New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 131: GIVE YOU FIVE PERCENT

Chapter 131: GIVE YOU FIVE PERCENT

In the afternoon.

As usual, the children were together in the garden, sitting around the table. Alaric and Lilith were drawing on paper, Liam was swinging a wooden sword by the side, and Lauren had been staring at Aristia since they came to the garden.

Aristia sighed and turned to her when she couldn’t endure the staring any longer. "Is there something you want to tell me, Laura?"

Lauren shook her head with a smile. "It’s nothing. It’s just..." She was still reeling from the revelation the previous night.

Before any other words could be said, a maid approached them in the garden.

"Your Highness," she bowed. "There is a man at the gate requesting to meet you. He claimed that he was instructed by you. He goes by the name Randall."

"Randall?" Aristia searched her memories. "Who’s Randall?" She asked stupidly.

[Oh, it’s the owner of the art store.] She would have forgotten if he hadn’t come.

She nodded at the maid. "Let him in. I will meet him in the parlour."

"Yes, Your Highness." The maid bowed once more and left.

Aristia stood up to leave but stopped on seeing Liam and Lauren staring at her with curiosity boldly written on their faces.

She nodded at them and moved to leave the garden, with Adeline following behind her.

Adeline brushed off a few stray snow that had clung to their clothes and adjusted Aristia’s shawl as they headed inside the mansion.

Some minutes after they settled in the parlour, a knock sounded on the door. "Princess, your guest has arrived."

"Enter." Aristia gave permission, looking in the direction of the door.

The maid opened the door and Randall entered. Then she closed the door behind him and left.

"I greet Your Highness, the third princess." Randall bowed.

Aristia and Adeline were the only ones in the room.

"Have a seat, Mister Randall." Aristia gestured at the sofa opposite hers. Then, she turned to Adeline. "Linny, please prepare some refreshments for my guest."

"Yes, princess," Aristia nodded hesitantly. She left after a few glances at Aristia and a threatening glare at Randall.

Even if Aristia was training and was now stronger than noble children a few years older than her, she was still a child. Even if nothing dangerous would happen to her within the estate, she just didn’t want to leave Aristia alone.

Aristia turned to Randall after Adeline had left to carry out her orders.

Randall shivered and shifted a little in his seat. He didn’t know whether to feel scared at the maid’s threatening gaze earlier, or nervous that he was alone with the princess.

’Maybe both,’ he thought.

He couldn’t understand how a woman could be so scary.

But now, he was feeling a little bit uncomfortable at the silence, even though the person in front of him was just a child. Strangely, her presence was a bit overwhelming.

Her calm demeanor and keen eyes made him acutely aware of the significance of this meeting and who he was meeting. That alone made him very uneasy.

Now he wished the maid with the scary gaze hadn’t left. Maybe he should have refused the princess’s offer for tea.

He didn’t say anything as she hadn’t made a move to speak. He had to show respect as even though a child, and one with a not very pleasant reputation, she was still respected royalty.

A few minutes later, Adeline returned carrying a tray containing the refreshments. Randall heaved a small sigh of relief at the presence of another person in the room. Why was this little girl’s gaze so intimidating?

Adeline placed the tray on the table between Aristia and Randall. Inside it was a teapot, two teacups and two plates containing snacks.

Aristia shook her head. She almost had no doubt that Adeline had hastened up so that she would return quickly. Adeline quietly filled the teacups and handed one to Aristia and the other to Randall.

Aristia gave Adeline a look and nodded. Instead of going to stand behind Aristia, Adeline turned and left the room, quietly closing the door behind her. She would guard the door to make sure no one would eavesdrop on the conversation between Aristia and Randall.

After Adeline left, Aristia gestured to Randall, "Please, have some tea."

Randall was snapped out of his thoughts, "Oh, yes. Thank you, Your Highness." He picked up his teacup and sipped his tea tentatively, waiting for Aristia to initiate the conversation.

Tea wasn’t something that commoners usually drank. They also weren’t particular about etiquette and didn’t have much etiquette. Hence, his movement was a little sloppy.

Setting down her teacup delicately, Aristia decided to break the silence. "I assume you’ve made your decision," she started, "and judging from your presence, you have agreed to sell your store."

Randall nodded. "You are correct, Your Highness."

"Have you decided a price to sell it?" Aristia asked. She helped herself to a cookie and waited for Randall to speak.

Randall nodded, "I will sell the store for nine bronze coins."

He took out a stack of papers from a bag. "Here are the documents. They have my signature." He handed them to Aristia.

Aristia collected the documents and carefully went through them. She nodded and signed where needed to be signed, then placed them by her side.

He watched Aristia with surprise. She talked and acted like it wasn’t her first time doing business like this.

He had heard that royal family members had higher intelligence, but he hadn’t really experienced it until today.

Aristia took out a money pouch and took out a bronze coin from it, then she slid the pouch along the table towards Randall.

[That is the equivalent of nine hundred copper coins in Amberale. It is not a bad price.]

She had prepared ten bronze coins as that was the maximum amount of money she would be willing to pay.

"You’ve done well, Mister Randall." She nodded.

Randall was a little unwilling. He didn’t want to part with the stall even though it wasn’t doing well. It had belonged to his family for many generations.

The store had been passed down to him by his father. He couldn’t believe he would be the one to sell it and if he had another alternative, he would opt to not sell the store, but he had none. He knew he had to do this. It was his means of survival. He would use the money to start up another trade.

"Thank you for purchasing my store, Princess... and for the tea." Randall put down the teacup, stood up and bowed, ready to leave. He had nothing more to do here.

But Aristia stopped him.

"Wait, Mister Randall, how would you like to be the store’s manager?"

Her voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Yes?" His brain seemed to be working slowly. "The manager... of the store?" He had to make sure he really wasn’t hearing things.

Ever since he met this princess, he had been doubting his hearing.

"That is what I said. I will also give you five percent of the profit the store makes, along with your pay as the manager." Aristia slowly added.

Randall did not take much time to consider the offer. His eyes widened and he immediately accepted. Even though he couldn’t remain the owner, he could still be close to the store.

She was even kind enough to give him five percent of the shares, and also the pay as the manager! The little princess had a big heart.

But listening to her convinced him that the princess at least had some knowledge of doing business.

Higher intelligence or not, it didn’t miraculously give a person knowledge.

But how would the princess have any experience in business? Randall had his doubts.

He was brought out of his thoughts when Aristia began speaking.

"I will draft the contract. Do not reveal that the store has been sold. On the surface, you will stand as the owner." Aristia stated her terms. "I will visit you soon. Await my visit."

A small smile flickered across Randall’s face. He was both happy and relieved at the surprise. "Thank you, Princess, you’re too kind. It’s an honor to serve you." He bowed in gratitude. Bowed twice. Bowed thrice. It was obvious he was overjoyed.

Aristia stopped him. "That’s alright."

[Else he’d have kept bobbing his head like a toy with a spring in its head.]

She smiled and bade him farewell.

Randall left with that happy smile still on his face. If it was possible, he’d have skipped. But he remembered last minute where he was and composed himself.

He really hadn’t expected that he could still remain the store’s manager, and even be given five percent of the profit. The princess was truly kind.

But, those rumours that said she was a brat... it didn’t seem to be true. Unlike most of those people spreading false rumours, he had actually met the princess and she was different from the rumours.

Left alone in the parlor, Aristia picked up a blank sheet of paper and started writing.