The next day, Matthew suppressed his desire to visit the forest and went to work.
Matthew was a merchant who rented warehouses but did not own a shop. He traveled to bustling cities like the royal capital and port towns, understanding the local trends and procuring various goods. He then sold these goods mainly in the town of Shelland. That was his style of business.
However, he couldn’t just buy anything indiscriminately. His budget was limited, and buying items whose value he couldn’t ascertain would only be a waste of effort. Therefore, knowledge of the products and a discerning eye were essential, and Matthew excelled in these areas more than other merchants.
“Mrs. Emily, good day to you.”
“Oh, it’s been a while, Matthew.”
Matthew visited a mansion in the upscale residential area of Shelland.
Mrs. Emily, who lived there, was one of the granddaughters of the lord and the wife of the commander of the Silver Scale Knights, who protected the town. Both her grandfather and husband adored her, giving her substantial financial freedom. She was a valuable client for Matthew. Engaging in casual conversation, he smoothly transitioned to business.
Today, he showcased dresses and hats.
High-quality clothes and accessories were Matthew’s specialties.
“…So, this type of dress is popular in the royal capital. It was highly praised as beautiful when the duchess wore it at a royal ball.”
“Oh, really.”
However, Mrs. Emily seemed unusually disinterested.
“Oh dear, did it not please you?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Mrs. Emily sighed deeply.
Matthew reflected on his actions, wondering if he had made any mistakes.
But he reassured himself that he hadn’t been rude and continued introducing various products.
He was well aware of Mrs. Emily’s tastes.
Regardless of the trend color, she had a habit of wearing something red.
She rarely took out her wedding ring, fearing to lose it, and only used it on significant occasions.
She sought to enhance her beauty suitable for her attire, not letting the clothes wear her, and did not mind the discipline required for it.
She showcased her adorned clothes and accessories at luncheons and tea parties.
The women of this town were all keenly interested in Mrs. Emily’s attire. Mrs. Emily was the fashion star of Shelland. The town’s women trusted her taste, often thinking, “I want to dress like her.”
Matthew did not consider Mrs. Emily as a romantic interest but respected her efforts. He was always grateful for her generous orders.
“…And these hats with decorative ribbons are currently in vogue in the royal capital. They look particularly splendid on sunny days.”
“Matthew, I’m sorry, but could you leave for today?”
But today, Mrs. Emily showed no interest.
Matthew had brought items he thought Mrs. Emily would love.
He reflected on his actions, wondering if he had done something wrong, but found nothing.
“I apologize, madam. Have I done something wrong?”
“It’s not that. I’ve reduced the frequency of tea parties and balls, so I have fewer opportunities to dress up. I need to stay low for a while. I’ll still go for walks, but it feels awkward to wear a fancy hat just for that…”
Mrs. Emily sighed again.
“I thought hearing about city trends would distract me, but it just makes me envious.”
“I apologize… I’m sorry for talking without understanding your situation.”
“Oh, it’s not your fault. Besides, it’s not that I won’t buy anything at all… It’s just that I don’t need anything too fancy right now. Do you understand?”
◆
After leaving Mrs. Emily’s mansion, Matthew walked alone through the town’s streets.
“Did I miscalculate…”
Matthew didn’t rely solely on Mrs. Emily as a client. However, she was a prominent figure at the town’s evening parties. What Mrs. Emily wore became the trend in this town, and the items Matthew procured would sell like hotcakes. To put it bluntly, Mrs. Emily served as the advertisement for Matthew’s shop.
Mrs. Emily understood this well. In fact, she took pride in being at the forefront of fashion. It was a relationship where she gained honor, and Matthew gained money.
But that was until four months ago. The situation had changed.
Upon investigating, Matthew learned that Mrs. Emily was pregnant. It was joyous news. However, the doctor advised her to avoid alcohol and tea, and her husband, the commander of the knights, strongly agreed. Consequently, the evening parties and tea gatherings she hosted had to be put on hold.
Mrs. Emily understood that she needed to behave differently during her pregnancy, and the young ladies who admired her in the town also blessed her.
Yet, stress accumulated, and pregnancy itself brought physical and mental burdens. Bringing evening dresses and tea party hats to someone in such a situation was unfortunate timing.
“I apologize for this… If only I had returned here earlier without wintering in the capital… No, it’s all in the past.”
Matthew was now left with inventory of clothes he had bought in the capital, but it wasn’t necessarily unsellable. He could take them to local boutiques or showcase them at salons to negotiate sales.
“…Let’s take a break and start over.”
Matthew decided to head to a café and have some tea.
This town offered cheap and delicious food. Unlike other regions, the local magicians did not shy away from using magic for food preservation and cultivation. In other towns or the royal capital, this would be deemed improper.
Though Shelland was a frontier town in the vast Magic Kingdom of Dailan, it still enjoyed abundant food thanks to the magicians. Matthew, too, could use a bit of magic. He could create ice to chill his tea. Although his magical power was limited, so he couldn’t afford to waste it.
Walking down the main street of Shelland, Matthew chose his regular café.
“Is it alright if I’m alone?”
“Sure… Oh, Matthew? You’re back in town.”
The waitress’s friendly greeting put Matthew at ease.
“Oh, you remember me. Thank you.”
“Of course. Tea as usual?”
“I’d like it cold.”
“Got it, your usual.”
Although this café didn’t serve elaborate meals, the tea and tea snacks were excellent.
Matthew frequently visited Laurent’s restaurant and this café.
Especially, he had a habit of drinking cold tea to relax after finishing work.
The waitress had memorized his face and order.
(Since the new king, only rugged things have been in vogue… Someday, this town might surpass the capital as the cultural center.)
It was both a prediction and a wish for Matthew.
Matthew loved fun and beautiful things. As a child, he was often ridiculed for not being “manly,” but he laughed off such insults and acted as he pleased. Hearing about rare silks arriving in the eastern port town, he immediately set out. Hearing about a seamstress in the western capital who wove the latest fashions, he quickly traveled there. He had even ventured overseas several times.
Though he wasn’t working for a major store, he negotiated his way into caravans and learned the ways of travel, handling various trades and negotiations mostly on his own. It was all driven by his passion.
However, such a busy life inevitably led to fatigue, not just physically but mentally and in his passion. He needed moments like this, drinking tea in the afternoon, to keep going.
“Here you go, your tea. Do you need ice?”
“No, I’ll take care of it.”
“Got it. Enjoy.”
The waitress placed the tea and a small plate with three cookies and left.
This café always served tea with delicious snacks without asking.
Matthew felt his fatigue melting away as he sipped the tea and nibbled on the cookies.
(I haven’t taken much rest since the snow melted. Maybe it’s good to take it easy for a while… Huh?)
Matthew noticed a woman at the neighboring table.
She wore a simple dark red linen robe.
(A rich, good color… The fabric itself isn’t rare, but the dye is beautiful. It also matches well with her orange hair.)
Matthew naturally felt cautious around someone who looked like a magician. They often held high status and even higher pride. However, he found himself staring, forgetting his usual wariness.
His intrusive gaze must have been noticed.
The magician looked back at him with a guarded expression.
“Uh, is there something you need…?”
“Oh, no, I’m sorry. I was just admiring your beautiful robe.”
Matthew felt off his game. What a poor excuse, almost like a clumsy pickup line. The magician, with a vague expression, replied, “Thank you,” and returned her gaze to her tea.
Matthew felt relieved at her graciousness in letting it slide.
What if she had been a high-status magician?
“Freeze.”
Feeling the need for something cold, Matthew cast a spell. “Freeze” was a simple spell that created small ice cubes.
The iced tea served at this café wasn’t particularly cold. To enjoy more chill, patrons either requested ice from the staff or made their own, a common practice in this town’s cafés.
“Did you just use magic?”
The magician looked at Matthew in surprise.
Once again, Matthew felt he had made a mistake.
“Ah, well… I used it carelessly in public, didn’t I, haha.”
Their eyes met completely.
This was bad.
Her hair was a vivid, fiery orange.
This shade of orange was common among those with royal blood or noble families intertwined with the king’s lineage.
Of course, it was unlikely that royalty would be here.
It was probably just a needless worry.
But Matthew sensed she was no ordinary person.
She had the appearance of nobility.
“No… Is it permissible to do that in this café?”
“Well, I did it unconsciously. Please forgive my lapse in manners.”
In this country, magic was regarded as a noble weapon of war.
It was an intangible legendary sword and armor.
Using it casually in public spaces like a café’s seating area, outside of workplaces or kitchens, was frowned upon by the serious-minded.
However, this town was somewhat lax. It was just the local culture. The magician at the next table might not know this, possibly being from another region. Matthew had completely forgotten this. He was too relaxed after his business setback.
“Oh, um, please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean to scold or be angry.”
The magician hurriedly denied any ill intent and then cast a spell to create ice.
A perfectly round, shiny ice ball appeared in her hand.
Matthew found this impressive. Creating ice was easy with basic magic knowledge, but forming a perfect sphere required precise control.
“That’s impressive.”
The magician gave a somewhat troubled smile at Matthew’s words.
