Chapter 81
Andrei leisurely sipped his coffee and finished tidying the interior completely, only opening the door at ten o’clock.
As soon as the shop opened, a customer stepped inside.
“I’ve brought a watch.”
“Thank you. Yes, this is the correct model.”
Andrei accepted the watch and bowed politely.
“And I apologize for the trouble.”
“No, honestly.”
The lady sighed.
“Evil Crimson was not the legitimate heir of the previous head of the family. Since I bought a watch from such a person, it’s actually my fault.”
Other customers who had entered nodded in agreement.
Andrei realized that the trust the Crimson family had built by choosing successors based on skill was now benefiting Scarlet Crimson. And the current Scarlet’s efforts to create proper watches would become part of the Crimson family’s history, further solidifying that trust.
Andrei spoke calmly, without rushing.
“Mrs. Scarlet Crimson is the recognized legitimate heir of Crimson watchmaking, approved by the current head, Count Isaac Crimson.”
“That’s quite a difficult decision. Offering free repairs for all watches sold over the past ten years…”
The reason this noblewoman came herself instead of sending a servant was to pre-order a Scarlet Crimson watch. Even though she had been told production would only begin next summer after this recall, she did not hesitate.
Since most of the visiting customers thought the same, the last customer’s watch would take three years before work could even start. Yet, the customer also accepted this.
Scarlet Crimson’s massive recall had, rather, turned people who had been growing dissatisfied with Crimson watches into believers. Moreover, like gemstones, the people of Salantie believed watches gained even more precious value after going through such history.
There were more watches being collected and remade than being newly produced. Although the artisans at Factory 1 had all decided to participate, it was clear that hands would be insufficient.
Factory 1 was essentially a workshop, and while it would be good if the other four Crimson-owned factories that produced main plates and wheels were more cooperative, the Crimson family members who owned stakes in those factories were uncooperative.
Those who had ignored Evil Crimson’s abuse feared the Crimson siblings would turn against them, and so refused to give them support. But Scarlet knew immediately how to win them over.
While Andrei attended to the customers, Scarlet, who was repairing returned watches in the second-floor workshop, temporarily set her work aside and placed a Crimson Aqua6 from Factory 1 on the workbench.
Unlike other noble families, the Crimson family determined the head based on skill. If she could reproduce parts for the Crimson Aqua6—specifically, the Version 6 parts her parents had developed—the Crimson family would have no choice but to follow and acknowledge Scarlet.
She wanted to dig further into her own memories, but at the same time, she remembered Shirley screaming.
“If this symptom gets worse, will I end up like that too?”
She muttered to herself.
Even simply visiting Viktor’s house whenever she forgot that they were divorced caused her great fear and shame.
Feeling that her condition was worsening, she resolved to produce the Crimson Aqua6 and the engine for the aircraft before she completely lost her sanity.
For a while, she was so absorbed in work that she barely noticed anything else.
Scarlet, who had been working until dawn every day, finally opened a window when snow began to fall.
“It’s snowing…”
She murmured to herself, looking outside. This year, the snowfall had been relatively light.
Shivering from the cold, she closed the door again. As she sipped hot coffee and gazed outside, she heard a knock at the door. Going downstairs, she found Viktor standing there.
Although she had told him to come to the watch shop if it snowed, seeing him in person left Scarlet momentarily frozen, staring at him through the door. Viktor smiled faintly and gestured toward the door handle. Recovering, Scarlet opened it.
Viktor folded his umbrella and stepped inside. Scarlet fiddled with her hair and went up the stairs first.
Once inside the workshop, unable to contain her tension, she said:
“This isn’t right. I don’t think this is okay.”
Viktor removed his gloves and said:
“It’s just a date.”
“This is my first date, you know.”
“What kind of men have you met before?”
Scarlet frowned at his words, and Viktor said:
“I’m joking.”
“Not funny.”
“Oh dear.”
He casually placed his gloves on the workbench and stepped closer, causing Scarlet to press herself tightly against the table.
Viktor came close enough to almost touch her, reaching for the shelf. He let it be for a moment and picked up a dust-covered wine bottle. Scarlet found the dust clinging to his hand strangely unfamiliar.
Turning her head toward him, he asked:
“Did you buy wine?”
“…What do you mean?”
“For me to drink?”
Reluctantly nodding, Scarlet made Viktor chuckle softly.
“Well done.”
Scowling, Scarlet glared at him. Her lips parted.
“It’s cheap. Too sweet for you.”
“I’ll drink it for the thought.”
“…Annoying.”
Viktor chuckled, and concerned about the dust on his hand, Scarlet reached for the bottle to wipe it. Viktor caught her wrist and said:
“There’s dust.”
“That’s why I’m cleaning it.”
“I’ll do it.”
He took a handkerchief and wiped the neck of the wine bottle. When Scarlet opened the cabinet to fetch glasses, there were only two coffee cups.
Offering the cups, Viktor popped the cork and turned his head, clenching his teeth. Eventually, he laughed, and Scarlet blushed, saying:
“I don’t drink alcohol, so I didn’t think about wine glasses.”
“Ah.”
“It tastes the same anywhere. Just drink.”
Taking the bottle from her, Scarlet poured the wine into the coffee cup and handed it to Viktor, who received it with a still-smiling face. Seeing her pour it into a coffee cup, he was teased:
“You prepare it and still complain. If you don’t like it, don’t drink.”
Then she took the cup and drank the wine herself.
Though she rarely drank alcohol, its sweetness made it bearable. As she pulled her lips from the cup, Viktor took it with one hand and pulled her waist with the other. When their lips met, Scarlet tensed.
Viktor licked the remaining wine from her mouth until no trace was left. Startled by the passionate kiss, Scarlet tried to step back but was held by his arms and drawn into his embrace.
“Ah…”
A small moan escaped Scarlet’s lips. Viktor then lifted her onto the table, holding her thigh with one hand.
Pushing against his chest, she said:
“I’m not doing this.”
“Alright.”
“Then will you stop kissing too?”
She lifted her chin slightly, and Viktor asked, lowering his head:
“What do you mean?”
“You… prefer the bedroom to kissing.”
“That’s right.”
“If I stop the former, will you stop the latter too?”
“I don’t care, as long as I can do either.”
Scarlet’s gaze shifted in a strange way at his words, and Viktor asked:
“Why?”
“It sounded like the most childish thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Was it bad?”
“No.”
The opposite.
Scarlet had always only sought moments of passion from Viktor, so his willingness to do anything pleased her.
She ran her tongue over the wine-scented interior of her mouth. Viktor intensely watched her tongue’s movements. Slowly, his fingers swept through her hair, curling a strand around them. Scarlet quietly observed as he kissed her hair.
Perhaps because it was a “date,” Viktor gently let go of her hair. Then, jokingly, he said to the tense Scarlet:
“I don’t usually go to the bedroom on the first date.”
His words were unexpectedly funny, and Scarlet let out a small laugh. Viktor’s lips curved in response. Sitting across from each other, Viktor drank more wine while Scarlet sipped tea to warm herself.
