Chapter 42: Down to Earth

The transparent rose water sways in the bottle, exuding a refreshing aroma.

Melia tipped the glass bottle and was about to apply the rose water to Illite's arm when she suddenly pulled her hand back. "Wait, is this a magic potion? There are many beautiful women in Egypt who have had their faces bruised by magic potions."

How could it be a magic potion? It would be so expensive~

Melia's smile remained unchanged. She said nothing, quietly dripping the rose water onto her skin, letting it spread slowly. Her skin, already fair and delicate, was now stained with a pleasant, beautiful, and fragrant layer of water.

Elite waited cautiously for a few seconds before taking the bottle and applying it to the back of her hand. She could smell the alluring fragrance without even getting close.

She immediately felt satisfied, but didn't show it on her face. She picked up the small wooden stick with her fingers and examined the brush on it.

Egypt also has similar things. The brushes are made in a similar way, but the valuable thing is the color mixing pigments.

My mother sells a lot of mineral powders, but the colors are not so bold and lovely, mostly the most classic gold, black and green. She likes the pink and orange in the box and the bright blue with shimmering gold powder.

These novel colors must be very popular in the market... Even if the person on the other side is Melia, it is not impossible to consider cooperation.

Ilit dropped the box, looking rather uninterested. "Egyptian makeup tools are much more sophisticated. The highest-end cosmetics always have some magical element. You don't know a wizard, do you? That would be difficult."

"So, high-end cosmetics are related to magic," Melia blinked. "That's quite novel. The magic elements in 'Rose Princess' were mainly focused on war, and Sura's potions also included poison and illusion. So there are potions related to cosmetics."

"Of course." Illite raised her head and said in a tone directed at the bumpkin, "Wizards are always busy and mysterious, but as long as you pay enough, they can always provide more vivid colors, smooth coatings, and miraculous skin care products~"

Well, although those skin care products caused a certain nobleman's face to rot, no one can use them now.

"It doesn't matter. The mid- and low-end markets aren't saturated yet. We can also make honey soap with a floral scent, tooth powder for whitening teeth, and moisturizing and beauty ointments..."

Before Ilit could think of a way to bargain, Melia had already listed a series of things in detail. Even if she didn't have any samples, her serious expression was enough to intimidate people.

Elite's heart tightened, reminding herself not to make a decision too hastily. Even if there were no personal grudges, it wouldn't be easy to agree too quickly to someone as impulsive as Melia, or she would definitely ask for too much.

She cleared her throat. "Really? Words are not enough. Besides, you are still missing the most crucial thing—"

The words stopped in her throat, and Ilitte opened her mouth slightly in a funny way, but no one noticed her little gaffe because Melia pulled out a mirror from the bottom of the wooden box.

A very—strange mirror, clearly reflecting Illite's surprised expression.

Ilitta almost unconsciously snatched the small round mirror and held it in her palm: it was quite round and lovely, just the right size for a palm. It was wrapped in a copper shell, with a simple rose pattern made of gold and gems.

The most amazing thing is the mirror, which is actually a piece of very flat glass. Some magic can indeed create a similar mirror effect, but how much does it cost!

The material under the glass might be silver, or some other silver metal, but she didn't care at all and just stared at her reflection in fascination.

After a long moment, Ilit bit her lip and raised her head. "Tell me, how much does it cost to participate in this business? I'll invest."

…

Hum meow~ Hum meow~

Melia was in a very good mood, shaking her arms as she walked along the corridor towards the garden: A small attempt with great success~ Fortunately, the times were long enough, and there were so many ways to make money~ I couldn't even think of them all.

Seeing their surprised expressions, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Among other things, the silver-plated mirror, handmade soap, and rose essential oil must be made quickly.

The samples shown to Ilit this time were all simplified versions, and we had to hurry up and find more craftsmen to study them together.

As she thought about it, Melia's overheated head gradually calmed down.

Don't get too excited, these are all small things compared to the ultimate goal.

"Meliya."

“Wa ...

Suddenly, a call came from behind, which scared Melia so much that she jumped up on the spot. After jumping, she realized that she was not a cat now.

She adjusted her hair awkwardly and turned around, looking completely ladylike. "Elena? What's wrong?"

"It's true," Elena nodded, and walked side by side with her. They walked through the vine leaves together, even their strides were perfectly aligned.

When they reached the second row of corridors, Elena opened her mouth and said, "I—I want to ask first, have you reconciled with them?"

"who?"

"Ilite and Gellius." The three of them had had disputes since childhood. Ilite and Melia were both interested in a handsome and wealthy young man like Gellius, and they disliked each other. Unexpectedly, they reconciled within a few days after she came back to class.

Is there a clear purpose behind this? She looked at Melia inquiringly.

"puff."

Unexpectedly, Melia covered her mouth, looking like she was trying hard to suppress her laughter.

Meow hahahaha, the one hanging out with them in "Rose Princess" wasn't the original owner, it was you~ Princess~

To say they were mixed together wasn't quite accurate, because Gellius was a cannon fodder among cannon fodder. A wealthy and handsome young man, he was Elena's third husband, and one of the few good men who had a happy ending.

The reason why Elena fell in love with him was not because of how much help the Gellius family could provide. At that time, she had already firmly sat on the throne. She simply valued Gellius as a good man who was willing not to have sex.

Peace could have lasted forever, but unexpectedly, when the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth male characters failed to act, a wealthy Egyptian woman named Iliothea appeared. For the sake of her beloved man, Iliothea dared to poison the queen. She was caught red-handed by Elena's lieutenants and executed according to Roman law. Shortly after Iliothea's death, Gellius also committed suicide.

Elena was left confused and didn't understand anything: What are you doing?

"What are you laughing at?"

Elena couldn't help but drag Melia's arm and pulled her to the edge of the flowers: "Forget it, you don't have to say it if you don't want to. I have something more important to talk to you about."

"Okay~ What's up? Haha."

Ignoring Melia's strange amusement, Elena looked around: This is the patrol route of her people, which is relatively safe. There are no people around, so no one should hear her.

After confirming this, she lowered her voice and said, "In the future, sea slaves will be allowed to be sold to foreign countries. I hope you can help and save as many people as possible... This matter is related to Sura."

Hmm? He didn't ask for help investigating Sura, but instead only wanted to borrow money to buy back some of the people? It seems the trust isn't there yet. Agreeing too quickly will surely lead to more suspicion, so—

The girl suddenly turned around, her emerald eyes beaming with a smile. "Sure, but I have one condition. Go out with me this afternoon."

…

Click, click.

Melia's light straw sandals made no sound, but the other three, all in boots, surrounded her. Taffy, needless to say, stood guard, his scimitar in hand. Even Sonny had dropped his afternoon classes and rushed out to see the streets of Rome.

"So, you didn't even need to call me over." Elena glanced speechlessly at Sonny, who was running in front. This golden-eyed alien wasn't shy, running around like the master of the house. He was clearly a slave captured in war, yet he dared to sit in class and listen to the lectures with them.

Sonny noticed the gaze behind him, smiled at Elena, and then pointed at the construction site in front as if he had discovered something new: "Sister, are you going to tear down all the houses?"

"Yes, the original building was too dangerous. There were cracks on the roof."

Melia once again stepped into the West City District. Now there were no scary gladiators around her. Fortunately, the West City District had also changed. It was no longer dirty and dangerous.

Elena followed her into the alley and raised her eyebrows at the ruins on the roadside: "You made a fortune? Muala's cash cow was cut down like that?" In that situation, it was indeed necessary to please the church. Unexpectedly, she really wanted to fulfill her promise and build a qualified university.

"Yeah, get rich." Melia raised her finger and touched her lips. "Phew~ Don't think that exploiting the working people is the way to make money. The truly powerful will lead everyone to expand the pie and dig up a new gold mine~"

"Oh, that makes sense." Unfortunately, it was you who said it.

The group continued to go deeper, but they could no longer see any residents at the innermost part.

"It's quite efficient. How did you do that?" Elena was a little surprised. She knew that the poor also had their own persistence. Although the house belonged to Muala's family, they could ask people who had no money to pay to leave at any time. How could it be completely emptied in just a few days?

"I made them an offer they couldn't refuse—compensation based on the appraised value of the house."

Even Sunny stopped fiddling with the stones. "Sister, why? These houses are yours. The donation is to the temple."

She knew Roman law by heart, and in this situation, both legally and morally, Melia could evict the tenant with minimal penalties. Moreover, the house was to be donated to the temple for use as a school. With the temple's backing, what was there to fear?

"Hehe~ It's not that simple." Melia gestured triumphantly. "I have two options. One is to take one-third of the house's appraised value and give the remaining amount after the school resumes enrollment. The second option is to take a small amount of compensation. Once the school is completed, I will build a house on the remaining vacant land and take the house according to the contract."

Most people chose the first option, as the money they received was more tangible than the houses that flew into the sky. They knew that these houses belonged to Mu'ala and would remain his for as long as they lived there.

After hearing Melia's solution, they said nothing, took the money and left. If they hadn't received the remaining two-thirds, some people would have left Rome overnight to prevent anyone from getting their money back.

Such behavior is purely charitable.

Elena thought for a moment and asked, "Are you atonement?"

"Huh?"

"The people of Xicheng District used to hate you the most because you abused so many people." The girl's innocent expression was reflected in her sea-blue eyes. "Of course, you've compensated them to their heart's content. At least until they get the last bit of money, it will be difficult for Sura to influence them."

Of course, poor people will hate those who rob them of their last bit of dignity. But if the evil person wielding the whip changes his face and is willing to give them a new house and a large sum of money - that is another matter.

Elena had never studied modern psychology, but her natural intuition told her that if the evil people in a dominant position suddenly became gentle, those who had been deeply harmed by them would even turn around and speak up for the evil people.

Melia's crimes were numerous, but as Roman law stated, nobles could always atone for their sins with gold coins. Even if Sulla found countless commoners to accuse Melia of murder, they would be pardoned because of this kind gift.

She thought she would see Melia's even more smug smile, but she didn't expect silence to last for a long time.

Only when the three of them walked out of the alley did Melia raise her face slightly. "I hadn't thought about it so much... But you're right, Melia should indeed atone for her sins."

She wasn't the original owner, but the Muala family's gold coins were soaked in the blood of slaves and the poor. While no dirtier than the gold coins of the Pantheon, Sura, and the elders, she wished they were cleaner.

Money is a general equivalent that measures values ​​that are difficult to measure in the world.

Aren’t all the values ​​in this world beyond life marked for the purpose of pursuing happiness?

Melia paused and tapped the white marble pillar in front of her: "Okay, we've arrived at our destination."

Destination? Elena turned her head and glanced at the building, her pupils shrinking: This is... the Colosseum in the center of Rome. Why come here?

Melia tilted her head with a playful expression. "You want to know why I came here? Of course, it's to help you get some information, idiot."

The author has something to say:

Thanks to Quanxue, Luomuxiaoxiaoxia, and Leilei from xxx~

Thank you for wishing you eternal happiness, ˇ残缺々, Jingjing, the orange boy who is waiting to update, Master Keqing is so cute!, Nian Nian Xiang Xu 818, and Yi Ye's irrigation~