The employee named Becky bit her lower lip, momentarily looking indignant.

Yes, I understand that feeling of injustice. But the person in front of you is an investor of the Liv Department Store. He’s Baron Alec, who holds a 15% stake.

While Baron Alec wasn’t looking at me, I quickly clasped my hands together, silently pleading with Becky. Recognizing my intention, Becky sighed briefly and bowed.

“I apologize for my inexperience. However, according to our policy, I cannot refund the full purchase amount. We will refund the amount minus the cleaning costs.”

Impressive. To mention regulations even in this situation. What a gutsy employee.

Baron Alec, perhaps reading the uncomfortable atmosphere, accepted Becky’s proposal.

“Ahem, very well.”

I mouthed ‘sorry’ to Becky. Then I quickly smiled at Baron Alec.

“Baron, since you’ve visited after so long, would you like to come upstairs and have tea with me?”

I could predict what would come out of Baron Alec’s mouth, but I couldn’t just send him away upset.

If he suddenly decided to withdraw all his investment or sell his shares to someone unfriendly to me, that would be another headache.

“Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you.”

“Discuss?”

“Yes, let’s talk upstairs.”

What could it be? Is he really asking to withdraw his investment? If he wants to sell his shares, I could use the investment money from Michael to buy the Baron’s stake. But that would disrupt my plans for expanding the department store.

Construction had already begun, so I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

‘The fire insurance money will come too late.’

With an anxious heart, I escorted Baron Alec to the president’s office. But what he requested as soon as he sat down was surprising in a different way.

“What!? If your wife finds out, I’ll be the one in trouble!”

Meanwhile, Cedric tactfully brought tea and left the president’s office.

The Baron continued tapping his cane while making his outrageous request.

“Not for long. Just hold onto them for one day and I’ll return everything.”

“No matter what, if Baroness Sophia damages any merchandise, it would be troublesome for us.”

“Then how about this? I’ll give the department store 10% of the total amount of goods my wife purchases. Just return 90% of the item prices.”

What the Baron asked me was to accept his request to return all the items his shopping-addicted wife would buy two days later.

“If word gets out, many gentlemen will come with the same request.”

“We just need to be careful not to let it spread. I’ll send a carriage loaded with goods in the late evening or early dawn for returns.”

No matter how I think about it, this proposal only disadvantages me. Even if he is a major investor with significant shares in the department store. Isn’t this too much?

“The additional wages for staff working evenings or dawn would be considerable. You know very well that our department store currently has no night security.”

I was planning to hire more for security soon anyway. But who would enjoy doing hard labor in the dawn or evening instead of security work?

“Then how about this? I’ll reduce my monthly revenue by 10% as well. Use that to hire night security.”

That changes things. Since I was going to hire night security anyway, it would be like Baron Alec covering those labor costs.

I covered my forehead with my hand, pretending to be troubled.

“Ah, I have no choice. I’ll bear the loss. Since it’s a request from none other than you, Baron Alec.”

“Good. I’m not doing this because of money. It’s because my wife keeps buying useless things. Do you know how difficult it is when impractical items keep piling up at home?”

Baroness Sophia does have severe shopping addiction. But as far as I know, she mostly buys things for her family, yet even this seems to displease the frugal Baron Alec.

I quickly changed the subject before he could get more upset.

“By the way, how is your daughter who’s studying abroad these days? I noticed Baroness Sophia frequently purchases formal dresses for her.”

Baron Alec’s expression hardened momentarily.

“That…… is none of your business.”

“Still, your daughter is truly remarkable. Going abroad to study foreign medical techniques. And I admire you for allowing her to do so.”

Did I choose the wrong person to compliment? Baron Alec remained silent for a while. But I couldn’t compliment his late-born son either. Baron Alec’s son cannot speak. I feared asking about his son’s well-being might upset the Baron even more.

“How old are you this year?”

“Twenty.”

“About the same age as my daughter. You and my daughter have quite similar personalities in subtle ways. It would have been nice if you had become friends.”

“When your daughter finishes her studies, she’ll return to the Empire, right? If you permit it then, I’d like to be her friend.”

The Baron rubbed his face with his palm and stood up.

“I enjoyed the tea. And my daughter will likely never return to Ostonia.”

“???”

“According to my wife, she met a foreign man and plans to live there permanently.”

From Baron Alec’s bitter smile, I could guess. That he didn’t have a particularly good relationship with his daughter.

“So if my wife happens to buy anything related to our daughter, please step in and stop her. That woman is pitiful, trying to fill her emptiness with material things.”

I smiled as I saw him off. It was getting close to Blair Lansard’s arrival time, so I needed to head down to the alterations room right away.

“I’m counting on you.”

Baron Alec repeatedly asked me to prevent his wife’s excessive spending before leaving. But how could I restrain Baroness Sophia when even her husband couldn’t control her? All I could do was keep the lonely lady company.

When I returned after seeing him off, Cedric, who had been waiting for me, seemed to have heard our entire conversation from outside the door.

“The Baron must be going through a difficult time as well.”

Is that so? Well, his daughter went abroad and cut off contact, his wife has a shopping addiction, and his late-born son cannot speak. Baron Alec’s shoulders must be heavy indeed.

“President, there’s a message from the alterations room. Blair has arrived.”

“Ah, let’s go down now.”

When we arrived at the alterations room, Blair was wearing a well-fitted coat and standing in front of the mirror. She examined herself from various angles in the reflection.

“Ready-made clothing sizes are offensive. How am I ‘large’ in any way? Anyone can see I have a voluptuous average figure.”

The ready-made clothing salesperson smiled brightly, humoring her.

“Exactly! Blair’s figure is too perfect for ready-made clothes to accommodate. But isn’t it wonderful that with just a few alterations, it fits perfectly? It really suits you.”

“Is that so? I guess I saved an ordinary outfit.”

“This is a secret, but in a few weeks, there will be a major sale with a new ready-made clothing section for young people. I’ve seen the designs in advance, and they’re more stylish than most custom-made clothes.”

“Oh, really?”

“And the prices are so reas—I mean, appropriate. If beautiful young people like you wear them around town, it would be great advertising. Unfortunately, the quantity is limited, so only those who come early will be able to purchase them. It’s just a trial section for now.”

Blair’s ears perked up, taking the bait from the sales associate.

‘Our staff is quite skilled.’

I stood at the very back, impressed by my employee’s sales ability. I wanted to applaud her.

Blair, noticing me belatedly, frowned.

“Charlotte, it’s been a while.”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

Blair was close with Laura but strangely kept her distance from me. I don’t know the reason. But since people sometimes simply don’t get along, I hadn’t made efforts to become friends with her either.

“I’ll wear this outfit out.”

Blair brushed past me. If Cedric hadn’t blocked the doorway, pretending to look at something, I would have certainly missed her.

“Blair, could you spare me some time?”

“I don’t know. I’m busy right now.”

“I have something to ask you. I’d like to treat you to our department store café’s special dessert. Please give me a chance.”

What I offered her was a limited-edition dessert with a set daily quantity.

‘Not everyone can taste this. What do you think?’

Sure enough, Blair hesitated briefly before nodding primly.

“If you insist, alright.”

We settled in a corner of the café. Cedric took the trouble to bring the food himself.

As Blair sipped her sweet drink, her eyes wandered several times toward my secretary. Judging by her flushed cheeks, she seemed interested in handsome men.

“Blair. Have you ever received a letter from Laura?”

My question must have seemed abrupt, as Blair chirped back, “Why bring up letters all of a sudden?”

“After we fought over the brooch, Laura and I became distant. After that, we only exchanged New Year’s greeting letters out of courtesy and occasionally saw each other at gatherings. I didn’t even attend Laura’s funeral.”

“I see.”

I nodded and turned my attention to the cake slice on the table. Cedric had brought quite a variety of desserts, and Blair was busily moving her fork, stuffing her cheeks full.

‘She didn’t react much when I mentioned the letter.’

So the person sending me Laura’s letters isn’t Blair?

After chewing and swallowing her cake, Blair took a drink and wiped her mouth with a napkin before asking me,

“How are you these days? You used to be so close with Laura, following her everywhere.”

“I’m the same as always. Busy running the department store.”

Blair snorted derisively.

“You always coveted Laura’s things. I hear rumors you’re getting close with Marquis Paine these days. Is that true?”

Not that it’s any of my business.

She added this annoying comment while putting a fruit tart in her mouth.

“I coveted Laura’s things?”

With her mouth full, Blair couldn’t answer immediately. She just raised one eyebrow and nodded slightly. After a while, she spoke again.

“Didn’t you take my coral brooch because you wanted it, then lost it?”

What is she talking about?

“No. I’ve never seen your brooch, let alone touched it.”

I knew that Laura and Blair had fought over a coral brooch in the past. But had Blair thought all this time that I was the one who lost it?