Another screwup.
Are you feeling all right, Felicia?
Want to take a breather?
Oh, you dropped this.
Felicia?
Are you okay?!
I've read your proposal.
Felicia's Decision
Episode
O-Oh, good.
Ernest Fosse, president of the Fosse Company.
So this is Miss Fosse's father.
Um, is something the matter?
Oh, no.
You specify that you'd like to deal in all Leinster wines and Howard produce,
but how do you propose to manage such a large volume of goods?
The contract comes first!
We can work out everything else later. Don't you worry.
I see.
Good.
It pains me to say this,
but as all the goods on this list bear ducal crests,
we cannot offer them on such uncertain terms.
What? No, you see...
Thank you for your time.
Please take care on your trip home.
Huh?
What's wrong?
Are you not feeling well?
No, I'm fine.
It's just...
E-Excuse me? Felicia?
Nothing calms me down like hugging you, Stella.
I can't get this kind of comfort from Caren.
What's that?
N-Nothing, really.
Don't expect me to listen if you're going to lie.
The vice president's picking on me!
I'll listen, and so will Caren.
Won't you?
Come on. Out. With. It.
You know how I help out with the family business?
Yeah.
The other day, my dad tried to strike a deal...
and he blew it big time.
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.
Surely there will be other business opportunities?
Well...
Tell us all about it.
So the Leinsters and the Howards are going into business together?
That negotiation meant so much for our company,
so I really wanted to make it a success.
I'm sorry.
Why should you apologize?
I mean...
It's my fault that coming back to school left me no time to check the paperwork.
And my dad swore he could handle it because he'd be dealing with a young man.
A "young man"?
You have such a strong sense of responsibility.
It's more that I like the work.
I just wish I could go on helping out forever.
Do you really?
Thanks for telling us.
No, thank you, both of you!
Pillowy soft... is what you're not.
Hey!
Those are fighting words!
Eek.
Oh, honestly...
Allen...
Don't you think you could have told me that you worked with Felicia's dad?
Oh, sorry.
But really, this is my problem to solve.
I know that.
But Felicia's taking this harder than you would believe.
Sir!
Dear Brother!
Allen, sir!
Whoa there.
Th-Thank you mery vuch.
Dear Brother, Anna gave me this for you.
Anna did?
It's wrong to snoop.
I'm so sorry!
We couldn't help wondering.
What is that?
A report on how a business I dealt with has performed in the past few years.
Why are you frowning at it like that?
Well, this company
took a sharp turn for the better after a certain point,
but I can't figure out why.
Was there a change in management?
No, as a matter of fact.
And nothing else changed?
Nothing beyond hiring additional workers.
But I don't see any reports that they raised profits.
It's like someone invisible is pulling the strings.
Perhaps a ghost haunts the company.
A g-ghost?!
Th-That's ridiculous!
Learn to take a joke, Miss First Place.
L-Lynne, you...!
Caren.
I'm heading back to school.
Okay. Until next time.
You three...
My brother is a master of spoiling people, but don't take advantage.
Lean on him too hard and you'll end up like Lydia.
Yes, ma'am!
Now, we'd better get going ourselves.
I'll be tutoring you at the Howard residence today.
This looks amazing!
Shelley, this is scrumptious!
Thank you for saying so.
These are northern vegetables, aren't they?
Yes, my lady. Crop yields have improved thanks to your research.
Really?
Is the meat from the north as well?
It's snow deer, sir.
Transporting ingredients to the royal capital can't be easy.
It isn't.
Storage methods, temperature, and humidity are all regulated
to deliver products in peak condition.
Vibration damages some things, so it's better not to ship those by train.
I see. I didn't know that.
You should rely on my expertise more often.
I have to acknowledge your brains,
but you won't beat me on the end-of-term exams!
Lady Tina is amazing! Better than amazing!
That reminds me. Tina, Ellie,
have you noticed anything off about Lady Stella?
My sister? No, not especially.
She's the same levelheaded student council president as ever.
Yes! Lady Stella works ever so hard!
Is that so?
Now, don't forget to review today's lessons when you're done eating.
We won't!
It's fine. Calm down.
Deep breaths, Felicia!
There's no point getting so worked up.
You've met him before.
I... I know, but still!
Please pardon my father's conduct the other day.
I know I have no right to ask this,
but would you p-please give us another chance to negotiate a contract?!
Miss Fosse, please raise your head.
Felicia...
Can't we do anything for her?
But my dear brother has his own position to consider.
I realize that I'm asking the unreasonable.
But as the person running the Fosse Company, you have to try?
What do you mean?
You and Lynne put me on the right track.
Maybe the business turned around even though conditions didn't change
because "someone invisible" put it back on its feet.
Once I'd had that thought, I could notice the one thing that did change:
Mr. Fosse called his family to the royal capital.
Miss Fosse, did you arrive before the company became profitable again?
That's right.
You don't appear in any business documents.
But then...
why did you think it was me?
I recalled our previous meeting.
Besides,
no ordinary student would monitor her family's business dealings
or come here to see me.
Unfortunately, as a person tasked to vet trading partners for two ducal houses,
I cannot give you preferential treatment.
But as a private individual, I will assist you in any way I can.
I... see.
I'm sorry for wasting your time.
If you'll excuse me!
Felicia!
Mr. Allen, you must excuse me as well.
You know running is bad for your health.
Right. Sorry.
Felicia.
Come back.
Allen's going to help you.
My dear brother would never turn aside anyone who sought his help.
Huh?
But... he turned me down. Didn't he?
Giving roundabout answers is one of his bad habits.
He said, "as a private individual, I will assist you in any way I can."
P-Please tell me, Mr. Allen.
What is it that we need?
That's a good question.
I suppose you need to give up on having it all.
We need to... give up?
To be frank, I doubt the Fosse Company has the resources
to manage every item on that list.
You should deal more conservatively.
I know you're right.
But what...?
Transporting and storing goods from the north and south is no easy feat, you know.
Transporting and storing...
Of course!
Please, Mr. Allen!
Give us one more chance to negotiate!
Please!
We cannot thank you enough for giving us another chance.
W-We've brought a new proposal.
It details our plans to transport and store each item.
And you are?
I am Ernest's daughter, Felicia.
You must forgive me.
She insisted on coming along.
I don't mind. May I see your proposal?
Y-Yes! Please look it over!
Mr. Fosse.
Y-Yes?
This looks excellent.
We would love to strike a deal.
Huh?
But, I mean...
At our last meeting, you asked to deal in our whole list of wines and produce.
This time, you have limited yourself to Leinster red wine.
You've specified storage facilities and sales routes,
giving us a clear picture of how you intend to do business.
I can justify this plan to both ducal houses.
Y-You don't say.
Is something the matter?
We would be happy to sign a provisional contract.
May I ask you one question first?
H-Hey, Felicia.
Do you have any alcoholic drinks that aren't on the list?
Why do you ask?
Well, as I see it,
the Howards have focused their offerings on agricultural produce,
but that's true of the Leinsters as well.
So if the Ducal House of Leinster is offering wine,
I wondered if the Ducal House of Howard might have something to balance the scales.
Felicia has an active imagination.
Please pardon my daughter.
Am I right, Mr. Allen?
I beg your pardon.
Here you are.
Leinster white wine and Howard spirits.
Please, sample the wine first.
Thank you.
Excellent.
Now the other one.
This is good... but quite strong.
As a matter of fact, I believe we can strike a deal for one of these
in addition to the Leinster red wine.
Huh?!
The paperwork for your inspection.
Thank you very much.
Distilled liquor from the north, is it?
Then we'll take the white—
I think we should take the spirits.
Felicia?!
Oh? May I ask why?
The trade in spirits is almost nonexistent.
I doubt many residents of the capital have developed a taste for them.
But these papers call them "a northern favorite."
In which case, there should be a demand among people from the north.
But you haven't even tasted them.
You didn't know about them yourself until a moment ago.
Well, yes, but—
To northerners, spirits must taste like home—
a taste they can't get in the royal capital.
I'd like to bring it to them!
I'm sure they'll be delighted!
I want to try!
Please, Dad!
I had no idea you took business so seriously.
All right. We'll take the spirits.
Thank you so much, Dad!
I suppose you'll go on to the university, Miss Fosse.
And after you graduate?
I'd l-like to help with the family business.
Though that won't be for some time yet.
I see.
I did have a request, but perhaps...
Please, ask away.
Although if you ask for her hand in marriage, the answer is no.
Dad!
That does sound appealing.
Miss Fosse, when you graduate, assuming this joint venture continues,
would you consider working here?
Huh?
What?
It might be nice to broaden your horizons.
Please consider.
No, my daughter couldn't possibly.
Right, Felicia?
I'd like to see what you can create with a bigger canvas.
A bigger canvas...
I'm so glad the deal went through.
I hope people like the Howard spirits.
Maybe their reputation will grow and we can make them a popular drink.
Oh!
Then maybe we could act as middlemen, expanding the trade across the continent!
That sounds like so much fun!
But I couldn't do it.
I'm not up to—
I'd like to see what you can create with a bigger canvas.
I'm...
My mind's made up! I'm going to...
And how did the vetting process turn out?
A great success, if I may say so.
I have no head for business.
I hope you'll appoint someone else next time.
You'll do fine.
Oh yes, there's someone I'd like you to meet.
Anna.
Yes, Mistress.
Come in.
E-E-Excuse me!
Miss Fosse?
She'll be assisting us and the Howards.
Walter's given his approval.
Huh?!
But her health...
Leave everything to Anna!
Miss Fosse will be staying with us here for the time being.
I thought I said after you graduate from university.
What about the Royal Academy?
I'm withdrawing this term.
What?! Miss Fosse...
Please, call me Felicia.
Then you must call me Allen.
Wait, this is no time for pleasantries.
Oh! What about your family?!
My dad disowned me.
What?!
My mom says it's his way of showing he cares.
I think he's telling me to forget the Fosse Company and broaden my horizons.
And you're really fine with that?
Yes. I'll leave home.
Don't worry about the business, either.
The Leinsters say they'll keep an eye on it for me.
You've beaten me.
Felicia,
please show me what you'll do with a bigger canvas.
I will. I promise, it will blow you away.
I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you, Allen!
I'll corner all the trade in the capital— no, the kingdom—if I possibly can!
What?!
You're quitting school?!
But why?! You've worked so hard!
I like school, but I've realized what I really want to do.
What you really want to do?
Yup. I'm going to become a merchant.
This whole mess got me to see how much I love doing business.
It's one thing I can hold my own at, even against you.
And besides,
I found out I can talk to men normally if we're cutting deals.
Isn't that funny? I faint so easily, I can barely go to class.
Th-That's wonderful, but surely you don't have to quit.
I don't want to stay only half committed.
School takes too much time, and I've been given a place to work.
I don't think I'll ever get another chance like this.
Really?
We'll certainly miss you.
Stella! Caren!
Wh-What brought this on?
I could never have made it this far without you.
Felicia...
Thank you so much for always sticking with me, in the fun times and the hard times.
I love you!
O-Oh, give me a break!
You'd better visit us after you quit school!
And don't overwork yourself! Just don't!
Okay! Thanks.
Translator: Timer: Editor: Quality Control: Final Quality Control:
William Varteresian Henry Lin Meagan Smith Gabriella Ramirez Elizabeth Ellis
Lydia, breakfast is ready.
No. I'm sleeping in today.
You can't. You're a court sorceress.
Come on.
No.
You haven't been showing me proper respect lately.
That's a serious offense!
And if you're a man, you could at least try something!
Lady Lydia Leinster, Your Highness jests in poor taste.
Now get up.
Oh, come on! At least try to play along!
That was your cue to say, "As you wish, Mistress."
Yes, yes.
One yes is enough!
Jeez!
Did you see?
No, I saw nothing.
Oh? You didn't, did you?
Even though you can block my sword strokes?
May I say just one thing?
What?
Is it wise to wear quite such alluring lingerie?
Even my self-control has limits.
Drop dead!
Yes, coming.
Caren?
What brings you here so early?
Allen!
Stella is...
Stella is missing!
What?