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In the midst of a subtle atmosphere, I was just spacing out.
"Th, then please call if you need anything."
A staff member, embarrassed by our competitive display of affection(?), disappeared as if running away.
I stared at Idris, who was smiling innocently, dumbfounded, and then burst into laughter as if admitting defeat.
"Why do you seem to laugh whenever you see me? Am I that funny?"
Then, to him, who had a puzzled look, I told him my honest thoughts.
"I used to think of you as a vaguely scary person, but after meeting you and talking to you, I think you're a fun person."
"Really?"
"I find it fun that you do things I could never imagine doing. That's... I'm a little envious."
Idris was aware that I had been avoiding him until my regression.
'There are many people who fear this man, but that doesn't mean he would have been particularly pleased with me.'
Even so, he readily offered to cooperate with me and shook my hand.
So, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell him.
That I had misunderstood him, and that he wasn't as scary as the rumors said.
Rather, that he was quite fun and a good person.
But unlike my intention, he showed interest in another aspect.
"Hearing that makes me wonder. How did you suddenly come to such a scary person and offer a negotiation?"
I paused.
This is a book I read in my past life, and after seeing the male lead I trusted betray me, I decided to ignore the original story!
'...There's no way I can say that.'
Instead, I answered honestly without lying.
"...After being betrayed by someone I believed was a good person, I started to think that maybe someone I believed was a bad person could actually be a good person."
"Impressive."
Surprised by the unexpected praise, I looked at him with wide eyes.
"You admitted that you might be wrong, right? Most people deny and ignore it even when they think they're wrong."
His eyes, praising me, lacked their usual playfulness.
No, rather... He even seemed resolute, as if he were stating an obvious fact.
'I didn't think I needed someone's recognition...'
Being recognized is a much better feeling than I thought.
It felt like a very soft feather was tickling inside my heart.
It was a feeling I had forgotten while living with my family who ignored me and Paydan who undervalued my abilities.
"Since it seems like the right time to be honest, let me tell you, I also thought of you as a boring type of person, like everyone else."
He moistened his throat with lukewarm tea and continued.
"But after actually meeting you, I think you're much more fun than I thought. Thanks to you, I'm having a lot of fun these days."
"..."
"So, I hope you'll keep me entertained for a long, long time."
If it were when I first met him, those words might have been a little scary.
Because he was the villain of the original story, and I felt pressured to get into his good graces.
But now I know.
'That man is a good person, and those words are his way of cheering me on.'
I chuckled and replied.
"I'll do my best."
We shared small talk, tea, and desserts.
It was around the time the teacups were almost empty.
'Huh?'
Another couple was being led up by a staff member.
Instinctively, my gaze turned.
It was because of the woman's clothes.
'That outfit is... the design is similar to mine?'
Just like the woman I saw by the window on the first floor a little while ago.
I feel like I'm seeing people in similar outfits to mine quite often.
'Could this be a coincidence?'
Two people wearing clothes of a design that was popular a year ago in one place.
The moment I had a subtle question, I made eye contact with the woman wearing that outfit.
The woman, who was approaching this way following the staff's guidance, panicked when she made eye contact with me and went to a seat far away.
At the same time, it came to my mind.
Where I had worn that design of clothing before.
'Wait, that design... It's the same design as the clothes I wore when I went to the boutique with Idris?'
That day, Paydan came to the boutique with a lot of reporters.
Thanks to that, photos of me and Idris were taken and spread as the front-page article the next day.
As soon as I remembered that fact, this situation became clear.
'People who saw that article ordered that design of clothing!'
But that outfit was one of the clothes I often wore before.
But the reason why it has become a hot topic now is probably...
I looked at 'that reason' in front of me.
'It must be thanks to this man.'
Despite his various notoriety, he is recognized as the most handsome man in the empire.
His moves are reported in articles, and the sales of the clothes he wears skyrocket the next day.
Probably, the reason why my clothes became popular is also thanks to Idris.
Think about it.
The woman the most influential man in the empire has fallen in love with.
Doesn't it seem like the clothes that woman wears have also been recognized by his taste?
'Why didn't I think of using this?'
There's a great model right in front of me!
Just as I was internally smiling slyly at the idea that suddenly came to mind.
I made eye contact with Idris, who was leisurely observing me with his chin resting on his hand.
"You have a look on your face like you've come up with a fun idea. Why don't you tell me instead of keeping it to yourself?"
"Ahem... Was it that obvious?"
"Yeah. Right now, your eyes are sparkling like our Crown Prince, who has found a new toy."
I felt a little strange to be compared to the young Crown Prince, but I brushed it off carelessly, as I was very excited, and smiled.
"I think I've found a business idea thanks to you."
Peaceful afternoon.
A staff member urgently approached Madame Boar, who was attending to customers, and whispered.
"Ma, Madam. A VIP has arrived."
VIP.
It was a title referring to royalty or high-ranking nobles.
Madame Boar skillfully directed the customer to another employee and headed to where the VIP was, asking.
"By the way, who is the VIP?"
"Uh, that's..."
The employee hesitated, unable to readily say who it was.
'What on earth is going on?'
The Madam frowned, but quickly moved her feet.
The quick-footed woman arrived at the place without even checking the identity of the VIP.
At the same time, Madam's business smile awkwardly froze.
Because...
'W, who is this person?'
A man who seemed to be at least 2m tall, with a terrifying impression, was standing there.
As is usually the case with people who see Wieg for the first time, she was terrified, but an unfamiliar voice was heard.
"It's been a while, Madam Boar."
When she lowered her gaze to the direction where the refreshing voice came from, Leticia was there.
Only then did Madame Boar think she knew the reason why the employee hadn't said Leticia's name.
It was difficult to know whether to call her Duchess Farnese or Lady Cloel.
If it had been before, she wouldn't have cared much about the title.
Because Leticia as Duchess Farnese was not such an influential customer.
But now it was important.
'There was a scandal with Grand Duke Dellua, and the boutique that made the clothes this woman was wearing at the time recorded overwhelming sales.'
That means...
'If this woman buys clothes from our store, those clothes will become a hot topic!'
This was a golden opportunity to dramatically increase sales, so she couldn't afford to upset Leticia with something as trivial as a title.
She had to make her buy her clothes somehow.
"Oh, Duchess. If you had contacted us, we would have visited you at your mansion."
Madam's ambiguous title of 'Duchess' to get through the difficult situation was read by Leticia.
When she was Duchess Farnese, she was not treated poorly because of her status, but now she felt a certain desperation that she could not feel at that time.
But she didn't hate someone being desperate for her.
'Is this why everyone craves power and wealth?'
Leticia responded to Madam's greeting with a smile and sat down on the sofa with her legs crossed.
"Madam, will you show me the most confident ready-to-wear clothes?"
"Would you like to try them on right away?"
"No, I'll just look for now."
The employee who received Madam's instructions disappeared and after a while.
A dress that seemed to be made of expensive fabric was placed in front of Leticia.
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