After the purification ceremony at the temple, there was a significant increase in people wanting to buy monster fur. Other shops were taken aback. There was demand, but they couldn’t supply it.

In contrast, we were quite comfortable. We had enough stolen monster fur to do business for a while.

Moreover, we solved the labor shortage problem. The head maid Naomi was someone easy to communicate with. She brought people who had nowhere to go while the mansion was being repaired to the shop.

Of course, some left and some chose Esme. Excluding those, she selected people and brought them to the shop.

And they were all working hard while keeping an eye on me. Since they all had experience sewing while working as maids, the clothes were being made well.

“Viscount, about 15 pieces will be completed today.”

I nodded.

In fact, since fur coats were meant for warmth rather than style, if there was no need for a perfect fit, clothes could be produced quickly like that.

“Can we sell them tomorrow?”

“Yes, Viscount.”

Naomi answered like a doll. Since submitting to me, she seemed to recognize her position and acted obediently.

‘It’s good that you’re thinking wisely, Naomi. In a situation where you don’t know when the mansion will be restored, when will mother look for you? Do you want to starve to death trying to keep your loyalty?’

I was pleased. Right now, Josephine was beside Esme taking care of her. Esme suddenly collapsed, and the doctor said she caught a cold from overworking lately. It’s not nice to say this when someone is sick, but it worked out well.

The busier Esme became, and the less time she had to pay attention to me, the more advantageous it was for me.

I came out of the shop and looked up. A new sign that read ‘Lilide’s Clothing Shop’ was hung above the shop. Lilide means ‘ghost’ in an ancient language.

The Ghost’s Clothing Shop. Isn’t it a word that fits me perfectly?

Because I came back to life after dying.

This is where it begins.

*

Esme breathed heavily. Thomas, who came to the hotel after hearing about Wesley’s misfortune, slumped into a chair.

“Get out.”

“Why are you making things hard for yourself, little sister? Family is the only one who can help each other in difficult times.”

“Shut up and get out.”

Esme irritably threw off the cold compress that had been on her forehead. Esme glared coldly at Thomas.

“Why did you come when I didn’t call you?”

“Why else? I came to help. Hey, I quit gambling. Really.”

“A dog would quit eating poop. I won’t believe you again, so leave.”

Esme spat out in a hoarse voice.

“Don’t be like that.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach was already upset, and seeing that person’s face made her feel like vomiting. Fortunately, the matter at the police station was settled. She heard there was a ceremony at the temple recently, but she couldn’t attend that either.

Adeline said she would go instead.

‘That girl has been moving around too freely lately.’

Even though it bothered her, having only one body, she didn’t know what to do. Even when she asked Josephine, Josephine just replied with a blank face, saying things like ‘I’m staying by madam’s side.’

She needed to know how that shop was running.

Esme gritted her teeth.

“Hey, do you know where all the maids who worked for your family went?”

“How would I know?”

“I heard your daughter took them all in?”

Esme’s eyes flashed open. She sat up abruptly at the unexpected words. The sudden movement caused bile to rise in her throat.

“What do you mean?”

“Just as I said. Your daughter took them all. I heard she’s opening some kind of clothing shop.”

She knew about the clothing shop.

“What are they selling?”

“You should find out yourself. Call that head maid or whatever.”

Esme’s eyes gleamed. Naomi? Naomi was the most loyal person to Esme. Without Naomi, it would have been more difficult for Esme to control Wesley. Esme drank cold water to calm her stomach.

“I’ll take care of that myself.”

Thomas carefully observed Esme’s reaction. After being kicked out of the guild, his money disappeared too. Even people who used to wag their tails at him now rushed to ignore him.

He painfully realized that he couldn’t do without Esme’s influence.

“Let me work in the guild, will you?”

Esme turned her body and lay down again.

Esme’s eyes flashed under the blanket. She needed a watchdog to put beside Adeline. She shouldn’t just think about it, but put it into action.

Tomorrow, even if she dies, she must get up and bring up the marriage talk with Adeline. Even in the midst of all this busyness, she had found a suitable man to be Adeline’s match.

Esme covered her ears while pulling the blanket up to the top of her head.

Ah, just go away.

*

It should have been a truly refreshing morning, but it wasn’t.

“You’re of marriageable age now, Adeline. I think now is the right time. With Wesley in danger, we need someone to help us too.”

“But, I have no intention of getting married.”

I had just picked up my spoon, but I put it right back down. I felt like if I ate any of the food here, I would get indigestion. It felt like that even though there was no way it contained poison.

“Even if you don’t intend to, you should try.”

Esme smiled gently as if trying to soothe me. Meanwhile, Jayden put down his utensils and left. He was using the excuse of going to the academy, but it seemed he just didn’t want to get between us.

“You can’t stay alone forever, you know.”

“But…”

“I believe you’ll listen to mom this time too. Come to the hotel restaurant tomorrow at 1 PM for lunch. My good daughter, you won’t disappoint mom, right?”

I really want to disappoint her completely.

But I know Esme can bother me with the same thing anytime. Marriage, huh. I never imagined she would try to tie me down with that.

“Yes.”

I can go to the meeting. But whether I’ll actually get married remains to be seen. For example, that man might not want to get married, right?

That would only be a temporary solution though. To completely escape the topic of marriage… is there no way? I let out a small sigh.

The food tasted bad, so I just nibbled at it before getting up.

Although my mood was ruined, today is my first launch day. Let’s stay positive.

*

It was the day Lilide’s Clothing Shop opened its doors for the first time.

Naomi wondered how many people would come. Five? No, it would be fortunate if even three came. The first customer arrived only after an hour had passed since opening.

“Can I really buy a fur coat right now?”

Naomi smiled awkwardly at the question from a woman wearing layers of cotton clothes. Naomi never imagined she would end up doing this kind of work for the rest of her life. She thought she would grow old as the elegant head maid of a noble family.

It was still hard to adjust after being suddenly thrown into a new way of life.

Watching this from the side, the maid Laurel pushed Naomi aside. Naomi glared at Laurel as she was shoved away without realizing it.

But unlike before, Laurel was no longer afraid of Naomi. This was all because of Adeline, who had completely destroyed the perfect system of the viscount’s family.

“Yes! You can purchase right away. But we’re limited to 15 pieces. About 15 more will be available tomorrow!”

“Oh my! You can buy fur coats here!!”

The woman shouted in a shrill voice. The gazes of people who had been wandering around Privet Street looking at clothing shops instantly turned towards them.

After the purification ceremony at the temple, people had come out to the streets just in case, wearing countless layers of cotton clothes. But the cold winds of the north couldn’t be blocked by such cotton clothes. They needed dense fur.

People flocked over, breathing out visible puffs of air.

“Is it true? We’re all going to freeze to death at this rate!”

“I’ll buy a coat right now! I’ll pay double the price!”

People clamored. The maid smiled brightly and opened the door.

“Please come inside and we’ll talk. The fur coats are displayed over there. But I ask that you maintain order. You can all purchase coats without paying double the price. We’re also taking reservations, so please don’t rush.”

The person most pleased by Laurel’s skillful handling was, of course, Adeline.

Adeline, who was watching the situation from behind the counter, nodded. And Naomi gazed at that scene with gloomy eyes.

The doors of Lilide’s Clothing Shop opened amidst a whirlwind of emotions.

People were continuously coming in.