Chapter 8: Debutante
Chapter 8: Debutante
On the fourth day of business, at a quarter after ten in the morning, Mitsuha’s bell rang.
Ding-a-ling!
Yay! A customer right after opening!
She greeted her guest with a smile. “Welcome!”
The man who’d entered gave a curt nod, then walked around the store. He was chubby and looked to be in his thirties. For someone so young, his belly’s pretty massive, Mitsuha thought. He’s either a big shot or a big eater who ain’t too “big” on exercise.
After getting a grasp of the store’s layout, the man headed to the kitchenware section. He examined a fish scale remover with a curious expression but put it back immediately afterwards. When he saw the next object of interest—a kitchen knife—his eyes widened. The price, however, caused him to deflate a little.
That knife’s one of the best things I’ve got for sale. I shelled out a whole 58,000 yen on it, and here I am only selling it for two gold and five small gold... Knowing the cross-world exchange rates, I’ll barely make any money.
Well, it’s less of a product and more of a statement, anyway. “Look! We know fancy! We have high-quality goods!” and all that. I wouldn’t care if I broke even with that one. I saw a show once on how those are made. Each one is painstakingly forged by hand. It was some great TV... Really moved me!
Mitsuha watched as he took the knife and moved on to another product. Wait, huh? He’s buying it?! Nice! He’s got an eye for quality! That makes me kinda happy, even if I won’t get much from it.
Before long, the man brought a pile of merchandise to the counter. “Pardon me,” he said. “I have a few questions.”
Oh? Not checking out yet, are we?
“Ask away! And feel free to use that shopping basket.”
Likely never having seen such a thing, he placed his items into the topmost basket with a bewildered expression.
“First, I want to ask about that scale remover. Why are you selling it?”
Huh? Is there a problem with that?
“Uhh, because it’s useful?” she said, puzzled. “It turns scale removal into a real cakewalk, so it’s a great gift for housewives...”
The shock on his face was clear. “Little lady, do you have any idea how far we are from the sea? All the fish here is either dried, pickled, or smoked. None of them need the scales removed!”
Oh no! I messed up! It doesn’t belong here! So that’s why the girls were so weirded out...
“I’d also like to know how to use these,” he said, pointing to the basket.
Oh, so he’s not actually buying yet. What a shame. And hey, there’s almost nothing but cooking supplies in there... He’s gotta be a chef or something.
“Certainly,” she began. “This here’s a peeler—the name says it all. You use it like this. It makes peeling so easy, even a child can do it! Frankly, it’s unfair to the experienced cooks.”
Stupefied, the man could only listen.
“This is an hourglass. When you turn it upside-down, sand falls to the bottom. Always takes the same amount of time to run out. It helps when you need to know how long you’ve been boiling something. I have them in several sizes, including three, five, and ten minutes.
“Ah, this one’s a can opener. It opens ‘cans’, which are storage containers that preserve food for years. You can eat right out of them, too. You’ll find some canned foods over there.”
Most cans these days didn’t need an opener, but the discount store Mitsuha had bought hers from mostly supplied those that did. She’d also felt that opener-dependent cans were the first logical step in introducing them to this world.
The more she explained, the more a flush spread across his face. At last, the man spoke up. “Please tell me about this. Why is it so expensive?”
He placed the knife on the counter.
“Ah, because it’s not some child’s toy,” she said, sensing an opportunity to upsell. “It wasn’t made by just pouring molten iron into a mold.”
“What?” The man gave a disgruntled look, perhaps feeling a little challenged by her tone.
“It’s a masterpiece crafted over countless days by several men—no, demons—who spent decades perfecting the art of forging kitchen knives! It’s both an instrument and a work of art! It’s the ultimate achievement of the ‘Steel Demons’!”
“S-Steel Demons...” he gulped.
“See here? It was folded over and over. The union between soft and hard steel made it bind with such perfection. This miraculous feat gave birth to a knife that’s both sharp and sturdy!”
His hands, which held the blade, were shaking.
Mitsuha continued, “Honestly, I won’t gain any profit by selling it, but it’s our duty as merchants to pass on such masterpieces from the craftsmen to the chefs. If it’s too cheap, the makers can’t earn a living, but if it’s too expensive, the chefs won’t be able to afford it. This is a case where we should sacrifice ourselves for the greater good. Don’t you agree?”
“I-I’LL TAKE IT!” the man shouted, tears flowing out of his eyes.
Thank you very much!
After recovering his composure, he spoke up again. “By the way, I’d like to speak with the shopkeeper. May I?”
“Uh, sure, go ahead,” she said.
“Then... could you call them for me?”
“Uh, like I said, go ahead. Let’s talk.”
“O-Ohh, I see. Young as you might be, you’re the only one at the counter, so I guess that makes you the shopkeeper. But that’s not what I meant. I wish to talk to the owner of this place. The manager, not an employee.”
Well, I can’t really blame him for that, she thought with a shrug.
“Sir, this store is mine. I bought it, remodeled it, and stocked the shelves. I’m both the owner and a shopkeeper!” She was, essentially, the retail version of a restaurateur.
After taking the time to process her answer, he said, “Very well, then... Do you sell fresh fish?”
So that’s why he’s here. Do the three girls have something to do with this?
“What gave you that idea?”
“Because Anke’s trio told us.”
“Who’s that?”
“The three girls who were here yesterday.”
Ah, so it was them. I totally blanked on their names. But man, they actually advertised me! A-thank youuu! Anyway...
“Oh, those three? They were my first customers, so I pampered them a bit. It got me in the red, haha...”
“I see. They really raved about your wares and the food,” the man said.
Uh-huh, of course they did! Keep it up, girls! Also, notice how I said it was a special case? Now I’ve made it clear that kinda service is usually more expensive. I’m so good at this!
“So, why the interest in fish? From what you’ve told me, it’s not a hot commodity here...”
The man then began telling her about his circumstances. His name was Marcel. He was the head chef for Viscount Ryner, the same man who employed Anke and her crew. At just thirty-six years old, Marcel was a bit young for his role but had the skills and confidence he needed to succeed.
Until recently, he’d worked as second-in-command to an aging chef. His superior had suddenly become ill, so he retired and moved to a countryside town to live with his daughter’s family. It had been an abrupt change, though not entirely unsurprising. As a result, Marcel had been promoted to head chef—an enviable position for someone his age.
Soon after, however, they were faced with a major obstacle: the coming-of-age of the Ryners’ daughter, Lady Adelaide. When noble ladies turned fifteen, they had to make a public debut into high society. This event also doubled as a birthday party and would be held by each noble family during the first ballroom season after their girl’s birthday.
The debutante balls greatly influenced the girls’ futures and positions in high society, so families spared no expense on them. From the dress to the food, everything had to be perfect. The money spent could easily reach twice the wealth of one commoner family, all for a single night.
If the previous head chef were still in charge, everything would have gone smoothly. The man was a veteran who’d worked in noble kitchens his entire life. But he was retired now, and though Marcel was skilled—likely one of the best in his class—he had almost no experience with such parties.
During the Ryners’ previous, smaller affairs, Marcel had stuck to following the head chef’s orders, so he hadn’t had a chance to learn proper menu composition, timing, or improvisation. The old man had planned to teach him these things during Adelaide’s debut, but his sudden illness made it impossible.
Pre-debut birthday parties were never too fancy, so this would be the biggest party at the Ryner mansion since the current viscount’s wedding. And since the Ryners were relatively “new money”, they were already scorned by the other families. Failure wasn’t an option, as it would only make things worse. Adelaide would be a laughingstock, and the family name would be disgraced forever.
“But I don’t know if I can do this,” he continued. “I know I’m better than your average chef, but compared to the veterans in the grand noble houses or the talents in the royal palace, I’m little more than a beginner! I can’t help but think I’ll bring shame to Viscount Ryner and his daughter. It’s pathetic, I know, but it scares me...”
He hung his head. It managed to make him look smaller.
“So, you figured you’d try to floor them with something you can’t get around here—fish,” Mitsuha said.
“Yes, precisely.”
She took a moment to think. Hrmm... I could just sell him the fish and leave it at that. I’d make some good money and help him out—everyone’d be happy. But... what’s this strange feeling inside my heart?
Oh, I know what this is... It’s excitement. This could be lots of fun!
Mitsuha had a personal policy that didn’t allow her to ignore things like this. “One moment, please,” she said, then locked the door, closed the curtains, and put up a sign that read, “Closed Due to a Special Contract”.
Who would’ve thought that sign would come in handy so soon?
Less than an hour after opening, there she was closing up shop. She went back to the counter and took out another sign, this one only partially complete.
“I’m also gonna start this service right now,” Mitsuha said as she showed it to him.
It read, “From falling in love to running your land, Mitsuha’s General Store will tell you how it’s done! For a fee, of course.”
◇ ◇ ◇
After explaining her plan, Mitsuha told Marcel, “We’ll have a food and drink tasting tonight. Come over and bring three other people, including someone who has the power to make the final call. Oh, and make sure you bring your appetite.” He promptly left afterwards, taking his new knife and other purchases along with him.
According to Marcel, the star of the party was the debutante herself, but after her introduction as a potential spouse, the focus would shift to exchanges between the nobles. The youths would chat among themselves while the adults would discuss... adult things. Because of this, they had no performances or ceremonies planned, so the party’s quality would be based mostly on the food. Lady Adelaide and her dress would come next, then everything else. Mitsuha could see why Marcel was so worried—he was responsible for the most important part.
As soon as he’d left, Mitsuha jumped back to Japan, changed clothes, and walked outside. There was a girl she’d been friends with since kindergarten, who she called “Micchan”. Micchan went to college in the city, and Mitsuha was headed in that direction, but it wasn’t to meet with her childhood friend.
Eventually, Mitsuha arrived at the entrance of Micchan’s home—also a liquor store—and shouted “Hellooo!” without any restraint. She’d been doing this since kindergarten, so both Micchan’s family and their neighbors were used to it.
As usual, she was greeted by Micchan’s dad. “Michiko’s not here,” he said.
Yeah, I know.
“I came to see you, actually.”
“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise. What’s up?”
“Sell me some booze.”
“Huh?!”
Persuading him to help her proved to be hard work, but Mitsuha managed it in the end. Micchan’s father agreed to send the alcohol to her house once the order was filled.
Wondering how I convinced him? I told him that I got the chance to help cater a foreigner’s party, so I had to bring some food and drink samples for them to try. It was basically the truth, right? I mean, Micchan’s old man is sharp, so he’d see through any cheap lies. I also told him I’d buy lots more if they liked it. That must’ve been what swayed him. And it’s not like I’m gonna drink any myself. Really.
After taking care of the drinks, Mitsuha bought some food with a long shelf life: boil-in-the-bags, canned goods, fruit, and so on. She also got ice cream and stored it in the freezer. As for fresh, ready-made side dishes, she’d worry about them closer to evening.
She placed an order for some high-quality fish at the nearby sushi shop, then called in some takeout soup and other meals from her favorite French food place. With all that done, she loafed around at home until it was time to buy the remaining sides and pick up her orders.
◇ ◇ ◇
That evening, Mitsuha greeted her guests. “Welcome!”
Just as she’d asked, Marcel had brought three people with him. Two of them were obviously the viscount and his wife, while the third was a woman in her late twenties. Marcel told Mitsuha she was his second-in-command. As far as she knew, female chefs were a rarity. If she climbed up to that rank in a noble’s kitchen, she must be really good.
She led them to the table in the kitchen and introduced herself. “Please make yourselves at home. I’m Mitsuha Yamano, the store’s owner.”
They stayed quiet. So far, this was nothing but Marcel taking his friends out to dinner at a place he liked. The family’s problems were out of the picture for now. We’ll only talk about them if we clear the first stage, Mitsuha thought.
“Today, I’ll be bringing you a variety of foods to sample. Because of this, there won’t be any specific course order. I’ll bring things out as they’re ready. The portions are small, but there will be a lot of food going on just a few trays. Take from them at your own pace.
“Focus on tasting. Don’t force yourselves to eat it all or you won’t have room for the other dishes.”
The four of them nodded.
Let’s get to it.
“First up, consommé,” she said as she set the bowls on the table. For this course, at least, each guest got their own dish. It had come from Sucre, the French restaurant.
Thanks for your hard work, Chef Kanai!
The group had been stone-faced from the moment they entered the store, but just a single whiff of the soup made them soften up. And the taste? It was richer than the nobles themselves. They didn’t say a word, as they were far too busy emptying their bowls.
“I’ll bring out the rest. Try whatever catches your eye!”
And so Mitsuha began bringing the dishes.
There was cuisine from all over Earth—French, Chinese, Japanese, fusion, et cetera. Some meals were from proper restaurants, while others were simple side dishes, boil-in-the-bags, and canned goods from the supermarket. Of course, Mitsuha didn’t forget to plate the sushi and other fish dishes.
Then came the alcohol. Beer, wine, whiskey, brandy, and sake, among others. There was no shochu or cocktails, however. She made sure to give them a fair warning about the stronger liquors.
She’d expected to be barraged with questions, but everyone just ate and drank without saying anything.
This is kinda freaking me out...
As her company ate, they slowed down and finally began to pose questions. “All this is from a foreign country, isn’t it?” asked the viscount.
Whoa! Straightforward, aren’t we?!
“Yes, it’s all from my country and its neighbors,” she answered.
“Who prepared it?”
Already with the second one!
“Some of my countrymen.” It wasn’t a lie in the slightest.
“Where are they now?”
“They’ve retired and are now living peacefully in this country. Convincing them to give me these samples was hard work! I had to promise never to ask for such a favor again.”
“I see...”
“B-But then how will we learn to make any of this?!” Marcel joined in.
Yeah, this’d be pointless if he couldn’t.
“I can get you the recipes. You can use them to practice until you get it right. We’re having this dinner so you can memorize the taste.”
Marcel and his second-in-command grimaced.
“What about the ingredients?” asked the viscount. “Can you tell us how you brought them here?”
Oh, well...
“Just leave it to me. It’s my job, after all! From love advice to land advice, Mitsuha’s General Store has got you covered! This time, I’m not selling you my help. I’m giving you a consultation! Of course, you’ll have to cover the costs.”
“Pfft... Hahaha... HAHAHAHA!” The viscount burst out laughing. “Lady Mitsuha, please allow me to hire your services. I need you to provide the ingredients and teach us to prepare the food.”
Looks like I passed. I mean, of course I did. I’m pretty sure I had it in the bag with the soup. I can make some good money if I accept, but...
“I REFUSE!”
The viscount’s face froze mid-smile.
“Oh, don’t worry—I’ll definitely help with the cooking,” Mitsuha added. “But just that would be pretty boring.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want you to let me handle the dress and the performance, as well. They didn’t call me ‘The Plumber of the Opera’ in elementary school for nothing!”
“Performance?”
He completely ignored the “elementary school” and “The Plumber of the Opera” parts. Well, it’s not like I want him to ask about it.
The group then got to talking for a long while. The viscount eventually agreed to leave most of the party in Mitsuha’s hands, but only under certain conditions, like requiring her to give frequent progress reports, provide detailed descriptions, and lead the rehearsals.
I guess it’s only fair for him to be so strict. This event is way too important for him to take a laissez-faire approach and just leave it in the hands of some stranger. If he’d been stupid enough to do that, I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.
Marcel and his second-in-command begged to take home the leftovers, so Mitsuha jumped back home and got some plastic bags for them.
Eat up while it’s good, she thought, handing them out. If you want, I’ll think of a reason to get you some more.
They don’t have to be so desperate, though. It’s not like they have to learn to make all of this stuff. They’ll still have their usual, local dishes, and I’ll bring all the desserts. They were just supposed to pick whatever packed the greatest punch... They were pretty fired up, though, so I guess it went in one ear and out the other.
The viscount took all the remaining alcohol and requested much, much more. Mitsuha made a mental note to bring the good news to Micchan’s dad. A noble ball wouldn’t be proper without enough food and drink, so the hosts tended to get way more than they actually needed. He was in for a whole lot of business.
I’ll have to tell him to increase Micchan’s allowance! she thought cheerfully.
Just when Mitsuha thought the meeting was over, the viscountess grabbed her shoulder and gave her an intense glare. Thankfully, she only wanted some shampoo and body wash. Mitsuha brought her some of the luxury products aimed at nobles and even sold the shampoo and conditioner separately.
Honestly, I’m pretty much ripping her off.
Naturally, her profit margins on daily necessities aimed at commoner girls were much slimmer. Because of the exchange rates between worlds, Mitsuha had to at least quadruple the original value when pricing her goods. For example, if something cost her a thousand yen in Japan, she had to make the price in this world four silver to break even—this world’s equivalent of four thousand yen. Making up for that by inflating the prices on items for nobles was perfectly fair, thank you very much. The blue bloods probably enjoyed having their own luxury items, anyway. Everybody won.
Huh? You’re wondering why I sold shampoo to commoners for just eight silver? Oh, come now, this is a “Big Profits, Slow Returns” business! Going for ten, even twenty times the original price is standard, so doubling or tripling it ain’t a big deal. What? Now you’re worried I’m gonna run soap makers out of business? Well, I’m not selling soap—just shampoo and body wash. People will still buy the stuff to do laundry or wash their hands and faces.
Also, the happiness of girls around the world is obviously more important than the fate of some industry. Think about it!
The next day, Mitsuha headed back to Japan and got to work. First, she headed to a dressmaker—the same one Mitsuha had commissioned for a dress to stun the Bozes family. The modiste was a mildly degenerate woman who was crazy about cosplay. She was a bit too old for the hobby herself, so she instead lived vicariously through her female clients by playing dress-up with them. All for her job, of course. She was actually quite skilled at her craft, so much so that she’d opened her own establishment. While it was hard to tell whether her focus was business or pleasure, the money was flowing in.
After Mitsuha entered the shop, she made sure to butter up the owner, detailing how the dress had been very useful and played a huge role in her securing a sponsorship. The older woman was overjoyed to hear it. Mitsuha then started a new order for Adelaide. Upon hearing that she’d get to work her magic on a foreign noble lady’s debutante dress, the seamstress gave Mitsuha a huge, sudden squeeze.
“Wh-Wh-What an honor! What bliss!” she cried.
Mitsuha even promised to bring back some photos of the event, which earned her a discount. The dressmaker asked for Adelaide’s measurements and, if possible, to meet her, saying something about how it would help her conceive the girl’s perfect dress.
That’s all there is to it, right? She won’t do anything weird to her, will she? Mitsuha wondered. You can never tell with this lady.
She also wanted to see examples of dresses from Adelaide’s country; standards were important, after all. Mitsuha decided to deal with that part later. After some back-and-forth, the two agreed that she’d make three dresses. They also discussed ideas for a grand performance. One of her suggestions in particular piqued Mitsuha’s interest.
I guess now I’m paying for a fake sword, too.
Once her business with the modiste was done, Mitsuha made her way to an electronics store. She couldn’t find what she was looking for on the shelves, but she soon discovered she could have them ordered instead.
Let’s see... I’ll need LED bulbs, cables, and everything else... I’ll get the batteries some other day... Movie cameras, wireless speakers, spotlights...
Think I’m taking this too far? No way! I can’t mess up, so I’m just being as thorough as humanly possible! It’s the same as going overkill on the food and drinks... I’m just takin’ a page from the nobles. This is blowing a hole in my wallet, but once this thing is over, I’ll make it all back and then some!
For now, though, I’m not gonna use my deep pockets. Instead, I’ll have the captain exchange my yen into dollars and store the money in a foreign bank account. I’ll go back to the holes when I make back what I’m losing in this investment.
◇ ◇ ◇
“I’m borrowing the lady, if you don’t mind,” Mitsuha said as she led Adelaide into a carriage.
Attended by two bodyguards, their destination was her base, Mitsuha’s General Store. It was close to the noble district, so they arrived in no time. The coachman stopped right in front and waited while they went inside. Mitsuha had the bodyguards take a seat on the first floor. The men tried to argue, but they couldn’t say a word when Mitsuha mentioned that she’d be undressing Adelaide to measure her. She assured them they wouldn’t be leaving the building, either, so it was really a trivial matter.
She placated them further with some drinks, then brought Adelaide up to the second floor. Before entering the room, Mitsuha blindfolded her. The girl was caught off guard at first, but relaxed when Mitsuha told her the next step would require just a little bit of magic.
As she opened the door, Mitsuha jumped to Earth with Adelaide in tow.
“Hellooo!” she called out.
She had, of course, entered the shop of the aforementioned dressmaking zealot.
“Wow, wow, WOW!” came a voice from behind the counter.
Annnd there’s the zany manager! Mitsuha thought, taking off Adelaide’s blindfold.
“NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A BABE!”
Jeez, slow your roll, lady...
Adelaide was under the impression this was just another room in Mitsuha’s General Store, so her startled expression was due to this... creature.
“Just measure her, please,” Mitsuha said flatly. “You wouldn’t want to make a wrong move with a noble foreigner’s daughter. They’d have your head. Like, literally...”
The seamstress gulped, then took out her measuring tape. As she worked, she and Adelaide chatted with one another with Mitsuha as the interpreter. Adelaide spent the entire time bewildered, while the lady was in high spirits. Both parties ended up satisfied in the end.
Before they parted ways, Mitsuha gave the dressmaker a memory card. It contained photos of dresses from all across the capital—Adelaide’s, Amalia’s, the ones on display in noble boutiques, as well as those worn by Adelaide’s friends who’d already had their debuts. They’d gladly shown them off when Mitsuha praised their clothes, so she’d gone ahead and snapped a few photos. Some of the girls even insisted on putting them on, and those photos made the lady completely lose it.
The two girls left the same way they’d entered. Once they returned to the first floor, Adelaide asked for a tour of the store. She loved it so much that Mitsuha felt pretty much forced to give her a little accessory to take home.
Whatever, thought Mitsuha. I’ll just tack that onto the Ryners’ tab.
She also treated Adelaide to a shortcake from the fridge. The noble girl found it delicious, obviously, but the fridge itself had her curious. Mitsuha merely said it was a magic box and told her not to tell anyone about it. All the while, the bodyguards stared.
I really don’t blame them. I was hoping to earn a few more coins by tempting them with this shortcake, but I’m not totally sure that worked.
◇ ◇ ◇
By now, Mitsuha had been staying at Viscount Ryner’s mansion for some time. However, she spent most of her time in the kitchen. She’d given out recipes, but seeing as she was the only one who could read them, she’d had to involve herself further. Mitsuha would read the recipes aloud, and the kitchen staff would take notes.
Y’know, I may not look it, but I’m actually a pretty good cook, she’d reflected. I know how to make most dishes in your average cookbook, I’ve got the basics down, and I know how to make adjustments. Makes sense that I’m the boss of this operation.
Marcel had picked several Earth dishes he found tasty, impactful, and easy to prepare in large quantities. He and his crew were now training to make them.
Currently, they were practicing with just a couple of servings per recipe. If they wanted a hundred times more, however, it wouldn’t be as simple as just using a hundred times more ingredients. The culinary world demanded more tact. It was important to factor in things like the spread of the flames, the balance of the mix, and the relationships between ingredients. In many cases, just following a recipe wasn’t enough. You had to develop a feel for it.
Man, if that ain’t a pain, Mitsuha thought. Her tune changed when she realized that Marcel and everyone else in the kitchen had started calling her “Master”.
“Master”...? O-Oh man, is it bad that I really like the sound of that?!
◇ ◇ ◇
Here it is! The big day!
What? You think this is sudden? Believe me, I thought it was really far away twenty days ago, but time just flew by and now here we are. Besides all the ordering I had to do, there was the cooking lessons, party hall management, rehearsals... Things got so hectic it was all a blur.
Ah! Damn, I haven’t opened the store in days! Oh, well. The Ryners and their people were my only customers anyway.
...Wow, what a sad thought. Well, I’ll get my name out there with this job. Yep.
During the past few weeks, Mitsuha had also obtained her driver’s license. For manual transmission cars, at that. She assumed she’d use a car in this world someday, and since there were no proper roads, manual would be a better choice than automatic. That was something to save for a later date, however. She’d already purchased her first car, a Japanese subcompact with an automatic transmission and lots of trunk space. She had merely bought it for trips to and from nearby stores, rather than any long journeys.
Additionally, no matter how much she’d tried adjusting the seat, she just couldn’t reach the pedals on larger cars. Driving was possible, but she could hardly see over the steering wheel. If she’d gone out on the road in such a posture, it would’ve caused an accident in minutes.
For the party hall preparations, she’d called upon Kunz to help out. He already had a decent grasp of what her requests were like and was a skilled workman in general. And of course he’d done an excellent job on the renovations. He’d even done them at a low rate, insisting that he wasn’t there for the money. The challenging project had excited him, and above all he felt the most fulfillment when his clients were satisfied with his work.
Out of respect for his mentality, Mitsuha had decided to give him an extra reward: interior design and construction books she’d gotten from a secondhand bookstore. They looked so old, they could’ve been written in cuneiform, and had been extremely cheap.
Kunz had loved them so much he’d called her a goddess.
Yes, praise me more! she’d thought.
And so, the party was ready. It was now time for the guests to trickle in.
Among the attendees was a count named Albert von Bader. Like the other guests, he’d been invited to the mansion to witness Adelaide’s debut celebration. He was one of the few who didn’t look down on the Ryners as unwelcome nouveau riche.
Viscount Ryner’s father had worked to bring their family into prosperity. The long-standing noble families merely suckled respect earned from the feats of their ancestors. In a sense, this made Viscount Ryner more worthy of his nobility than the complacent old nobles. Additionally, it was even more difficult for a commoner to become a noble these days than it had been in the past. In spite of this, his father had climbed straight to viscount, skipping the rank of baron altogether.
I can only imagine how brilliant he was, thought Albert von Bader.
Rumor had it that the current Viscount Ryner was an excellent person, too, and that he had a beautiful daughter.
Maybe it’s wise to build a relationship with them. Perhaps this line of thinking is inappropriate... But if something were to happen to their only son before he can marry, his daughter would likely start searching for a groom. I should consider pushing my third or fourth son into the role.
While considering the possibilities, Count Bader followed the servants and entered the Ryners’ main hall.
Oh? There doesn’t seem to be much food on the tables, he thought. I’m well aware they’ll be replaced as they begin to empty, but this amount seems small regardless. Was this intentional?
Though he found it curious, he decided not to think much of it. He merely took some wine when offered, relieved his dry throat, and went off to mingle with some of his noble acquaintances.
A short time later, the host began his introduction. Viscount Ryner stood on the small stage in front of the hall, thanked his guests for coming, and introduced his daughter, Adelaide... though she was noticeably absent. Having said his part, Viscount Ryner retired from the stage.
What is happening here? Count Bader wondered, certainly not alone.
Not a moment later, the place where the viscount had been flooded with smoke.
The guests closest to it were alarmed at first, believing it to be some sort of fire, but quickly noticed that the smoke was spreading in a strange way; it seemed to be pouring in from the sides of the stage. The servants were unfazed, on the other hand, meaning this was part of the show. Though some guests voiced their confusion, there was no real panic.
With the exception of those who sought spouses for their sons, most nobles considered these sorts of parties little more than dull gatherings to attend out of boredom, courtesy, or habit. Seeing something so new intrigued everyone, Albert von Bader included.
The smoke thinned as it flowed over the stage, creating a layer across the floor. Tendrils of it reached the nobles, who found it peculiar that breathing it in didn’t choke them, and it didn’t smell like smoke at all. On the other hand, it did make them feel a little chilly.
A voice rang out.
“Good evening! Thank you all very much for coming. Without further ado, I give you the Ryner family treasure, the charming flower fairy... Lady Adelaide! Feast your eyes on her lovable form!”
It was a girl’s voice, and seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. She wasn’t shouting, but her words were strangely loud—enough so to resound throughout the hall.
“Watch as our lady makes her debut!”
Suddenly, scenery appeared on the white wall ahead.
What?! Count Bader’s jaw flopped open.
The other guests were equally astonished. It was a bizarre sight to behold—the wall was now some sort of illuminated painting, and showed a beautiful garden full of dancing fairies. Mixed with the milky smoke, the scene was nothing if not fantastical.
Then, a girl revealed herself from behind the curtains.
“WHOOOA!” The crowd’s collective cry of amazement reached all corners of the room.
The flower fairy, clad in a white dress, danced lightly across the stage, filling young and old alike with wonder. The girl’s beauty and charm were dazzling enough, but the dress she wore was in a class of its own. The silk was of the highest quality, and the design was novel, striking, and immaculately detailed. The audience had never seen anything like it. Some parts of it sparkled as she moved, and they could only assume it was bedazzled with gems.
The girl stopped in the middle of the stage and faced the crowd.
“Which one of you will take me?” she asked coquettishly.
It was quite the heartstopper of a line. The boys watched with flushed faces as Lady Adelaide walked off behind the curtain on the other side. Even the men, in spite of their many encounters with all kinds of beauty, were charmed ever so slightly.
All right! So far, so good! Mitsuha cheered. She was at the edge of the stage, microphone in hand.
There were speakers on both sides, lots of dry ice doused in hot water, and a projector connected to a laptop. It was the kind that could project from the side rather than the front. All this technology was powered by a battery Mitsuha had bought at the home improvement store. Because of some mic-related problems and Adelaide’s refusal to voice over the performance, Mitsuha had ended up as both the narrator and the emcee. As for the projected background, it was a random fairyland scene she’d found on the internet.
At the moment, the maids were changing Adelaide’s costume. They’d broken their backs training to make the process as swift as possible.
Now’s probably a good time, Mitsuha thought, and changed the projection to a picture of a noble mansion. She then slipped back into her narration.
“The lord is away. A horde of bandits is using this opportunity to ransack the fiefdom. Most soldiers left with the lord, leaving only the lady and a small troop behind...”
Ohh, they changed the setting! Count Bader clapped, completely enthralled. The other guests seemed to share the sentiment. I do wonder how they changed the picture, though...
Adelaide walked back on the stage, this time clad in a different costume: an armored dress with a blue color scheme. She clumsily held a sheathed sword in hand. It was as ornate as the most prized decorative blades. She was followed by an old man who was perhaps her butler. They both stopped in the middle of the stage.
Mitsuha’s voice echoed throughout the room again. “Madam, the brigands have sprung an attack on a nearby village!”
“We’re going. Tell the remaining soldiers to prepare to march.”
“But madam, we mustn’t! They should be kept here for an emergency! Also, if something were to happen to you—!”
“Is this not an emergency?! It is my duty to protect our people in my husband’s absence!”
Mitsuha spoke those familiar lines with burning enthusiasm. Adelaide and the butler lip-synced along with her words.
“Very well... I won’t stand in your way. Let us hold them off at the river and buy time until our lord returns. I shall, of course, attend at your side.”
“Thank you. By the way, may I ask you something?”
“Yes, madam?”
“Buying time is fine, but you won’t mind if I cut them all down, will you?”
The line was third on Mitsuha’s list of things she’d always wanted to say. Finally having a reason to do so sent her over the moon. Oh, if only my brother were here to see this...!
The crowd broke out in cheers. Adelaide gripped her blade with both hands, thrust it into the floor, and faced the audience with a dignified expression.
“I ask of you... Are you my soulmate?”
The roar of the crowd reached an explosive crescendo. With that, the play was over, and the two left the stage.
Success! So glad I got that 18,000 yen Excalibur in Akihabara! Mitsuha thought as she watched them. Adelaide had liked the prop blade so much that she’d asked to keep it, and Mitsuha had been just fine with that. It couldn’t cut, but it was made of real metal. The heaviness probably made it a good exercise tool.
Adelaide was changing costumes yet again. This dress would be a normal one, since she needed to move around and mingle with her guests. It didn’t take long for her to come out. She was wearing a cute pink dress perfect for a girl her age.
The dressmaker had worked extremely hard on this one. Material, design, sewing—every aspect was filled with her soul... maybe even too much of it. She’d determined she would never receive a job of this caliber ever again. It was literally the work of a lifetime, and she’d treated it as such.
“As of today, I’m no longer a fairy,” said Adelaide. “I shall now do my best as a member of high society. I hope we get along!” She walked off the stage and toward the crowd, welcomed by a storm of applause. The young nobles banded around her and made a real commotion.
Done! What a show! Mitsuha thought in satisfaction. Good work, Adelaide! All that was left now was to complement their mingling with some good food.
Mitsuha gripped her microphone tightly. “Now, please relax and enjoy your evening. While your tables hold the standard fare, at the back, you will find exotic foods from a distant land. If you’re feeling daring, be sure to give them a try! There is also a selection of foreign beverages. Each drink’s potency is marked. You should try them with the appropriate amount of water or ice.”
Oh, so that’s why the tables are a bit sparse, Count Bader thought. Foreign food isn’t for everyone, after all. Well thought-out...
Knowing he could eat the standard courses at any time, he went to try the exotic food before he got lost in conversation. But the dishes on the table made him stop in his tracks.
Wh-Wh-What?! Is that... fish?! Not dried, but fresh fish? And those bits on the ice look raw... But that’s impossible!
The other nobles were also staring at the plates in disbelief and nervousness. After all, it was something that just shouldn’t have been here. No one wanted to touch it, and everyone knew why.
Are they even edible? What if they’re rotten? Count Bader wondered, but he’d seen enough fish to know these were fresh.
Still, the collective doubt was too strong, and no one was willing to try them. Count Bader, however, saw this as an opportunity to do the Ryners a small favor.
Here I go! It’s your time to shine, Albert von Bader! He mustered up his courage as he reached for an empty plate. He took a small sample of all the seafood he could find, including fried fish, boiled fish, and rice topped with raw fish, and brought the first piece to his lips. His heroism earned him some praise from his fellow nobles.
“Delicious...” the count uttered in astonishment, then rushed to take even more. The rest of the pack, having seen one of their members survive the ordeal, edged forward to try it for themselves.
“It truly is...”
“Superb!”
It only escalated from there. The food—fish or otherwise—began to vanish like it was going out of style, only for the servants to bring replacements. They were soon noticed and joined by the youth surrounding Adelaide, as well as the ladies idly chatting.
Sweet, it’s all going well! Mitsuha thought. Too well, actually. I can’t shake the feeling something bad is about to ha—
Out of nowhere, a hand latched onto her shoulder, freezing her in place.
“Just what are you doing in this dump...?” The voice was as strong and fierce as its owner’s grip.
Sweating bullets, Mitsuha turned around and saw none other than Countess Iris Bozes. Oh, right... This is a party! That means the ballroom season they mentioned has already started! Crap, I completely forgot!
Not giving Mitsuha a chance to speak, Lady Iris dragged her to the Bozes’ table. “Mitsuha. Might I ask what’s going on here? You refused to live with us, didn’t you? So why are you here, of all places?”
Y-Your eyes are freaking me out, Mitsuha thought.
“I went to your shop countless times, only to find it closed! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! And now I find you in this dump! What’s the meaning of this?!”
Mitsuha would’ve liked it if she stopped calling this place a “dump”. It wasn’t good for the Ryners’ reputation, although their status wouldn’t have allowed them to complain to a countess. Mitsuha made calming Lady Iris her number one priority.
“I-I don’t live or work here or anything! I’m just here to represent my store! I did a couple odd jobs for them, made some deliveries... That’s it, I swear!”
Lady Iris was still glaring, but the response had been enough to stop her from chewing the girl out. Count Bozes shot Mitsuha an awkward smile.
“Wait, where’s Alexis?” Mitsuha asked, quick to change the subject. The only ones at the table were Lady Iris, Count Bozes, and Theodore. Beatrice, still too young to make her own debut, was absent.
“Oh, he’s over there with Lady Adelaide” Theodore said. “Hmph. He never changes...”
“Ohh, I see the eldest son knows how it works,” Mitsuha said, prompting a bewildered look from him. “I mean, this is Lady Adelaide’s debut party, isn’t it? Men who ignore the star of the show to talk with other girls are the absolute worst, don’t you think? Even if they end up disliking her, they should at least talk to her. It’s the polite thing to do.”
“E-Excuse me for a second!” the boy said, then sprung up from his chair and ran off. Count Bozes smiled yet again.
“ANYWAY!” Lady Iris raised her voice again. “You are to visit us as soon as possible!”
“Okay,” Mitsuha replied meekly. A moment later, someone grabbed her by the shoulder again.
Jeez, what now?! And why do I have such a bad feeling about this?
She turned and saw Marcel’s second-in-command, a sister-in-arms who’d braved the hellish days of training at her side.
“W-We have a problem! Th-There...”
Huh? She’s stuttering?! It’s gotta be bad!
“There’s not enough food!”
“HUUUUHHHH?! Didn’t we make enough?! You and Marcel both said we’d even have leftovers! What happened?!” As Mitsuha pressed her for answers, the chef looked like she was about to cry.
“That’s how it would normally go, but for some reason, no one is leaving! Also, they’re chatting around the food now, so there’s less and less of it by the minute...”
Usually, the nobles who’d shown up out of courtesy would leave as soon as the main event was over. Meanwhile, those who stayed merely nibbled the food they’d grown tired of long ago, and instead mingled with alcohol in hand. The latter saw these events as networking opportunities rather than diversions, as they presented a chance to acquire important information and connections. Here, that was simply not the case. Everyone was eating and loitering to their hearts’ desire.
Of course we’d run out of food like this. I really overdid it...
The play had been so well-received that everyone wanted to talk about it, and there wasn’t a single soul who’d left right away. Some even thought there might be something more in store, to say nothing of all the exotic food and drink keeping them around.
The kitchen staff had made enough food for a usual affair. It was actually double the amount they expected guests to consume, but that was standard for any noble event. There was also the rule of thumb that any food eaten absolutely had to be replaced. Empty plates were basically a sin. Even plates with only a quarter of the food left were impermissible, as it would give the guests the impression that the hosts didn’t make enough food, which was tantamount to an insult. If such an affront happened here, the Ryners would be branded as nobles so poor they couldn’t prepare enough food for a single party.
I can’t let that happen! Mitsuha thought. No noble’s gonna tolerate something like this. And besides, this is Adelaide’s debut party—her future depends on it!
To prevent something like this from happening, nobles tended to prepare obscene amounts of food prior to the event. They didn’t want to waste money, but it was a safety measure put in place to prevent a lifetime of embarrassment. This meant that anyone who failed to provide on this front was subpar as a noble, no matter the reason.
This is an emergency. I’ve gotta do something!
“Excuse me for a moment!” Mitsuha said to the Bozes, then ran off to the kitchen.
The chefs in the kitchen were bereft of life, and had they not been in the middle of cooking, they’d no doubt be pushing up daisies. Thankfully, there was still time. They’d run out of food if things went on as they did, but they hadn’t run out yet.
Mitusha looked around, examining her options, and noticed a box half-filled with potatoes. She’d memorized the menu and knew that there were no plans to use them, meaning that they were extras.
“Can you get some oil boiling?” she asked Marcel.
His reply was lifeless. “Yesh...”
Keep it together, man! Mitsuha thought, then switched to giving orders. “All right! Peel those potatoes! Cut them up and fry them in oil! We scrapped some stuff from the menu, right?! Make that! We’ll have lots of good food, and fast! You remember how, right?! Get to it!”
“Y-Yesh...”
“Stop dragging your feet! Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t bring shame to the viscount and his daughter?! Don’t act like there’s anything more terrifying than messing that up!” Her harsh words instantly woke him out of his stupor, and soon his eyes were gleaming with vigor.
“We don’t have time to get new ingredients, so use what we have! Empty the pantry! Take all the ingredients you didn’t plan to use and bring them to the table! See what you can make with them! Think simple, fast, and large amounts!
“Even commoner dishes are fine! Nobles probably don’t know the difference, so just tell them it’s foreign cooking! Use potato peels or pumpkin seeds if you have to—just make something! I’ll buy some time, so don’t waste it! And bring out the biggest plates you’ve got!”
Mitsuha fetched a big cardboard box from the corner of the kitchen. It was three feet on all sides. While large, the box was lighter than it looked.
“I had this stuff saved for the afterparty, but I’ll use it now!”
She started emptying the box, one bag after another. Fried squid, peanuts, roasted almonds, peanut and rice cracker mixes, squid-flavored peanuts, crispy fried cutlets with sauce, chocolates, rice crackers, potato chips... She opened them all, poured them onto plates, and had them sent out to the hall.
“It’s a bit early, but screw it—we’re bringing out the dessert right this instant!”
The guests who’d brought their children often stayed until the end, so they hadn’t brought out the dessert yet. Doing it too early could distract the youths from Adelaide and all the other food, but given the circumstances, there was no other option.
Mitsuha had supplied most of the desserts. She’d cut no corners trying to capture the hearts of the children and impress the Ryners. Eat this! My ultimate weapon!
She went back to the hall and took the mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen, pardon me for the interruption. I want to inform you that we’ve prepared more exotic foods. This time, there are snacks, drinks, and desserts.”
Well, that sure got their attention, she thought.
“Try pairing the snacks with different drinks to excite your palate. The dessert, however, goes best with juice. I believe the gentlemen here will enjoy this course just as much as the ladies and children.”
The crowd stampeded to the snacks and dessert.
All right. If they’re too busy drinking, they won’t eat as much food. Getting blitzed makes it harder to eat, too, and a good dessert paired with some juice fills you up in seconds.
For dessert, there was cake, shortcake, fruit, chocolate pastries, cookies, pudding, mousse, cream puffs, ice cream—just about anything, really. The ladies, children, and adolescents were floored by the selection.
Yes... Let the power of Japan’s sweets industry flow through you!
After a good deal of stalling, the servants brought in the deep-fried potatoes, as well as the impromptu meals. They were followed by courses that had actually been a part of the plan. Somehow, they succeeded in reaching the end of the party without embarrassing themselves with any empty plates.
What? You’re wondering if the party was a success? Is that even a question?
◇ ◇ ◇
What a stupendous night that was, Albert von Bader thought as he walked to his carriage. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the party. It started out with a play... Although brief, it was nothing short of excellent, and I still can’t wrap my head around how those pictures worked.
The girl herself was beautiful, and her stunning dresses only added to her charm. Their materials were so high quality and the designs so elaborate that I couldn’t even guess their price. And the foreign food and drink was excellent beyond compare!
I can’t imagine the wealth and connections it must have taken to construct such an affair. A lady’s coming-of-age may be important, but who would lavish such resources without a second thought? Just how powerful are these Ryners?
Hmm, perhaps I’m not close enough with them. Fixing that will no doubt be beneficial, and if possible, I would love to have that charming maiden as a daughter. I’ll have to light a fire under my sons...
The horses cantered off, taking the count to the Bader capital mansion. He ruminated about what had just happened, as did all the other guests who’d attended the party. Most were merely blown away, but the ones with daughters who would soon debut were absolutely distraught.
How can I compare to this? they thought. How can I make my daughter’s debut as impressive as this one? Please, help... Someone... Anyone...
Thus, a number of nobles asked for Viscount Ryner’s help and became indebted to him, and Mitsuha’s General Store profited immensely from this venture.
As for Mitsuha herself, she had officially retired from party planning. Sure, I’d be down to sell some ingredients, but never again with the whole hosting thing. No giving out complete dishes, either. I mean, it was a real pain, and I don’t even wanna think about what could’ve happened to me if I’d screwed up. No theatrical stuff, either. They can handle that all by themselves.
The Ryners were a special case. I only did it ’cause the viscount, his wife, and Marcel were referred to me by my first customers. Besides, they seemed like good people, and I desperately needed the publicity. With that out of the way, I just need some good ol’ R&R.
Cooking lessons? Oh, for the other noble families? Marcel can handle that.
There had also been a casual, makeshift afterparty for Mitsuha and the staff. Plenty of ingredients had gone unused, so the chefs had done some experimenting—boiling veggie peels in oil and such—and they’d all had a great time trying the results. Naturally, the servants and the viscount’s family joined in. The servants had been a bit sad they hadn’t gotten to try the foreign food or the snacks from Mitsuha, and those who were backstage or in the kitchen had been disappointed about missing the play.
I mean, they did see the rehearsals, and they tried the foreign food while Marcel and his team were training! Though, yeah, none of that was perfected yet...
There had also been a great deal of alcohol left over. While Mitsuha wasn’t yet of age, she saw no reason for abiding by Japanese law in another world. Even Adelaide had enjoyed her fair share of drinks... as tragic as it’d been.
I’m not drinking with her ever again, end of story! And don’t even ask about it!
In the end, Mitsuha made 260 gold coins. Apparently, it was normal for events like these to cost upwards of 300. Having seen luxury kimonos with obscene price tags, Mitsuha didn’t find it unusual that the same could happen with dresses. Some even had authentic gems sewed in, and the prices could skyrocket from there depending on the gem’s type and quality.
Additionally, food was always gratuitously lavish. Not only did the nobles have to provide the best-quality meals from local ingredients, but they also had to bring something exciting to the table to stimulate their guests’ dulled tastes. The money involved there was a whole new brand of madness.
Though, that’s kinda understandable... Transporting and preserving food is hard work in this world, Mitusha thought, feeling smug about the fact that such problems didn’t affect her.
But let us return to the important part: the 260 gold coins. That was about 26 million yen in this world and 6.5 million back on Earth—an impressive figure even if you accounted for the equipment, ingredient, and dress expenses. Then again, the only food Mitsuha had actually brought with her were the complete meals and specialized items like fish and snacks. The Ryners had provided the lion’s share of the ingredients.
Mitsuha had also been paid separately for the fish and the other ingredients used during cooking training. After all, their practice versions had replaced all the meals in the household. Even the servants had eaten like royalty. It was a shame the servants would likely never feast so richly again. But Mitsuha’s primary focus was the hefty sum she’d earned from the affair. She still owed debts to the mercenary captain, however, so she wouldn’t be using her “deep pockets” just yet.
Of course, she hadn’t forgotten about the photography. She’d personally trained two servants to use cameras, and they’d dutifully taken both photos and videos of the event. Mitsuha couldn’t be bothered to pick and choose from them, so she sent them all to the dressmaker.
She’d edit and copy the stuff even if I didn’t ask her to. Then I’ll print out some stills and sell them to the viscount for even more money!
The modiste had requested prints, too, but she’d obviously make some herself. Probably life-sized. Hey, I should ask her to make the ones I’ll sell to the viscount. I’m guessing she’d make them for free.
The day after the party, Mitsuha was so tired that she spent the entire day lazing around the store. She was especially glad to have her private quarters on the second floor. With this, I don’t need to return to Japan all the time... I can relax here just fine. There’s even a bath! Well, I’d be lying if I said the bath back home wasn’t a whole lot better, but I’ve gotta get used to living here.
That’s a little easier said than done with the bathroom, though. I mean, taking care of a “number one” is easy. I’ve got a Western toilet, and it even flushes. The carpenters hooked it up to a water tank that’s linked to the well with a motor pump.
As for “number two”... Uhh, I did make it usable in case guests came, but there’s... y’know... the clean-up part. For now, I’m just gonna keep jumping back home whenever I’ve gotta drop the kids off at the pool, if you know what I mean.
Two days later, Mitsuha opened her store for the first time in ages. It was business as usual. It had been so long that the neighbor lady came to check up on her.
Oh, the beauty of human sympathy! Mitsuha felt so moved that she gave her another towel.
A few days passed after her reopening. It was three o’clock—close to closing time.
Ding-a-ling!
My first customer in a while! Mitsuha cheered on the inside, though she hadn’t been entirely dry. She’d had a decent amount of people come and buy things like shampoo, shampoo, and of course, shampoo. She did sell other wares, but the overwhelming majority of her customers were girls buying shampoo.
The number of customers was steadily growing, at least, and she made enough sales to live her everyday life. If you can recall, Mitsuha had keen senses when it came to her profit margins. Additionally, she owned the place, so she didn’t have to worry about rent.
Anyhow, let us return to her current customer... As soon as he entered, the man stomped over to Mitsuha like he was on the warpath.
“Give me fish,” he grunted.
“Huh?”
“I said, give me fish!”
“Sir, this is a general store. You may want to visit the fish shop instead.” Mitsuha had no idea if there were any in this town, but she had to guess there were none. She was actually quite cold to people with bad attitudes, if you couldn’t tell.
“Stop fooling around! I did my research, and I know you sell fish! Do you have any idea what will happen if you don’t do it right now?!”
“No. Do tell me.”
“The insolence...! Do you really not know the consequences of refusing Lord Turck?!”
“What? You’re a baron?”
“Wha...?” Her question caught him off guard. “C-Certainly not! I’m the baron Lord Turck’s head chef!”
Yeah, I could tell he wasn’t a noble. I’ve got eyes, and they work just fine.
“What brings a baron’s head chef to my establishment?” Mitsuha asked, her customer-service smile fading.
“Since coming back from that accursed Ryner affair, all he does is complain about the food! He demands to be served what he had at the party. I asked around, and discovered it was exotic food that used fish. I can easily make food of that caliber as long as I have the ingredients. That’s all I need!”
“Ohh, well... I didn’t actually ‘sell’ any fish, per se. I accepted a request to host the entire party, and the fish was simply a product I had to provide to complete the contract. It’s not the same as selling fish.”
“What?!” he snapped. “Stop talking nonsense and just do as I say! If you don’t, I’ll—”
“What’s all this noise?”
Whoa, it’s Lady Iris! Mitsuha thought. Crap, I totally forgot about the Bozes... again!
“Why haven’t you come to see us?!” she asked aggressively.
“Oh, I... I’ve been pretty busy lately...”
“With this man, perhaps? Is he your customer?” She looked down her nose at the head chef. The sudden appearance of an obviously noble lady had him nearly cowering.
“Uh, no. Not by a long shot,” Mitsuha said, then quickly changed her tone. “He said he would hurt me if I didn’t do as he said! I don’t know what’ll happen to me now...”
“HUH?!” The man immediately turned pale.
“Wh-What are you—?”
“What business do you have with our girl?”
They were joined by Count Bozes himself.
“Eep!” the head chef squeaked.
Feel that? That’s the heavy air of nobility.
“N-Nothing... I’m just a customer looking for some—”
“He said he works for the Turcks, and that he’d hurt me if I don’t do as he sa—”
Ah. He escaped. Didn’t even let me finish. Look at him go.
“I’ll be sure to mention this to Lord Turck,” said the count.
Lady Iris had an ice-cold smile on her face.
“I, uhh...”
Before Mitsuha could argue, she was thrown in the carriage and shuttled off to the Bozes’ mansion.
Umm, can we turn around for a sec? I wanna lock the door.