CHAPTER NINETEEN

"Hey, have you heard of Eve's latest designs?"

Leila's ears immediately perked. She had been walking by in disguise and slowed her pace at the gossip. It had been two and a half months since Eve's Company has been established, and little by little, the people are slowly changing their once terrible fashion sense into ridiculously high standards.

'I guess it wouldn't be long before the era of miniskirts and shorts if kept at this pace.' She took a sip from her iced cappuccino; one she had bought from Eve's Café. Since she had planned on traveling around the capital, Leila figured she might as well take the opportunity to advertise.

"I know right? Once I heard the company released new ones, I immediately talked to my mother to buy one." One of the noblewomen stood up and twirled to showcase her emerald gown, the other gasped in amazement as they watched the dress sparkle like gems in sunlight. Leila smirked; it was indeed one of Eve's.

"Oh my gosh! This is their latest design? It looks like jewels!"

"It's just a gown." The other scoffed, running her hands at the large diamonds in her neck. "It's no match for my diamond necklace."

"Is that also Eve's?!"

"Oh my god!"

The girl, who was recently the center of envy, glared at the one who boasted of her diamonds and immediately stole her spotlight. Leila watched in amusement as her pretty face contorted into an ugly expression.

She could already envision that girl storming to her parents and demand them to buy more merchandise from Eve's. Thinking about it made Leila laugh, 'Small-minded greedy people really are the easiest to manipulate.'

Leila continued on her way, her mood lifting higher as she saw the people walk around wearing or eating Eve's products.

As every company needs a symbol to be recognized, Leila and Senpai designed an intricate and beautiful red logo featuring a rose and an apple.

Eve's fast food restaurant was particularly famous with commoners as the food are of great quality, and not to mention, affordably cheap.

It featured the usual menu composed of burgers, spaghetti, fries, chicken with rice, that sort of thing.

Every one of her stores are something these people living in historical and fantasy world could never think of. Its uniqueness, refreshing appearance and quality were unusual to the people which resulted them to try everything out.

And the fact that everything is new, people couldn't help but be fascinated at how ridiculously delicious such affordable food made with simple ingredients were, and how sophisticated and gorgeous the clothing were.

Which is why, weeks after Eve's Company has been established; it had immediately caught the eye of every aristocrat in the kingdom and had been the talk of the town amongst the people.

At the sight of people fighting against each other for her merchandise, Leila and Senpai couldn't help but laugh evilly as they showered themselves with the massive amount money they had immediately earned the first week of their opening.

It hurt a bit, but hey, it's MONEH!!!

Even the duke and duchess were gobsmacked at first, but after also trying out Eve's products, they were immediately addicted. Now, Leila would burst out laughing whenever she witnessed the lovey dovey couple feeding each other with food they had bought at Eve's.

Apart from that, Lieselotte, with her title as the current number one beauty in the kingdom after the duchess, had contributed a lot just by showcasing the dresses three weeks after opening. Now Senpai had publicly chose Lady Liese as his muse, which resulted to Liese's portraits displaying everywhere to showcase Eve's latest designs and cosmetics. She had basically become the first idol in the kingdom.

'Idols, huh.' Leila muttered, a wicked idea flashing in her mind. Back on Earth, kpop and jpop idols are proven best effective when it comes to gaining followers. It would be nice to earn favor from immortals if humans would perform like celebrities. That may be the best starting point in turning things around.

Though she wanted to begin immediately, its just wasn't the right time to do it, so she kept it aside for now. 'One thing at a time, Leila. Let's not be too hasty.'

She passed a couple of establishments, eating and buying a bit of every food on the way. Leila was checking out some products from this old antique store when she suddenly heard Misa's voice calling her from afar.

One moment she was on the other side of the road, about a few kilometres away, and the next thing she knew, Misa was suddenly standing behind her. Leila did something she had never done before.

She yelped.

"Jiminy Christmas!"

One thing Leila knew after spending most of the time accompanied by the trusted maid, that Misa had control over shadows. She can Shadow Step, which was basically similar to teleporting, make someone unable to move by stabbing their shadows and other stuff.

Basically, she was a goddamn female ninja.

And if the girl had been nameless when she found her, Leila would've called her Sakura Haruno, like that female ninja in Naruto.

With a hand still placed on her pounding chest, Leila nagged in a hushed tone. "Don't do that with me! I could've killed you!"

The pretty maid grinned and stuck her tongue out teasingly, "Tee-hee."

Misa, currently wearing a commoner girl's disguise peeked over the antique items her master had been seriously observing. "Did you have trouble choosing, miss?"

The wooden case held quite a unique sight and sorts of items that seem either vintage or goth. Behind the wooden case was a friendly but mysterious-looking old man who seemed to be the owner of the store. He was gazing upon his only two customers with a strange look, however, it was for a moment Misa thought she saw the old man was looking quite fondly at her young miss.

But his expression changed so fast that Misa thought she might've imagined it.

Leila turned back to the items she was choosing over with a finger on her chin. "Kinda, items these days are too…bright and eye-catchy. I wanted a fresh perspective, something that can trigger a design from an ancient point."

After moments of silence, Leila pointed on a slightly old carved box that bore strange-looking stones. "I've been wondering for a while now, what are these?"

The old man turned his attention on the object, "Ah, those were the remains of a relic."

"A relic?" Leila asked.

"Yes," He smiled slightly. "It was said to be shards of Dainsleif, a black blade that was manifested by the seven deadly sins from the ancient times."

"You mean the Dainsleif?!" Misa screeched. "The one that was said to possess the power to kill God?! Why are you selling such a dangerous thing in this place?!"

The man roared with laughter and waved his hand, "Lady, these are shards of a broken blade. It no longer possess any sort of power, they're just purely remains."

"However, it is still suspicious!"

"Misa," She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, "Calm down, like he said, it's just shards." Leila pointed on the box, "I would like to buy these please."

The man's eyebrows shot up with surprise, "Miss, are you sure?"

"Yes, they may be useless, but I have use for them."

"Is that so?" He smiled, bend behind the counter and pulled out a small ring box. "Here, a little extra freebie for a fellow antique lover."

Leila opened the small box and found a single teardrop vintage earring with blood red crystal. Unlike normal earring with a thin piece of metal used to poke through the earring and locked with a stud, this earring was hooped and seemed vault-locked. "Oh wow, its beautiful. Thank you very much, Mr.---?"

"Heins. Heins Wilford, at your service."

Leila smiled, "Thank you, Sir Heins. I'll come visit again sometime."

Heins bowed at his departing customers with a slight smile on his face, "May the light of God shower you with blessings of light and virtue."

***

"What a weird person." Misa muttered, clutching the package securely in her arms. "Doesn't Milady find that Heins weird?"

"Hm? Of course I do." Leila said, her fingers fiddling at the strange earring. "He seemingly a commoner, but his gestures are of extinguished position. Not to mention he had a surname."

"But why on earth would a noble do such a thing like running and selling their stores personally? They usually delegate those tasks on their servants because of their pride as an aristocrat."

"Hmm…how curious." Leila whispered. She eyed the earring on her hand with an amused smile on her face. "I've never read or heard of a Wilford name before, so it's either he's a noble from a neighboring country, or…"

"Or?"

Leila clutched the strange accessory in her hand, her eyes glinting. "A spy. For someone bored enough to look for trouble."

Misa sighed, "Milady, people usually avoid suspicious ones, not entertain them."

"It's been strangely quiet lately," She replied, her eyes watching another group of fussy women bursting through the store. Dresses, accessories, and shoes seem to disappear each second. "Oh right, the ball is next week. No wonder the streets are so loud these days."

"The royal family's grand ball for the treaty." Misa muttered, "Don't worry about it Milady, Lord Sen has already prepared what you're going to wear. All that's left now is your usually beauty preparations."

Leila felt a shiver down her spine. A few weeks after reappearance, Leila's mother, Duchess Amaryllis, had arranged a little something to make up for the last two years she missed.

The duchess called it a 'mother and daughters bonding'. At first Leila thought it was just shopping and getting their hair or nails done.

What she didn't expect was that her mother had arranged for the whole lot. After being dragged into the room, Leila screeched as the servants had her whole body prepped and polished. Leila remembered the throbbing feeling of her reddish skin after a tormenting massage, scrubbing, and waxing.

Leila groaned, "Will I be wearing those damn corsets again?"

"Why of course that's a given!" Misa replied. "Countess Mimosa gave specific instructions on what and what not to wear when Milady debuts. She even personally asked me to pass a message to Milady before you enter the banquet hall."

Leila flinched, "Really? What did she say?"

"Oh, but I'm only supposed to say it before Milady's appearance at the hall."

"Oh, come on." Leila flashed her best puppy eyes to Misa, whose face scrunched up with resistance. "Pleaaasseee?"

"Well..." Misa began hesitantly, sucking air between her teeth. "She told me, to tell you, 'I'll be watching.'"

Though the duchess never gave a damn about proper etiquette, after much nagging from Countess Mimosa, a senior noble lady who was once the duchess' teacher when she was young and unmarried, Mother finally gave in, and let the countess drag Leila by the collar towards her study room.

Since childhood, Leila was exposed to plenty of physical abuse and injuries. But at those dark times in the room, with no desserts, coffee, Misa or Liese, Leila learned to be petrified by Countess Mimosa's stick tapping on wood.

First and foremost lesson the countess thought Leila that a young lady should be dignified and graceful, a symbol of elegance and purity.

However, with her sensual habits and gestures she mastered like everyday movements during those days she worked as a slight honeypot assassin, Leila knew first-hand that it would be very difficult to rewrite what her body is used to.

And with the Countess' words, which was dripping with threat and venom, Leila shivered as she prepared for the worst.

"I'm screwed."