Chapter 37

Arriving at the noble district, I headed towards the boutique run by the young lady who is part of my entourage.

I didn’t contact them in advance, but it should be fine since I’m only here to order a maid’s uniform today.

I thought this as I made my way to the store… but in the end, I should have contacted them and asked for a private appointment.

"Wh-What, A-Asaria-sama!?"

When I entered the boutique, the young lady of the marquis family, Kiera, was working there. She looked very surprised to see me and quickly approached.

"Kiera, it’s been a while."

"Asaria-sama, it’s been a long time."

"I came today to place an order for a uniform. Is it alright?"

"Well, of course it’s fine, but… there is someone here today to discuss business…"

I could tell Kiera was having a hard time saying it.

I already knew why.

Behind Kiera stood the Holy Maiden, Oline, who had been talking to her just a moment ago.

Oline also seemed surprised to see me, with her eyes wide open and a look of fear.

Before I returned, Oline had indeed ventured into the fashion business, and it seemed to be doing quite well.

But that was because she became a Holy Maiden and then the Crown Princess, which made her famous, and thus her fashion business flourished.

Oline hasn’t started her official duties as a Holy Maiden yet, so it should be difficult for her fashion business to succeed.

Could it be that she’s trying to revive her family’s business, which was on the verge of collapse before, by doing this?

That would be amusing, but I didn’t expect to meet Oline after seeing Crown Prince Lewis.

Well, this is my fault for coming without contacting them, so it can’t be helped.

"I’m fine, can I come in?"

"Of course, please come this way."

Kiera guided me into the store. Inside, various clothes were displayed, mostly beautiful and luxurious dresses.

It’s no wonder this is one of the most renowned boutiques in the noble district. If we could establish a business relationship with this place, it would bring in considerable profits, which is why Oline is here.

However, I don’t understand why she came to the young lady of the marquis family who is close to me.

There were no other customers in the store, and it seemed Oline had been talking to Kiera until just a moment ago. She bowed her head when she saw me.

"Good day, Asaria-sama. You look very beautiful today."

"Thank you, Oline. You also look lovely in that dress. Is that the Holy Maiden’s attire?"

"Yes, it is."

It was a clean, white dress, typical of a Holy Maiden.

Most people would be delighted to see a Holy Maiden because she brings healing and comfort, but personally, it irritates me to see this.

Oline, dressed in this attire, appeared before me in the past, pretending to be hit by magic to frame me.

So just seeing her in this Holy Maiden’s attire makes my heart race, but I don’t say anything for now.

"You’re about to start your duties as a Holy Maiden, right? It must be tough, but I hope you do well."

"Thank you, I will strive for the empire."

"Yes, as someone who fights on the battlefield, I have high expectations for you."

Since she’s a Holy Maiden, she often goes to hospitals or battlefields to heal the wounded.

So Oline will likely visit the fortress frequently… sigh, it’s tough to face someone I dislike.

Come to think of it, I should say this.

"Oline, I’m already fighting at the fortress as a member of the Spencer Duke’s family."

"Yes, I admire your bravery and respect you."

"Thank you. But I’m still inexperienced and can’t perfectly control fire magic."

I spoke to Oline with a sly smile.

"So when you come to my fortress as a Holy Maiden, be careful. If you enter the range of my magic, it might hit you."

"Y-Yes, thank you for your concern."

"Hehe, you can’t possibly defend against my magic… if you get too close, you’ll turn to ashes in an instant, so please stay away from me."

Last time, I was surprised and instinctively deflected the magic, but if she comes again, I won’t.

I’ll burn her to ashes, leaving no trace, just like a monster.

As I stared directly into Oline’s eyes and emitted a slight aura of killing intent, she had a strained smile.

"T-Thank you for the warning. I’ll be careful when I go to the fortress."

"Yes, please do. Losing a Holy Maiden would be a loss for the empire."

With this warning, she won’t come to me again.

If she does, I won’t show any mercy.

"Oline, you came here today to discuss business. I’m sorry for interrupting."

"No, I’ve already finished my business, so I’ll be leaving now."

"…I see, that’s good. Good luck with your duties as a Holy Maiden."

"Thank you. I’ll take my leave now."

Oline said this and left as if she were fleeing.

Oh my, she ran away like a servant.

To me, a young lady of a duke’s family, she is indeed a servant.

"Kiera, was the business talk really over?"

"Yes, it was almost finished."

"I see, how did it go?"

"Well, um…"

Kiera hesitated a bit.

Perhaps she knows that Oline and I don’t get along, so she’s hesitant to say something.

"It’s fine, you don’t have to worry. How did the business talk with Oline go?"

"Well, this is something I shouldn’t tell Oline, but… to be honest, it’s difficult to make a business out of her ideas."

"Oh, I see."

As I thought, Oline doesn’t have much talent for fashion.

Since Kiera runs one of the most renowned boutiques in the empire, her opinion is reliable.

"What kind of idea was it?"

"It was about using the Holy Maiden’s attire as a motif…"

"Oh, I see."

Before I returned, Oline had used the design of the Holy Maiden’s attire for her business.

But that was impossible.

"Isn’t the Holy Maiden’s attire sacred and forbidden for anyone else to wear?"

"Yes, it’s forbidden by imperial law."

That’s the main issue. By law, even I, a young lady of a duke’s family, am not allowed to wear anything similar to the Holy Maiden’s attire.

Before I returned, it should have been impossible to create designs based on the Holy Maiden’s attire, but Oline, who was engaged to Crown Prince Lewis, changed the law.

That’s why she could sell them, but now that she’s not engaged to Crown Prince Lewis, she can’t change the law.

And in the future, she won’t be engaged to Crown Prince Lewis.

I won’t allow it, and Crown Prince Lewis won’t actively seek to engage with her.

Because if she were to become engaged to him, he would no longer be the Crown Prince.

"I hinted at the law to Oline, but she said, ‘If the Holy Maiden says it’s okay, it should be fine, right?’ It was a bit difficult."

"Oh, I see."

I didn’t expect her to say something so troublesome.

Oline has a gentle appearance as a Holy Maiden, but she can be quite self-centered.

Of course, I knew this, but is she so anxious that she’s revealing it to other young ladies?

"Ah, I’m sorry, Asaria-sama, I’m complaining about something that doesn’t concern you…!"

"It’s fine. I heard it from you."

"Thank you. So, Asaria-sama, what brings you here today?"

"I want to order maid’s uniforms from you…"

Then I placed an order for winter maid’s uniforms.

I’m not sure how many I need, so I decided to order a hundred sets first.

There aren’t that many maids, but it’s not a problem to order more.

"Understood. I’ll have them made as you requested."

"Yes, thank you. I have one more request, is that okay?"

"What is it?"

"I have a design for a dress I’d like you to make."

Since I’ve returned from two years in the future, I know the fashion trends up to two years from now.

Among them, there was one dress I particularly liked.

It was easy to move in, elegant, and very beautiful.

I vaguely remember its design, so I described it to Kiera.

Kiera’s eyes widened, and she started drawing on a piece of paper.

"Asaria-sama, is this the design you had in mind?"

"Yes, that’s it."

The dress was slender and elegant, making the wearer look very good.

The decorations were not too flashy, but they had a sense of dignity and elegance, and I liked its calm and refined atmosphere.

I’m impressed that Kiera could draw such a clear design from my brief description.

"This is wonderful! I’ve been thinking about a similar design recently, but it didn’t quite work out, so I put it on hold. But with this, I think it will…!"

"Really?"

"Asaria-sama, can I buy this design from you!?"

"Buy it?"

"Yes, of course, I’ll present the first dress to you once it’s made. After that, I’d like to sell it in our boutique."

Ah, I see.

Indeed, this dress became popular, and selling it would bring in a good profit… wait?

Could it be that before I returned, Kiera thought of this design, made it, and it became popular?

If that’s the case, I’ve done something wrong by thinking of it and telling her.

"You don’t have to buy it. I’ll give it to you."

"Wh-What!? No, that’s not right, Asaria-sama, you thought of this design!"

"Kiera, you gave this design a form, so it’s not wrong to say you created it."

I believe it was originally Kiera’s design.

Kiera’s eyes sparkled as if she was moved by my words.

"Asaria-sama… how about we say we created it together?"

"Together?"

"Yes, how about we sell it as a design created by both of us? Of course, we’ll share the profits…"

"Oh, that’s fine."

"Wh-What!? What do you mean?"

"The profit sharing, I don’t need the money."

"But if we don’t properly share the profits, there might be disputes later…"

Indeed, if we’re doing business, that’s an important point.

But since this design originally belonged to Kiera, it would be wrong for me to take money for it.

Besides, there’s no way we’ll have any disputes over money.

"Kiera, this might sound a bit harsh, but don’t worry."

"About what?"

"I’m a young lady of a duke’s family. Even if all the money from this business goes to your family, it’s not a problem."

Among the four great dukes, no noble family has more wealth than ours.

"So, it would be more trouble to share the profits. It’s easier if your family keeps all the money."

"I understand. Thank you…"

After that, Kiera measured my size, and then she started speaking hesitantly again.

"Asaria-sama, about the design we just discussed, how about we say we created it together?"

"But I said the profits are fine…"

"No, I understand about the profits. It’s just that… it might be a bit difficult to say, but…"

"What is it?"

"Saying that it was created by the young lady of a duke’s family, Asaria-sama, would greatly increase its sales potential."

"Really?"

"Yes, Asaria-sama is a focal point in society, and many people are watching your every move."

"Of course, I’m aware of that."

That’s why, before I returned, any bad rumors about me spread very quickly.

"If the dress created by Asaria-sama is worn by Asaria-sama herself, other young ladies will definitely want it."

"I see, that makes sense."

"So, I’m sorry to use your influence, but would it be alright to say we created it together?"

Kiera asked me hesitantly, looking a bit apologetic.

I smiled to reassure her.

"Hehe, Kiera, I like women who are shrewd."

"R-Really…?"

"Yes, of course it’s fine."

It was originally a design that Kiera created, and I made her think I created it.

Since I feel a bit guilty about that, I’m happy to help increase sales.

"Thank you, Asaria-sama!"

"Yes, but what do I need to do?"

"I’ll make the dress right away, so if you wear it at the next social event, that will be enough!"

"Is that all?"

"Yes, I think people will ask about the dress, so if you mention my boutique, that would be great."

"Alright, I understand. I’m planning to host a tea party, so I’ll wear it then."

"Y-You’ll wear it at a tea party hosted by Asaria-sama!?"

Kiera’s eyes widened in surprise at my words.

"Of course, I’ll do that much."

"Thank you! I’ll make sure to create a dress that will satisfy you, Asaria-sama!"

"Y-You don’t have to go that far…"

"No, I’ll do my best…!"

I didn’t expect Kiera to get so excited.

But I’m also looking forward to the dress.

…Maybe I should ask her to make a luxurious dress for social events and a more modest one for everyday use.

If I don’t, she might make something so luxurious that I can’t wear it for everyday use, given how enthusiastic she is.

After our conversation, I left the boutique with Kiera’s farewell.

Well, I’m supposed to fight monsters at the fortress for a while starting tomorrow.

I should leave soon.

"Maimi, I’m going to the fortress now. Will you come with me?"

"Wh-What, me again? Honestly, I’m scared of the monsters there and don’t want to go… Can’t another maid go?"

"I’ll give two pieces of jewelry to the maid who comes with me for the next special bonus."

"I’ll go! No one else can take care of Asaria-sama as well as I can!"

Maimi is materialistic, but her reaction is cute and amusing.

Since she takes care of me the most, I’m glad she’s coming with me.

"Lauro, you’re coming too, right?"

"Of course, it’s my job to follow Asaria-sama."

"Yes, please do."

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[Author’s Note]

The short story I posted earlier received a good response, so I’ve decided to serialize it!

"Sold to the Margrave’s Family as a Sacrifice ~Somehow Called a Holy Maiden and Doted On~"

Please check it out using the URL below!

Thank you!