Chapter 134 134: Merchant Lily.

Leo and the rest of the people were busy with the liquor distillation so they didn't realize but a week had passed since the guards left the town and today happens to be the day these guards came back.

Lily was sitting in the study room and reading a few books to pass time and learn something when the door was knocked, and the little girl said, "Come in."

A maid pushed open the door, she greeted Lily and said, "Young Miss, the men who left a week ago with the perfume have come back and they wish to see His Grace."

Lily frowned and said, "Well, Ma has gone to the fields, and Baba has gone to visit the artists. Umm, I will see them, bring them to the living room."

The maid was surprised but then she nodded. Then Lily got down from the chair and followed the maid to the living room. Unlike how the little girl behaved around her parents, she was very sophisticated in her actions. The maids always found it surprising to see her like this.

Upon reaching the living room, Lily said, "Miss Vivian, call them over."

Vivian was the head maid, and although she was young she was very efficient and loyal. She nodded and called over the guards from the gates.

Lily sat down on the couch, and waited for the people. When the men came over, they bowed to Lily and greeted her, "Young Miss!"

Lily nodded and said, "Have a seat, you all have been traveling these days, take a moment to rest, and we will talk."

She then turned to Vivian and said, "Arrange for some tea and cookies for them."

Vivian nodded and retreated, the guards didn't expect that the Young Miss would be so considerate to them. Lily looked at them and asked, "How was business? I hope you didn't face any trouble."

The men nodded and gradually reported the situations in the various towns and cities they visited. The little girl nodded and asked, "The money?"

The guards smiled and gradually they placed some leather bags on the table. Lily asked them to report how much they earned and someone said, "Young Miss, I made One hundred Fifty gold coins."

Following this man everyone else also reported their collection. Lily smiled and said, "You all have done very well, from the estimate earlier, we were looking forward to gaining six hundred fifty coins, but now, we have almost nine-hundred coins. I will ask Baba to give you all an incentive when he comes back. Thank you for your hard work."

Vivian came back with the snacks and the tea. Lily said, "You all should have tea before you go back, come over tomorrow, and I will have your rewards prepared. We, the Cardinal Family, don't treat our own people badly."

The guards were gratified and they thanked her. Lily looked at Vivian beside her and said, "Find Grandpa Crawford and call him to the study."

Vivian nodded and left the living room to locate Mister Crawford, who was inspecting the situation of the chicken farm on the palace grounds.

…

Lily was leaning back in the chair when the door was knocked and the young lady said, "Come in."

She was rapping her fingertips on the armrest of the chair, when Crawford came inside the study. He looked at her and was surprised, because he could tell that something was different about the young lady.

He bowed and said, "Young miss, what can I do for you?"

Lily said, "Grandpa Crawford, the money in the living room will be left in your care, when my father comes back, please hand it over to him."

Crawford nodded and asked, "Yes, young miss."

Lily nodded and then asked, "Do we have any seeds that could germinate scented flowers in the winters?"

Crawford shook his head and said, "No, young miss. The palace has never collected such seeds. However, if you wish to find a few then you can check the Inner town. Many farmers and the residents have planted the shrubs of such flowers around their houses and farms."

Lily nodded and said, "Can I trouble you to send someone to these people, buy these shrubs and ask them about the method to grow them properly. Another thing, prioritize the ones that are blooming and can survive the cold."

Crawford nodded, and he asked, "Young miss, how would we pay for this purchase?"

Lily fiddled with her clothes and took out two silver coins. She said, "This should be enough to get the shrubs. If they ask for more, I will have Baba give them more."

Crawford was shocked to see that this little girl had two silvers on her, and looking at her pained expression he could tell that these coins probably meant a lot for her. He hesitated and Lily said resolutely, "Grandpa, you shouldn't hesitate, take them. Coins can be earned again. These two coins would be my investment in the scent business."

Crawford was even more surprised, he was about to say something when the door of the study was pushed open and Leo walked in with an amused expression on his face. He asked, "How can you invest in a business without any contract?"

Lily looked at Leo and asked, "Will my family betray me?"

Leo sighed and said, "Baba is doing all that he can for you, how can he betray you. However, when you intend to do business, always, and I mean always sign agreements and contracts before you engage in it."

Lily tilted her head and asked, "Then why didn't you sign one with Aunt Merid?"

Leo smiled and said, "Grandpa Crawford took a signed agreement from me, and read it out loud for her and the entire locality heard it as witnesses. So, I signed a contract with her. You are just not aware of it."

Lily realized the issue, and she asked, "Can I sign a contract?"

Leo nodded and said, "Since you are putting in two silver coins and came up with the idea of procurement of flowers, I will give you two percent of the profit. How does that sound?"

Lily nodded and Leo began to draft a contract on the spot. The two people signed it and then Leo said, "So from now on, you will have to overlook the perfume business. If you have any difficulty, you can ask us for help."

Lily nodded and said, "Okay, can I ask you for some advance money?"

Leo was surprised and asked, "I would like to know why you want it?"

Lily replied, "To open a store. The soldiers can take up positions, and represent our product. You can use the store to sell more products. The store will also increase the credibility of our product."

Leo looked at his daughter and said, "My love, you are a genius. I always knew it."

He also wanted to open stores, but coming from a four year old, this was the epitome of genius. He walked up to her, and kissed her forehead as he said, "You are Baba's pride."

Lily smiled and leaned in his arms contently. She said, "I love Baba too."

The two of them embraced each other, before Lily said, "Can we reward the soldiers?"

Leo nodded and said, "I already did it when coming over. Don't worry. Let's go, let's have lunch."

…

The night fell, and the town grew quiet, Leo and Snow stood in the balcony watching the dim lights illuminate from the houses. She asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Leo smiled and said, "I had always worried what might happen to Lily once we are not here by her side. Now I know that she will be fine."

Snow shook her head and said, "Why do you always think along these lines? We have a whole lot of time ahead of us."

Leo nodded and then they went to sleep. In the morning, Lily followed a group of stewards and maids to the farmers and the people who live in the inner town. She had a few copper coins on her, and after talking with the farmers, she paid them nicely to buy the high flower yielding shrubs.

Suddenly she sniffed the air and her eyes sparkled. She asked, "Can you also sniff this, Miss Vivian?"

Vivian smiled as she nodded and said, "Young Miss, there is someone spraying water on the dried up field. The scent is rising from there."

Lily asked, "How is this scent made? By spraying water on plants?"

Vivian shook her head and said, "No, Young Miss, it is about the dried sand that is drinking water."

Lily was still confused and she turned around to go home. However, after an entire afternoon she could not determine how that scent was flowing in the void. Vivian bought her a glass of milk, and just when Lily was about to drink, she sniffed a scent of earth in the milk.

She looked at the cup and found that it was an earthen cup that she got from the farmer as a gift. She said, "Miss Vivian, please get me a glass of warm water, in this same mug."

Vivian was confused but she nodded and left, while Lily smiled and mumbled, "Huhuhu, I will be rich and then I will buy candy."