Princess’s Struggle for Survival

Looking at the parchment pushed by Astrid, Elowen reached out and took it, carefully reading every line.

Today's recommended outfit was a daily ensemble submitted by the princess of the empire, the Third Princess, Astrid...

Was this a clothing recommendation?

Astrid sat in her seat, arms resting at an angle, legs crossed naturally.

The thin black silk at her knees turned slightly flesh-toned from the movement.

Seeing the light reflected in Elowen's glasses and the gradual slowing of her blinking as she read, Astrid said nothing more, waiting patiently.

After a long moment, Elowen set down the parchment, her thin lips parting slightly.

"This is an article describing a style of dress. What does Her Highness Astrid intend to do with it?"

As a merchant, Elowen's first thought was that Astrid planned to use it for commercial promotion.

The latter was the Emperor's favourite princess, recognized across the Valeria Empire.

She wouldn't even need to speak, simply changing her clothes and standing outside would make her the finest mannequin.

"I intend to use it to build momentum for the next perfume sale."

Astrid lowered her head, her slender eyelashes casting shadows over her eyes. The bright red crystalline stone at her chest swayed slightly, refracting the sunlight into a deep hue.

"Momentum?" Elowen silently mulled over the word, her dark pupils narrowing slightly.

"But Her Highness Astrid you didn't mention perfume anywhere in the text."

Rather than promoting perfumes, the article read more like an endorsement for the exquisite designs of the Leinster Dress House, as if every young, beautiful noblewoman ought to own a few of their dresses.

"This is only one part of my plans, not the entirety." Astrid's voice was soft.

For this first issue of the newspaper, Astrid's goal wasn't direct perfume promotion.

Instead, she aimed to establish her name first, creating momentum, stimulating consumer desire, and then gradually introducing advertisements to draw attention.

"I've selected my target audience: all the nobles and wealthy merchants across the empire. For them, I'll produce a thin, lightweight booklet to be sold every six months."

"The contents will include reviews of rare jewelry, the latest fashion trends, serialized stories, and notable anecdotes from around the Empire."

This kind of periodic publication hadn't yet been developed, Astrid was a pioneer in the field.

Elowen adjusted her glasses thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on the girl's cheek.

The proposal struck Elowen as a novel. She'd never heard of such a venture in the entire history of the Valeria Empire.

"Does Her Highness Astrid mean to first entice customers into buying this booklet every fortnight, then use it as a medium for perfume promotion?"

The merchant's sharp intuition quickly pieced together Astrid's intentions. Elowen was deeply impressed by the other's strange yet brilliant idea.

As long as Astrid can really make most nobles subscribe to books willingly, then no matter what kind of luxury goods are sold, she will no longer have to worry about publicity channels.

"Yes, that's what I'm thinking at the moment."

Astrid nodded, a smile on her lips.

"I have also consulted my father, and he is supportive of this matter."

As soon as these words came out, most of the doubts that had just been brewing in Elowen's heart suddenly disappeared.

In the business world, a novel and feasible idea can often lead to the rise of an entire industry, and as the initiator of the idea, almost every pioneer can seize the opportunity to make huge fortunes from this fertile land that has not been cultivated.

Astrid's proposal was a novelty, but what surprised Elowen the most was that the other party was so straightforward about the plan, which undoubtedly gave the initiative to another person at the table.

Being able to take the lead has an absolute advantage. Elowen doesn't think she is so worthy of Astrid's trust, and deception is the norm in the business field.

But now after listening to Astrid's addition, the woman suddenly understood why the former was so relieved.

Hibbort's nod to allowed it means that this business has the official support behind him.

After the power reforms initiated by the fifth king of the Valeria Kingdom, King Moric Valeria further consolidated imperial authority.

Although the four dukes retained significant autonomy within their territories, their legislative powers and other key privileges were curtailed, reducing their status from being nearly equal to the king.

Given that this business is already considered a semi-official arrangement, directly provoking the Valeria Empire's royal family would be an unwise move.

Astrid must have recognized this, which is why she felt confident in making such a statement.

Furthermore, by mentioning Emperor Hibbort's stance at the end, she subtly reinforced her point while also delivering a veiled warning.

Her Royal Highness Astrid was so much smarter than she had imagined, and it was no wonder she could come up with such a genius propaganda idea.

"And what does Her Highness Astrid need us to do?"

Combined with the commercial raw materials mentioned by Astrid just now, Elowen guessed that the other party was going to purchase paper and ink for rubbing text on a large scale.

But if it was just this little thing, she didn't need to talk about it alone, and it was enough to arrange a maid to do it.

Perhaps Her Royal Highness Astrid wanted the Velmont family to also participate in the sale of newspapers and periodicals.

Sure enough, Astrid spoke softly.

"Professor Elowen, I would like you to be in charge of the distribution and sales of newspapers for the time being."

Although the Emperor Hibbort had given her the green light, when it came to commercial transportation and dumping of goods, the royals were not necessarily more useful than the Velmont family, who had been deeply involved in commerce for centuries.

Astrid needed the latter's relatively sophisticated propaganda tools to build the press momentum.

"For now," Elowen repeated softly, looking up at Astrid.

"How long will it take?"

Indeed, an official newspaper is not something that can allow long-term involvement from outsiders.

Similarly, the Velmont family, despite holding a monopoly over the empire's luxury industry, could never completely control essential commodities like coarse wheat and fine salt.

From the very beginning, the shift from king to emperor brought far more than just a change in title—it reshaped the entire power structure of the Valeria Empire.

This transformation not only stripped the Holy Light Church of its influence within the empire but also placed the four dukes under the emperor's authority.

At the same time, each lord was granted partial autonomy over their own territory, while imperial power remained, at least in name, supreme over all.

"Half a year to a year, depending on the situation." Astrid replied softly.

In the early stage of commodity sales, there was no certain exposure and gimmick, just throwing newspapers and periodicals to the post office, and the sales were guaranteed to die.

After all, no one has the time to focus on an article they've never seen before.

"I wonder if Professor Elowen has this intention?"

If Elowen is reluctant to accept the deal, Astrid has a fallback plan, but it will take more time and effort to prepare than she does now.

She is neither omnipresent nor a saint who can go without rest for twenty-four hours a day, so handling everything alone is simply impossible.

Delegating part of the workload to potential political allies not only eases her own burden but also serves as a strategic gesture of goodwill.

Moreover, Astrid is more than eighty percent certain that Elowen will not turn down this business. In the long run, while the Velmont family may not retain control over the newspaper's distribution forever, offering her a favor now and securing an additional publicity channel for the future will only bring benefits without any downsides.

In a way, Astrid actually did another thing she had always wanted to do, and that was to achieve a more intensive binding of interests with the Velmonte family, the last perfume sale was the same as this newspaper distribution, the so-called accumulation of small to tall, gathering and diverging into rivers and seas, and the establishment of any alliance is the result of the joint action of countless chains of the same interests.

Looking at the silver-haired princess with a delicate face and elegant temperament in front of her, Elowen pursed her lips and spoke slowly.

"Her Royal Highness Astrid has a much deeper understanding of the universal laws of business operations than her peers..."

"I do have that in mind."

With Hibbort as the backstage, they actually have very little risk. As long as the conditions are right, the business is basically a sure win.

Hearing Elowen let go, the corners of Astrid's lips rose slightly, and the topic continued downward.

"There is still time, and we can talk about specific cooperation matters and profit dividends."

After a negotiation, it was much easier to cooperate with the old friend in front of her.

Because Elowen was only responsible for post-publicity and channel sales, she did not need to participate in the production of newspapers and magazines.

All this part of the work was handed over to Astrid, and when the newspapers were completed, the latter would deliver them to Elowen at cost price.

In the end, the profits were divided into four and six parts.

A part of the unsold newspapers and periodicals were returned to Astrid at the original price, and the logistics costs incurred during the period were also borne by Astrid.

At first glance, the deal seems to be more on the side of the Velmont family, but in reality, this is not necessarily the case.

Since Astrid will buy raw materials from Velmont, this step actually contains another layer of information.

The cost price of the goods is closely related to Elowen's side.

If she provides first-hand raw materials, then the price of the finished newspaper will also fall, and then more profit margins.

Let the acquirer control the cost by themselves, and the inflated pricing will lead to a decrease in the user's desire to buy, which will ultimately affect the mutual interests of both parties.

Elowen herself knows what to do without contractual constraints.

As for deliberately inflating the price of raw materials in hopes of making a quick profit, that is not the way of the Velmont family.

Such petty tactics are more befitting of insignificant street thugs with no real influence.

Their vision is not so short-sighted.

After exchanging cooperation opinions, other commercial terms and conditions will be divided in more detail when Astrid's finished product comes out.

The two people who had just finished the negotiation chatted casually for a few days, and the waiter pushed a small cart upstairs and put desserts and tea on the table.

Just as the meeting was over, Astrid and Elowen were both a little thirsty from the discussion. They raised their teacups and drank lightly.

Looking at Princess Astrid, who was always dignified and elegant even after drinking tea, Elowen's gaze unconsciously fell on the other party's long silver-white hair.

A black lace headband was quietly embellished, and the light green wind element swirled over it, apparently by her best friend Charlotte.

After a while, Elowen put down the tea, moistened her throat, and took the initiative to speak.

"I've heard some rumors that Her Royal Highness Astrid is good-looking and talented, and now it seems that such rumors are nonsense at all."

From the perfume making that made her shine, to the business talks with Tristian, and later the ribbon cutting of the factory, Astrid's words and deeds were not at all as arrogant as rumored, and she was not a beautiful vase without a little real talent.

Especially the semi-monthly magazine proposed by today's girl, this kind of propaganda that she never imagined can be summed up in the word amazing.

Putting aside the blunt promotion in the traditional sense and changing to soft implantation, this idea alone is quite worth learning.

"Hearing and seeing may lead to belief, but I truly didn't perform well before and let Lady Charlotte down," Astrid murmured.

Arrogant and domineering, she refuses to heed discipline and can even provoke someone as gentle as Charlotte to anger. The original Astrid was certainly skilled at being infuriating.

"By the way, Professor Elowen, I have a story here that is ready to be serialized, you can go through it in advance and tell me how you feel about it."

As for the knowledge of these noble ladies, Elowen, who has always regarded them as potential customers, may not know as much as she does.

"...Her Royal Highness Astrid wrote it herself?" Elowen took the paper and asked softly.

Astrid hesitated for a moment when she heard this, and then admitted: "I wrote it, but I will use another name for the follow-up announcement."

Otherwise, when the time comes, she will be the editor, she will be the columnist, and she will still be the author of the novel.

It's not that Astrid is not confident, it's just that this typography gives people a bit of a childish look, which does not match the aristocratic and petty aristocratic class market she is targeting.

Elowen nodded, reading word by word, her slender willow eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then quickly stretched.

"How is Professor Elowen feeling?" Astrid took a sip of black tea and asked her softly.

Astrid felt that her tactics might seem outdated and unoriginal to modern audiences, but in the late medieval period, when online novels didn't exist, those intense and dramatic conflicts should still capture most people's attention.

Hearing Astrid's voice, Elowen shifted her gaze from the final sentence of the introduction, "She fled, he pursued, neither could escape their fate," and spoke in a calm tone.

"The opening and synopsis should be to my niece's taste."

"Her Royal Highness Astrid is going to give this... Well... Serialized novels, what is the name?"

At least in Elowen's opinion, this story will have a lot of appeal for girls who have just become adults and are just beginning to fall in love.

After a moment, Astrid spoke flatly, her expression devoid of emotion.

"The Overbearing Prince and His Runaway Bride's Peerless Pampering."