Magic revolution of a Young Noblewoman Starting Over ~ The Executed Villainess restores her Ruined Family ~ Restraint? Prudence? I'm more interested in magic tools than that! - Chapter 90
- Home
- All
- Magic revolution of a Young Noblewoman Starting Over ~ The Executed Villainess restores her Ruined Family ~ Restraint? Prudence? I'm more interested in magic tools than that!
- Chapter 90 - The Royal Capital's Shop That Everyone's Talking About
The Royal Capital’s Shop That Everyone’s Talking About
☆
Seeing the photo studio’s building, Theo tilted his head, murmuring 『A jewellery store?』.
He’s actually half right.
The building in which we opened our photo studio used to be owned by a Royalist noble a little while ago.
That Family had a business crafting jewellery using the gold and gems produced in their territory, but they were stripped of their peerage in connection with the royal castle assault incident.
The territory was also returned, and the business dissolved.
Troubled for money for their living expenses, they put this store up for sale.
Super-good real estate that faces the central square.
It was going to be sold for quite a good price, but Hubert-nii-sama negotiated and we were able to get it on a rental contract.[1]
If they sold it at that moment then it would’ve made them money, but once it’s spent, that’s the end of it.
Hubert-nii-sama persuaded them that they should do this since it’ll promise them income from hereon.
Incidentally, the employees, including the clerks and craftsmen, would also be transferred to work for us if they so wished.
Originally, the clerks dealt with high-ranking nobles, so their reception skills were perfect.
And as for the craftsmen, while they’ll join in on putting their processing techniques to use in making magic tools, we’ll also have them continue producing order-made jewelled crafts.
The rich are the shop’s targets for the sale of photography and cameras.
The reason we’ve been able to smoothly open up a kind of store that hasn’t existed up till now is greatly thanks to them.
☆
“Wooow… what is this?!”
A display window beside the entrance.
Theo’s gaze was glued there, where he saw a large-sized photo displayed that he likely had never seen before.
“That is a distant view of the Royal Capital Sanakia. In the dead-centre is Saankia Castle, where we were just a moment ago. Having received His Majesty’s approval, our shop is able to display it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant! This, is it not a painting? Why’s this so much like the real thing???”
“That’s the 『photo』 I mentioned earlier. It was photographed by the magic tool displayed next to it called a 『camera』, and that image was then transcribed to a special metallic plate.”
“Amazing…! Letty made this too?”
Theo turned to me with an excited expression.
“Me, and also my teacher, jointly developed it, I suppose. The camera and transcription device was me. The metal sheet used for transcription was developed by my teacher.”
“Woah…!”
Exclaiming in admiration, the prince from the friendly country once again stared at the photo.
“Come, let’s head inside. There’s still way more photos displayed inside.”
Hearing me, Theo silently nodded.
☆
Hung on the door was a sign saying 『Today’s photography reception is closed』.
(Has the number of customers increased?)
I pushed open the door as I thought of that, and set foot in the photo studio.
What lay in wait for me there was ———
“It’s quite crowded, huh.”
Theo muttered so, his eyes wide in amazement.
It’s just as he said.
The inside of the store was jam-packed with people.
Men and women that seemed to be dating and married couples.
In addition, I could also see several families who brought their kids along.
“I know that, with renovations happening in one area and photo shoots taking time, it’ll get crowded, but… this is a bit intense.”
Just when I said that.
“Ah, Ojou-sama!”
A woman who was serving customers in the back noticed me, and came over.
“Lynette, it’s amazingly crowded, isn’t it? What exactly is going on?”
Lynette, who had transferred from the previous store and was now the substitute manager, put on a troubled smile in response to my question.
“Actually, it seems that everyone’s been talking about our store for a little while now. It’s been flourishing thanks to that, but it’s crowded like this…”
“This is the first time I’m hearing of this. When I came here last time, it wasn’t this bad, right?”
When we first opened, we barely had any customers because they 『had no clue what kind of store it was』, and also when I came here a month ago, it shouldn’t have been this crowded.
“I guess it must’ve been about two weeks ago. The customers suddenly started increasing…”
(Hm?)
The fact that she said two weeks ago got me thinking.
(… no way.)
I immediately hid that idea in the depths of my heart.
“Does Roland know about this?”
Roland currently serves as the shop’s manager, on the condition that Lynette takes over in the future.
“Yes. I consulted with the manager for the time being, and we’ve had the photos limited to one set. But the customers kept increasing… Just yesterday, we said 『let’s discuss this with Ojou-sama immediately』.”
“Ah…”
When we were at the workshop earlier, I remember Roland mentioning 『there’s something I’d like to discuss with you』.
I cut him off by saying 『Later, ok?』 since I was in the middle of guiding Theo around, but perhaps Roland wanted to discuss this congestion.
“I understand. We definitely can’t leave this be.”
I once again looked around the inside of the shop.
As the store was originally a jewellery store, the inside had a layout with a lot of leeway.
However, the sofas in the waiting area were completely full.
People were waiting in line in front of the only cash register, and those who seemed to be accompanying them filled up the inside of the store, killing time by looking at the jewellery and displayed photos and camera.
That’s the state it was in.
I turned back and faced the substitute manager.
“Hey, Lynette. Is everyone lined up at the cash register looking to take photos?”
“No, I think there are those who wish to purchase cameras or get a print done too.”
“Do you know how many there are that want photos taken?”
“When I checked a while ago, there were eleven groups.”
“That many?!”
That’s an overflow of people.
The time a single group’s photo shoot takes is on average 20 minutes.
As there are some customers who also request rental costumes and accessories, so if you include the preparation time, it will inevitably take that long.
At a rate of 3 groups every hour, we’ll need close to four hours just for those waiting here now.
I took out my pocket watch.
It was around fifteen o’clock.
By the time the last group’s photo shoot ends, it’ll probably be past 19 o’clock.
Since the closing time is at 17 o’clock, it’s confirmed that everyone at the store will be working overtime.
“I see you’ve stopped taking new photo shoots?”
“Yes, about 30 minutes ago… though I was a bit slow to stop it.”
A tinge of regret drifted across Lynette’s expression.
Taking her hand in mine, I smiled at her.
“That was a good decision. You and everyone here at the store have been doing a really good job.”
“Leticia Ojou-sama…”
The substitute manager looked as if she were about to cry.
I looked in her eyes and spoke to her.
“Though it looks like everyone will be working overtime if this stays like this, so let’s get something done about this situation right away.”
“Can you somehow do something about it?”
“I can… It’ll be fine. No matter what happens, I’ll take responsibility. So I’d like you and everyone else to lend me your assistance.”
“Of course!”
Receiving a nod and a reassuring reply from Lynette, I turned to face my friend.
“And for that reason, I’m sorry, Theo. Could you give me about 30 minutes?”
In response to my words, Theo let out a short snort.[2]
“You’re always trying your utmost. ——— Fine. Seeing as it’s impossible to leisurely have a tour in this circumstances, at least let me help out as well.”
Saying so, Theo began taking off his coat.
“Wait! There’s no way I could make you as an emissary help out at a store.”
When I hurriedly intervened, the prince from a friendly country grinned.
“Letty. Have you forgotten what kind of family I have? Even I am a member of a trading company. From manual labour, receiving customers, to even negotiations, I can do it all. Besides… I owe you.”
Theo said this with an indifferent look.
It looks like he won’t even listen to anything I say.
I let out a small sigh, and looked at him.
“Got it. Then could you help me?”
“Sure. Anything you say.”
Hearing Theo respond full of confidence, I smiled at him and said 『Thanks!』.
TL Notes:
[1]In case you’re confused like I was, it took me a while to remember that the Ainsworths are actually hurting for money right now. Hence, they can’t afford to outright buy such a prime location if it can be helped. ↩
[2]I can’t remember if there was a different words for this. It’s like when you’re smirking in disbelief, that sound you make by releasing a short huff of air. ↩