Duke?”

“Yes. Just tell him that you saw a black wolf sleeping on the bed, and asked if you could call him Sid.”

Nisha wasn’t wrong.

Rather than worrying in an ambiguous state, it was better to ask Sheardrick directly and put her mind at ease.

Seeing her nod, Nisha smiled broadly. The maid looked strangely happy.

“But do get some sleep first. You just collapsed, and the doctor said you need more rest.”

Nisha laid me back on the bed and covered me with a blanket.

She thought she was wide awake, but when she lay down, she fell asleep again.

Consuming a huge amount of energy apparently left a big impact.

She closed her eyes without resisting as the drowsiness sank in. A deep sleep soon struck her.

❈❈❈

When she woke up in the morning, the black wolf, Sid, had already left the room.

As the guy who kept her warm all night had long disappeared, she felt somewhat empty.

She waited until the afternoon, so as not to be rude, and then went to see Sheardrick.

It wasn’t just to get permission for Sid’s name.

She was about to start a business in earnest after they had a talk about the recipe she made with her Skills.

He accepted her sudden visit without refusal.

On the surface, they were a couple, so it would be strange to say no.

“Has your body fully recovered yet?”

Sheardrick greeted her calmly, and so she responded in the same way.

“Yes, it’s all thanks to you.”

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. There is nothing urgent in the Grand Duchy, so we can take it slow.”

He was right. When she checked the ledger, she could clearly see that.

“In the meantime, the butler and the maid have been doing their job really well. They seem like capable people.”

“They have been loyal to the Etzel family for generations. They are trustworthy people.”

“But Etzel’s business is overly focused on agriculture, so I think it’s better to try to improve that in the long run.”

At her words, Sheardrick’s eyes widened a little.

“You’re right. It’s also been discussed among the vassals recently. However, it is difficult to change the business structure right now…”

“For that, I want to make a suggestion. Why don’t you try making and selling potions?”

She then presented the formulas for the three most profitable potions to Sheardrick.

His face, which had been examining the papers she held out with a questioning face, soon turned serious.

“I knew that the Duchy of Basel was famous for potions, but I didn’t know you had a talent for making potions.”

She had never learned the knowledge of potion-making from Duke Basel.

But she could not explain her ‘skills’, so she left his misunderstanding uncorrected.

“There seems to be some potential to it.”

“I think so too. Which is why I want to do business with the Grand Duke.”

She had the ideas, but she didn’t have the basis to implement them. The power of the Grand Duchy was not wholly developed either.

On that account, it was necessary to join hands with Grand Duke Sheardrick.

“I want to entrust the potions production to the Grand Duchy. It will require a lot of manpower, so a new job will be created within the Grand Duchy. I will give 30 percent of the potion’s selling profit for the production cost.”

“So besides being a couple, you want us to become business partners.”

“It’s a production process from which you would receive good results no matter where you conduct it. Considering the couple’s relationship, I’m giving the Grand Duke a chance to consider first.”

As she stated confidently with her chin slightly raised, Sheardrick leaned back on his chair and tilted his head.

“But 30 percent is too little. Let’s go with 50 percent. I shall get half of it.”

“Are you trying to start a bargain between a married couple?”

“There is also some young lady that wants to run a business concerning the said couple.”

“…Then, 40 percent. You actually thought about that price from the beginning and called for 50 percent, didn’t you?”

“Milady also thought about 40 percent and offered 30 percent.”

It certainly was the case.

She admitted by keeping silent in response. Seconds later, Sheardrick put the formulas down on the desk.

“Then we will set the production cost at 40 percent. Do you have any sales channel* in mind? That won’t be easy either.”

T/n: sales channel – one of the ways in which a business provides customers with a particular product

“If that’s your concern, do not worry. I already have something in mind.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“And there’s one more thing I want to ask you.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“A little wolf came to my bed yesterday. I’d like to name him Sid. As you may have noticed, he’s named after Your Grace. Since the colour of his fur is similar to your hair’s. But if you feel displeased, I’ll call him by another name.”

“…”

It wasn’t a very difficult matter to ask for, but for a moment, Sheardrick was speechless. He looked kind of dumbfounded.

“Um, Your Grace?”

As she called him, Sheardrick came to his sense and opened his mouth.

“About that….Did you say a black wolf? About this size?”

Sheardrick asked, measuring the size with his hand. It was exactly the size of the wolf.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Haa…”

Sheardrick sighed and dragged his hands down his face.

“Do you know him?”

“…The problem is I know him too well.”

It was something the deceased Grand Duchess cherished, so of course he would know it well.

“Nisha said that the duke would not pay too much mind about his name.”

“So Nisha said that…”

Sheardrick sighed helplessly, blurring the end of his speech.

“Do whatever you want. If I refuse, I will become a petty man, so there is no way I’d do that.”

“Thank you. I think Sid will also be thankful.”

“…I guess so.”

Sheardrick’s face looked somewhat complicated.

❈❈❈

“Nisha.”

“Oh god! You surprised me.”

Startled, Nisha stroked her chest as she looked at the huge man sitting in her room.

Her master, the grand duke, often behaved in such an indecent manner.

“If you had something to say, you should have called me. Don’t come to me in person.”

“This is faster.”

“Sometimes formality is more important than speed.”

“Would a person who knows that formality matters do such a thing?”

As she shrugged, Sheardrick sighed and swept up his hair.

There was no specific subject in their conversation, but she seemed to already know what he was referring to.

“It’s not my fault. It was you who jumped onto the Madame’s bed.”

“You know very well that my instincts become stronger when I become like that. I did it because I wanted to sleep. That’s where I can get the most sleep.”

“No matter how strong your instincts are, you must know that your wife’s there.”

“…I forgot. I was too tired.”

As Sheardrick rubbed his neck as if he had no face, Nisha became sterner on the contrary.

“So, who is it to be blamed?”

“Don’t encourage her too much. I know what you want, Nisha.”

“Oh. What do I want?”

Sheardrick frowned as Nisha blinked, faking innocence.

“I don’t want to bring her into our affairs.”

“Is that so?”

Nisha smiled amusedly. She realised that there was a subtle favourable feeling in his words.

“She is still a kid. Don’t think of anything weird.” 

“And you married that little kid?”

“That….”

Sheardrick sighed in frustration.

“Anyway, I’ve made it clear. Do not encourage her. This is an order from the Grand Duke.”

“Yes, yes.”

Hearing Nisha’s answer, he quietly turned around. And his shadow, moving away, could be seen taking the form of an animal rather than a human.

It was a dark black wolf.