[3rd Person POV]

Early morning.

The sun shined brightly in the clear blue sky, not a cloud to be seen. And as the gentle breeze blew across the royal capital of Arcland, a crowd had begun gathering in front of the highly-talked-about new store, "Eden", that seemed to have received the favor of the royal family as well as many high ranking nobles.

The store itself was a beautiful building with arguably the most strategic location within the entire royal capital where commoners and nobles could both access easily through the main street of the marketplace. And in front of it, a perimeter had been made by knights in full armor, creating an area in front of the store and preventing the crowd from getting too close.

As time passed, the crowd grew larger and larger as people who intended to come and see the rumored store arrive, and people who have been attracted by the crowd and led by their curiosity stayed to see what is happening.

Then, a few minutes later, the frontmost part of the crowd began to become louder. Gasps, sighs of awes, and words of disbelief began to spread, like ripples on a calm lake surface.

Walking towards the center of the cleared area, a small Goddess accompanied by a tall, handsome gentleman and a beautiful, bespectacled woman with beautiful golden hair and figure by her side.

Both of her companions were beautiful without a doubt. If a hundred people were to be asked if they are beautiful, then all 100 people would say yes. However, all of their attention was stolen by the little goddess of otherworldly beauty in a pure white dress.

Her appearance alone made her appear like an angel who had descended from the heavens. But in addition to her bearing, her gait, her beautiful deep purple eyes, and her smile, none would've doubted it if they were to be told that she was an incarnation of the daughter of the Goddess herself.

Upon reaching the center, the little Goddess stopped and faced the crowds with a smile that quickly infatuate all of them, regardless of gender.

And as she opened her beautiful, pink lips, all voices died down as the voice that would remain with them for days and weeks ahead resounded through the entire crowd, carried by winds formed by magic.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Alterisa von Lorya, first daughter of the Lorya ducal household. On this beautiful day, I would like to give my sincerest gratitude to everyone for coming to the grand opening of my shop, "Eden".

Today marks an extremely important event in my life, and I feel very blessed and happy to be able to share it with everyone here.

My shop, "Eden", aims to create and sell products that would improve the health and appearance of the hair, and beyond in the future, for everyone, regardless of their social standings.

Some of you may have heard of my products being used by members of the nobility. However, "Eden" provides a variety of hair-care products that are suited not only for the nobility but also for everyone else at a reasonable price.

So if you were to be inclined, please feel free to come and visit "Eden" and we shall do our best to provide you with the best service and best products."

The little Goddess curtsied with impeccable elegance and gracefulness before raising back up.

"Well then. Without further ado, I shall declare "Eden" open for the public!"

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

[Alterisa's POV]

Pheeeeeww~ I'm so glad I didn't mess up~!! There were even more people coming than I expected and I was this close to panicking!

I flopped down to the couch within my private room in "Eden", laying on my back as Anne and Maya-chan prepared some tea and snacks for me.

Laura and Alex had told me to leave the rest to them and made me take a rest in this room. They said it's better for me to go and take a rest so they could focus on running the store and handling the bunch of customers that's been flowing in nonstop since I finished my speech.

I could hear faint bits of commotion downstairs, despite this room being quite far from the main hall of the store.

"Alterisa-sama, please sit up. It is unbecoming for such a prestigious lady like you to act in such a manner."

"Eeeeeh~ But I'm tired~ I have been super nervous all this time, you know~?"

"No is no. You must maintain your elegance, Alterisa-sama. Although this is your store, we are technically still in public, you know?"

"Eeeeeeh? Then... Anne, you sit down and lend me your lap."

"W-Wha-! Alterissa-sama! Please stop joking!"

"I'm not joking~ Pleeeeeeeeeeease~ Anne~"

"U-Ughh... S-Showing such an adorable isn't fair... Alterisa-sama."

"Ehehe~ As expected, Anne's the best~! I loooooove you~!"

I immediately dove into Anne's lap and hugged her waist before laying my head on her.

"Hah... You are the crown prince's fiancee as well as the most highly-regarded lady you know? If anyone sees you behaving this way..."

"It's fine~ Everyone who would come in here already know about me~ And also, Anne is also a part of my family, so no one would complain~"

"A-Alterisa-sama..."

"Muuuuuh... Anne-neesama is receiving Alterisa-sama's affection again... How envious..."

"Wha-?! Maria! I-I am not-"

"Ehehehe~ Maria-chan, come here~!"

"Yes~!"

Maria-chan quickly sat down beside the couch on her knees and I began softly stroking her beautiful golden hair.

"Ah~ Alterisa-sama~"

"Hehe~ Your hair is so smooth now~ I see that you've been using the shampoo I give you diligently~"

"Yes~ Anne-neesama has been making sure Iris-neechan and I treat our hair properly every night~"

"Fufufu~ I'm glad~ Thank you for helping me take care of them, Anne~"

"Y-Your words honor me... But please don't mind it, Alterisa-sama. I have come to care about them as if they're my little sisters as well."

Anne stroked Maria-chan's fluffy hair as well, and she immediately began nuzzling her hand like a cute little animal.

"Hehehe~ I'm glad~"

"Ah, Alterisa-sama. Would you like for me to feed you these cookies? Anne-neesama had brought it specially for you, knowing you would like some after the long day."

"Eh?! Really, Anne? Thank yoooooou~ You know me so well~!"

"You are very welcome, Alterisa-sama."

"Hehe~"

"Here, Alterisa-sama~ Aaaaaaum~"

"Aaaaaaum~ Mmmmmmh~! It's so good~"

"Alterisa-sama, please excuse me. There are bits of crumbs on the corner of your lips."

Anne softly wiped the corners of my lips with a napkin.

"Mm~! Thank you~"

"Would you like some more, Alterisa-sama?"

"Uhn! I want to try the chocolate with strawberry jam one!"

"Yes~ Here you go~ Aaaaaum~"

"Aaaaaum~!"

Ahhh~ To be pampered by a beautiful onee-sama maid and fed by an adorable little maid, this surely must be heaven~!!!!!!!

My tension and exhaustion were immediately blown away by their pampering~!

Just then, a knock came from the door before opening.

"Hm? Ah, dad, mom, Lu-nii~ Uwa-!"

"Ah! P-Please excuse me!"

Maria-chan immediately stood up and bowed toward them while Anne also tried to stand up, only to be stopped by dad who raised his hand.

"It is fine for you to stay. After all, it must be what Risa requested of you, isn't it."

"I-I-I understand. P-Please excuse me..."

Anne sat back down and rolled around, looking at them with my chin resting on my hands on Anne's lap.

"Hehehe~! Thank you, dad~"

"You deserved it. You've done very well in your speeches and in your preparations up until now. Although there are some parts you'd need to improve, especially regarding your tendency to overwork, you've done very amazingly considering this is your first time."

Ughh... Even though he's praising me, I can't help but notice the slight threatening tone in his voice when he comments about me overworking...

I-I know already! I won't do it again! I-I've been scolded for it many times by everyone...

Also, I want my boobs to grow...

"E-Ehehehe... Thank you, dad. I'll do my best and not overwork myself again..."

"Fufufu~ I'm so proud of you, baby~ Let's have a celebratory dinner once we return home, okay~?"

Mom approached me and leaned in, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

"Yes~! Thank you, mom~!"

"Congrats once again, Risa. You've done well. You can rest up now."

"Uhn! Thank you, Lu-nii!"

Lu-nii also petted my head a bit before returning to dad's side along with mom.

"Well then, we'll leave you to rest. There's still something I need to take care of here. We'll return together after lunch."

"Uhn! I understand, dad!"

"Ufufufu~ Then, I'll be supporting my dear daughter and buy one of each of your products and gift them to our household's servants~"

"Thank you, mom~"

"I'll be helping dad, but if you need something from me, just call me, okay?"

"Uhn~!"

"Then, we'll be off."

"Bye bye~!"

I laid back down on Anne's thighs after they left and let out a deep sigh as I closed my eyes.

Hah... So much happened... And I've only been here for 5 years...

I've made a lot of friends... Learned how to wield a spear... How to use magic... and even opened my own store...

Sometimes, I'd even forget that this world is an otome game... and that I'm the villainess...

Everything has been so different from the otome game...

Everyone is different... All of the "villainesses" who were supposed to resent "Alterisa" or have nothing to do with her are now my best friends. While the capture targets who were supposed to really despise "Alterisa" are now my friends, somehow...

Everything had changed... And maybe it's because I'm also very different from the "Alterisa" in the game...

"...I hope those death flags won't appear in my life."

I murmured as I prayed to the Goddess or whoever brought me into this world for the future that what happened to "Alterisa" in the game won't happen to me...

"Hm? Did you say something, Alterisa-sama?"

"It's nothing~ Hehe~ Anne, can you feed me too~? I'll feed you in return!"

"I-I am fine, A-Alterisa-sama. Here you go."

"Ehehe~ Aaaaum~! You don't need to be shy, you know~ Here you go~!"

"Ah! Anne-oneesama! That's unfair!!"

"Ehehehe~"





AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!