The expression on Temanon’s face grew fierce, but Depelto didn’t care in the slightest.
“So, Seila needs to realize it on her own. She needs to conduct herself a bit more properly. She mustn’t become too arrogant, thinking too highly of herself. My not attending her coming-of-age ceremony must have served as an excellent warning for her.”
“……”
“That child craves my attention and affection.”
Temanon clenched his fist tightly.
In truth, the two of them bickering was an everyday occurrence.
Even today’s conversation, if one looked at it closely, was nothing unusual.
‘Hmph, magic is nothing but a lowly trick for petty people.’
‘I don’t even want to speak with such barbaric swordsmen.’
Even such quarrels had been very ordinary—but today, he was too angry.
Bang!
When he slammed down on the table, one side of it turned to dust and scattered.
“I don’t even care that you insult swordsmen—that’s nothing new.”
Blue energy surged around Temanon’s body.
The furniture nearby cracked, and the edges of the wooden chairs began to shear off from the energy’s touch.
Not to be outdone, Depelto drew forth a crimson aura.
“Are you saying you want a fight?”
“But you—shouldn’t you at least not treat your daughter that way?”
Kwaaang!
The clash of their energies created a massive explosion.
Countless people in the mansion heard the sound and fled in a hurry.
It felt like an earthquake had struck.
“Seila is striving more desperately than anyone, achieving something more beautiful than anyone else. She’s showing a far greater appearance than my own son, growing into a swordswoman who can shine anywhere. Seila is a truly lovable—no, a proud daughter. Even if the dimwits of the Empire point fingers and say she isn’t ladylike, at the very least you shouldn’t be saying that, should you? Have you ever seen Seila’s desperation? That child lives as if death is right before her eyes. Have you ever spent those grueling hours by her side? If not, have you ever cheered for her with your heart? Never once have you done such a thing, and yet you dare to judge Seila? You? And you call yourself a father!”
“Your tongue has grown long.”
“Today, I’ll split you in half!”
The mansion’s windows shattered, and Depelto’s office was demolished.
The battle between the two giants raged in an uninhabited wilderness for an entire week, and the incident filled countless newspapers.
A massive crater was left in the wilderness, and even people of the Central Empire felt the tremors and thunderous sounds.
During that time, people worried that the fragile peace between the Eastern and Northern Continents might collapse.
Some even claimed that the signs of war were beginning to spread.
But that wasn’t the case.
Amazingly, the first to apologize was Temanon.
“Sorry, Depelto. I got too heated.”
In truth, he didn’t feel sorry, but he had no choice.
‘Otherwise, Seila will be the one in trouble.’
This was an apology for Seila’s sake—an unavoidable one.
If he declared a permanent break in their relationship, the one to suffer in the end would be Seila.
“I’ve heard enough of your useless sermon. Not surprising from a man without a daughter.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Fine. It’s nothing new that you’re ignorant and barbaric.”
“……”
“I’ve entrusted my daughter to you, so keep her in line. Make her more ladylike, modest, and proper.”
“……”
“And this time, I won.”
Temanon didn’t answer about controlling Seila, but he chose to acknowledge his defeat.
“…Fine.”
Fortunately, their duel ended as nothing more than a minor incident.
And a few months later, new headlines began to dominate the papers.
It was the launch of the Armazio family’s new brand—‘Seilia.’
“Daughter, a merchant must always read the trends.”
The Marquess of Armazio was very worried about his only daughter, Camellia.
She had drastically altered the direction of the brand she had been preparing.
“Isn’t this too disgraceful? Do you really think this suits the taste of noble ladies?”
In truth, the Marquess didn’t expect Camellia’s business to succeed greatly.
He mostly thought of it as experience—launching a brand once would provide his daughter with valuable lessons and nourishment for the future.
“Is there any noble lady from the Empire’s old families who has ever worn pants?”
“No, Father. I only saw it for the first time in the Eastern Continent.”
The Marquess sighed with many worries.
He didn’t mind a modest success, but he didn’t want his daughter to fail miserably.
Especially since the family had staked its very survival on the pharmaceutical business.
For Camellia to focus too much on ‘Seilia’ wasn’t something he welcomed.
“Father. Please believe in me, just once. I saw the future in the Eastern Continent.”
“……”
“She will become the standard. I’ve never in my life felt such certainty.”
“Sometimes, that certainty can devour a merchant.”
“And sometimes, that certainty elevates a merchant.”
Camellia clung to his arm.
Though she was a villainess to the heroine, she was still a beloved daughter to her father.
“Father, I truly believe I can do well. Honestly, the moment I saw Lady Seila, I thought my heart had stopped. I thought her beauty was all there was, so I even tried provoking her on purpose, but she had an aura I couldn’t dare approach. The Empire’s noble daughters will all come to admire her. Won’t you believe in me, just this once? I won’t even ask for financial support.”
She looked up at him with eyes like a little kitten—or at least, that’s how the Marquess felt.
“…If that’s what you truly want, then what choice do I have?”
And so, the Seilia brand launched according to Camellia’s wishes.
The fact that the only daughter of the Empire’s largest merchant family had launched a fashion brand became a big topic.
In a bad way.
“Have you seen Seilia’s dresses? They’re hideous.”
“Don’t even call them dresses. They look like clothes for boys.”
“They say they avoid excessive jewelry in favor of clean and urban styles…”
“What noble lady in the Empire would wear such undignified clothing?”
Shirts and pants instead of dresses.
Sneakers and sandals instead of formal shoes.
The noble ladies of the Empire turned away from the clothes hanging on the mannequins.
Thus, Seilia’s beginning was very humble indeed.
“It’s noise marketing.”
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
Though she was a villainess who tormented the heroine and a noble steeped in elitism, in moments like this, she showed true professionalism.
“Anyway, we’ve succeeded in attracting attention. Now it’s time to show Lady Seila.”
“…Alright.”
Either way, I had already received a guaranteed minimum of 1 billion dia.
Even now, the thought left me stunned, my heart pounding.
It was, to exaggerate slightly, about the same as winning the lottery jackpot.
I need to earn my keep.
“We won’t trouble you too much. We won’t over-decorate either. The shoot will be done in a single day. The location is the village of Molita, near Lake Bayern.”
Molita was a rural village with a small stream running through it.
The weather was good year-round, with plenty of sunshine.
That’s why it was highly favored by photographers.
Hmm, these clothes are quite nice.
I wasn’t sure if they fit this world’s common aesthetic sense, but they felt very modern.
For central nobles, wearing such wide-legged pants would be a shock, but for me, someone who had lived in 21st-century Korea, it was completely my style.
White sneakers, huh. That’s bold.
I wore a clean white shirt with loose green pants.
A style you’d see often in Yeonnam-dong or Seongsu-dong, but by this world’s standards, it was utterly unconventional.
I unbuttoned the top couple of buttons and wore a gold necklace set with a small diamond.
The current trend was flashy, colorful jewels, but my earrings were the opposite—small, clean flower-shaped studs, barely noticeable.
“My lady, you look absolutely stunning.”
“Really?”
Judging from Mary’s expression, she meant it.
Her eyes even glistened with tears of emotion.
Mary was always sincere with me, always genuine.
Seeing her pure admiration made me feel a little embarrassed, but also good.
Ah, so this is what being called beautiful means.
When a pretty girl dresses up, this is the kind of gaze she receives. Always new, always thrilling.
“Do you know how much it hurt me to see you always in training clothes? N-not that you weren’t beautiful in those, my lady. But just as a sweet dessert looks more appetizing in a beautiful dish, training clothes were far too lacking to hold your radiant beauty. A-ah! But you were still very, very beautiful, of course!”
“I didn’t say anything, Mary.”
“I never knew pants could be so beautiful.”
The shoot went smoothly.
In this world, photoshoots were considered a sophisticated cultural activity, though somewhat unfamiliar.
But I was very accustomed to photography culture, so the shoot didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Even just mimicking the celebrities I had seen in various media was enough to make this body’s dignity transform me into a noble presence.
Mary stood beside the photographer with clasped hands, mouth agape in awe, and Camellia seemed thoroughly pleased as well.
“Time for the next outfit.”
And the next outfit was even more daring.
