“Clerk, could you show me that teacup with the flower design?”
“Yes, of course. Do you mean this one?” I gently lifted the teacup stored inside of a box with my white-gloved hands. I placed it on top of its saucer and quietly set it in front of the customer.
“Hmm...” The man hummed as he examined it.
He doesn’t seem pleased with it. “I could show you a few other designs, if you’d like.”
“Yes, sorry. I figured I’d jump on the Prelier traditions bandwagon and give my wife flowers, but I felt awfully embarrassed. I thought I could nonchalantly hand her a teacup with a floral pattern, but...I need to muster up a tad more courage, it seems. It’s not within my character.”
The teacups in front of the man all had vibrant, gorgeous designs, but they also made his intentions quite clear. If he wants to nonchalantly give his wife a present, then none of these would be suitable.
“Do you have any with slightly more unassuming patterns?” he asked.
“Certainly. I’ll bring out our designs with smaller flowers. Please wait one moment.” I turned around, searched the shelf behind the counter, and selected a box. Before I returned to the customer, I suddenly remembered something and grabbed a second box. “This cup’s design uses daintier flowers.”
“Yes, it’s nice. It’s definitely unassuming.”
“And, if I may be so presumptuous, I have one other item I’d like to show you.” I opened the second box, revealing a white teacup. It was a pure-white porcelain cup, its surface unmarked by any pattern except for a gold-gilded rim. The man’s confusion was almost palpable, but I tilted the cup to show him the inside.
“A flower!” he exclaimed.
“Yes. This piece has only a single bellflower painted on the inside, right at the bottom.”
At a glance, it was a simple design, but the cup hid a beautiful flower. It wasn’t a pattern, so to speak, but I thought it was the perfect gift, exactly what the elderly gentleman was searching for.
“It’s pretty... And a bellflower? My wife loves bellflowers.” The man smiled gaily and pointed at the bellflower teacup. “I’ll take that. Could you wrap it for me?”
“Certainly. Thank you very much. Please wait one moment.” I left the wrapping to another employee and handled the payment. Once the cup was wrapped, we placed it in a paper bag and handed it to the gentleman at the entrance.
“Young man, you were a lifesaver. Thank you. I’m glad I asked you for help.”
I resisted the urge to break into a bright grin and maintained my customer service expression as I bowed my head. “I’m glad I could be of service. We’ll be waiting for your next visit.”
I watched the gentleman step out of the building before I allowed my mouth to relax.
Suddenly, someone called my name. “Oh, George!”
My face instantly drew tight. I mustn’t let a customer see my slovenly expression, I thought in a panic. I searched for the owner of the voice. Amid the bustle of the crowd, I spied a familiar person wearing a bashful smile walking toward me from the other side of the street. The man who was waving at me was an old friend of mine.
“Michael! Are you alo—” I was about to ask him if he was looking around the festival alone, but I held my tongue. She was hidden in the crowd, but there was a petite young lady next to him.
I was shocked by this unforeseen development. I never would have expected Michael, that late bloomer, to be having a tryst with a lady. As his friend, I should be happy for him, but it feels like I’ve been left behind...which makes me feel a little lonely.
“Michael, who’s this young lady?” I asked.
“She’s Lily, my colleague at the medical facility. I’m much obliged to her,” he replied.
I met eyes with the lady he had introduced as Lily, and she bowed with graceful movements. She had light-brown skin and dark-gray hair. They, along with her honey-colored eyes, attested to her Khuer tribe roots. I recognized her face and her name.
We’d been introduced during the epidemic in the Kingdom of Vint, and we’d met several more times after I’d returned to Nevel. I recall that she adored Lady Rosemary, but it seems she’s close to Michael as well.
“We happened to have business in town today, and since it was so pretty, we decided to do a little sightseeing before returning,” Michael explained. “It’s the harvest festival, right? It’s stunning. I was surprised by how gorgeous the town has become.”
“Well, I’m the surprised one. I never expected you, of all people, to be having a secret tryst with a lady.”
“Tr— N-No! Lily is merely accompanying me for some shopping!” Michael denied my words in a panic, his face bright red.
Lily watched him with warm eyes.
There is definitely warmth between them. I don’t think I’m wrong, but meddling in another person’s love affairs brings bad fortune, so I’ll stop pressing him. “I see. Did you finish your shopping? If you have time, why don’t you drop by our shop? Right now, we have a diverse collection of goods with flower designs.”
“I noticed all the shops are decorated with flowers. Does it have something to do with the harvest festival?” he asked.
“Apparently, giving flowers to those you cherish is an old custom of this festival. Because of that, the city decided to sell not only real flowers, but also flower-related items for a limited time. By the way, this was Lady Rosemary’s idea.”
“Lady Rosemary’s?!” Lily jumped at that, her eyes twinkling.
“Yes. If you want, why don’t you buy something as a souvenir?” I flashed her my business smile.
She nodded emphatically. “Would you happen to have anything with roses on it?”
“Teacups, teapots, a hand mirror and its case—we have quite the selection.” I took a step back and swung the door to our shop wide open, inviting them in.
Lily entered giddily, like a bee drawn to honey.
“Please help this lady out,” I said, signaling to one of the female staff members inside. She smiled instead of responding out loud.
I turned back around to face Michael, who was standing outside in a daze, and circled behind him to push him in.
“Huh? George?”
“Michael, you should come inside too. Lily will fret if you just stand outside.” Lily was absorbed in perusing our wares and had already seemed to have forgotten about Michael, but I didn’t point that out.
“B-But... I don’t have much money left on me today.”
“I won’t complain if you don’t buy anything. I’m not so petty as to treat my good friend like that.”
Michael nodded as if that much were obvious. “I know that, but I just feel bad.”
His response made me feel a little shy. Michael’s honesty is a virtue that I don’t possess. It’s endearing, but at the same time, it makes me want to tease him. What a fix to be in. “In that case, we also carry items with relatively affordable prices, so why don’t you take a look at those?”
“Oh, really? Which ones?”
“How about these decorative buttons or handkerchiefs? I can guarantee their quality.”
“They do look high-quality...but they’re too cute for me.” Michael scratched his cheek, troubled.
I directed a mischievous smirk at him. “Who said they were for you? Today’s a special day when you give a present to the woman you cherish.”
Stunned, Michael’s face turned bright red. “I-I told you we’re not like that!”
“I know, I know, O dear friend of mine.”
“You definitely don’t know!” He glared at me with teary eyes.
I lightly patted his shoulder to pacify him. Michael’s reactions are candid and amusing, but I should be careful not to push his buttons too much, lest he come to hate me.