NOVEL WEB Chapter 184
Chapter: 184
It seems I’ve been visiting the Room Cafe with Ivana quite often lately.
When I first came to the Academy, I think I stumbled upon the cafe looking for club activities, but Ivana and I had our own reasons.
The initial idea behind starting a Room Cafe business was indeed for business purposes.
Is it finally being used as intended?
“Not just to show what the North is like, but also to sell local specialties and clothes, generating additional profit.”
“The Northerners and those from the lower regions must have different tolerances for the cold. What are we supposed to do about that?”
“I guess we should prepare the winter clothes from the center as warm as possible. It might still be a bit cold, but going to the North is expected to be chilly anyway.”
“Besides that, I think hunting foxes or other common animals as a business could work too…”
“That sounds good. I had some products related to that planned out before.”
Anyway, we had each grabbed a drink and continued discussing the business.
It felt like Ivana and I had been talking about this kind of stuff every time lately, but it was important matters.
It was different from Leonhardt’s family head position, which would be passed to me once I was of age and William got annoying.
“Up until now, the travel business in the North hasn’t really developed. If we just take it step by step, we’ll gradually start seeing profits.”
“If Camelia says that, it must be true.”
“I don’t know how big it needs to be for Lady Ivana to become the head, but it’s definitely good to make it accessible for more visitors to the North.”
“Are you suggesting that we should start from recognition and slowly build the foundations?”
“Oh.”
How did she know?
I was about to say exactly that.
“Because we talk about business every time, that’s why.”
“Ah-ha.”
That’s definitely true.
In fact, since it was still in the early stages, there wasn’t much to say about it.
We had a lot of money, and the Nordal Family name was well-known, but the reality was that very few people actually traveled to the North and there was a lack of interaction.
So starting like this was indeed the right approach.
“Actually, Lady Ivana has enough… no, more than enough startup capital. The name of Lady Ivana and the Nordal Family is quite famous, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“Hmm…”
“In the end, business is all about recognition. If people aren’t aware of it… the money won’t flow in, right?”
Of course, if it’s a secret venture, that’s a different story altogether.
For example, things that happen in the underworld.
Like dangerous drugs or magic scrolls… those kinds of things?
Personally, I’ve always been curious about what it feels like to try such a drug once, but it seems risky.
Though the Leonhardt family might be somewhat messy, they have never dabbled in those sorts of things.
I decided just to stay away from all that.
“Anyway, when it comes to building roads, the places I recommend are…”
I started explaining the locations and information that I had separately looked up.
This part was definitely nice for the Room Cafe.
It was comfortable, and there was no need to worry about others watching us.
“Hmm…”
Ivana was once again looking over the documents I had explained.
I just quietly watched her while sipping my drink.
Even though I was giving advice, most of the work had to be done by Ivana herself.
I was playing the role of a supporter.
With plenty of time on our hands, there was no need to rush things.
In a few years, the North might just become famous as a tourist spot along with the center and Melnick.
“Hmm. Hmm…. Hmm….”
“Fuh…”
As usual, Ivana had an impressive expression like the one she had now.
A blank expression mixed with a subtly delicate smile.
It was a look that showed that things were steadily developing.
“Fuhuh…”
Ivana usually spent most of her time with a blank or soulless expression.
Just like I would pucker my lips and let out a breath to show I was bored, Ivana mostly stayed expressionless.
Even during our conversation, she often gave off a somewhat soulless… dry feeling.
But in situations like this, surprisingly…
“If that’s the case… Hmm.”
She smiled beautifully, unlike her usual self.
It was nice to see.
Her cold, expressionless demeanor was also quite pretty, but seeing a girl who usually showed that kind of look smile pleasantly felt naturally good.
I personally found myself wanting to see Ivana’s different expressions.
“Lady Ivana?”
“Yes. The information you’ve provided seems all good. It will definitely be a great help for future development plans.”
“Fuhuh, I’m glad to hear that.”
That wasn’t exactly why I called her though.
“So, Lady Ivana, what do you like?”
“What do I like?”
“Yes, everything from hobbies to food preferences and those trivial things.”
“Uh…”
That was a slightly abrupt question in the middle of talking about business.
Even though it had been months since we met, we hadn’t really talked about this kind of stuff.
Of course, my likes were known to most of those around me, so I didn’t mind that.
But Ivana… I didn’t know anything about her.
“I’m just curious. Knowing a bit about each other as business partners can be quite beneficial.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course! It’s important since it won’t just be about exchanging information but also discussing and worrying about business together in the future.”
That would be of course, but it wasn’t necessary to share every little preference.
But Ivana was somewhat unknowing when it came to business matters besides what I told her.
It seemed she had a tendency to trust what I told her a bit too much.
“Definitely….”
“Fuhuh…. Am I right?”
She seemed to be nodding as if indicating that she somewhat understood.
“Hmm… what I like.”
“You can say anything. It’s just a simple question.”
I was just asking out of curiosity, not thinking much of it.
I just wanted to see her subtly smiling expression more often.
But contrary to my rather casual intentions, Ivana started to look a bit serious and contemplative.
Hmm… certainly, Ivana had a rather serious personality.
As I was patiently waiting and smiling at Ivana, who was lowering her head, she raised it once again.
“I think I like warm things.”
“Warm things?”
“Hot chocolate or warm wool clothes. And, hmm…”
“Ah-ha… things like those?”
“Hmm…”
“Then I guess you should like hot springs too?”
“Ah.”
I thought she would be used to the cold coming from the North, but she had surprisingly cute traits.
From just looking at her, she seemed like someone who could tear into raw meat, yet she liked hot chocolate.
I struggled to contain my rising smile.
“And sitting by a bonfire with your hands close to it would be something you enjoy, right? Also, stew, soup… those kinds of things?”
“Yes. That seems to be the case.”
“Hehe, those are definitely good.”
It seemed she really did like warm things.
I could somewhat relate to Ivana’s preferences.
I also quite liked to cuddle with Rize at night, enjoying the sensation of another person’s warmth.
“Hmm… then do you like hugging too?”
“…Pardon?”
Ah, a slightly surprised expression.
Though her face showed a hint of surprise, she continued speaking without revealing it.
“Hugging feels warm, doesn’t it? A person’s body temperature… when similar, it’s just warm, right?”
“That’s true, but I don’t think I really like it…”
“Hmmm…”
She seemed genuinely puzzled about what I said.
Isn’t hugging supposed to feel warm?
She reacted as if she found my previous comment quite strange.
While it could be the case that touching skin doesn’t feel so warm, I thought the distinctive warmth of a hug was definitely there.
It appeared Ivana didn’t quite understand my thoughts…
“Lady Ivana.”
I leaned in closer from where I was sitting.
Ivana looked at me with an innocent gaze, clueless about what I was up to.
Even though I had grown taller, she was still quite a bit taller than I was, but that didn’t matter.
I had already realized that, despite her cold demeanor, she was more harmless than I had expected.
“Hehe…”
“Why?”
“Yap.”
I pounced on Ivana, who was looking at me with innocent eyes, completely unaware.
Well, I just slightly stood up and hugged her from above, that’s all?
Her clueless reaction was so cute.
It was a different reaction from Rize who would understand everything.
“How does it feel? Isn’t it warm?”
I asked without any pretense of knowing anything.
Just wanted to express the innocent query of whether hugging felt warm.
“Certainly… it is warm.”
“Fuh… really?”
“Yes.”
She still gave a nearby, soulless answer.
But beneath that answer, I felt a hint of a gladness in her demeanor, and being able to hug Ivana turned out to be surprisingly pleasant?
I spent more time with the infamous icy noble lady of the North, who was far more than just cold and fearsome.
Experiencing a side of Ivana that no one else could see and doing something that others could never do.