“Oh, Ristia, I’m sorry, Dear.”
“Lady Ristia, my mom is sorry.”
The two of them bowed their heads in collective apology, but Ristia gently shook her head at them in response.
“Please do not apologize. I am in the wrong here.”
“Huh? But...”
“I was the one who couldn’t figure out that I was being had. That also means that I was being so obvious that I could be duped like that. I don’t blame Belle,” she said benevolently, like an angel with an angelic smile.
“Ungh, God, I feel so guilty... I was... I was wrong! Just don’t look at me with them pure eyes!” Eindebelle said, holding her ample chest in distress. An awkward smile formed on Ristia’s face as soon as she saw her act that way, because she remembered that her older sisters would oftentimes react in a similar manner.
“I seriously don’t blame you, Belle. It’s just...”
“It’s just what?”
“Next time, please just be honest with me, okay? I can show you as many enchantments as you want as long as it’s for your sake.”
“Huh? Y’mean it, Hun?” Eindebelle said, the look in her eyes suddenly taking an earnest turn.
“I do. You are Nanami’s family, after all.”
“Are you sayin’... yer willin’ to do that fer me because I’m family with Nanami, who’s someone ya trust?”
“That is right. I have told Nanami who I really am.”
“...Who y’really are?”
“Yes. You see, I am—” Before she could reveal her true identity, Nanami came rushing at her at lightspeed to cover her mouth. She proceeded to drag her off to a corner of the shop.
“You need to stop right there, Lady Ristia.”
“...I do?”
“Yes. Please give it a little more time before telling them the truth.”
“...Well, if you insist, Nanami.” Ristia nodded her head obediently, thinking, I don’t really have any real reason to refuse. Once their discussion had ended, she turned back around to Eindebelle. “So as I was saying, I am a very, very normal girl.”
“...Yeah, well... That’s good t’hear.” She certainly didn’t seem like some ordinary person, but that didn’t change the fact that she was the person who had saved Nanami’s life. With that knowledge in mind, Eindebelle said that as long as she told her when she was ready, that would be good enough for now. “But I sure would like ya to show me what ya got regardin’ enchantments.”
“Yes, of course~”
“And, well, I sure’d appreciate it if ya not only showed me, but did a lil’ tellin’ here and there ‘bout it. If that’s okay...?” Eindebelle looked at her with a hungry look in her eyes, probably unable to contain her desire. Not considering for even a second to hoard her techniques, Ristia nodded and assured her she didn’t mind at all. “...Y’mean that?!”
“Yes, but I’m here today to sell my enchanted items, so would you mind terribly if we deal with that matter first?”
“Aah, yer here just in time for that. Got word from ‘em that they’re gonna be over t’pick up the stock today, so I think they’ll be here in a lil’ bit.”
“Oh, that’s great news. I need the money as soon as possible, so that will be a big help.” Ristia let out a sigh of relief and smiled softly... However, Eindebelle and Nanami looked at one another, doubtful expressions on their faces.
“Nanami, what’dya think?”
“Lady Ristia is strong, but she is a bit of a ditz...”
“Yeah, that’s the worryin’ part.” Ristia had a feeling that they were badmouthing her, so Ristia pouted her lips cutely.
“Are you two thinking something rude about me?”
“Naw, Child, we ain’t thinkin’ anything of the sort. It’s just that we’re a lil’ worried that the director of that orphanage is trickin’ ya.”
“...You two are badmouthing me. I would never allow myself to be tricked by that director.” It was an extremely valid argument, but since neither of the two knew her current situation, they weren’t buying it.
“Y’say that, but sayin’ y’need the money quick clearly means y’need it for the orphanage, right?”
“...Well, yes.”
“Then, I also assume y’need the money to do renovations on the orphanage or somethin’ like that, right?”
“Yes, that is also true...”
“And goin’ off that, are we talkin’ about the director givin’ the word and y’coughin’ up the money?”
“Yes, well, that is true, but... I am not being tricked, okay?” Ristia tried to plead her case, but the stares on the two girls’ faces had already went from doubtful to sympathetic.
“What are we going to do, Nanami? Li’l Ristia here is completely clueless.”
“I never thought that Lady Ristia was so much of a natural airhead.”
“Nanami, you too? You’re all terrible~! I’m not a ‘natural airhead’ or whatever,” Ristia said, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance. That adorable sight stirred up their desires to protect her.
“Ristia, I do think yer a little clueless here. The director’s pulled the wool over yer eyes for sure.”
“They did not~! Why would I pull the wool over my own eyes?”
“Ristia, I get that ya wanna think that way, but... Hm? Wait, you pullin’ wool over yer own eyes? What’dya mean by that?” Eindebelle blinked in confusion at Ristia.
“That’s obviously because I’m the director of the orphanage.”
“......Pardon?”
“Like I just said, last night, I inherited the position of director from Director Georg.”
“Ooh, y’don’t say... Wait, whaaaaaat?! What the ‘ell?! What d’ya even mean?!”
“Like I said, I’m the director, so there’s no way that I can get tricked by myself.”
“No, not that; that’s the only part I get! What in the heck happened where ya got th’ position of director in a single night?!”
Right next to Eindebelle, struggling to understand what Ristia was saying, Nanami looked at Ristia, saying,
“You did get into trouble, then.” Ristia had no intention of getting into trouble, but she disclosed that the orphanage’s director had been perpetrating crimes, so she erased him, soul and all. That ultimately led to her telling people that he had left town.
“...Holy smokes, you really got into the thick of things.”
“I knew you got into trouble.” After hearing her explanation, their impressions did not change. In fact, it pretty much convinced them instead—something that did not please Ristia in the slightest.
──4──
“Lord Gratt, we have arrived at Ms. Eindebelle’s shop.”
“Yes, thank you. We’ll be ironing out negotiations, so you wait right here, Misty.” He was the president of Gratt Commerce, a company that was starting to distinguish itself in the imperial capital. Gratt ordered his secretary to wait in the carriage as he made his descent down. He then patted himself down and fixed up his appearance before entering Eindebelle’s shop. Eindebelle’s enchanted merchandise had a great reputation in the capital, so they were goods that the Gratt Company simply had to broker deals for. That was why he naturally had to give due consideration. At least, that was the story Gratt was sticking to. Although according to his secretary Misty, that was nothing more than a pretense, because it was a well-known fact that Gratt had a thing for Eindebelle. Whatever the case was, Gratt psyched himself up and made his way into Eindebelle’s shop.
Once he stepped inside, he realized there was another unknown young girl in addition to Eindebelle and Nanami. Perhaps she was a customer who had gotten here before him, but Eindebelle was talking to her about something. Gratt decided to wait at the entrance of the shop so that he wouldn’t disturb Eindebelle while she carried out her business. He couldn’t keep from twiddling his thumbs, however.
Gratt looked at the three engaging in their conversation in an unaffected manner. First, he set his sights on Eindebelle. Her red hair flowed loose, and her blue eyes were those of an intellectual. A woman filled with maternal love, her expression was alight even moreso than usual. Gratt found himself taking a sigh at her sheer beauty. Next, his eyes went to Eindebelle’s adopted daughter, Nanami, who was getting cuter and cuter with each passing day. Like mother, like daughter—even though the two of them weren’t related by blood. She would probably be quite a beautiful woman in a few years’ time. That left the other person, the young girl that he assumed was a customer. Out of the three, she stood out the most. The good-looking young lady could only be described as being beautiful in the purest sense. This girl, possessing undeniable beauty from head to toe, had her jet-black hair bundled casually. Seeing her so dressed down put her beauty and cuteness in perfect harmony. Maybe she was an aristocrat, or royalty in disguise. The one thing that was abundantly clear, at the least, was that this girl was no commoner.
...Well, I still believe Ms. Eindebelle to be more beautiful, regardless. Gratt thought to himself as he decided to come back when she wasn’t busy. He figured that just waiting off in the wings while dealing with a high-class customer could interfere with business. However, the young girl turned toward him as if she sensed his presence in the room.