Chapter 124


    In the living room, as Leopold settled onto the couch, his eyes fell upon a sealed ss bottle resting on


    the coffee table.


    "What''s this?" he asked, his curiosity piqued, as he picked it up.


    "Hands off," Vivienne warned, reaching out to reim it. It was the concentrated Tranquil Aroma


    perfume essence, too potent to touch the skin directly.


    But Leopold, known for his mischief, quickly hid the bottle, shing a sly grin. His eyes darted between


    Percival and Vivienne, and he teased, "Let me guess, is it something naughty, like a slippery massage


    oil…"


    Vivienne had initially ignored his jesting, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Cecilia, who had been


    pursuing Ste, returning alone. She attempted to retrieve the bottle from Leopold.


    With a swift move, Leopold evaded her, identally tossing the Tranquil Aroma perfume out of his


    hands. Itnded with a crash at Cecilia''s feet.


    Instantly, the strong fragrance filled the entire apartment, making it difficult for everyone to breathe


    Cecilia hesitated for a moment, then disregarded it, stepping over the broken ss and storming in, her


    voice using, "How could you… Achoo! Ste, she… Achoo! You… Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"


    Before she could finish her sentence, the overpowering scent triggered five consecutive sneezes,


    leaving her eyes moist and red.


    Vivienne, feeling an unexpected pang of guilt, red at Leopold and handed Cecilia a few tissues.


    Cecilia''s nose was unbearably itchy; she didn''t have the luxury to disdain Vivienne. Wiping her tears


    and nose, she asked between sneezes, "What is this… Achoo! …smell?"


    Finally unable to bear it, she ran away, sneezing all the way.


    The four people left in the living room exchanged puzzled nces.


    Percival had prepared himself for a day of incessant nagging from his mother, but a bottle of perfume


    managed to divert her attention. He decided that this was a great solution. He thought it was a fantastic


    item to have on hand. The next time his mother bothered him with trivial matters, he could just sprinkle


    it around the house.


    And he should prepare some for Isolde too. Lately, his mother''s repetitiveints had been driving


    the poor girl crazy. She constantlyined to him about it.


    Thus, an argument vanished into thin air.


    Vivienne nced at the time; it was already 11 A.M. Unusually enthusiastic, she suggested to Leopold


    and Thomas, "It''s lunchtime. Let''s eat together; I''ll cook."


    "Don''t bother!" Leopold jumped up as if propelled by a spring, ready to flee.


    "Ms. Hawthorn, I''ve already ordered food; it will arrive shortly. You don''t need to trouble yourself,"


    Thomas said, his face contorted in displeasure. He swiftly ced orders on the app, not paying much


    attention to the items, as long as something was ordered.


    "Oh, really?" Vivienne looked disappointed. She wanted Leopold and Thomas to experience her


    improved cooking skills, but apparently, that n was thwarted. "Well, maybe next time."


    Leopold and Thomas exchanged a silent nce, relieved that they had escaped unscathed this time.


    They silently vowed never to approach Percival during meal times. It was too perilous.


    Suddenly, they understood why Isolde, who had been so attached to Vivienne, hadn''te along with


    Cecilia today. The little girl was indeed clever; despite her young age, she knew how to avoid trouble.


    However, what surprised them was Cecilia''s persistence. She regrouped in the afternoon and returned.


    When Thomas opened the door and saw Cecilia, wearing a mask, walking in, the conversation in the


    living room ceased.


    "Where''s Vivienne?" Cecilia skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.


    "Upstairs," Leopold kindly pointed the way for Cecilia.


    Cecilia walked upstairs with determined steps to find Vivienne.


    Watching Percival''s stern gaze, Leopold shrugged and exined, "Well, the mother-inw and


    daughter-inw conflict has always been a timeless conundrum. You can''t stop it."


    He suggested with a grin, "If you''re worried about your fiancée being bullied by your mother, why not go


    up and help?"


    "I''m worried about my mother," Percival sighed, rubbing his temples. Vivienne could be a handful. Well,


    let his mother have a taste of her own medicine. He trusted Vivienne to handle the situation tactfully.


    In the fragranceb, Vivienne, having finished her meal, had retreated to the meticulously organized


    room. Cecilia entered just as Vivienne was contemting the freshly delivered Tranquil Aroma


    essence.


    Hearing the door open, she turned around.


    Cecilia instinctively took a step back when she saw the perfume essence in Vivienne''s hands. The


    morning''s sneezing fit was still fresh in her mind, making her wary.


    However, noticing her own hesitation, Cecilia quicklyposed herself, standing tall and confidently


    stepping forward. She nced at Vivienne''s fragrance workstation, her curiosity piqued. Suspicious,


    she asked, "Do you really know how to blend fragrances?"


    Cecilia hadn''te today to introduce Ste to Percival, as she had pretended. Instead, during a


    morning poker game, she had coincidentally encountered Ste and her mother, Mrs. Pembroke.


    Mrs. Pembroke was an old friend of Cecilia''s. During their game, she casually mentioned Vivienne''s


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    audacious challenge against Elijah, acting as if it was a trivial matter.


    Ste chimed in, adding that Elijah was an apprentice of the internationally renowned Master Q, and he


    held the title of The Perfume Prince himself. Ste couldn''t fathom why Vivienne had challenged Elijah,


    considering his reputation and credentials.


    Ste even showed her news articles about the incident. Indeed, the event at Cloudcrest High School''s


    auditorium had made the headlines. Elijah''s high profile and Vivienne''s previous public exposure due to


    Arabe Hawthorn''s usations had quickly made it a trending topic on social media.


    Elijah''s numerous fans ridiculed Vivienne online, iming she was overestimating her abilities. Even


    bystanders were doubtful about her skills. Facing the sly remarks from her friends, Cecilia grew


    increasingly furious.


    This Vivienne was so clueless. She had grown up in a remote ce and had never been exposed to


    the perfumery profession. Why did she think she could challenge Elijah?


    If Vivienne were just a nobody, Cecilia might not have been so irritated. She might have found


    Vivienne''s audacity admirable. But Vivienne was Percival''s fiancée, and her actions reflected upon the


    Ellington family''s reputation.


    Cecilia''s anger grew as she thought about it. She had even lost interest in the game and had decided


    to confront Vivienne and persuade her to find a way to cancel the fragrancepetition.


    Ste, who insisted oning along, was with her.


    "Vivienne, I heard that you''ve arranged a fragrance blendingpetition with The Perfume Prince


    Elijah at Cloudcrest High School next Friday?" Cecilia questioned coldly.


    "Yes," Vivienne nodded. She had seen the news today, so she knew why Cecilia was asking.


    Cecilia hesitated, considering how to persuade Vivienne toply. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to a


    perfume bottle inside the ss cab.


    "Is this… the discontinued Oriental Night Fragrance?!"