“This one you’re wearing was once a privately customized design for the daughter of a noble family that owned an estate covering one-fifth of the Empire. The materials used are all top-grade fabrics and rare resources.”
“Huh… how much did you say?!”
Three hundred gold coins. If selling myself could get ten gold coins… then I’d need to sell myself thirty times to pay it off.
Hailey suddenly looked awkwardly toward Idledra behind her.
Idledra, too, stared at the gentle Laura with an expression that clearly said are you joking, as if trying to confirm that this wasn’t some excessive joke.
After all, she was the one wearing it. Hailey helplessly touched the clothes on her body.
She had to admit that the outfit seemed as if it had been designed for her from the start—perfectly fitted, with almost no discomfort at all.
So she put on a solemn expression and looked at Idledra, as if facing death, making a heroic “sell me for money” gesture.
“Pfft—hahaha! Don’t worry. Even if someone gave me a thousand gold coins, I wouldn’t sell our adorable Holy Maiden.”
Startled by Hailey’s overly serious expression, Idledra quickly figured out her innocent thoughts and couldn’t help but pull Hailey into her arms and laugh softly.
She even gave Laura a thumbs-up.
“This silly Hailey—whether it’s a thousand or ten thousand gold coins, I wouldn’t hand you over. You’re far more precious than those shiny coins.”
She whispered this in Hailey’s ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, instantly shattering Hailey’s serious face into a pink, shy blush.
Watching the scene, Laura covered her mouth and laughed as well.
Then she took out a beautifully crafted, brand-new parchment from beneath the counter, even decorating it with a frame.
“If the Holy Maiden can’t come up with that much money right now, how about we discuss a deal instead…?”
Written neatly on the parchment with a feather pen dipped in blue ink were elegant words.
Hailey held Idledra’s hand and carefully examined every single word, afraid of being tricked through some loophole.
“Th-this… long-term clothing model? Exclusive model?!”
“That’s right. This is a brand-new plan specially tailored for you after considering your charm. What do you think?”
Although Laura spoke with apparent understanding, her hands beneath the counter were already excitedly working an abacus.
Being able to have the Holy Maiden—one of a kind in the Holy See—as a model for her shop was an absolute bargain no matter how one looked at it.
Even if the Holy See came knocking, with the Holy Maiden’s personal signature, there’d be nothing they could do to her small shop.
Surely the Holy See wouldn’t lower itself to argue with a roadside store like hers.
“Coming to the shop at regular intervals to try on new clothes, and serving as a model to attract customers…”
It sounded a bit like putting herself on display behind the counter as merchandise—kind of embarrassing…
Hailey struggled between money and her negligible sense of shame.
Meanwhile, Idledra took on a thoughtful pose. After a long moment, she suddenly looked at Hailey with great conviction, as if she had grasped some cosmic truth.
So that’s it—was she actually a genius? Had she found a perfect solution?
Though still doubtful, Hailey looked at Idledra expectantly.
“I think, first of all, the clothes used for modeling trials should be allowed to be taken home, right? Such a cute Holy Maiden definitely needs new clothes.”
“Of course. They’re the shop’s best advertisement. We’d love for the Holy Maiden to wear them outside more often.”
Laura agreed generously. Only then did Hailey seem to realize something—Idledra had basically sold her out.
“Well then, thank you for your patronage. Please come again. Our shop will always be at your service!”
After politely seeing off the two distinguished guests, Laura looked at the “Closed” sign she had put up earlier for uninterrupted work.
She simply locked the door, collapsed onto the sofa, and even gave her employees the day off.
Since things had come to this, she might as well settle in.
The annoying people were chased away, the honored guests were secured—so as a reward, she’d take the day to relax…
“That damned little girl—she almost fooled me. If it weren’t for the people sent by the Second Prince telling me the truth, I might’ve really believed she had some connection to the Imperial Family…”
At the distant street corner, Lady Somas, who had returned with a group of servants, once again marched toward Laura’s shop with a dark expression.
But just as she was about to cause a scene, all she saw was a quiet “Temporarily Closed” sign hanging on the door, with the shop tightly locked.
Could it be that although she scared me off for now, that girl was still afraid of my power and had no choice but to close the shop…?
“If that’s the case, then the Second Prince’s task should be considered complete, right?”
The anger from being deceived was swept away by the noblewoman’s own smug satisfaction.
She laughed loudly and left with her servants, completely failing to notice Hailey and Idledra, who had just departed not far away.
“Huh? Did I just hear a bunch of people yelling at my shop entrance…? Was that my imagination?”
Hearing the noise, Laura gently pushed the door open and peeked out, but saw nothing.
By then, the noblewoman was already preparing to report her success to the Second Prince.
“By the way, are we really just walking out like this? What if we get recognized again?”
Walking along the street, as it was already nearing midday, vendors and crowds had begun to increase.
After changing into her new clothes, Hailey was also gifted a new hat by Laura—a beekeepers’-style hat with a silk veil attached to the brim.
It wouldn’t get blown away by the wind, didn’t obstruct her vision, and perfectly concealed her face.
“Almost there, almost there. Once we pass this street, we’ll be back in the residential district.”
Idledra gently rubbed Hailey’s palm. Because of the hat, she could no longer use comforting head-patting as an excuse.
This was absolutely the hat’s worst design flaw!
With a regretful and disappointed expression, Idledra walked along the street.
Suddenly, she lightly tapped Hailey’s shoulder, slowly pressed her down, then quickly whispered something into her ear, gently giving it a playful bite.
“I want to eat the sweet bread made by Miss Luna. Hailey, shall we have that for lunch?”
“Honestly… you didn’t need to whisper that to me. I know. We’ll stop by on the way.”
Before Hailey could finish her reply, she realized the girl beside her had already disappeared at some point.
After everything that had happened, she seemed to understand Idledra’s intention and continued walking calmly.
If she felt safe leaving me alone, then she must have her reasons… hopefully it won’t end with me picking someone up from the roadside again in the middle of the night…
“Talk. Which member of the Imperial Family sent you?”
At the far end of an alley, two suspicious figures stared in terror at the smiling “Witch” standing before them.