Odalisque - Chapter 78

“We were expecting you after receiving your message.”

“Ah… yes.”

It took Liv a moment of looking at the woman to recognize her as the owner of the boutique. It wasn’t that Liv couldn’t remember the face of someone she had only met once; it was because the owner’s complexion had clearly worsened over the past few days.

“Please come this way.”

Even at Hyrob, the owner had not rushed out to greet her so frantically. Liv couldn’t help but find it strange, especially since she still remembered the envious and jealous looks she had received during her previous visit to the boutique. She had been prepared to face more of those furtive glances today, yet no one even dared to look at her directly.

“Please have a seat here. I’ll have some refreshments prepared shortly.”

“No, I only need to collect the clothing I ordered.”

Liv barely finished shaking her head before the owner’s face went pale.

“Please, allow me the chance to at least serve you a cup of tea, my lady.”

For a moment, Liv wondered if she had done something as drastic as strangling the owner with her own hands. Naturally, she hadn’t laid a finger on her, but the way the owner looked—like she might faint if Liv refused again—made it impossible for her to decline any further.

Reluctantly, Liv took the seat offered, and the owner urgently gestured to an employee. The staff, shoulders hunched, set up an elaborate spread of refreshments on the table. The tea set they used was so lavish that it almost hurt Liv’s eyes.

By this point, Liv had caught on to the strangeness of the situation. More honestly, there was only one reason that came to mind for why they were acting this way.

“I didn’t ask the Marquis to do anything.”

“Pardon?”

“Since I made no request, I cannot undo whatever he decided to do.”

The owner’s face stiffened at Liv’s words, and she remained silent. Swallowing nervously, the owner glanced toward the door, and all the boutique employees filed into the lounge one by one. Liv quietly watched as they lowered their heads in shame.

The apprentice who stood at the front, the most visible position, looked almost corpse-like.

“My lady, I made a grave mistake during your last visit.”

“The apprentice who was still learning had many shortcomings. Such an error will not happen again.”

The owner spoke in support of the apprentice, explaining that they had been dismissed and that today they were here to offer an apology.

Quietly observing, Liv shifted her gaze to the other employees standing behind the apprentice. They, too, kept their heads bowed, their expressions hidden. Unlike the apprentice, they showed no intention of stepping forward to apologize or explain.

To Liv, the small scratch from the pin was no big deal… It was something that could have genuinely been a mistake—just that insignificant.

Even the envious glances she had felt that day might have just been her own insecurities projecting misunderstandings.

“So are you admitting that you disrespected me by assigning an apprentice to handle my request?”

Despite these thoughts, Liv knew she couldn’t simply let this situation pass.

“Pardon? N-no, that’s not what I meant!”

“Even though the Marquis himself instructed that my clothes be made, you openly assigned an apprentice. Such remarkable judgment.”

The owner looked at Liv, visibly flustered. Liv tried to recall the Marquis’s cold demeanor, attempting to replicate it. It was not an easy task for her.

“Or is it that you lack the discernment to have an experienced employee step in for an incompetent apprentice?”

“My lady—”

“Or are you perhaps suggesting that the employees decided on their own to dump the work on an apprentice? If you can’t manage your staff’s misconduct, that’s a problem too.”

The owner’s face flushed bright red, but she remained speechless. The room was silent, and no one dared to breathe audibly.

This kind of atmosphere made Liv uncomfortable. She didn’t enjoy cornering someone like this. It wasn’t satisfying or pleasant.

However, since the Marquis had already expressed displeasure towards this boutique on her behalf, Liv knew she couldn’t easily forgive them, even for his sake.

“I apologize. The mistake of my employee is ultimately my responsibility. It was all my inadequacy.”

The owner bowed deeply, and Liv, suppressing her discomfort, averted her gaze.

“I’m not saying people shouldn’t feel envious. But forming a group to act on those feelings is another matter entirely. Especially when responsibility is glossed over—how can your apology come across as sincere?”

The staff, who were lined up like they were being punished, hunched their shoulders. Outwardly, they all looked remorseful.

But Liv didn’t think their jealousy had disappeared. In fact, after this incident, it was likely that their simplistic envy would turn into fierce hatred.

They would feel wronged, angry, and bitter. They would curse her behind her back, saying it was ridiculous to make such a fuss over a little pinprick.

Liv smiled bitterly. She could easily imagine how she must look to them.

Perhaps just a fussy mistress, arrogantly flaunting her immense backing.

“I’ll collect the clothing I ordered, but I have no desire to continue dealing with a boutique lacking professionalism.”

After all, trying to be moderately kind would only give rise to more gossip. If she was going to be talked about behind her back regardless, she might as well make sure they had nothing to say to her face—especially people like this.

By causing this uproar, at least they wouldn’t dare use such petty tricks again.

“My lady!”

“Bring me the finished clothing.”

Liv had a feeling she would face similar situations several more times in the future.

She wasn’t thrilled about it, but she knew she had to get used to it.

Initially planning to head straight home after the ordeal at the boutique, Liv changed her mind.

Since she wanted to avoid this street as much as possible, she decided to take care of all her errands while she was out.

After loading her belongings onto a rented carriage, Liv, wearing her hat low, walked briskly to a shop selling various accessories related to clothing. She had been thinking about getting some gifts for Philip or Adolf and had eventually decided on handkerchiefs as the safest option.

Once, she wouldn’t even have looked at an upscale shop like this, but now such spending wasn’t a burden for her.

“The handkerchiefs are displayed over here.”

As Liv followed the employee’s guidance, she paused to glance at something. The employee, noticing her interest, also turned to see what had caught her attention.

“Those are premium items that our store specially handles. They are supplied to noble households, so they come at a considerable price,” the employee explained cautiously. It seemed that they had assumed Liv’s financial status based on her attire.

Liv left the employee behind and approached the display case decisively. The first thing she noticed was a pair of sparkling cufflinks. She also saw a shiny silver boutonnière and a sleek cravat. The display appeared more intended for showcasing items rather than for sale.

Liv slowly examined the items until her gaze lingered on a display case at the far end.

“Do you have gloves suitable for someone distinguished?”

“If they’re for someone distinguished… would they be for a lady?”

“No, for a gentleman.”

“Of course, we do.”

The employee, who had asked her to wait a moment, moved swiftly to retrieve the item. While she waited, Liv quietly stared into the display case.

She thought of the Marquis, who always wore gloves except when they were intimate. Surely, he had his gloves custom-made from high-quality materials.

Even if she gifted them, she might never see him wear them.

“My lady, do you know the size by any chance?”

The employee, who had gone to retrieve the product, peeked out and asked.

Liv answered in a calm voice, “Yes, I know.”

She remembered the size of the hands that touched her vividly and clearly.

***

It was the greatest luxury of her life.

Even after adding up the cost of all the handkerchiefs she bought as gifts for others, they couldn’t compare to the price of the gloves she intended for the Marquis.

Surely her hands didn’t shake while paying?

“Thank you. Please carry them over there.”

With the help of the coachman, Liv moved the surprisingly large amount of items in front of her house, feeling a sense of accomplishment. She thought she should reduce her outings for a while and spend more time with Corida.

After adding a bit of extra compensation for the coachman and sending him off, Liv turned to go inside.

“Liv!”

Drawn by the familiar voice, she turned around and saw Brad approaching in his worn clothes.

Upon catching her eye, Brad beamed and rushed over, only to be suddenly intercepted by others. They were the guards assigned by the Marquis during Liv’s overnight stay, and they had stayed on, maintaining order around the area.

“Wait, I’m a friend of Liv! Liv! Please spare me a moment!”

“…I know him. It’s fine; let him go.”

At Liv’s words, the guards obediently released Brad. His arm hurt slightly from being held, and he rubbed it with a groan before hurriedly approaching Liv, afraid of being stopped again.