Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Ann Baiher was the youngest daughter of the Baiher count family, having just turned twenty this year.
Her family’s history wasn’t particularly long, and they were far from the lavish, grand parties seen in magazines. Still, this young lady—wealthy from the family business—prided herself on being quite sensitive to trends.
These days, the word that captured her attention was undoubtedly “Lu & Cream.”
“But to say you’re interested in ‘Lu & Cream’ doesn’t exactly make you trendy…”
Lidera, Ann’s longtime troublemaking friend and rival, sneered with a subtle tone.
Lidera’s mockery was understandable.
The entire capital—no, the entire empire—was talking about “ice cream” and “Lu & Cream.” Everyone was waiting for Lu & Cream’s opening day, eager to buy some ice cream.
It was quite amusing that Ann would call herself “trend-sensitive” for simply jumping on a bandwagon that everyone was already on.
“Lidera seems pretty intrigued too, huh?”
“Naturally. When everyone’s talking about something, it’s hard not to be curious.”
“So what exactly caught Your Ladyship’s interest?”
Ann shot Lidera a knowing glance.
Because while Lidera subtly disparaged Ann for mindlessly following trends without having her own opinions, Lidera was ultimately doing the same thing.
In truth, she was often the loudest critic—feigning ignorance while mocking those who followed trends. And yet, when the spotlight dimmed and the noise faded, she’d quietly slip in, just as the trend began to wane.
Even the ribbon-adorned shawl she was proudly wearing now was a case in point.
Though she claimed it was custom-made with ribbons from the Jambatz workshop and ordered from the most famous tailor…
Was there really any need to buy such Jambatz patterns when the trend was almost over?
Anyway, it was too obvious.
Given Lidera’s character, her answer to Ann’s question about why she became interested in “Lu & Cream” was extremely pretentious.
“Its high resistance to demonic beasts? And the fact that the origin of its power is divine power.”
She wasn’t wrong. Many people certainly valued “ice cream” and its brand “Lu & Cream” as a means to counter demonic beasts.
But for Ann, it was more than that—
“Why are you interested, Ann?”
“Because it’s attractive, of course.”
“In what way?”
“Have you been to Chering Street?”
Chering Street was an upscale shopping district, lined with all kinds of high-end clothing stores and jewelers. Among them were restaurants and cafés that only accepted selected nobles.
One day, suddenly, huge signs that had never been seen before were erected near the street.
They were signs of a kind never seen before.
To be precise, they were enormously large, visible from far away due to their sheer size.
At first, many people looked at these massive boards with a mix of curiosity and wonder, wondering what they were for.
“…Yes, I have. You’re talking about the ‘Lu & Cream’ promotional signs, right?”
Despite Lidera’s somewhat rude interruption, Ann nodded without much concern.
“Yes, those signs.”
The nature of those boards aroused everyone’s curiosity, and the next day, all who visited Chering Street were shocked.
Because those massive boards were promotional signs.
If the promotional signs they usually encountered were crude things made with low-quality images and letters, the huge promotional signs at Chering were completely different.
The massive promotional signs were unimaginably large. It was just that, being placed in a familiar location, their size was hard to gauge.
A person was depicted on the sign.
An elegantly dressed man in a lavish setting—
This man, with his luxurious curls neatly swept back to reveal his forehead, was posed as if tasting ice cream.
Not at all unfamiliar, but rather like reality—so realistic that the man seemed about to rise and step out of the picture.
And that man was none other than “Isiel.”
“The heir to Lemiere, from one of the empire’s most prestigious families, eating ‘Lu & Cream’ ice cream at over twenty years of age. For reference, ‘ice cream’ wasn’t considered a luxurious dessert initially.”
Originally, Lu & Cream’s ice cream was priced reasonably, available for purchase at common stalls.
People’s gazes naturally moved from Isiel to the ice cream in his hand, and from that ice cream to the “Lu & Cream” lettering.
“And that’s how ‘Lu & Cream’s’ image gradually elevated.”
“…”
“Moreover, another promotional sign featured a portrait of Lady Seiren Lemiere.”
For reference, Seiren Lemiere’s portrait had a similar feel to Isiel’s.
However, since Seiren herself had a completely different atmosphere from Isiel, her advertisement flowed with a different charm.
People used to ridicule and mock Seiren for once being a saint candidate who left the temple after being defeated by a commoner.
But now?
Everyone admires Seiren.
The once contemptuous title of “former saint candidate” has now become one that makes people look up to and admire Seiren.
“The reason I pay close attention to ‘Lu & Cream’ is none other than this.”
“…”
“The fact that they’ve put highly beloved figures like Isiel Lemiere and Seiren Lemiere at the forefront. And thus, they’ve drawn their image into the ‘Lu & Cream’ brand.”
That is the biggest reason why Ann Baiher is interested in “Lu & Cream.”
Because they put forth figures far beyond imagination, it can’t simply be dismissed as a shop selling desserts.
***
“Big sister, why have I become so famous?”
Seiren entered the mansion with a somewhat tired face.
“Why?”
“Everyone recognizes me. They recognize me and whisper.”
“Really?”
“But it wasn’t the kind of unpleasant whispering like before!”
Seiren said that people she met on the street looked at her, but not just looked… their eyes held a kind of admiration and respect.
“People’s gazes are like what brother described. ‘I want to be friends with that person,’ ‘The things that person does are amazing,’ ‘They’re cool,’ and so on.”
I chuckled. The way Seiren lit up from a handful of admiring glances made her seem exactly as young as she was.
“Have you looked at people that way too?”
“Yes. They even spoke to me. Said they saw the poster in Chering Street.”
“What did you answer?”
“I said thank you, of course.”
It was natural for Isiel to attract everyone’s gaze, but our Seiren wasn’t used to it.
Just thinking about how she trembled at people’s gazes when I first met her, I could tell.
Seiren, who initially said she wasn’t interested in becoming famous, probably found it quite uncomfortable to receive the same kind of attention as Isiel.
I welcomed Seiren, who was wandering around the production company, with a slight smile.
After the hearing ended and people across the country began to take interest in “ice cream” and “Lu & Cream,” Roen and I conducted the most aggressive marketing we could.
Taking photos of Isiel and Seiren and placing them with the “Lu & Cream” brand name on signs at the busiest intersections.
It’s possible Seiren didn’t know there was significant pushback.
People worried whether it was okay to casually expose the direct descendants of the noble Lemiere ducal family to the public, and not just because they had beautiful eyes.
Both Isiel and Seiren had to nod in agreement for us to proceed freely, and Roen had to put in the effort to persuade the Lemiere ducal family—
In conclusion, we presented two things to persuade the Lemiere ducal family.
First, that we would use images that were more elegant and beautiful than anything else, something everyone would admire.
Second, that we would ensure they were never treated like discarded flyers on the street.
After persistent persuasion with these two conditions, the Lemiere ducal family granted permission.
To satisfy the second condition, I created enormous advertising boards and installed them high up.
After all, advertising boards that sophisticated couldn’t simply remain just advertising boards.
Those passing through Chering Street naturally encounter the advertisements positioned high above.
They must crane their necks to see the signs placed so high.
And there, when they look up, are Isiel and Seiren, more elegant and beautiful than anyone else.
“But it’s really strange. After all, they’re just advertising boards.”
Of course, they’re extraordinary for advertising boards—much larger and more impressive, but still…
Seiren was puzzled.
“Well, the advertising boards in Chering Street are no longer just advertisements.”
“Huh?”
“They’re a kind of…”
“Like statues.”
When placed high, everyone must look up at them, almost as if paying homage.
“That’s probably it. That’s why you’ve become so well-known.”
“I wish I could stay unknown, and you could be the one who stood out.”
“Is that so? Well then, maybe it’s time to let go of that dream and look for a new one.”
People won’t consume ‘Lu & Cream’ just as an “ice cream” shop.
Just as they admire Isiel and Seiren, ‘Lu & Cream’ will also live and breathe in everyone’s attention.
I quietly looked at Seiren with her snow-white hair.
“Oh right, big sister. Tomorrow is the opening party, is everything prepared well?”
“Yes, it’s all set.”
Finally, just one day until the launch of ‘Lu & Cream.’
