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That day, I was out strolling around the Imperial Capital.
The academy was on break.
Mother was overjoyed that I decided to go out.
『My, Hein! How rare for you to be going out. I always thought staying holed up all the time wasn’t good for you』
So she said.
「Young Master, the Slain Magical Gemstone Shop is this way」
「Very good」
I acknowledged the servant guiding me, Misha, and turned my eyes to the shop in question.
As the most prestigious magic gemstone store in the capital, it was certainly an impressive sight.
The alabaster walls were adorned with delicate reliefs, and the elegant arch-shaped doorway drew the eye with its grace.
Incidentally, Misha was apparently an acquaintance of Feri’s, a female Dalphen* who refers to Feri as “Princess.”
TN: maybe another spelling inconsistency.
Her skin was dusky, and the tips of her ears were pointed.
She came recommended by Feri, so I took her into service under the Aster family. She works quite diligently.
On her first day, she worked until she collapsed, which I found excessive, so I warned her to work only until she’s ‘about’ to collapse.
In any case, I’m wandering the capital today for a purpose.
And that purpose is—
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「Stand back! This is the heir of House Aster, Hein Sera Aster-sama! Bring the proprietor at once!」
As soon as the doors opened, Misha conveyed the essentials to the shop staff.
It was a clear and efficient delivery of our intentions.
I hear Feri personally trained her, and I’d say it’s going quite well.
The clerk blinked, then his face drained of color.
He bowed and straightened repeatedly in a fluster, similar to a drowning inferior being, quite the sight to behold.
Eventually, a short man came rushing from the back, likely the shop owner.
「E-esteemed Duke Aster… What can I do for you…?」
「As you were」
As I said that, Misha picked up on my meaning.
「Show us all of your stock! Budget is no concern! If there’s anything of quality, we’ll buy it on the spot!」
The owner nodded repeatedly, forcing a smile as he bowed again and again, shouting instructions to his employees.
「Y-yes, right away! Everyone, bring all the gemstone stock from the warehouse, no, even the reserve collection in the back! Don’t keep the customer waiting!」
Yes, what I wanted were gemstones, specifically, magic gemstones known for their high magic power conductivity.
Magic gemstones are usually sold in raw form and serve many purposes.
Primarily, they’re used to amplify magic, commonly set into staves or orbs. But they’re also used in amulets or even as light sources in city lanterns.
Though called gemstones, their prices vary widely, and many are affordable even for common inferior beings.
This shop, however, caters to nobility, so its inventory is said to be of particularly high quality.
Why do I want such things? To have them crafted into jewelry as a gift for Mother, because Mother’s Day is approaching.
There are still about three months until Mother’s Day, but given the time it takes to process the materials, I wanted to start gathering them early.
I had considered using things like the dragon eye Graman brought, but what pleasure is there in using a lizard’s body part that looks down on humans?
Besides, the value of a gift is not in its price.
It lies in the heart behind it.
I will pour all of my current craftsmanship into creating a piece of jewelry.
「—That one, and that. Also, that one」
I pointed to the stones I found to be of good quality.
Once the clerks finished wrapping them, Misha carried them all with arms full.
From deeper inside the shop came a box announced as 「Our prized collection!」, and if there were any noteworthy stones in it, I would purchase them without hesitation.
I expected I would fail many times, so I factored that in as well.
「That’s enough. This should suffice」
But as I swept my eyes over the mountain of gemstones I’d just bought, a small hazel-colored gem caught my eye.
It was small, but not bad.
Set quietly in a corner of the shop, it glistened with a luster equal to any of the others.
「……Misha」
「Yes, Young Master」
「Buy that one too. …I’ll give it to you. Its color resembles your eyes. Consider it a bonus」
「……Eh?」
Her arms full of gemstones, she blinked at me in surprise.
「T-that’s… far too much. Someone like me…」
She was flustered with humility, but I wasn’t joking.
「As you were」
In this case, it meant “Stop complaining and do as I say.”
Urged on, Misha gently cupped the hazel gemstone in both hands as if cherishing it.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper broke into a broad smile and began explaining the stone’s origins.
「This is an extremely rare gem known as the “Celestial Lilith”. It is said to calm the heart and allow magic power to flow more smoothly」
「That’s enough. I’ll buy everything. Wrap it up」
「Y-yes! Ah, um… the payment…」
Without a word, I reached into my inner pocket and pressed a single white silver coin into the shopkeeper’s hand.
「That’s enough, isn’t it?」
「I-it’s more than enough! More than enough indeed! It’s abundantly sufficient! However… this is far too much…」
The flustered shopkeeper kept glancing between the coin and the gems, sweat beading on his brow.
—What a nuisance. Should I dispose of him?
As I idly considered that, Misha spoke up at just the right moment.
「This is the Young Master’s gracious generosity. If you understand, then begone at once!」
She works hard enough that I sometimes feel inclined to reward her.
But it seemed Misha had made one small mistake.
「No, the ones leaving are us. We’re going home」
As I said that—
「Yes! As you say! We shall now depart at once!」
With that, Misha hurried to the entrance and held the door open for me.
A foolish girl, but she does her job earnestly enough.
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