I Became The Sole Perfumer of A Tyrant - Chapter 23

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“My lady, where should we place this?”

The two muscular delivery men questioned me regarding the product. I sprang to my feet in joy at the sight of the item they were holding.

“Excuse me. Please distribute it over there!”

The delivery men carefully placed the asset where I instructed them to. I hastily approached the area.

It was a perfumer’s organ. Each shelf was to be filled with perfume bottles and flasks shortly.

All future perfuming work would be performed on this very organ. In other words, this object here was the holiest thing in the building.

I took a seat in front of the organ after the delivery men excused themselves. Then I opened my fragrance notes.

My first main product, <The Law of First Love>. Although Magnus was selling similar merchandise, I decided not to modify the recipe.

The reason was simply that the mixture couldn’t be any more perfect. I didn’t think there was anything needed to make it any better. Moreover, I wasn’t going to be swayed easily enough to change the components.

The second main product was the <Morning Walk>. It contained a refreshing pine scent with an impressive lemon-like pinch. It was especially popular with male customers.

The third is a perfume that has yet to be revealed. The combination included a deep rose scent, mixed with a subtle cedar fragrance and several drops of white musk. It was one of the most recent perfumes I’ve developed. It offered a classic rose scent while at the same time omitting a lingering, seductive aroma at the tip of the nose.

The name is <Rose Garden>. I was assuming this would be the best-selling product from the previous two.

And, to the other products as well. After I completed reviewing the notes, a smile crept to my lips. At this rate, paying off Cedric’s investment may not be difficult.

‘Well, that’s my hope.’

When I reached the Winston mansion, the evening stars had already risen. I rotated my stiff shoulders from side to side; they ached from having been organizing my perfumes all afternoon.

‘Aside from that, I’ll have to thank him properly.’

The day I visited Cedric’s mansion and presented the business plan, my gratitude was well-shown, but I didn’t think it was enough.

‘In any case, shouldn’t I treat him to a meal?’

It wasn’t all about words. Sincerity had to be shown to be recognized.

As I contemplated many matters at once, my mind naturally dozed off. Let’s go to bed early today and rest well for the grand opening. After I made my mind, all the fatigue that had been building struck at once.

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And the long-awaited opening day.

A completely remodeled building, as well as the flow of incense, made to attract guests.

Even the well-appointed interior.

Everything was perfect, but why.

‘Hi.’

I thought internally as I witnessed a fly passing by.

‘You’re the very first guest to come today.’

Okay.

There were no customers.

The streets themselves were not deserted. The third avenue was currently crowded due to the holidays. There also seemed to be a few people snooping around my shop.

But somehow, no one entered the store.

Not one person.

“This is a very strange situation.”

A store that just opened. There were no external defects, not to mention it wasn’t an unpopular industry. There was no reason for there to be no customers like what was currently happening.

I then lifted myself with confidence. However, as I stepped out the door, a suspicious sight unfolded before my eyes.

A passerby stopped walking after having noticed my shop from afar. They glanced through the window, somewhat drawn to the new building.

It was the moment the passerby was working to take a step toward the place.

‘What is it?’

A hooded person broke in and blocked the passerby. I frowned. The two seemed to be discussing a certain topic, but I couldn’t make out their words well.

All the same, I could somehow guess the content.

As the person dressed in a hood continued moving their mouth, the passerby’s expression soon turned into one of contemplation.

The passerby then hurried away as if he bumped into a robber.

And the mysterious person wearing the hood entered the alley once again.

‘…It can’t be.’

I narrowed my eyes. No way, it can’t be.

However, I could only think of one person who would go as far as to interfere with my business so openly…

Ponta Magnus, you’re not going to be this absurd and immature, are you?

I stepped into the alley at once. Ern’s armor produced rackets as he followed from behind.

The alley was a dead end. As soon as I stepped inside, the same mysterious person could be seen concealing themselves.

“Excuse me.”

The person pushed their hood down as they advanced nearer to the dead end.

I folded my arms.

“Hey.”

“…”

“Can’t you hear me?”

“Would you prefer me to help them be able to apprehend you, my lady?”

As Ern stepped forward, the person’s shoulders shrank noticeably.

I shook my head.

“It’s alright, Ern. Your ears seem to be in fine condition, isn’t that right?”

“W-What’s your business?”

The hooded person only then opened their mouth.

The voice belonged to a rather weak and skinny fellow.

I tilted my head crookedly.

“Well, since you seem to be hired, let me ask you a simple question. Your employer is Baron Ponta Magnus, correct?”

“…!”

When Magnus’s name left my mouth, the boy flinched, alarmed.

Magnus, please do afford to spend more money. I can’t believe you hired such a young boy. A sigh left my mouth. How pathetic.

“N-n-n, no, no…!”

“Well, it’s alright. I now understand perfectly.”

I nodded. The hooded boy’s final reaction drove him to a complete wedge.

It was true. Ponta Magnus was planting people to disrupt my business.

How could a person with such a huge store use such cowardly means against a modest two-room workshop?

‘Well, in a way, should I be grateful?’

This signifies you think of me as a competitor who needs to be checked upon.

This boy wouldn’t have been the only one planted. Perhaps false rumors were currently being spread about my store all over the streets. No, it was more likely.

‘Good. Ponta Magnus.’

You were going to come out dirty like this. I folded my arms. If that was the case, this side wasn’t without much thought either.

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“Oh my.”

The young lady dressed in fancy attire covered her mouth with her hand.

An elegant outing dress that sprawled beautifully, resembling petals, the dazzling beauty that could be seen under the large-brimmed headdress, including the beautiful blonde hair that crossed her shoulders.

Charlotte Jenos. Her appearance alone caused the street to feel radiant as if there were lights on.

I smiled and left the building to greet Charlotte.

“Lady Charlotte, thank you for coming.”

“My goodness, please stop that. I heard Lady Ariel opened a store, how could I not pay a visit. By the way, well… Isn’t this very unexpected?”

Charlotte continued to admire the decorations as she roamed around the store.

“Lady Winston was a person who had excellent sense in not only perfuming but many other subjects, didn’t she? I have already known before now.”

I waved my hand in shame.

Charlotte did not show up alone.

Behind her were around five to six ladies. I quickly greeted the other young noblewomen.

“Welcome, everyone. Thank you very much for coming.”

“It is an honor for you to have invited us here. This is my first time tagging along to a perfume shop. I thought it would be a fun experience, so I quickly followed Lady Charlotte.“

“Is that right!”

I swiftly accompanied Yulia, the person who commented to be new to the perfume enterprise. When she tried one of my new works, <Rose Garden>, her eyes melted.

“This is strong… What are its components?”

“Well, first of all, roses are the main recipe. Referring to the perfume’s name.”

“My mother is growing a rose garden, but it doesn’t smell this strong in full bloom…”

Yulia showed admiration for the product and tried it on once more. Her face turned redder.

“Well, by the way, Lady Ariel.”

“What?”

“This… This smells nice, but isn’t it a bit lewd?”

“Ah.”

I looked at Yulia, one of my eyes closed.

“It is especially recommended for lovers.“

“Oh…!”

Yulia briefly let out a gasp of admiration and then whispered so only I could hear.

“Please give me one.”

“Yes! I’ll wrap the bottle in one minute. Since you are our first customer, I will provide you with many services.”

I packed a few miniature perfumes altogether in a shopping bag for Yulia. The small perfumes, of course, weren’t plain. They were dainty enough to be used as interior accessories, cutely adorned with wings and hearts.

The other young lovers who witnessed the scene shone with curiosity.

“What did you just place there, Lady Ariel?”

“Ah, since Lady Yulia was our first customer, it was a gift I handed her in return.”

“My! I was also about to buy one!”

Another young lady quickly picked up a bottle of perfume and gazed at me with a pitiful expression. I smiled gently and nodded my head.

“Yes, I’ll also gift the young lady one. We have plenty.”

“Oh my God, can I also have one?”

“Me, too!”

Each young lady picked up a bottle of perfume and waved their hands to catch my attention. I chuckled. They seemed like a flock of baby chicks.

I then cast my eyes slightly over the door. Beyond the spacious door, passers-by could be seen strolling one by one and snooping before the entrance.

Soon after, a hooded boy appeared and worked to disturb the passers-by. Unfortunately for him, only one person couldn’t handle such an amount of people themselves.

I smiled inwardly.

An appealing new shop and sweet fragrance. The laughter of the aristocrats resonating throughout the store.

They were a group of people who had no choice but to cast their eyes at least once.

Moreover, Senon district was a shopping attraction.

In other words, most of the people who visited this street would be most determined to shop.

This temptation to those very people was hardest to resist.

And, as expected.

Ding-Ding.

The first ‘real’ customer shook the shop bell. A client not included in Lady Charlotte’s party.

The silver bell filled the store with a clear ring.

I then spoke, a big smile spread across my face.

“Welcome, dear customer. This is Ariel’s Fragrance Salon.”