Episode 57

* * *

In the month leading up to the Goddess’s birthday, I devoted myself to product development.

My memories from my first life in Korea were a great help, even though they were now somewhat hazy.

In Korea, I had been the owner of a startup company.

It sounds grand, but in reality, it was just an internet shopping mall that was no different from a small, hole-in-the-wall shop.

‘…And now, in this world, I’m a villainess and a healer?’

I chuckled to myself at the thought, which seemed like the title of a novel.

Still, thanks to my knack for crafting, I managed to make and sell various items, keeping myself afloat.

Candles, soap, nail tips, natural cosmetics, and so on…

At first, I only thought of candles, which led me to choose them as an easy option. But as I desperately brainstormed due to the sudden change in plans, memories of my past products began to resurface.

After racking my brain for a long time, I finally recalled the manufacturing processes of the products I made in Korea!

Thanks to this, developing the new product wasn’t too difficult.

“It’s done!”

“Miss.”

Click.

Just then, my first and most reliable customer walked in.

“Tara! Try this!”

“You made another one?”

“Yup!”

The last sample was a failure because it made hair greasy after just half a day. So, I changed a few ingredients and significantly modified the process to make it feel fresher.

“Thanks to you, people keep asking me what perfume I’m wearing these days.”

“Really?”

“Yes, everyone says it smells wonderful. And oddly enough, my skin seems to look better whenever I use it.”

That was the effect of the fairy herb. As Tara said, her face had been glowing recently. Although the herb was used in very small quantities, the immediate effect was unmistakable.

Tests with Tara showed that after spraying it, her complexion looked brighter within an hour or two.

‘And I improved the process to make the hair healthier too!’

Great scent, better hair, and whitening effect—it was a triple win!

‘If I sold this in Korea, I wouldn’t have been scraping by. Sigh.’

I reminisced about the past when I struggled to pay the office rent.

“Wow! This feels even fresher!”

Tara, ever the faithful customer, gave enthusiastic feedback after trying the new sample.

“I would buy several bottles if I had the money.”

“Really? Hehe!”

“What’s your secret, Miss? Do you use some kind of magic powder?”

Well, it’s something like that.

I had merely borrowed one of the heroine’s many items, and it was a huge success.

“Hmm… it’s a trade secret!”

“You know such terms? As expected, there’s nothing our Miss can’t do…”

Half-listening to Tara’s usual praise, she suddenly seemed to remember something.

“But, Miss, the festival starts the day after tomorrow. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“What? The day after tomorrow…? Oh no!”

Counting the days reflexively, I gasped in shock.

‘Oh no… Has time really flown by that fast?’

I had been so focused on product development that I lost track of time. If not for Tara, I might have missed something important.

Just like in Korea, in this world, you had to register a trademark to sell products!

“I, I do have a place I want to go!”

“Where? The streets are already bustling with things to see. How about a stroll…?”

“No! The Capital Merchants’ Association!”

“…Pardon?”

Tara blinked in confusion at my seemingly random answer.

But now wasn’t the time to be leisurely strolling the streets.

“Let’s go right now!”

Thus, my first outing since arriving at the duke’s estate happened swiftly.

* * *

Even though I had asked for any old carriage, the butler insisted on giving me one bearing the duke’s crest.

While the duke’s carriage was fast and comfortable, it was far too conspicuous.

I barely managed to convince him not to assign any guards by threatening.

“Butler! If you keep this up, you’ll drop to my thirteenth favorite!”

“W-what…! Do you already have thirteen favorites, miss?”

“Yup! Jackson!”

Jackson was one of Doctor Gordon’s assistants, recently turned into a laborer for product manufacturing.

“Ugh! But… with all sorts of people gathered for the festival, what if something dangerous happens…?”

“I have my own guard, see? Look!”

I held up the teddy bear I was clutching tightly.

“Of course, I’m aware of that bear’s strength, but…”

It seemed he didn’t quite understand.

With no choice, I woke teddy bear.

“Teddy… Teddy Bear! Guard mode!”

At my command.

Whoosh!

teddy bear shot out of my arms, flying upwards in an instant.

Swish― Thunk!

The teddy bear did a couple of somersaults in the air before landing lightly on the butler’s shoulder.

“Huh…”

“Hello, friends! My name is Teddy… Teddy Bear! Belze’s assassin!”

‘That darn bear spouting nonsense again!’

While everyone was flustered by the unexpected introduction, teddy bear, standing on the butler’s shoulder, suddenly wrapped its legs tightly around the butler’s neck.

“If you break a human’s neck, they’ll die instantly!”

Hearing this from a stuffed bear wasn’t very intimidating, but for some reason, the butler’s face turned pale.

“Ugh…!”

“Give me an order, Belze!”

“Stop, stop! I told you not to be an assassin! Teddy… Teddy Bear! Doll mode! Switch to doll mode!”

I shouted in a panic.

“…Tsk.”

With a small click of its tongue, Teddy Bear loosened its grip on the butler’s neck and gracefully landed on the ground.

‘…Did it just click its tongue?’

While I was lost in thought, the butler rubbed his neck and muttered.

“It seems you really don’t need a guard.”

“Are you okay, butler? I’m sorry…”

I didn’t mean for it to go this way. That crazy bear almost caused a disaster!

“Does it hurt a lot?”

I ran over to the butler and asked, but he smiled kindly.

“I’m fine, miss.”

“Sorry…”

“You didn’t want to tell the Duke, did you?”

The butler seemed to understand why I was so adamant about not having a guard.

“…Yes.”

I replied quietly, and he sighed, seemingly resigned.

“I’ll just say you went to see the festival.”

“Yay! Thank you, butler!”

“But keep in mind, the Duke might call the coachman at any time to ask your destination.”

I knew I couldn’t keep my business a secret forever.

But at the very least, I wanted to achieve something meaningful before revealing it.

‘Until then, I’m just a petty thief selling things I found in the Duke’s estate.’

In any case, it was fortunate that the butler, a trusted figure, was covering for my sudden outing.

“Yes! Butler, you’re the best! You’re my eleventh favorite in the world!”

The butler’s eyes widened slightly at my words.

Then he hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes.

“Sniff… To think I finally surpassed that pebble that rolled in! This old man has no more regrets…”

“Oh, goodness! You’re being so dramatic, butler! Miss, let’s go!”

As I followed Tara outside, I asked in confusion.

“Pebble that rolled in? What’s that?”

“The head chef. He and the butler are of similar age and often bicker.”

“Ah…”

That explains it.

I had wondered why the butler looked so dark when I said the head chef was my eleventh favorite. There was such a backstory behind it.

Leaving the butler, who seemed determined to tell the head chef, behind, Tara and I stepped out of the entrance.

* * *

Near the luxury stores on the main street, there stood a five-story building at the heart of a district bustling with various trading companies and guilds—today’s destination.

“Waaaah! I told you I don’t like that name!”

“Hey, do you not want to be number one?”

“Mommyyyy!”

Casey, a receptionist, sighed deeply as she watched the unusually crowded office today.

‘Sigh… I’m so tired.’

Recently, a series of edicts had been issued from the royal palace, leading to an influx of children and their guardians. The past few days had been filled with loud voices and crying children from early morning.

Bang!

Suddenly, the door opened.

A small, adorable girl holding her guardian’s hand walked in with little steps.

‘She looks like a doll…’

It was clear at a glance that she was a noble child, wearing a pink dress and a charming tiara on her head.

“Princess! Over here!”

The woman holding the girl’s hand quickly retrieved a number ticket.

‘Princess…? A maid?’

Casey tilted her head in confusion.

Erea had no princesses. But seeing how the maid was treating her so reverently, she must be the daughter of a significant household.

Unlike the other children who were crying and calling for their parents, this ‘princess’ seemed very calm, sparking Casey’s curiosity.

“Miss, the registration must be done by a legal guardian or the child themselves. Do you think you can handle it?”

It seemed it was their turn, and the maid spoke with concern.

“Yup! That’s easy!”

The little girl responded confidently and walked straight over.

“Hello.”

Up close, her red eyes sparkled like rubies. Mesmerized, Casey snapped back to attention and asked.

“What can I help you with?”

Honestly, it was a rhetorical question.

Every child who came here had the same purpose.

The royal palace had suddenly announced a ‘Children’s Start-up Competition.’

Children aged 5 to 14 could participate, and the prize money was surprisingly large for a children’s event.

So, the building had been bustling with children coming to register for several days.

To be honest, Casey was skeptical about this competition.

What would children know about starting a business?

‘…If you’re going to start a business, you should at least have a business idea first.’

Whether noble or commoner, every registration form had the section for the proposed business idea either blank or filled with ridiculous fantasies.

So, Casey assumed that this doll-like ‘princess’ would be no different.

But then, suddenly, the girl pulled something out of her toy-like bag.

Bang!

She placed it on the desk and exclaimed.

“I’m here to register these trademarks and patents!”