*Crackle! Pop! Bang!*
A dazzling display of magic lit up the sky above a newly adorned building in Lamipore. Two large red lanterns hung proudly at the entrance, radiating festivity. Rows of mages stood outside, launching spell after spell into the air, much to the delight of the gathered crowd.
But the mages themselves? Their expressions were... less than joyful.
Each wore a strained smile, their faces contorted into something resembling a grimace. Not that they had a choice—Princess Milta had decreed it. When the king's darling decided to open a shop, who were they to refuse? Even if it meant debasing themselves as glorified fireworks technicians.
*"Make it flashy! Make it grand! And smile while you do it!"*
And so they did, despite their dignity screaming in protest.
The spectacle worked. The streets were packed, four blocks deep, with people craning their necks to see what kind of establishment warranted such a show.
**"Magic Dolls" was officially open for business.**
Sophie, dressed in an elegant gown, stood at the entrance, greeting the flood of eager customers. Thanks to the royal guards maintaining order, no one dared push their way in—only those with exclusive membership badges, handpicked by Yakth and Milta, were allowed inside.
Not that it mattered. With this kind of publicity, the entire kingdom would soon know about *Magic Dolls*.
And luxury? Oh, Lamipore *loved* luxury.
Within hours, the shelves were stripped bare—even the failed prototypes made by the maids were snatched up by lesser nobles desperate for a piece of the trend.
Sophie's grin threatened to split her face.
The simplest Korean dolls sold for **five gold coins each**. The cost? A mere **ten silver coins** in materials.
*"Maybe I should raise prices…"*
But no. Better to keep it accessible.
After shooing away disgruntled latecomers, Sophie settled in to tally the earnings.
No computers here, but an abacus? Easy enough to craft.
*Click-clack, click-clack!*
Her smile widened with every calculation.
**"Five thousand gold coins. In. One. Day."**
Her cut? **Two thousand five hundred.**
*"If I'd known it'd be this profitable, I'd have made the maids work triple shifts!"*
"Eva! Order supper for everyone—we're working through the night!" Sophie commanded.
While the maids scrambled to restock, Sophie brainstormed new products.
*Bracelets. Scarves. Hats. Gloves. Charms…*
Two full pages of ideas.
By the time she finished teaching the maids, she'd be rolling in gold.
Three days passed in a blur. Sophie barely left the shop, eating and sleeping there between lessons. She even taught Claude how to use the abacus—turns out, he was a quick learner.
Finally, she stepped back to admire her empire.
*"Not bad. Very boutique-chic."*
"Teacher Sophie!" Yakth's voice snapped her out of her reverie.
"Yakth! Need something? Take whatever you like!" she said grandly.
"It's not that. The magic tournament ended days ago. When are we returning to Cassina?"
*"Return?"*
Oh. Right.
Cassina wasn't home. Not anymore.
"Yakth, why don't you go back with the guards? Hand in my resignation to the academy, too. I'm staying in Lamipore. It's better for Charles' growth here."
A perfectly reasonable excuse.
Yakth's eyes gleamed. "You're really not going back?"
"I'm afraid not."
"That's fine! I'm staying too!" he declared before she could argue. "Father always wanted me at the Royal Academy. Now that we're here, I might as well enroll. And with Charles' talent—and Milta's influence—he could get in as an exception!"
Sophie blinked.
*"Well. Extra moneybag, free elite schooling for Charles... Why not?"*
She'd make a fortune, buy a house, maybe even find someone to ditch her "leftover woman" status.
Life was good.
Until the rumors started.
*"Did you hear? The owner of Magic Dolls is some noble's kept mistress!"*
*"And that boy? Definitely a bastard."*
At first, Sophie ignored them.
But whispers grew louder.
And now?
Now, she was **done playing nice**.
*"Whoever started this… will regret ever crossing me."*
**To Be Continued…**