"Golden Star?"
"It sounds interesting."
"Should we join?"
"Yes, I think it will be fun."
Because the young noble ladies showed interest in the announcement, a server that passed by the exit, came and explained how they could become regular customers.
"You only need to fill a membership card with your name and sign it, from then on you will be considered an official customer of Armand."
The card was made to look attractive with Armand's beautiful design drawn on it, so the young ladies decided to become regular members.
The server unfolded a parchment on which was drawn twelve blank squares with a star design in the middle. Then he
put two stamps with Armand's shaped logo as a seal in the blanks that were besides the young noble ladies names.
"Congratulations on becoming a regular purple member. If you fill all the remaining slots, you will be promoted to a silver member and with that you will receive a small gift."
"Aaaa!! Wait, I am number 76!"
"What? Really? Then I am the 77th member!!"
The young noble ladies were shocked. Ñâ (â ãâ ãâ ãâ Ñâ )
"Congratulations on winning one of our special events!"
When the servant clapped his hands, everyone in the cafe became quiet but soon after they realized what happened everyone started to talk amazed by it.
"They said that the winner will get a present!"
"Is it really true?"
Because of the commotion, many people that were around the East Gate square soon flocked inside to see what was happening.
The store manager himself came out and handed the young lady a star-shaped gold plaque that was inside a luxurious purple case.
"I can't believe that this kind of luck happened to me! I really can't believe it! It is like a dream."
The young lady was so moved that she started to cry out of joy.
So this event became a popular gossip among the young nobles and more and more customers started to join as regular customers.
"If you order our new menu, you will get two stamps."
Everything is going well. The regular membership sign-up is playing the role it was designed to, to promote the new smoothie.
The event with the membership prizes was specially made to entice new customers, because even if you don't get one of the prizes, when you receive two stamps, the desire to fill in all the remaining blanks will be triggered.
Also since the prizes are made from pure gold, which is preferred by everyone in the Empire, Armand became the south out shop among the nobles.
'Giving a few costly prizes to a few new customers that sign up for a membership was worth it. With this event Armand can enjoy fruitful earnings.
If an already established store held such an event, it would only make the already regular customers feel resentment.
Because encouraging people to make membership cards and accumulate stamps was a basic marketing technique to bring more customers in a new shop, in the modern times.
I am glad that it was a success and that the smoothies are selling well. The profit earned from selling one smoothie is higher than the profit of selling a set.
But that is because the seasonal fruits are cheap, and good tea leaves are always expensive, so it is only normal that the smoothies are very profitable especially with this hot weather.'
I am lucky that Belreck, one of the greatest geniuses in the Empire, is my lackey . He created a blender that exceeded my expectations.
'He thought that it was a cruel torture device.'
The blender Belreck made has a rotation speed that is out of this world and great power that can even grind bones.
'The blender's efficiency is very good. Not to mention the durability and quality.'
I got out of the carriage after I said a prayer in the hopes that the people of the Empire would welcome my smoothies with open hearts.
'Haaa...smoothies are smoothies, but today I have to go to the Wizard Association for a seminar so that I can raise my monthly formula fee.
Ooo...I almost forgot! Epsilon's club meeting is before the seminar and I have to attend because it's the fifth Princess Mana Research Club.
Just the simple thought about this club makes me feel embarrassed and suspicious. Just the fifth Princess, me and a member who I have never seen before... Only three people!! How can she introduce us as a club?' ಥâ â¿â ಥ
I sniffled, because somehow I just realized that I made a contract with some really dubious people.
'I really don't want to go.'
With that thought in my mind, my steps became heavier with each step I took.
'Is like I have weights strapped around my ankles.
Haa...I don't know how the men's salon is since I have never been there, but the women's salon here at Epsilon has the most terrifying and bizarre atmosphere I have ever seen.
All these realistic ball-jointed dolls that are lined up on the wall are creepy...it gives off the vibe of a horror movie.
I don't like it at all!!.â ·â ´â ¯â 'â (â >â ââ <â )â ´â ¯â 'â ·â .'
The moment I stepped in the salon, I felt the dolls staring intently at me...that feeling sent shivers down my spine.
'There are even dolls that can blink their eyes. I am really weak with ghosts and everything involving the occult.(â â¯â ︵â â°â ,â )
I heard that there was a puppeteer among the six executives of Epsilon but I wasn't expecting this.'
Puppeteers are people who move dolls by injecting mana in their threads. But strong puppeteers with a high level can control many numbers of dolls without any problem, they can even produce an army of them.
In the past, the very strong puppeteers were in charge of the tactics during the war and it was considered a very rare and difficult profession to learn, because the qualification bar to become a puppeteer was really high. It required a dexterity and the ability to control mana that was almost as strong as divine power.
'Well the profession of a puppeteer is cool and all, but... Why did they have to display these dolls in the salon?! ತâ _â ತ
It is something that you can do at home not in a common space! ಠâ à²â à²
And fifth Princess, when are you going to show up?!'
"Lady Deborah!"
While I was trembling among the creepy dolls, the fifth Princess entered the salon with a happy face, along with her maids.
"Fifth Princess, you have arrived.(â 人â  â â¢Íâ á´â â¢Íâ )."
When I saw the fifth Princess I felt so relieved that I quickly approached her without realizing it.
"Oh! I didn't know that you would greet me like this. As expected, you liked the welcome banners that I personally chose and ordered to prepare. Right Lady Deborah?!"
'Don't tell me that they are still hanging around?!'
That welcome banners that the fifth Princes prepared were hung not only on the social club bulletin board but also all over the academy campus. I felt very embarrassed.
What was worse is that there is no one other than the Imperial family who can order the fifth Princes to take them down.
"I am grateful for the warm welcome that you have shown me, but it is too muchâ¦"
"It seems that these days it is trendy to hang banners in many locations, but I was ahead of this trend. Haha...Or, maybe I started the trend?"
The fifth Princess smiled happily.
"â¦thank you for caring about me."
"I am glad that you liked it. By the way, I have heard that you are going to present a new thesis at the Wizard Association today. I am looking forward to it."
After a few casual conversations about what was new with each other, we started to study a thesis related to mana that had recently become a hot topic in the Association, but then a doll that was behind my back started to make a rattling sound.
'That scared me so much!'(â ｡â Åâ ï¹â Åâ )
The fifth Princess only frowned and clicked her tongue.
"It seems that you are uncomfortable because of that doll, it disturbed your concentration."
The fifth Princess interpreted my fearful expression as being annoyed.
"It is alright."
"Ahhh...I don't know how much longer Michelle is going to leave those grim dolls in this salon."
'As I expected. I am not the only one that thinks that these dolls are gloomy.'
"I haven't had the chance to introduce Michelle Granbert to you properly. She is one of Epsilon's executives and as you can see, she is a puppeteer who makes puppets but she is a cheap two-timer."
"A two-timer?"
"She is a member of my club, but she is also running another club."
The fifth Princess grumbled while pouting.
'It seems that the other member of the Mana research club is that puppeteer...she seems like another eccentric⦠No,no,no I shouldn't think so negatively about somebody just because of these dolls.
Think positively. Marquis Granbert is the commander of the Imperial Army, so I have the opportunity to make some of the best connections.
I am a winner, because I have the chance to establish good relationships with some of the famous people in the central social circle.
Michelle Granbert, the puppeteer, has been running the gastronomy club for a long time and she is quite famous in the Empire as a picky gourmet eater.
Besides making dolls, gastronomy is her only other hobby. I know that she made a list with the best restaurants and distributed it to people that were close with her, and recently she is earnestly writing a thesis on food culture.
I must say that I am lucky to be in the same club as her. Her influence in the social circle is very good...'
.........................