Chapter 141 – Returning Downtown!

During the whole carriage trip downtown, Ann couldn’t help but reminisce…

Back when she first came to this world, she also traveled downtown like this.

But unlike last time when she was all alone (the hidden monitoring guard didn’t count!), this time, she was with her new family members.

It’s amazing how a year can change things…

She thought that her second chance in life would come to its fateful ending soon, and yet, this would be the beginning of her new life.

“Ann-neesama, we’ve arrived!” Faye called her out of her reminisce.

“Ah… Let’s go!” Ann then descended from the Doussier family’s carriage that was prepared for the three sisters to travel in.

Right. This time, Ann didn’t travel incognito anymore.

Since her identity was now clear, Ann didn’t see any need to continue traveling incognito. 

“Hey, isn’t that…”

“The Doussier family’s carriage!”

“Then, are they the rumored three sisters of the Doussier family?”

“Seems like it.”

Sure enough, the news that the Doussier family adopted three young girls as their new daughters traveled not only to nobility, but to the commoners as well.

The story of an orphaned commoner who fell victim to the previous king’s master plan, and then rescued by the current regime, becoming the renowned Doussier family’s daughter, was already quite hot by itself.

Add that there were two orphaned halflings who were also adopted into the family!

It was exactly this world’s real life Cinderella story. 

Though most of the commoners were in favor of the Doussier family thanks to them accepting commoners as their own daughters, there were also commoners who were so jealous of the three siblings’ fate, so they also took precaution.

At first, Ann had proposed they travel incognito, but Viscount Jonas was worried sick that they would still be recognized, and bad things could happen if they traveled incognito yet still got recognized. For example, getting attacked by bad people, with no one there to help a nobody… 

Though a hidden guard would be placed within vicinity while they would be traveling incognito, Viscount Jonas and Viscountess Vanessa agreed that it was better to hide in plain sight. 

Thus, it was decided that they would be traveling with their identity known to the world.

The moment the three siblings descended from the carriage, escorted by the Doussier family’s maids and guards…

“Welcome, esteemed guests! I am Trixie from Glam Glam Salon over there! As you can see, our salon is a renowned salon amongst nobility. It would definitely suit your esteemed guests’ preference…”

Ann’s forehead twitched.

Is this the same person who gave me the cold shoulders when I first came downtown? Did she hit her head and have amnesia, or did she seriously not recognize me?!

But since she wants to play it this way, let’s go, then!

“Thank you for your invitation, but we are going for Barbara Salon over there,” Ann tried to give her best fake smile as she pointed towards the nearby, more modest Barbara Salon.

“Ah… Pardon me for saying this, but… I don’t think such a salon befits your esteemed guests. As you can see, the salon is too modest and they cater to commoners more. I believe your esteemed guests would feel more at ease at our place that is catered towards nobility, made with nobility in mind,” Trixie fluently said, with a perfect flattering tone and expression.

Ugh… To be honest, if I never had that experience of being given a cold shoulder like before, I would be glad to try out Glam Glam Salon, combined with this staff’s perfect flattering technique.

It’s also understandable for this salon to cater to nobility, if it’s their intended market.

However…

I was also a nobility back then, it was only my shabby appearance with no entourage to accompany me! And to think I earned such a cold response, combined with how they looked down on me based on my appearance…

If only they were more friendly and not too arrogant like before, saying things like ‘Apologies, but we are a high-tier salon that caters to nobility, so I am afraid I need to check with you before… since our price might be pricey.’ 

Though there is a hint of looking down on the other party’s capability to pay for their services, at the very least, it was friendly!

So…

Even if you tried to lick my boots right now, I won’t fall prey to your sweet mouth!

“…When I first came here, a certain someone coldly rejected me, saying that I couldn’t possibly afford coming here,” Ann couldn’t hold it back and muttered.

“Pardon?” Trixie had a confused look on her face before adding, “May I know who it might be? I would certainly reeducate them!” 

“Good,” Ann said before saying, “Now, say that to yourself.”

“H-huh?”

“Are you still pretending or did you seriously not recognize me?”

“Uhm… I am afraid I don’t have any recollection of seeing such esteemed guests like you…”

“…Maybe next time, you shouldn’t judge someone by their cover. It will be better for the salon and you in the long run,” Ann gave a few pointers to the young staff named Trixie.

Ah, she must have been so young that her ego got flattered from working in this kind of place and getting to know the nobles. As a senior in the working field, I should just give her a few pointers and leave it as it is. The rest is up to you, young one!

“Could you be…” Trixie seemed to realize something as her face twisted in horror.

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to change my mind, so better save that effort for the next customer. Now then, I’ll be off!”

Yet Ann didn’t pay any mind to the horrified staff, as she continued to lead her party all the way towards Barbara salon.

She remembered the first time she came here, feeling so insulted by the same staff, wanting to slap her face (figuratively), but… in the end, she refrained from doing so.

After all, they both were humans and humans could make mistakes. 

She just hoped that the staff could use her feedback to fix herself. Since if she remained the way she was, she would be bound to face difficulties in working, or in finding jobs.

Yes, being able to exact revenge should feel good too, that’s why those face slapping novels and dramas are popular!

But being kind feels good and more peaceful to me.

And… getting the same person who treated me coldly with arrogance to treat me very carefully felt like it was a revenge in itself. Moreover, that horrified look at the end… 

She surely remembered and felt horrible, like she made a terrible mistake.

That should be enough for her punishment and my revenge.

***

“Welcome to Barbara salon, Lea-sa–oh!” 

Joy’s greeting went under 3 different tones in a very short moment.

The first greeting was a neutral one, then her tone switched to happiness upon recognizing who it was, but then she got startled by the entourage that accompanied her very peculiar customer.

“Hi, Joy-san! Long time no see! How are you doing?”

Ann was completely the same, greeting Joy warmly, before chuckling as she saw Joy’s genuinely confused expression.

“Err… how should I explain this?” Ann scratched her head. She felt the need to explain to Joy-san what was going on.

“Joy-san? What’s the matter? Oh, it’s Lea-san, Faye-chan, and… Uh? Why are there so many people? Huh? What’s going on?” Belle, Joy-san’s little sister-in-law as well as the salon’s helper, suddenly had her brain lagging. 

“First… let me reintroduce myself. My full name is Annette Elaria Doussier. You can just call me Ann. The one over there… well, you’re familiar with her already. She is now my little sister, Lafayette Noémie Doussier! You can call her Faye as usual. And introducing our youngest, Serafina Mireille Doussier, or Fina for short!” 

“…” The entire Barbara salon, currently without any customer, went silent first, before erupting in uproar.

“Huh??? The famous newly adopted daughters to the Doussier family are actually our clients?! What???!” Belle seemed to have malfunctioned.

“A-are you sure you should be here? S-s-shouldn’t you be in the Glam Glam Salon next to us…?” Even Joy-san trembled.

“Please, treat me just like usual, Joy-san, and Belle-san. And I have fallen in love with this salon and the people here to go to the other salon who didn’t welcome me back then!”

“I-if you’re okay with our humble salon, then…”

“How may I help you today?”

After calming down, Joy-san finally managed to take a deep breath and ask. 

“Well, the usual, I want your signature spa treatment for the three of us. As for our youngest here…,” Ann wasn’t sure if there was a service for little Fina.

“We do have a kiddy spa, tailored specially for children!” Belle said.

“Kiddy spa!” Fina cheerfully mimicked, unsure if she understood the meaning or just simply parrotting the word. 

Ann looked over at Belle who happily brought Fina for the kiddy spa. 

“Oh yeah, where is your husband and Barbara?” Ann suddenly asked, curious.

“They are at home. It’s their father-and-daughter day, after all. But if there is a customer for Alvin, we can easily call him here,” Joy explained.

“I see,” Ann nodded.

That made sense. Having a child looking after a store will probably make the child bored. And it’s good having a house so close to your workplace, yep!

“Right, Annette-sama–”

“You can call me Ann, Joy-san!” 

“H-how could I? And you shouldn’t address me with ‘-san’, Ann…sama…,” Joy was having trouble adjusting, it seemed.

Well, Ann-sama sounds better than Annette-sama, way too long and rigid!

Ann decided to let it slip, since everyone naturally needed time to adjust to a change. 

She then proceeded to state her business.

“Then, can you help us with our hair makeover? I have my wedding coming soon and–”

Belle, who was preparing the equipment for the spa, accidentally had the bowl she was carrying slip from her hands.

“Y-y-y-you want us to do your hair makeover… for your wedding?!!”

It seemed like a storm has arrived in Barbara salon, brought by Ann…

However!

They didn’t know that it was merely the beginning…