Saga of the Two-World Emperor
Volume 1: A Spark in the Ashes
Chapter 7 – The First Plan and the Seed of Opportunity
After that night, Adrian did not drown himself in despair or rage against the fate that had been forced upon him. On the contrary, his mind, trained to see opportunity in every crisis from the brutal world of business, began to work with a speed and cold clarity he hadn't felt in a long time.
He viewed this humiliating engagement as nothing more than a "business contract." It was an agreement where the fallen Walther family would receive "capital" from the wealthy Cornelius family, with him as the "collateral."
*Interesting…* he analyzed mentally while lying on the hard, lumpy bed. *Since I am the product, it means I have some "value" in the eyes of the Cornelius family. And if I can increase my own value… my bargaining power will increase accordingly.*
But before that day came… before he could leverage his relationship with the Cornelius family, he had to prove his "worth" first. And most importantly, he needed to acquire "starting capital" on his own.
He could not wait for a dowry that felt more like a charitable donation. The pride of Aden would never allow it.
He got out of bed and walked to the old window, looking out at the small, neglected patch of land outside. It was a garden that had been abandoned for years, overgrown with tall weeds, the ground hard and dry, covered in a thick layer of dead leaves.
He had no money, no valuables. But he had the most precious asset of all… "knowledge" from a future world, and a "System" that could analyze data with perfect accuracy.
*Resources…* He looked at the abandoned garden. *This is my first resource.*
In his old world, he owned a tech company, but his knowledge wasn't limited to that. As an investor, he had studied all types of businesses… including agricultural and biological technology.
He summoned the system window in his mind.
"System… analyze the soil composition within a ten-meter radius outside this window."
[Processing… Please wait.]
[Analysis Complete.]
* pH Value: 5.8 (Slightly acidic)
* Nitrogen (N): Low
* Phosphorus (P): Very Low
* Potassium (K): Moderate
* Recommendation: The soil is severely nutrient-deficient, unsuitable for most crops, but has potential for restoration.
The data that appeared made Adrian's smile widen slightly. This was an advantage no one else in this world possessed… the ability to analyze data with precision.
*Nutrient-deficient soil… can be fixed with fertilizer… and the best fertilizer is compost…* He recalled the simple principles of making compost. *Food scraps from the kitchen… dried leaves…*
Next… the product. What would he grow? Common vegetables like carrots or turnips took a long time to grow and sold for low prices. He needed something that grew fast, had a high value, and was in demand by a niche market… such as apothecaries or high-end restaurants.
He needed local information… and the only person he could trust right now was Lilia.
The next day, Adrian began his plan immediately. He spent the morning slowly walking around the abandoned garden, pretending to get some fresh air as the royal physician had suggested. But his eyes were assessing the area, the direction of the sunlight, and the nearest water source.
When Lilia brought him his lunch (which was, as always, oatmeal soup), he initiated the conversation smoothly.
"Lilia," he said after forcing down half the soup. "I'm tired of lying in bed all day… The physician said some light activity would be good for me."
"That's a wonderful idea, Young Master!" Lilia replied, her face beaming with joy. "Shall I help you take a walk in the main garden?"
"I was thinking of something a little more involved," Adrian said, glancing out the window. "That small garden over there… it's been abandoned for a long time, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has… Not since the former Lady (Adrian's mother) passed away has anyone taken care of it," Lilia answered, her voice softening slightly.
"I think… I'd like to try planting something," Adrian said. "Perhaps some simple flowers or herbs… It might make me feel better to see something grow for a change."
His words made Lilia's eyes widen in surprise. The young master who had never shown interest in anything but books… now wanted to garden? But it was a change for the better, so she eagerly nodded in agreement.
"Of course, Young Master! What would you like to plant? I can get some seeds from the city for you!"
"Thank you very much," Adrian smiled gently. "But first… I'd like to ask you something. Since you go to the market often… do you happen to know which herbs the apothecaries or the chefs in the big restaurants complain about being the hardest to find and the most expensive?"
He asked it as if it were the curiosity of a young boy who never left the house, but in reality, it was basic market research.
Lilia tilted her head, thinking for a moment.
"Hmm… The one I hear about most often would probably be 'Silverleaf Sage'," she replied. "I've heard the chefs complain that it has a very unique aroma, but it's incredibly difficult to grow. Most of it has to be imported from the southern provinces, which makes it very expensive."
*Bingo!*
"Silverleaf Sage… a beautiful name," Adrian nodded. "In that case… could you please get me some of those seeds? Also… I'll need some small gardening tools and some food scraps from the kitchen… vegetable peels or dead leaves… no meat, please… I'm going to use them as fertilizer."
"Fertilizer?" Lilia repeated the word, not understanding, but she didn't question it further. "Yes, Young Master! I'll see to it right away!"
From that day on, Adrian's daily routine changed completely.
Every morning, he would spend time in the abandoned garden. His weak body meant he couldn't work for long before needing to rest, but he never gave up. He started by clearing the weeds, tilling the hard, dry soil, and creating a compost pile in a corner of the garden according to the principles he knew. His "strange" activities became a source of amusement for the other servants, but Lilia quietly supported him, bringing him water and food, and defending him from the gossip.
A week passed… The soil in his small plot transformed from a pale brown to a rich, dark, and loamy black from the compost he had mixed in. He carefully planted the "Silverleaf Sage" seeds Lilia had brought him, and even built a small, makeshift "greenhouse" using old, broken pieces of glass he found in a storage room to regulate the temperature and humidity.
It was grueling work for his body. His muscles ached every night, but whenever he felt like giving up… the image of Anna's cold face would flash in his mind, becoming the fuel that pushed him forward.
And then… on the morning of the eighth day… his efforts began to bear fruit.
A tiny green sprout, with leaves that shimmered like silver in the sunlight, had pushed its way through the soil. It was the seedling of a "Silverleaf Sage."
Adrian knelt beside the plot. He looked at the fragile sprout with complex emotions. It wasn't just a plant… it was the first spark… the first hope… the proof that he could build everything anew.
He reached out a finger, intending to gently touch the silver leaf… with a genuine smile for the first time since coming to this world.
But before his fingertip could make contact… a large shadow fell over him, blocking out the sun.
"Having fun playing in the dirt? How fitting for you… you piece of trash."
A voice filled with contempt came from behind him.
Adrian slowly looked up…
Demian stood over him, his eyes filled with disgust and amusement. He glanced at the tiny sprout on the ground with disdain.
"So this is what you've been doing all week? Planting these worthless weeds?"
Demian laughed out loud, before his smile turned cruel.
"Trash… belongs in the trash heap… not trying to make a pretty garden."
With that… he lifted his heavy, leather-booted foot high… preparing to crush the tiny sprout… to crush Adrian's only spark of hope into the dirt.
(End of Chapter 7)