Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 124

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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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Chapter 124
Someone once said that cotton candy was the most beautiful form sugar could take when shaped by human hands. With so many angel statues surrounding the Goddess Fountain, gazing upon cotton candy would naturally evoke images of white clouds floating above heaven.
‘In every way, it’s a menu that suits the Goddess Naila’s birthday celebration.’
“It would be wonderful if we could create pink sugar inspired by Goddess Naila’s hair color.”
When the Empire’s people saw the clouds visible during the rosy sunset, they often associated them with the Goddess.
At my words, Isidore drew a teacup and dessert from thin air.
“Pink sugar. I believe I can create it through alchemy.”
Now that I thought about it, when I had inquired about patent law before, he had mentioned that items he created through alchemy could be patented.
“So you have considerable skill in alchemy as well.”
An information broker, a sword master, and an alchemist too.
‘What exactly is your true identity?’
Isidore added two spoonfuls of sugar to his teacup and opened his mouth.
“Among the families that serve House of Visconti, there is one with deep expertise in alchemy. Visconti has been investing in alchemy since ancient times.”
Alchemy ultimately aimed at transmuting base metals into gold. I suddenly wondered if the epithet “Golden Visconti” might carry such a meaning as well.
“While I’m at it, shall I create sky-blue sugar for you as well?”
“Yes.”
The moment I nodded eagerly, Isidore smiled, his dimples deepening slightly.
“You seem to be in particularly good spirits today.”
“It’s not that something good happened today—rather, meeting you has put me in a good mood.”
His blunt answer came so directly that I nearly spat out the tea I had in my mouth. Every time he expressed himself so candidly without warning, my heart would lurch and sink.
‘I forgot that Isidore removed his language filter in the Subspace.’
As I quietly tried to settle my turbulent emotions, he pushed a madeleine toward me.
“And I find you particularly captivating when you’re absorbed in your work.”
“Master. How about putting the bracelet back on? It’s probably better to maintain a clear distinction between public and private matters…”
At my words, Isidore tilted his head.
“Words can be left unsaid, but expressions don’t obey my will. Wouldn’t it be better to look at the more handsome version instead?”
It wasn’t wrong, but the sheer audacity of him saying such things without changing his expression even once was exasperating. Come to think of it, Isidore possessed an absurd shamelessness, confidently introducing himself as a jack-of-all-trades, a perfect hexagon overflowing with talent.
‘The frustrating part is that it’s strangely difficult to refute.’
It was true that he was remarkably capable, but that wasn’t the real issue. I had essentially commissioned him to investigate myself.
‘Ugh!’
I had undertaken this background investigation with great resolve, only to discover that we were the same person all along.
Having focused solely on his identity until now, I belatedly began recalling all the blunders I had committed in front of Master.
“My lady. Your ears have turned even redder.”
“You fraud!”
Shame welled up inside me, and I kicked at his shin. He took the blow squarely, letting out a small grunt.
“Are you angry?”
He asked with a flustered expression. I glared at him with fierce eyes before standing abruptly.
“I’m sorry for making you angry. Don’t leave so suddenly—sit down and let’s talk about this.”
I stared at him with pointed eyes and muttered darkly.
“…I entrusted you with investigating myself because I trusted Master, but the investigation materials on Knight Isidore were suspiciously one-sided. There was a reason for everything. I was completely deceived.”
It’s a self-introduction, so it’s bound to be colored by personal bias.
“Back then… I wanted to make a good impression on you, who were wary of me, so I revised the materials several times. I still tried to write objectively, but I suppose my bias seeped through.”
Isidore gazed at me with sorrowful emerald eyes glistening with moisture.
‘Surely he’s not deliberately making that wistful expression?’
To think such an obvious seduction would work on me. He knew me far too well. But if I gave in too readily, I’d look like a fool, so I deliberately turned my head away.
“Anyway, I need to reconsider whether going to see the opera together was a good idea. Consider this an additional charge against you.”
Leaving Isidore to hover around me like a puppy, insisting on walking me home, I left Armand and returned to the Town House.
‘He even settled the account for The Sage’s ethics book I’d acquired at the Auction House and handed it to me.’
There were facts I only noticed in hindsight.
‘I really did put up quite a wall against Isidore in the beginning.’
Back then, I was far more timid than now, and Isidore wasn’t a character in a novel—I had no choice but to be cautious. Though I ultimately received his help. The embarrassing history I’d accumulated in that process kept surfacing, and I found myself pounding my pillow in frustration.
* * *
“It really does look like a cloud.”
“This shop frequently launches new menu items.”
Armand was promoting a new dessert menu with the tagline “Clouds are naturally sweet.”
Large, white cotton candy that looked like fluffy clouds drew the eyes of everyone passing through the Plaza.
The pink cotton candy interspersed throughout the white reminded people of the Goddess’s hair color, drawing even more attention. The sight of the magical apparatus spinning and spinning, releasing thread-like wisps of white fluff, was equally striking, so many children lingered in the area.
“Just as the Goddess generously bestowed kindness upon children, we too plan to gift cotton candy to children during this event period.”
The excellent employee from the first location, now manager of the second, actively distributed cotton candy and promoted the event.
Children carried their free cotton candy around, sparking curiosity, and people flocked to Armand following word of mouth. The eye-catching appearance combined with the unique texture of melting instantly on the tongue meant customers didn’t stop coming even as closing time approached.
“There are so many people.”
“At this rate, we’ll be here all night.”
“They’re selling the same menu at the East Gate too. That’s where the first location is.”
As the new menu sold well, promotion even reached the East Gate, which had relatively fewer foot traffic compared to the West Gate recently.
‘It’s only been two days and the response is already this fast.’
Cotton candy seemed to be an excellent choice for the newly opened shop’s event menu. I observed the situation from the second floor of the building across the way before returning to the Town House.
Now Muffin had claimed a spot on my desk in my room. Isidore, thinking I was still upset, had sent letters with flowers through Muffin three times.
The letters were densely packed and verbose, but boiled down to nothing much. Promises of future loyalty and efforts to build trust.
“Muffin, you’ve had it rough meeting such a troublesome master.”
I gently stroked Muffin’s small head as it pecked at Cookie, then picked up another letter lying on the table. It was from the Imperial Judicial Department.
It concerned this month’s patent income, and I found myself doubting my eyes for a moment.
‘What?’
There was one extra zero compared to usual.
* * *
“Another order came in?”
When Deborah said she’d compensate for the losses from the silver mine investment, I was certain she was bluffing.
‘What on earth is this situation?’
Beleck was on the verge of sitting on a pile of money. It was because the massage device he’d made to impress his father was selling incredibly well.
Duke Simour had started the incident by boasting about the massage device everywhere to show off his children’s filial piety. The heads of other families, watching the proud Duke Simour, felt terribly envious and made pointed, uncomfortable remarks to their own children about what they were doing.
As a result, the massage device had quietly established itself as a filial piety item among the high nobility. To avoid parental comparisons and nagging, the young heirs of high-ranking noble families placed endless orders for massage devices.
Beleck would have felt inferior to his twin brother, a war hero, in the past, but nowadays he had no time to waste on such emotions.
‘But setting aside the massage chairs, why did we sell five of these military-grade weapons?’
Beleck quickly dismissed his momentary confusion. He had no time to worry about trivial matters when he was overwhelmed with surging demand.
* * *
Isidore, who had been gazing blankly at the sky with drifting white clouds while resting his chin against the windowsill, rose from his seat the moment he saw Muffin.
[Opera, what time?]
The instant he saw the letter the bird had brought in just two days, he suppressed a cheer and clenched his fist lightly.
‘So I can finally have a proper date.’
His heart soared like a cloud—he felt as though he were experiencing a belated adolescence.
‘She really is kind, after all.’
The fact that only he knew of her kindness and attentiveness was equally precious to him. Isidore prepared for his outing while recalling Deborah Simour’s soft, luminous crimson eyes.
“Knight Isidore.”
Arriving at the Opera Theater with his impeccable fashion sense on full display as always, he paused mid-step. It was because of a child as adorable as a kitten, holding Deborah Simour’s hand tightly.
“That is… my younger sibling wanted to see the opera today as well. It happens to be the weekend.”
“….”
‘Why does the child seem to be glaring at me?’
“I promised to introduce you last time, didn’t I? Enrique.”

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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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