I Became the Mother-in-law of the Regretful Female Lead

Time passed, and finally, the grand opening day arrived.

Anxious, I had struggled to sleep the previous night.

“This doesn’t happen to me very often.”

As the matron of the Winder family, I’d undertaken countless projects, some on a much larger scale than this one.

But somehow, this felt different… perhaps because it was the first venture I was attempting without the Winder family name behind me.

“Mother, are you nervous by any chance?”

“Hmph. Do I seem like someone who knows what ‘nervous’ even means?”

I let out a small laugh at Lilliana’s concerned voice.

I tried to appear unaffected, though in truth, she was spot-on.

This perfume venture represented an important turning point for me.

‘Still, I can’t show any sign of weakness.’

Maintaining a calm expression as usual, I gazed out the window.

We were at a spot I’d reserved in advance, the perfect place to observe New Silhouette without being noticed.

Today, we planned to watch the opening unfold from here, quietly.

“Hmm… There’s already a line outside.”

I hadn’t thought there would be no customers at all—Lilliana’s transformation during the victory banquet had been quite sensational, so I knew the promotional effect would be strong.

‘Still, this turnout is honestly beyond my expectations.’

It wasn’t every day that people lined up before a store even officially opened.

‘They must be really eager.’

It seemed like a good decision not to reveal the perfume immediately. That approach doubled the advertising impact in fashion magazines as well.

Now, only five minutes remained until opening.

I took a silver pocket watch from my coat and checked the time.

“Oh? Mother! Since when have you been carrying a watch? I don’t recall seeing it before.”

Noticing the watch, Lilliana showed interest.

“Hmph, I just found it lying around, so I decided to use it.”

Of course, that was a lie. Nothing simply “lay around” in the Winder family mansion.

In truth, this watch was the very one Tristan had gifted me not long ago.

Originally, I had no intention of using a gift from him…

‘But, it’s true a businessperson needs a watch.’

Until now, I’d relied on my assistant, so I didn’t really need one, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to carry one.

‘…It’s not like I’m using it for any sentimental reason. It just happened to be there, so I used it.’

Of course, I could have bought a different one…

Pocket watches tend to be somewhat heavy and are not particularly small, making them awkward to carry in a dress pocket.

But the one Tristan gave me seemed crafted with such details in mind; it was the perfect size for me.

In other words, I was carrying it solely for practical reasons, with no other meaning attached.

‘…What am I even doing?’

As I cycled through various excuses in my head, I suddenly felt ridiculous and shook my head.

Just then—

“Oh, Mother! It’s really about to start now!”

Snapping back to focus, I turned my gaze back to the watch.

Tick. Tick.

With each movement of the second hand, my heart seemed to beat faster.

57 seconds, 58 seconds, 59 seconds.

And then…

00 seconds.

Finally, it struck ten o’clock sharp. The moment of the first opening had arrived.

Tinkle.

With the chime of a bell, the store door opened.

The staff, trained meticulously, assisted the line of customers as they entered.

Only then did it sink in.

Ah, truly.

The dream I had long cherished in my heart.

This was the beginning of New Silhouette.

From that moment on, time flew by in a blur, and a full week passed.

As for the boutique’s performance during that time…

Sold out.

Barely any time had passed since we started, yet the prepared stock of perfumes had already sold out.

It wasn’t unexpected.

The noble ladies of today had generally fallen into a kind of ennui regarding luxury goods.

There weren’t many types of luxury items that enhanced one’s appearance.

Dresses, accessories, shoes, and so on.

Since no other options were available, they had no choice but to keep spending on those items. Yet, deep down, they must have longed for it—

For something new that could elevate their sense of worth.

Then, at just the right moment, Lilliana appeared at the victory banquet.

Radiating a unique scent that set her apart from everyone else in an utterly unexpected way.

That alone was enough to stir the hearts of those caught in the monotony, compelling them to open their wallets as a bonus.

“But to think it sold out in just a week.”

Should I increase the quantity?

I considered it briefly but decided it wasn’t yet the right time.

This perfume was a luxury item targeted at the nobility.

And the value of luxury lies in its exclusivity.

It’s the satisfaction of holding something in your hands that others cannot easily obtain.

Meeting that need was crucial.

In other words, if it became too easy to get or too common, its value would diminish.

“So, there’s no need to supply too much. I’ll stick to the original plan.”

Of course, I don’t intend to keep this position forever.

It’s just that… becoming an object of envy naturally draws people’s attention, so for now, I thought it best to maintain this level of exclusivity.

Though immediate profits would certainly come from releasing more stock, I wanted to think long-term.

“Madam.”

The assistant, who had been reporting on the boutique’s sales performance, handed me a report.

“I’ve organized the detailed sales figures here.”

I quickly skimmed through the neatly summarized report.

“Hmm, indeed. The profits are impressive, given the high price.”

The raw materials for the perfumes are costly. For example, obtaining a few drops of rose oil requires at least several kilograms of roses.

However, as a luxury item, the price was set high enough to yield substantial profit.

“Quite satisfying, I’d say.”

As the matron of the Winder family, I had run many businesses, often dealing with large sums of money.

But this was the first time I’d carved out a profitable new market from scratch, so the feeling was unique.

I found myself smiling.

It wasn’t just about the profit… I was delighted that people were so enthusiastic about something I’d created.

I continued reviewing the report calmly.

Inside were various analyses.

‘Hmm, the citrus-scented perfume sold out on the first day.’

Perhaps because Lilliana was the one to first introduce it to society, the primary customers were noblewomen around her age.

And it seemed that this age group had a particular fondness for fresh, zesty citrus scents.

‘Well, although it lacks lasting power, it’s certainly a lively fragrance.’

Having finished reviewing the report, I asked the servant, “Was there anything else unusual?”

“Not exactly unusual, but there were many inquiries about the fragrance used by Lady Locke.”

“Ah, make sure they understand. We have no intention of selling that.”

“Yes, madam. I’ll relay the message to the staff.”

Currently, New Silhouette offers a total of four fragrances, all with a fruit or floral base.

However, I deliberately excluded the lily scent, which I’d crafted with Lilliana as my muse.

While we’ve had repeated requests to sell it… I still had no intention of doing so.

“That scent is for her alone.”

A gift solely for my favorite.

I hoped Lilliana would always consider herself special.

So, that fragrance would remain exclusively hers.

“Besides, the entire reason this venture became a success from the start is all thanks to Lilliana.”

Just as I was wrapping up my thoughts, my assistant spoke up.

“That concludes today’s report. By the way, madam, you’ve finished the paperwork faster than expected, so your schedule is open for tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, would you like to rest at the estate? You’ve had a lot on your plate lately.”

I shook my head. To hear such good news and then rest? Out of the question.

“Get in touch with Lady Locke. Tell her I’d like to go out with her tomorrow.”

It was only fitting to spend the money earned thanks to her on her.

Now that I thought about it, my assistant had mentioned a play that was trending recently.

“That would be perfect to go see.”

A plan made with the best of intentions.

But at that moment, I had no idea I would encounter an unexpected guest there.