CH 61.2

Isabella gave the first applicant a welcoming smile as he entered the parlor.

She recalled all the interviews she did in her past life, and Isabella tried to make the applicant feel at ease.

But all of those plans collapsed when Archduke Kyar sat next to her, wearing a cold, stern countenance.

She had already told him that she didn’t need his help, but he still managed to follow her to the room where she was conducting the interview.

“Your resume says that you are knowledgeable about herbs. Is that right?” She asked the first male applicant warmly while trying hard not to be conscious of Duke Kyar sitting next to her.

“Yes. My father is a herbalist, so I grew up watching him create medicine ever since I was a child.”

“Really? Can you explain to me what this particular herb can do?”

She pulled out one of the herbs she had brought earlier and offered it to the applicant.

“Somal, as I understand, is particularly good for people who have insomnia. It is a herb for the brain that excels in calming the nerves, excitement, and even anxiety.” He spoke calmly, in contrast to his bright appearance.

The male applicant might be nervous during the interview, but he didn’t let it show.

She could sense his abundant knowledge of medicinal herbs from how well he explained it during the interview, and Isabella thought it would be alright to entrust him with the pharmacy.

From start to finish, Isabella was satisfied with the first male applicant.

She was holding the ‘acceptance’ sign up, but Duke Kyar, who sat next to her, plucked the signboard from her hand and turned it into the ‘rejection.’

Isabella’s brows furrowed with confusion.

“Next,” Duke Kyar uttered with absolute indifference.

The first applicant lowered his head in disappointment.

Covering her face with the papers placed in front of her, Isabella whispered in Duke Kyar’s ear. “Why on earth are you doing this, Your Highness?”

“I can’t pick anyone from these applicants to keep you company. All of them weren’t suitable. I don’t like them.”

It broke her heart to hear the Archduke say that such a heartwarming impression from the first applicant wasn’t good.

However, Isabella had no right to ignore the opinion of the research centers’ most affluent investor.

Isabella bowed her head at the first applicant in regret as he exited the drawing-room.

After that, Archduke Kyar continued to disturb the entire interview process.

He was endlessly generous to the female applicants but ruthlessly rejected all the males.

“Aren’t you busy, Your Highness? I think you should go now.” Isabella forced a smile as she whispered to Duke Kyar.

Why did he keep on interrupting the interview anyway?

“I’m VERY free today, Isabella. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“I don’t think so, Your Highness.”

She could see Duke Kyar’s assistant, Luches, pace outside the parlor, and Isabella wondered if he needed the Archduke’s approval for something.

“Marc.” Duke Kyar called Marc, who stood right next to him.

“I won’t hold Luches responsible for anything, so tell him to make up his mind.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When she saw Marc walk towards Luches, Isabella exhaled a heavy sigh.

“Why don’t we just send all the male applicants back, Your Highness?”

“Why? I’m pretty open-minded to all of the applicants, Isabella. I’m not discriminating against anyone according to their genders.”

“But why didn’t we have a single male applicant accepted for the job?”

“I already told you the reason.”

Isabella shook her head.

The Archduke told her that the male applicants failed to impress him due to their physiognomy.

“Yes. I’m sure there’s a reason for this.”

Isabella kept her mouth shut, already exhausted from her long arguments with him.

The interview didn’t end until late at night.

They paid a decent amount to all applicants who participated in the interview for their time and effort.

Out of two hundred fifty applicants, fifty people got in the interview.

Yet, only five men had passed.

The few men were in their fifties and older than Mark.

**

After Isabella’s hectic job hiring for her staff, Duke Kyar set out on the beast hunting expedition the next day.

Isabella and Ria used the Teleport Tower to go to the Capital and sign a contract to open their new drugstore.

“Wow, the Capital looks awesome,” Ria said as she glanced at the tall buildings.

“Well, the North and the South are different.”

After seeing the bustling crowds and carriages coming and going from the wide roads, Isabella’s heart leaped.

“I don’t like this place, Isabella! The air feels too stuffy!”

It seemed like Ignis hated the Capital.

“Ignis, hang in there for a few days. We will try to return to the North as soon as possible.”

Isabella comforted Ignis before she brought her attention back to the city with excitement.

She was already looking forward to opening a pharmacy here, but women in white uniforms approached her side.