"what did you say...!?" Evelina asked with a stunned expression.

"T-the head maid...said she's too busy..." Carol's feet trembled. She knew a violent tantrum was coming. But instead, Evelina merely bit the tip of her thumb and mumbled words to herself.

"That old wench...! What is she thinking...!?" Evelina mumbled to herself and gritted her teeth.

It was obvious the head maid was intending to break all ties with her, by avoiding her. Aside from her tasks as a head maid, she would not contact Evelina.

"....it must be her.." Evelina felt a burning fury arise within her. She has a strong suspicion on who may be behind the head maid's actions.

**************** That afternoon, the duke asked Angelina to come by his study, and once she arrived, he immediately questioned her.

"Angelina. I heard that you and the Emperor of the Vancelia Empire are quite close.... What exactly I your relationship with him?" The duke asked. His eyes clearly showed the greed, calculation, and conflict in his mind.

'oh..? Once I deny, he would pick a suitor for me, with an eased heart after he confirmed I don't have that kind of relationship with him highness.

And if I don't deny, he would either try to ask for me to get engaged to his highness, or ask me to end the relationship, in fear I'll get too powerful.' Angelina carefully calculated the duke's possible intentions in her mind.

Seeing her not reply, the Duke call her name. "Angelina?"

"No father, I do not have that kind of relationship with him highness. We're merely close acquaintances." After some consideration, Angelina have him her answer.

"Is that so?" The duke seemed slightly suspicious.

"Hm? Is father still not sure? Be at ease, father. Your daughter is still to young to be in a relationship" Angelina smiled reassuringly.

".....hm. Fine. You may leave now." The duke let her leave. But as Angelina turned around and made her way to the door, the duke, for some unknown reason stopped her.

"Wait!" The Duke seemed to regret stopping her once his words left his mouth. As if he didn't mean to call out to her.

"...is something the matter, father...?"

"....." The duke rubber his temples and sighed. "N-no. You can go."

Not caring for what the duke was thinking, the silver haired lady left without looking back.

"......." The duke sat down on his grand seat and sighed once more. A vague silhouette of a woman's back view appeared in his mind. Although only her back was shown, one could tell just by her silhouette, how beautiful she was.

The duke gritted his teeth with frustration. He didn't know why he suddenly thought of that woman.

******************* "Welcome boss." Sir Robert bowed as he greeted Angelina.

Angelina and Marie who was behind her, both wore black cloaks. Angelina has now debuted, more people know her face now. It would unwise for her to go here and be addressed as 'boss', while not concealing her identity.

Angelina knew this was not the right time to reveal her identity. She still needs to do much more before the time comes.

"It's good to see you are well, sir Robert." Angelina nodded politely. Then asked, "is everything going smoothly...?"

"Yes, boss. But we're sort of running out of paintings to sell. I had to ask the customers to only buy one piece, since many came here, asking to buy multiple painting at once."

"Hm. Then I'll have to make more." Angelina nodded again.

"Miss. I got it." Marie came back with a two bags full of the shop's monthly earnings, that belonged to Angelina.

"Thank you, Marie." Angelina turned to sir Robert and said, "do not hesitate to write to me if you encounter any troubles"

Hearing that, sir Robert opened his mouth, only to close it again. He felt that he shouldn't trouble Angelina with yesterday's ruckus. After all, it was more of a personal family matter.

Just as Angrlina and Marie was about to leave quietly, they heard a loud "bang!"

It was sir Robert's stepmother again. But she didn't come along this time. With her was sir Robert's half brother and soon to be sister in-law.

The sudden loud noise startled all the customers that were judging the paintings on display.

"Robert!" The middle aged woman marched forward to sir Robert with her son and soon to be daughter in-law beside her.

"...!" Angelina stubled after being shoved aside by the middle aged woman. Luckily Marie was able to catch her from behind and support her.

"You..." Sir Robert, noticing his boss being shoved roughly to the side by his stepmother, slightly panicked. He felt like his head was about to blow from annoyance an anger.

It was obvious the customers were extremely disturbed and uncomfortable, from the sight of the three people who just loudly entered.

"Brother, don't be so petty. It's just a little bit of money. You have tons right?" Sir Robert's half brother smiled. But the greed were displayed in his eyes.

"If it's only a 'little bit of money', then why can't you just pay for your own wedding?" Sir Robert frowned.

"I..." The young man went speechless. Before saying, "brother, you know I don't have much money. We all know how successful your shop is, it can't hurt giving a little bit of money right?"

Seeing the silence and extreme reluctance showed on sir Robert's eyes, the middles aged woman felt enraged.

"Why are you being so selfish!? We are your family! How could you be so against in helping us!?" The middle aged woman shouted, without caring for the multiple customer's uncomfortable expressions.

"Why would I help the one who previously had hired people to ruin my shop?"

"...." Hearing that, the old hag immediately went silent.

She was about to scream with retaliation, but she suddenly felt a delicate and slim hand hold her wrist.

Angelina glanced at the customers and saw their annoyed and irritated expressions. It was obvious they were annoyed by the loud commotion.

"Ma'am, please leave and stop causing trouble. You are disturbing the other customers." Angelina said with gently. Her tone was extremely gentle, but the irritation in her eyes could not be overlooked.

"You! Who the hell are you!" Shocked and offended, the middle aged woman pushed Angrlina away with great strength.

Angelina stumbled once again, but she quickly was able to stabilize her body after she found her balance.

"Boss! I'm so sorry!" Sir Robert immediately bowed his head with guilt. Not only was Angelina his boss and his only backer, she was also one of the highest ranked noble.

"You old hag! How dare you touch my miss!" Marie spring into action. Her last string of patience and sensibility broke once she saw Angelina being shoved.

Marie was about to punch the 'old hag' in the face, but was held back by Angelina who shook her head.

"Boss, are you alright?" Sir Robert asked with his voice slightly shaking. It was clear her was extremely embarrassed, nervous, and worried.

"Im alright." Angelina turned to face the three people and announced with a stern tone. "From now on, you three are all banned from entering this shop."

"You! What!? Who are you to say that! Let me tell this man is my stepson! You have no right to kick me out!" The woman began to shout once more.

"Ma'am it's clear that your stepson too would like you to leave. Can't you see the customers are all very anoyed by your presence?"

".........."

Angelina shifted her gaze to the two younger people behind the middle aged woman.

Beside Robert's half-brother was, what Angelina assumed to be the young man's fiancee. The envy in the young woman's eyes were on full display.

The young woman stared at her intensely. Her burning gaze made Angelina feel uncomfortable.

Seeing that the situation was basically going nowhere, Angelina signalled Marie to call over some stronger staff members to forcefully kick out the three people.

After kicking them out, Angelina expected a moment of silence and peace. But instead, she was met with the whispers of the customers around.

"Is that the owner...?" One customer whispered to the other one beside them.

"Well that man did call her boss. I would assume it's indeed Angel"

The identity of the owner of the shop was hidden well. No one knew who the person was. They just assumed this mysterious person was a female, due to the name she goes by, which is 'Angel', and also since they heard a female's voice coming from her mouth.

"Why is she not revealing herself? Why wear a cloak to your own shop?"

"It seems she would like to keep her identity a secret."

"Eh? I've never seen of a person like that. Usually people would die for fame. Shouldn't she want to be known?"

"Well not everyone is the same. She probably has her own reasons.

"I really want to see her! My wife just adores her paintings! If I can make her come by to our manor and make a custom painting for us, my wife would be overjoyed!"

" I really am curious to who this person is..." __________________________

A/N: sorry if the update is later than usual. Just went to the dentist (ノT＿T)ノ ＾┻━┻