Magical Devices Craftsman Dahlia – Chapter 16

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Orlando Company

Dahlia walked straight towards the Orlando company.

It took several minutes of walking from the commerce guild to reach the Orlando company. It may have been built from wood, but it was a reasonably big three-story building. A place that she has visited time and again, until recently. She had helped them with accounting and auditing for a while after Tobias’ father’s death.

The moment she stepped in, several gazes moved on to her. When they recognized it was Dahlia, their gaze became filled with curiosity, sympathy, and even scorn. She ignored the urge to flee and held her ground, standing high. She has decided the day their engagement was broken. That she won’t hang her head just from something like this.

“Oh my. Good afternoon, Ms. Rosetti.” Tobias’ mother, who until a few days ago still called her Dahlia, now called her such with a stiff smile plastered across her face.

“I’m you have to go through that so suddenly. But Ms. Emilia has a connection to a Viscount family, so I couldn’t really stop them as the company… Well, Tobias is also always prioritizing his work, so I’m sure you would find a better man soon.”

It was really apparent that she was trying to say that it was regrettable, but in the end it wasn’t their fault since it was a matter related to the aristocrats. Holding back her twitching face, Dahlia managed to keep her expression neutral.

“It’s alright, I’m already past that. Also, I’m here for different business, something related to commerce guild. Would you please call Mr. Tobias for me?”

“Commerce guild’s business? Aah,” Seeing Dahlia’s calm attitude, she was relieved. “Is he still in the middle of some work? I will call him shortly.”

Tobias’s mother immediately informed some clerk to call him.

“…Dahlia,” Tobias emerged from the back with a contorted face. “Do you need something?”

As one might expect, it was hard to put on a happy face when his ex-fiancee called him.

“I’m here regarding the matter about the royalty agreement of the small portable magic stove,” said Dahlia.

“That’s–!” His light brown eyes swam around and color was drained from his face.

“I’m sorry about that, but… let’s move to the reception room first.”

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If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com.

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He guided Dahlia to the nearest reception room. After they took a seat, face to face with a table in between, Tobias lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. I forgot to explain it to you, it’s just a misunderstanding,” said Tobias.

“What do you mean? I heard from the staff who handle the royalty agreement that you said you have my acknowledgement without my consent.”

“Well, we had planned that we would raise a new company after we married. So I thought, it would be better to use my name…”

“So that means, you’re going to use your name for things I would make after marrying you?”

“Yeah, since the products are going to be released by the company, I was going to do it under either my name or our joint names.”

Ever since the break of engagement to this day, there were a lot of things weighing Dahlia’s mind, and many miserable things that sapped her strength. But, for the first time, her head was filled only by a tranquil anger.

“‘When you develop a magical device that can reach the masses, and engrave your name on it, you take on the responsibility to look after it afterwards’– That’s what father has taught me.”

Her emerald eyes looked straight to Tobias coldly.

“If you were only putting our joint name, it would be preferable. When you put only your name, any news about malfunction and accident that happens won’t reach my ears.”

“That’s, I’m thinking about relaying it to you…”

Tobias’ words started becoming stiff. For the two of them who had now broken their engagement, it didn’t really sound convincing.

“Then, please cancel the royalty agreement for the small portable magic stove by today. So I can re-register it by myself.”

“Well, that’s…”

He had to admit to the fraud he had done. It was certain that it would be difficult for him to access the commerce guild in the future.

“Dahlia, it was from we’re still engaged. Can you just acknowledge it, let my name on the paper, and let me buy the rights from you? Of course, my company will pay at your asking price.”

“I refuse. If I want, I could just sue you for contract falsification, you know.”

“You wouldn’t go that far, would you? …As I thought, do you still have resentment after we broke up?”

Dahlia lowered her gaze and let out a deep sigh.

“Rather than our break up, it’s as a fellow magical device meister that I find your act deplorable. I have always thought of you as my ‘senior disciple’ after all.”

“…I see, ‘senior disciple’ rather than fiancee, huh. Of course you would think like that. It has always been like that, after all.”

Tobias looked away for a moment, then hardened his resolve.

“Will you still not sell me the portable magic stove, no matter what?”

“Nope.”

“…Even if you can’t make a deal with Orlando again after this?”

“Yeah,” replied Dahlia immediately.

To begin with, she was prepared for this.

She could ask someone else to buy the materials, and she can find another retailer with advice from the commercial guild. If that doesn’t work, she could sell the waterproof cloth at wholesale as raw materials to the manufacturers.

There is a big chance of a drastic drop in her income, but it will be enough to live alone. With this, she wouldn’t hang her head in shame as an independent magical device meister.

“Furthermore, wouldn’t it look bad to your new fiancee if I’m still interacting with you?

She hasn’t seen her in the office so far, but Tobias’s new fiancee is also here.

The fact that she doesn’t want them to meet was also her intention.

“Dahlia-”

“Please finish the paperwork from the guild by today.”

Dahlia cut off the conversation there and stood up.

Short hair up to her shoulders sway greatly in front of Tobias’s eyes.

Tobias couldn’t help but watch as the red hair left the room.