HTNSA 104

Chapter 104

He nodded heavily.

“If you need me, I’ll come with you.”

“Thank you.”

Eila gave a shy bow, then moved to stand beside Felix and naturally linked arms with him.

At her casual touch, Felix’s face flushed red, but he forced his expression into a stiff composure.

Eila, wearing a look full of dissatisfaction, glared at the shop entrance.

The click-clack of her footsteps was sharp and intimidating.

But what she did inside the shop moments later was even more shocking.

“Bring out the merchant leader.”

The moment the door chimed as she stepped inside, that was the first thing Eila demanded.

Yetien’s eyes shook violently at the sight.

‘What… what is this?’

She had barged in without even waiting in line, demanding to see the merchant leader right away.

To Yetien, who had no idea what was going on, it was bewildering.

“I said, bring out the merchant leader!”

Eila shouted again, scanning the interior of the shop with sharp eyes. Sensing the unusual situation, the shop manager rushed over.

He gave a quick, complicated look over Eila in her flashy outfit and the two men behind her, one of whom was carrying a longsword.

With a troubled expression, the manager approached her.

“What seems to be the problem, miss? I’m sorry, but we just restocked, and we’re serving customers strictly in order…”

“Do I look like I’m angry because I have to wait in line right now? Hurry up and bring out the merchant leader!”

“And may I ask what business you have with him…? He’s currently away at the moment.”

“Hah, so you’re telling me to just go back like this? Look at my face!”

Eila snapped her fan closed with a loud crack.

On her face, a rash had appeared that hadn’t been there just moments before.

“Do you know why this happened? It’s because I used your cosmetics. So your shop needs to take responsibility!”

Her angry shout made the other customers in the shop start glancing at her.

They had come to buy cosmetics renowned for their effectiveness, but now someone was saying she broke out in a rash from using them.

A few people quietly set down the products they had been looking at and left the shop.

Sensing the tension rising, the shop manager hurriedly spoke.

“You’re saying you used our cosmetics and it caused a problem on your face?”

“Yes, and you can’t even afford to compensate me properly, can you?”

“I will speak to the merchant leader about this, but as I said, he’s really not here today…”

“Then call him right now.”

“Excuse me?”

“If he’s not here, then call him to come here immediately!”

The manager let out a deep sigh, then nodded.

“…Understood. Then may I have your name so I can contact him?”

“My name is Eila.”

“…I’m sorry?”

“Just Eila.”

“Ah…”

The manager stood there blankly, then his face turned into an awkward expression.

After causing such a scene, she was revealing herself to be a mere commoner? His look suggested he was at a loss for words.

Seeing his face, Eila shot him a suspicious glare.

“What? Are you looking down on me because I’m a commoner?”

While Eila continued her disruptive act, Yetien, who had been standing there dazed, stepped closer to Felix from behind.

Tapping Felix on the shoulder, he lowered his voice and asked,

“Um… may I ask what exactly is happening here? Is she usually like this…?”

“No, never.”

“Then why are you helping her with this…?”

Felix clamped his mouth shut instead of answering, just as Eila’s gaze turned to him.

Her eyes were asking for his help.

“Are you discriminating against customers because of their status? Do you want your shop to go under?”

Catching the signal, Felix moved closer to Eila’s side.

Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Calm down, Eila. The staff just didn’t realize who you are and made a mistake, that’s all. Isn’t that right?”

“But still…”

“I heard there’s a new dessert out at Anamel’s today. Let’s go together after we sort this out, okay? Would that help you feel better?”

The manager, still unable to grasp the relationship between them, looked confused.

Seeing this, Eila gave a small smirk, then leaned her head against Felix’s shoulder and said,

“Do you know who this man is?”

“Uh… if you could tell me…”

“You’ve heard the rumors about the Azenta Duchy finding their long-lost son, right? That’s him.”

“…”

“And I’m his long-time lover. Isn’t that right, Felix?”

Felix, momentarily stunned, quickly nodded.

“If you’re suspicious, you’re welcome to send someone to the family to confirm.”

While the manager stood there dumbfounded, Felix glanced at Eila with worried eyes.

“See, Eila? I told you we should just ask my father to handle this instead of coming here ourselves. A store like this could be dealt with in an instant.”

“How could I do that? I’d feel bad asking the Duke.”

“There’s no one as considerate as you, Eila. The merchant leader should realize that.”

Felix looked at Eila with eyes so soft, as if he couldn’t help how much he adored her.

“…”

And from behind, Yetien, who was witnessing the entire situation, was utterly confused.

Barging into a store and causing a scene was shocking enough, but now even the young master was going along with it?

‘Am I dreaming right now? The young master isn’t normally like this… what on earth is happening in front of me?’

Felix then nodded slightly toward the manager.

“You heard her, didn’t you? I won’t say it again. Bring the merchant leader here to see Eila, now.”

The warm, gentle attitude from earlier was now completely gone, replaced by a cold sharpness.

Only then did the manager realize he had made a huge mistake, and he quickly bowed his head.

“G-goodness…! I’ve made a terrible error. I’m so sorry, young master.”

His face pale, the manager gestured urgently to the staff.

“Ah, please, come inside for now. It will take a little time for the merchant leader to arrive.”

Unlike earlier when he had looked down on Eila, the manager was now groveling in excessive politeness.

As they followed the manager inside, Felix whispered to Eila,

“Your acting was very convincing.”

Eila cleared her throat and replied quietly,

“I’ve seen and experienced a lot in the past.”

Felix’s face hardened.

“You’ve experienced things like this often?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t in this life, but in her previous one.

Naturally, in her past life, she couldn’t survive on acting alone. She had taken every kind of part-time job imaginable just to get by.

The things she had seen and experienced during those times were now unexpectedly proving useful.

Feeling satisfied at having successfully deceived them, Eila smiled proudly.

* * *

Zordic was looking out the window at the carriages lined up outside, and let out a small laugh.

“They’re practically raking in money. I never thought that girl would be this useful.”

With her dull, messy hair, freckled face, and rough, calloused hands, the girl had shown up one day without warning, handing him a tiny bottle.

“It’s a cosmetic? I’m busy, just leave it there and go.”

Like most men, Zordic had little interest in women’s luxury goods.

‘Besides, the Sharon Atelier already has the empire’s cosmetics market in its grip.’

And above all, there was never a shortage of people wanting his investment, so he had no reason to take risks.

So he didn’t even open the bottle, simply taking it home and handing it to his wife.

But his wife’s reaction after using it was completely unexpected.

“Where did you get this?”