Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 68

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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 68
* * *
“Miss Miya, would you perhaps be willing to give me a handkerchief?”
Diera Orgo spoke in an awkward tone. Since the clinic where Miya volunteered happened to be near the Black Knight Order Barracks, he had come to find her during his break.
“A handkerchief?”
“Yes, I’m competing in the mounted tournament held on the Founding Emperor’s birthday….”
When Miya stared at him with her large, clear eyes, Diera trailed off while rubbing the back of his neck. Having devoted himself solely to the sword, he was entirely unaccustomed to conversing with women. It felt even more awkward before this young lady who had made a favorable impression on me for the first time.
“Right now, this is the only handkerchief I have.”
“Ah….”
Miya, who had been clutching a handkerchief stained with a patient’s blood, suddenly clapped her hands as if struck by a brilliant idea.
“Would it be alright if I gave you one on the day of the tournament? I’ll prepare a clean handkerchief.”
“That will suffice.”
The moment Diera secured her promise, he disappeared with an expressionless face, and Miya reported the day’s events to Madam Ophelia—including the fact that she had deliberately withheld the fresh handkerchief hidden beneath her skirts.
“Since Diera Orgo is a strong favorite to win the mounted tournament, presenting the handkerchief directly at the arena will look far more impressive.”
Madam Ophelia praised her for once.
‘Everything is proceeding according to plan.’
After the Spring Flower Festival, as if stimulated by something, Miya had been making genuine efforts lately.
But her good mood was short-lived. That evening, when Madam Ophelia heard certain news, her face twisted into a savage grimace.
‘Deborah Simour took the top position at the Academy?’
The Academy’s overall top ranking was announced officially when the new semester began after the break, but one could easily discover who held it. And Ophelia had naturally expected Miya Binoshu to be first.
‘How is this possible?’
How could such a thing happen? She had worked so hard to make everyone recognize Miya’s holy power!
She had even gone out at the time when the High Priestess was conducting missionary work to personally demonstrate her healing abilities, so that the Temple would acknowledge Miya. She had believed that in reputation and ability alike, Miya far surpassed Deborah Simour, and she found this utterly unbelievable.
‘Deborah Simour doesn’t even know how to handle mana—how did she become top of the Magic Department? Did she receive special treatment because of the Simour name?’
Her brow furrowed, and she wiped away the bitter taste of blood that had formed on her fingertips with a handkerchief, clenching her teeth.
* * *
Meanwhile, Duke Simour was equally astonished upon hearing that Deborah had achieved the top ranking.
“Is it true?”
“Yes, Your Grace. A letter from the Academy’s Chancellor arrived for the young lady yesterday evening, and the professors confirmed it as well.”
“Hmm.”
“My congratulations. Both young masters have held the top position before. The prestige of House Simour grows ever greater.”
Upon hearing the Aide’s report, Duke Simour tilted his head slightly.
“But why hasn’t that child reported this to me directly? It’s certainly something to be proud of.”
At the Duke’s murmur, the Aide hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Your Grace. The young lady has been demonstrating remarkable achievements of late.”
“Indeed.”
“Despite being in a position where she could be conceited, she does not boast to others. Rather, she shares her knowledge with mages while displaying both humility and noble pride, or so I have heard.”
“Hmm…. Are you saying that the child is now demonstrating the virtue of modesty toward me?”
“That is correct.”
Not indulging in vanity and ostentation toward others was itself a sign that one had gained confidence in oneself. The Duke, having greatly embellished Deborah’s unremarkable behavior, stroked his chin with a serious expression.
“She’s certainly gained some breathing room lately. She knows how to bring in her own people and use them wisely.”
Duke Simour believed his daughter’s greatest weakness was her lack of influence. Despite being a noble of the Simour Family, she had virtually no subordinates who trusted and followed her.
But recently, even that long-held conviction was beginning to waver. She had provided opportunities for a retainer she’d recruited from the Academy to demonstrate her abilities, and she’d even shown the acumen to place her own people in key positions through brilliant strategy.
‘Indeed, she’s finally grown up. In the old days, she would have pestered me to buy her rare jewels and expensive dresses.’
She was looking beyond immediate rewards to something far more distant.
‘She’s growing by leaps and bounds.’
Duke Simour smiled faintly, imagining how Deborah Simour would react if she heard his thoughts.
* * *
‘At this rate, won’t I really hit 10 billion soon?’
As I explored the area around Armand in my robes, I couldn’t help but marvel at the influence Isidore wielded.
‘This far exceeds my expectations.’
Noble young men began appearing in droves, sitting on benches at the Plaza Fountain with their legs crossed, holding cups.
There was a time when the sight would have made me frown involuntarily, but now these eyesores were actually helping my business. Moreover, they all seemed to have money and were interested in High Society trends.
‘I intended it, but I never thought they’d actually imitate it to this extent.’
But why are there young ladies copying me too?
I felt a sense of wonder seeing young ladies occasionally strolling near the fountain with smoothies in hand.
‘Ah, I see. It’s the Isidore halo effect!’
I nodded in admiration at his power, then finished my survey of the area and entered the carriage.
‘It seems the initial demonstration was successful.’
Takeout.
Since I could sell beverages without spatial constraints, I was determined to make this item a success.
In my previous life, when I worked part-time at a café similar in scale to Armand, I witnessed takeout sales reach parity with hall sales, or even climb to a 6-4 ratio. If implemented well, this was the only business item that could more than double our revenue.
‘It doesn’t seem entirely impossible.’
The weather was pleasant, and with abundant green lawns and parks, people in the Empire frequently enjoyed picnics. Because of this, services for packaging sandwiches and cakes were already commonplace.
‘There’s no reason beverage packaging wouldn’t work.’
Wouldn’t it be simpler and more convenient to offer takeout rather than carrying heavy teacups and teapots in baskets?
It was an idea I’d carried in my mind since I first conceived the café business. So when I drew up a contract with Arin Oslot previously, I included a clause asking her to research water-attribute resistance magic—specifically, waterproofing.
The Horun District had a fairly large paper factory, and applying waterproofing magic to paper would easily solve the problem of takeout containers. Since Arin Oslot was an attribute-transformation mage capable of casting preservation and scent-amplification magic on flowers, I suspected she could manage waterproofing magic too, and my assumption proved correct.
I recalled my conversation with Arin.
“It seems possible. I’ve seen similar attribute magic applied in the Library to prevent famous swords from rusting.”
Arin explained seriously.
“It would require a lot of mana, wouldn’t it?”
“For items that don’t need long-lasting durability, mana consumption wouldn’t be significant. Time is the biggest issue.”
There was no need for the waterproofing function to last long on disposable paper cups.
That day, I felt an impulse to embrace her and jump up and down with joy. But I refrained from doing so to maintain my dignity.
“My lady, you’ve arrived!”
“Yes.”
As I appeared with a solemn expression, Arin, who had been absorbed in her research, approached with delight.
I had given her the interior space of the Annex Building where the Simour Family retainers stayed to use as her laboratory. The desk was cluttered with mana stones and paper cups, and the papers were filled with research results.
‘Somehow, this is quite moving.’
Since the smoothie had been such a massive success, I was thinking I should give her a bonus when I caught sight of the handkerchief neatly placed on the desk, and I had to suppress an inward smile.
‘So Arin has a knight supporting her in the mounted combat as well.’
I was a bit curious about who it might be.
“Ah, please have a seat here. I should bring you some tea.”
She flustered about.
“Tea isn’t necessary. I’m just here to check the research results and then I’ll be on my way.”
Sensing that she might feel uncomfortable being alone with her employer, I tactfully announced my swift departure.
“You must be quite busy these days with the Magic Tower lectures.”
But then her large eyes suddenly glistened with moisture, and I was taken aback.
‘What, did I say something wrong?’
“Please take care of your health while you’re at it.”
“I will.”
Under her burdensome gaze, I muttered while fidgeting with my clammy hands.
“Oh, and thank you so much for making the effort to have me formally hired as the Librarian of the great Simour Family.”
“You showed such genuine passion for books that Father recognized your abilities.”
“Hehe. Now I truly feel like I’ve become a proper servant of the Young Lady. Oh! I should show you the research results. Just a moment.”
She brought over dozens of paper cups along with a chart displaying the experimental results in neat rows.
“This cup achieved the most revolutionary mana conservation in terms of attribute values.”

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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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