New Staff and a Royal Invitation

“Miss Dahlia, I cannot thank you enough for coming to talk to me about this first,” Ivano said with a broad smile.

It was early morning, and he and Dahlia were seated in a meeting room at the Merchants’ Guild. Evidently, Volf’s advice had been on the mark. Ivano seemed absolutely delighted to hear about the new drying device Dahlia had developed with Volf yesterday.

“I say we get this shoe-drying device registered right away. Please hold back on speaking about it publicly until we have the means in place to mass-produce it.”

“Mass-produce it? Do you really think it’ll sell that well?”

“Sell? Why, of course it’ll sell! I’ll make it sell if it’s the last thing I do. However, if we go public with it before we’ve properly identified our market and sorted out the production side, we’ll end up with a crazy rush on our hands. Perhaps not as bad as we had with the socks, but bad enough.”

“All because of this thing...?”

Dahlia had brought the shoe-dryer along just to show Ivano what it looked like. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed nothing more than a slightly modified but otherwise ordinary dryer to her. It felt odd to call it an entirely new product.

“There’s no question that we can sell to the knights, the Couriers’ Guild, and the Adventurers’ Guild. But during the wet months, you’ve also got shoemakers’ warehouses, any estates with a large staff, plus sufferers of athlete’s foot and foot odor. These are just off the top of my head; I’m sure there are even more possibilities besides.”

“Ivano, that’s amazing,” Dahlia said, stunned at how he listed off all these potential markets for a product he’d only just learned existed.

He ruffled his mustard-colored hair bashfully.

“It’s you who’s amazing, Miss Dahlia, not me. Anyway, first things first—let’s get the registration document filled out. You can make any improvements you want later. By the way, when did you start developing this item?”

“Yesterday.”

“Huh? Yesterday? You mean you did this in one day?”

“Well, I did start yesterday, yes, but all I had to do was make some adjustments to an ordinary dryer, so it only took about twenty minutes. Oh, but I made sure to check that it works correctly. It’s actually even safer than the regular dryers since it’s not so liable to overheat!”

Not wanting Ivano to misunderstand and think she’d whipped this thing up with no regard for safety, Dahlia quickly explained her process. She felt very relieved when Ivano’s dark-blue eyes slightly narrowed as he smiled gently.

“Miss Dahlia, I’d like you to tell me everything—everything you’re working on or planning to, everything you want to make. Give me all the ideas you can think of. I want to prepare myself—no, I want to prepare our future sales strategy.”

Ivano took a notepad bound in brown leather from his breast pocket and readied a pencil. Hearing that phrase that she’d known even in her past life—“sales strategy”—was a potent reminder that the man before her was a merchant to his core.

“Er, well...this one isn’t a magical tool, but I’ll be working with a Mr. Fermo from the Gandolfi Workshop to produce foaming soap dispensers. Other than that, I want to create an even smaller version of my compact magical stove and a lighter version of my waterproof cloth. I’m currently working on a refrigerator that includes a freezer compartment in the top half. I want to create more affordable refrigerators and freezers. I also have ideas for something that can dry clothes during the cold and rainy months, and for a kind of pot that’ll make cooking easier. Oh, I’d like to create a heating device for the winter too. There is one other thing... I’ve no intention of selling it, but I’m also trying to create an artificial magical sword. It’ll only have a weak double enchantment, though.”

At first, she’d thought about concealing her work on the sword from Ivano, but it felt somewhat disrespectful considering that he’d be helping her manage her company. Besides, he’d probably have found out in due course when she went looking for the materials. It was better to be upfront.

“Got it. Feel free to follow your instincts and create whatever ideas appeal to you. As long as you can draw up accurate blueprints, draft specification documents, and perform all the appropriate safety checks, that’s all I need. We’ll register everything you come up with, and I’ll sell whatever I can find a market for. You can leave all the matters of production and sales to me. About that sword, though... I believe I’m right in thinking it’s for Sir Volf. I think it would be better if we kept quiet about that.”

“I thought so. It’s not really a toolmaker’s place to make something like that, is it?”

This enchanted sword would be a weapon, after all. Such things were traditionally the domain of blacksmiths and mages working in collaboration. If she managed to make one that could actually be used, it would need to be thoroughly checked for safety. Spurred by her meeting with Volf, she’d dived headlong into the challenge with no knowledge or experience in this area of the craft. The first result, the “Blade of the Dark Lord’s Minion,” had been too dangerous to even hold. She could hardly blame anyone for telling her this work wasn’t suitable for a magical toolmaker.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just that if word of it got out, you could easily attract the wrong sorts of people. Powerful ones too.”

“Me? But it’ll only have a couple of very weak enchantments. It’ll be nothing like the real thing.”

“That may be the case now, but you never know where your experiments might take you. It doesn’t need to match the power of a mage trained in offensive magic—if it reaches the level where nobles or criminal gangs could use it to increase their power, that’s where things could get dangerous. I could even see them being exported to kingdoms where mages aren’t so common.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

The young woman vowed to remain absolutely silent on the subject of the sword. That was when she remembered something else. Right about now, Volf, wearing the sköll bracelet, would be training at the castle—or possibly bounding across the skies above it. Luckily, he was the only one who could use that particular bracelet. The thought of someone using one for nefarious purposes made Dahlia shudder.

“Um, there’s something else I forgot to mention. I enchanted a bracelet using a sköll fang. The air magic in it makes it a kind of support item that lets you jump higher, but it seems that only people who can’t express magic externally can use it. It’s blood-bonded to Volf now, in any case.”

“If it’s only for his use, that should be no problem. I’m glad it went well. So you presented him with a bracelet, then?”

“Not ‘presented,’ exactly; he bought it from me.”

“Oh! Oh, excuse me. I misunderstood.” Ivano hastily apologized.

Dahlia paused to replay the conversation in her mind. Then it dawned on her.

“It’s not like that! It’s not an engagement bracelet—nothing of the sort! It is purely for use in battle. It’s not even set with any stones!”

“Ah, right, of course. It’s just that when I got engaged, it was my wife who presented me with the bracelet, you see. I couldn’t help being reminded.”

“Your wife gave hers first?”

“Yes. I was in a low place at the time, having just lost my family. She came to me and almost forced the thing onto my wrist, saying, ‘I’ll be your family!’ I didn’t have any say in the matter.”

“She, er, sounds very passionate.”

Dahlia faltered, unsure of what to say next. It was then that Ivano produced a cylindrical case made of black leather, taking a roll of parchment out from inside.

“Please take this, Miss Dahlia. I went to the temple with Sir Volf yesterday and entered into this contract.”

A faint magical aura emanated from the parchment. It read, in letters that almost seemed to have been scorched onto the page, “Ivano Badoer shall not intentionally harm the interests of Dahlia Rossetti or the Rossetti Trading Company.” Ivano’s signature beneath, written in a dark, blood-red ink, almost sent a chill through her. She was speechless.

“I’m very grateful that you agreed to employ me, but I realize how sudden my request was. It wouldn’t be reasonable for me to expect your complete trust right away. I thought this might give you a little more peace of mind.”

“Thank you so much, Ivano. I’ll look after it very carefully. Er...forgive my ignorance, but is it normal to enter a magical contract when you join a trading company?”

“It’s certainly not uncommon. Trust is important in this business, after all.”

Truthfully, the vast majority of magical contracts were made when one of the parties was a noble. The expense involved and the frightening weight of their inviolable nature made them rare between commoner merchants. However, Dahlia didn’t need to know that.

“I’d be delighted if you’d surpass the number of inventions your father registered. I have every confidence that you can do it.”

“My father’s number? That’s a ways off yet.”

“There are twenty-eight in total. Including improved versions, he registered twenty-two of those before you were born, and a further six afterward.”

“I...must have really slowed him down.”

Even though they’d had a maid, her father had always made plenty of time for her when she was young. They’d often gone out together on his days off, and he’d taught her everything she needed to know about magical toolmaking. He hadn’t neglected his work by any means, but if she hadn’t been there, Dahlia felt sure he could have developed many more inventions. If he hadn’t been so devoted to her, if he’d remarried, he could have achieved so much more. He might have made such a mark on the world that his name would be known far and wide, and he would never be thought of merely as Dahlia’s father.

“Pardon me, Miss Dahlia. That isn’t what I meant to say. Besides, as it happens, the inventions he created after you were born were by far his most popular. There’s hardly a home in the kingdom without a hot water dispenser or a dryer these days. That’s what I was getting at. I should have said that first, shouldn’t I?”

“Oh, no, it wasn’t your fault. I just couldn’t help thinking he’d have achieved much more if he’d spent more time on his work and less on me.”

“You mustn’t think of it that way. He loved you. Ignoring you to focus on his work wouldn’t have made him happy; I’m sure of that. I never miss out on spending time with my sweet little girls, even if it means losing sleep,” Ivano said with the warm smile of a doting father.

He must have seen the uneasiness in her face. However, it was the words “losing sleep” that immediately stuck in Dahlia’s mind.

“Ivano, I don’t want you overworking yourself at my company. Work the same hours as you do here at the guild and then go home. Make sure you take a day off at least once every five days. And take the summer and winter festival periods off as well.”

“I don’t need all that much time off. I’m fit and healthy, and my wife won’t mind. I’m prepared to work day and night until we’ve got the company on an even keel.”

“You’ll do no such thing! I’ll not be responsible for taking away your quality time with your wife and memories with your little daughters. Think of what would happen if you collapsed one day and we lost you. What would your family and I do then? I never want to see you working without proper rest. If the workload’s too much, then we can scale back our operations. Alternatively, if we can afford it, please employ someone to help you.”

In her past life, Dahlia had worked herself to death, leaving her parents to grieve. In this one, her world had been rocked by the sudden death of her father. She couldn’t stand to let a similar fate befall the man before her.

“It’s too painful to leave people behind like that...and to be left behind.”

She was surprised to hear how her voice trembled, as though she might cry.

“I’m sorry, Miss Dahlia. You’re right. I’ll make sure I’m always well rested so I can do my best work. When I can, I’ll employ someone. Erm, I promise you I’m in perfect health, though, so please don’t worry.”

“R-Right.”

Dahlia quickly gathered herself and did her best to put on a smile. What with her eyes being so watery, it must have been an awkward smile indeed. For the first time since having her vision restored, she found herself somewhat missing her glasses.

After concluding her meeting with Ivano, Dahlia paid a visit to Gabriella in her office. She had some documents pertaining to the Rossetti Trading Company that needed the stamp of approval from Gabriella, who represented the guildmaster in her husband’s absence. At the woman’s invitation, Dahlia sat down on the sofa and watched silently as Gabriella flipped through the pages.

“This all seems to be in order. If Ivano’s checked it, then I’m sure it’ll be correct in every detail. I’ll take care of liaising with the other guilds.”

After looking through the documents just once, the vice-guildmaster laid them down, and Dahlia at last spoke up.

“Um, Gabriella, about Ivano...”

“Don’t tell me you’ll give him back to me, Dahlia. I won’t hear of it. Once I’ve decided I’m letting a man go, my decision is final.”

She’d clearly been anticipating what Dahlia had been about to say, regarding the young toolmaker with a placid smile.

“I understand, it’s just...I realize how sudden this was. I didn’t intend to cause you such an inconvenience.”

“Well, I can’t deny that I’ve lost a valued member of my team, but it’ll take more than that to shake this guild. Besides, Ivano chose this path himself. It’s nothing you should apologize for.”

“Even so, I’m the reason he made that choice.”

“Listen, Dahlia. I represent the guildmaster. My position demands that I put the interests of my guild, not your company, first and foremost.”

“Of course. That goes without saying.”

“You’re too naive. By now, I could have already maneuvered your company into such a position where it would line the guild’s coffers for years to come without growing too powerful.”

“I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Even if I had, I know it’s not the sort of thing I could manage on my own, so I expect I’d have gone along with it.”

“Exactly. That’s why you need Ivano,” Gabriella said firmly.

She was no longer smiling. She crossed one leg over the other and folded her hands in her lap before looking Dahlia squarely in the eye.

“Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses,” she began. “From here on out, you will learn a great deal about business, I have no doubt. However, the knowledge and experience necessary to run a successful company takes years to acquire. Until such time, Ivano will fill this gap in your expertise.”

The day Dahlia’s father had collapsed in the guild, Ivano was the first person who’d run to his aid. She remembered how, at the funeral, he’d apologized to her for being unable to save him.

“I’m very grateful to him. That he’d join my company to help me like this is extremely kind.”

“Don’t misunderstand him. He is not such a sentimental man. He’s a consummate merchant, and he joined you because he has dreams of his own to fulfill.”

“But it’s only me at the company. If that’s what he wants, surely he could find a bigger one.”

“He’ll be completely in charge of the company’s sales, with a wide range of products and markets to explore and no one to hold him back. It’s a merchant’s dream, wouldn’t you say?”

“I’m not sure about that... It’s not the most profitable business. The raw materials are expensive, and many of the prototypes are failures. It was a sheer stroke of luck that the toe socks went down so well with the knights.”

After all, if Volf hadn’t taken them with him on his mission, they’d have stayed in their box and never seen the light of day. Dahlia had never envisioned how they could improve the comfort of the knights’ boots and even help prevent athlete’s foot.

“You cannot see your own potential, that’s all. Leave Ivano to it, and the money will come rolling in. As long as you believe you can trust him, then you can entrust him with running your business and craft your tools in complete freedom.”

“Ivano said a similar thing. ‘Follow your instincts and create whatever ideas appeal to you,’ he told me.”

Her father and Tobias had always questioned her when she was crafting her magical tools. A few times, they’d even made her abandon ideas. “Is it really needed?” they’d ask. “Is it useful? Is it safe? How many people would use it?” More than once, these interrogations had sapped her motivation so much that she’d simply given up. Hearing that she could create whatever she wanted, however she wanted, gave her a strange, unfamiliar feeling. She was reminded then of how her father, who ought to have loved magical tools more than anything else in life, had produced only a fraction of what he was capable of once she’d been born. It had to have been because of her; there was no other explanation.

“Gabriella, um... There’s something I’d like to ask you about my father.”

“Feeling like a trip down memory lane? Ask away.”

“I was wondering...was there no one Father might have thought about marrying?”

“Not as far as I’m aware of.”

“Do you suppose I’m the reason he stayed away from women?”

“It wasn’t like that. I’m not sure I ought to say this, with you being his daughter, but...Carlo was fairly popular with the ladies and went drinking with women now and then. For whatever reason, though, it seemed remarriage didn’t appeal to him.”

Hearing that, Dahlia found herself thinking of the closet and dresser she used at home. They were both beautifully carved with lily of the valley and bird motifs. Her mother, their original owner, had never returned to the tower where Carlo had waited for her.

“Perhaps...it was because of my mother, then.”

“Carlo never mentioned her to me. All I know is that he cherished you more than anything.”

“I’m sorry for asking about these things,” Dahlia said as she bowed her head.

The whirlwind of the last few days had left her somewhat emotional. In some corner of her mind, she’d been asking herself what she would do if her father were still here, and what he would do in her shoes. However, Gabriella had brought her to her senses.

“I have a request, Gabriella. Please consider your debt to my father settled.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that everything you’ve done for me has been, well, for me. Not for my father. I’m the one who owes you now. I can’t be sure how many years it’ll take, but I promise you I’ll repay you.”

There was a brief silence before Gabriella uttered a single, clipped word.

“Unbelievable.”

Convinced she’d said something to sour Gabriella’s mood, Dahlia hurriedly bowed her head in apology once again.

“Forgive me! I know it’s impertinent of me to make such demands, but—”

“That isn’t it. You remember how Carlo asked that I give you advice, should you need it, either as a magical toolmaker or as a woman? Well, there was a little more to it.”

“There was?”

“‘Knowing my Dahlia, though,’ he said, ‘if you do her a favor, she won’t rest till she’s paid you back.’ He seemed very proud.”

“Father said that?”

“When I look at you now, I can see that he was absolutely right.”

It seemed her father, not content with simply putting Gabriella in his debt, had even left her with a perfect prediction of his daughter’s reaction. Dahlia was flattered, but these expectations represented a challenge that she didn’t yet feel ready to surmount. Nonetheless, it was no time to be discouraged. She was the one who had presumed upon Gabriella’s kindness and she needed to own it, not hide behind her father.

“If you’re determined to repay me, then go ahead and try. Though I’m not sure I’d like to see you completely free of me, so I hope you won’t mind me sticking my nose in now and then.”

“Thank you, Gabriella...”

She was firm in her resolve, but as she remembered her father and saw the warmth in Gabriella’s eyes, she couldn’t hold herself together, smiling weakly like a child holding back tears. However, their tender moment was soon shattered by an insistent knock at the door.

“Pardon the interruption!”

After sticking his head around the door, Ivano slipped into the room. His expression was stiff and uneasy.

“An envoy has arrived on behalf of Marquis Grato Bartolone, captain of the Order of Beast Hunters. He wishes to speak with Chairwoman Rossetti. It’s the vice-captain, Sir Griswald Lanza.”

“Dahlia, what have you done now?”

“Nothing that I reca— Oh. It couldn’t be about the shoe-dryer, could it?”

“If my ears didn’t deceive me, I believe I just heard the name of a new product. Perhaps you’d like to tell me about it later?”

Gabriella turned a frosty smile on Dahlia, her gaze disconcertingly steely. In an instant, the warmth radiating from her just a moment ago had evaporated into the ether.

“Madam Gabriella, wait. I’m handling that matter. I’ll discuss it with you as soon as the registration is complete.”

“Very well. I’ll hear all about it from you, then.”

Relief washed over Dahlia as Ivano threw her a lifeline, but it was short-lived, soon replaced by an even greater anxiety.

“I’ve shown Vice-Captain Lanza to the nobles’ reception room,” Ivano said to her. “May I ask you to join him?”

“Gabriella, could...could I ask you to accompany me?”

“By all means. If it’s business involving the castle, I should be there to represent the guild.”

Their guest could not be kept waiting. All three of them hurried on their way to the reception room.

“Good day. My name is Griswald Lanza, and I am vice-captain of the royal knights’ Order of Beast Hunters.”

The tall, burly man with blue hair rose to his feet and bowed. He wore the same black uniform Volf had the other day. The only difference was his lapel badges—shining silver swords instead of the red stones Volf wore.

“Thank you very much for coming. I am Gabriella Jedda, vice-guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild. I represent the guildmaster in his absence.”

“I am Dahlia Rossetti of the Rossetti Trading Company. Delighted to make your acquaintance.”

“I thank you for taking the time to see me. I bear a missive from Grato Bartolone, captain of the Order of Beast Hunters. He humbly requests that Chairwoman Rossetti accept his message.”

With the greetings exchanged, Griswald presented Dahlia with a large white envelope. Each of the four corners was delicately decorated with silver thread, and it was sealed with blue wax. She had scarcely imagined that a mere envelope could look so splendid.

“Thank you very much for coming all this way. I shall be delighted to accept the captain’s message.”

Dahlia put on her most courteous smile and took the envelope carefully in both hands.

“If possible, I should like to return with your reply. Therefore, may I ask that you read this message at your earliest convenience? I shall be happy to wait if you require some time.”

There was no question of keeping the vice-captain of the Beast Hunters waiting. Doing her best to suppress the trembling of her hands, Dahlia opened the envelope and took out the folded white letter inside. The corners of the paper were faintly emblazoned with silver swords. As she unfolded it and read the elegantly penned message inside, Dahlia became keenly aware of the blood draining from her face.

“If you’ll permit me, Chairwoman, may I see also?”

“Y-Yes, certainly.”

Gabriella must have noticed her distress. She handed the letter over, watching as the other woman quickly scanned its contents. Gabriella’s expression was inscrutable; she gave no reaction beyond a slight narrowing of her eyes.

The letter began innocuously enough, with a standard greeting and some words of gratitude relating to the products Dahlia would be supplying to the knights. But the rest of the letter read as follows: “Chairwoman Rossetti, I am eager to meet with you as soon as possible and shall make every effort to be available at whatsoever time would suit you best. I shall await you at the castle.” Though it was framed as a hopeful invitation, it left no avenue for escape.

“If I may, Chairwoman Rossetti, have you any engagements tomorrow?”

“None.”

“Will a verbal reply suffice, Sir Griswald?” Gabriella inquired. “Or would a letter from Chairwoman Rossetti be preferable?”

“A verbal reply will be plenty.”

“Very well, then let us say early tomorrow afternoon. If that will not be convenient, then anytime afterward.”

“Understood. Thank you for your cooperation. Bartolone will be delighted,” Griswald said with a smile.

After another exchange of formalities, the man left without so much as sipping his tea.

“Why would he send me a thing like that...?”

In a leather-upholstered chair too lavish to be comfortable, Dahlia sat in a daze, staring at the captain’s letter. “A thing like that” wasn’t the most polite way to refer to a formal invitation from the captain of the Order of Beast Hunters, but she was beyond caring about that right now. She was exhausted, and her nerves were in tatters.

“He must be in quite a rush. Or it could be that he’s merely curious about you.”

“It’s not completely beyond understanding, but he’s going about this somewhat strangely, don’t you think? When someone’s called to the castle, they usually receive a summons with an appointed time and date well in advance,” Ivano said, his head tilted in puzzlement.

None of them held the answer. Only the captain himself could explain his reasoning.

“What were you really planning to do tomorrow, Dahlia?” Gabriella asked.

“Um, I was going to take care of some paperwork with Ivano and also pay a visit to Mr. Fermo’s workshop.”

“That can wait. We need to start preparing you right away.”

“Preparing me? Oh!”

Those words at last broke her out of her stupor.

“Yes, you must be properly prepared. What will you wear to the castle? What will you do with your hair and makeup? How will you greet the captain?”

“I...I’m sorry, I have no idea.”

“Well, I can’t pretend to be an expert, but I can drill the basic etiquette and set phrases into you by tomorrow. My husband’s and Sir Volfred’s reputations depend on this as well, so please do your best to remember what I teach you.”

“Thank you, Gabriella. I will.”

Dahlia felt as though a huge stone were pressing down on top of her head. Tomorrow afternoon was a mere twenty-four hours away, and it seemed they had a great deal of preparation to fit in before then. Would it be enough time? What if they forgot something? Dahlia could do little to quell her anxiety.

Now that she thought of it, though, in her past life, she had occasionally stayed up all night cramming for exams in those subjects she liked least. She had never aced them, but she had always managed to scrape a pass. It was a strategy worth considering. That said, she decided she’d rather not think about what a failing grade would look like in this situation.

“Ivano, go along as Dahlia’s attendant, will you? Take care of her bags and so on from the carriage up to the entrance. Wear your navy suit—the one you wore at the reception desk. Instead of the usual gift, gather some samples of the toe socks and insoles. Say you need them for the company’s research or something.”

“Understood. I’ll go right away! Er, I’m afraid I don’t fit into my navy suit anymore, though. Too fat.”

“Borrow one, then, or rent one on your way there. It must be navy or dark gray, not black.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“And once you get back here, come and study with Dahlia. Now that you’re an employee of the Rossetti Trading Company, you can expect many more meetings with the nobility.”

“I will. Thank you very much.”

Ivano acknowledged Gabriella’s rapidly issued orders with a firm nod, seeming to completely grasp the situation. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his step as he strode from the room. Dahlia couldn’t help but be impressed by his coolness.

“We need to rent some clothes for you, Dahlia. There’s no time to have them properly made. Next time you’re summoned, have a consultation with the seamstress and get some outfits tailored.”

“I-I will...”

“It’s almost unknown for a female company chair to be summoned to the castle. You are Carlo’s daughter, so a noble-style dress might be appropriate. Then again, a merchant-style matching outfit might be a safer choice... We can discuss it at the shop. Oh, we need to get you proper shoes as well...”

Dahlia trotted after Gabriella as she led on, muttering to herself. On this very day that she’d vowed to repay her debt to Gabriella, that debt had suddenly grown like a snowball barreling down a mountainside. She had no intention of running from her responsibilities, but the scale of the challenge ahead and the speed at which it was approaching had already triggered a dull ache inside her head. For some strange reason, her mind was drawn back to her past life—a childhood memory of vaccination day.