NEW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD

9. Whispers of Innovation

The morning sun had barely begun to peek through the curtains when Seraphina was startled awake by a firm knock on the door. Groggy and disoriented, she blinked at the unfamiliar sound, trying to make sense of it. As the knocking persisted, she hurried downstairs, still in her nightclothes, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight—an enormous crowd gathered outside her soon-to-be store.

Her heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her—she had completely forgotten to include the interview time on the recruitment flyers. Panic surged through her as she ran back upstairs, hastily washing her face and throwing on the first outfit she could find. With her hair still slightly damp, she dashed back down the stairs, each step echoing her growing anxiety.

When she finally opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of over a hundred people, all anxiously waiting for a chance to be interviewed. The sight took her breath away, not just from the sheer number of applicants but from the realization of what she had unintentionally set into motion.

In her flurry of preparations the previous night, she had vastly underestimated the impact of offering a starting salary of 50 silver coins—double the average wage for a new worker in this kingdom.

This amount was typically reserved for senior-ranking employees who had served loyally for years, gradually earning incremental raises of just a few silver coins every few years.

The promise of such an enticing salary had spread like wildfire, drawing in hopeful applicants from all corners of the city.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Seraphina quickly grabbed a pen and some paper. She began the daunting task of taking down names, one by one, as the crowd pressed closer, each person eager for their turn.

Despite the chaos, she managed to maintain a semblance of order, instructing the applicants to enter the shop in groups of five.

As she scribbled down name after name, her hands trembled slightly, still overwhelmed by the turnout. She had anticipated a modest response, perhaps a dozen or so applicants, but this... this was beyond anything she had imagined. The responsibility of selecting from such a vast pool weighed heavily on her, but there was no turning back now.

Once the first group of five had entered, Seraphina guided them to the seating area she had hastily arranged the night before. As she looked at their eager faces, she realized that her small cosmetic shop had suddenly become one of the most desirable places of employment in the entire city.

This wasn’t just about finding employees anymore; it was about living up to the expectations she had unknowingly set. With a deep breath, Seraphina prepared to interview the first group.

One by one, the applicants trickled into the shop, their eyes wide as they took in the elegant surroundings of what would soon be Enchanting Elegance. Seraphina sat behind a simple yet stylish desk she had prepared for the interviews, a small stack of blank parchment and a quill in front of her.

As the first group of five entered, she offered them a warm smile, trying to put them at ease despite her own nerves.

“Good morning,” Seraphina began, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. “Thank you all for coming. I’m Seraphina Elysia Vale, the owner of Enchanting Elegance. Before we begin, I’d like to know a bit more about each of you.”

She gestured to the first person in line, a young woman with bright eyes and a nervous smile. “Let’s start with your name.”

The young woman cleared her throat, her voice wavering slightly as she responded, “My name is Liana Greer.”

“Nice to meet you, Liana,” Seraphina replied kindly. “Do you have a resume or any documents with you?”

Liana nodded and handed over a neatly folded piece of parchment. Seraphina accepted it with a grateful nod and then continued, “Could you tell me a bit about yourself? What have you done before this, and do you have any experience in sales or customer service?”