Chapter 1
Early morning.
Even before opening hours, the Rubeo Department Store was already bustling.
“Heave-ho…”
Especially on the first floor—the busiest section in the entire store—rows of display stands were being set up just outside the checkout counters.
These stalls were reserved for a special exhibition: a showcase of hidden dessert gems, either newly gaining popularity or known only to those “in the know.”
“Heave-ho, heave-ho…”
The department store occasionally rented space like this to promising vendors.
Though the process involved strict screening and a hefty stall fee, shop owners did everything they could to seize the opportunity.
It was a chance to gain substantial exposure and profits. If they were lucky, they might even open a permanent branch inside the store.
“Ungh—nngh…!”
The faces of those preparing for business were filled with seriousness.
But today, that seriousness was… just slightly shaken.
“Sigh…”
All eyes turned to the source of the sigh—a child who had just exhaled dramatically.
“Ugh, so heavy…”
Nivellia exaggeratedly wiped her forehead with her sleeve.
Her stall—tucked away in the corner and the smallest of all—was the least known among the special pop-up shops.
But this tiny stand was Nivellia’s very first store.
Today was the grand opening of the Meow Meow Shop.
“Heavens, young lady!”
Her maid Deter, who had been trailing behind, let out a gasp.
In her arms were not one, but three large boxes that Nivellia had just dragged along by herself.
Deter quickly set them down behind the stall and rushed to check on her.
“You should’ve waited just a bit. Did you really pull them all the way here by yourself?”
“It’s Nini’s store, so Nini has to do the work.”
“How admirable. You’re every bit a boss, Madam President.”
“Nini is the boss!” Nivellia beamed.
Her soft, pale cheeks puffed proudly with her grin.
To keep her snow-white hair out of the way, she had divided it into two loops and tied it up neatly.
She wore the same kind of black dress and white apron that Deter did.
“I wonder if we should’ve dressed you like this…” Deter said with a tone that made it clear she wasn’t actually worried.
“A young lady, dressed like a maid…”
“This is how you work properly!”
Nivellia herself was very pleased with her outfit.
The little boss and her loyal maid stayed busy even as they chatted.
Nivellia toddled around, carrying the cookies she had baked the day before, and filled in price tags with her wobbly handwriting.
Her tiny tongue peeked out between her lips in concentration.
“Deter, did I do a good job writing this?”
Once she finished, she held out her price tag for inspection.
Deter gave a nod after checking it.
The numbers started off big and gradually shrank—because Nivellia had written them too large at first—but to Deter, it was just adorable.
“You’ve improved a lot! And you even remembered to write the currency this time. So impressive.”
“I practiced!” Nivellia lifted her chin proudly. Her little display of confidence had absolutely no dignity, but it was endearing.
“I’m going to sell a lot and become rich!”
The Rubeo Department Store was the largest shopping center in the Dramenor Empire.
The term “shopping center” didn’t quite cover its scale—so people had invented a new term: “department store.”
The special exhibition hall just outside the first-floor checkout counters was a location Nivellia had long been eyeing.
She had overheard the estate staff saying that anyone who sold goods here was bound to become rich.
So, to earn a spot at this very location, she had pulled every string she could.
She massaged her mother’s shoulders (the department store owner), ran errands for her grandparents (who were shareholders), and even delivered the newspaper every morning to her father (the head of the family) just to get permission to leave the house.
She even forced herself to eat eggplant—her most hated vegetable—without complaining.
It was a hard-earned opportunity.
Nivellia’s goal today was simple: sell every cookie she’d made.
“Deter, put this up.”
“Like this?”
“Yup.”
After arranging the display, Nivellia handed Deter the sign she had drawn herself.
A white cloth, with “Meow Meow Shop” written in shaky letters, was strung up at the top of the stall.
Nivellia looked up at it with a pounding heart.
“Nini’s shop!”
“Today marks the grand opening,” Deter said, smiling.
“What’s ‘grand opening’ mean?”
“It means you’re working today. So, this is the day you officially open your store and sell cookies.”
“Yup! It’s a business day!”
Nivellia clenched her little fists with determination.
“Let’s make lots of money!”
“Will you share some of that money with me?”
“Nope. I’ll only pay you what we agreed on. Nothing more.”
“You’re refreshingly honest and impressively firm.”
Deter praised the young lady while adjusting her outfit.
But business was never as easy as it sounded.
The moment the department store opened, a flood of people poured in.
Nobles dressed in opulence were the most eye-catching, but the majority of customers were comfortably middle-class or ordinary citizens.
“Welcome! How many puddings can I wrap up for you?”
“Our shop uses handcrafted, artisanal butter…”
“These financiers are shaped like gold bars—they’re popular gifts when wishing someone wealth. Yes, we’ve got an order for five boxes!”
“Banana yellow cheese bread pudding—just sold out!”
The special exhibition area quickly swelled with crowds.
Each stall had slight differences in popularity, but most were busy handling customers. Some had already sold out of key products.
“……”
“……”
Only the Meow Meow Shop remained quiet.
A few curious passersby approached, but…
With misshapen cookies, a scrappy hand-painted sign, and just one staff member in a maid outfit—it didn’t exactly inspire trust.
“Who’s going to come all the way to a department store to buy something that looks like that?”
One blunt customer muttered under his breath.
Deter didn’t deny it.
“To be fair, the cookies do look like they were mashed by the feet of a four-year-old girl and then sloppily scooped into shape.”
“…I wasn’t being that harsh.”
“Still, please give them a try. The taste and benefits are guaranteed.”
Deter offered a neatly packaged cookie to the couple.
The man broke it in half and shared it with his wife.
“These cookies come with impressive benefits,” Deter explained.
“They prevent headaches, colds, flu, chills, and even reduce muscle pain.”
The “miraculous effects” might’ve been questionable—but the cookie was genuinely delicious.
“At Meow Meow Shop, we use only carefully selected premium ingredients. No cutting corners or cheating customers. The shop owner despises that kind of dishonesty.”
She pointed to the price tag.
“And take a look at the price.”
Three cookies for just 5,000 Ubba.
Considering the average monthly wage of a Dramenor Empire laborer was 3 million Ubba, and that three street-corner candies cost 100 Ubba—this was a bargain.
Finally, the man opened his wallet.
“I’ll take four packs.”
“Thank you, sir.”
While Deter swiftly packed the four bags into a box, the couple stared curiously at the shop’s sign.
Meow Meow Shop.
“…It says ‘Meow Meow Shop,’ but there’s a drawing of a dog.”
Clunk—!
The stand shook slightly.
“Apologies. I must’ve lost my footing for a moment.”
Deter bowed politely to the departing customers, thanking them and wishing them well.
“…Young Miss.”
She then glanced beneath the stall.
There, curled up like a cat, lay Nivellia, snuggled with her beloved stuffed toy, Wolfie.
“It’s not a dog. It’s a cat,” Nivellia pouted.
“Aren’t you going to sell today?”
“You’re not supposed to talk to strangers. It’s dangerous. I could get kidnapped.”
“But business is all about talking to strangers.”
“Ah…”
Nivellia sighed deeply. She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Life is brutal…”
“Where does she even learn these strange expressions?”
“All the grown-ups say it,” Nivellia mumbled.
Deter gently patted the shy young miss on the head.
Despite her brave beginning, Meow Meow Shop only managed to sell four bags of cookies on its opening day.
Upon hearing this shocking news, the department store’s owner personally visited the scene.
“Lady Deiamor.”
“Mom…”
“I’m not ‘Mom.’ I’m the chairwoman.”
Celletina Deiamor—Head of the Rubeo Department Store and Marchioness of Deiamor—checked the sales figures with a look of disappointment.
“You only sold four bags of cookies?”
“…Yes.”
“Not ‘Yes,’ it’s ‘Yes, ma’am.’”
“Yes, ma’am…”
Nivellia, now thoroughly deflated, gave Deter a sideways glance.
“If Deter had just tried harder…”
“Young Miss, it’s not good to blame others. Besides, you said you wouldn’t pay me extra, remember?”
“So cold…!”
“That’s life, sweetie.”
But the coldest moment of all was still to come.
“There’s no helping it,” Celletina said, with a regretful sigh.
“Meow Meow Shop doesn’t need to open tomorrow.”
“Then… when can we open again?”
“You can’t. You sold too little.”
“…What?”
“What.”
Celletina mimicked her daughter’s tone, letting her eyebrows droop. Their matching sulky expressions made it obvious they were mother and daughter.
Nivellia clutched her head in frustration.
“Wait, don’t you accept bribes?”
“Rubeo Department Store does not accept bribes. And besides, dear Madam Boss, do you even have money to bribe me with?”
At that, Nivellia turned to Deter.
But Deter could only deliver the bad news.
“We spent so much on cookie ingredients that there’s no money left. In fact… you’re in debt.”
“Debt? Like sparkly sparkles?”
“No, Miss. Debt means you owe other people money. Including my labor fees, by the way.”
“…Hngh.”
Nivellia’s face crumpled into a pout.
And just like that, Meow Meow Shop declared bankruptcy after only one day of business.
