He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 166

166. An Elderly Gentleman from Abroad

◈ Kensington Theo Marriage Agency

Swish, swish—

The autumn rain drenched the streets, a noisy downpour.

Clang-♬

The door to the manager’s office on the third floor of the marriage agency swung open.

It was Reina, the receptionist from the first floor.

“Um, could one of the managers come down to the first floor?”

“Why? Another member demanding a refund?” Lucy asked.

As the agency’s membership exploded, problems followed.

Recently, some clients had been requesting refunds because they weren’t keen on their matches.

Despite being informed that refunds weren’t possible due to the low introduction fee, they were persistent.

It was a ploy to avoid paying the success fee.

They’d been introduced by Theo Marriage Agency, liked each other, and even discussed marriage, but they feigned disinterest to dodge the success fee.

“No. It’s a new client, their first time here,” Reina clarified.

“A first-time client? They should register on the first floor first, shouldn’t they?”

“Well… they don’t seem like an ordinary person.”

“Not ordinary?”

“Judging by their attire and slightly stilted way of speaking, they seem like a nobleman from abroad. And they’re insisting on meeting the CEO and speaking with him privately.”

Many clients specifically requested to see Theo from the start.

This was especially common among those of high status or great wealth.

However, the VVIP service had been discontinued some time ago.

Now, Theo wasn’t so easily accessible.

Lucy, concerned, rose from her seat.

“Okay, Reina. I’ll go down and see.”

* * *

Descending to the first-floor reception, I found an unusual-looking old gentleman, hands clasped behind his back, just as Reina had described.

His luxurious clothes and the retinue of servants attending to him suggested considerable status.

Lucy approached and asked politely, “How may I help you?”

The old gentleman turned, glanced at Lucy, and inquired, “I understand the CEO of this company is a man? I specifically requested to meet the CEO.”

His accent sounded Italian.

“I’m Lucy, the team leader of the matching department. If you could tell me what this is regarding, the CEO…”

The old gentleman frowned.

“Huh—I said I wanted to meet the CEO, didn’t I?”

Lucy noticed the elaborate ornament around his neck.

Having worked in a jewelry store as a child, Lucy could immediately recognize its immense value.

It wasn’t just about money; this jewel signified something more.

She could roughly guess his position.

Lucy responded, “I understand. I’ll escort you to the VVIP consultation room. If you wait there, I’ll bring the CEO down.”

* * *

5th floor, CEO’s office.

“CEO? You really should go down to the VVIP consultation room quickly,” Lucy urged.

Theo frowned at Lucy’s words.

“What’s going on? Another consultation request for the discontinued VVIP service?”

It was a service that had been created as a formality and then discontinued, but requests still trickled in, likely due to Theo’s reputation.

However, he didn’t have time for VVIP consultations, given his busy schedule with the trading company and the new school.

“Have Lucy handle it and resolve it at the manager level.”

“CEO, it’s not that simple. It’s a foreigner. He seems to be someone of very high status from abroad.”

“Someone of high status from abroad?”

“Yes! If they’ve come all the way from abroad, I thought you should at least show your face. And they’re insisting on speaking directly with you, so it’s difficult to simply turn them away. I felt like they’d keep coming back even if we did.”

If Lucy felt that way, something significant must be happening.

“Okay. I’ll go down soon.”

“Yes, I’ll let them know.”

Thump—

Opening the door to the VVIP consultation room, I found an elderly gentleman who looked quite distinguished, just as Lucy had said.

He looked up as I entered.

He sported a well-groomed mustache and wore a stylish suit, distinct from the British style.

As Lucy mentioned, he appeared to be someone of high rank from a foreign country.

“Hello? I’m Theo Sanderson, the CEO of this company.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Count Roberto Dominici.”

“Ah, you’re a Count. May I ask which country you are a Count from?”

The old gentleman glanced around, as if checking for eavesdroppers.

“This conversation won’t be overheard, will it?”

“No, this room is soundproof. You don’t have to worry.”

The old gentleman carefully introduced himself as the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Naples.

“I happened to hear from merchants who frequent the royal family that your company is the best marriage agency. So, I received an order from His Majesty the King… to entrust you with the marriage arrangements for the princess.”

“The princess?”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you entrusting the princess’s marriage to us? We’ve never arranged marriages between royal families, and we don’t have the resources to do so.”

Count Dominici shook his head.

“No. I’m not asking for matchmaking between royal families.”

“Then…?”

“Our Kingdom of Naples is a kingdom with tradition and history, but frankly, it’s not a powerful country. We must always be mindful of foreign powers, and the threat from France is the biggest problem.”

The Kingdom of Naples, located in southern Italy, was then ruled by Ferdinand IV. It was a kingdom heavily influenced by foreign powers, having experienced the rule of various dynasties and surrounding powers since the Middle Ages.

Due to its location, the kingdom was an important intersection connecting the eastern and western Mediterranean routes, and a center for European trade, military movements, and resources.

In particular, at the end of the 18th century, several major European powers were trying to expand their influence in the Mediterranean region, so Naples, at the center, was always at the heart of competition and alliances between major powers.

Currently, it had a close military relationship with England, but with the recent outbreak of the French Revolution, it seemed to be feeling a great sense of crisis in its security due to the rapid changes in the power of surrounding countries.

“Currently, England is the world’s strongest power and the only country that can check France, isn’t it? We want to maintain a good relationship with England in the future.

However, the British royal family is unlikely to form a political marriage with our royal family, so His Majesty the King’s idea is to form a marriage alliance with a prominent aristocratic family in England.”

King George of England was solidifying his position as the most powerful monarch in Europe by ending the American Revolutionary War early, succeeding in industrial development, and successfully leading the Sanderson Treaty with France.

In addition, with the successful settlement of industrialization, England’s industrial development was progressing so rapidly that it could not be compared to that of surrounding countries.

For the Kingdom of Naples, surrounded by powerful countries, it was necessary to maintain a close relationship with England in any way possible.

Maria Carolina, the Queen of Naples, was the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, the female ruler of the Habsburg family. She had read many books and received systematic education from an early age, and she understood the importance of international political relations better than anyone else.

Such a queen desperately wanted the connection between the top echelons of England and the princess.

“Our Kingdom of Naples has good relations with England to the extent that we dispatch ambassadors, but in international politics, where we pursue practical interests, we need a reliable ally because we don’t know how the situation will change rapidly in the future.”

It seemed they were calculating that forming a marriage alliance with a powerful and traditional family in England was the best strategy from the Kingdom of Naples’ point of view.

“The Kingdom of Naples will stay in London for a year to find a groom for Princess Maria.

To this end, we have already bought a house in London, along with a total of about ten maids and servants.”

“Ah… yes.”

“However, I want you to thoroughly hide the fact that our princess is staying in London from the outside. The reason I requested to meet directly with the CEO, not the employees, is to keep the princess’s identity a secret.

It would never be good if our actions were to reach the ears of France.”

“It would be very uncomfortable for France anyway.”

“Yes, so while I’m staying here, I will officially act as the princess’s father. I would appreciate it if you could adjust to that as well.”

“If you hide your identity and meet, the man may not like it later?”

Count Dominici scoffed at Theo’s question, exuding confidence.

“If a decent partner who likes each other appears and we decide that they are suitable, then we can carefully reveal their identity. Once you see the princess, no one can dislike her.”

“Yes?”

“The princess’s appearance is like that, and the dowry will be enormous, so no one will be able to refuse.”

Theo felt burdened by such a complex request.

There were already many issues to resolve due to the French Revolution, and this marriage, with its potential to escalate into an international political issue, was another concern.

However, Count Dominici was firm.

“First, I will deposit 100,000 pounds as a down payment. And if the princess and His Majesty the King approve of the family and the marriage is successful within a year, I promise to pay a success bonus of 500,000 pounds.”

Theo could hardly believe his ears at the enormous sum.

“500,000… pounds?”

“That’s right. But there is a condition that must be kept.”

500,000 pounds and a definite condition… Theo sensed this wouldn’t be easy.

“The condition for the groom is that he must have or receive a title of at least a Count, and he must be the son of someone with enough power to be able to communicate with the powerful people of England.

And, he must be from a family of noble lineage with a name that has been on the British aristocracy list [a list of recognized noble families] for generations.”

Theo was troubled.

Given the conditions and the politically sensitive royal wedding, declining the job seemed wise.

However, the request fee and success bonus were substantial.

He had earned a considerable amount through his business ventures, but much of it had been allocated to scholarship projects and land and building acquisitions.

He would recover financially as his business continued, but the recovery might be slower than expected due to the impending war resulting from the French Revolution.

At this time, the huge sum of 500,000 pounds would be a significant boost to running Theo School.

“What are you going to do? Will you take it on?”

“…Well.”

“What do you mean, well? There’s no reason not to take it on, is there?”

“Even if you marry the princess to an aristocrat from a prestigious British family, it will be difficult for the Kingdom of Naples to receive help from England in terms of international politics.”

“Huh—why are you worrying about that? We know that much too. But please take it on without saying anything because that is the deep meaning of His Majesty and the Queen.”

Theo considered the Count’s blunt words.

‘The deep meaning of His Majesty and the Queen? Are they trying to secure a reliable refuge in England where they can escape in the event of an emergency?’

Theo nodded, as if he had made up his mind.

“Okay. First of all, according to our company policy, I will meet the princess in person and analyze her tastes and tendencies before finding the most suitable groom.

However, I would like you to understand in advance that it is really difficult to meet the conditions you want. It seems like it will take quite a while.”

“That’s why I said I would give you a sufficient time of one year and a reward, didn’t I? Please, Mr. Sanderson, put some effort into it. The princess’s marriage has been delayed a lot. If I don’t get good results within a year, my position will be quite difficult. Please do it as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

* * *

As soon as Count Dominici and his party left the company, Lucy rushed over.

“CEO? Is the consultation over?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you decide to take it on?”

“Well… I decided to do it. The request fee was so high that I couldn’t refuse.”

“How much are they giving you?”

“Only 100,000 pounds as a down payment. The success bonus is 500,000 pounds.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped.

“Yes? 500,000 pounds? Oh my… I knew they were wearing a lot of expensive jewelry… By the way, what country are they from?”

“Oh? Uh… a kingdom near Italy.”

“A kingdom? Then who is that old gentleman from the kingdom?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t that gentleman come here to marry off his daughter to a London aristocrat?”

“Oh… oh. Yeah, that’s right.”

“That gentleman can’t be the king of the kingdom, can he…”

“Yeah. He said he was a Count. Count Dominici. I’ll write down his personal details later, so register him as a member.”

“Yes, I understand.”