Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Lottery Mayhem
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Draws always provoke intense reactions, just as expected.
"How about holding an auction instead?"
"Or let us go first if we pay extra..."
"I'm the third daughter of Count Burken..."
Those with deep pockets or some notable status seemed dissatisfied with the fair random draw, but I listened patiently to the ladies' complaints before flashing a smile and giving them just one response.
"Lottery draw."
"Don't you want to make money? We're offering to pay!"
"Lottery draw."
"Argh...! Can't you just take the money, please?"
"Lottery draw."
"Grr...!"
Those trying to pressure me with cash quickly gave up at my parrot-like repetition and took a slip from Emily.
More precisely, they realized that stubbornly insisting would lead to greater losses than simply joining the draw.
No one could stay sane repeating the same line like a parrot in front of all these nobles.
In fact, if they'd persisted a few more times, I would've given an extra slip to the ladies who'd quietly taken theirs first and told them to negotiate with that kind of money.
Those who kept negotiating relentlessly without giving up were the ones trying to crush me with their status and influence.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No idea."
"My father is Count Cumbermere, and my mother serves as a lady-in-waiting to His Majesty the Emperor."
"Is that so?"
"Even you must want to leave a good impression on His Majesty. I could help with that... Hehe~"
The young ladies from powerful families were especially persistent.
They were intoxicated by the thrill of power but didn't grasp its dangers.
"Hmm..."
This was a bit tricky, unlike the money offers I could ignore.
A connection to His Majesty wasn't something to brush off lightly.
"A tie to His Majesty is hard to overlook."
"Hehe, then..."
So, reluctantly, I decided to grant a slight privilege.
"If you bring a letter of recommendation from the imperial family by midnight, we'll accommodate you regardless of order."
"Huh?"
If they truly had imperial ties, it'd be as easy as eating cake.
But I couldn't just give it away for free.
His Majesty was the empire's highest dignity, after all. Getting tangled in impersonation would spell big trouble for me too.
"If you're close to His Majesty, this much should be doable."
"Grr...!"
"Or is it not?"
"J-just you wait!"
The lady who'd boasted of her imperial connection flushed red with anger and stormed out of the coffeehouse with her maid.
"Whoa..."
I was a bit shocked to hear "just you wait!" in real life.
Who knew people actually said cringey lines like that? She felt just like a typical romance novel villainess—familiar, even.
I was curious what she'd do next.
Ninety percent chance it was empty bluster and nothing would come of it, but possibilities always lingered.
I hoped for some dramatic, queenly showdown.
"Anyone else with complaints?"
"......"
I turned to the still-hesitant ladies and posed the question.
Their faces brimmed with dissatisfaction, but they'd realized from my demeanor that words wouldn't sway me.
I smirked and held up five fingers.
"Five more minutes, then we draw. Decide by then."
"Eek...!"
The regret belonged to them, not me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Before the draw, at the ladies' insistence to verify the underwear was real, I tagged out with Princess Elizabeth and got chased out of the coffeehouse.
"Care for some tea?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Let us know if you need anything."
"Sure."
Her maid followed naturally—likely at the princess's instruction—so I wasn't left abandoned on the street. Still, being out alone without Emily felt awkwardly unfamiliar after so long.
[Oh my...!]
As I stood dazed, gazing at the street, gasps erupted from inside the coffeehouse, muffled by the heavy curtains.
Probably Caterina taking off the dress.
[Oh my...!]
A bit later, even louder exclamations burst out.
Whatever it was, she'd clearly shown them the underwear.
[......]
More time passed, and even the murmurs from beyond the wall faded. An eerie silence hung over the coffeehouse.
[Kyaa!]
[Ohoho!]
[Aah...!]
[Ahh...! Isn't 10% better than two pairs?!]
Cheers and sighs intertwined in a mix of joy and despair.
The results came out surprisingly fast.
One lady seemed to have gambling instincts honed at the poker tables, but anyone could play poker...
"Young Master."
"Got it."
As I listened to their laments, Emily peeked her head through a curtain gap, signaling it was safe to return.
"Can't you give us just one more chance?"
"What if we draw in advance for next week?"
"Why don't we all sit and talk?"
Reentering with Princess Elizabeth's maid, I saw ladies surrounding the princess, pleading earnestly.
She'd been calmly soothing them, but upon spotting me, she pointed my way, drawing all eyes.
"Sir William will explain next, so everyone calm down."
"Sit if you want to hear."
"“Yes.”"
The appearance of the madwoman demanding an imperial letter had tamed the ladies instantly; they sat in perfect unison.
Truly, people only mellow after tasting a lunatic.
"Winners, come with us to the atelier later. For those who missed out, we can't just send you away empty-handed after you came all this way."
Their eyes sparkled at the hint of a consolation prize.
"Leave your details here, and we'll prioritize you as much as possible next time."
But they murmured with subtle expressions at my follow-up.
"... 'As much as possible' means we could still get bumped, right?"
"Yes, unavoidable circumstances might force delays..."
"Like what?"
"If someone who flaunts real power actually brings an imperial recommendation, we'd have no choice."
"Ah... Got it."
Unless a natural disaster struck, these forty-four ladies wouldn't be pushed back. They nodded in relief.
Honestly, who would really bring one?
"I need a recommendation from XX for underwear..." Throwing in His Majesty, the crown prince, or the princess—any combo was horrifying.
The least awful might be the reclusive eldest princess, who's been in seclusion for over a decade?
No, that'd be the worst.
Her first public act in ten years being an underwear endorsement would crumble the imperial dignity like a sandcastle.
"So rest assured and wait patiently."
"Okay."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Phew..."
"Cookies?"
"Nah, this is enough."
After calming the losers, asking Caterina to escort the winners to the atelier, I stayed in the coffeehouse, soothing my weary mind with unsweetened tea.
Thanks to Elizabeth, we'd muddled through, but the overwhelming response was beyond expectation.
It wrecked my plans—in a good way—leaving me troubled yet pleased.
"Hehe... You really didn't see the ladies' reaction coming, did you?"
"Yeah, I figured ten at most. Fifty's way too many. It's brand-new underwear with vague ads—why the mob?"
"Fifty is excessive. I predicted around thirty."
"Right?"
I beamed at the princess chiming in, but she wagged her head with a smirk.
"Still, didn't I tell you before? Ladies will embrace your underwear more readily than you think. They hate corsets far more than you imagine."
"True, but you missed the mark too."
"Sir William, overlook such trifles. Nitpicking men aren't popular."
"Tch..."
I let out a hollow laugh at her shamelessness, narrowing my eyes at her.
She met my gaze as if to say "what of it?", then averted hers awkwardly, wetting her lips with tea.
I glared a bit longer before sipping my tea and tossing out a casual line.
"Thanks for the hard work."
The princess, who'd been avoiding my eyes, frowned and turned, eyeing me suspiciously.
"...Suddenly?"
"No, taming a crowd isn't easy. Felt like I hadn't thanked you."
That morning, when the ladies were bombarding me verbally, Princess Elizabeth had swooped in like a knight.
So cool I nearly swooned—subtly radiating mana to quell the audience...
Honestly, impressive.
Of course, Mother's warning snapped me out of it. If the villainess vibe had matched my tastes even slightly, I'd have fallen.
"Ah, stepping between dozens of glaring ladies wasn't simple."
She said it wearily, but I doubted it.
She'd embodied the villainess then—ready to show any rebel their grim future.
"By the way, Elizabeth, are you a mage? You handled mana."
"No, basic for anyone with mana."
"Oh, right? No mana here, so I wouldn't know."
Precisely, I'd never bothered learning.
Father and Mother were mages, yet sadly, I was the only one in the family with nothing.
Big sis wielded divinity sans mana, big bro cast spells, even Dorothy and Hayes had traces of mana. Me alone...
If I didn't look like a perfect blend of my parents' features, I'd suspect parentage.
"Oh... News to me."
Her odd expression and narrowed eyes sent a chill down my spine.
What? Was this taboo?
I didn't think so...
"Sir William, rested enough?"
As I scrutinized her face, she set down her cup and pointed at mine.
"Eh? Yeah."
"Then let's head to the atelier. Help the staff."
"......"
Her blatant subject change felt off.
But we were busy, so I pushed my cup forward and stood.
"Let's go."
And inwardly, I resolved to check for defensive magic tools as we walked to the atelier.