My Sweet Deceiver - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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After business hours, a group of people flocked to the number one department store in Lubern. The luxurious and grandeur built by Delphine, the most famous architect in Valloise, is one of the places that every woman in Valloise wants to visit at least once.
The three-story stone building was so splendid that it was said to be the second Bellyu Palace. When you enter the department store’s first floor, the Crystal Staircase in the front is particularly famous.
Each handle was delicately decorated, so it was not a waste of time just looking at them all day long.
There was something else as famous as the Crystal Staircase. It was a ceiling made of glass, and light from the glass ceiling illuminated every nook and cranny of the department store.
“Incredible.”
The man in the wrinkled coat said to the person next to him. The other person must have been embarrassed by the man’s appearance, so he straightened his collar with his hand.
“I know, right. Bellyu Palace is the perfect word for it.”
Those who visited the department store for the first time were busy looking around, not knowing where to look at the splendour. At the same time, they took pictures, and some people took out a notebook and wrote down something.
A woman was looking at such people with a satisfied expression.
“Come on, come on in. Welcome, reporters.”
She took a step forward and caught the attention of the people.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Delphine, the owner of the Rocher Department Store and the top owner of Rocher. Thank you very much for your precious time today.”
The woman who introduced herself as Delphine was a tall beauty dressed in a black evening dress. The dress, designed to flow through her body, accentuated her voluptuous figure. She greeted politely, and people clapped their hands.
“Some of you may have experienced the Rocher Department Store, but others may not. First, enjoy the dinner on the third floor and take your time to look around. We’ll pack everything you’ve chosen today and send it to your home.”
“Really?”
People were surprised and asked back.
“Of course, our thoroughly trained department store clerks will serve you. So, we will recommend the products that best suit our reporters. So please don’t be shy and accept my little sincerity.”
Reporters were all smiles and excited as if they wanted to rush out to the product display, regardless of the meal.
“First, let’s start with a meal prepared with care.”
Delphine led people to the Crystal Staircase, the pride of the department store. People looked at everything Delphine was introducing them to.
When they went up to the third floor, an open space appeared. About 10 round tables were placed throughout the open area.
“We’ve put your name tags on every table.”
The waiters standing on one side checked their names and guided them to their seats.
As soon as the reporters sat down, the band began to play, and the employees started serving the appetizers. The Amuse Boucherau was served in a small bowl of potato soup. After emptying the Amuse Boucherau, the appetizer was served. It was a dish topped with white sauce on cooked stingray flesh and added freshness of lemon.
There was plenty of caviar on top of the meat. The servers explained the ingredients to the guests and filled the glasses with wine.
All of these things were flowing like water.
Reporters were getting more and more excited by the service they had never experienced before.
At best, they were only those who had been to trendy restaurants in the emerging areas of Lubern. Reporters were a bunch of people who wrote fake or exaggerated articles to increase sales, which would result in their salaries going up. Otherwise, they have to make a living on a salty salary.
Delphine raised the corners of her mouth behind the curtain and looked at the expressions of the reporters. Then, as she had already figured out, she approached the reporters and talked to them.
“Reporter André. How do you like our cooking?”
“Oh, it’s very delicious!”
“Thank you.”
Delphine smiled enchantingly. A blush appeared on the face of a reporter named André.
“I read your article about our department store last time, Reporter André.”
“Oh, did you?”
“Yes, I thought there would be no other phrase that describes our department store so well. You called it ’a social hall for prodigal gangsters’.”
After saying that, Delphine covered her mouth and laughed.
“I’m sorry.”
The reporter bowed his head in embarrassment.
“Oh, my. What do you mean by sorry? It is necessary to write critical articles as you did. Thanks to the article, department store sales were pretty good that week. I guess you all wanted to come to the promiscuous lady’s social hall, didn’t you?”
“…”
“Reporter, laugh. Ah, I can’t even joke.”
“Ha, ha, ha.”
Jeremy André grinned, scratching his head.
“Oh yeah. I’m going to run an advertisement for a department store, but would you like to place an advertisement where you are at Le Figaro?”
“Of course. You’re always welcome.”
“Please talk to the advertising manager in detail…”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“Reporter, there must be a reason why I’m talking to you right now.”
Delphine poked his chest with her index finger. Jeremy hesitated as if he didn’t understand Delphine’s meaning.
“I am sure you know well that I have a deep connection with Rizhe Palace.”
Rizhe Palace.
It was a nickname for Tehez’s palace.
It was the palace where the Princesses lived for generations.
“Oh, oh, yes. That’s right.”
Jeremy agreed with her, despite hearing it for the first time.
“She took me back from being a bully. Thanks to Her Grace, I’ve established myself this much in Lubern.”
Delphine lowered her eyes sadly.
There was no man who wouldn’t fall for the sad face of this beautiful woman.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But these days, she’s been having a hard time, so I don’t feel comfortable.”
“How come?”
Jeremy felt like hugging her sad shoulders and comforting her.
“It’s because of rumours or articles by the people who don’t know her?”
Jeremy, who frequently wrote critical articles about the Prince and Princess, felt a prick in her chest.
It was a sense of guilt.
“Well, I see.”
“Yes, I must repay her. Would the reporter help me?”
Delphine clasped Jeremy’s hands.
“Oh… How… How…?”
“I think you know that better.”
With a small sigh, Delphine took a small box out of her handbag.
“This is a small token of my gratitude for coming today.”
“Well, really this… welcome. Thank you.”
Jeremy didn’t know what he was saying, and he took the box.
He opened the box slightly and peeped through the gap to see what was in it. It was a men’s watch famous for its expensive price!
He heard only rumours, but it was his first time seeing it in person. Even if he took this and sold it to a store, he would be able to play and eat for three months.
As Jeremy raised his head, he saw Delphine smiling softly.
Jeremy André, who looked around his left and right, shoved the box into the pocket of his own coat pocket after confirming that people were drunk and no one was watching.
“It’s nice to help each other. Right, reporter?”
As Delphine smiled coyly, Jeremy smiled as if possessed.
Delphine wiped the dust off Jeremy’s shirt with her fingertips and shook her head once again. She got up from the seat next to him, and turned to the other reporters.
Delphine handed out all the gift boxes she had prepared for the reporters.
She called the servers.
She ordered them to give the reporters lots of drinks and let them be distracted from choosing products from the shelves.
She didn’t want to suffer any more damage.
Delphine clapped her hands twice and shouted.
“Come on, everybody, go get some more wine. No one walks out on two feet today.”
***
“Tell me again.”
“Ah, the Marquis of Benchetrit withdrew his support…”
It was when Fabrice was playing poker with the noble children at the social club. He was in a good mood as he was in the middle of scoring points. But that feeling didn’t last long. It was because of the words his servant hurriedly ran to him with a pale complexion.
“What? No, why?”
“V-Vu Mahe mine rights are no longer needed.”
The servant bowed his head with regret.
Fabrice pushed his hair back roughly.
“Prince, what’s wrong?”
A poker player at the same table asked.
“Shut up. It’s too loud.”
Fabrice answered curtly and untied her tie roughly.
He picked up his coat and rose from his seat.
“You guys play it all by yourselves.”
He hurried to the palace.
He felt like he had to know the whole story.
“Tell me more.”
Baron Barbier, who was summoned to the palace in the middle of the night, had the back of his head pressed down.
That was not the point.
“Most of the minerals from the Vu Mahe mine are cobalt stones, but the quality is not exceptional. It can be safely used in Valloise. Cobalt, as you well know, ranks in Enland as a superior grade, and Enland has never released it before.”
“So? What’s the problem?”
“Well, but Enland approved it.”
“What? Exporting cobalts?”
“Yes, yes. That’s what they said. The price of cobalt from the Vu Mahe mine has plummeted because it is being imported exclusively from the top of Rocher.”
Fabrice gulped down the strong drink in silence.
“Well, I think that’s why the Marquis of Benchetrit withdrew. Noticing that profitability is declining.”
The Marquis of Benchetrit was a precious card to let go of. If Fabrice can get his hands on him, he can keep the whole central part of the country under his control.
“Then suggest the Habiv mine, not the Vu Mahe mine.”
“Well, that’s a bit…”
Vu Mahe was a mine owned by Fabrice, so it was not difficult to present to the Marquis.
But Habiv mine wasn’t his.
Much of the King’s income came from the Habiv mines.
That’s why he shouldn’t have mentioned ownership carelessly.
Unless he was the King of Valloise.
Even though Fabrice was the son of the King, will the King care about Prince Fabrice enough to give away all of his fortune?
Barbier drew the horse. It was because he didn’t know if he could deliver the news he had heard a few days ago.
“Huh, the Marquis seems to have completely turned around!”
The Baron uttered a shout and lowered his head.
“What?”
“Next week, the only daughter of the Marquis is getting married, and it is said that it’s with the son of Baron Merad, who has been given the title this time.”
“Who is that?”
Barbier clicked his tongue inwardly.
“This time, he was the one who helped the First Prince when he went down to Newb Shabel to relieve flood damage. So Baron Merad got it from the King. Prince, with all due respect, why don’t you give up the Marquis of Benchetrit…?”
Fabrice stared at Barbier Baron. There was only silence in the room.
Fabrice threw the glass he was holding in his hand.
Leaving Fabrice’s hand, the glass brushed the Baron’s cheek and smashed against the wall, shattered to pieces. Barbier bowed his head more deeply. A stream of blood flowed from the glass grazed cheek.
“What did the Baron do to make things this way?”
Fabrice beckoned to the Baron. He took out a clean new glass and filled it with a golden liquid.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Commoner.
Fabrice didn’t like the way his half-brother was disturbing him in every way.
Of course, the throne belonged to him, but it was disgusting to covet what was his, and he hated looking at him. This time, too, must have been the work of the Marquis of Ingeliger, behind the scene.
The Marquis of Ingeliger has always been good at scheming.
“You shouldn’t do anything apologetic.”
Fabrice was furious to the top of her head, and he wanted to smash everything.
“Get out. Call the servant.”
“Prince! Oh, oh, I have something for you today. It is a hallucinogenic herb that has just arrived from Enland, and it is said to be three times more powerful than the original one. It’s small, but it will definitely be a delicacy.”
“Really? I’m sure hallucinogens were banned because of their side effects.”
Fabrice raised his brows. At the same time, he looked at Barbier with a curious face as if he was interested. It was also true that he could not play as he wanted because he had self-reflection that did not suit his temper.
“I was lucky to get it. There will be no consequences, so don’t worry.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certainly.”
Barbier said confidently.
“Bring it.”
“Have a good night.”
The Baron closed the door and stepped out. The servants took something wrapped in cloth and entered the Prince’s bedroom.
Baron Barbier, whose expression changed as if he had become a different person when he escaped the Prince’s room, said to the knight standing in front of the door.
“When the prince sleeps, make sure that no traces are left.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The Baron took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the drops of blood from his cheeks. The white handkerchief was stained with blood.
“Is he supposed to be this stupid? It is pathetic to believe that there is a hallucinogen that is three times stronger.”
With a thud, the Baron folded his dirty handkerchief back in.
By now, Fabrice would have fallen asleep, firmly believing that his drink had hallucinogenic herbs. He just put a lot of it in strong alcohol.
“Let’s go back.”
“Yes.”
The knight that followed the Baron went back to the mansion late at night.
It was a look that could not normally be seen in front of Fabrice.
(To be continued in the next episode)
