“Why are you selling perfume here?”
Oted could not hide her shock.
Since Salon Lune was quite famous within Britain, the young ladies who recognized her were whispering amongst themselves.
“Isn’t that the madam of Salon Lune?”
“Right. I guess she knows the perfumer.”
The more the murmuring grew, the lower Lune’s head drooped.
Although she had mustered the courage to create her next perfume product, she seemed afraid to present it before a crowd.
Even though it would have been better to lower his voice, Oted continued speaking even louder.
“Lune. What good is a perfume made by someone who’s lost their sense of smell? Who would buy a perfume from someone who can’t even smell it themselves? This is a nuisance even in Tir na Nog.”
“W-well…”
As attention focused on her, Lune’s voice grew even quieter.
It was so soft that if one were standing just a little further away, they wouldn’t even know she had spoken.
Morgana quietly observed the situation.
‘She calls himself a friend. Is that how a friend should act?’
She didn’t know the exact length of time, but if they had known each other since learning sewing under their teacher, the period of their acquaintance shouldn’t be short.
However, Oted’s behavior, which showed not a speck of consideration despite being in the public eye of Ruby Hall, made her frown.
“I told you, Lune. No matter how much you like scents, you can’t run a shop like it’s a hobby. It’s one thing if you keep it to yourself, but what are we supposed to do with these immature products?”
“I… I know I’m lacking, but the shop employees said it was good, so I decided to sell it…”
As if rebutting him, Lune strained her voice, her fingers fidgeting anxiously.
But Oted only argued back defiantly.
“Who would say something like that to your face? They’re just pretending your terrible perfume is good to be nice.”
“But…”
“Ha, Lune. If your perfume were truly excellent, would it only be sold at the Ruby Hall? There are higher-grade buildings like the Sapphire Hall and the Diamond Hall, you know?”
“…”
“That just means your level is exactly that. Don’t you get the hint?”
A shadow fell over Lune’s face.
The rims of her eyes reddened as if she might cry at any moment, and a flush tinged the tip of her nose.
Despite her being utterly deflated, Oted spoke to her brazenly.
“I’m saying this for your own good. We’ve known each other for quite some time, haven’t we? You should just give up if you’re not good enough to sell at the Diamond Hall. Don’t cause trouble for other people.”
Click—
Morgana deliberately made her footsteps loud.
The gazes of the young ladies, who had been holding their breath and whispering while watching the situation, turned towards Morgana.
Click, click—
Walking towards Oted, Morgana answered loudly.
“At the Diamond grade, we plan to sell a high-end perfume made by Miss Lune that contains medicinal herbs. Please refrain from excessive worry.”
Perhaps remembering seeing her at the salon before, Oted recognized her.
“Ah, you’re the guest who visited our salon before! Where did you get that information…”
The news of the Ruby Hall’s opening was public knowledge, as Tir na Nog had openly distributed invitations.
However, the Diamond Hall, the highest grade, was a place where products for the month were sold along with medicinal tea through a VIP lottery.
No one yet knew what the random draw prizes for this year had been decided as.
Of course, Morgana was the owner of Tir na Nog, but this was a fact only known to the staff.
Morgana gave a slight nod of her head towards the direction where Guinevere stood behind her.
Upon seeing her, Oted let out a short sigh.
“Ah…”
The princess of a kingdom had personally visited just to see the Ruby Hall.
Since she came with Morgana, it was clear to anyone that she was both a close confidante and a close friend.
Tir na Nog was, after all, just a shop operating within Britain.
‘It seems the princess personally asked the shop about what they sell at the diamond tier. Well, for someone of her status, even Tir na Nog would have to make an exception.’
Oted, who had run Salon Rouge for a long time, immediately understood Morgana’s implication.
However, she replied respectfully, yet with a slight sharpness.
“By any chance, is Tir na Nog aware that Lune lost her sense of smell? If this was concealed, it would constitute fraud, which was a concern for me.”
“Hmm, well. I heard from the shop owner that her sense of smell was restored through divine power?”
It was the power of the Fay family, but there was no need to explain in detail.
The important point was the fact that Lune’s sense of smell had returned. But Oted did not believe it.
“That cannot be. When Lune lost her sense of smell, I, as her friend, also tried every possible method, but I couldn’t restore it.”
“But she was healed?”
Oted slightly gritted her teeth at Morgana’s inappropriately cheerful reply.
Then, smiling again, she answered once more, like a kind shop owner.
“What makes you so sure you know the reason why she lost her sense of smell? I heard this answer directly from the priestess after she consulted with Lune.”
“Is it Madam Oted who is so firmly convinced it cannot be cured?”
Morgana tilted her head leisurely, blinked, and asked in return.
“Do you know something, perhaps?”
“No. I do not.”
Oted’s reply came surprisingly fast. She dropped the polite smile she had maintained and made a firm, serious expression.
As if realizing her mistake, Oted quickly smiled again and returned to her friendly demeanor. It was a mere moment.
“I am telling you this from experience. Isn’t that right, Lune? Tell them with your own mouth.”
Urged by Oted, Lune hesitated and began to speak.
“W-well, it’s true that the priestess did say that at the time… but my sense of smell really has returned, Oted.”
As if startled by Lune’s small confession, Oted exclaimed in response.
“Returned? That’s impossible!”
Guinevere, who had been observing the situation from the side, let out a hollow laugh and muttered in a skeptical voice.
“Shouldn’t a friend be happy to hear the news that she’s been cured? Why is she arguing so fiercely?”
“Indeed.”
Morgana also nodded in agreement.
Oted’s flustered eyes shook slightly. Morgana focused her gaze on her, clapping her hands softly twice.
“So, with that said, Madame Oted. I heard that the perfume Lune made is being sold at Salon Lu?”
At the mention of Salon Lu’s perfume, a stir could be felt from the group of noble ladies standing at a distance.
“Oh my, Salon Lu’s perfume? Is that the one?”
“Why, you know, that famous perfume. I’m on my third bottle.”
“Yes. My parents gave it to me as a gift for my coming-of-age ceremony…”
Because the perfumer was the same, the perfumes sold in Tir na Nog also carried her distinctive characteristics.
The subtle, yet well-blended, soft, and refreshing scent was something no one in Britain could imitate.
Not even Madame Oted.
The noble ladies, sensitive to luxury goods, couldn’t possibly not know it.
Oted, perhaps embarrassed, stiffly raised her head and asked urgently.
“What is the problem with that?”
“Is the profit distribution being handled properly?”
“That is a matter Lune and I mutually agreed upon. It was settled when Lune closed her shop previously, so I’m sorry, but I have nothing to say about it.”
Ahem…
She let out an awkward cough and mumbled, as if telling them to listen, while pointlessly looking around the disorganized interior of the Ruby Hall.
“I was just happy to hear Lune’s story and stopped by for a moment… I can’t leave my shop unattended for long, so I should be going now. Well then, have a good time.”
Despite the awkward farewell, Oted finished with a polite bow that seemed well-practiced and left the Ruby Hall with quick steps.
Embarrassed, she stared straight ahead and walked at a fast pace.
‘It can’t be. Has her sense of smell returned?’
Oted had clearly heard it.
Back when Lune’s sense of smell had been dulled by a cold, Sir Agravain had visited the shop with a noble lady.
When the lady said she wanted to buy perfume, Lune was assigned to assist her.
The fussy lady was dissatisfied with the perfumes Lune presented.
‘Don’t you have any perfumes with a softer scent?’
‘Ah, my apologies. I have a cold right now, so my sense of smell is a bit dull at the moment.’
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