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"This fabric is very hard to come by, and this dress really brings out the fabric's characteristics..."
Letizia half-listened to the explanation, scanning the dress in front of her and the shopping bags full of wigs.
Each shopping bag contained ready-made dresses from different boutiques, each shining with its own light.
On the other hand, the dress in front of her showed no effect at all.
'Hmm, not this one either?'
A few days ago, Letizia had decided to start a fashion business.
Since then, she had been searching for good designers by visiting famous boutiques in the city.
More precisely, designers who create more profitable designs.
But all the clothes she had seen at other boutiques so far hadn't sparkled.
'They only started sparkling after I decided to buy them.'
The designer, who had been watching Letizia's reaction, noticed her listless expression and quickly suggested,
"Would you like to try it on first? It's more accurate to try on a dress than to just look at it."
"I don't think that will be necessary."
Just as the designer was about to be discouraged, understanding the reaction as a rejection, Letizia's voice continued.
"Charge me for that dress."
She needed a dress to wear anyway.
The designer's emotions swung wildly at her words.
"You have excellent taste, Madam! Then I'll prepare it so you can take it with you right away..."
But at that moment.
Letizia's indifferent eyes lit up.
The dress that had shown no reaction until just now began to sparkle.
Only then did Letizia confirm her hypothesis.
'So, monetary value can't be measured by design alone?'
Design is an art form.
Regardless of its artistic merit as a creation, its monetary value is determined by the consumer.
'Then there's no need to find monetary value in the design itself.'
The design just needs to be moderately pretty and plain.
'From then on, the image is the key.'
Becoming a brand that people want more.
Giving the feeling that the owner's dignity is elevated just by owning that brand.
That was the goal of building a brand image.
'Then the existing designers would actually have the opposite effect?'
Designers from famous boutiques are already firmly established.
Bringing them in would make it difficult to break down their existing image and build the new image she wanted.
'I need to find a new designer who isn't famous yet but has decent skills.'
As Letizia revised her plan, an employee came out with the dress she had just looked at, packaged up.
"Give it to me."
As Wig stepped forward naturally, the employee hesitated and handed over the shopping bag.
"Thank you for your visit, and please invite us to your mansion next time!"
Letizia left the boutique, receiving a warm send-off from the madam.
Wig, who followed behind, asked,
"You didn't like that designer either?"
"No, I think I was wrong from the start."
"What was the mistake?"
"To build my business's image, I need to bring in a new designer, not an already famous one."
Only then did Wig grasp Letizia's intention and let out a small exclamation.
"Then how are you going to find a new designer?"
"That's the key question..."
As Letizia pondered with her, Wig suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth.
"How about posting a job ad at a design workshop?"
"Oh?"
There were several famous designers in the empire who ran workshops to train their students, and they produced new designers every year.
There would be plenty of undiscovered new designers gathered there.
"Great. Then can you put out an ad to the workshops right away?"
As the two of them joined forces to make their next plan, a strange gaze was suddenly felt from behind.
'……Hmm?'
Wig, who felt it, turned around, but there was no one suspicious other than the passersby.
"What's wrong? Did you see a ghost or something?"
"A, a ghost in broad daylight?!"
"Oh my, you don't know anything. Don't you know that ghosts blend in better where there are more people?"
"Eek! Stop, stop talking!"
"What? You, that big, are afraid of ghosts?"
Letizia burst into laughter as she got into the carriage, and Wig followed, taking the seat next to the coachman.
As the carriage departed, a shadow suddenly appeared in that spot.
The shadow watched the receding carriage for a moment before quietly turning and disappearing.
That evening.
Pheidon, after hearing Rockhard's report in his study, asked again.
"So, Letizia is planning to start a clothing business?"
"Yes, I heard it clearly."
"She's really going to start a business... After only helping me with my work a few times, she's doing it without any fear."
Pheidon's eyes sharpened as he muttered.
Rockhard, sensing his mood, cautiously asked,
"What would you like to do, Your Excellency?"
"Haa, Rockhard. Did you think I was just curious about that woman's movements, so I had her followed?"
Rockhard swallowed hard at the somewhat irritable question.
And then, silence followed.
It was an unspoken pressure to figure out the answer.
After thinking for a moment, Rockhard found and presented the answer and solution that Pheidon wanted.
"Then... how about we preemptively strike before the Madam can find a designer?"
"How?"
"We can snatch the designers first. Of course, if Your Excellency allows it..."
Only then did one corner of Pheidon's mouth curl up into a satisfied curve.
"Indeed, you are quick-witted."
Rockhard then felt relieved and forced an awkward smile, following Pheidon's lead.
However, Pheidon's brow soon furrowed again.
"What are you smiling at? If you understand, go and get to work, tick-tock. Before it's too late."
"Yes, sir!"
Rockhard, having received Pheidon's order, left the study as if fleeing.
Left alone, Pheidon wore a bitter smile as he turned his gaze out the window.
From the cloudy sky, raindrops began to fall, one by one.
It was a rain heralding the start of spring.
At the same time, Idris stood in front of the greenhouse located on one side of the Grand Duke's residence.
Construction on the greenhouse, which began around early autumn last year, had been completed at this point, just before spring.
The greenhouse, which was decorated with a suitable mix of transparent glass and stained glass, looked splendid even from the outside.
Not only butterflies seeking flowers, but anyone pursuing beauty would be captivated by it.
Idris's gaze, which carefully examined the interior of the greenhouse, finally stopped at a butterfly engraved in the stained glass.
Idris, staring intently at the butterfly, ordered,
"Find a gardener who specializes only in managing the greenhouse."
Usually, gardeners manage both the greenhouse and the garden.
Having a separate manager for the greenhouse was unusual.
But the butler simply nodded silently.
He knew that he attached great significance to this greenhouse.
Just as the discussion about the greenhouse landscaping was coming to an end, Heather appeared.
"Your Highness, news has arrived from Petran."
"Ah."
It was the news he had been waiting for.
Idris quickly received the letter handed over by Heather.
But the contents, as always, were about not being able to find Aria.
His golden eyes darkened.
'…It's not even surprising anymore.'
Yes. It's a familiar, unsurprising news now...
But today, he felt more anxious and uneasy.
'Is it because of last night's dream?'
On cloudy days or rainy days, he always had dreams of Aria.
In the recurring dreams of the past decade, Aria's face had gradually become blurred.
'And now...'
The face of Aria that appeared in last night's dream was hazy, as if covered in fog.
Idris, recalling last night's dream, unknowingly clenched the letter tightly.
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