Chapter 15

“… Approximately the tuition costs about 10 times of 30 gold.”

As if tactfully gauging the meaning of my silence, Mr. Ken added.

“Thank you. That serves as a good reference.”

We emptied the desserts on our plates and prepared ourselves to leave. As we were leaving the restaurant, Mr. Ken asked.

“Will you be returning to your residence now? Should I escort you home?”

“No, thank you. I’ll still shop around the area before going back. I don’t have many clothes to wear, so I want to buy some clothes.”

I withdrew money at the bank earlier, so I should buy ordinary and casual clothes today before I go.

“Hmm…Do you have a specific clothing store you fancy?”

“No, I am just thinking about going to stores nearby.”

“In that case, would it be okay if I recommended a good store for you?”

“No need! It’s not like I want anything made for me.”

I won’t buy clothes made by an expert designer either. Rather, I was just thinking of buying regular clothes that are commonly available on the streets. It was a bit of a bother to travel far for that, too. Especially since I was simply planning on buying clothes nearby so I can go back quickly.

“Compared to other stores, the selling price is 20% cheaper.”

“What place is this?”

You should’ve said that first. That’s such an important detail that cannot be missed!

“It’s near Mt. Broke. Coincidentally, I need to go there too due to store-related work. So, I’ll give you a ride.”

Mt. Broke is not within walking distance. No matter how cheap the price at the store is, considering the cost to take a carriage to reach that place, it’s more profitable for me to buy clothes within this neighborhood. However, if the transportation is free, buying clothes at the store is obviously better.

I sat in the carriage with Mr. Ken.

It would’ve taken me long before I arrived at the store, but since I rode a carriage, it didn’t take that long. As I was getting out of the carriage, I asked.

“By the way… Mr. Ken, did you come here to take care of a business matter? Since you mentioned that you needed to go here for store-related work, is it related to the magic stone?”

I wanted to indirectly assert that the magic stone was indeed at Mt. Broke, which therefore makes the information I sold a while ago at the store quite valid. But, unexpectedly, he still didn’t agree.

“Another term has been assigned to that task. Someone is currently in the process of handling it. The stores in this area are direct management stores. I came for an inspection.”

“Ah, I see… Magnolia Merchants also have stores they directly control.”

“You will be pleased. The company is currently supporting the garment business strongly, so the quality is excellent and the price is economical.”

Oh, what’s this strange uneasy feeling? Magnolia Company is getting in the garment business?

Something kept bothering me in my mind, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Garment business…Garment business, you say.

Ah! Coming to think of it, our family monopolizes the distribution of cotton fabrics.

Uhm… This shouldn’t have anything to do with that right?

Rather, if they’re going to manufacture and sell clothes out of cotton fabrics distributed by our family, then they’re a big client!

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing, hmm…It’s 20% cheaper than other places so that’s marvelous. Is it cheaper because the fabric is purchased in large quantities?”

“That… It’s a bit complicated to explain. Let’s just say the company is working hard to pioneer a route to distribute fabric at an even lower cost in the future.”

“Is…Is it okay for you to randomly reveal such things to me? Isn’t that a business secret?”

“With just this…Well, it’s already in a state of progression, so even if there was external pressure, they can’t really do anything. Also, what we’re doing is perfectly legal.”

As he explained that he endured a lot of hardship to enter this trade in a legitimate manner, Mr. Ken smiled bitterly.

No matter what, it appeared as though Magnolia Company had secured an independent route to purchase cotton fabrics.

Unless you’re an aristocrat or a merchant who is interested in the situation of the Empire and regularly pays attention to it, the majority of the people are unaware of what family is involved in what business. Even more so if you’re a commoner who is busy making ends meet on a daily basis.

Perhaps Mr. Ken assumed that I would have zero knowledge about the purchase and distribution of cotton fabrics, so he spoke briefly and ended the conversation. Of course, I don’t really have any knowledge in that area.

However, there is one thing I do know. That is…Our family has always had a monopoly over the distribution of cotton fabric! And currently, this is a situation of loss for the Crescente Empire.

Marianne suffering a loss absolutely does not matter to me, but someday, big brother will become the head of the household. As far as I am concerned, as long as we can be well-off for even a little bit more when my brother takes over the household, I’ll be contented.

What on earth is Marianne even doing? She doesn’t even know how the business is going.

“The cost of cotton fabrics has sharply risen in recent years, hasn’t it? Correspondingly, the price of garments has gone up too. It tends to be more expensive compared to the income of commoners, so we are thinking of lowering the average of the prices of the clothes at our store.”

“Ah…”

The reality I was unaware of. Since there aren’t that many occasions when commoners buy new clothes, I honestly thought that the prices of clothes are fair enough.

However, it appears to be slightly unfair when you think about it from the perspective of a commoner. Only then did I remember considering clothes a luxury item in my past life.

As I tried hard to avoid looking at the clothes on display at the stores, memories of the time when I used my money to buy bread to fill up my belly rather than on clothes filled my mind.

Actually, it wasn’t that “I won’t buy new clothes”, in fact, it was that “I can’t buy new clothes”. In that case, if the cost of the clothes goes down, perhaps they could expect the resistance of the commoners in buying new clothes to go down as well.

Since the cost has sharply risen in the last few years, that means after father passed away, it seems like Marianne has raised the prices to feed her greed.

Even if the commoners were to buy fewer clothes, eventually, if you sell a lot to the aristocrats, it will be more beneficial. You will be doing better financially as finances will increase not go down.

As I was lost in thought, we arrived in front of the clothing store unknowingly. As I scanned the store, I saw evidence stating that my earlier thoughts were not incorrect.

There were so many people in the store.

“Everyone from nearby villages seems to have come here to buy clothes.”

“I guess so.”

At that moment, a man who seemed like the store manager, came running in our direction, puffing and panting.

“Oh my! You’re here, Mr.──“

“Shh!”

Mr. Ken didn’t let the store manager finish his sentence. I don’t know for sure, but I suppose it was because he thought revealing his identity as the Administrative Manager of the place to everyone here may hamper the harmonious customer experience.

“We’d like to look at clothes that this Young Miss here can wear.”

“Yes, sir! If you could rest over here for a bit, we will select some appropriate clothes and have them ready for you.”

“Just a minute, you don’t have to do so much…”

As I was expressing the intention to decline, the store manager wiggled his finger at one of the employees, who appeared at once and directed me to the interior of the store.

As I started attracting curious gazes from all around me, I didn’t have a choice but to go towards the direction of the reception room I was being guided to.

The reception room wasn’t very glamorous but was neat and tidy. I waited as I sipped the black tea they served. After a little while, two employees appeared rolling in a huge hanger on wheels. Several outfits were densely hung on the hanger.

“We will show them to you one at a time.”

Uhh…. I can just see them myself. The employees took one item out at a time and showed me. By the time they showed me the 5th dress, I started feeling guilty.

“The remaining ones are similar to what you’ve shown me right?”

“Ah? That… I am sorry, I still haven’t figured out the preference and liking of our guest… Should I look for more unique designs for you?”

The store manager took out his handkerchief and started wiping his sweat. I think there has been some kind of mix up.

I wasn’t profoundly knowledgeable about special fashion. It’s best to be easygoing. When some fashionista wears something and sets a trend, simply following that and dressing that way is sufficient enough.

But the clothes they brought out right now aren’t the kind I wanted.

“No, that’s not it. The clothes are rather fancy, so…”

The problem was, even if the clothes weren’t at the level of the everyday clothes that aristocrats wear, they can be considered to be about just one level below that.

“A moment ago, I saw outside that you have a lot of clothes that lightly dressed commoners usually wear. Those are the kind of clothes I want.”

“Ms. Riana, since I am with you, you can purchase clothes with an employee discount. So, it won’t be a price that you will find burdensome.”

“It’s not because of the cost…It’s just…..I’ll go out and pick them myself.”

I passed by the store manager, who had an ashamed expression, as I left the reception room. I was able to find the kind of clothes I needed right away.

I picked two sets of clothes I liked and paid for it. Then, I suddenly had a crazy idea about Leah back home.

If I don’t want Leah to become an informant for Marianne, then I have to be nice to her. Should I buy her a nice set of clothes from here? But I don’t know her measurement. Lost in thought, I suddenly spotted a pretty, broad-brimmed hat.

“I’d like to buy that as well. It’s a gift so please pack it separately.”

Since I said it was a gift, the employee tied up the box with a ribbon.

As I carried the case containing my clothes and the gift and walked out of the store, Mr. Ken said.

“You bought inexpensive clothes, but you picked a rather nice hat.”

“It’s a gift. It must be prepared well.”

“That’s true, but…”

Mr. Ken insisted on escorting me home, but I adamantly refused and got off at the plaza near the Post Office.

The way from the plaza to the Crescente Mansion is wide and busy, so it wasn’t dangerous.

Of course, there’s no guarantee when it’s dark. Thank goodness the days are longer now.

As my return home was delayed, Leah appeared to have been very anxious, but when I think of the indifferent expression on the faces of the Marianne-Sharon mother-daughter pair I ran into in the hall, even if I were to lose my life outside, it doesn’t seem like Leah would be harmed in any way because of it.

“Miss, do you have to go out by yourself? Every time you go out alone, I am so worried that I can’t bear it.”

“I am sorry, Leah. There is nothing I can say instead, so I bought you a gift.”

I pushed the box packed box towards Leah and her eyes widened.

“F-For me?”

“Then who else?”

Leah carefully handled the box and untied the ribbon to open the box.

“Oh my gosh, it’s really beautiful! Would it be okay for someone like me to wear a hat like this?”
“Why not? I bought it for you.”

An overjoyed Leah wore the hat and stood before the mirror, admiring her reflection. It was fulfilling to see her so happy.

“Oh right, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes, Miss. Please go ahead.”

“Did mother ever ask you what I am doing?”

“Madam? Yes. Recently, about two times…”

“What did you tell her?”

“Just… You’re exchanging letters with the people you met at the social gathering and sometimes you go out for a walk around the streets…”

“Right, that’s good. Say the same thing next time.”

There’s no way the tactless Leah can be cunning and lie for me. Rather than raising suspicion, it’s better to just appear obedient and submissive.

That way there won’t be an instance of the handmaid being changed… Anyhow, since all the important matters I am dealing with are a secret from Leah anyway, it doesn’t matter.

Leah didn’t seem to know the reason for my request, so she just nodded.

* * *

Thereafter, a few days passed by.

Leah went out on personal business a couple of times but never wore the hat I gifted her. Did she not like it…? As the person who bought the gift, I was concerned, so I asked.

“Leah, did you not like the hat I gifted you last time?”

“Sorry? How can that be!”

“Then why don’t you wear it?”

“That…..Actually, none of my clothes make a worthy match with it. When I get paid, I’ll buy clothes that suit the hat.”

Ah. I see.

She’d be a laughingstock if she matched the fancy hat with shabby clothes.

As I reflected on myself for not thinking that far, I responded.

“Then let’s go buy them.”

“Yes, when I get paid…”

“Let’s go now. I’ll buy them for you. Ask them to have the carriage ready.”

I thought about it and decided to return to the store I went to last time.

It bothered me a bit to go to a Magnolia Merchant independent store as a person from The Crescente Household, but I identified with the words of Mr. Ken last time. For a commoner like Leah, it was a place that was much needed.”

This time, using the excuse to buy Leah’s new clothes as the goal, I planned to head out properly, accompanied by my handmaid and escort. The handmaid, of course, is Leah. Then, I asked one of the family chauffeurs to accompany us.

Before getting into the carriage, when I told the horseman the destination, Leah had a shocked expression.

“Miss, why do you want to go so far?”

“That’s where I bought this hat. We can get them to recommend a place where we can find suitable clothes.”

This time, since I am riding the carriage of the Crescente Household, I don’t have to worry about the transport cost. I can freely go to that far away place.