Lune was a person with a keen sense of smell, sharp enough to detect even the scent of divine power.

 

If it were an innate issue, that would be one thing, but if it were an acquired condition, it was entirely possible to address it with Morgana’s own power.

 

‘Just what happened that made her lose her sense of smell?’

 

Watching Lune happily sniffing various things she picked up around the small house, Morgana swallowed her question.

 

Instead, she asked her, “You know, Miss Lune. May I ask you something?”

 

“Please, go ahead.”

 

The woman, who had just been holding a sample perfume bottle, asked with an earnest expression, trying hard to remain calm.

 

Morgana asked again, gently but firmly.

 

“Do you still find joy in making perfumes?”

 

“…Yes. It’s been a long time since I last made perfume… but I still want to make it.”

 

Her expression was a stark contrast to the lack of confidence she had shown just moments before, with her head bowed.

 

Though she was still passive, with her hands neatly clasped and held tightly, her tone and eyes revealed her sincerity.

 

Morgana grinned and asked, “Then, how would you like to make perfume in Tir na nOg?”

 

“Y-you sell perfume in Tir na Nog, too? I’ve never heard of that…”

 

Morgana shrugged her shoulders and continued nonchalantly.

 

“I recently acquired all the large buildings next to us. I was thinking about how to use the space, and I thought it might be a good idea to turn it into a VIP private shopping center.”

 

The second floor of the shop was already being used as a VIP party room.

 

Converting it into a full banquet hall seemed excessive.

 

For the nobles, who attended daily invitations and banquets as part of their routine, the idea wasn’t particularly appealing.

 

However, a private shopping center was a different matter.

 

Currently, only a very select few VIPs have the opportunity to purchase limited teas and products through a random draw.

 

Simply increasing the number of VIPs would diminish their exclusive value, so another method was needed.

 

Thus, the idea of a shopping center was conceived.

 

The plan was to collaborate with Lune to sell perfumes infused with medicinal herbs and accessories based on her designs.

 

This would target a broader audience than the existing VIPs but would be divided into tiers: a top-tier level for the select few eligibles to buy the medicinal teas, and another level for those who could use the private shopping center.

 

There would be a Diamond grade, eligible to participate in the VVIP random draw.

 

Below that, a Sapphire grade, able to purchase even the herbal perfumes.

 

And finally, a Ruby grade, permitted to buy only Lune’s standard perfumes and accessories. Perfume had always been a luxury item for the nobility.

 

Its scarcity made it perfect for stimulating their desire to purchase.

 

Especially perfumes by Lune, who practically sustained Salon Lou—wouldn’t that be all the more attractive?

 

Morgana asked with a slight smile.

 

“Do you have any perfumes you’ve created before?”

 

“I do, but I’m not the one selling them right now. Th-they are being sold at Salon Lou…”

 

“How are the profits currently distributed?”

 

“The owner, Madame Oted, keeps all of it.”

 

‘I heard that Oted took the profits.’

 

No matter what, she was a close friend, and we started the shop together—how could she not distribute a single penny?

 

Could Lune have possibly handed everything over and left?

 

Morgana cautiously asked again.

 

“Was that perfume profit promised to Madame Oted?”

 

“We didn’t specifically make that promise. She was a close friend, and…”

 

Lune hesitated, seeming troubled as she pursed her lips.

 

“Oted said it. She said that unless a new product comes out, no one would be interested in old perfumes anyway.”

 

“What…?”

 

To call the current best-selling perfume at Salon Lu ‘old’ and claim no one would want it…

 

Fragrance is a product that heavily depends on personal taste.

 

So once it suits someone’s preference, it’s only natural that many customers return for it long-term.

 

Morgana found it hard to believe and asked again.

 

“It’s still selling incredibly well at Salon Lou. Is there any way you can bring it back?”

 

“Well… Oted was a friend who supported me even when I was sick. I’d rather not insist on taking it back.”

 

If that was Lune’s stance, Morgana couldn’t force her.

 

Still, as if it didn’t sit right with her, she cautiously expressed her confidence.

 

“But please trust me. I have a fragrance in mind that I’ve been thinking of as my next work for a long time.”

 

It seemed she had prepared this some time ago, as Lune stepped on a chair and retrieved a pretty perfume bottle that had been carefully hidden on top of the cabinet.

 

Judging by the slightly faded ribbon still tied around it, it appeared she had once hoped to present it to the world someday.

 

Even though it had ended up stuck in a corner of the cabinet because she couldn’t show it to anyone.

 

Lune hesitantly held out the perfume bottle.

 

“This… I made it incomplete before I lost my sense of smell, and recently, just because I was bored… I finished it very lightly…”

 

As if still lacking confidence, she added a lot of unnecessary explanations.

 

Morgana didn’t mind and spritzed the perfume onto her own wrist with a check. It was a scent that was both sweet and carried the freshness of the forest.

 

The luxurious yet not too strong, natural fragrance was comparable to any other scent she had encountered at Salon Roux.

 

‘This is it.’

 

This was a product more than worthy of promoting the Ruby grade.

 

Although it was a shame they couldn’t take the title of Salon Lu’s steady seller, couldn’t they win with a new product instead?

 

Morgana beamed and took Lune’s hand.

 

“Come to Tir na Nog, Lune. I love your scent so much.”

 

Entranced by her offer, Lune nodded her head.

 

💫

 

A troubling rumor recently began circulating among the nobility.

“Is it true His Highness Mordred drank Tir na Nog’s herbal tea and vomited?”

“Oh my, really? Why…?”

“I don’t know. I hear the royal household has stopped serving herbal tea lately.”

“No, that can’t be. I met Princess Guinevere recently and was served the herbal tea.”

The rumor, spread by Count Aestiva’s servants, disseminated in the blink of an eye.

Not only the young ladies, but even the maids in charge of purchases would whisper about the rumor concerning Tir na Nog’s herbal tea whenever two or more gathered.

Walking down the corridor after an audience with Mordred, on his way back to his estate, Count Aestiva’s lips curled into a wide, smug grin.

‘Just as I thought. Everyone is bound to be sensitive to this kind of rumor.’

No matter how good something is, it cannot afford to go against the royal family’s disposition.

Just as he was thinking Tir na Nog’s downfall was imminent,

An unbelievable chatter reached his ears as he strode confidently down the hall.

“Oh, they must have misheard. Who would just drink the herbal tea plain?”

“Right. More importantly, have you seen the recent invitation from Tir na Nog?”

“I have! Good heavens, they’re opening a shopping center?”

“What’s your membership grade? I’m a Ruby grade.”

“Oh my, I’m a Sapphire. I suppose my grade isn’t high enough to purchase the herbal tea this time. I must send my attendant to buy more immediately.”

The lively discussion about the potion was completely forgotten as conversations about Tir na Nog’s new business venture took over.

 

Count Aestiva had not received an invitation.

It was an expected outcome, since he had been excluded from the VIP list to begin with, but he found it extremely hard to accept that the rumors he had spread had absolutely no effect.

He stopped a maid passing by and asked her.

“You, which household do you serve?”

“Ah, I am Lady Violet’s personal maid.”

“Did you receive an invitation from Tir na Nog recently?”

“Um, yes…”

The maid hesitated, unable to bring herself to refuse the Count’s question, and answered honestly.

He pressed her again, almost aggressively.

“So, did she say she’s going?”

“Yes… The tier of Tir na Nog’s shopping center has become very popular among the young ladies lately. To reach a tier that allows the purchase of the potion, she plans to be quite active even before it opens…”

 

Thud– 

 

Count Aestiva kicked the wall roughly.

The startled maid trembled and shrank back, but he didn’t even notice her.

So this was why they were buying up the surrounding shops. They planned to use them for something like this.

Just when he thought his rumors were gaining traction, they vanished without a trace, all thanks to that damned shopping center.

This only served to give Tir na Nog even more power.

‘These people, really…’

 

The rank required to purchase the tea had been elevated, which inevitably increased its rarity value as well.

 

Count Ruddle returned to his mansion, suppressing his seething anger.

Finding a way to obtain the tea leaves immediately seemed distant, and now that the ranks had been further subdivided, even finding someone to make a proxy purchase would be difficult.

As he held his throbbing head and headed towards his office, Agravain, who was walking down the opposite corridor, called out to him with concern.

 

“Father, you look quite unwell. Weren’t you at the palace today?”

“Yes. I was on my way back from an audience with His Highness Mordred when I heard some shocking news.”

 

Entering his office, Count Ruddle plopped down onto the sofa as if collapsing and let out a pained groan.

“Those damned nobles. Their standards have gotten so high, riding on Britain’s prestige. Did you hear? They’re opening a shopping center in Tir na Nog.”

“I heard.”

“Ha! Seeing how Guinevere issued a permit for Tir na Nog, it seems that the store has openly chosen its allegiance, doesn’t it?”

 

The problem was that the store’s image was so favorable, among both nobles and commoners, that there was no angle to criticize.

Agravain, who had been quietly observing the troubled Count Ruddle, spoke up softly.

“Even if it’s not Tir na Nog, there is a way to instantly lower the Princess’s recognition.”

“What? If such a thing exists, you should have said so sooner.”

 

Count Ruddle straightened his posture and urged him on.

“So, what is it?”

Agravain quietly approached and whispered something into his ear.

Upon hearing it, the Count’s eyes lit up.

“Really…? That kind of relationship, you say…?”