Organized by Lady Yukinoshita, this so-called banquet was more like a straightforward product launch. From the very start there were no musical performances and no elaborate formalities.
This made several noble ladies—accustomed to attending all kinds of elite gatherings—frown slightly.
"Lady Yukinoshita really is just a nouveau riche, isn't she? She's managed to turn a perfectly good banquet into something like this," a still-charming matron murmured.
The moment Lady Yukinoshita stepped to the front of the hall, the hushed chatter faded.
Her blue-violet gown outlined her tall, graceful figure perfectly. Her long hair was pinned up, and understated makeup highlighted her elegant nobility. Coupled with her commanding aura, she drew every gaze in the room.
The matron, staring at the captivating Lady Yukinoshita on stage, felt a trace of jealousy that heavy makeup could not hide. "A nouveau riche is still a nouveau riche—only capable of fussing over appearances, with no substance at all!"
She then turned to the blonde young madam beside her and said, in a tone tinged with friendliness, "Lady Hayasaka, a family without depth or heritage may grow quickly, but it can never establish firm footing."
Nao Hayasaka's sapphire eyes flickered with amusement but she did not reply.
The matron was Yuko Nomura of the Nomura Family—a small regional medical house. Without the Shinomiya Family's recent partnership, she likely would not have qualified to attend. How could she dismiss Lady Yukinoshita—who had single-handedly expanded the Yukinoshita Foundation—as merely nouveau riche?
In high society, some people inherit their status; others earn it. Lady Yukinoshita clearly earned hers.
Nao Hayasaka admired her. As a fellow woman and a senior executive of the Shinomiya Family, she had come personally to meet Lady Yukinoshita and gauge the foundation's true strength.
Other ladies heard Yuko Nomura's jealousy. While they did not echo her, their expressions showed agreement; they simply would not voice it.
Just then, a girl's clear, bell-like voice drifted across the hall.
"If Lady Yukinoshita counts as nouveau riche, then a woman who rose from mistress to wife must count only as a courtesan."
The sharp remark drew every woman's attention to the speaker.
"That's the Suou Family's granddaughter. Does her family hold a grudge against the Nomuras? She shows no mercy."
Everyone knew whom the "woman who rose from mistress" referred to. Yuko Nomura's face flushed purple—no foundation could hide it.
Yumi Suou, standing beside her daughter Yuki, was stunned. Her usually ladylike child had spoken so aggressively in public—and the Suou Family had no feud with the Nomuras.
"Perhaps she deeply admires Lady Yukinoshita," Yumi thought anxiously. Admiration or not, brazen mockery invited trouble.
Kirari Momobami was likewise surprised, giving Yuki a thoughtful glance. As Kuzeha's sister, Yuki spoke with confidence. Observing Yumi's expression, Kirari mused, "Her mother clearly doesn't know Mr. Kuzeha's true strength. Apart from Yuki, there seem to be no ties between Mr. Kuzeha and the Suou Family."
Kirari herself would never have learned of Yuki's brother were it not for a wager. What surprised her was Yuki speaking up for Lady Yukinoshita.
An idea formed: "Mr. Kuzeha must have deep connections with the Yukinoshita Foundation."
Kirari glanced at Lady Yukinoshita, then at Yuko Nomura—about to lash out at Yuki.
"Miss Yuki's words make perfect sense," Kirari said calmly. Yuko Nomura's retort died in her throat.
The Suou Family held significant power, but the Nomuras now leaned on the towering Shinomiya Family. Still, Nomura had not expected Kirari Momobami—head of the Momobami Family—to side with Yuki. Even a fool could see she had to swallow her anger.
Nao Hayasaka and others exchanged looks.
"When did the Suou and Momobami Families become close?" Hayasaka frowned.
Toyomi Fujiwara raised an eyebrow. A Suou-Momobami alliance was critical information.
The distraction ended when Lady Yukinoshita unveiled a potion said to restore youth.
The hall erupted. Toyomi Fujiwara's eyes widened. "So what Haruno said was true!"
A conglomerate that began in real estate was now unveiling medical technology capable of restoring youth. The leap stunned everyone.
Yuko Nomura snorted. "Lady Yukinoshita, surely you're joking?"
The Nomura Family had spent decades in medicine and never heard of such a drug. "You, a real-estate group, can produce this?"
Her ridicule echoed unspoken doubts. Lady Yukinoshita merely gave her a calm glance. "The Yukinoshita Foundation is not so frivolous as to joke on such an occasion. Details are on the screen."
The screen lit up:
Standard Edition – maintains one's current peak state.
Superior Edition – makes one three years younger.
Miracle Edition – makes one six years younger.
To prove it, an elderly woman drank the Miracle Edition onstage. Six years is a significant span—even the youngest gap between elementary and university students is six years, and aging between forty and forty-six is dramatic.
After drinking, her pale face turned rosy; dull hair and wrinkles smoothed.
The noble ladies were dumbfounded. Wealthy and idle, they spent much of their time and money on beauty; for many, beauty was their chief asset.
Seeing real results, desire flared. Nao Hayasaka rose abruptly.
"Lady Yukinoshita, are you certain this potion has no side effects?"
Her question cooled the others, planting doubt. Beauty bought at the cost of life or health was worthless.
Lady Yukinoshita replied evenly, "Does Lady Hayasaka think we would gamble the Yukinoshita Foundation's future? I can state clearly that the potion restores not just appearance but bodily functions as well—meaning it can prolong the life of someone at death's door."
Silence fell. Restoring looks might drive women mad, but prolonging life could drive the world mad.
Yuko Nomura, anxious, shouted, "Who knows what scheme is behind your foundation? I won't entrust my life to a woman like you!"
Lady Yukinoshita did not even look at her.
"Due to limited production, only one hundred Superior Edition potions are available," Lady Yukinoshita announced. "Seventy will be auctioned; thirty exchanged for resources. Interested parties may negotiate with the Yukinoshita Family.
"If you wish to test efficacy, feel free to buy one and submit it to industry peers."
Her confident words subdued everyone.
Quick thinkers were already contacting their families. The potion's authenticity seemed likely—only one hundred doses, and missing out meant none. Whether true or false, buy first and verify later.
Yumi Suou watched Lady Yukinoshita, her commanding presence embodying Yumi's own deferred ambitions. "If the potion is truly as miraculous as she claims, the Yukinoshita Family may soon stand at the top of Japan," she murmured. Even she understood its colossal value.
"Yuki, you attend the same school as the Yukinoshita family's second daughter, right? If you can, become friends," Yumi advised. As the daughter of diplomats, building ties was essential, and Yuki clearly admired Lady Yukinoshita.
"If the Yukinoshita Family is rising, befriending them can only benefit the Suou Family."
Yuki's eyes flashed and she nodded. The Yukinoshita Family now belonged to her elder brother Kuzeha. Befriending them meant deepening ties with him. Tilting her head, she mused: What sort of closeness would that be …
Read advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal
TL: This is a little side project I've been working on. It's first twenty chapters here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-6iBlOYk_cFsh_DqLEmFW469L0OO-0oHCi0P9lDC40/edit?usp=sharing
Note: This link will be closed by Monday.