The introduction of the wine left all the nobles and merchants present utterly astounded, their jaws dropping in disbelief at the sheer magnificence of the drink. The rich, intoxicating aroma and the smooth, velvety texture of the liquor were unlike anything they had ever experienced. Within mere moments, the three bottles of this exquisite wine were snatched up eagerly, as if they were priceless treasures. Even the intricately designed ceramic bottles, with their elegant curves and delicate engravings, were not spared—enthusiastic collectors whisked them away, unwilling to let even a fragment of this luxury escape their grasp.
"…" Dahlia's lips twitched slightly, a subtle sign of her bemusement. Was this wine really that extraordinary? She couldn't help but wonder, her mind drifting to her own distaste for alcohol. To her, the sharp, pungent smell of liquor was far from appealing, and she had never understood the fascination others seemed to have with it. Shaking off her thoughts, she decided to shift the focus before the nobles and merchants could descend into a frenzied bidding war over the remaining traces of the wine. Clearing her throat, she spoke with a confident, melodic tone, "Of course, no fine wine is complete without equally exquisite cuisine to accompany it."
At her subtle signal, an attentive assistant standing nearby stepped forward, his movements precise and practiced. In his hands, he held a set of tools, which he used to carefully chip away at the hardened yellow clay sealing the top of a fish can. With a gentle twist, he pried open the lid, and instantly, a rich, mouthwatering aroma of savory meat wafted into the air, curling through the room like an irresistible siren's call.
"Gulp~~"
The sound of throats bobbing and mouths watering echoed through the crowd. Many of the nobles, despite their refined upbringing and polished manners, found their composure slipping as the tantalizing scent enveloped them. Their eyes gleamed with barely restrained hunger, and it was clear that only a thin thread of rationality prevented them from lunging forward and seizing the food for themselves.
"Miss Dahlia, what is this heavenly fragrance? What manner of delicacy is this?" One noble asked, his voice trembling with eagerness, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Dahlia smiled gracefully, her demeanor calm and composed, as if she were orchestrating a grand performance. "This gourmet delight, packaged in these elegant ceramic cans, comes in two delectable varieties," She explained, gesturing to the assistant to pour the contents of the cans onto a set of pristine white plates. "The first is a luxurious fish meat can, and the second is a refreshing cucumber can, both crafted to perfection."
The assistant, moving with practiced efficiency, emptied three cans of fish and three cans of cucumber onto the plates. The rich, savory aroma of the fish mingled with the crisp, tangy scent of the cucumber, creating a symphony of fragrances that teased the senses and drove the onlookers wild with anticipation. The nobles' eyes were glued to the plates, their mouths practically watering as they stared at the glistening pieces of fish meat, tender and succulent, and the vibrant green cucumber slices, crisp and inviting.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please, do indulge yourselves and sample these delicacies," Dahlia said with a light, almost mischievous chuckle. Her striking eyes briefly met Catherine's, and the two women exchanged a knowing glance, silently preparing themselves for the chaos they knew was about to unfold.
The moment Dahlia's words left her lips, the nobles sprang into action. One particularly eager aristocrat grabbed a fork from the neatly arranged cutlery on the table, spearing a piece of fish meat and popping it into his mouth. The instant the tender, flavorful meat touched his tongue, his eyes widened in sheer ecstasy. The delicate balance of spices, the melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the aromatic burst of flavor were nothing short of divine.
"Fish meat? Is this really the same fish meat I've eaten before? How can it possibly be this delicious?" The noble exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.
"Unbelievable! There's not even a hint of fishiness! This is simply too exquisite!" Another noble chimed in, his tone bordering on reverence as he savored the dish.
"Oh? Is this… fruit? In the dead of winter, no less? It's tangy, crisp, and incredibly refreshing!" A third noble remarked, his voice tinged with wonder as he sampled the cucumber can, marveling at the unexpected burst of flavor.
In no time, the nobles abandoned all pretense of decorum. The forks, once symbols of their refined etiquette, were cast aside without a second thought. Hands reached out, grabbing at the plates with reckless abandon, fingers snatching up pieces of fish and cucumber as if they were in a race against time. Within mere moments, the plates were wiped clean, not a single morsel left behind, leaving only the faint echoes of their frenzied feast.
Standing off to the side, Catherine pursed her lips, her expression a mixture of amusement and mild disdain. Really, these people are making quite a spectacle of themselves, she thought, shaking her head slightly. Her mind wandered to Lord Lucas of Sedona City, a man whose elegance and poise stood in stark contrast to the chaotic scene before her. Even in the most trying of circumstances, Lucas always exuded an air of refined nobility, his every action deliberate and graceful. Compared to him, these nobles seemed almost barbaric in their greed.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dahlia called out, her voice cutting through the clamor as she waved a hand to signal the staff to clear away the messy table, littered with spilled food and broken plate fragments. "These canned delicacies, along with the fine wine you enjoyed earlier, will be available for purchase at the counter once the presentation concludes."
"Miss Dahlia, please, can't you introduce the rest of the items quickly? Why not start the sales now? We can listen to your explanations while we make our purchases!" One noble shouted, his impatience evident in his flushed face and restless demeanor.
Dahlia offered a gentle, reassuring smile, her movements unhurried and deliberate, exuding an air of unshakable confidence. "Please, sir, I ask for just a little more patience," She replied smoothly. "We have only one final item to present, and once the introduction is complete, we will commence the official sales."
"Oh? Only one item remains? Could it be… perfume?" A particularly astute noble interjected, his sharp mind quickly piecing together the clues.
"Indeed," Dahlia confirmed with a nod, her smile widening ever so slightly. She beckoned to the assistant, who promptly stepped forward, carrying five intricately carved wooden boxes. The boxes were placed on the table with a sense of ceremony, their polished surfaces gleaming under the soft glow of the chandeliers overhead. Every movement had been meticulously rehearsed, ensuring that the presentation was nothing short of flawless.
"No way… Perfume? That's impossible! Perfume isn't something that can be produced so easily. If it were, why has there only ever been one shop selling it all these years?" A skeptical noble muttered, his voice laced with doubt.
"Perfume has always been the exclusive domain of His Highness, the Fourth Prince. Could it be that Miss Dahlia has somehow unraveled the secret of its creation?" Another noble speculated, his tone a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
Dahlia chose to ignore the murmurs of skepticism rippling through the crowd, her focus unwavering as she reached for the fifth-tier perfume—the most affordable option, priced at a mere eighty-eight silver coins per bottle. With a graceful motion, she removed the stopper, allowing a faint, delicate fragrance to waft into the air. The scent was light and refreshing, yet powerful enough to dispel the lingering aroma of the fish cans, replacing it with an enchanting floral bouquet that captivated the senses. The nobles' eyes lit up, their skepticism giving way to awe as the fragrance enveloped the room.
"It's really perfume! And this scent… it's even more delightful, so gentle and refined!" One noble exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder.
"No way… Is this actually perfume? How is this possible?" Another noble muttered, his disbelief palpable as he stared at the small ceramic bottle in Dahlia's hand.
Many of the nobles gazed at the bottle in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process the reality before them. When rumors of a new perfume had first surfaced, few had taken them seriously. Even the Fourth Prince himself had dismissed the claims as mere hearsay, confident in his monopoly over the lucrative perfume trade. But now, the evidence was undeniable, and the implications were staggering. Among the crowd, a man named Kevin stood frozen, his face pale as he stared at the bottle in Dahlia's hand. This is bad… I need to inform the Fourth Prince immediately, he thought, his heart pounding with a sense of urgency.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure many of you here have used perfume before," Dahlia said, her cyan eyes sweeping across the room, a confident smile playing on her lips. "However, the perfume I present to you today is unlike any ordinary perfume you may have encountered."
"Ordinary perfume?" The nobles exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowing in confusion. Was she implying that the perfume sold by the Fourth Prince—the most prestigious and expensive fragrance in the land—was somehow ordinary?
"As you all know, ordinary perfumes begin to degrade after just ten days or so," Dahlia continued, her tone serious and unwavering. "The fragrance starts to mutate, growing weaker with each passing day until, eventually, it turns into a foul, unpleasant odor."
She knew full well that her words would likely offend the Fourth Prince, a powerful and influential figure whose wrath was not to be taken lightly. But from the moment she had agreed to sell this new perfume, she had accepted the inevitability of crossing him. All she could hope for was that, out of respect for Catherine, the Fourth Prince would refrain from resorting to underhanded tactics. As for open, legitimate business competition, Dahlia had no fear—she was confident in her ability to hold her own.
"…" A heavy silence fell over the room. Some nobles looked utterly bewildered, their faces blank as they processed this revelation, while others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unaware of this flaw in the Fourth Prince's perfume.
"Damn it… Has this woman lost her mind? When the Fourth Prince hears of this, she'll be finished," Kevin growled under his breath, his teeth grinding in frustration. To publicly expose the shortcomings of the Fourth Prince's perfume was tantamount to cutting off his source of wealth—a bold and dangerous move.
"Perfume has such a flaw? No wonder the bottle I bought last time went bad after just one use. I thought I had stored it improperly!" One noble muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Those bastards! I went back to complain, and they told me it was my fault for not storing it correctly. So it was all a lie! The Fourth Pr—mmph!" Another noble began to rant, only to be quickly silenced by a companion who clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Watch what you say, or you'll regret it!" The companion hissed, his eyes darting around nervously.
Many of the nobles who had purchased the Fourth Prince's perfume in the past felt a surge of anger, their resentment bubbling to the surface. A single bottle of that perfume cost several gold coins—an exorbitant price—and yet, after just ten days, or sometimes even a single use, the fragrance would turn rancid. It was infuriating, to say the least. But knowing that the Fourth Prince was behind the product, they could only swallow their anger, especially given his recent political maneuvers. Rumors had been swirling that he was actively vying for the throne, making him a figure few dared to cross.
"Miss Dahlia, if what you say is true, then what makes your perfume so special?" One noble asked, his curiosity piqued despite his lingering doubts.
Dahlia's smile widened, her confidence unshaken as she gently shook the bottle in her hand, the liquid inside shimmering under the light. "The perfume I hold in my hand has a shelf life of one hundred and eighty days," She declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "And as for the price, it is far more affordable than what you're accustomed to—just eighty-eight silver coins per bottle."
"What? Miss Dahlia, you can't be serious!" A noble blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief. "Perfume at such a low price? Only eighty-eight silver coins?"
"And a shelf life of one hundred and eighty days? That sounds too good to be true. Are you sure you're not trying to deceive us?" Another noble added, his tone skeptical as he narrowed his eyes at her.
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