Celebrity Lady - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Celebrity Lady
Episode 47
Even under Nora’s ominous pressure, Becky didn’t bat an eye.
“I’m terribly sorry, but Blanc de Ruby does not adjust reservation order in exchange for premium payment.”
“Madam, you really are stuck in your ways, aren’t you? You own the boutique, so it’s entirely up to you!”
“Well, no.”
Becky smiled gently and continued.
“Blanc de Ruby operates under the rules set by Lady Ruby, who is our designer, patron, and shareholder of the shop.”
“There’s a separate owner?”
“Yes. Following Lady Ruby’s wishes, we only accept reservations on a first-come, first-served basis from customers of any status who can pay the full dress commission upfront. Shall I book you for August of next year?”
“Ugh…….”
While Nora was venting her frustration by beating her own chest, the bell above the shop’s glass door chimed.
Ting.
Both Becky and Nora turned their heads toward the timidly opened entrance.
‘The Fifth Princess Lizbeth?’
Nora’s eyes widened as she recognized the customer’s face.
“My goodness, isn’t that the Fifth Princess?”
“Oh, Lady Nora?”
Nora was the intimate friend of Lillia Diorus, who was called the swan of the Diorus Family.
She was naturally close to Riki, Lillia’s twin, and she knew well the story of Princess Lizbeth—mild-mannered and artless, always trailing after Riki.
Nora folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at Lizbeth with a sarcastic smirk.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed it has.”
Though her demeanor was rather presumptuous, Lizbeth—who knew well of Nora’s reputation, already notorious among the nobility—pretended not to notice.
“Have you come to order a dress as well, Your Highness?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll take my turn.”
As Lizbeth entered hesitantly, Nora let out a scoff and turned back to Becky.
“Then I’ll speak with the owner. Bring her out.”
“Lady Ruby is not someone who receives just anyone for a private audience.”
“What, what did you say? Did you just call me ‘just anyone’? Who is this Lady Ruby anyway—I’ve never even heard the name, and yet you’re being so presumptuous—”
“And how may the next customer assist us today?”
Becky simply dismissed Nora and turned to Lizbeth with a bright, professional smile.
Lizbeth, who had been tensely reading the mood between them, sat down beside Nora.
‘No matter one’s status?’ Nora thought, gritting her teeth as she watched the two of them. ‘Let’s see if she ignores even a royal order.’
Nora kept her eyes fixed on them.
“I’d like to order a dress…….”
“Of course, miss. I’m afraid an immediate order isn’t possible. If you’d provide a deposit and leave your name and contact information, we’ll be in touch once your turn comes around.”
Nora, listening in, flinched.
‘Truly no exceptions, even for royalty? The audacity of this place!’
Becky opened her ledger and picked up her pen, turning to Lizbeth.
“If you reserve now, you can place your order for August next year. Would you like to proceed?”
“Well…….”
Glancing nervously at Nora, Lizbeth carefully withdrew something and held it out.
What she placed on the table was an elegant black business card.
“Oh my.”
Becky picked up the card.
“If I may ask, how did you come by this card?”
“My older brother gave it to me. Ah, my older brother is, well, I’m not sure if you know him, but he’s the Crown Prince.”
Lizbeth added hesitantly.
“I don’t really know how he got this, it’s just—he said if I showed it, I’d be able to place an order right away…….”
“I see. Very well. Then let me assist you with your order immediately. First, we’ll take your measurements, and you can browse the catalog at your leisure.”
Becky rose from her seat and, with a warm smile, led Lizbeth inside.
“Wait, Madam!”
Nora’s eyes went wide as she cried out.
“What is this? You just said there are no exceptions! So the Crown Prince’s influence does make a difference after all?”
“No, Lady Nora. Even if the Crown Prince’s grandfather himself walked through that door, we still couldn’t process an immediate order.”
Becky held up the black card with a knowing smile.
“But when someone comes on our proprietress’s recommendation, that’s a different matter entirely. You see, Lady Ruby extends special consideration to customers she personally introduces, and their orders take priority.”
“But that doesn’t—”
“Lady Nora, I’m afraid I must attend to my customer now. If you wish to expedite your order, please return with an invitation card from our proprietress. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you again tomorrow for your reservation.”
Having grown somewhat weary of Nora’s endless protests, Becky walked briskly toward the glass door and opened it for her.
“Best wishes on your way.”
* * *
Shuffle, shuffle.
After taking Princess Lizbeth’s order, Becky climbed the stairs to the second floor with an exhausted gait.

She spotted the door marked with a placard that Lady Ruby, proprietress of Blanc de Ruby, had personally commissioned.
As Becky opened the door with a weary laugh, the guests inside greeted her warmly.
“Oh, our dear Madam Becky!”
“You worked hard today.”
The proprietress “Lady Ruby”—Rubetria Diorus—and exclusive model Sera Vigo were both in high spirits. On the table sat three glasses of refreshing dark beer.
Becky pouted her lips and sat beside Rubetria, draping her arm around the woman’s waist.
“Ah, proprietress……. I was dying of exhaustion, I swear. I did my best to play the part you wanted—the snobbish madam—but oh, how strange and terrifying it felt.”
“You did wonderfully. Nora Pelkan came by, didn’t she? Her voice was absolutely piercing—I could hear it rattling the ceiling from up here.”
“No matter how you look at it, how can a noble lady have such poor manners? Poor Becky, you suffered through it. Well done.”
“Mmm.”
Sera reached over with a sympathetic expression to comfort Becky.
“Our poor dear Becky didn’t even get a wink of sleep yesterday making samples of men’s clothing. How are you holding up?”
“It’s exhausting, but it feels worthwhile. Today’s sales came to……!”
“148 million Marks!”
As Rubetria finished Becky’s sentence, the reception room filled with the laughter of three women intoxicated by capitalism.
“Hehe, but proprietress.”
Becky took a long sip of her beer and suddenly grew worried.
“Have you heard any news about Madam Susan’s boutique?”
“Ah, Madam Susan is copying my designs, is she?”
Rubetria waved it off without concern.
“Yes. Since Madam Susan’s boutique doesn’t have a strict reservation system like ours, it’s far more convenient to order from her. Today alone, twenty customers cancelled their reservations—they seem to be going to Madam Susan’s boutique instead.”
“Oh my, wouldn’t that be rather problematic for us?”
Sera, who had been listening, grew concerned.
“Perhaps we should relax our ordering standards a bit? And lower the price as well?”
“Hmm-hmm.”
Rubetria wagged her forefinger back and forth.
“My strict policy of only accepting reservation customers is non-negotiable. And starting tomorrow, I’m raising the reservation deposit by 500,000 Marks.”
“Excuse me?”
Becky was taken aback.
“But then customers will flee! We’re already incredibly expensive…….”
“Price competition is what cheap clothing shops do.”
Rubetria crossed her legs and leaned back loosely against the sofa as she continued.
“What I’m building isn’t merely a clothing shop. It’s a luxury brand targeting affluent customers. I charge premium prices not to earn more money, but to prove the worth of what I create.”
Becky and Sera listened intently, nodding their heads with impressed “Ohhh…” sounds.
“A thriving plant will inevitably attract aphids. Of course, there will always be mediocre designers trying to copy successful work. But we cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by them.”
“Then, proprietress, won’t the number of shops copying your designs only increase? Are you simply going to ignore that?”
“Well, perhaps our shop’s sales will stumble in the short term. After all, if the design is the same, customers will naturally seek out places that are easier to order from and cheaper. But—”
Rubetria smirked and gestured toward a small swatch of fabric on the table.
The fabric was exquisitely embroidered with a diamond shape in red thread—the trademark of Blanc de Ruby.
“If my brand itself becomes the symbol of luxury, then everything changes. Those status-conscious young nobles and heirs will start to wonder about the difference between our shop and theirs, even if the design is identical.”
Rubetria tapped Becky’s shoulder and mimicked an innocent voice.
“Becky, is that a new dress you’re wearing? It must be from Blanc de Ruby, right?”
Then she hardened her expression.
“What? Oh, no—I got this one from Madam Susan’s boutique instead. Somehow it looks a bit……lesser.”
“Aha.”
Sera, watching Rubetria’s one-woman performance, chuckled with amusement and jumped in.
“In other words, people aren’t buying the dress because the design is beautiful or because they like it—they’re buying the symbolism of the Blanc de Ruby name itself.”
“Exactly.”
With a snap, Rubetria raised her index finger with an arrogant smile and added,
“Blanc de Ruby will become such a famous luxury boutique that its name alone secures its customer base. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Ooooh…….”
“Wow.”
Rubetria watched Becky and Sera’s admiring reactions with a satisfied smile before rising to her feet.
“In the end, the imitators will be weeded out by market competition. So, my dear business partners, our Becky and Sera—worry about nothing.”
Rubetria walked toward a safe placed in one corner of the reception room and opened it.
An enormous stack of bills filled it so full that the safe could barely contain them all.
With a capitalist’s smile, Rubetria grabbed a handful of notes, brought them to her nose, and inhaled deeply.
“Ahhhh…….”
Whoosh!
The next moment, the bundle of bills scattered from her hand and danced beautifully through the air.
“Revel in this moment!”
* * *
Soaring ever upward.
The phrase fit Blanc de Ruby’s rising fortunes perfectly.
Was there anything in this world that could not be done according to her will?
Just as someone once said, Rubetria—or rather, Juliet Carina—was sailing forward smoothly, like a ship with full sails gliding across calm waters.
Of course, as had always been the case in her life, this was neither luck nor coincidence.
Fashion sense that surpassed others.
The discernment to choose capable business partners.
Business acumen faster than anyone else’s.
And above all, the grueling effort of running herself ragged…….
“Luxury Brand Marketing Strategy, iteration two.”
Standing before the mirror, Rubetria tilted her chin up with an arrogant expression and murmured to herself.
“Promotion on a grander scale.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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