27

Princess Lilis’s salon visit helped me understand aristocratic life a lot. Because of that, it became the benchmark for this project.

‘Rather than being swayed by every little trend in what to eat or use, it felt like high nobility lead those trends themselves.’

For example, like how the second-generation heir of the Samsung conglomerate becomes a topic for whatever he wears, whether expensive or not. The family’s status as founding nobles also lent a traditional and lofty atmosphere.

‘That kind of thing is innate. You can’t learn it.’

So we had to take a different strategy.

Even if we did the same thing, at best we’d only be second place. It’s better to take a risk and choose another route.

I made sure to confirm this with the young lady and prepared the new product launch party. Because it differed from how we usually prepare, I had to explain things multiple times so the staff wouldn’t be confused. Thanks to that, amid the busy schedule I had the rare… precious time to experience the party preparation process step by step.

This is the rough order.

1. Planning the party concept.
2. Choosing a venue that fits the concept. (several banquet halls within the Marquess’s residence)
3. Recruiting specialists in each field to realize the plan.
4. Finalizing the plan through multiple rounds of meetings.
5. Making the guest list and sending invitations.
6. Starting the banquet hall interior work.
7. Commissioning and making Miss Kiara’s dress.
8. Testing and checking samples of the Black Dia new products.
9. Checking the interior work and giving feedback.
10. Tasting the food to be served at the party.
11. Tending the garden.
12. Finalizing the flow of movement.

It may be called planning, but within one plan we discussed everything from curtain colors and brands to invitation design. Steps 1 through 4 were the parts that took the most brainpower.

Of course, highly confidential information was controlled. I received help from the butler, maids, and servants, but as the manager I had to check even the smallest details.

‘That’s why it’s easiest to just follow someone else.’

The guest list and invitations were handled by the young lady and the butler. I still didn’t know the noble families well, and I lacked knowledge about inter-family atmospheres and alliances.

This time we decided to invite not only nobles but also trendsetting actors, major merchant houses, and artists. We took motifs from fashion shows and celebrity parties.

‘They’ll make the party even more famous.’

At present, steps 6 through 8 were happening at the same time. I had made a to-do list and was checking things off one by one, generating stress for myself.

“You’re doing well, Cornelia.”

After some time at the Marquis’s residence, the butler was comfortable calling me by name when the lady wasn’t around.

“This is my first time doing this, so I’m a bit nervous.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off the documents when I heard something being set down.

“Aide, have some of this.”

It was a tempting strawberry tart.

When I looked up, Maid Melony stood there. Because I often ate sweets while working, she had noticed it. After the ‘that guy’ incident we had introduced ourselves and had started talking. Fortunately, with the party preparations keeping everyone busy, his harassment had calmed down.

To me, it seemed his attention on the young master was a major factor.

“Ah, thank you.”

Melony insisted that the rank difference was obvious but firmly refused honorifics and spoke casually. She said it was more comfortable.

“Everyone keeps praising you, the aide, saying things are going smoothly thanks to you. So relax.”

I shook my head.

“Melony. Work isn’t always full of praise. There were complaints and curses mixed in, but kind-hearted you filtered and only told me the good things—I know that.”

“No! It’s not a lie!”

The butler chimed in beside us.

“It’s true, Cornelia. This is the first time we’ve called all the staff together to explain the overall plan for how to run a party. Because of that, their understanding of the tasks is higher. Roles have been clearly divided so everyone is working without confusion more than ever. Since you’ve made the list and checked it thoroughly, nothing’s being missed.”

“….”

I wanted to think ‘let’s keep things pleasant,’ but the praise prison she drew was oddly uncomfortable.

“Thank you for saying that. It gives me strength. I’ll go to the library to look for some materials.”

I gobbled the tart in a minute, then stood up stretching my neck back.

‘Watch out for a neck disc and back disc.’

The chronic ailments of office workers. I shouldn’t be suffering that misfortune in a fresh twenty-year-old body.

Even on the way to the library my mind was full of work. This project mattered that much to me.

‘It will solidify my position at the Marquis’s residence.’

Of course, this would also affect that jerk’s execution.

I’m not cool about it. I’ll track him down and punish him to the end.

As I walked, I soon arrived at the library. True to a marquis’s house, it was enormous. Looking at old paper and antique-style book covers reminded me anew that I’d fallen into another world.

Today I was looking for guides on noble etiquette, proper ball preparations, and social etiquette. The head maid, the young lady, and the butler gave me real-time tips, but I needed to organize them separately.

“Oh? Aren’t you the senior aide?”

That voice belonged to the Marquis’s youngest son, whose expression I couldn’t afford to furrow my brow at.

“Hello, young master.”

“You came to read?”

Aidan stepped up, brightly plopped his notebook opposite me, and sat down.

‘XX…’

Imagine this: the chairman’s son, not even someone I’m close to, shows curiosity about me during work. Then he sits opposite to watch what I do. Describe that feeling.

‘As if I could possibly focus on the book.’

His long pale-lilac hair fluttered lazily like someone with nothing to do.

I silently chanted a mantra to myself.

‘Just focus on my work, only my work. Before being the chairman’s son, he’s another scholar who came to study. The future head of the Magic Tower, even.’

Right, magicians treat daily life as research. Coming to the library is perfectly natural. So I’ll have him borrow the next book and read it in the office.

I gave him a slight smile and refocused on the book. I jotted down useful phrases on parchment. Writing it out helped me concentrate better than before.

But even after a long time, the feeling of being watched wouldn’t go away.

‘Ignore it.’

I was about to give up and stand when Aidan, who had been staring at the documents, spoke.

“Wow—how can you organize like this?”

His eyes were on the party preparation checklist.

“I can’t do that. I just couldn’t.”

Aidan said that and opened his notebook to show me. It was full of messy handwriting and formulas in no order.

“If you organize calmly, anyone can do it.”

It wasn’t difficult; once you got used to the format it’s quick. But Aidan shook his head vigorously.

“No. I haven’t seen anyone organize this neatly here or at the Magic Tower. I tried at first too, but no.”

His admiring tone made me hesitate a moment, then I made a suggestion. It wasn’t a hard task.

“If you’d like, I’ll make an organizing template for you. Even just drawing lines in the notebook will help a lot.”

“Really? Thanks! I’ll share it with the old folks at the Magic Tower too!”

He used a somewhat rude term, but I ignored it.

Looking closely at Aidan’s notes, I saw a lot of numbers. It seemed magic required a lot of mathematical calculations.

“25, 1173, 2050…”

“You… what are you?”

Aidan asked sharply all of a sudden.

“Yes?”

“How did you calculate this? Without writing it down?”

Only then did I realize what I’d done.

My college entrance scores weren’t great, but early training had made me confident in simple mental math, and I’d been calculating unconsciously. The conglomerate heir’s eyes glittered excessively, almost uncomfortably so.

“Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I don’t have magical talent.”

It didn’t seem to register in his ears at all.

“Young master?”

“Aidan.”

“Sorry?”

“Call me Aidan!”

He seemed to have flipped an unnecessary switch. I pretended not to notice his look.

“Just Mr. Aidan is fine.”

Fortunately he didn’t insist and accepted it meekly.

“Great. Let’s study together from now on!”

“S-sure.”

Because of the young master’s gaze, I couldn’t study properly, but to end the situation quickly I nodded vigorously.

Bang!

At that moment, Miss Kiara burst into the library. The butler followed with a frantic expression.

“Cornelia, it’s a big problem!”

Sensing something serious, I stood up. The young lady’s face was rigid.

“Princess Lilis launched a cosmetics brand today! And as a pop-up shop!”

Ah, so that’s how it turned out.

I recalled the information I had heard from Senior Yul last time.

‘Merchant house business is practically the Marquis’s residence business too. Keep that in mind.’

‘Senior, what do you mean by that all of a sudden…’

‘Your Black Dia plan has disappeared.’

‘What?’

‘It was top-secret information known only to the higher-ups. The head of management thought you should know. That’s why I came today.’

“What should we do?”

Contrary to the anxious looks of the young lady and the butler, the corner of my mouth crept up.

“Right. What should we do about them?”