ICTV - Chapter 75

ICTV - Chapter 75

I changed The Villain

"No. You can start looking for it now. A person who possesses both ability and ambition."

Belial is capable, so if he puts his mind to it, he will be able to find the talent he wants. But I still looked worried.

“People won’t recognize it because it’s not authentic.”

“Even if we don’t have it, we have to make everyone acknowledge it.”

Belial fingered a brooch with a pattern symbolizing the Serenity family.

“Unless you are that capable.”

Belial's blue eyes flashed dangerously.

“I don’t want to give up this position either.”

“...Thank you for saying that.”

"No. Rather, it went well. I have been handed over my position to a truly capable person. There is also a problem with forcing us to take over our positions unconditionally just because we were born to be parents.”

“Belial....”

I felt weak as the most important problem was solved with ridiculous ease. Belial looked at me, who was limp like an octopus, with smiling eyes.

“How prepared were you to ask the question?"

“Even breaking off the engagement.”

“Well. I wonder how much pain you must have suffered.”

“But the issue of successor is important. So-"

Belial decisively cut off Rose's words.

“The most important thing to me is you.”

"..."

“I don’t know why you keep forgetting that.”

I stared at Belial.

“Why are you doing this?”

“No. Just...”

“I thought I could become prettier there.”

Belial simply spoke while innocently flipping his hair.

“They say people become prettier when they fall in love.”

“So, Belial...”

I suggested.

“Why don’t we paint a portrait after our engagement ceremony? I want to cherish this moment forever.”

“Portrait? Okay. I’ll look for a good painter right away.”

How nice it would be to have a cell phone here and now. I am confident that I can take pictures so that my gallery will explode.

I stroked his hair. I thought I didn't like taking pictures, but I guess I just didn't because there was no one there to take pictures. What happens when I paint a portrait with Belial?

We chatted actively about what clothes to wear.

"Oh."

At that time, Belial said with a look on his face that he had just remembered.

“I have good news to tell you today.”

“What is it?”

“I invited Lord Cridrian to the engagement ceremony today.”

"Yes?"

I said something stupid without realizing it.

“I was worried that people would be offended by the hasty invitation, but he sent a reply saying that I would gladly attend. After all, he’s really hurting himself.”

I thought we would meet at the charity party held after the engagement ceremony. I couldn't help but be embarrassed.

“Why did you suddenly invite him?”

“Because he is the person who made you who you are today. I had been thinking about it since last time, but I became convinced after you came back from your trip. I made sure to invite him to the engagement ceremony. I have to do it.”

Belial finished speaking while maintaining a smile. I looked at Belial silently as before, then nodded.

"Sure. You are right. I hope he blesses me too.”

The two held each other's hands. I, who was looking up at Belial, added a few minutes later.

“The two of us.”

“Of course, the two of us.”

Belial repeated my words in the same way. I checked the time.

“Can I just leave?”

"Is it so. Because it’s late.”

The two left the Garden. Butterflies are leisurely flying around the roses, and workers are leisurely trimming the bushes.

“I don’t want to let you go.”

In this place where everything was peaceful, I remembered the phrase “the calm before the storm.” Belial hugged me and whispered to me before parting ways.

“But I have to send you home.”

The moment Belial lowered his arm, I suddenly grabbed his face.

“Belial.”

“Yes, Rose.”

“I learned quite a bit about you too.”

The corners of Belial's mouth drew a line at my sudden declaration.

“I’m glad about that.”

"Therefore..."

My hand holding Belial's face became stronger. It seems like he won't miss it again.

“You can be more honest now.”

Because I’m confident that I won’t be surprised no matter what happens. Belial's eyes momentarily wavered.

“What is that?”

“Then have a nice day today, goodbye."

I left the mansion with the maids, leaving behind a frozen Belial.

The maids looked on with expectant eyes.

“Miss, are you going back to the mansion right away? Or are you going to go buy the things you need to prepare for the engagement ceremony? For example, cosmetics?”

“There’s already too much.”

Nerva merchant, which sent me pack ingredients last time, also sent me a bunch of natural ingredients. I clearly saw the maids sitting around making cosmetics with my own eyes, so why did they ask me to go shopping again?

“The products we make ourselves are effective, but the ones sold on the market are also effective.”

“The more of a good thing, the better, my Lady!"

“There are still enough.”

I shook my head and then paused.

“By the way, what did you talk about with the Nerva merchant staff?”

"Yes?"

“You guys and the employee who brought the goods have been talking for a long time."

I stopped and looked back at the maids. Rika was horrified and threw up her hands.

“Miss, I’m telling you in advance just in case, we didn’t do anything bad!”

"I know. I'm just curious."

In the first place, the upper part of Nerva was also a place I learned about thanks to Belial. The owner of the upper bar, Baron Nerva, was so good at business that Belial mentioned it. Relieved, Rika shook her head.

“Oh, that’s right. How should I explain this?"

Rika pressed her forehead. Becky stepped forward and explained.

“They gave us the items and asked us to promote them.”

"Promotion?"

"Yes."

I tilted my head. Why ask the maids to do the publicity? 

The natural materials sold at the top of Nerva were very expensive, so only people with ample wealth, such as nobles, could afford them.

Then of course they should ask me themselves, right? It's not like maids can talk freely with nobles.

Becky, who noticed my doubts, explained again.

“They say there is a promotion that only we can do.”

“Promotion that only you can do?”

“Yes, would you like me to show you?”

I became even more curious about what kind of publicity the maids were promoting.

“Can you show me from here?”

“Well, there must be other nobles around.”

“Wait a minute, I’ll look for it.”

Mera looked around.

“Miss, why don’t you go into that store for a moment?”

The place Mera pointed to was a jewelry store. I went in easily. As soon as I entered, the eyes of the nobles who were looking at the jewels all turned towards me.

“Lady Pale?”

“You’re getting engaged to Duke Serenity this week...?!”

It was the moment when I looked back at the maids, listening to those familiar words. The maids quietly lowered their heads, as if wondering when they had stopped running around like colts.

“Miss, we will be waiting for you here.”

“Please feel free to look around.”

...Guys? You said you would show me how to promote it?

At just the right moment, the clerk came at me like a knife.

“Young Lady. Come this way."

Guys?? Guys??? 

I was suddenly dragged away by the staff, and the maids stood motionless like in the picture.

I stood with my back to the maids, ignoring the clerk's words as he asked if he could at least look at recommended products if I wasn't looking for anything in particular.

At that time, two other noble ladies who had been glancing at me headed toward the door as if they were about to leave.

The maids standing next to me exchanged glances with each other.

“My Lady.”

Just as the ladies were about to open the door, Mera spoke. It was very precise and natural timing, like when a bear catches a salmon. The maids came close to each other and started talking.

“Isn’t you getting more and more beautiful? Is it because there is an engagement ceremony this week?”

"No. It’s thanks to the pack you do every morning these days.”

The ladies froze in the same position as they were about to open the door.

"Pack? What pack??"

“Why, you sent me natural ingredients from Nerva Merchant Marine.”

“What?! The top of Nerva?!”

“Yes! The Nerva merchant who regularly deals with Duke Serenity!”

“I heard that too! I heard it’s run by Baron Nerva, who has a more accurate eye for things than anyone else?!”

I thought, still with my back to them. Isn’t the promotion too blatant? A TV program that promoted sponsored products came to mind, even at the risk of disrupting the flow. I never thought I'd see that kind of promotion here too.

I was so dumbfounded that I ended up laughing.

“In particular, if you use the herb called ‘Drake’, which is only available these days, you can prevent aging and have the effect of brightening your skin tone!”

“Anti-aging isn’t enough, it’s toning your skin.”

"You're telling me?! Where does Nerva Merchant get such items from?!”

“This one. So, the Nerva upper level is great.”

At this point, some might have frowned and said, 'Your publicity is too blatant,' but the noble ladies did not do that. Instead, they just grabbed the maids and asked them questions.

“Hey, can you tell me more about that?”

“I heard that Lady Pale really likes the pack containing the natural ingredients, right??"

"Ah yes! She used it today too?”

“You said it was at the top of Nerva, right? Can I get it if I go right now?”

"Well. We don't know the details. Maybe if you send an errand boy, you can get more information.”

As soon as Rika finished speaking naturally, the noble ladies hurried outside. I gestured to the clerk to leave. As soon as the clerk disappeared, the maids quickly approached me

“What do you think, Miss? It was completely natural, right?!”

Not at all. I wanted to say that, but I couldn't because the maids were smiling so brightly as the sun.

“If we continue to promote it like this, as soon as good ingredients come in, they will send them to us.”

"Yes?"

“I will continue to work hard to keep your skin smooth!”

I now wonder why the Nerva merchant asked the maids instead of me.

I felt like I knew. I never appeal to the merits of Nerva tops and products like the maids do.

I stirred my teacup. The backs of the ladies running earlier came to mind. It was obvious why they rushed straight to the top of Nerva instead of frowning at the blatant publicity.

This was due to the fact that I, and no one else, used the material.

“...I’m famous.”

The maids immediately made a fuss.

“You've been famous for a long time, so what’s new?”

“The Young Lady is like an idol to the nobles now.”

“Everyone respects you.”

I stared at the numerous ornaments spread out in front of me. In the past, I would just say it was like that and ignore it or find it annoying.

I would have overlooked it, but not now.

I thought, ‘Could I use this fame in other ways?’ I muttered unconsciously.

“For example, helping people like me.”

Edgar's suggestion came to mind. 

"Are you interested in helping me with my work?"

I stood up.

“Thank you for your hard work, Lady. Now go back."

I said clearly.

“No. There are other places to go.”

“Where?”

I gestured with my chin.

“Let’s go to the Temple of Harmonia.”

Previous            Next