Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me!
Chapter 62: I Am the Owner of This Shop

Chapter 62: I Am the Owner of This Shop

Sharon’s POV—

Kristuer Street is the street where almost all the nobles set up their stores. All-in-all, it is a street where thievery happens but in a systematic and lawful manner. I think some of you may not understand what I am talking about. Let’s take an example. Suppose, Adam is a noble who imported raw materials at 10 percent. He sold it to a manufacturing unit at a 20 percent profit. A point to be noted here is only a few nobles have the right to both import and export. So, with this factor along with his noble-origin factor, he will generate profit from here. Then, the manufacturing unit produces... let’s take clothing for example. It generates 5 percent profit than a commoners’ producing unit with a single piece of cloth. That’s just the beginning of it. With each step they generate profit and mind you, all these processes are governed by nobles.

These specific group of nobles sell these products to other nobles with a very high price. And the nobles do buy these. That’s the motto of the shops here. ’To earn and to have profit.’ Although, the workers are helpless commoners. No surprise there, I guess.

That’s why I am here. I am here to get robbed.

[You should work on your way of talking.]

’I know. I advise you this ’advice’ to you as well.’

[Ha-ha, so funny. Your comic sense is so good. I am rolling on the ground with laughter.]

’I am funny, and I clearly know that. Maybe it would be better if you give me a useful news.’

[Tch! You are really insufferable.]

Insufferable? You are the one who is insufferable. Just as I was about to retort, my gaze fell on a long line of people. Is there some kind of event here? When I moved my gaze along the line, I saw it led to a bakery shop. Wait, bakery? I turned towards my knights and said, "I am going into that shop. Will you wait outside?"

"YES! YOUR MAJESTY!!"

They yelled in unison.

Argh! My poor ears. I should tell them to never yell this loudly! We are not in a battlefield. Shaking my head, I walked towards the shop. The people in the line bowed and greeted me, and made a way for me to enter into the shop.

Entering the shop, I walked straight to a seat and waited for a waiter to come for my order. A waiter came and stood near me. He bowed and greeted me. The man was trembling with fear. I pouted indignantly. Am I scary? I believe myself to be cute and harmless.

[Lies!]

I ignored the system, who itself was telling lies. I said, "What do you have in your store? Are the pastries good?"

He stuttered, "Y-y-yes... we have a-a v-variety of d-d-desserts—"

"Can you please not ’stutter’ this badly? I will not kill you if your shop’s pastries are bad. I give you my word, you can rest assured. Now, would you kindly tell the items list more clearly? Please, I would love that if you do so."

See! I am a benevolent leader who’s full of kindness and tranquillity. I am not the ’tyrant’ that they claim me to be.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" said the man. His eyes now held a layer of confidence in them. It seems my work is done.

"Alfred. You can go. I will handle it from here," said a new voice. It was a very familiar voice; one I would have forgotten if I hadn’t been graced with its presence today.

The man, Alfred lowered his gaze and stood there stiffly, as if he was unsure what to do.

"You can go. I think... I have someone to entertain with." Alfred bowed and quickly ran with his tail in between his legs. After he disappeared, I turned towards the person, who had interrupted me. It was Pristine Rinkshel.

Thankfully, I haven’t brought Kaerin with me otherwise, they would have fought with each other.

"Do you like sweet things? Sharon, you have a sweet tooth," said Pristine. She is the only person in the entire world who could call me by my name right to my face. It was a privilege given to her by the OG. In the novel, Pristine and OG were good friends with each other, before they had a fallout which resulted in the dissolution of their friendship.

"Aren’t you being disrespectful by calling the emperor by her name?"

Pristine smirked, "We were friends before, weren’t we?"

"Yeah, before you dissolved our friendship," I mocked her. Pristine’s ears turned a bit red from my words.

She scoffed, "I was not the only one at fault! You were too."

Huh? Is she kidding me? I asked, "Why? I am not the one who shouted and slapped you. It’s you, who did that to me."

Pristine’s eyes dimmed a bit. But she quickly shook her head and asked, "Are you expecting a sorry from me? If you think I will beg for your forgiveness, then the answer is a simple ’no.’ I will not."

I sighed, "I expected that." I got up and moved to another table. Pristine followed me and sat right beside me.

"You don’t expect me?" she asked, with a tone of disbelief.

I nodded, "I know your personality very well." Of course, I know how she is. I am the creator of her.

Pristine’s lips slightly parted. Her face was stained with hesitation. She clearly wanted to say something but refrained from saying it.

"Why are you here? I don’t think you like sweets. If I am correct, you liked spicy things more."

Pristine appeared surprised from my words. She never thought that I would remember her taste.

"You remember?" asked Pristine.

"I remember everything. You are the one who pushed me away, not me." Hah, why isn’t she going away? I want to taste a pastry but because of her I can’t. I glared at her in the hopes that she would get the hint and leave me alone. Right in that moment, Pristine said, "Your question, I will answer it."

"Then tell me, why are you here?"

Pristine stated, "It’s because I am the owner of this shop."