Chapter 101
The interior of the flower shop was spacious, with various types of flowers filling each basket. It felt like visiting a greenhouse on a spring day.
There was a feast of colors from diverse flowers and sweet floral scents flowing through the air.
I looked up at Karden and blinked.
“Your Grace, come to think of it, you’ve never given me flowers, have you?”
Karden’s expression instantly turned pale.
His eyes, which had never wavered even in the most urgent situations, were trembling intensely for the first time.
I grinned wickedly and repeatedly poked Karden’s side with my elbow.
“Your Grace, please pick a flower that suits me. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’ll do my best.”
There’s no need to be so solemn about picking flowers.
I held back my laughter and headed toward the flower display. The flower display had hundreds of varieties of flowers prepared.
The mixture of various flower scents made me dizzy, like smelling dozens of perfumes simultaneously.
I need to find the lily flower I smelled at the shapeshifter shelter first. Should I ask the shop owner?
“Oh my, could you possibly be Lady Yudis, the Master of Helleon Merchant Guild?”
A noblewoman’s exaggerated voice echoed behind me.
When I turned around, a noble lady was greeting Yudis warmly, acting as if they were acquainted. She was a sharp-featured lady with red hair, flashy attire, and heavy makeup.
Wait, she looks familiar, like I’ve seen her somewhere before.
I hid behind the flower display and carefully observed the noble lady.
Isn’t she that nasty princess who insulted Olivia at the boutique? Cade Melberin.
Why did I have to run into her here, of all places? I tried to avoid getting involved, but then I remembered.
Cade only met me when I was a fox; she’s never seen me in human form. She doesn’t know me, so there’s no reason to avoid her.
I pretended to be choosing flowers while eavesdropping on Cade and Yudis’s conversation.
“Ah, Princess Melberin. How pleasant to see you here.”
Yudis bowed her head in greeting, polite yet gentle in her manner.
With her tall stature and sleek formal attire, Yudis looked so handsome as she greeted with her ebony hair flowing that even another woman would be captivated.
Sure enough, Cade’s cheeks turned slightly red.
“My, Lady Yudis, you’re still as gallant and beautiful as ever. Will you be attending the upcoming ball?”
“Of course. How could I miss an opportunity to see such lovely ladies as yourself?”
“Oh my, you always say such nice things.”
Hidden behind the flower basket, I witnessed Yudis’s amazing business skills firsthand.
She’s truly impressive. She’s winning over the lady’s heart with her kind and gentle words.
Behind Lady Cade stood a skinny maid with many freckles, holding shopping bags in both hands.
She caught my attention with her expressionless face, like a doll.
Noticing my gaze, the maid looked in my direction.
Ah. That person is a rabbit shapeshifter.
The maid’s eyes also widened in surprise when she saw me.
I wonder if she noticed that I’m a fox shapeshifter.
“Sigh, Lady Yudis, did I tell you about the incident I suffered at the boutique?”
Cade sighed, pretending to be pitiful as she brought up the story.
“I was in the middle of a fitting when suddenly a fox appeared and charged at me!”
Cade’s expression grew increasingly hostile, showing she clearly still harbored a grudge about the incident.
“Do you know how fierce and frightening that beast was? I nearly got seriously injured by that fox.”
“I see that happened to you. You must have been shocked.”
Yudis already knew the full story, but she pretended not to know and went along with it.
“I don’t know whose shapeshifter it was, but if I find out, I won’t let them off easily. I intend to demand compensation and an apology.”
“You haven’t found them yet?”
“No. I’ve had my servants looking for the fox, but no one has seen it. Really, what’s happening to this country? A mad fox running wild in a boutique.”
Cade pouted her lips and narrowed her sharp eyes.
“There are already ominous rumors about shapeshifters running wild these days, which is terrible. They say beasts are forgetting their place and turning on their masters.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Yudis continued to respond with a smiling face, but her eyes turned cold.
Cade, not noticing Yudis’s change in expression, kept chattering away.
“So I was wondering, since you’re a merchant guild master, do you deal in medicines that can keep shapeshifters docile?”
“Medicine to make shapeshifters docile?”
Yudis’s voice instantly turned cold.
Cade sighed deeply and glanced at the maid behind her.
“I took in this homeless rabbit shapeshifter as my maid. She has many shortcomings, but I’m showing her mercy. With all these shapeshifter-related incidents lately, I’m worried she might go berserk and harm me despite my kindness.”
A flash of contempt crossed Yudis’s expression. But she quickly resumed her calm smile.
“Our merchant guild doesn’t deal in such medicines.”
“Oh, I see. That’s disappointing.”
“I have companions waiting, so I must go now.”
Yudis politely ended the conversation and turned away.
Our eyes met. There was a vein bulging on her forehead from suppressing her anger.
Yudis approached me and whispered in my ear.
“Was it Princess Cade? The one from the boutique incident?”
“Yes.”
“Shushu, you should have bitten her hand back then.”
“I will next time.”
I whispered back, trying to hold back my laughter.
Cade glared at the maid, following her and ordered.
“Jessie, carry this flower basket.”
“Yes, miss.”
The maid obediently took the heavy-looking flower basket in her arms.
She already had shopping bags hanging from both arms, making it look difficult for her.
Just as I was about to speak to Jessie while Cade went to another corner.
A strong lily scent stung my nose.
I noticed a basket full of lush lilies next to Jessie.
I unconsciously took out a lily from the flower basket and smelled it.
Not an ordinary lily scent, but an extremely sweet floral fragrance brushed past my nose. Almost dizzying.
‘Ah, this is?’
It was definitely that intense lily scent I had smelled at the shapeshifter shelter.
The same scent from the medicine bottles distributed to the shapeshifters.
“Shuvelia, do you like that lily?”
Yudis approached me and brought her nose close to the lily.
“This flower is pretty, but it has no scent. What a shame.”
How strange that she can’t smell it when the lily’s scent is so strong. What’s going on?
At that moment, I noticed Jessie standing across from me. The large flower basket she was holding obscured her face.
But her skinny arms holding the basket were trembling.
This lily scent can only be detected by shapeshifters!
I took the flower basket from Jessie’s hands.
Jessie looked at me with dazed eyes, then, seemingly coming to her senses, her expression changed to one of fear.
“My lady, have I done something wrong?”
“No. The flower scent is too strong in here, so why don’t you wait outside? I’ll help you.”
“What? Oh… Thank you.”
Just as I was about to go outside with Jessie, Cade blocked our way.
“You, what business do you have with my maid?”
Cade frowned and looked me up and down.
“I don’t recognize your face from society circles. Which family are you from?”
“Ah, well…”
I couldn’t think of what to say. Should I mention that I’m indebted to Grand Duke Helleide?
As I hesitated, Yudis stepped in front of me.
“Lady Cade, this young lady is an important guest. Is there a problem?”
“Oh, if Lady Yudis vouches for her.”
Cade finally seemed to accept it and tilted her chin.
“This young lady seemed to have business with my maid. What’s this about?”
I forced a friendly expression.
Being aggressive here would only cause trouble for Jessie.
“There are many people in the flower shop, and she looked tired. I was just suggesting that she might wait outside the shop.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than Cade unleashed her irritation on Jessie.
“You dull thing, you’re making people uncomfortable! Get out of my sight and wait outside!”
“Yes, miss.”
Jessie obediently bowed her head and struggled outside with the heavy load.
I couldn’t stand by and watch Cade’s unfair treatment any longer.
As I was about to step forward, Yudis grabbed my shoulder and held me back.
She whispered in my ear.
“Shushu, I understand your anger, but stay calm. There are many eyes watching here. I promise I’ll find an opportunity to correct Lady Cade’s behavior.”
I was upset, but Yudis was right.
Above all, finding out why the lily scent from the shapeshifter shelter was present in this flower shop was the urgent priority.
The flower shop was frequented not only by nobles but also by commoners and shapeshifters.
To think such dangerous lily flowers were being openly sold in a public place.
“Lady Yudis, I’ll be back shortly.”
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