The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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9. You Don’t Look the Type

 

“My goodness, I never thought I’d find this here… Thank you, Manager! I’ll come again!”

 

“Yes, Tilly. Take care on your way home!”

 

Tilly left cheerfully, carrying an armful of books.

 

I smiled and waved until she was out of sight, then collapsed onto the counter.

 

Leaning against it, I whispered while looking at the sparkling necklace.

 

“Grandfather, the pawnshop hit the jackpot…!”

 

After the festival ended.

 

For two days, we had more than three times the usual number of customers coming and going.

 

The number of customers tripled, but our sales increased by more than ten times.

 

That meant we’d gained that many more quality customers!

 

How happy would Grandfather be if he knew?

 

‘What’s even better is that it’s not just the pawnshop that hit it big – the entire street is doing well.’

 

Word about the festival spread perfectly.

 

According to William’s sources, the topic of conversation at Imperial Palace tea time was all about our street’s festival.

 

Those who attended praised it endlessly, saying it was so much fun, while those who couldn’t make it expressed regret and asked when the next festival would be held.

 

‘I’m already looking forward to next year’s festival.’

 

Seeing customers who came to the shop ask “Is this that pawnshop?” it seems what happened at the seminar became famous too.

 

It was exactly the kind of spectacle that would spread rumors.

 

I grinned wickedly as I looked at Malcolm’s Pawnshop, which had been swept clean and left empty by the knights.

 

‘The knights must have collected everything before Malcolm had a chance to hide the evidence.’

 

I could clearly picture how furious Rosaline must be right now.

 

Thinking about the information William had investigated regarding her counterfeiting business, I rested my chin on my hand.

 

‘I planted some bait for Hugo, but I wonder when it’ll take effect. It shouldn’t take too long.’

 

Of course, the note Hugo saw was written by me.

 

Chloe just slipped it in at the right timing when only Hugo could see it.

 

Since I’d seen so much of Grandfather’s ledgers, copying handwriting and signatures was no trouble at all.

 

‘Still, I’d prefer if he came before the Foundation Day celebration in two days… Oh, right. I need to go buy clothes for Foundation Day.’

 

Foundation Day being two days away meant what?

 

It meant I only had two days left to prepare.

 

I’d been so busy with all the customers that I’d completely forgotten.

 

‘Like Alter said, it would have been nice to have an employee at times like this. …Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Alter since the festival day. I thought he’d be curious after hearing about the seminar incident.’

 

Since someone who used to come every other day hadn’t shown up, I wondered if something had happened.

 

I gently stroked the sheep doll placed in the corner of the counter.

 

It was a prize for people who scored 5 points in the pea shooting contest, but Emma had given it to me, saying something vague like “Just take it. He’d probably like that better anyway.”

 

Well, Alter didn’t really seem like the type to happily accept stuffed animals.

 

Besides, we’d made that bet about the winner getting to make a request, but he disappeared without even making one.

 

‘Still, it’s Alter’s, so I should ask him about it… He’ll come soon, right? Should I go buy clothes first?’

 

Even though I only had two days left to prepare, my attitude was relatively relaxed.

 

That’s because I had something to rely on.

 

Of course, I hadn’t asked the Information Guild’s hyena about dress shops.

 

I’d received a telegram from Ailren at noon today.

 

Greetings. This is Ailen Hugo Radeian. This is my first time greeting you in writing…

 

After that, dense greetings kept printing out, making me think the telegraph machine was broken.

 

Or maybe it had been secretly replaced with a newspaper printing press without my knowledge.

 

Anyway, despite being a telegram, his message was so polite it overflowed with courtesy, and his purpose was:

 

…I hear it’s a boutique that operates until late hours. If it wouldn’t be too presumptuous, I humbly suggest you might consider visiting after business hours today…

 

It was nothing other than a dress shop recommendation.

 

My heart fluttered as I sent back a reply saying I was grateful and would definitely go.

 

‘Even after I said such nonsense at the end, he remembered my words and made a recommendation…’

 

This was my first time being moved by someone’s character.

 

Where did someone who only wears uniforms every day get this kind of information? I’m sorry for calling you a ruffian at first.

 

But to think Crodil tried to harm such a person – are you even human? Huh?

 

Of course, as always, my emotional moment ended with cursing at Crodil.

 

Anyway, I gratefully boarded the carriage heading to the dress shop he’d recommended.

 

‘I wonder what happened to that goatee? He probably won’t open his mouth easily.’

 

Whether the street outside was full of fancy boutiques or not, I was thinking about Malcolm.

 

Cardinal Crescenziano had said so.

 

That there were items he’d appraised even in the Imperial Palace vault.

 

‘There’s a possibility Rosaline tampered with items stored in the vault too. Crodil would have turned a blind eye.’

 

Surely Crodil had set up a scheme to torment Lina at the Foundation Day event.

 

Of course, since he couldn’t be exposed, he would have used those tea time members as usual.

 

If so, I would encounter Rosaline at the Imperial Palace too.

 

What kind of tricks would she be pulling now?

 

“We’ve arrived, miss.”

 

After greeting the coachman, I headed toward the boutique.

 

‘Wow, it’s incredibly fancy.’

 

I was admiring the dazzling, gorgeous dresses when I pushed the door.

 

Clunk.

 

It caught on something.

 

When I looked to see what it was, an employee was blocking the door with half their body sticking out.

 

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed for business right now.”

 

Did I come to the wrong place?

 

Confused, I checked the sign and tilted my head.

 

This was definitely the place Ailren recommended, right? He said they were open until dawn, right? There are people inside, right?

 

“Oh, I heard you’re open until 3 AM.”

 

Then the employee looked me up and down.

 

And responded in a mechanically pleasant but slightly annoyed tone.

 

“Um, this is a bit awkward to say, but these hours are only available for ‘special’ customers.”

 

So right now, looking at my outfit…

 

‘They’re turning me away, right now?’

 

I thought I’d dressed quite neatly, but to be cut off at the entrance like this!

 

Normally, I would have turned around saying “I wouldn’t go to a place that judges people by their clothes anyway!”

 

But I had no time other than today.

 

“I’m also a business owner, so I understand having business policies, but what exactly do you mean by ‘special’ customers…”

 

“Then please visit again next time.”

 

Just as the employee cut off my words and was about to close the door.

 

Thunk.

 

The door was caught.

 

“Isn’t the conversation not finished yet?”

 

When I turned around, Ailren was behind me.

 

The employee looked shocked enough to faint upon seeing Ailren.

 

“C-C-Captain of the Royal Knights?”

 

“Why were you trying to close the door when the conversation wasn’t finished?”

 

“B-by any chance, are you with this woman…?”

 

“Then does your answer to my question change?”

 

Ailren’s emotionless voice was chilling as he asked.

 

The startled employee bowed his head.

 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were with the Captain of the Royal Knights and committed such rudeness!”

 

Ailren, who had been staring intently at the employee, also bowed his head to me.

 

“I also apologize. I didn’t know this was that kind of place. I’ll look for another establishment.”

 

When the Captain of the Royal Knights himself bowed his head in front of me, the employee looked like he might actually faint.

 

Due to the commotion at the door, the boutique’s madam and other employees were all rushing out.

 

I waved my hands vigorously.

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

“But.”

 

“I’m really okay. This employee just misunderstood, and I received an apology. Besides, I liked the clothes here.”

 

‘Seeing him working as a doorman, he seems like a newly hired employee. This employee was just following the shop’s policy, not trying to turn me away because he disliked me.’

 

I was the type who believed people should be given second chances.

 

‘From now on, he probably won’t judge people just by their clothes.’

 

Besides, if not this boutique, there was nowhere else to buy clothes.

 

Actually, that was the biggest reason.

 

I didn’t have the energy to wander around looking for another boutique open at this late hour, it’s bothersome…

 

Ailren, who had been observing my expression, seemed to realize I was truly okay and stepped back.

 

“If that’s how you feel… I understand.”

 

“I’m truly sorry! I’ll escort you inside!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Receiving unexpectedly gracious treatment, I entered the innermost part of the boutique when a question suddenly occurred to me.

 

‘But why did Ailren come here…?’

 

Does Ailren, who’s currently walking behind me, have something to buy here too?

 

‘Wasn’t this a women’s boutique?’

 

Did he develop some academic interest in women’s clothing?

 

However, before I could even ask, I was half-pushed into the dressing room.

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