Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: No Exceptions
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Even in the face of Nora's menacing aura, Becky didn't so much as blink.
"I'm sorry, Lady Nora, but at [Blanc de Ruby], it's our ironclad rule not to adjust reservation orders for extra money."
"Madam, you're truly inflexible front and back. You're the boutique owner, so it should be up to you!"
"Um, no."
Becky smiled brightly and replied.
"[Blanc de Ruby] operates under the rules set by 'Lady Ruby,' who is the designer, sponsor, and holds the full shares of the shop."
"There's a separate boss?"
"Yes. Per Lady Ruby's wishes, we take reservations on a first-come, first-served basis only for customers who can pay the dress fee upfront, regardless of status. So, how about booking for next August?"
"Haa...."
While Nora frustration pounded her innocent chest.
Ding-a-ling—.
The bell on the shop's glass door rang.
Becky and Nora's heads turned toward the entrance that had timidly opened.
'Lizbet, the 5th Princess?'
Nora's eyes widened upon recognizing the customer's face.
"Oh my, isn't that the 5th Princess?"
"Ah, Lady Pelkan?"
Nora was the close friend of Lillia Diorus, called the swan of the Diorus family.
Naturally, she was also close with Lillia's twin, Riki, and knew the story of the sweet and naive princess Lizbet who always trailed after Riki.
Nora crossed her arms with a click and glared at Lizbet with sullen eyes.
"Long time no see."
"Yes."
It was quite an arrogant attitude, but Lizbet, aware of Nora's infamous temper among the nobility, pretended not to notice.
"Has Your Highness come to get a dress fitted too?"
"Ah, yeah. Handle your business first."
Nora snorted at the hesitant Lizbet shuffling in, then turned back to Becky.
"Then let me talk to the boss. Call the boss."
"Lady Ruby isn't someone just anyone can meet privately with."
"What? Did you just call me 'just anyone'? Who even is this Lady Ruby? Some unheard-of name, and you're acting all high and mighty—"
"What brings you here today, next customer?"
Becky neatly ignored Nora and flashed a bright business smile at Lizbet.
Lizbet, who had been nervously watching the two, sat down beside Nora.
'Regardless of status? Let's see if they ignore a royal order too.'
Nora gritted her teeth and watched them intently.
"I want to order a dress...."
"Yes, ma'am. We can't take orders right away, but if you leave your name and contact, we'll reach out when your turn comes up in the reservation queue."
Nora, overhearing, flinched.
'They really have no exceptions even for royalty? Look at that attitude.'
Becky opened the ledger, picked up a pen, and said to Lizbet.
"If you book now, you can order in August next year. Shall we reserve it?"
"Um...."
Lizbet glanced at Nora sitting beside her and cautiously pulled something out.
What she placed on the table was a sleek black business card.
"Oh my."
Becky picked up the card.
"Pardon me, but may I ask how you obtained this invitation card?"
"Oppa gave it to me. Ah, by oppa, I mean... you might not know, um, His Highness the Crown Prince."
Lizbet added in a fluster.
"I don't know exactly how he got it, just that if I show it, I can order right away...."
"I see. Understood. Then we'll help you order immediately. Let's take your measurements first, and you can browse the catalog at your leisure."
Becky stood up and kindly led Lizbet inside with a warm smile.
"Hey, Madam!"
Nora, eyes bulging, shouted.
"What's this? You said no exceptions earlier? So if it's the Crown Prince's influence, it works after all?"
"No, Lady Nora. Even if the Crown Prince's father's father's father came, we couldn't do immediate orders at [Blanc de Ruby]."
Becky smiled slyly as she showed the black card.
"But if you're referred by our boss, that's a different story. We prioritize orders from customers Lady Ruby wishes to favor."
"What? Where does that—"
"Lady Nora, I need to attend to a customer now. If you want a quick order, bring an invitation card next time. For a reservation, please come back tomorrow."
Becky, showing a hint of annoyance at the endless argument with Nora, strode to the glass door and opened it herself.
"Then, goodbye."
* * *
Plod, plod.
After taking the 5th Princess Lizbet's order and finally closing the shop door, Becky climbed to the second floor with weary steps, her energy drained.
She saw the room with a sign that read ordered personally by the boss of [Blanc de Ruby], Lady Ruby.
Letting out a tired laugh, Becky opened the door, and the waiting guests greeted her warmly.
"Oh, our Madam Becky!"
"Good work today."
It was the boss 'Lady Ruby,' Rubettria Diorus, and the exclusive model Sera Wigo.
They were in high spirits, and on the table sat three glasses of cool-looking dark beer.
Becky pouted as she sat beside Rubette and hugged her waist.
"Haa, Duchesssss.... I thought I was gonna die of exhaustion. I acted all high-and-mighty like you told me, but it felt so awkward and scary."
"You did great. Nora Pelkan was here, right? Her voice was booming through the ceiling."
"How can a noble lady be so lacking in manners, no matter her youth? You must have had it rough, Becky."
"Hing."
Sera comforted Becky with a sympathetic look.
"Our poor Becky, you couldn't even sleep last night making the menswear samples. What are we going to do?"
"But it's a proud pain. Today's sales were a whopping...!"
"148 million marks!"
As Rubette finished Becky's sentence, the reception room filled with the laughter of three women steeped in capitalism.
"Hehe, but Duchess."
Becky took a big swig from her beer glass, then suddenly looked worried.
"Have you heard about Madam Susan's boutique?"
"Ah, that Madam Susan is copying my designs?"
Rubette brushed it off nonchalantly.
"Yes. Unlike our strict reservation system, Madam Susan's is much easier to order from. Twenty people canceled today, and it seems they're heading to her place."
"Oh my, isn't that a bit troubling?"
Sera, listening, looked concerned.
"Should we loosen our order criteria a bit? Lower the prices too."
"Hmm."
Rubette wagged her index finger.
"My rule of only taking reservations is absolutely frozen. And starting tomorrow, raise the deposit by 500,000 marks each."
"Pardon?"
Becky freaked out.
"Th-that'll drive customers away. It's already super expensive...."
"Price wars are for cheap clothing shops."
Rubette crossed her legs with a click, leaned back loosely on the sofa, and continued.
"What I'm building isn't just a clothing shop—it's a luxury brand for wealthy clients. We charge high not to make a ton of money, but to prove its worth."
Becky and Sera listened intently, nodding with "Oh...." of admiration.
"Well-growing plants inevitably attract aphids. Inferior copycats are bound to mimic hot designs, and we can't let that sway us."
"Then you'll just watch as more shops copy and sell your designs?"
"Well, our sales might stall short-term. Customers will go for easier, cheaper orders with the same design. But."
Rubette smirked and nodded at a palm-sized fabric swatch on the table.
A finely embroidered diamond shape in red thread on the fabric. It was [Blanc de Ruby]'s logo.
"Once my brand itself becomes the symbol of 'luxury,' things change. Noble ladies and lords conscious of others' eyes will start wondering which shop the identical design came from."
Rubette tapped Becky's shoulder and mimicked a childish voice.
"Miss Becky? New dress fitted? Of course it's from [Blanc de Ruby], right?"
Then she dropped the act, turning serious.
"Oh? Not from [Blanc de Ruby], but Madam Susan's boutique? How tacky...."
"Ah ha."
Sera, watching Rubette's one-woman show, chuckled and chimed in.
"In other words, it's not about buying the pretty design because you like it, but buying the symbolism of a [Blanc de Ruby] dress."
"Exactly."
Rubette snapped her fingers and grinned arrogantly, adding.
"[Blanc de Ruby] will become such a famous high-end boutique that the name alone secures our clientele. I'll make it so."
"Ooh...."
"Wow."
Rubette stood up, smiling fondly at the awestruck Becky and Sera.
"In the end, the copycats' fakes will get weeded out in competition. So my dear partners, Becky and Sera, no worries."
She approached the safe in one corner of the reception room and opened it.
It was stuffed with an enormous pile of bills, overflowing the safe.
Rubette flashed a capitalist smile, grabbed a handful, brought it to her nose, and inhaled deeply.
"Mmm...."
Flutter—!
The bundle of bills flew from her hand, dancing beautifully in the air.
"Enjoy this moment!"
* * *
On a roll.
The soaring prestige of the boutique [Blanc de Ruby] fit that phrase perfectly.
Was there anything in the world that didn't go her way?
Like someone once said long ago, Rubette—no, Juliet Karentina's first venture was sailing smoothly, like a ship with full sails gliding over calm seas.
Of course, as always in her life, this wasn't luck or chance.
Superior fashion sense beyond others.
Eye for selecting capable partners.
Keen business acumen faster than anyone.
And tireless, hands-on effort...
"Brand premiumization marketing strategy, step two."
Standing before the mirror, Rubette lifted her chin arrogantly and murmured.
"Publicity on a different scale."