I Became The Sole Perfumer of A Tyrant - Chapter 24

“Good-bye, dear customer. I hope to see you again.”

“May your business flourish.”

A satisfied expression lightened the customer’s face. They had purchased an orange perfume made to lighten one’s mood, including a lavender fragrance helpful for a good nights’ sleep.

“Goodness, the customers have finally disappeared.”

Lina sighed in exhaustion as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“I’m sorry, Lina. It was very challenging today.”

I didn’t know it would be so tight on both Lina and me.

The first day was a success. Several customers visited the store, many of whom bought perfume with satisfied expressions.

Having had to deal with so many guests alone, it was only natural we were completely wiped out by the late afternoon.

Ern offered to help from time to time, but I only shook my head.

He was a man who never removed his armor, even if I tried persuading him in the face of the tropical weather. An accident was bound to happen if he busied his armed hands with the bottles of perfume.

“No, my lady. You don’t know how proud I feel when assisting my lady with the store she founded herself!”

The store I founded.

I smiled bitterly at the grand modifier. I don’t think that’s necessarily the correct way to address it.

Of course, the idea was mine. The most important products were also developed by me, and I was in charge of selecting and remodeling the store location.

But if you ask if ‘I’ve accomplished all this myself’, I’d have to cut my conscience.

It was just then that the investor’s face popped into my mind. Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to contact him since that day. Is the Anixia scent still effective? Seeing no news had been delivered, there mustn’t be any shortage or problem.

I shook my head to erase my thoughts, then spoke to Lina.

“Thank you very much, Lina. Today’s business was all thanks to you. You can look forward to this month’s salary…”

Jingle.

I raised my head in response to the clear ring sounding from the silver bell.

“Welcome. Ariel’s Fragrance Salon…”

My words cut off mid-way.

In an instant, the air changed its color.

The darkly dressed man stepped into the pastel-toned shop. I gazed at the person blankly. Only then did the figure who had abruptly yet majestically driven the early night amidst the premature evening open his mouth.

“That’s the name. It seems alright.”

“…”

“Well, I don’t have much of a good naming sense myself, so I’m not sure.”

“…Your Grace?”

I quickly returned to my senses and approached the unexpected guest.

Cedric Evans smiled lightly.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been rather busy, but everything is going well. Your Grace, what brings you here?”

“I’m just here to observe.”

Ob, observe?

I peered at Cedric with bewildered eyes.

Then, he slowly scanned the store as if to prove his point. I swallowed my saliva, feeling the sudden pressure when one was being evaluated by their investor.

Cedric placed his hand on the perfume shelf.

“This is it. The perfume Charlotte praised endlessly.”

Cedric held The bottle of perfume seemed as minuscule as a bite in his large palms.

Oh, come to think of it, Charlotte and Cedric have been acquainted since childhood.

I asked the following casually.

“You must be close to Lady Charlotte.”

“It is simply that our parents were close friends. We don’t spend time together.”

“Aha, I see.”

Well, whether the two of them are close friends or not was a matter that had nothing to do with me.

I asked out of courtesy.

“Would you like to try it?”

“I’m actually trying.”

Cedric glared through the perfume bottle.

“How do you open this?”

“Yes? Ah! Please give it to me.”

I politely took possession of the perfume bottle. Simply pressing the lid and turning it unlatched the bottle. Cedric’s eyes narrowed.

I turned my head to hand him a test paper. However, I soon came to the realization that all testing strips had run out.

‘Wait, we didn’t fill them?’

Due to the fatigue that overwhelmed us, neither Lina nor I seemed to notice the fact.

I reluctantly glanced towards Cedric.

“Please close your eyes for a moment, Your Grace.”

“My eyes?”

“Yes, I will spray you with the perfume.”

Cedric then asked, his tone puzzled.

“Do I have to close my eyes?”

“My, of course. You have to block all the other senses and focus solely on your smell.”

“Block all other senses.”

Cedric retorted seriously.

That caused me to unconsciously burst into a grin.

“Yes, only focus on your sense of smell.”

“Does it feel like collecting manna at the tip of a sword?”

“Pardon?”

I don’t know what he meant, but perhaps it was similar. I smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“Yes, that’s what it feels like. Surely.”

“Alright.”

Cedric closed his eyes. And spoke in a solemn voice.

“Do it.”

“…Yes.”

What’s with this guy? Why are you so serious?

Well, it’s not too strange. I nodded.

The first try was very high in importance. I, too, used to be as reverent as Cedric when first trying on any perfume.

Alright. Cedric Evans, you’re surprisingly well-oriented when it comes to perfume.

I sprayed the incense with a look that held no less determination than his.

Cedric swallowed his breath. Then, for a moment, he closed his eyes and didn’t budge.

I dismissed the tension for a moment and appreciated his face as he stood still with his eyes closed.

From his tightly shut mouth to his firm jawline. The artwork sculptured by god was outspoken, delicate, and perfect. Although Cedric was human, this appearance of his resembled more of an incredibly beautiful, realistic statue.

At that moment, Cedric opened his eyes.

‘That surprised me.’

I opened my mouth awkwardly after being abruptly cut from enjoying the beauty of the male protagonist.

“How do you like it?”

“…Well, I’m not very good at portraying my thoughts.”

“Ah, I see.”

Of course. It did feel strange. If not, how could a man who was an original certified workaholic and a combat maniac understand the profound world of incense? Perfume and Cedric were as disparate as letters written in different foreign languages.

“However, it was definitely…”

Cedric stroked the perfume bottle with his thumb, then turned to me. His blood-soaked ruby eyes met mine.

“It was fascinating.”

My eyes turned round.

Sometimes, one word could touch a person’s heart more than ten descriptions.

And Cedric Evans, he possessed the blessing of speaking such a word.

I didn’t come to my senses until after a while.

I didn’t expect such a straightforward compliment to proceed from Cedric’s mouth.

My voice split as I answered awkwardly.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I’m glad you like it. In that… Would you like a bottle?”

“It’s alright.”

“…Ah, yes.”

I slightly coughed.

Why did I say that?

I spoke unconsciously. My blood cooled down when imagining this man smelling like a fragrant lilac.

It wouldn’t suit you.

“In fact, I stopped by Magnus’s store on the way here…”

“You made an appearance?”

I asked in bewilderment. Cedric entered the perfume store himself? Did he invest?

I was surprised by this. Did Magus pull some trick from his pants?

Cedric smiled softly. That gentle smile of his somehow held a mischievous glint.

“No, I was in disguise.”

“I don’t think it turned out to be effective.”

Simply wearing a hood as the boy planted by Magnus did not mean that this extraordinary physique and presence would magically disappear. Cedric only shrugged.

“Anyway. Magnus also offered a similar product. Coincidentally, even the title was relatively close.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

I spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Then, I sneakily referred to my question. It was a bit embarrassing to ask this myself, but investors’ opinions were important.

“How was it?”

“It was terrible.”

Cedric replied almost immediately.

“I thought it would be perfect to use as a dog house air freshener.”

Hmm. I raised the corner of my lips.

“You have a very delicate sense of smell, Your Grace.”

“Don’t mention it.”

We then exchanged chatter regarding Magnus’s perfume.

Come to think of it, I had a question other than this.

On the day of the masquerade, Cedric quite accurately matched the ingredients of my perfume. Of course, he didn’t point out all the ingredients, but it was a promising skill regardless.

“I’m not speaking empty words. You seem to have quite a bit of knowledge with herbs. That’s how you distinguished the materials I used on my perfume.”

“This is knowledge obtained on the battlefield.”

Cedric replied in a nonchalant tone.

“Studying batony is a requirement in order to distinguish poison from the herbs.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Suddenly, I felt strange.

I indeed knew much about Cedric from the original, but not everything.

No, there were more things I didn’t know than what I did. In particular, very little of Cedric’s past was mentioned. Except for the incident that occurred twenty or so years before, that was the only past described in the original.

‘What kind of life has this man lived?’

It was a very sudden question.

I shook my head to shake off the sudden curiosity.

“By the way, Lady. Do you know?”

“What?”

“This was the first time I’ve ever closed my eyes in public.”

“Oh, my God.”

I blinked.

“Should I say it’s an honor?”

“Well, I don’t think you’d feel honored.”

“You caught me.”

I answered lightly, but in fact, felt puzzled.

There was something wrong with today’s Cedric Evans.

He was laid-back as usual, but his appearance somehow seemed different. I glanced at Cedric, my head tilted an angle.

I think his jawline was slightly slimmer, and his eyes are slightly deeper… He’s a bit thin even… Is it?

Ah, come to think of it…

I recalled an important fact.

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