Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 61

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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 61
* * *
Isidore sat perched atop his own building’s rooftop, gazing down at the establishment across the street that had just begun operations. These past months, preparing for Armand’s opening had consumed every waking moment.
‘It’s thriving.’
The launch had been remarkably successful. From opening day, Armand overflowed with patrons in a ceaseless tide.
Though I’d anticipated success, an unexpected wave of relief washed over me. I’d always conducted business as one might enjoy a game, never before losing sleep over results. Yet strangely, I hadn’t slept at all last night.
Perhaps it was because of my business partner. Typically, nobles who operate Trading Companies entrust their establishments to capable merchants and then neglect them entirely.
But Deborah Simour had been remarkably proactive. From that purple seal to the menu, the storefront’s appearance, and the interior design—every detail bore her unmistakable touch.
‘Her promotional approach was ingenious too.’
She possessed an instinctive understanding of how to capture people’s attention. Despite having never actually conducted business before.
Because I’d been involved in every step of the process, I found myself reluctant to witness her discouraged if things went poorly.
‘Though truthfully… there’s no real way this could fail.’
Still, since no venture could be guaranteed absolutely, I suppose I’d been quietly invested in the outcome. I spent a long time on the rooftop, watching the crowds gather before the Clock Tower.
* * *
“We’ve finally stepped into the legendary Armand. After waiting two hours, no less.”
“I never expected such crowds. It’s astonishing.”
A group of noble young ladies entered the shop in high spirits, chattering excitedly as they claimed a well-lit table.
“This place is lovely.”
“The atmosphere is wonderful.”
“Oh?”
Curiosity flickered in the eyes of one young lady examining the menu.
“But what exactly are these set menus?”
“We offer black tea and scones together as a set, madam. There are other combinations as well—please take your time reviewing them.”
The Shop Manager nearby offered a courteous explanation.
“Ah, so that’s why the banner said ‘Exquisite Black Tea and ○○’—it was inviting us to imagine which dessert would pair with each beverage.”
[SET A: Exquisite Black Tea and Scones]
“And the flower tea?”
“The flower tea comes as a set with a generous slice of cream cake.”
[SET B: Fragrant Flower Tea and Cream Cake]
“Those six characters were cream cake.”
“The milk tea was paired with macarons.”
[SET C: Smooth Milk Tea and Macarons]
Through the clever word puzzle presented during opening preparations, the young ladies embraced this somewhat unfamiliar concept of set menus with ease and delight.
“Black tea truly pairs best with nutty scones. And milk tea’s subtle bitterness calls for sweet macarons.”
“Flower tea with cake is such an unusual combination—I’m even more eager to try it.”
Captivated, the ladies began ordering sets one after another, as though enchanted.
‘Ordering this way actually costs less than purchasing items separately.’
Though they maintained their dignity and said nothing, they privately savored the satisfaction of having gained a financial advantage.
“Set A, please.”
“Yes, madam.”
Busy mages and Young-siks uninterested in desserts preferred the sets because they could order conveniently without having to pronounce the complicated names of teas and desserts aloud.
The fact that there were only three options was also convenient. There was no need to agonize over what to eat.
‘It’s cheaper than ordering separately. And I was getting hungry anyway—perfect timing.’
Scones with black tea. A simple combination, yet one that everyone enjoyed without reservation.
‘It’s fragrant and delicious, isn’t it? Next time, maybe I’ll try the C set?’
The mage hesitated for a moment.
‘No, wait—those cream cakes the young ladies are eating look even more delicious. Let me try the B set instead.’
They too spent their time pleasantly in the café before departing.
Customers who had visited Armand spread word that helped the shop, explaining that the text on the banner referred to the set menu offerings.
“Haha. What an ingenious menu system. And it’s even cheaper than buying items separately. How does it taste?”
“Delicious. They use fresh, fragrant tea leaves. The baking of the bread is just right too.”
“The atmosphere is wonderful, and the natural light is excellent. How should I put it—it feels like the shop opens up as if you were on a terrace?”
Meanwhile, Academy architecture professors who had visited Armand drawn by its distinctive and beautiful exterior gave no thought to desserts.
“Who could the architect be?”
“The more you examine it, the more intricate and beautiful it becomes.”
“By boldly utilizing glass and iron to expose the building’s framework, interestingly, the structure appears light and refined.”
“The geometric yet stylized curves that occasionally appear were quite striking. Once inside, it felt as though you’d entered a forest—the aroma of tea grew rich and enveloping.”
“That was all intentional.”
The professor drawing the building’s interior design plans spoke with certainty.
“The interior was structured in a straight line to allow the pleasant fragrance to circulate well. The traffic flow is excellent, and the spacing between tables is spacious and open.”
Even the ordinary chairs and tables had no harsh, angular edges, creating a comfortable atmosphere. The warm-toned premium wood and flooring were all the more striking thanks to the abundant natural light pouring through the boldly open windows.
“The way blinds are used to adjust the brightness and lighting each hour was quite impressive.”
A professor spoke after observing a staff member adjusting the interior lighting by lowering the long cord of the blinds.
“The harmony between the exterior and interior was truly excellent.”
The organic flow of curves was alive on both sides. The purple accent color matching the seal also caught the eye.
“I’d like to see the designer’s face. It’s a building planned with considerable precision.”
“Indeed.”
Even those who knew nothing of architecture felt sufficiently that Armand was a pleasant, comfortable space to spend time in.
Not just on opening day, but the following day as well, Armand was crowded with visitors.
* * *
Set menus.
In modern times, this was a common arrangement, but it seemed to be a fresh concept for the people here. When I first brought the menu structure, even the Master’s face showed curiosity upon seeing the set menu.
“The effect is better than expected.”
Looking at Armand’s sales receipts from the past week, I nodded my head lightly.
‘Considering it’s opening day, it really sold well.’
“Busy mages and nearby Administrators drink tea but rarely eat desserts, so it seems bundling them into sets like this makes them sell well.”
The Master tapped his fingers rhythmically.
“Despite the location being the East Gate Plaza, dessert sales have exceeded expectations. Did you anticipate this?”
“Of course I did.”
I bluffed, though I hadn’t actually expected it to sell this well.
‘Hmm! I need to look like a capable person of influence.’
To keep riding the Master’s bus.
“Even customers who only ordered tea are now selecting set menus, consuming twice as much as usual.”
He found this phenomenon amusing. He hadn’t offered any substantial discount, yet everyone firmly believed they were making a rational purchase.
“They’re spending money they didn’t need to spend, but they’ll convince themselves they’ve made a small gain by saving a pittance.”
I barely suppressed a sinister smile.
“Excellent. The set menus will serve as a fine primer for Armand.”
A primer? His words carried an oddly meaningful undertone, so I narrowed my eyes slightly.
‘Is there something I’ve overlooked?’
I’d planned to rotate the set compositions slightly each month to prevent regulars from growing bored. For the best-selling A set in particular, I intended to vary the jam flavors on the scones to keep things interesting.
‘It must be my imagination.’
However, it didn’t take long before I understood what the Master meant by “for a time.”

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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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