Episode 123. I Don't Want to Lose My First Time
Madame Anaod, as Rose had predicted, was Doana.
Doana's large hat rolled limply on the floor.
Doana smiled coldly as she watched Rose remove her hat without permission.
"How boring. You figured it out too quickly?"
Her cold eyes glared at Rose. The red-haired knight standing behind Doana picked up the hat from the floor and handed it to Doana.
"No matter how happy I am, this is not right. To suddenly lift a hat. You really have a knack for embarrassing people, you."
She brushed her flowing hair back and placed the hat on the chair next to her. Now that she was Doana, there was no need to wear a hat anymore.
"You're the embarrassed one. Did you think I wouldn't recognize you just because you put on a hat?"
"I thought you wouldn't notice because you're so clueless."
You were such a fool, you didn't even know who your husband was hooking up with.
Doana mulled over the words she couldn't bring herself to say.
If only the Grand Duke of Artaeum hadn't been there, she would have spoken freely.
Doana glanced at the Grand Duke. He was a man who emanated immense pressure simply by sitting quietly.
'Huh. To be so arrogant just because you bit a man.'
She internally criticized Rose and gave a belated greeting to the Grand Duke.
"It's been a while. I'm Doana. I'm here today as Lady Anaod."
“Is that so? But why are you pushing forward with the project so hastily? It’s like you’re being chased by someone.”
Rose felt that every word Doana said was different.
“Don’t be greedy out of a needless desire to win, just do it moderately, Doana. I won’t tell you not to follow my example. You have to find your own way to survive, right?”
When Rose tried to nag Doana, Doana flared up.
“Who would copy me?”
“Anyone would be able to tell that you copied me. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”
“Even a passing dog would know.”
Neruan and the Grand Duke looked at Doana with pity. For a moment, shame washed over her face, and she blushed.
“How desperate must you have been to proceed with the demolition when there were people there? I heard someone died that day. How can you possibly run a business properly like that?”
“Less than five people died. The rest just suffered minor scratches. They were the ones who didn’t show up even though I announced the demolition. I notified them according to the law, and they broke imperial law. It’s not me who’s at fault, it’s them.”
Indeed, someone died during the demolition, but she received no punishment.
“Because of your disturbance, their innocent business is suffering. Isn’t that right?”
“It’s entirely their fault that my business is in trouble, Rose. Why do you blame me? Are you upset that the people who were supposed to contract with your department store have come over to me?”
Doana began to babble excitedly.
“Of course, you should manage your brand representatives better in the first place. How unreliable must you have been to come over to me, even though my identity is unknown?”
“...”
Rose smiled coldly, dismissing Doana’s provocation.
“As expected... You stole my customers, Doana. Seeing as you knew in advance that I didn’t even mention it.”
"You're really funny. Do you have delusions of persecution or something?"
Doana waved her hand, her expression absurd.
"What's wrong with me that I'm stealing your customers from you? Besides, I know this without you. There are rumors everywhere that your department store will fail before it even starts."
"You said earlier you'd never heard any of those rumors about me. You said you had no idea I was planning on opening a department store. That doesn't make any sense."
"That's what you're saying. Are you sure there really weren't any rumors about you?"
She denied Rose's words until the very end. As Rose and Doana's conversation dragged on, the Grand Duke signaled to Neruan.
"I can't listen to this anymore. I'll wipe that woman out."
The Grand Duke muttered, his eyes gleaming with murder.
At that moment, Neruan grabbed the Grand Duke's shoulder. He shook his head quietly, calming himself down. If gossip were to spread before something important, it would only harm him.
The Grand Duke took a step back at Neruan's actions.
He was currently revamping his image. It was time to shed his former vicious image and transform into a new person.
He would not wield power over trivial matters and practice good deeds.
It seemed simple, but it was quite difficult for the Grand Duke, who had lived like a hunting dog for decades, to protect himself.
The Grand Duke acted this way for one reason: to avoid giving the Emperor's faction an excuse to attack.
It was a plan based on Rose's suggestion. Neruan initially didn't have high expectations.
People don't change easily.
However, the Grand Duke was overcoming this difficulty. He was a loving man who could make the impossible happen if Rose told him to.
He wasn't carrying out this plan out of fear of the Emperor's faction.
It was because he didn't want to disappoint Rose.
Rose looked at Doana and took a deep breath.
"Then I'll just say this. I need you to take your business a little slower. Since you've seen me follow suit, you can handle this much, right?"
“No, why should I? And who the hell are you to tell me to slow down my business?”
“I tried to negotiate nicely... I don’t know if it’s a lack of understanding or just unnecessary bravery, Doana. Do you really think that your department store, which you started with nothing but money, will succeed?”
“What?”
“The beginning is important in anything. I can successfully start a department store business. But you can’t, Doana.”
Doana frowned at the remark that seemed to ignore her.
“Why can’t I do what you do? I can do it dozens of times better than you. And, I prepared too. Why are you ignoring me?”
“Prepared?”
Rose scoffed and looked at Doana.
“Did you even do a brand preference survey? Why on earth did you decide to build a department store in that narrow alley? Did you even try to properly understand people’s needs?”
“Do you really need to know that? I’m lucky. And, brand preference survey... A dog passing by would laugh. That’s something only someone with no sense like you would do. Someone with natural talent like me doesn’t need to do market research.”
“Right. So you’re saying you didn’t do anything.”
“Yes?”
Madame Anaod, as Rose had predicted, was Doana.
Doana's large hat rolled limply on the floor.
Doana smiled coldly as she watched Rose remove her hat without permission.
"How boring. You figured it out too quickly?"
Her cold eyes glared at Rose. The red-haired knight standing behind Doana picked up the hat from the floor and handed it to Doana.
"No matter how happy I am, this is not right. To suddenly lift a hat. You really have a knack for embarrassing people, you."
She brushed her flowing hair back and placed the hat on the chair next to her. Now that she was Doana, there was no need to wear a hat anymore.
"You're the embarrassed one. Did you think I wouldn't recognize you just because you put on a hat?"
"I thought you wouldn't notice because you're so clueless."
You were such a fool, you didn't even know who your husband was hooking up with.
Doana mulled over the words she couldn't bring herself to say.
If only the Grand Duke of Artaeum hadn't been there, she would have spoken freely.
Doana glanced at the Grand Duke. He was a man who emanated immense pressure simply by sitting quietly.
'Huh. To be so arrogant just because you bit a man.'
She internally criticized Rose and gave a belated greeting to the Grand Duke.
"It's been a while. I'm Doana. I'm here today as Lady Anaod."
She offered a formal bow, something she hadn't been able to offer at first. Perhaps she'd learned it from watching Rose and Beliana over her shoulder, but it was a fairly standard greeting.
"You asked to see me, didn't you? It's an honor for Your Highness to come here."
Doana had become quite polite since they hadn't seen each other. It seemed she was finally adjusting to this world.
Of course, her politeness was limited to the Grand Duke. To Rose, she remained the same as before.
“You said you owned the building and the land. Is that true?”
Rose asked Doana, as if confirming. Doana lied as if flowing water.
“Yes. It’s all mine. My husband, Eric, gave it to me as a gift. He really loves me, you know?”
Doana presented the things she had borrowed money for private loans as gifts.
"You said you were opening a department store, too.”
"You asked to see me, didn't you? It's an honor for Your Highness to come here."
Doana had become quite polite since they hadn't seen each other. It seemed she was finally adjusting to this world.
Of course, her politeness was limited to the Grand Duke. To Rose, she remained the same as before.
“You said you owned the building and the land. Is that true?”
Rose asked Doana, as if confirming. Doana lied as if flowing water.
“Yes. It’s all mine. My husband, Eric, gave it to me as a gift. He really loves me, you know?”
Doana presented the things she had borrowed money for private loans as gifts.
"You said you were opening a department store, too.”
“You too? I was the first to plan a department store. There aren’t any in this world, so I decided to create one.”
“...What?”
“...What?”
Rose’s brow furrowed in confusion as she stared at Doana. Did Doana truly know nothing, or was she trying to tease her? The corners of Doana’s lips twitched. Seeing that, Rose was certain.
‘...Probably the latter.’
She must have known she was preparing for the department store business. And it was clear that she was trying to take the initiative and do business.
“Really? I was the one who came up with the department store idea first. This is strange.”
“What? You came up with it first?”
Doana responded to Rose’s words as if she hadn’t even thought about it.
“Didn’t you know? Rumors must have already spread throughout the capital.”
“Well, I haven’t heard any such rumors.”
Doana smiled brightly and lied shamelessly.
“Rose, I’m sorry, but the people in the capital don’t care about you.”
They only care about rumors of your affair. Doana stared at Rose with a glint in her eye. She forced her trembling mouth shut.
“You... you’re trying to start a department store business too? Following me?”
Doana covered her mouth with one hand and spoke in astonishment. Who would copy whom? Even if she had a steel plate on her face, she couldn’t say that.
“Doana, you weren’t copying me?”
Rose wiggled her eyebrows and retorted to Doana. Doana burst into laughter before Rose could even finish her sentence. At Doana's reaction, the Grand Duke, Neruan, and Rose all simultaneously focused on her. Doana must have felt a pang of embarrassment at the glare from everyone glaring at her, so she forced herself to suppress her laughter.
"I was so embarrassed I burst out laughing."
With a weak excuse, she stared at Rose.
"Me? Why would I imitate you? I lack nothing."
Doana raised her face arrogantly and continued.
"I've never envied anyone else. Following others... that's all because I'm jealous. I live my life doing everything I want. If others followed me, they did. Why would I?"
“Is that so? But why are you pushing forward with the project so hastily? It’s like you’re being chased by someone.”
Rose felt that every word Doana said was different.
“Don’t be greedy out of a needless desire to win, just do it moderately, Doana. I won’t tell you not to follow my example. You have to find your own way to survive, right?”
When Rose tried to nag Doana, Doana flared up.
“Who would copy me?”
“Anyone would be able to tell that you copied me. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”
“Even a passing dog would know.”
Neruan and the Grand Duke looked at Doana with pity. For a moment, shame washed over her face, and she blushed.
“How desperate must you have been to proceed with the demolition when there were people there? I heard someone died that day. How can you possibly run a business properly like that?”
“Less than five people died. The rest just suffered minor scratches. They were the ones who didn’t show up even though I announced the demolition. I notified them according to the law, and they broke imperial law. It’s not me who’s at fault, it’s them.”
Indeed, someone died during the demolition, but she received no punishment.
“Because of your disturbance, their innocent business is suffering. Isn’t that right?”
“It’s entirely their fault that my business is in trouble, Rose. Why do you blame me? Are you upset that the people who were supposed to contract with your department store have come over to me?”
Doana began to babble excitedly.
“Of course, you should manage your brand representatives better in the first place. How unreliable must you have been to come over to me, even though my identity is unknown?”
“...”
Rose smiled coldly, dismissing Doana’s provocation.
“As expected... You stole my customers, Doana. Seeing as you knew in advance that I didn’t even mention it.”
"You're really funny. Do you have delusions of persecution or something?"
Doana waved her hand, her expression absurd.
"What's wrong with me that I'm stealing your customers from you? Besides, I know this without you. There are rumors everywhere that your department store will fail before it even starts."
"You said earlier you'd never heard any of those rumors about me. You said you had no idea I was planning on opening a department store. That doesn't make any sense."
"That's what you're saying. Are you sure there really weren't any rumors about you?"
She denied Rose's words until the very end. As Rose and Doana's conversation dragged on, the Grand Duke signaled to Neruan.
"I can't listen to this anymore. I'll wipe that woman out."
The Grand Duke muttered, his eyes gleaming with murder.
At that moment, Neruan grabbed the Grand Duke's shoulder. He shook his head quietly, calming himself down. If gossip were to spread before something important, it would only harm him.
The Grand Duke took a step back at Neruan's actions.
He was currently revamping his image. It was time to shed his former vicious image and transform into a new person.
He would not wield power over trivial matters and practice good deeds.
It seemed simple, but it was quite difficult for the Grand Duke, who had lived like a hunting dog for decades, to protect himself.
The Grand Duke acted this way for one reason: to avoid giving the Emperor's faction an excuse to attack.
It was a plan based on Rose's suggestion. Neruan initially didn't have high expectations.
People don't change easily.
However, the Grand Duke was overcoming this difficulty. He was a loving man who could make the impossible happen if Rose told him to.
He wasn't carrying out this plan out of fear of the Emperor's faction.
It was because he didn't want to disappoint Rose.
Rose looked at Doana and took a deep breath.
"Then I'll just say this. I need you to take your business a little slower. Since you've seen me follow suit, you can handle this much, right?"
“No, why should I? And who the hell are you to tell me to slow down my business?”
“I tried to negotiate nicely... I don’t know if it’s a lack of understanding or just unnecessary bravery, Doana. Do you really think that your department store, which you started with nothing but money, will succeed?”
“What?”
“The beginning is important in anything. I can successfully start a department store business. But you can’t, Doana.”
Doana frowned at the remark that seemed to ignore her.
“Why can’t I do what you do? I can do it dozens of times better than you. And, I prepared too. Why are you ignoring me?”
“Prepared?”
Rose scoffed and looked at Doana.
“Did you even do a brand preference survey? Why on earth did you decide to build a department store in that narrow alley? Did you even try to properly understand people’s needs?”
“Do you really need to know that? I’m lucky. And, brand preference survey... A dog passing by would laugh. That’s something only someone with no sense like you would do. Someone with natural talent like me doesn’t need to do market research.”
“Right. So you’re saying you didn’t do anything.”
“Yes?”
“Since I don’t think we’ll get through this, I’ll just let you know. I don’t want you to take my title of ‘first’ away from me.”
Well, it’s all for the better. Madame Anaod is none other than Doana.
She doesn’t feel bad about revealing her true feelings like this.
“I don’t want to ruin a project I’ve been preparing for six months because of you.”
“What are you talking about? I’m going to proceed as planned. I’m going to open the department store before you do.”
Well, it’s all for the better. Madame Anaod is none other than Doana.
She doesn’t feel bad about revealing her true feelings like this.
“I don’t want to ruin a project I’ve been preparing for six months because of you.”
“What are you talking about? I’m going to proceed as planned. I’m going to open the department store before you do.”
“Yeah. I knew you’d say that. But Doana, I... I’m serious about this business. I’m not going to sit idly by and watch anything that might interfere with it.”
Was it an illusion that Rose’s words sounded like a threat? Doana bit her lower lip.
“What are you trying to do, cowardly? Rose, are you planning to use your power to sabotage my business?”
Doana’s eyes wavered anxiously. He glanced at the Grand Duke of Artaeum next to Rose.
For some reason, she felt that Rose would use the Grand Duke's power to sabotage her business.
‘Well, they say only the eyes can see what’s in the eye.’
Rose sighed at Doana and stood up.
“I’ll get up now. I can’t eat with you. I’m not in the mood to eat face-to-face with you. Instead, I’ll order food, so eat as much as you want.”
Rose threw another word at Doana, who was looking at him with a puzzled look.
“Oh, and...”
Rose trailed off and paused. The corners of her lips, who had been staring at Doana with a calm expression, slowly rose.
“Those brands you took out. They were actually practically non-existent and just low-end brands. I was lining up high-end brands that were supposed to open stores, so I was wondering what to do, but thank you for taking my place, Doana.”
Rose smiled brightly at Doana, who was looking at her with a bewildered expression, and left the restaurant.
“Manager, please take special care of the guests in that room. They’re such pitiful people, to the point where this is their first time at a high-end restaurant.”
Was it an illusion that Rose’s words sounded like a threat? Doana bit her lower lip.
“What are you trying to do, cowardly? Rose, are you planning to use your power to sabotage my business?”
Doana’s eyes wavered anxiously. He glanced at the Grand Duke of Artaeum next to Rose.
For some reason, she felt that Rose would use the Grand Duke's power to sabotage her business.
‘Well, they say only the eyes can see what’s in the eye.’
Rose sighed at Doana and stood up.
“I’ll get up now. I can’t eat with you. I’m not in the mood to eat face-to-face with you. Instead, I’ll order food, so eat as much as you want.”
Rose threw another word at Doana, who was looking at him with a puzzled look.
“Oh, and...”
Rose trailed off and paused. The corners of her lips, who had been staring at Doana with a calm expression, slowly rose.
“Those brands you took out. They were actually practically non-existent and just low-end brands. I was lining up high-end brands that were supposed to open stores, so I was wondering what to do, but thank you for taking my place, Doana.”
Rose smiled brightly at Doana, who was looking at her with a bewildered expression, and left the restaurant.
“Manager, please take special care of the guests in that room. They’re such pitiful people, to the point where this is their first time at a high-end restaurant.”
Although she didn’t eat, she paid for four portions, including Doana’s, and leisurely left the restaurant.
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