CHAPTER 58……………
The crowd that had gathered to witness the theft incident parted to both sides, bowing their heads.
“Your Grace.”
Down the cleared path walked Duke Canel.
Even in a plain black suit, noble refinement radiated from head to toe. His face, as always, exuded a chill that froze the air.
Behind him trailed a line of aides.
The instant I spotted Eunice, her brown hair loosely tied back, lightning flashed in my eyes.
Well, well. Not only did she stage this scheme and come to watch in person, but she dragged the duke along to see me humiliated? How bold. How utterly shameless.
But then—
The duke spoke curtly.
“Why look at me as though you’ve seen a ghost? Is it so strange for a father to visit the department store his daughter runs? They say everyone comes here at least once, so I thought I’d see it for myself.”
Seeing his aloof expression, I realized I had misunderstood.
Indeed. No matter how trusted and powerful Eunice was as his chief aide, she couldn’t drag her frail, reclusive employer outside against his will.
This outing was the duke’s choice.
I see. Just a coincidence, then.
The fact it was his own decision somehow made it more satisfying.
Eunice must have been thrilled. The very day she commissioned the Dark Guild to stage , the duke himself suddenly decided to come here? She must have thought Fortune herself smiled on her.
Too bad. She’d just been struck in the back instead.
“……”
Her calm, composed face seemed to waver. That wasn’t my imagination.
She was rattled. She couldn’t hide it.
What? What?
It showed in her eyes.
The lady who was supposed to be disgraced for framing a customer stood unharmed. The swindlers were exposed and dragged off by the city guard. She must have been furious.
“Let go of me! That hurts!”
The duke watched the criminals being hauled away.
“So that’s what the noise was? What happened? Why are people being taken?”
“Oh, just some pests that wandered in.”
I flicked my hand dismissively, shooting Eunice a glance.
“Our employees and guards are so competent. The moment those criminals entered, they suspected them and kept close watch. Sure enough, one tried to steal, another disguised herself as staff, and they made a scene. Honestly, how dare they pull such a shabby stunt in a store with sales on this scale….”
Eunice’s face twitched.
It was a method she’d used before with great success. Known only to the Dark Guild. She couldn’t fathom why it had failed.
“Ah, so that’s what this was. I did see you twisting some woman’s arm. I thought perhaps you were still drunk.”
The duke gave me a slow once-over.
“I thought you spent your nights drinking and flitting about ballrooms, but you do still make appearances at your business. At least your head’s screwed on straight there.”
Receiving praise simply for showing up to work—villainess life really was something.
“Well, play is play, and work is work. When I enjoy myself, business tends to go better.”
“Are you sure you were only out playing? No other reason?”
My breath caught. Sharp as ever. Could he have noticed me meeting Ruellian?
“No, Father. I was just blowing off steam. It had been a while since I’d done the rounds at parties, and I got carried away.”
I kept a straight face.
“Hmm….”
He raised an eyebrow, then lowered it. My heart pounded—had I slipped up?
“Very well. That’s all.”
His expression lightened a little.
“Business can’t always run smoothly. If I were scoring it: accidents are –100 points. No accidents, 100 points. An accident swiftly and neatly resolved… perhaps 20,000 points.”
“Indeed, my lord.”
The aides chimed in eagerly.
“Maintaining without accidents is just basic competence. But handling an incident quickly and cleanly? That is true skill.”
He was talking about me. That made me worth twenty thousand points? Thanks to Eunice’s little scheme, I’d actually gained credit. Eunice, the fairy of fortune herself?
“……”
Unable to keep her composure, Eunice slipped quietly to the back. The duke didn’t seem to notice.
“Reading the papers, I thought this ‘Imperial Department Store’ had become some new attraction of the empire….”
His crimson eyes swept over the place.
Perhaps embarrassed to gawk, the customers dispersed and resumed shopping. Staff greeted the duke’s party with polished courtesy.
Sunlight poured through the engraved glass ceiling, making everything glitter. Every color, every design on display stirred the desire to buy.
“Decent enough.”
He muttered.
“When a place is new, that’s always the case. Curiosity makes it look like a success. But by now the hype must be fading. How much profit could a small shop like this possibly bring in?”
“Hardly a small shop, Your Grace. Sales do seem steady….”
One aide tried to soothe him.
“My lady, perhaps you should show the duke the sales figures?”
“No need. That’s not why I came.”
The duke shook his head, then tapped on a display full of jeweled cufflinks.
“I’ll buy this.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
The clerk rushed forward.
“Which one would you like, sir?”
“Hmm?”
The duke tilted his head.
“I said I’ll take this.”
Only then did we realize.
He meant the entire display case.
Our jaws dropped.
Did he measure goods by the case?
Too shocked to play the dutiful daughter, I blurted,
“What are you going to do with all of these?”
“Gifts for my aides. Today marks the average of 4,281 days of service across them all.”
“Ah, so the number 4,281 has some special significance?”
“No.”
The duke’s voice was icy.
“Why so nosy? Do you dislike that I’m buying cufflinks, quills, pocket watches, coats, and so on for my aides here? Should I shop elsewhere?”
“Ah! No, of course not! I’m delighted! We’ll serve you with the utmost care!”
What a windfall.
I couldn’t let another merchant steal this chance. I guided him like a VIP guest, personally touring him through the whole store.
“This one. That one. And that.”
Each time his finger pointed, sales soared.
“An excellent choice!”
“Perfectly suits you!”
“You have such a keen eye for design!”
I flattered with all my might. By the end of the tour, we’d made record-breaking sales.
Perhaps because he hadn’t expected much, the duke seemed moderately satisfied.
“This record of purchases won’t be easily broken.”
He slipped a newly issued “Black Diamond” membership card into his pocket, then turned.
“What do you think, Eunice?”
While I had been busily racking up sales thanks to her, Eunice hadn’t spoken a word.
If she’d learned how painful it was to underestimate me, that would be one thing. But of course, she hadn’t.
“Extremely impressive.”
Her lips twitched despite her calm reply.
The calm before the storm.
Instinct warned me. Her shill scheme had failed. Now she’d toss the real bomb.
“Truly, Eunice? I’m glad to hear such praise from my father’s capable chief aide. You’re not just humoring me?”
“Not at all, my lady.”
Eunice met my eyes squarely.
“You did splendidly. I worried for you often, but now it’s clear I need not. You’ve changed a great deal.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
She turned to the duke.
“Which is why I suggest Lady Aristina attempt the heir qualification test again.”
I froze.
The heir qualification test?
The very one I failed before?
