Chapter 68
As Anna’s business began to flourish, a large general store opened nearby and started selling products similar to hers, but in bulk and at cheaper prices.
With the arrival of such a strong competitor, Anna eventually stormed into that shop and had a huge fight with the owner.
“I lost all my customers, but I pulled out every single strand of that wench’s hair! She had to wear a scarf on her head for a while—oh, how hilarious that was.”
Anna lifted her chin proudly as she recounted how she had left bald patches on the young woman who ran that store.
Lucy wanted nothing more than to take Anna, who must have struggled so much waiting for her here, back to the Rayford estate immediately.
But what if Anna gets dragged into trouble just because of me again?
Though Anna didn’t seem to be living comfortably, she had already settled here, and Lucy didn’t want to disrupt her life.
So, Lucy decided to stay in town for a few more days, watching closely to see if there was some way she could help Anna.
The next day, Lucy followed Anna to her shop.
“Miss, that’s the store run by that shameless wench,” Anna said on the way, pointing to a large building.
The shop was not far from Anna’s, and judging by its size, it seemed no competition at all—it was far larger.
They opened Anna’s shop together, but strangely, not a single customer came by until well past lunchtime.
“Anna, may I take a look at your ledgers?”
With things being so quiet, Lucy decided to review them to see if she could help.
She carefully examined the two books filled with detailed notes of sales and supply costs. Nothing seemed wrong on the surface.
But the steadily declining sales suggested that soon Anna would struggle to even pay her rent.
Lucy told Anna she was going to look around town for a bit and stepped out.
“Don’t go too far, Miss. I’ll give you a proper tour of the village myself later! Even if it’s broad daylight, the world is dangerous these days.”
“Don’t worry. As you can see, I’ve got a reliable guard.”
As Lucy left, Anna fussed over her like an old woman. Lucy reassured her with a glance at Shan.
She wasn’t planning to go far anyway—just to the new store Anna had mentioned.
Lucy circled the area around Anna’s shop and soon arrived at the general store she had seen on the way to work.
As Anna had said, that store alone was swarming with customers.
“Oh, oppa, why haven’t you come by lately? I’ve been waiting forever!”
The pretty young woman Anna had described as the owner clung to a customer’s arm, flashing coquettish smiles.
As Lucy stepped inside, she noticed something peculiar—every single customer was male.
Even after pretending to browse for a while, she saw that only young men kept coming and going. It was hard to escape the conclusion that the owner’s sweet, flirtatious behavior was her true business strategy.
Lucy left the shop and checked the other stores nearby.
It turned out there were already several general stores in the area, not just that one. Including the large store she had seen on her first day, at least two or three shops had already carved out their place in the marketplace.
Each specialized in slightly different types of goods, so there was little reason for them to compete too harshly.
But compared to the others, that one shop stood out for its overwhelmingly male clientele.
If Anna’s goods and prices are similar, yet that store alone attracts so many men…
Lucy carefully guessed that the owner’s beauty was indeed the real secret behind her success.
When Lucy returned to Anna’s shop after surveying the area, she found customers inside.
But her relief was short-lived.
“You bastard! Running your mouth again, huh? Maybe I should just smash that useless thing of yours and toss it in the sewer!”
Lucy froze, not believing her ears at the torrent of curses spilling out of Anna’s mouth.
“If you don’t want to sell, just say so! You think this is the only store in town?”
A young man shouted back angrily before storming out.
“Hahaha! Just like always—our foul-mouthed Anna never disappoints,” chuckled an elderly man who had been there all along. He picked up some items and placed them on the counter.
“With language like that, no wonder your customers run away. You ought to rein in that temper of yours.”
“How can I not get angry? I’m a woman running a shop alone, and creeps like that show up every now and then!”
Anna fumed as she wrapped the man’s purchase.
“Here, sir—give these candies to your granddaughter.”
As if she hadn’t been cursing moments ago, Anna smiled warmly and handed him a bag of sweets.
“You’re the only one who treats this old man kindly. I’ll be back soon!”
The old man laughed heartily and waved as he left.
“Oh! Miss, when did you arrive?”
Finally noticing Lucy, who stood frozen in disbelief, Anna widened her eyes.
“Anna… just what on earth have you been through all this time…?”
“Ah… haha, you must be shocked. Somehow the only thing I’ve gotten better at is swearing.”
Anna scratched her head and laughed sheepishly, embarrassed.
After visiting the Rayford estate, Lucas found himself completely unable to focus on work.
A new kind of relationship, huh…
Resting his chin on his hand, he tapped the table while thinking of Lucy, then let out a deep sigh.
“Out of all the possibilities… businessman and investor?”
At first, the phrase a new relationship had made his heart race like a fool. But businessman and investor?
It was frustrating—she seemed to have no romantic feelings for him at all.
After sighing endlessly, Lucas suddenly leapt to his feet.
Melvin looked up nervously. He had been watching Lucas mutter distractedly to himself all morning, unable to focus on work. Lately, it had been happening more and more often.
And sure enough—
“To start fresh, it’s best to meet often and build familiarity. Melvin, I’ll step out to Pablo Trading Company for a bit!”
“Your Highness! What about the backlog of work? No, you must finish these documents first—Your Highness!”
Ignoring Melvin, who rushed to block his way, Lucas strode out of the office.
Heading straight to Pablo Trading, where Lucy would be working, he soon sensed something suspicious and narrowed his eyes.
Who are those men? There’s more than one of them.
Strange figures were loitering around the building.
Lucas spotted a man hiding near the entrance, clearly watching the building, and silently crept up behind him.
Without hesitation, he pressed a sword to the man’s neck.
“Who sent you? Why are you watching Pablo Trading?”
“Ugh!”
The man froze, unable to move, swallowing nervously as the blade touched his throat.
“I asked—what’s your purpose?”
“I—I don’t know anything! I was just ordered to find out where… where that woman is!”
Terrified, the man quickly confessed. Lucas threw him to the ground, and he toppled backward.
At the mention of that woman, dread swept over Lucas.
“That woman? Who do you mean? If you value your life, tell me everything you know.”
“I only heard… she’s a stunning beauty with platinum hair. So beautiful you’d recognize her at a glance…”
There was no mistaking it—he was describing Lucy.
“Who sent you? Who’s behind this?”
“P-please, spare me! If I tell you, I’m dead!”
The man shook even harder, begging for his life.
From the terror in his eyes, Lucas judged he wouldn’t get any more out of him.
“Urgh!”
Lucas struck the back of the man’s neck, knocking him unconscious.
There was no time to waste. He rushed into the building.
“Lucy is on leave. She said she was going to a village called Urt to meet a friend. But Your Highness, why do you ask about her…?”
Heyris, puzzled, answered Lucas’s question.
“Is that mercenary Shan with her as well?”
When Heyris nodded, Lucas gave him urgent instructions.
“If Lucy returns, notify me at once.”
After repeating the request firmly, Lucas hurried back to where he had left the unconscious man.
He intended to take him away and uncover the mastermind.
But in that brief time, not only had the other suspicious figures vanished, the man he had knocked out had also disappeared without a trace.
