Summoned and Unwanted

319 A disturbance in front of the textile shop

“I am happy walking beside you. I am following your advice and it isn’t as scary as I thought. Thank you for this date. To me... it feels like a dream.” Lilith expressed how she felt.

[This is romantic. ]

“I heard you like curves, so I chose this bouse to make my chest pop out as I heard my adviser say this morning.” Lilith looked at Vincent with a smile obscured behind her veil.

“Kazumi...” Vincent mumbled.

“Yes, hehe.” Lilith giggled.

[Guilty as charged, hehe. ]

“No matter what you wear, you will always be my lovely” *cough* “curvy Lilith. ” Vincent said.

“Ahem. We are near the first shop I wanted to visit. I came here a few times and...” Vincent pointed at a shop with a woman making a commotion and Fabio silently nodding with a frown.

“A fabric shop? It looks like there is trouble. Do you know one of them?” Lilith asked.

.....

“Yes. The man is the shop owner. The mother and aunt of Tula’s friend work here. I met them, and their work was high class.” Vincent answered as he kept approaching the shop.

“I want a discount on this defective handbag! I am the second wife of the esteemed Shrimpstar family, and my husband will not be pleased hearing about how this establishment scammed me.” The woman shouted to let her voice attract a lot of attention.

Vincent looked at Lilith. He noticed she was tired and needed to sit. “Let’s see what the problem is. Then you can rest while I order some products.” He said.

[The Shrimpstar family again? Do they have an agenda to steal the business of others? Is this shop their next target?]

Vincent frowned and approached the two. “What might be the problem? I need to place an order in this shop.” He interrupted the ruckus the woman was causing while not greeting Fabio. Vincent wanted to look like he didn’t know Fabio.

“Here. Take a look at his.” The woman pointed at the luxurious handbag. “I made an order, and this is what I got. The seams over here are mismatched. No wonder I received the item wrapped in silk. It was to hide the defects! ” She added.

“Do not listen to her, Vincent. We pride ourselves on making the best products we can. Additionally, she was one to request the gift wrapping service.” Fabio said his side of the story.

“So... you two know each other? ” The woman flustered as a new person knowing Fabio appeared.

“Madam. Did your family order a large batch of fruit two weeks ago?” Vincent asked.

“Huh? No... and who do you think you are talking to! I am a noble, and you are a commoner...” The woman arrogantly said before Vincent interrupted her.

“Are you sure about that? My fiancee here is noble. So what does that make me? Hmmm?” Vincent decided to make the woman have a taste of her own medicine. The boasting game is a multiplayer game. Vincent now had the power to dispute any undermining hierarchy phrases.

The woman turned her gaze on Lilith and raised a condescending smirk. “A pig wearing a...” *Slap!* Vincent used Lilith’s hand to slap the woman. Lilith’s heart raced, and her breathing pulled and pushed the veil quickly.

“You dare slap me!” *Slap!* Lilith’s hand once again slapped the noblewoman’s other cheek. Lilith couldn’t believe what she was watching her hand do.

“Vin-Vincent...” Lilith nervously stuttered. Not in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine slapping another person. And a noble at that.

Lilith looked fine, being badmouthed as she lived ten years suffering such fate. However, her fate changed drastically now. The man who initiated the change of her fate used her hand to obtain justice with her hand.

“Don’t worry, Lilith. I helped you regain your honor. Body shaming is a sin.” Vincent warmly said.

Vincent moved his gaze on the woman holding her red cheeks in utter belief and glared at her. “And if it is not a sin, I can comfortably say how ugly this woman is compared to my dear. Unlike my lovely dear’s smooth skin, which is like that of a newborn, this woman has a lot of wrinkles hidden behind the thick wall of makeup.”

Vincent tried to reassure Lilith while talking about the woman in a harsh, condescending tone. He was out for tears and smeared makeup.

[Nice bitch slaps.]

[But do we need to antagonize a noble? It might spark trouble for us.]

-I don’t care. No one disrespects my women.-

[Your change... I like your resolve and courage.]

The woman regained her senses and furiously shouted, “How dare you...”

“Run along, hag. I have to make a purchase. ” Vincent said with a mocking smirk. “No wonder you look like an abandoned second wife. I see no guards nor people rushing to defend your disgusting honor.”

Vincent noticed many people started gathering to check what the commotion was all about. He could feel Lilith holding his shirt, yet he couldn’t stop halfway.

‘Sorry, Lilith. I know I am making many people look at us, but this shop can’t close. I need Abigale’s mother and aunt to make Lupa’s clothes one day.’ Vincent thought.

“The people here need to know what the Shripstar family is doing. I have heard about many businesses receiving orders, then getting hit by a fascinating streak of bad luck, and later unable to deliver their products or services. The losses incurred would, in turn, cause a heavy blow and possibly bankruptcy.” Vincent turned to the audience and asked, “Did anyone hear recently hear of any mysterious bad luck and merchants closing shop?”

“My favorite vegetable stand closed recently.” An old woman said.

“Really? The meat shop I frequent closed two months ago.” Another said.

“D-don’t s-spew no-nonsense!” The woman stuttered. “T-this is public harassment in front of many people! I will report to the two of you fake nobles. You commoners with stolen clothes better beg for forgivness right his second.”

“The Shrimpstar family sure is shameless. My acquaintance would have lost his business if I didn’t help him. The people hearing your nonsense might start to think differently now. Most of the time, bad luck is made by the people instead of fate.” Vincent tried to turn the audience on his side.

[The Shrimpstar family is on good terms with the Blackheart family. Is this the reason you are like a different man?]

-Yes.-

Vincent turned his head and looked at the panicking Lilith. “Lilith, my dear. You do not need to worry. I am here to protect you. The Shrimpstar family is with the Blackheart family. Corrupt, vile cockroaches tend to crawl together.” He said.

Lilith stopped shaking. She raised her gaze, and their eyes met. “Thank you.” She thanked Vincent for displaying how much he cared about her.

The woman stuttered, “I-I will remember your f-faces!” She glanced at the people staring at them and hastily left with a deep frown on her face.

“Are your words true?” A man asked.

“Most is speculation, but my acquaintance really had a financial problem after his cart mysteriously broke and later was rejected as the Shrimpstar family made an order elsewhere. As if they knew his product would get damaged.” Vincent answered.

“Let’s go inside.” Vincent placed his hand on Lilith’s shoulder and guided her inside.

Fabio was at a loss for words. He watched Vincent and Lilith enter his shop, and the audience scattered with a frown on their faces. It appeared Vincent’s words might have started a new rumor.

‘I didn’t think anyone would stand up to nobles without a hint of fear. I know his woman was ridiculed, but a noble said those words. Additionally, Vincent’s tone sounded more personal than the current badmouthing incident.’ Fabio thought before he entered his shop.

“Can my woman take a seat? She is tired from all the walking we did to get here. I hope my woman can forget that hag’s words.” Vincent said.

“Ahh, yes. Please take a seat. Sit on any chair you like.” Fabio quickly responded.

“Lilith, take a breather and relax. ” Vincent helped Lilith sit.

Lilith looked emotionally exhausted. She placed her hand on her thigh and stared at it. Her hand slapped a woman who badmouthed her not once but twice. Lilith couldn’t believe it was real, yet her skin itched from the slap.

[I will talk with Lilith while you order a custom... hehehe.]

Kazumi giggled and used Soul Visit for some girl talk time with Lilith.

“I don’t know if that woman will return the handbag she ruined, but Vincent, I am grateful for sticking up for my shop. Yet I am worried you might be in danger. Even if she is the second wife with little family backing.” Fabio said. His face showed distress and worry, yet Vincent didn’t look bothered, unlike the fabric shop owner.

“My fiancee is noble, so it means I will become a noble soon. Furthermore, I don’t need to worry about harassing people who are already enemies of the family I am going to marry into.” Vincent answered.

“Congratulations are in order then. I will give you a discount on the wedding dress if you are interested. Might I request to know who is the lucky family having this honorable as their son-in-law is?” Fabio curiously asked.

“The Lionheart family. Ohh! And make it five wedding dresses.” Vincent casually said.

“F-f-five wedding dresses!?” Fabio exclaimed with his eyes wide in surprise.

“Yes, for five wives. But because the Lionheart family is going to pay, I need to tell the family, and they will discuss with you if they are interested in using your good services.” Vincent’s words made Fabio understand that it wasn’t five dresses for one woman but five women instead.