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Chapter 10
If Hudson and Emma hadn’t realized that keeping their mouths shut was the wiser choice in this situation, neither of them would have been standing where they were now.
As a result, the conversation between Evelyn and Natalie flowed smoothly.
“What a pleasant surprise, meeting Lady Natalie here. It sounded rather lively a moment ago… Has something happened?”
“Oh, perfect timing. Lady Evelyn, take a look at this store. Edwin agreed to move into this department store, and can you believe they assigned us a place like this?”
Natalie ushered Evelyn inside as she launched into her complaints.
She looked ready to unleash an endless torrent of grievances like a wound-up toy whose spring had finally been released.
But Evelyn was one step ahead.
“What a charming atmosphere this store has. The lighting isn’t too bright, which makes it feel very elegant. Has the interior already been completed?”
“…Pardon? Well, not entirely. The basics are finished, of course, but…”
“Edwin is such a prestigious and historic brand. If there had been too many lights, perhaps it would have been a shame because the refined dignity of Edwin might not have stood out properly.”
Natalie blinked blankly.
“…I-Is that so?”
“I think so. Though of course, Lady Natalie would know better than I would.”
“What are you saying? Everyone knows Primrose has been one of Edwin’s loyal customers for years.”
As Evelyn said, Edwin was a long-established brand with noble roots and a rich history.
From simple designs to extravagant creations, its defining characteristics were elegance, tradition, and weighty sophistication.
That aesthetic appealed strongly to distinguished noble families and, naturally, to wealthy individuals who wished to emulate them.
Because of that, the opinion of a daughter of the Primrose family—a house unmatched in pedigree even among great noble families—was not something Edwin could simply dismiss.
“B-But look over there. The clock tower is right in front of this window!”
“It is. And with the roundabout in front, there will be a tremendous amount of foot traffic. If you display your flagship products here, everyone passing by will glance at them at least once.”
The department store stood in the center of Monders.
Not only was there a clock tower nearby, but a large circular roundabout sat at the intersection in front of the building.
As a result, the clock tower lined up directly with Edwin’s storefront.
But it was also true that this was the location with the highest pedestrian traffic.
Evelyn continued, adding several more compliments.
The lights weren’t positioned too closely, making them easier on the eyes.
The store appeared more spacious than neighboring shops.
And so on.
Natalie had already been favorably disposed toward Evelyn.
Before long, she was completely swept up in Evelyn’s perspective and nearly signed the contract on the spot.
Had Roman not managed to keep a clear head, she might really have done exactly that.
Barely restraining Natalie—who was now talking about how much she liked the store—he hurriedly brought the meeting to a close.
“Since concerns were raised initially, we’ll consult with our superior and contact you again afterward.”
“Of course. Please take all the time you need!”
Just moments ago, their attitude had been:
If you want to change the location, contact us first.
Now it had become:
We’ll contact you first.
No one pointed it out, but everyone understood what was happening.
This was simply a way for Edwin to save face.
After loudly threatening to cancel the contract, immediately signing it would have been rather embarrassing.
As such, there was a greater than ninety percent chance that Edwin’s eventual response would be positive.
Especially now that they could no longer use Natalie’s objections as justification for demanding a better position.
“Let’s meet again soon, Evelyn!”
Natalie departed with a bright smile.
Only after her carriage had completely disappeared down the street did Dylan finally enter the department store with Noel.
“Looks like everything ended well.”
“President!”
Only then did Hudson and Emma finally relax.
“Why on earth did you arrive so late?”
“Quit whining. Would my presence alone have solved this mess? I sent someone who could handle it, didn’t I?”
Dylan replied with a sneer and gestured toward Evelyn.
Emma, finally recovering from her shock, hurried over to Evelyn.
“Come to think of it, President, if she hadn’t been here, this could have become a disaster!”
“A disaster indeed. I nearly would have replaced both the branch manager and the building supervisor before the store even opened.”
After saying that, Dylan looked toward Evelyn.
There was only one thing he had to say about the entire situation.
“You got lucky.”
* * *
Before leaving, Dylan had taken Evelyn to Everdare Department Store’s flagship branch in the capital.
After pushing her into a private shopping room, he immediately began issuing orders to Noel.
“We don’t have time. Call the manager and bring clothes. Start with outerwear. Then a parasol, a handbag… What else? And what’s wrong with your shoes? Did you run all the way here?”
“…There were circumstances. More importantly, why are we here? Weren’t we supposed to go to Monders?”
“You said you wanted to help me. Then you can’t show up looking like that. We need to dress you as expensively as possible.”
A luxury brand threatening not to move into the Monders department store.
And the noblewoman standing before him who, for reasons he still didn’t understand, insisted on helping him.
Combining those two facts led Dylan to a single conclusion.
“Dress expensively and go in first. I’ll enter after assessing the situation.”
He intended to use the prestige attached to Evelyn’s name.
Even if the woman before him were penniless, she possessed something priceless:
The beloved princess of the Primrose family.
A noble status that no amount of money could ever buy.
“What good is noble status if you don’t use it at times like this?”
“I honestly don’t understand what you’re talking about. Why are we buying all these things, and what does my status have to do with anything…?”
“Listen carefully. I only have time to explain this once.”
Dylan was not a patient man.
Normally, he would never waste time thoroughly persuading and reassuring a clueless noble lady.
But he genuinely needed Evelyn’s help.
So he scraped together every last bit of his limited patience.
“As you know, most executives of luxury brands are nobles. Pureblood nobles, at that. Can you think of a single first-rate brand owner who isn’t from a distinguished noble family?”
“…No.”
“Exactly. Which means it’s far more effective for you to go and say a few pleasant words than for someone low-born like me. The high and mighty always seem selectively deaf when people beneath them speak.”
Evelyn fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Dylan seemed to prefer that.
Positioning her in front of a full-length mirror, he continued.
“But in your current state, you won’t have much impact. Anyone would think you ran away from home.”
“…At least I’m wearing gloves.”
“How impressive. Save that praise for your tutor.”
He pulled several outfits from the racks brought by Noel and the department store staff, then handed them all to a maid.
“Dress her in these. Put her hair up as well. Make her look every bit the noble lady.”
“Yes, President.”
The maid, experienced in assisting wealthy customers and high-ranking nobles with fittings, was exceptionally skilled.
She swiftly helped Evelyn change clothes and styled her hair.
Evelyn was astonished once by the maid’s skill and then again by how beautiful she looked afterward.
Dylan’s eye for fashion was remarkable.
To choose such a perfect outfit in such a short amount of time was impressive.
Dylan himself seemed satisfied with his selection.
When Evelyn emerged fully dressed, he nodded approvingly.
“Good. Now all you need to do is go over there and say whatever benefits us, no matter what they’re talking about.”
Still struggling to process everything that had happened so quickly, Evelyn blinked blankly before asking:
“I’ll do it, but… do you really trust me?”
“I don’t.”
He answered immediately.
“But when you’re desperate, you’ll even borrow a cat’s paw.”
Then Dylan glanced sideways at her.
“If you truly meant what you said about helping me, then do something.”
