Intermission 2: The Cog Begins to Come Loose
“WHAT is happening? It’s not selling at all!”
“What is going on?!”
About nine months had passed since Olivia left Daregas. There were fewer items on display at Carter’s Magic Items, making it feel empty, while Catherine and her father, Baronet Carter, were red-faced and screaming like crazy.
In front of them was a display case of magic jewelry. Typically, items would be selling out, leaving prominent gaps in the display, but basically everything was still there that day.
The worker they were yelling at let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know,” she answered.
“What do you mean you don’t know? It’s your sales technique, isn’t it?!”
“I haven’t changed my process at all, but things aren’t selling like they were about a month ago, even if I recommend them.” The worker looked at Catherine. “Could you make a new design? I think the problem may be that our current products no longer align with our customers’ tastes.”
“What?! That’s impossible! And I only just gave you four new designs!”
The worker looked at her cooly. “I couldn’t make those. They were too difficult, which I believe I told you. I would appreciate it if you redrew them in a simpler shape while you’re here. It should be easy enough. They are your designs, aren’t they?”
“I-I…” Catherine’s eyes darted back and forth, and the Baronet let out a sigh.
“Catherine’s designs are perfect as-is. The problem is obviously with how you’re doing things. Find a way. If you can’t manage within the next month, I may have to consider reducing your salary.”
A few hours after the pair left, the light outside had completely faded, and the other worker who did maintenance came in with a weary expression. He thudded into a chair and collapsed back against the backrest. “I’m burning out,” he exhaled. “I can’t keep being this busy at the rates they pay me.”
The woman murmured in agreement as she poured a warm cup of tea from the tea kettle. They hadn’t received overtime pay in nearly six months.
As the man leaned forward, he lowered his voice. “You know, I heard Olivia’s in the capital.”
“What?” The woman’s eyes snapped open.
“Look at this,” he continued, handing her a catalog of new items from the Artificers Guild.
She opened it to the page marked with a piece of white paper and saw in bold text: “Gold-place winner in the women’s magic jewelry category: Olivia Lysley of Gordon’s Magic Appliances.”
Below was a drawing of the design. The woman gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “This design is Olivia’s?”
“Yep, I think it is. I looked into it today. Olivia’s mother, her maiden name was Lysley.”
“That means…”
“Olivia’s currently working at Gordon’s Magic Appliances in the capital.”
She looked crestfallen. “And that the Baronet lied to us.”
“Yep,” he replied with a glum expression.
The two of them were initially artificers from another town. The man had been enticed by the name of Carter’s Magic Items since its products were famous for their skilled craftsmanship. The woman admired Olivia for her incredible designs and for being one of the few female artificers out there. That’s why the two began working there.
When they’d first started, Olivia had been so kind as she taught them the job, and they both improved in leaps and bounds. They were grateful for her and so glad to be working under Olivia.
But about three months after they were hired, Olivia suddenly disappeared. Immediately after, they heard a ridiculous rumor that she’d been fired for stealing her adoptive sister’s designs.
The two demanded answers from the Baronet. With sweat beading on his brow, he explained, “I don’t know anything about these rumors. Olivia is recovering from an illness.”
According to him, her health had deteriorated, and she’d gone to live with her mother’s family in another town until she recovered.
While they’d only worked with Olivia for a short time, they owed her a lot. They talked it out and decided to work hard and keep the shop running until she came back to pay her back for everything she’d done.
But things only got worse from there.
It was nothing but a bad experience. They didn’t receive overtime anymore, and the Baronet laid into them all the time. Now, on top of all that, they’d discovered this story about Olivia’s recovery was a complete lie, and she was actually working in the capital.
They didn’t think Olivia, who had such a strong sense of responsibility, would just up and abandon the shop. It had to have been the Baronet and this daughter—they did something.
With a sour expression, the man proclaimed, “I was working as hard as I did until she came back because I respect Olivia as an artificer, and I owe her. I have no obligation to stay here anymore.”
“Same. Now that I know he lied about Olivia, I don’t need to be here. I am done listening to that lying Catherine.”
They discussed it more and agreed that, no matter what the owner said, they would resign from the shop in a month and leave town.