When I was walking around the garden after brushing Bell on a nice day, I saw Lilia-san having a cup of tea on the terrace overlooking the garden.
How should I say this…… It might just be my imagination, but she looked pretty tired.
[Lilia-san, don’t you look kinda tired?]
[………………..]
[Eh? Ah, errr, is it because of me?]
When I called out to her, Lilia-san looked at me with an indescribable expression on her face, with an atmosphere around her that seemed to ask me “Whose fault do you think it is?”.
I’m feeling kinda awkward, but after a moment, Lilia-san let out a sigh and wryly smiled.
[……No, well, if you ask me if it’s Kaito-san’s fault, I’m torn whether I should say yes or no. There’s no doubt that Kaito-san is involved as a significant factor in this matter but……]
[U- Unnn? Ah, Luna-san. Thank you.]
Hearing the subtle way she was phrasing her words, I tilted my head in confusion. As I sat in the seat across from her, Luna-san prepared a cup of tea for me, to which I took a sip and waited for Lilia-san to continue.
[……Since Archlesia Empire’s Founding Festival, there seems to be a boom in ceramics, especially among the Empire’s nobility……]
[……Eh? Could it be……]
[Yes, the ceramics with the brand mark that Kaito-san sold were said to be especially envied by the people. Not only that, that crafted sugar seems to have gotten popular as well.]
From what I heard, it almost sounds like it’s my fault…… but ceramics turning out that way definitely is due to me opening up such a stall. No, but I didn’t even know that noble-like people would come to buy my items…… Ahh, no, I guess I wouldn’t know if they had sent out servants or some other people to buy for them huh……
As I pondered such things, Luna-san wryly smiled and began to speak.
[That being the situation, Miyama-sama would usually be flooded with inquiries, but Miyama-sama’s case is quite unique, so they are unable to bother you with direct inquiries or cause you any inconvenience. As a result, naturally, as to where those inquiries inevitably come to…… Yes, they were directed to Milady.]
[……Hearing that, doesn’t it totally seem my fault?]
[……Ah, no, well, it’s not like Kaito-san had any ill intentions, and originally, my household has been like a contact point for Kaito-san, so things turning out like this isn’t entirely surprising…… There are also some circumstances that we’re helpless about.]
Arehh? Somehow, don’t things seem kinda strange? Lilia-san seemed to be following up on me quite a lot…… In any case, it feels a bit odd.
No, of course, considering the various past events, I know that Lilia-san has a kind personality, but due to various past events, I’m really associating discussing matters like this to me being scolded, so things feel a bit out of place.
Well, regarding this matter, I did inform Lilia-san about selling branded ceramics beforehand, so in that sense, she might have already somewhat expected things turning out like this in advance.
However, when I thought that it still felt a bit out of place, Luna-san chuckled.
[I can sort of understand Miyama-sama’s doubts, but in this case, Milady really can’t blame Miyama-sama.]
[……What do you mean?]
[Well, the primary cause for that matter regarding the ceramics certainly is Miyama-sama…… but in that case with the crafted sugar, Milady herself asked Illness-sama to give her some of those, which she used as gifts to other nobles, so she was completely reaping what she sowed…… And so, with the combination of the crafted sugar and ceramics, the flow of the store began to sound like a lot of good quality items could be procured from Miyama-sama……]
[A- Ahh, I see, I sort of understand now.]
In short, the current trend among the nobility revolves around my family’s products, including the ceramics and crafted sugar. However, as Lilia-san herself also played a role in igniting this trend, I guess she really can’t complain about it?
No, I think I’m largely responsible for that matter with the crafted sugar as well…… but with Lilia-san’s personality, she considers herself just as guilty about this matter as I am.
[Well, the ones who produced both of those items are Illness and Nebula-san though……]
[Those too sure have gotten into crafting stuff lately. Last time I saw them making something, they made a wooden pendulum clock together.]
[It seems like Illness is also having a great time doing it, so I can’t really complain either. However, all the things they created have an extremely amazing quality, don’t they? Well, I guess that’s really just as expected of them.]
Lilia-san’s expression was somewhat gentle as she smiled wryly, and she seemed pleased that Illness-san, who had never had much of a hobby before, was enjoying making things with Nebula.
[……By the way, Kaito-san, that matter is all fine and good, but I want to ask you something……]
[Yes?]
[I heard a rumor that in Archlesia Empire, weapons made with such outstanding techniques that even the Dwarves were amazed were sold at the Founding Festival…… Do you have any idea what this was talking about?]
[…………………..]
Well…… It seems like I’m gonna get scolded for something apart from the ceramics.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [However, the one you sold shouldn’t be of very good quality, wasn’t it?]
? ? ? : [Well, even if they are weapons made from leftover materials, there’s a reason why Alice-chan is called a Legendary Blacksmith.]
Serious-senpai : [On the contrary, there are even suspicions that you might actually be the creator of all the Legendary 〇〇 series……]
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