“I’ll pick out something nice for you so that you won’t have to hear such comments.”
Letticia eagerly examined the jewels. The reservation was for one hour, and including the time wasted on a troublesome customer, only about 15 minutes remained.
At this rate, not only would she not have enough time to select a jewel, but she might waste the entire remaining time without picking one out.
If she didn’t choose the perfect jewel, she wouldn’t be able to secure any after-sales service.
“Emerald isn’t bad, but the color doesn’t quite match. Emeralds are teal, but your eyes seem to have a bit more green in them. I think green garnet would suit you better, would you like to see it?”
As she said this, Letticia held a garnet up to Ezkhiel’s face. The sparkling green was indeed closer to the color of his eyes than the emerald.
“I think this green garnet matches your eye color best. And as the chief aide to the crown prince, using a jewel like this would be more fitting for your position…”
As the staff member agreed, Ezkhiel asked with a puzzled expression.
“I heard garnets aren’t that expensive, is that alright?”
“Well, there’s still the perception that they’re a substitute for emeralds. People don’t really know their true value.”
“True value?”
When Ezkhiel tilted his head in confusion, Letticia pointed to the green garnet and asked.
“In your opinion, what’s the price difference between this green garnet and an emerald of the same size?”
“Well… since you’re asking, it might be more expensive, but I’m not sure.”
As Ezkhiel pondered, Letticia smiled and revealed the answer.
“The answer is, it’s three times the price of an emerald of the same size.”
“Three, three times?!”
Ezkhiel’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected price as he looked at the garnet again.
“Is it really that expensive?”
“It’s an extremely rare jewel. Unlike emeralds, finding large raw stones is very difficult. Plus, the mines are rare, and few jewelers handle them, so while the price is high, it’s not well-known.”
Despite Letticia’s explanation, Ezkhiel still looked at the garnet with wide, astonished eyes.
“It’s so rare that its price and value aren’t well-known… that’s quite ironic.”
“Exactly. So, if anyone belittles the garnet, just tell them it’s three times more expensive than an emerald.”
If she were speaking to Lenard or Kenneth, she would have added, ‘Don’t you even have an eye for this sort of thing?’ But she wasn’t that close to Ezkhiel yet, so she held back.
Letticia was indeed quite straightforward, and she felt the most comfortable talking to Ezkhiel without pretense, but there were still some boundaries she couldn’t completely ignore.
‘You can’t joke around carelessly with someone so serious.’
While Letticia vowed to be cautious again, Ezkhiel continued to stare at the green garnet in thought.
“Because you said so, I think I like this jewel the most.”
Saying this, Ezkhiel gestured to the staff and ordered.
“I’ll take two tie pendants, both with green garnets.”
When Ezkhiel decided on the jewel she had chosen, Letticia felt happy and smiled brightly.
“I’m really glad I could help.”
“You were give me a big help. If I had to choose, I would have just gone with the emerald, but thanks to your advice, I could choose a more meaningful jewel. Ah, can you send it to 29 Wainstead Street? I don’t think I’ll have time to pick it up.”
Once they had chosen the design and the jewel, the order process was swift.
While the staff completed the order and brought the invoice, Letticia subtly asked Ezkhiel about his next plans.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Where do you plan to have your meal?”
“Oh, I’m planning to grab something quick around here.”
“Around here? Are you planning to go to Faymont?”
Clermont Street is a shopping district with few restaurants. Among them, Faymont Café is one of the few places where you can have a quick meal.
“Yes, I plan to go there.”
“That’s great! I was planning to go there as well. Would you like to join me?”
“It would be my pleasure to accompany you, lady.”
Ezkhiel seemed slightly surprised but didn’t seem uncomfortable.
Letticia, who was frustrated by the reduced shopping time due to a troublesome customer, was pleased to leave the store to have lunch with Ezkhiel.
***
Faymont opened when Letticia was 14, and within four years, it had become the capital’s most renowned dessert café.
Chelsea, the owner and pâtissier described as a genius in the original story, created perfect desserts in taste and appearance using ideas and knowledge Letticia occasionally shared from the original story and her past life.
Moreover, thanks to Camilla occasionally serving Chelsea’s desserts at tea parties, people flocked to Faymont in search of delicious and innovative tea foods. As the number of customers increased, Chelsea expanded not only the bakery but also added a tearoom where people could enjoy their treats.
Due to the failure of other shops Letticia had invested in, Chelsea quickly expanded Faymont to other vacant floors, ultimately occupying the first four floors of a five-story building.
The first floor served as a bakery for take-out desserts, while the second to fourth floors operated as cafés. The second floor, accessible only by stairs, was frequented by commoners, while the third and fourth floors, accessible by an elevator Letticia had commissioned, were primarily for nobles.
Letticia and Ezkhiel boarded the only elevator that ascended to the fifth floor, passing many queued customers. Unlike other elevators, this one was strictly controlled by guards to ensure only VIP’s could use it.
“I heard the fifth floor of Faymont is not open to the public,”
Ezkhiel commented as Letticia pressed the button for the fifth floor.
“The fifth floor isn’t leased to Faymont. It’s my personal space.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you owned this building.”
“I don’t go around advertising it, but close friends know. I’ve invited a few people to the fifth floor before.”
“So that’s why there’s a rumor that the fifth floor is a VIP area. I once saw someone insisting on going to the fifth floor when I visited.”
Letticia sighed and shook her head, aware of the rumors.
“It happens occasionally. Some people try to get in despite the guards saying no, so I’ve told them to report such people to the guards.”
There are always people who do what they’re told not to, especially among nobles who think highly of themselves.
“That must be quite a hassle.”
“The staff deals with it, not me. How many of those people would back off easily?”
“That’s true. Some nobles abuse their status to get their way, causing trouble for civil officials.”
As they chatted lightly and exited the elevator, they heard the commotion of someone arguing with a guard.
“I’m sorry, but the fifth floor isn’t part of Faymont. Moreover, the owner of the building has restricted access, so you cannot enter.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I know that servants come and go from the fifth floor!”
Why am I dealing with troublesome people today?
First, there was the difficult customer at the jewelry store, and now this at the dessert café. Today must be a day for dealing with troublesome people.
“What’s going on?”
Ezkhiel looked towards the commotion, confused.
A well-dressed young man was yelling at the guard blocking the stairs to the fifth floor, trying to force his way up.
“As I said, the fifth floor is a private area owned by the building’s owner, and you cannot access it.”
“Then tell the owner that Viscount Langford needs to use the fifth floor!”
“I’m really sorry, but this is beyond our control. However, we can prepare the best room on the fourth floor for you—”
“The fourth floor isn’t good enough! I promised the ladies a tour of the fifth floor. Are you trying to embarrass me?”
“What on earth is he doing?”
Ezkhiel frowned at the scene, and Letticia couldn’t hide her astonishment.
Is this behavior learned somewhere? Demanding to do something he’s explicitly told he can’t do.
“I wouldn’t let him in even if he brought hundreds of gold coins.”
“What?”
Viscount Langford, seemingly hearing Letticia’s comment, looked up. He must not have noticed the elevator due to his argument with the guard.
“This is ridiculous. You says no to me but yes to them?”
“They have permission to enter.”
“Move aside! I’ll speak to them directly!”
Him who self-proclaimed as ‘Viscount Langford’ and pushed aside the security guard and came up the stairs was a typical example of an abusive customer.
