Chapter 339

The Next Client
After completing Little Bern's dress, Magic Butterfly found itself with some free time again.
Being a custom-order dress shop, this was to be expected, but still, it felt a bit too quiet.

Amidst this lull, Alizée visited the shop.
It seemed she had come to discuss business—or rather, to have a meeting.
Since it wasn’t something urgent enough to summon me to the Trade Guild, she decided to come to the shop instead.
I wondered what it was about.

"Lady Lily, do you plan to continue taking dress orders at the Magic Butterfly?"

"Not really."

I answered Alizée’s question immediately.
After all, this shop is more of a front than my main focus.

"Understood. In that case, I will decline all the current orders from the nobility."

"Wait, Alizée. Are there really that many orders coming in?"

"Yes, there are. It seems word has spread that you’ve finished Princess Rodenlight’s order. Dozens of requests have come to the Trade Guild from nobles asking you to make dresses for their wives and daughters. However, these are all from families with titles of viscount or below, so there’s no need for you, a silver-ranked merchant, to take them on. I’ve been holding them off on my own authority. If there’s no issue, I’ll send out rejections."

Hmm, I had no idea there were that many requests.
Just because Princess Rodenlight’s order was finished, the nobility’s ears are sharp… wait, what?

"Alizée, are there really that many viscounts and barons in this viscountry?"

"Not just in this country. Requests are coming from the former country and even beyond. Some even go as far as demanding that you move to their territory to become their exclusive dressmaker."

"Yeah, I have no intention of agreeing to that. Please decline those."

"Understood. So, how do you plan to operate moving forward?"

Moving forward… that’s the tricky part.
Young lady Kou’s dress was more or less a command from Princess Rodenlight, and Little Bern’s dress was a request from Marquis Vardmoi.
I had been thinking about making Little Bern’s dress whenever I had the chance, so that request was a welcome one.

But what about other orders?
Should I only take them when I feel like it?
That seems too vague as a criterion, doesn’t it?

When I asked Alizée about this, she replied, "I think that’s perfectly fine."
Wait, really?

"Top-tier designers often only take on the work they want, regardless of the nobility’s influence. Such designers either receive protection from the Trade Guild or become high-ranking merchants with enough power to rival the nobility. Lady Lily, you already have both. I don’t see any issue with you operating as you please."

Hmm, I didn’t realize I had become that influential.
… Well, I guess I have.
From the Trade Guild’s perspective, I’m a silver-ranked merchant who regularly supplies them with Spider Silk—a material no one else can provide.
I’m essentially a golden goose they wouldn’t easily let go of.

Still, rejecting everything might lead to some complications.

It might be a bit of a hassle for Marquis Vardmoi, but I think I’ll only accept orders from clients with a letter of introduction from either Marquis Vardmoi or Trade Guild Master Priscilla.
I’ll have Alizée confirm with Priscilla, and I’ll go ask Marquis Vardmoi myself.

… Look at me, thinking of using Marquis Vardmoi like this.
I’ve really come a long way, haven’t I?

What do you think about this chapter?