One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 72

Ding. A small bell chimed as Aileen opened the door, and a store clerk quickly emerged from inside to greet her.

“Welcome to Primère Parfums!”

“I’m looking for a gift.”

“Of course. Would you please follow me this way?”

The young male clerk smiled brightly and guided her with polite enthusiasm. Aileen followed, subtly scanning the interior while pretending to browse.

The store, which had two floors, was surprisingly spacious. The wide-open space was divided into sections, with several perfumes neatly displayed along the walls. On closer inspection, she noticed a door marked for staff only.

Given that the shop catered to the wealthy, there weren’t many customers at the moment. Including the man assisting her, it seemed there were only four staff members in total.

Their ages varied, and the one helping her looked like the youngest. So she’d gotten the junior employee—how fortunate.

“These here are our most popular scents—and we still have some stock left. But they sell out fast, so you’ll want to make a decision quickly.”

He winked playfully as he gestured toward the display. Aileen let her gaze drift over the bottles, then leaned in to sniff a few, speaking in a voice tinged with disappointment.

“I don’t see the one I’m looking for. It had a soft, pale yellow tint and a warm, sweet fragrance. I heard it’s extremely rare. Do you have anything like that?”

The clerk’s face darkened slightly as he listened to her quiet explanation.

He glanced around discreetly to make sure none of the other customers were paying attention.

“It’s for a friend—a gift for after childbirth. Money isn’t an issue. I just really want to get this for her.”

When she added that last bit with sincere urgency, the clerk paused briefly and then nodded.

“Actually, we do have a premium line… It’s quite expensive, and we rarely show it—especially since it’s almost always out of stock.”

His voice carried the weight of hesitation, like he was offering a special favor. Aileen played along with the tone and smiled warmly.

“Oh, really? Thank you. I don’t mind waiting at all. This friend is very important to me—I want her to have something special.”

It was clear now: they only revealed this particular perfume to certain customers.

Considering the wide variety of perfumes sold here and how few victims had surfaced, it was obvious that only this premium line was causing trouble.

If all the perfumes were dangerous, the Empire would already be overwhelmed with hallucinating citizens.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

He led her to a seat at a long table, much like the kind used in jewelry showrooms. Then he slipped through a side door and disappeared into the back.

Aileen cautiously stood and looked around the second floor.

It was smaller than the first floor. No perfumes were on display here—just a few elegant chairs and the long table. The space was clearly reserved for VIPs.

She finished her inspection and returned to her seat. Not long after, the clerk returned carrying a wooden box.

“These are the perfumes.”

Inside were three bottles arranged neatly in a row.

“All three are currently out of stock. When the next release date is set, we’ll notify you, and you’ll be able to make a purchase. There are two ways to do that.”

Aileen gave a small nod to indicate he should continue.

“You can either pay the highest price, or be the first to arrive.”

“Like an auction, then—whoever bids the most wins?”

“Exactly. We had no choice, since the demand became overwhelming. Also, you’ll need to pay a deposit to join the list.”

“You mean just to be notified?”

“Yes. Without it, we’d be overrun. The deposit also determines your placement in the queue, so the number of participants is limited. You don’t have to worry about the store being overcrowded.”

So basically, the more you pay, the sooner you get the product.

That explained why all the victims were wealthy noblewomen or affluent commoners—and why this perfume had become such a craze in high society.

Aileen found it ridiculous but kept her expression neutral.

“Alright. Let me check if this is the one I’m looking for.”

She picked up the pale yellow bottle and took a small sniff. The scent was nearly identical to the one her mother had gifted her.

“I think this is it.”

“That’s great to hear! Would you like to make a reservation today?”

The clerk clapped his hands, genuinely pleased, and Aileen—after a brief moment of thought—agreed to pay the deposit.

But first, she had one more question.

“Are these the only perfumes sold on this floor?”

“Unfortunately, yes—for now. But we have several new scents in development. We’ll be releasing a few more soon, so please stay tuned.”

“You’re developing them yourself? That’s impressive.”

She feigned admiration, and the clerk flushed slightly, waving his hands in embarrassment.

“Oh no, not me. We have a separate developer. I’m just in sales.”

“I see… So is there any way to meet the developer directly? I’d love a custom scent—something no one else in the world has.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’m really sorry.”

The rejection came without the slightest hesitation. Aileen gave a casual nod, as if she’d only asked on a whim.

“Where should I have the notification sent?”

the clerk asked as he finished registering her reservation for the pale yellow perfume.

“To House Revart. Under the name Aileen Revart.”

The clerk didn’t even flinch when she gave her name. If anything, it looked like he had expected it all along.

Well, considering her light pink hair, her violet eyes, and the way she confidently paid a deposit that could feed an entire commoner family for months—there was only one person she could be.

“I’ll assign you the very first spot in the queue, Lady Revart.”

Leaving behind the now noticeably more courteous clerk, Aileen stepped out of the store. Now that she knew this perfume was the culprit, her head ached just from the thought of it.

She moved briskly through the streets, returned to the mansion, changed into more comfortable clothes, and headed toward the meeting place with Carlisle.

Thankfully, no one seemed to be following her. Aileen cautiously opened the door and slipped inside.

The familiar sound of the floor creaking beneath her feet echoed softly through the narrow space. Carlisle hadn’t arrived yet.

With a strangely nostalgic feeling, Aileen slowly surveyed the small room before taking a seat in one of the two chairs on either side of the lone table.

When looking for a place discreet enough to talk, this had been the only place that came to mind. Their sanctuary. A place only the two of them knew. Their hidden escape.

It was a place she hadn’t visited once since the annulment. It had been Carlisle who suggested it, saying it was ideal for staying out of sight.

Aileen had agreed without argument. At this point, it wasn’t sentimental enough to avoid.

She rested her chin on one hand as the door creaked open.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Carlisle strode in with a short apology. The heat clung to him, warm air trailing in his wake.

“Drink this.”

He sat across from her and pushed a cold glass of juice across the table. He held another in his own hand.

After a brief pause, Aileen accepted the glass. She didn’t thank him.

“They definitely have backing. And now that they’re developing new scents and plan to release them soon, we don’t have time to waste.”

“They recognized you as Lady Revart?”

“It’s expected. When you’re dealing with nobles, it’s standard to memorize the appearances of major households—but still, it feels a bit off.”

Carlisle’s brows furrowed faintly—his usual sign of deep thought.

“They probably know we’re investigating. But I doubt they realize we already suspect them as the primary suspects.”

Aileen nodded in agreement.

“Publicly, it still looks like we’ve only just begun our inquiry.”

After a few more exchanges, Carlisle reached a decision.

“Let’s move tonight. It’s best to strike while they’re still off guard.”

Aileen, who had worn casual clothes with this exact situation in mind, gave her silent agreement.

The sun had set, and the sky had darkened into a rich navy, casting a dusky hue over the city.

Wearing black hoods pulled low over their heads, Aileen and Carlisle blended into the shadows. Silently, they followed a man who had just locked up the shop and turned to leave.

As she’d seen—and as noted in the report—there were four staff members. The one assisting Aileen had been the last to stay behind, handling closing duties.

The fact that he was the last one out, even after the others had gone, confirmed that he was someone of higher rank.

The man weaved swiftly through a series of alleys, eventually stopping in front of a run-down one-story house. There were only one or two other houses nearby, and they appeared abandoned.

Aileen and Carlisle exchanged a quick glance.

As soon as the man went inside, the two darted forward. From the doorway, they listened carefully.

Two people inside.

“Big bro, we’re having corn soup for dinner!”

“Yay, that sounds good! Thanks, Rev.”

Judging from the casual conversation, it didn’t seem like anyone else would be arriving.

Aileen and Carlisle shared a silent nod. Now it was time to act.

Unfortunate, perhaps. But unavoidable.

After confirming the layout and who was inside, the two of them slipped into the house like predators, silent and sharp, ready to corner their prey.

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