ELIZABETH SWAN'S
Chapter 17 - Between Money and Life
At night, at the architect's residence. It was late enough, when he was about to close his eyes.
Geck! Geck!
The sound of a knock on the glass of his room window made the young man freeze instantly.
Which madman could climb to the third floor without a ladder?
Is he a killer?
No-no, who would want to kill someone like me?
There's no benefit whatsoever that he'll get by killing me.
Geck! Geck! Geck!
The sound of the knocking was getting clearer and louder. He also ventured to open the window curtain of his room.
"YYYYYYYYY!!!" the young man shouted hysterically.
His heart was like going out of his body when he saw a creepy appearance.
The figure behind the window took out a letter from his pocket. In the letter was a stamp belonging to the Meyer Family.
The young man instantly knew who had told the figure to come to him late at night like this.
"Based on a madman! Does he want me to die of a heart attack?! Could he have sent his shadow knight to send me a letter this late?!" his chattering with great regret.
He immediately opened the window. After his affairs were over, the figure immediately disappeared in one blink of an eye.
My Best Friend, Dear,
Tomorrow morning come to Count Swan's residence. Please help Count Swan's daughter Elizabeth design her jewelry store.
After your business there is done, go to my house to ask for a reward. I'll give you whatever you ask if your job is good enough.
Your friend, Raymond Meyer.
"Elizabeth Swan, huh? What kind of girl had already caught the attention of this cunning man? To the extent that he would reward anything I wanted just for helping this girl" he said curiously, "Does the girl know that Raymond is a stingy guy who doesn't even want to share a piece of his bread with me?"
...****************...
The next morning at Count Swan's House.
Geck! Geck!
Elizabeth changes her sleeping position, it's still too early for her to wake up.
Geck! Geck!
"It seems like it won't stop until I really wake up." he muttered, "Come in!" then, with a little annoyance.
Leila also appeared from behind the door, "Sorry to disturb your sleep, Miss. But the architect's acquaintance Young Duke Meyer has arrived." he explained.
I didn't think Raymond meant this early in the morning.
"Tell him to wait for me for a minute. Then get someone to bring me some face wash water, as soon as possible!" Eliza's Word.
A few moments later a servant came in with what he had asked. As soon as Eliza finished face to face and picked out a shirt, Leila came back to help her prepare.
About 15 minutes later.
"I'm sorry for making you wait so long, sir. I didn't think you'd come this early" Eliza said.
Oh, I guess the architect Raymond knew was an older man than us.
It turns out he was younger, younger than Sebastian or Caspian, maybe?
The young man put down the cup of tea which he had just sipped, then stood up to salute because he was not a noble, "It is nice to meet you, Lady Elizabeth. Meet my best friend Young Duke Meyer, Dietrich."
"There is no need to be polite if Sir Dietrich is Raymond's best friend. Let's just say I'm your best friend too" Eliza said.
Dietrich was a little surprised, usually the nobles would take him low as just a commoner. Even though he's an architect.
The young man smiled, "Then you should call me Dietrich too" he said.
"Well then, Dietrich" Eliza said.
Dietrich showed a catalog of his designs to be used as a reference by Elizabeth. He also suggested that Elizabeth choose colors that tend to be dark but have a luxurious impression. An example is the color red combined with a bit of gold.
Elizabeth initially wanted bright colors to give a fresh new impression on the old unused shops. But Dietrich explained in his view as an architect, bright colors tend to shop like teahouses and similar that sell products at standard prices, as well as a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. As for jewelry stores because the products offered are expensive items, the store itself must already have the impression of luxury and elegance even before the buyer enters.
"Most people who will buy the first part of the book they see is the title and the cover, so the first impression of a store is also very important in my opinion" concluded Dietrich.
"Of course, the eyes of an architect are very different from those of me who is just a layman" said Elizabeth amazed, praising Dietrich's ability.
"Ah, you're overreacting. It's an architect's job to give his customers the best advice" Dietrich said.
Elizabeth smiled, "It's a good thing Raymond has a friend like you, otherwise I would have chosen a bright color for my shops" Elizabeth said gratefully, "Raymond said that if Dietrich often refused to be rewarded for his services, why?"
Dietrich's confused, "Y-yes?" because he never refused at all, of course his services must be appreciated. He works to find the money.
"Although Raymond said so, but please accept this from me even if only a little. Dietrich has helped me so much, at least this is all I can do to appreciate your service" Elizabeth said, telling Dietrich to give her a bag of gold.
Why did the stingy say I didn't want to get paid?
Which fool works for free?
But if I receive a bag of gold from this lover, he will definitely kill me.
Dietrich's body immediately shook with fear and his hair bristled, he then rubbed his own body.
"No need, bother like that Lady, really."
Elizabeth squinted her eyes as the young man called her Lady again, "Are we not friends, Dietrich?" ask with great emphasis on the word friend.
Dietrich actually also wanted to receive a bag of gold but he loved his life more. Why accept it if he was killed by Raymond and could not use the gold?
"It's precisely because we're friends, Lady. Uh, I mean Elizabeth. Shouldn't friends help each other?" Dietrich was hopeful that his reasons would be acceptable to Elizabeth.
But apparently not, he was still forced by Elizabeth to accept the bag of gold. Otherwise Elizabeth threatened not to recommend her to other nobles. Of course it was a bad thing for Dietrich so he was forced to accept it and was thinking about what reason he should make for Raymond along the way to Meyer's residence.
