Freya's POV
Three months later, two noblewomen strolled into a perfume boutique in Norma.
"I'm sure that this perfume boutique is the finest in Norma, especially with this new fragrance from their collection," remarked one of the noblewomen.
A stunning lady in a purple gown gracefully picked up a bottle of blue perfume and delicately took a whiff, a subtle expression of contentment gracing her features.
"It contains rose oil and clove, but I detect something else..." She paused, scrunching her nose in thought.
"Could it be spiced lemon?"
The other lady, adorned in a yellow gown, inquired, "Is that it?"
The pair shook their heads in unison, their expressions pensive.
"It's actually rosemary," I offered as I stepped forward and gently took the perfume bottle from the beautiful woman.
"How can that be?"
"Indeed!"
The beautiful woman was about to protest when an elderly man in a dark suit emerged from the back room, his gaze carrying a touch of admiration as it fell upon me.
"Mr. Bardier!"
The beautiful woman gasped in surprise, her expression revealing that the man before her was none other than the recently acclaimed perfume master and the boutique's owner.
"Madam, perhaps 'Fantasy' would better suit your taste," Bardier suggested, producing a bottle of purple perfume from the nearby display cabinet. It featured numerous tiny sequins at its core, glistening and captivating under the light.
"Oh, thank you. I adore this scent," the noblewoman exclaimed as she lifted the perfume and took a gentle sniff. Her black pupils slowly transitioned to an amber hue, and a look of enchantment swept over her face.
The noblewoman concluded her purchase and departed, carrying her new perfume.
Bardier stood at the doorway, waving with a smile before turning around to tip his hat, nodding slightly.
"Welcome to the boutique, esteemed Ms. Freya!"
"You know me?"
I was a little surprised, considering that this was my first visit to this perfume store.
"Of course, Alpha Henry's newly discovered sister. But you bear a striking resemblance to your real mother."
"You still remember my mother?"
Bardier's eyes glanced out the window, as if reminiscing about something, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly before he softly nodded.
"Of course, it seems you've inherited the same unique sense of smell as she had."
Bardier shrugged and then brought a perfume bottle from behind the counter to the front.
"This bottle used to be your mother's favorite perfume, and she personally selected the most important ingredients in it."
Bardier looked up at me, his eyes holding a hint of sadness, and it was clear that my mother and he had been close friends at one point.
I delicately lifted the perfume bottle and opened the lid to take a sniff. A rich aroma engulfed me, but it was a strong yet not overpowering scent, with a subtle bitterness in the middle.
"Is this ebony?" I asked tentatively, but to my surprise, Bardier's eyes widened, and he nodded in approval.
"Ms. Freya, would you consider working in my store? With your talent, this store could undoubtedly thrive even more, and I'm certain your mother would be delighted to know."
Bardier smiled as he awaited my response.
"Well..."
I paused, my lips pursed, uncertain about what to choose.
"Freya! Why are you here? I've been searching for you for half a day..."
While I hesitated, Finley entered, out of breath.
"I've made up my mind; I'm going to become a perfumer."
I took a deep breath and looked at Bardier with determination.
"What? Is something wrong?"
Finley gazed at me, somewhat puzzled, probably wondering how I had suddenly found my life's direction just by visiting a store.
"This time, I'm serious. All this while, I've been trying to prove my own worth, hoping to bury those painful memories from the past. But now, I've finally realized it's not about what I'm going to change; it's about what I can bring to others."
As I strolled past rows and rows of perfume displays, the fragrant air made my heart leap with excitement. Each scent seemed to beckon me as though it possessed a soul.
"My mother once took pride in this profession, and since she gifted me this unique sense of smell I'm determined to do something."
Finley paused for a moment, then nodded at me, somewhat approvingly.
"Even though I'm not sure what just happened, since there's a direction now, I'll wholeheartedly support you. If you ever need my assistance in the future, don't hesitate to ask. I believe you'll undoubtedly become the most renowned perfume master!"
Upon hearing Finley's words, my spirit soared, and my confidence surged.
Time flew by, and two years passed swiftly.
It turned out Bardier was right; I seemed to possess a natural talent for blending perfumes. I could easily discern the spices in any bottle of perfume I smelled. The perfumes I created became highly sought after by the local noblewomen and ladies. Even the nobles from all of the world occasionally inquired if Norma had a new perfume master.
The stream of visitors to see me was endless. To avoid being overwhelmed by zealous fans, I adopted the pseudonym "Alice". Whenever someone came to visit me, Bardier could explain my absence.
"I had no idea you had this talent before. I've heard that all the noblewomen are proud to own a perfume crafted by Alice."
Finley sat across from me, casually toying with the perfume I had just blended.
"Don't tease me like that."
"No, really, each perfume you create emits a distinct and captivating fragrance."
Finley exclaimed in surprise and then picked up the bottle of perfume in front of him.
"This smells really special. Does it have a name?" Finley looked up at me curiously.
"It's called 'Remembrance'," I said in a hushed voice.
"Great name. Smelling this really brings back those good times to remember." A smile spread across Finley's face as he took another soft sniff.
"By the way, there's going to be a perfume appreciation conference tomorrow, and I've already signed you up."
"What? Why didn't you tell me in advance?" Hearing this sudden news from Finley, I pretended to be angry and playfully hit him.
"Don't be mad; everyone wants to catch a glimpse of Alice," Finley said, holding the perfume bottle in front of him. "I think we should take part in the conference with the 'Remembrance'. There's bound to be a lot of people who will remember the scent."