Chapter 69
Chapter 69
There exists a queen in high society.
Not just anyone can be the queen of high society.
One must have a clear status and background, and know how to capture others’ attention.
“That’s why being pretty is advantageous,” Seiren said primly with her beautiful face.
To become queen, one also needs broad and deep academic knowledge, as well as specialized knowledge in politics, economics, and more.
In other words, a queen is shaped differently from others through early education from childhood.
That’s why they grow up under the influence of influential core figures in high society from a young age and succeed them.
However, the current capital’s high society is in a state without a queen.
This is because there is no proper princess in the imperial family, and among the high-ranking noble women of marriageable age, there is no talent capable of captivating everyone.
At one point, Seiren was said to have the potential to “dominate high society if she grew up well.”
Even without Seiren directly stepping forward, her status, beautiful appearance, and characteristic indifferent manner of speaking were enough to excite everyone.
But Seiren became affiliated with the temple, and high society has come this far without finding someone to replace her.
“So there’s no queen?”
“They were originally going to raise me, but well. It seems there’s no one to replace me.”
From the start, there was a shortage of decent noble young ladies, and the ones who were decent all went into politics and could be more easily seen in political circles than in high society.
Isolini Blende is a prime example.
So, ironically, the one playing the role of queen in high society was…
“Brother’s here.”
“Get lost.”
“Aww, you’re mean.”
“This person is the current queen of high society.”
It was Isiel of Lemiere.
“Since my sister abandoned her duty, I have to do it.”
“Your Grace.”
“There, there.”
Isiel graciously accepted my greeting and immediately started grumbling.
“Well, there was no one else to do it in the first place. Rather, my recognition is much better.”
“Then what about leading fashion trends in women’s high society?”
Usually, the queen’s role is to lead fashion trends in high society.
[Thinking about it this way, it’s just like being a celebrity.]
[But it’s a job of attracting others’ attention.]
[An influencer!]
[Nice!]
Isiel avoided answering with a slight smile, and Cassis answered instead.
Cassis clicked his tongue and said,
“Usually, fashion trends in high society were led through those who had meetings with Isiel.”
“Oh…”
“Thanks to or because of Isiel, men’s fashion trends are also accelerating, and more people are responding nimbly.”
Oh oh.
He really is an influencer.
Come to think of it, I think there was content in the original work about how when there wasn’t suitable talent in high society at that time, the female protagonist appeared and swept through in an instant.
“But looking at that young lady over there, I’ll soon be stepping down from the queen’s position.”
Isiel said this while looking at Jane, who was chattering with her friends.
“So Irina, drawing me into your ice cream business is a huge benefit, you know.”
That’s true.
I just tried to draw him in because he was an enormous power holder, rich, and famous in high society for his flashy appearance.
I didn’t know he could directly exert such powerful influence on high society, being called the queen and all.
“So why did this great queen appear so late after going somewhere?”
Seiren took another jab at Isiel.
“Sorry.”
“What’s the use of boasting about being the queen or whatever? We did all the ice cream distribution ourselves just now.”
“…”
“But sis, why are we giving this out?”
Seiren turned to me and asked.
The original reason was to separate Seiren and Rose.
It was also to divert Seiren’s attention, who seemed to have fallen into a bit of panic.
But I didn’t want to tell that reason to Seiren, who now seemed to be okay.
“Well, we need to promote it.”
“This? Are you planning to sell it later?”
Those who had already been swept up in one round and unwillingly recruited for ice cream distribution(?) were just catching their breath on the terrace.
When Seiren said she wanted to eat one more in the meantime, I put an ice cream in her hand.
“Are you planning to open a store?”
“That… is a good idea.”
The ultimate goal is an ice cream franchise spreading worldwide, but anyway, we need a first store.
Setting up a factory is the next story.
[Somehow, the ultimate goal seems to have changed.]
[Wasn’t it world peace?]
‘That’s not a goal, it’s something we have to do.’
My personal goals are more private and full of greed.
At first, I didn’t want to pay off debts, and I didn’t want to do business again.
But now that I’ve sold ice cream on the street and heard reactions directly at the party, it’s fun.
[So you want to do better?]
‘I’m getting greedy, that’s it.’
While I was conversing with the system, Isiel seemed to have heard in detail from Seiren and Cassis about what had happened.
After hearing everything, he asked me.
“Do you want to open a store?”
“It would be nice, wouldn’t it? What do you think, Lord Cassis?”
“I think we’ll need a store first to properly establish ourselves and grow in scale.”
That’s right.
But that’s something to think about after this New Year’s party week is over.
“That’s right. But we can’t open a store right away, so we need to expose ‘ice cream’ to as many places as possible so it doesn’t fade from people’s memories.”
We don’t even have a name for the ice cream brand yet, and we don’t have a proper plan.
We haven’t thought about how to stay in people’s memories for a long time, and we haven’t solved the holy power problem either.
There are plenty of problems, but there’s so much to do.
As I grabbed my head and agonized, Cassis whispered quietly.
“Irina, let’s not worry about things that haven’t happened yet.”
“That’s not easy.”
“Let’s take it step by step.”
If we take it step by step, it will end someday, right?
Originally, I used the ice cream production skill recklessly to protect Seiren and cut off the excessive attention poured on the Saint, but it seems to have been a good choice in many ways.
It’s good that Rose Bistin is suddenly wandering around the edges of the party venue like a lost bird, and it’s good that we were able to effectively promote ice cream.
People know that I’m from Luwin, but they don’t connect that this ice cream sale originated from Luwin.
That’s also a factor in why I view this situation positively.
Because the current bad image people have of Luwin doesn’t extend to ‘ice cream’.
I asked Cassis back.
“You said step by step, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. I’ll give you some homework.”
Cassis’s eyes widened.
His dark red eyes shook aimlessly.
“The time has really come now.”
“…”
“Bring all the ice cream company name candidates you think are good by next week.”
If only we had a proper name, we would have promoted the ice cream with that name, it’s a shame.
Before it’s too late, we really needed to create a name for the brand.
“Is there no good party next?”
“Suddenly, what party?”
Isiel asked back.
“Since it’s the imperial ball now, I feel uncomfortable doing things as I please.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Isiel and Cassis, who were sitting down, widened their eyes.
“No, you’re already living quite as you please.”
“Irina is already living quite freely.”
Where am I?
I’m living while being so conscious of other people’s gazes.
I felt wronged, but Cassis shook his head and grabbed my shoulder.
“It’s okay. I always think that such an appearance is very cool.”
While I was feeling wronged, Cassis skillfully soothed me and asked.
“Irina, anyway, your goal is promotion, right?”
“That’s right.”
Cassis listened to me quietly and then nudged the thoughtful Isiel.
A frown settled on his fine brow.
“Isiel, when is the party hosted by the Lemiere Duchy?”
“Right after the imperial ball week. We’ll probably be the earliest in the capital. Why?”
Cassis nodded to himself and said,
“Would it be impossible to supply ice cream to the party hosted by the Lemiere Duchy?”
* * *
Actually, I hadn’t asked much of Cassis until now.
What would a Grand Duke who only knows how to swing a sword know?
So I just conveyed through reports how the business was going.
“I’m curious, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yes. That’s why when Irina said she was selling ice cream on the street, I wanted to follow.”
But he wanted to go around and see for himself.
What I was doing, how I was starting a business and trying to pay off Luwin’s debt.
Cassis wasn’t satisfied with just watching.
Cassis wanted to move directly.
So even though he didn’t know much, he revived old friendships to invite me to ‘Ophelia’, and asked Isiel to allow ‘ice cream’ to be supplied to influential parties.
That’s not all.
I don’t know what kind of conversation he had with Isolini somewhere I don’t know about, but ‘Ophelia’ decided to choose ‘ice cream’ as their meeting refreshments for this winter.
And not just as a free distribution concept like now, but in the form of formally paying and purchasing.
The details will have to be coordinated by experts like me and Roen, but Cassis was steadily doing what he could in his own way.
The corridor with a clear view of the beautiful imperial palace garden was bathed in soft lighting, whether moonlight or magic lamps, casting a faint shadow over Cassis’s face.
I quietly looked at his handsome face, barely visible in the shadow.
Due to the height difference, I had to tilt my head back to see his face at all.
He was quietly, blankly staring at the fountain trickling water, lost in thought.
“Lord Cassis.”
When I called him, he turned his head with a slight delay.
“Do you know what?”
“I wonder.”
Cassis shook his head.
I smiled slightly.
“Do you know what I tried hardest to change about you, Lord Cassis?”
