Chapter 114: The Story
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Les Elfes was founded by the French craftsman Zoé. He redefined the limits of a new generation of light, luxurious pens. Zoé’s partner, Alfred Nehemias, a banker, believed that writing was the privilege of the aristocracy. He introduced the concept to his aristocratic peers, who soon fell in love with the idea…”
. Alfred hired dozens of craftsmen to develop his concept, inadvertently improving ink pen technology to produce the most beautiful, lightweight pen possible. Together, they founded Les Elfes, formerly known as Roi des Espirits, reflecting the essence of elvish delight in their works in their branding. The following years saw the market for fountain pens booming, with Roi des Espirit standing at the forefront of this new age. The King series of fountain pens was their most popular, a classic among classics…”
Cheng Yi maintained an elegant smile the entire time she recited the history of Les Elfes.
Even the lady who despised her could not help but show a hint of surprise. Had she been too quick to judge?
Zoé, the founder of Les Elfes, once said that every fountain pen had a companion who understood its beauty and cherished it from the bottom of their hearts. Therefore, whenever they encountered a dispute between two parties fighting over their goods, the party that showed themselves as the most suitable owner would win the right to purchase the fountain pen from them.
None of their fountain pens was cheap.
Cheng Yi rattled on for five minutes, her eyes never leaving Yan Hanxi’s face. Yet, Yan Hanxi remained indifferent, as if listening to a sermon.
Yan Hanxi’s lack of response made Cheng Yi anxious. Could Yan Hanxi have no knowledge or interest in the brand and find her speech unattractive?
“Do you have anything else to add?” He Jing asked.
Cheng Yi gnashed her teeth, having no choice but to tear her gaze from Yan Hanxi. She suppressed her disappointment and smiled at He Jing, taunting,
“Do you have anything to add?”
“Of course,” He Jing replied. “You’ve described so much about the brand’s history but next to nothing about the pen you want to buy. What I would like to add is the story of this pen.”
Cheng Yi’s expression stiffened. She looked at the half-wrapped pen in the gift box and said, “What story can this fountain pen have? Are you making it up on the spot?”
“Do you think I’m as shameless as you?” He Jing giggled.
Cheng Yi knew nothing about physics, yet she was so full of hot air, boasting that she was the best and lying through her teeth.
Surprise shook the lady to the core, which showed in her expression. “Miss, do you know the story behind this fountain pen?”
As a brand ambassador, the lady knew the story behind their most expensive pens but little to nothing about their cheapest ones.
“This pen is called Le Cocon,” He Jing said. “It’s specially designed for women.
That’s right, it’s a pen for women. It’s also the only one of its kind in Le Elfes.” “Adam, the third-generation heir of Zoé, the company’s founder, fell in love with a poor woman named Monroe. She couldn’t afford to read or use a pen. Her fate was tragic. She spent many years washing dishes in a restaurant, and her hands were full of calluses. This is where the pen’s name originates.”
“Adam was set up because of heavy competition in the family for the inheritor’s position. It was a dark time for him. It was during this period that he met Monroe. She cared for him and gave him the courage to live. Eventually, Adam fell in love with her. However, he could never express his feelings for her because he was already engaged to another. Neither of them could tell the other how they felt for each other, and what followed was the two of them falling out of contact.”
“Adam missed Monroe dearly and never gave up searching for her. Only in his final years did he reveal this to his son, the brightest, most glorious friendship that never got a chance to blossom… Adam’s son was so inspired by his father’s story that, in commemorating what could have been, he created the fountain pen we know today as Le Cocon.”
“Le Cocon represents the burning passion of love that was never allowed to bloom, a caterpillar whose metamorphosis into a butterfly failed, remaining trapped as nothing but a memory of what could have been,” He Jing said. “The pen isn’t as expensive as all the others because of the memory it is meant to represent. He did not want anyone to miss out on love like his father had..”