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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Female Lead Takes It All
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Early morning.
Lubeo Department Store was already bustling before opening.
"Yo-ho…."
Especially on this first floor, outside the cash registers that saw the highest foot traffic within the department store, stalls were lined up in rows.
They were special stalls filled with dessert shops that were just starting to gain word-of-mouth or hidden gems known only to those in the know.
"Yo-ho, yo-ho…."
The department store often lent space like this to promising shops.
Though they had to pass strict screening and pay a certain seat fee, the shop owners desperately vied for the chance.
They could expect substantial promotion and profits. If they got lucky, they might even open a branch inside the department store.
"Ugh, hng…!"
Serious expressions filled the faces of everyone preparing for business.
However, that seriousness wavered a little today.
"Phew…."
Everyone's gazes focused on the young child who had just let out a rather theatrical sigh.
"Aigoo, so heavy…."
Nibelria wiped her forehead exaggeratedly with her sleeve.
Among the shops at the special stalls, it was the least known, in the most out-of-the-way corner, the smallest cart.
But this tiny cart was Nibelria's first shop.
Today was the first business day for 'Meow Shop'.
"Good heavens, miss!"
The maid Dether, who had followed behind, said in surprise.
Dether's two arms were stacked with a whopping three large boxes that Nibelria had just dragged over.
She hurriedly set them down behind the stall and checked on Nibelria.
"Couldn't you have waited just a moment? Did you drag them all by yourself?"
"It's Nini's shop, so Nini has to move them."
"How impressive. The president is truly something else."
"Nini is the president!"
Praised, Nibelria grinned. Her white, squishy cheeks twitched along with the corners of her mouth.
Nibelria had parted her snowy white silver hair into two braids and tied them into neat round buns so they wouldn't get in the way.
Her outfit was a black dress with a white apron, just like Dether's.
"By the way, I wonder if it's really okay to dress you like this."
Dether said in a tone utterly devoid of concern.
"The young lady in maid attire…."
"You have to dress like this to work properly."
Nibelria herself was extremely pleased with her outfit.
The little president and her maid kept chattering away while busily moving about.
Nibelria toddled around transporting the cookies she had diligently baked the day before and filled in the price tags with her crooked handwriting.
A tiny tongue poked out from between the lips of the concentrating child.
"Dether, did I write it well?"
Having finished writing, Nibelria submitted for inspection.
Dether nodded after checking the price tags.
Though she had started too big at first, causing the numbers to shrink progressively, to Dether's eyes, it was nothing but adorable and commendable.
"Much better than before. You even wrote the currency unit this time. How impressive."
"I practiced!"
Nibelria lifted her chin proudly. It was a boast devoid of even a speck of dignity.
"I'll sell lots and become rich!"
Lubeo Department Store was the largest marketplace in the Drameno Empire.
It handled so many goods that the term 'department store' was coined.
The special stall area right in front of the first-floor cash registers was the spot Nibelria had set her sights on.
She had accidentally overheard from the servants' gossip that selling here would make her rich.
So, to do business here, she lobbied the person in charge and slipped them bribes.
She massaged the shoulders of her mom, the department store owner, and diligently ran errands for her grandma and grandpa, the shareholders.
To get permission to go out from her dad, the family head, she brought the morning paper every day. And she even forced down her hated eggplant without being picky.
It was an opportunity earned through arduous efforts.
Nibelria's goal was to sell every last one of the cookies she had made.
"Dether, hang this up."
"Like this?"
"Yeah."
After finishing the product display, Nibelria handed Dether the sign she had drawn herself.
The white cloth reading 'Meow Shop' in crooked letters was hung at the top of the stall.
Gazing at it, Nibelria's heart thumped.
"It's Nini's shop!"
"Today is an auspicious first business day."
"What's a business day?"
"It means a day of doing business. So, the day the young lady opens the shop and sells cookies."
"Yeah! It's a business day!"
Nibelria clenched her two little fists.
"Let's make lots of money!"
"If we make money, will you give me some?"
"No. I'll only pay the promised amount. Nothing more."
"So honest and shrewd."
Dether praised her while straightening the young lady's clothes.
But business was not as easy as it sounded.
As soon as the department store opened, crowds of people flooded in.
Nobles in flashy attire caught the eye first. But most were fairly well-off middle-class folk or ordinary citizens.
"Welcome! Shall I package a few puddings for you?"
"Our shop uses handmade butter…."
"Financiers are baked in the shape of gold bars, mainly given as gifts when hoping for financial luck. Yes, five boxes ordered!"
"Banana custard cheese bread pudding just sold out!"
The special area was soon swarmed by crowds.
There were some differences in popularity, but most stalls were busily serving customers. A few even had sold-out items already.
"……."
"……."
Only Meow Shop remained deserted.
A few people approached out of curiosity.
But with the ugly cookie shapes, the shabby sign, and only a single young woman in maid attire as the seller….
No one felt inclined to buy.
"Who would come all the way to a department store to buy such ugly things?"
One of the onlookers said coldly.
Dether readily affirmed it.
"Of course, the cookies do look like a four-year-old girl kneaded the dough with her feet and roughly scooped it out before baking."
"No, I didn't mean to disparage it that much…."
"Still, please give it a try. We guarantee the taste and effects."
Dether pulled out a packaged cookie and offered it.
The customer snapped it in half and shared it with his wife.
"Our cookies have incredible effects."
Dether explained.
"They prevent headaches, rhinitis, body aches, chills, and reduce muscle pain."
Ignoring the exaggerated claims about effects, the cookie was truly delicious.
"Meow Shop uses only carefully selected premium ingredients. No skimping or deception. The owner absolutely hates that sort of thing."
Dether pointed to the price tag.
"And look at the price."
Three cookies for a total of 5,000 Uba.
Compared to the average monthly wage of 3 million Uba for a general laborer in the Drameno Empire, or 100 Uba for three cheap candies kids bought on the street, it was an incredibly good deal.
In the end, the customer opened his wallet.
"Four packs of cookies, please."
"Thank you, sir."
While Dether swiftly packed four packs into a box with quick hands, the couple blankly stared at the sign.
Meow Shop.
"…It's Meow Shop, but there's a dog drawn on it?"
Clunk-.
The stall suddenly jolted.
"Sorry. I slipped for a moment."
Dether thanked the departing customers and saw them off politely, wishing them a safe trip.
"…Miss."
She then glanced toward the empty space under the stall.
There sat Nibelria, curled up like a cat, hugging her cherished doll from home, 'Wolf'.
"Not a dog. It's a cat."
Nibelria pouted her lips.
"Aren't you going to do business?"
"You shouldn't talk to strangers. It's dangerous. You'll get kidnapped."
"Business is done with strangers."
"Ah…."
Nibelria, who hadn't realized that far, let out a deep sigh.
"Life is tough…."
"Where did you learn such a weird word this time?"
"Adults use it."
Dether stroked the head of the bashful young lady.
The sales results for Meow Shop, which had flung open its doors with grim determination, amounted to a mere four packs of cookies.
Upon hearing this shocking news, the department store owner personally visited Meow Shop.
"Young Lady Dayamor."
"Mom…."
"Not mom. Call her President."
Seletrina Dayamor Lubeo, the President and Marchioness, checked the sales figures with a pitying expression.
"Only four packs of cookies sold?"
"Yeah…."
"Not yeah. Yes."
"Yes…."
Her spirit completely deflated, Nibelria glanced at Dether.
"If Dether had worked harder…."
"Miss, blaming others isn't good. And you said you wouldn't pay extra."
"So heartless…!"
"That's how the world works."
However, an even harsher moment was just beginning.
"This can't be helped."
Seletrina made a regretful face.
"Meow Shop doesn't need to set up starting tomorrow."
"Then when can it?"
"It can't. Sold too poorly."
"Eek?"
"Eek."
Seletrina mimicked her daughter's quirk, her eyebrows drooping. The wilted expressions on mother and daughter were eerily similar.
Nibelria clutched her head.
"Br, bribe? Won't take bribe?"
"Lubeo Department Store doesn't accept bribes. But our president, do we have money for bribes?"
At those words, Nibelria turned to Dether.
But Dether delivered the bad news.
"The cookie ingredients cost way too much, so there's no money left. Just a pile of debts."
"Debt? The shiny stuff?"
"Debt means money you owe other people. For reference, my labor fee is in there too."
"…Hing."
Nibelria made a tearful face.
In the end, Meow Shop went bankrupt after just one day.
