“Welcome!”
“We sell delicious fruits!”
Heros, a city in the Duchy of Rogelia, was a commercial hub with a highly developed economy.
Due to its nature as a center of commerce, Heros had a high population density—comparable to that of Orkeon, the capital of Astraia.
“Hey, girl! How about some delicious black tea?”
“I have fresh fish!”
Voices called out from every direction, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere.
The market in Heros was bustling, far livelier than the market in Akkad.
Then again, Akkad focused primarily on agriculture as its main source of income, so the difference made sense.
“It should be around here.”
I wandered alone along the main street of the market.
I hadn’t brought an escort.
In fact, I’d come to Heros entirely on my own, under my father’s orders.
Reina had insisted she couldn’t let her guest go alone, but in the end, she relented at my persistence.
“…Well, it’ll be fine.”
Pushing away unnecessary thoughts, I glanced around again. I was sure the store I was looking for was somewhere nearby. I remembered it clearly, but this was my first visit, so I couldn’t help feeling a little lost.
“Is this it?”
Finally, I spotted the alley.
It was quiet, an odd contrast to the lively market, making it feel somewhat out of place.
Without hesitation, I stepped in.
“I found it.”
There was only one store in the alley, its walls lined with bricks.
A signboard hung above the entrance, reading ‘Arin’ alongside a perfume bottle symbol.
Catching my breath, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
“Welcome!”
The moment I entered, the strong scent of perfume enveloped me.
Looking around, I saw shelves lined with various cosmetics and perfumes.
“I’ve come to the right place.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
The voice belonged to a woman with her orange hair tied up in a bun.
She greeted me with a gentle and sincere smile.
“It’s unusual for a man to come in alone. Are you looking for a gift?”
“Yes… The blue bottle over there, please.”
I didn’t know much about perfume, so I picked the one that stood out the most near the register.
“Oh! You have a good eye! Would you like to try it?”
“A fragrance?”
“Here, smell it with a perfume sample.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll give it a try.”
“Yes! Just a moment!”
The clerk ducked below the counter and pulled something out.
It was a small bottle and a narrow strip of white paper, about the length of my index finger.
She uncapped the bottle and dipped the tip of the paper into it, staining it a soft blue.
“Just sniff this part gently.”
I took the strip from her and held it up to my nose.
A sweet yet refreshing scent filled my senses. It felt like plunging into a serene blue sea, the fragrance wrapping around my entire body.
“This is nice. I like it.”
“Really? Thank goodness! Actually, I made this perfume myself.”
“…Are you the owner of the shop?”
“Yes. This store was a dream of mine since childhood. We just opened recently, and since the location isn’t great and we’re not well-known yet, customers are still few.”
Still, if I work hard, I believe I can succeed.
She said this with a bright and confident smile.
“I hope your dream comes true. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Thank you! Since it’s a gift, how would you like it wrapped?”
“I want it to make an impression at first glance.”
“Got it! I’ll wrap it as cutely as possible! Is the recipient a woman?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
She turned around to gather a box and wrapping paper.
Watching her, I casually asked,
“Boss.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know ‘Avatar’?”
“…Ava…tar? Is that a new perfume or cosmetic?”
Her brows furrowed slightly as she tilted her head in confusion.
“Yes. I heard it’s a new cosmetic product that came out recently. I was wondering if you carry it.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it. But I’ll look into it through my supplier. Would you mind stopping by again sometime?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“Not at all. If I can gain one loyal customer from this, I’m grateful.”
Her expression was genuine—sincere, not the least bit forced.
Maybe now’s not the time.
In that case, it might be a good idea to assign someone from the family to look into this later.
“Guest, it’s ready!”
While I was lost in thought, the shop owner handed me the finished package.
“Ah, thank you.”
The perfume was wrapped in an ultramarine blue box, tied with a silver string.
Though the color was dark, it didn’t feel gloomy—instead, it gave off an air of elegance.
Just the packaging made it feel like a special gift.
“I hope the recipient likes it!”
“I’m sure they’ll love it.”
“Then I’m really happy to hear that. That’ll be six gold coins!”
Six gold coins—600,000 won.
I was slightly taken aback by the higher-than-expected price, but I didn’t let it show.
For the quality, the cost was fair.
The only problem was that I currently had only five gold coins to my name.
I hadn’t planned on spending much at the market.
But still…
“Boss, excuse me… but do you accept credits here?”
“A credit? Hmm, well… that might be a bit difficult…”
“Perhaps this might work?.”
I took out a handkerchief from my back pocket and handed it to her.