It was a spring morning filled with warm sunlight.

Evelyn was enjoying a leisurely sleep when Alpi delivered a letter to her.

Still half-asleep, Evelyn read it, then suddenly shrieked.

“What?!”

“My lady, what’s wrong?!”

‘This is insane! The gods haven’t abandoned me after all!’

A wicked chuckle escaped Evelyn.

All the terrible things that had happened at the princess’s birthday celebration several days ago must have been bad luck she had endured in advance for this very moment.

Evelyn carefully reread Madlette’s letter.

[This morning, Lord Iole personally visited the Black Diamond Club to report that he had found the pouch containing our invitations.

Fortunately, we had just finished preparing the new establishment.

Lord Iole expressed interest in the invitation’s promise to arrange introductions, so I recommended Lady Lilda, whom you previously mentioned.

The two of them are scheduled to spend time together this afternoon at an upscale restaurant near Fountain Square.]

That was Madlette for you.

Evelyn smiled in satisfaction. Madlette handled everything swiftly and efficiently without needing every little detail explained to her.

“Alpi, help me get ready to go out.”

“Pardon? You said you were exhausted, and you haven’t even left your room for days… Are you certain you’ll be all right?”

“That’s precisely why I need to get some fresh air.”

Even with such an outstanding employee working for her, Evelyn was still the owner. She could hardly remain idle.

More importantly, these were the Black Diamond Club’s first clients.

The future of any matchmaking service depended upon the identity of its first successful couple.

That was particularly true in Lagria.

No matter what it took, Evelyn intended to bring Lilda and Iole together.

‘I’m a little concerned about that idiot Germand, or was it Germund? Still, considering how powerless he becomes in front of his son, I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

Evelyn wrapped herself in a large hooded cloak.

With Adonea remaining quiet for the past few days, this was the perfect opportunity to begin conducting business in earnest.

‘Just you wait. I’ll crush you with money.’

A chilling light emanated from Evelyn’s eyes.

They were unmistakably the eyes of a businesswoman consumed by greed.

***

“Whew. Now that was satisfying work.”

Jean, the finest carpenter in Lagria’s capital, gazed proudly at the apothecary on one of the city’s main streets.

Has it already been a week? Perhaps ten days?

Late one night, an agitated woman had suddenly approached him to commission extensive renovations.

“I intend to run an apothecary on the first floor and another business for receiving clients on the second. Both must appear luxurious, and I need everything completed as quickly as possible!”

The young woman, who introduced herself as Madlette, had promptly poured a pile of märchen coins onto the table.

Quickly, precisely, and beautifully.

Those were the three things Madlette demanded.

Jean had first calmed her down before beginning a proper consultation.

Madlette explained that she already operated an apothecary and intended to expand it to a location on the main street while opening a new business on the second floor.

She added that the upstairs business was highly confidential and therefore required exceptional security.

Passersby needed to become curious about what was inside, yet they could not be allowed to determine exactly what kind of business it was.

Jean had given her an odd look at the complicated and delicate request.

“Are you planning to conduct some sort of illegal business? Because if you are…”

“I swear it is nothing illegal. But my clients will be high-ranking nobles, so the business cannot attract too much attention.”

Jean had been curious, but Madlette’s resolute expression persuaded him not to ask further questions.

More than anything, he wanted to make the best possible impression upon the beautiful woman before him, a capable commoner who appeared to have accumulated a respectable fortune.

And how exhausting the following days of construction had been.

The labor had been so intense that he might never have endured it if Madlette had not smiled sweetly while bringing the workers homemade cookies and freshly brewed tea.

Nevertheless, they had completed the work on schedule.

Naturally, once the renovations were finished, Jean’s interactions with Madlette came to an end.

He stared wistfully at Oilet, one of his finest recent works, and the nameless establishment above it.

‘If the construction had taken a little longer, I would have had more time to talk to her.’

“…Come to think of it, didn’t Mother complain of a headache today?”

Searching for an excuse to visit Oilet, Jean examined his reflection in the window.

He had heard that Madlette was around his age.

And aside from her age, there was her quiet, refined beauty.

Jean grinned foolishly as he fussed with his hair. Then someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

“Excuse me. Would you mind moving? You’re in the way.”

“In the way? You could simply walk around me.”

Annoyed, Jean turned around.

Two hooded women stood behind him.

The taller one restrained the woman in front before opening Oilet’s door.

“My lady, please stop! Excuse us, but we’re in a hurry, so we’ll be going inside first.”

“As though I have all the time in the world…”

The woman in front suddenly addressed Jean in a sharp tone.

“Hey, mister. Are you close to the woman who owns this place?”

“What? Well, I wouldn’t exactly say we’re… Ahem! Yes, we’re close. Or I’d like us to become… But what business is that of yours?!”

Jean had begun blushing unconsciously, then abruptly raised his voice.

The woman, Evelyn, folded her arms and sighed.

“I thought it was strange that you kept peeking inside. You’re definitely not suitable. You’re loud, you smell, and you seem ridiculously full of yourself. Even your face makes you look greedy.”

Jean’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly at Evelyn’s scathing assessment.

The taller woman, Alpi, laughed awkwardly and hurried inside Oilet.

“My lady, please! Excuse us, we’ll be going now! Ha-ha-ha!”

Jean stood frozen for a moment before storming into the apothecary.

“Who are you calling smelly and greedy…? Huh?”

The bell jingled above the door.

He had marched inside impressively enough, but the two women were nowhere in sight.

The shop was spacious and filled with display shelves, so they must have already disappeared into the back.

Hearing the commotion, Madlette emerged.

She recognized Jean immediately.

“Jean? What brings you here?”

“Ah, well… Ha-ha! It has been a while, Madlette!”

Jean blushed and fidgeted.

Now that Madlette was actually standing before him, he could not seem to make the words come out.

He scratched his head bashfully.

“My mother hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Could you give me a bundle of herbs that might help with her headaches?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll prepare them for you immediately.”

Jean grinned foolishly at Madlette’s gentle smile.

Watching the exchange from the second-floor staircase, Evelyn’s eyes blazed.

‘How dare that hulking bear of a man set his sights on Madlette?’

“…I’ll have to find Madlette a partner soon, before a lout like that tries anything.”

“My lady, the way you said that was frightening.”

Evelyn folded her arms with a huff.

Well, even if Jean was unsuitable as Madlette’s husband, she could at least commend him for turning the first-floor apothecary into such an elegant establishment.

Alpi followed Evelyn upstairs and stared around with wide eyes.

“My lady, this place is beautiful! How did Madlette suddenly acquire enough money for all this?”

“Who knows? Perhaps a fairy helped her.”

“Then it really was you, my lady?!”

“…Do I look like a fairy to you?”

Looking dumbfounded, Evelyn settled onto a plush sofa.

She had told Madlette to find a suitable space above the apothecary because they would need a new office when the business began, but she had not expected everything to be completed so quickly.

‘Madlette said she personally selected everything, right down to the curtain fabric. Her taste is truly exceptional.’

The mahogany furniture, imported wallpaper, and every antique ornament were of the highest quality.

Evelyn inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of wealth surrounding her.

“Those pretentious nobles will adore it.”

A luxury strategy always began with attention to the smallest details.

Humming, Evelyn searched the desk.

She found a brief itinerary Madlette had prepared for Lilda and Iole’s date.

Madlette soon came upstairs.

“Lady Evelyn, you seem especially pleased today.”

“Of course. I’ve been hoping these two would meet.”

Madlette and Evelyn exchanged conspiratorial smiles.

Only Alpi, who knew nothing of the situation, looked confused.

“They’re meeting? Are you seeing someone else today?”

“Perhaps. Alpi, you said you studied herbalism before, didn’t you? Would you go downstairs and choose some herbs that are good for colds?”

“But this is Madlette’s shop…”

“It’s perfectly fine. You’re not a stranger, Alpi. Feel free to look around as much as you like.”

At Madlette’s words, Alpi scratched her head shyly.

“Oh, really? Well, if you insist! I’ll go have a look.”

Madlette watched Alpi hurry away with an affectionate expression.

“She truly is adorable.”

“She is. Innocent, too, the sort of person who could easily be swindled wherever she goes.”

“Then we simply have to protect her so that it never happens. In any case, she is a genuinely kind and good person.”

Madlette spoke calmly, but a smile lingered upon her lips.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow as she studied her.

‘…So that’s Madlette’s preference.’

Evelyn decided that if the Black Diamond Club succeeded, she would eventually organize a small group specifically for same-s*x couples.

Evelyn and Madlette began discussing the future direction of the business.

Once they produced their first successful couple, word of mouth would spread, and inquiries would come pouring in.

That did not mean they could accept everyone, however, especially not too many noblemen.

“The noblemen will probably show more interest in the club. Be relatively flexible when accepting noblewomen as members, but subject the noblemen to strict screening. Only accept the most carefully selected candidates.”

“Understood, Lady Evelyn.”

“We also need several female members who enjoy gossiping. First, recruit more respectable noblemen. Then introduce them to noblewomen who like talking about other people.”

“Couldn’t that lead to harmful rumors?”

“They won’t dare. They’ll have their own reputations to protect.”

“I understand. I’ll send another letter once I’ve organized the list.”

After concluding their serious discussion, Evelyn slid down from the sofa with a small grunt.

“Then I’ll leave everything in your capable hands, Miss Madlette. Our next lesson is approaching, so I’ll see you then.”

“Yes. Oh, did you find the problems difficult?”

“Of course not. Though they might have been a little difficult for Adonea.”

Humming cheerfully, Evelyn left the room.

Alpi still appeared completely absorbed in examining the herbs.

Behind her, Evelyn heard Madlette come downstairs to help.

‘Now, shall I conduct a little reconnaissance? Madlette needs time to catch her breath anyway.’

Tol would still be at school, so he would not be around to bother them.

Evelyn quietly slipped out of Oilet and headed toward the restaurant where Lilda and Iole were supposed to meet.

The restaurant’s lavish interior immediately captured her attention.

The manager, who was about to show a customer to their table, stared uncertainly at the hooded woman before him.

“Um… Are you alone?”

“Yes. I’d like to come inside. Is that a problem?”

Evelyn handed him one märchen as a tip.

The manager’s eyes widened, and he immediately hurried to find her a table.

“Ha-ha! Please make yourself comfortable. We’ll have your food prepared at once.”

Proper attire might have been important, but anyone capable of tipping an entire märchen would probably have been admitted even if they arrived n*ked.

‘Sometimes I think this world worships money even more than the one I lived in before.’

Evelyn sighed as she took her seat.

Then a familiar face caught her eye.

‘…Isn’t that Locke?’