Opening, Week Four – Marquis Vardmoi’s Inspection and New Housemates
On the fourth week of running the shop, today was the day I would welcome Marquis Vardmoi and his family to the store.
Normally, the store was off-limits to men, but I decided to make an exception for Lord Vardmoi.
However, it had to be with prior notice.
When making exceptions, it’s important to establish detailed conditions.
In the afternoon, it was time for Lord Vardmoi to arrive.
I stood outside, waiting for their arrival.
A luxurious carriage approached from the main street in the direction of the store.
I wondered if Lord Vardmoi and his family were inside.
When the carriage arrived in front of the store, it came to a stop, and the accompanying knights opened the carriage door while keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
Stepping out of the carriage were indeed Lord Vardmoi and his family.
I greeted them with a ladylike bow.
“Please raise your face. I appreciate your welcoming us today.”
“No. Thank you very much for coming today.”
“Mhm. Let’s not stand here and head into the store immediately. Normally, men are prohibited from entering, right? The escort that enter the store with us is made up of women only.”
“Your consideration is much appreciated.”
I led everyone inside the shop.
As soon as they entered, Lord Vardmoi couldn’t help but let out a sigh of amazement.
Well, I had put a lot of effort into creating this store.
Not only did I hang items on hangers, but I also folded and neatly displayed them on shelves.
I had a reasonable variety of products as well.
The recommended outfit for this season was a combination of a dress and a short jacket.
If purchased together, I offered a reasonable price.
I had received approval from Alizée, who mentioned that it fell within the budget range where adult women could buy without straining their finances.
I also had a selection of fall-themed outfits.
… But, sales were low due to the relatively high prices.
“Indeed. The ambiance is lovely, and it’s a very lady-friendly store.”
“Yes, that’s the concept I had in mind when creating this store.”
“However, isn’t it a problem to not allow men at all? Considering personal safety, it’s dangerous for women to walk the streets alone. Also, what if someone wants to gift clothing?”
“This store is right off the main street, so we’re not too concerned about safety. During business hours, Keuko and Uhina provide security outside, and the guard station is nearby as well. It’s rare for anyone to cause trouble in such a place, isn’t it?”
“Mhm, you make a valid point.”
“And as for the gifts, basically no men are allowed in the store at that time either. I think they should bring the person they are going to gift along to let them choose themselves.”
“You are going to such lengths?”
“People claiming to be here for gift purposes and lingering in the store for hours a day could be quite troublesome. This is a women-only store, so I don’t want them to feel intimidated.”
“I see, in that case, I won’t insist… By the way, I also want to gift clothing to my wife and daughter. Would it be acceptable for me to choose for them?”
“Well, today is a special exception. Please don’t go to the corner over there, though.”
“The corner over there… What’s beyond it?”
“Women’s lingerie. It’s strictly off-limits for men, so please understand.”
“Understood. I wouldn’t want to be looked at with disapproval by my wife and daughter, so I’ll avoid getting too close.”
Lord Vardmoi, accompanied by his wife and daughter, began to explore the store.
Both his wife and daughter seemed excited, as there were many new clothes to see.
I hadn’t made dresses suitable for nobility yet, so the clothes they were buying today would likely be for indoor use.
I didn’t mind as long as they cared for them properly.
In the end, Lady Vardmoi purchased about ten outfits, while their daughter bought three.
There weren’t too many options for children’s clothing, but that couldn’t be helped.
While magic tailoring did adjust sizes to some extent, it had its limits.
With the payment completed, it seemed that Lord Vardmoi was about to leave, but he called me over again.
In the direction he gestured, there was one female knight and one female maid waiting.
I wondered what was going on with them.
“Lily, it took some time to make a selection, but I’ve decided to appoint these two as your escorts and instructors.”
Escorts and instructors?
Wait, what?