Lunoa woke up early the next morning. After Ellie had received a letter from the marquess, the rest of the day had been hectic. First, Lunoa had picked out presents with Misha. Then, after getting Ellie’s approval, the two had tried on the dresses that Ellie and Alice had selected for them.
“It’s too early,” Lunoa grumbled, looking out the window. The sky had only just started brightening.
Lunoa’s throat felt a little dry, so she reached for the pitcher she kept on her nightstand. She was surprised to find it lighter than she’d expected. There was barely any water left inside it.
She got up, careful not to wake up Misha, who was sleeping on the bed right next to hers, and left the room to refill the pitcher. If she remembered correctly, guests were free to take water from the large jugs in the dining hall.
Lunoa descended the stairs as silently as she could, but when she was about to enter the dining hall, she noticed a small flame. Someone was sitting at a table, writing by candlelight—her mentor and employer, Ellie Leis.
“Oh my. Lunoa? What are you doing out of bed at such an hour?” Ellie asked.
“I woke up and felt thirsty. I came down for some water.”
“I see.”
Ellie lifted her finger and the pitcher in Lunoa’s hand suddenly got heavier. Lunoa hadn’t felt Ellie’s mana at all, but she’d filled it with her magic.
“Thank you.”
Ellie smiled, then she suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Lunoa, do you have any plans today?”
The meal at the marquess’s residence would take place the following day. They’d finished all the preparations yesterday, so Lunoa was technically free to do whatever she liked today. Misha would accompany Mireille on an errand, while Alice would stay at the inn with Ellie for her arithmetic lesson.
“I was thinking of visiting the market once more,” Lunoa said. “Last time, there were many items I’d never seen in the capital.”
“Regions that were ruled by different races before being incorporated into the empire, such as Hephaest, seem to have retained much of their culture. They have unique products and food.”
“Many of which could catch on in the capital.”
Ellie pondered Lunoa’s words for a bit before standing up and walking over to her.
“You think like a true merchant now,” she said. “I thought it might still be a little early for you, but it appears I was mistaken. This is the perfect opportunity.”
Ellie summoned her Grimoire of Mammon, retrieved a leather pouch from it, and handed it to Lunoa.
“Um... What is this, Miss Ellie?”
“Fifty gold coins.”
“Fifty?!”
“This is a loan,” Ellie said. “Use the money to generate a profit. You’re free to employ any means you’d like. I’ll take ten gold coins as interest. As for the reimbursement deadline...one year should do.”
Lunoa froze. That was a lot of money. And she needed to turn that sum into at least sixty coins before the year was up.
“It’s all right if you never repay it,” Ellie added. “But I want you to make a serious effort to increase that starting capital. I also forbid you from taking another loan elsewhere. If you absolutely require additional funds, come to me and pitch your idea. I’ll consider your proposal at that time.”
“Huh?!” Lunoa blurted out.
Ellie seemed slightly drunk—a rare sight. After pushing the leather pouch into Lunoa’s hands, she climbed the stairs with a smirk. She returned to her room, where Alice was still asleep.
Lunoa stood in silence next to the candle for a while, holding a pitcher full of cold water and a leather pouch filled with a tremendous sum of money.