CHAPTER 76……………………….
If there was a place that set the trends of the South, it was, without question, the Yuden Trading Company’s boutique.
Despite its steep prices, every young lady from a notable household had her dresses made here.
Word had spread that the owner and all the designers had recently been replaced, so on today—the reopening day—the place was especially crowded.
“Welcome, ladies.”
“Oh, don’t you have that? You know, that one!”
“You mean the dress Lady Adèle wore at her wedding, yes?”
Clearly not the first time hearing such a question, the shop’s manager naturally guided the young ladies.
Strictly speaking, the moment Adèle married Killian, she ought to have been addressed by his surname—Lady Setian, or the Viscountess of Setian. But since Killian was to enter House Sergio instead, Adèle remained Sergio.
Not that it mattered. To everyone, Adèle was the heiress of House Sergio, successor of Yuden Trading, the very embodiment of Sergio itself. She would forever be “Lady Adèle.”
The woman who had everything, and then some.
After her wedding, her standing rose even higher.
In Southern high society, her name alone needed no further explanation—practically a proper noun in its own right.
“In fact, we’ve brought in every single outfit the madam has recently worn.”
“Oh my, this one looks like something from a temple!”
“Indeed. It is said she wore this during her spiritual training at the Grand Temple. One might say the devotion she held for the god Enes was woven directly into the design.”
“Ah… I see.”
The young ladies exchanged uneasy glances and forced awkward smiles, but the manager clasped her hands together knowingly.
This was where the real sales pitch began.
“Think about it. Don’t you suppose the sight of the madam offering her prayers in this very attire is what melted the Knight Commander’s heart in an instant?”
“Ohhh, I’ll take it!”
“Me too! I’ll have one in every color!”
“Will you, indeed?”
Of course.
Smiling with satisfaction, the manager attended to them. She had only followed the manual written by Lady Adèle herself, and yet it looked like the entire stock would sell out in a single day.
From the garments she wore at the monastery to her engagement and wedding dresses, everything sold the moment it was displayed.
“If you’ll take a seat over there, we’ll assist you with fitting—”
“Pardon, but those dresses are actually reserved for me.”
“…Excuse me?”
A calm yet imperious voice cut through the chatter of the excited ladies, leaving the manager flustered.
It was impossible not to recognize her—this was the customer who had arrived since morning and spent hours browsing.
“But earlier you said you would be purchasing just that one dress over there—”
“I said I would be purchasing that dress too.”
“Ah…”
“Perhaps it would be best if you chose again.”
With a playful smile, Chloe ran her fingers across the gown displayed before the manager.
She walked forward in elegant strides, brushing each dress with her fingertips. Only after reaching the last one did she turn with a bright smile.
“Time is short, so let’s just say I’ll buy everything my hands touched.”
“What? A-all of these? But there will be duplicates—”
“That’s fine. At the very least, there’ll be one fewer person walking around in the same dress as me.”
“…”
“Well? Why aren’t you wrapping them up?”
At her sharp glance, the startled manager quickly summoned the staff. This was a whale of a customer—the kind who appeared perhaps once or twice a year. Judging by her hairstyle and attire, she seemed to be from the capital. Did she even realize how much this would cost?
Even the richest nobles usually only ordered a couple of dresses during the social season at this level of boutique.
There were always those who boasted without checking the amount, only to shrink back once they saw the bill.
“Ahem, then… how will you be paying?”
“In cash.”
“Pardon? But counting all of that will take a long time. Wouldn’t a cheque be more convenient?”
“Must I?”
“Not necessarily, but cheques are simpler, and the bank’s grade affects the fees as well. Normally, for purchases over a hundred thousand gold, clients pay by cheque.”
“Ah, I see. I didn’t know that.”
She covered her mouth as though realizing it for the first time, and the manager gave a perfunctory smile.
To think she didn’t even know something so basic while shopping at such expense—she must be a spoiled young lady from a wealthy house.
“Are you visiting here on holiday? I don’t recall seeing such beauty in this region before.”
“Oh, you flatter me. I just came because I heard the South was warm and good for relaxation. Still, I don’t know why Father never told me about all this. You’ve no idea how hard it was lugging around so much cash. Even the hotel staff kept asking me about it—it was dreadfully bothersome.”
“…Ha ha.”
At her lighthearted complaint, the manager’s wariness eased.
Not just rich—utterly naïve.
For a merchant, no kind of customer was better. The manager gave her most courteous smile.
“Is there anything else you might need?”
“Hmm, let me see.”
Chloe, playing the perfect gullible mark, pointed to several more trinkets in the display case.
Cash, a traveler, vanity, a touch of foolishness—she dangled every bait a shopkeeper could dream of. Now came the moment to reel them in.
“By the way, this is truly the most fashionable boutique in the South, isn’t it? I only came because the hotel staff said so.”
“Of course! Without a doubt.”
“Those ladies were going on about weddings and such, but you know how some shops only look impressive while the actual owners don’t bother managing them?”
“Oh, that would never happen here! Why, the young miss of the household herself is inside right now.”
“…Really?”
Suppressing a laugh, Chloe gave a subtle signal to Pirel.
This smooth-talking manager clearly had no idea. The reason she used cash wasn’t out of ignorance.
A cheque required nothing but a signature. But counting—especially counting money—was enough to drain even the most vigilant person’s focus.
Chloe stepped closer to the manager, who was busy handling the bundles of bills.
“So the young miss is the owner here?”
“Oh no, the owner is Lady Adèle. Or rather—she’s a married lady now. Let’s see… two million gold, two million and ten….”
“She must be very fond of dresses to come here so often, then. Just like me.”
“Indeed. She visits three or four times a week. She’s beautiful and well-dressed too, just like you, my lady. Ah, more bills here….”
Muttering absentmindedly, the manager wiped away sweat as yet another bundle appeared.
Chloe leaned her chin on her hand, watching her count.
“Then surely she could run her own boutique. That’s my dream too, you know—to own one someday.”
“Well… in truth, Lady Noella is far too tender-hearted for business. And besides… two million seven hundred thousand, seven hundred and fifty… mm, yes, business wouldn’t suit her. If she overstepped, the elder lady would never forgive her… ah, two million nine hundred and seventy thousand. Perfectly exact… My lady?”
Where had she gone?
The manager blinked at the empty space before her in confusion.
That smiling young lady who had listened so intently was gone without a trace.
Not as though a ghost had whisked her away, but still—
Watching the bewildered manager, Pirel only shrugged.
“Ha ha, our young lady isn’t exactly the patient type.”
