"Do you have any potions that enhance 'that kind of' function?" the petite Flower Pixie shyly asked.
Ellie Miller glanced suspiciously at the shop's entrance.
Yes, it was indeed the bustling central commercial street of The Duchy.
"Oh my, boss, I asked a lot of ex-boyfriends before I found your new shop," the petite Flower Pixie shyly drew circles with her little foot.
Ellie Miller stared at the Flower Pixie and asked, "You do know that my shop isn't specifically for selling 'those kinds of potions,' right?"
The Flower Pixie blushed, "Oh my, I have a new boyfriend now, and he's a conservative and pure Elf, so I thought...you know~"
[Damn Elf! Even though I'm a beauty beyond compare, you still remain unmoved! Watch me make you fall with just one potion!]
Ellie Miller: "..." No, I don't know.
But she couldn't help herself and asked, "Your Dark Elf ex-boyfriend... is he doing well?" Getting along fine with that donkey or mule?
"Him? We're good friends now~~"
Ellie Miller's eyes changed when she looked at the Flower Pixie, full of "awe."
The petite Flower Pixie coyly nudged Ellie's hand, "Oh, boss, I'm on good terms with all my ex-boyfriends~ Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ellie didn't understand but was greatly shocked.
"177 Gold Coins, same old non-negotiable rule."
The Flower Pixie was taken aback, her little eyes widening into saucers, and her voice turned rough, "Damn! Why?! Didn't you say 157 Gold Coins last time??"
Ellie Miller pointed outside, "Where is this?"
"Centralis," the Flower Pixie answered, puzzled.
"Where was it before?"
"Campbell Black Market."
"So, these twenty Gold Coins are extra here, understood?" Ellie said blandly.
Flower Pixie: "..."
She angrily pulled out a large bag of Gold Coins, cursing under her breath as she tossed it onto the table, grabbing the potion bottle and flying toward the exit.
"Wait a moment," Ellie Miller said, stopping the Flower Pixie just as she was about to fly out.
"What? Are you going to give me a discount?" the Flower Pixie asked expectantly, flapping her little wings as she flew back.
"Um, no. It's just that you seem to know a lot of 'friends,' so..."
This Flower Pixie has enough ex-boyfriends to form a Knight's Order.
"Here's the thing, I'm usually very busy and can't manage the shop myself all the time. I need to hire someone to help sell potions. Do you know anyone interested in the job?"
"The requirements are simple: smart and tight-lipped. Oh, and shouldn't be a believer in The Radiant See."
The Flower Pixie's eyes twinkled, and she immediately pounded her little chest and said, "Leave it to me!"
This time, after the Flower Pixie left, Ellie Miller didn't earn any reputation points.
But due to previous unexpected issues causing reputation errors, she didn't worry too much about it.
'Ding-a-ling'.
The welcome bell chimed, and Ellie Miller hurriedly swept the remaining Gold Coins into the money bag, handing it to Joanna, "Welcome—".
Then, she saw Artor Coldcrest walking in, and swallowed the words 'to our shop'.
"What brings you here?"
Artor Coldcrest's cold blue eyes swept around the warmly decorated little shop; his handsome face showed no expression, "I'm here to take you home."
Ellie Miller was a bit surprised, "Is something wrong?"
Artor Coldcrest looked down at Ellie, "No, can't I come to pick up my wife?"
Ellie Miller was startled by his words.
"Joanna, that's it for today. Come, I'll give you a ride back," Ellie said to Joanna.
Joanna quickly shook her head, "No need, Madam. Edward is coming to pick me up soon. I'll just tidy up the accounts, and then he'll be here."
But the 'thought bubble' above her head read: [Madam has been returning to the castle late recently, His Grace must be upset.]
Ellie Miller's mouth twitched slightly.
After getting on the carriage to Kostanyn, Ellie Miller asked, "So, what's really going on?"
The carriage was softly lit by Magic Stones. The Duke seemed tired from dealing with matters concerning the New Knight's Order and was resting with his eyes closed.
"Tomorrow, a Lord from the Cullen Family will visit Kostanyn," he suddenly said.
"Huh? Who's that?"
The Duke abruptly opened his blue eyes, staring intently at Ellie Miller.
Ellie was startled into self-awareness, "Oh, I've been so busy I forgot. Ah, yes, the Lord from the Cullen Family..."
She quickly turned her mind over.
Previously, it seemed like the Coldcrest Duke had attacked the territory of the Cullen Family. Then what else did they say?
The Duke slowly said, "Yes, he's the brother of the King's lover. Charlie Cullen."
Ellie Miller breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh! So, is there anything I need to prepare for tomorrow?"
Artor Coldcrest silently stared at her.
The stare made Ellie feel uneasy; the Duke averted his gaze, and said enigmatically, "Not a 'friendly guest', better keep your shop closed for a few days."
The carriage driver steadily halted the carriage.
After stepping down, the Duke turned and offered his hand to Ellie Miller.
"Just a slip of the tongue," he said lightly.
"Charlie Cullen is actually Lady Vivian's brother."
Ellie's foot halted mid-step, and when she resumed, all she saw was the ruby-red velvet cloak disappearing inside the castle gates.
A gust of wind blew, and Ellie, frozen in front of the carriage, realized she was drenched in cold sweat.
...
The current head of the Cullen Family is Foss Cullen, an 80-year-old Marquis noble.
Old Marquis Cullen only had one son, Charlie Cullen.
Charlie Cullen married into the Marquisate of Ness and had an heir, Armand Cullen, in the first year of marriage.
And, rather unfortunately, the Marquisate of Ness was the original family; to be precise, it was her aunt who married over, making Armand Cullen her cousin.
Ellie Miller dug this dusty memory from her brain, and cold sweat poured down her face.
She felt she might still salvage the situation.
During dinner, Ellie Miller took a bite and glanced up at the Duke.
Across from her, the Duke held a newspaper in one hand and a goblet in the other.
"If I say I just didn't recall at the moment, would you believe me?" Ellie casually brought up.
Artor Coldcrest put down the Clark Royal Capital Weekly, a wry smile on his handsome face, "There's a mirror in my study, a Magic Item made by Elves."
"It has an interesting feature, answering one question per day."
"So, if I asked it 'Is Ellie Ness dead or alive,' what do you think it would say?"
Ellie Miller: "!!!"
Seeing his wife's silence, the Duke picked up the newspaper again, a fleeting upturn at the corner of his mouth, but he quickly suppressed it.
Ellie wandered back to her room, her mind a mess, too distracted to dabble in alchemy, and began pacing nervously around.
Knock, knock-knock.
"Who is it?" the sudden knock startled her.
"Madam, it's Conrad. The Master asked me to bring you something," came the butler's voice from outside.
Ellie Miller quickly sat down at the vanity, "Come in."
Conrad entered, placing a thick stack of parchment filled with writing in front of her.
Ellie's lovely eyes widened, "What is this?"
Conrad replied, "The Master said that you should review these reports tonight; you might need them tomorrow."