"If Your Majesty thinks I am working hard... then allocate a bit more funding."
Irene said with a grin, rinsing the powder from her mouth; thus, the mint tooth powder was born.
Irene pointed to the row of uniform toothbrushes carved with the Black Rose crest on the table, as well as the newly successfully developed pale blue tooth powder, her expression becoming rarely serious.
"These treasures are selling like crazy in Leighton right now. If we send the tooth powder to be sold later, it will definitely set off another wave of heat.
But in our Mason Royal City, they are still just hung in a few merchant shops for consignment sale.
I feel... this is too degrading!"
Sophia put down the cup in her hand. The clear sweetness of the wild berry juice lingered on the tip of her tongue. She cast her gaze upon Irene, signaling for her to continue.
"Our things, those are the pioneers of civilization, the standard equipment for nobles!"
Irene got more excited as she spoke, gesturing with her small hands.
"If we sell them on consignment, our toothbrushes are thrown next to those salted fish and fabrics; it simply tarnishes Your Majesty's taste.
I want to rent a place separately in the center of the Royal City... no, designate a shop directly, and just call it 'Mason Black Rose'! Establish a brand directly."
Sophia's fingertips tapped lightly on the black fox fur on her knees.
In this era, commerce was mostly scattered markets or comprehensive trading houses; there was no concept of a so-called brand specialty store yet.
"Brand?" Sophia said faintly.
"Right! It is a brand, a trademark!"
Irene patted the table, her face beaming.
"In other words... a logo that belongs exclusively to us.
Everything that comes out of the West Tower, whether it is soap, shampoo, or the current toothbrushes and tooth powder, must all be printed with the Black Rose.
Moreover, the decoration of the store must be extremely gorgeous, and the lintel must hang a signboard of the Queen's exclusive use.
I have even thought of the advertising slogans; there are many usable ones.
For example, selling toothpaste, toothbrushes, and such cleaning items, we can use...
'Embrace the Black Rose, reshape your morning,' or 'The Inventor's whimsy, gifted to the most noble you.'
If we sell other invented things later, we can think of other advertising slogans.
Open the first one in the Royal City first, and when the fame rings out, we will open the store directly to the Royal City of the Kingdom of Leighton, open it to the Qubi mines! We can even open it to more countries!
We want everyone to know that as long as they see this Black Rose, they know this is a genuine Mason product, a symbol of status!"
Sophia listened to Irene's cross-era chain store concept, her heart moving slightly.
She shifted to a comfortable position, her eyes dark and deep as she reminded:
"This is indeed a good proposal; we can do it.
The storefront does not need to be too large, but it must be exquisite.
The display windows must use the most translucent materials, and the entrance must be paved with the smoothest Cement.
In addition, we can try grading."
"Grading?" Irene froze for a moment.
"The Ordinary Edition, facing everyone.
The 'Queen's Special Edition,' not only must the packaging use redwood inlaid with gold, but the tooth powder must also have Daphne's blessing added to it, supplied in limited quantities.
This kind of thing sells not function, but an untouchable sense of superiority."
Sophia added unhurriedly. These luxury goods marketing strategies, which were commonplace in her previous life, sounded full of fatal temptation at this time.
"Your Majesty! You are truly a business genius!"
Irene let out a gasp of admiration, simply wanting to kneel to Sophia.
"Untouchable sense of superiority... Heavens, why didn't I think of that!
Those nobles fall for this trick the most!
I also want to set up an Inventor's Workshop display area in the store, specifically to place those novel gadgets that haven't been mass-produced yet, letting them see but not buy, worrying them to death!"
Willow, sitting on the side, was dumbfounded listening to this; the embroidery needle in her hand had stopped.
"Your Majesty..."
Willow praised softly, her eyes full of fanatical worship.
"You are using commerce to weave a net.
When the nobles of other countries take pride in entering the Black Rose shop, their hearts will have already submitted to Mason before their homeland does."
Daphne held her face even more, nodding repeatedly on the side, her emerald green eyes full of little stars:
"So that's how it is; this kind of shop is the temple of civilization, right!
Your Majesty wants to let the world feel the joy brought by cleanliness and Order through this method...
I, I also want to leave the temperature of the Holy Light in every box of the special edition tooth powder, so that those who buy it can feel Your Majesty's divine grace!"
Being able to help Your Majesty, Daphne was simply happy to the point of bubbling inside.
The exclamations of the two young girls rose one after another. Irene had already grabbed a charcoal pencil and was frantically sketching the design of the shop on draft paper.
Sophia occasionally mentioned a concept about special treatment for guests and experiences obscurely, which could make Irene regard her as a celestial being, jumping and hopping with excitement.
In Irene's view, for Sophia, a Queen who had never come into contact with modern civilization, to be able to think of these things was simply heavenly.
Daphne and Willow couldn't interrupt at all; they could only constantly exchange shocked glances on the side.
In their view, Sophia was not just managing a shop, but playing a grand chess game named Civilization Conquest.
"Alright."
Sophia looked out the window. A caravan traveling far was slowly driving out of the palace gate; that was the follow-up replenishment delivering goods to Leighton.
"You are fully responsible for the shop matters.
When the Special Envoy of Qubi arrives with news of the coal mines, I want to see the 'Mason Black Rose' open in the most prosperous section."
"As you command! My greatest Majesty!"
Irene performed a comical salute, then rushed out of the side hall like the wind, already unable to wait to select a site.
Daphne and Willow also hurried to do their own duties.
Sophia felt the air in the room gradually quieting down, the corner of her mouth lifting in a faint arc.
"Coal mines, gold coins, the commanding heights of civilization...
This feeling of slow harvesting seems much more interesting than fighting a war directly.
However, it is still not as interesting as delicious food."
Her gaze landed on the rear garden, expecting those small animals to be able to birth a litter of a hundred cubs, so she could soon achieve meat-eating freedom.
Irene's efficiency in doing things was astonishingly high.
In just half a day, a map of the Royal City marked with red was delivered to Sophia.
"Your Majesty, look here!"
Irene pointed to a row of low buildings near the main gate of the Palace on the map, which was the southeast corner.
The shops there were originally cold in business due to being close to the Royal House and having strict rules, leading to an extremely high vacancy rate.
"Although the flow of people here is not as good as the market in the southern city, it wins in its esteemed status.
Our Black Rose follows a high-end route. Opening a store amidst those merchants selling salted fish and coarse cloth would make the people coming to shop feel not elegant enough!"
As Irene spoke, she even wrinkled her nose, mimicking the appearance of those merchants.
Sophia swept a glance at that location and nodded secretly in her heart.
That place was only a few hundred meters from the Palace. It was convenient for Irene to transport new goods from the West Tower at any time, and it could also psychologically give the buyers a vanity of 'I am spending at the Royal House's doorstep.'
"Approved. Let's set it there."
Sophia's fingertip swiped lightly on the drawing.
"Hehe, I knew Your Majesty had an eye for things!"
Irene took the opportunity to hug Sophia's arm, her whole person rubbing against her like she had no bones, blinking those large azure eyes to act cute:
"Then, since it's settled, will Your Majesty accompany me over to take a look?
After all, it is our first store. If you, the brand founder, don't go to cut the ribbon...
No, if you don't go to hold the fort, I always feel it lacks a bit of soul."
Sophia looked at Irene's smiling face, which wished it could write the words 'begging for accompaniment' on her forehead. The laziness of a salted fish in her heart struggled slightly.
But on second thought, this store was originally the anchor of civilization she threw out. Since the subjects would know sooner or later that this was a Royal House property, making a trip personally would instead achieve the top-tier promotional effect.
"Granted. Go prepare; This Queen should also go out for a walk."
Half an hour later, the heavy gates of the Mason Palace slowly opened.
This was not a secret private visit, but an extremely fanfare-filled inspection.
After all, the subjects would know in the future that this shop was established by the Royal House, so knowing it then and knowing it now made no difference.
A small squad of soldiers equipped with Black Rose muskets cleared the way in front. Their metal armor flashed in the cold light, and leather boots stepped on the cement road surface issuing a uniform clack-clack sound, full of oppression.
Sophia sat upright on a gorgeous carriage pulled by two pure white steeds. The black fox fur set off her cold and expressionless face, appearing sacred and inviolable.
Chancellor Victor had changed into a tidy formal suit, his old face tense, as if participating in some negotiation that would change the pattern of the continent.
Sitting on the edge of the carriage, waving her small hand excitedly at those subjects casting admiring gazes, was Irene; her pink twin-tails were exceptionally eye-catching in the cold wind.
The occasional few sentences of "It's Lord Inventor!" appearing in the crowd were enough to satisfy her tiny vanity.
Daphne held that staff symbolizing the identity of a Saint, her emerald eyes full of seriousness.
Although she hadn't found any stones possessing magic in this world yet, Miss Irene said that creating a staff using this kind of crystal would make the subjects respect her more and feel more at ease.
Willow led a few female workers behind, her expression dignified.
When this team appeared on the streets of the Royal City, the roadside subjects stopped the work in their hands one after another, kneeling on the side of the road in trepidation.
"Look! That is Your Majesty!
After that border assassination, Your Majesty actually patrols the city with such fanfare. This is clearly announcing to those neighboring countries with ill intentions that Mason's Royal Authority is as solid as a rock!"
"Look at those black tubes; that must be the legendary Tyrant's Wrath that can spew thunder.
Your Majesty is taking this kind of weapon to that abandoned street today; could it be that spies from the Kingdom of Orr are lurking there, and Your Majesty wants to liquidate them personally?"
"Your Majesty's Queen aura is so strong... Although the carriage curtain was only lifted for a second just now, it also made my breathing stop!"
Listening to the discussions of the surrounding subjects, Victor, who didn't know the specifics, couldn't help but guess.
"Your Majesty specially chose this time to tour, bringing the Saint and the Inventor along. This is not just opening a store.
This is clearly constructing a display ground where Divine Authority, Royal Authority, and Wisdom form a trinity!
That street will be consecrated by Your Majesty's footprints, henceforth becoming Mason's political sub-center! This move of Your Majesty is too deep!"
When the carriage stopped in front of the shop Irene had selected, Sophia elegantly held Victor's hand and stepped out of the carriage.
Originally, that was a slightly dilapidated stone house with peeling wall skin.
But the moment Sophia got off the carriage, Willow immediately led the female workers to start action, cleaning the spiderwebs under the eaves.
The soldiers moved away the miscellaneous items piled inside, while Irene ran up impatiently, taking out a pink drawing from her bosom and pasting it on the door panel.
"From today on, this is the birthplace of Mason Black Rose!"
Irene announced loudly, the fire of fighting spirit igniting in her heart.
Sophia stood quietly in the center of this street, her gaze profound.
"Although temporarily it is just to sell some tooth powder and soap."
Sophia looked at those subjects kneeling in the snow around her, their eyes full of awe and fanaticism, and sighed in her heart.
"But looking at this posture, if This Queen said now that I wanted to open a snack shop inside, they would probably also think that what is sold inside is the Elixir of Immortality."
Due to Sophia's personal presence, that small squad of musketeers showed unprecedented drive.
In their eyes, this was not just moving sundries, but clearing obstacles for Your Majesty's Imperial map.
"Move faster! Don't let these rotten pieces of wood dirty Your Majesty's eyes!"
The leading non-commissioned officer scolded in a low voice.
The soldiers took off their heavy cloaks, revealing their arms to work more conveniently.
The moldy wooden barrels piled up for years, broken stone slabs, and straw mixed with rat feces were quickly cleaned out the door by them like throwing away garbage.
A heavy broken beam was lifted together by two soldiers. Because they used too much force, the cement floor under their feet emitted a dull thud.
"Heavens, how long has this place been abandoned exactly?" Irene always felt there was a strange smell in the house.
It looked like the cleaning time would be longer than she imagined.
The onlookers, the subjects, watched the soldiers digging out even the crushed stones in the floor cracks to throw away, and sighed with emotion one after another.
"Is Your Majesty going to open a shop? Your Majesty's shop or is it Miss Inventor's shop?"
"I see you really are old and confused; what is the difference between Your Majesty's shop and Miss Inventor's shop?"
"That's true. Your Majesty and Miss Inventor are so close; no matter whose shop it is, it cannot be underestimated."
"I don't know what will be sold? A few days ago, after I sold some handicraft products, I bought a small piece of soap. After washing, my hands are still tender now."
"Look, Your Majesty's tolerance for this shop is actually not a speck of dust. This is not just a shop; this must be some kind of sacred altar!"
"What? You are saying, Your Majesty and the others actually have other plans?"
After the soldiers withdrew, Willow led a dozen female workers who were neatly dressed and wearing white aprons, filing in carrying buckets of hot water.
"Every inch of the walls here must be wiped three times with the special supply soap liquid developed by Miss Irene."
Willow commanded while personally checking the cracks at the base of the window.
"Your Majesty wants to receive the future Civilization Envoys here; there absolutely cannot be a trace of moldy smell."
The sound of brushes swiping across stone walls was fine and rhythmic. As the scrubbing sound started rhythmically, Sophia's gaze landed on this shop, praising Irene's eye.
This location was indeed very good. Although no shops were open nearby, if this shop became hot, people would soon want to settle in the neighboring shops.
With the splashing of hot water and the rubbing of soap liquid, the originally moldy and rotten air was replaced by a faint scent of mint and pine wood.
The female workers knelt on the ground, using soft linen cloths to repeatedly polish the originally rough ground until that gray surface faintly revealed a metal-like texture.
In a clean open space inside the store, Irene was standing with arms akimbo, waving drawings at several Qubi veteran carpenters who were sweating profusely.
"No nails allowed! That is the practice of rude people!"
Irene's crisp voice echoed in the stone house.
"What I want is mortise and tenon structure! All the corners must be polished into a rounded shape; they must be as smooth as Your Majesty's skin!"
A female artisan cursed inwardly; how would they know exactly how smooth Your Majesty's skin was! But no one dared to talk back.
The artisans used local materials, spreading out top-quality redwood and oak.
The sound of saws cutting through wood rose and fell. Sawdust flew in the winter sunlight like golden dust.
Since there was no glass, Irene brilliantly designed a stepped open display stand.
The display stand was painted a deep blackish-brown, the edges outlined with fine silver powder to trace the veins of the Black Rose.
The center of the display spot was recessed and paved with goose-down cushions, used to set off those snow-white horse tail hair toothbrushes.
"Here, and here!"
Irene pointed to the top of the display cabinet.
"Carve an embedded groove for me. Later we will put in mercury mirrors that can reflect light. For now, replace them with polished bright steel plates!"
The artisans listened to Irene's requirements one after another, only constantly nodding, answering, and breaking into cold sweats.
They didn't dare say they couldn't do it, nor did they dare to move too slowly.
The monthly money for being an artisan in the Palace was much more than being an artisan outside; they could only try their best to improve their skills.
Sophia sat on a backrest chair moved over by soldiers, holding wild berry juice in her hand, looking at the chaotic scene before her indifferently.
"Irene." Sophia spoke softly. Her voice was not loud, yet it made the noisy artisans instantly silent. "The height of the display cabinet needs to be three inches higher."
"? Why?"
Irene jumped down from the wood pile, blinking in confusion.
"Because most of our guests won't be young children."
Sophia pointed to the doorway.
"If the counter is too low, when they lean over to observe the items on top, their cloaks or dresses will drag on the ground, and bowing and bending over for a long time will also feel exhausting."
Irene froze for a second, then immediately clapped her hands:
"That's right! That kind of elegant overlooking sensation, rather than bending over too much like farming.
Your Majesty, you have simply grasped the essence of vanity!"
Victor, beside them, recorded frantically in the small notebook he carried with him:
"Your Majesty's teaching: True rule must begin with caring for the vanity of the ruled. The adjustment of height is a precise control of class psychology."
He wanted to record all of these, to go give lessons to the other ministers later!
The other ministers wouldn't want to be eliminated by the times either. Victor thought about how those old things wouldn't look down on him like before, but would instead chase after him, and his heart felt much more refreshed.
Taking sides was truly an art!
In just two or three hours, the originally dilapidated stone house had taken on a completely new look.
The dark wooden counters appeared noble and mysterious under the setting of velvet. Every toothbrush looked like an artwork waiting to bloom.
There was no smell of sawdust in the air, only the fresh sensation carrying the aura of Holy Light that Daphne had just purified with magic.
"This is about done."
Irene wiped the gray ash on the tip of her nose, looking at Sophia.
"Your Majesty, we just have to wait for Vasha to bring back the first batch of signs of exquisite victory, then let the West Tower process them, and we can open for business with great luck!"
Sophia stood up, taking a last look at this space filled with the embryo of industry and the ingenuity of craftsmanship.
"Not bad," she responded faintly.
The Black Rose had already grown its first leaf.
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