--Tiana--
"Even so, Lord Finn has been making handy Magic Tools forever-he's terribly brilliant, isn't he?" Lady Alicia praised.
"Quite so. His ideas and his skills are both extraordinarily brilliant," Lady Celestia agreed smoothly.
"He was at the Academy until last year, but he seemed so busy we almost never saw him," Lady Alicia noted.
...That's because he was making Magic Tools day and night, like always, I think. He pretty much lived in the Magic Tool Research Club room...
"There is a saying abroad that heaven grants not two gifts to one person, yet Lord Finn has received far more than two gifts from above, I do believe," Lady Celestia remarked.
"I agree entirely! He is the son of a Marquis, a marvelous Magic Tool maker, and on top of all that, handsome! I am terribly jealous of Lady Tiana having such a brother!" Lady Alicia gushed.
Yeah...
"...From a little sister's point of view, he's just a normal brother," I mumbled softly.
"I quite understand that sentiment. I have an elder brother myself-he is certainly talented and handsome, yet to me, he is merely a kind brother," Lady Celestia offered thoughtfully.
"I am immensely jealous of you both! I have only younger siblings, alas," Lady Alicia sighed envious.
"I have three big brothers, so I wanted at least one sister. When I was little, I even said to Lady Celestia, 'Please give me a big sister!' Proper embarrassing memory, that," I recalled with a slight laugh.
"Ah, I remember that! It was when we visited Lady Celestia's estate together. Her elder sister returned from the Academy elementary division and played with us," Lady Alicia gasped happily.
"That did happen, didn't it. I wept and cried, 'My sister is being taken away by Lady Tiana!'..," Lady Celestia giggled.
The three of us looked at each other and laughed.
...Nothing's changed since back then.
Lady Celestia and Lady Alicia are both precious friends to me.
After that, the bell rang, and we had our classes like always.
Basic studies, magic studies, the education you need as a noble. The content got harder once we reached the high school division, but if I'm with my friends, I can learn happily.
There were lectures about Magic Tools too, and every time, people around me asked about the Folding-Fan Magic Tool1, so I ended up explaining the same thing over and over.
Then lunch break came and went, and the afternoon classes ended too--
"Well then, shall we head to the Lilien Trading Company?" Lady Celestia suggested.
We nodded at Lady Celestia's words.
If we all went in our own family Carriages, the front of the Lilien Trading Company would get crowded.
So we decided to ride together in Carriages, a few people at a time.
I got into the same Carriage as Lady Celestia and Lady Alicia.
Even inside the Carriage, the topic was still all about the Folding-Fan Magic Tool--
"Ah, Uncle Alex," I called out.
When we arrived at the Lilien Trading Company and were about to get out of the Carriage--
Uncle Alex was seeing off some customers.
"Hey, isn't that Tiana? It's been a while. And you're with the Duke of Rievert's daughter and the Marquis of Evaris's daughter too," Uncle Alex greeted with a warm smile.
"Yeah. Some other Academy kids came with us, though," I explained.
"I see. Anyway, it's hot outside, so everyone come in," Uncle Alex gestured us inside.
Urged on by Uncle Alex, we all went inside the store.
And then--"""...!! It's cold!!""" the group gasped in unison.
The moment we stepped inside, cool air wrapped around us.
"This is our newest Magic Tool, one we plan to sell in the future," Uncle Alex announced proudly.
...He's already set up the Cooling Magic Tool2 in the store so customers can try it out.
As expected of Uncle Alex.
Once you actually feel this much coolness, anyone would want one.
"Might this be the very Cooling Magic Tool you mentioned, Lady Tiana?" Lady Celestia asked, looking around.
"Yeah. This Cooling Magic Tool, I highly recommend it, trust," I affirmed with enthusiasm.
"I simply must have this one as well!" Lady Alicia declared.
Watching the young ladies start talking about their thoughts one after another, Uncle Alex walked over to me.
"Tiana. Did you need something today?" Uncle Alex inquired, walking over.
"Yeah. I brought the Folding-Fan Magic Tool to the Academy, and everyone went mad for it. So I came to place reservations," I answered.
"Ah! You've already spread the word for me! Thank you, Tiana," Uncle Alex laughed gratefully.
After calming down everyone who was lost in conversation, Uncle Alex started taking each person's reservation.
Most people reserved both the Folding-Fan Magic Tool and the Cooling Magic Tool, and there were quite a few young ladies who reserved the Cooling Magic Tool for their family members too, and the Folding-Fan Magic Tool for their mothers and sisters as well.
.....The leader of that group, of course, was Lady Celestia.
"Now then, everyone. Please choose a fan design from here," Uncle Alex instructed.
Saying that, Uncle Alex lined up fans with different colors and patterns. There were nearly fifty of them.
"Of course, you can also add a Cooling Function to a fan you already own," Uncle Alex added.
"My word! So many exquisite fans..," Lady Celestia admired.
"I have a beloved fan myself, so perhaps I shall have a Cooling Function added to it," Lady Alicia pondered.
"This looks perfect for a birthday present for my sister," one of the young ladies noted.
Everyone picked up fans they liked, comparing them this way and that, and started choosing happily.
"Hello," Finn greeted softly.
"Welcome. Lord Finn," the Clerk bowed.
At that voice, I couldn't help but look toward the store entrance.
"Big Brother Finn!" I called out.
"Huh? ...Tiana? Why are you here?" Big Brother Finn blinked in surprise.
"I came with my Academy mates to reserve the Folding-Fan Magic Tool and the Cooling Magic Tool," I explained.
"...Huh?" Big Brother Finn uttered stupidly.
"See, I told you. You'd be the center of attention," Uncle Alex teased.
"While I was sleeping, this happened..," Big Brother Finn muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"You were sleeping until this hour, serious?" I gasped.
What time does he think it is...
"I was up all night, so there wasn't much choice," Big Brother Finn defended himself.
"Ah, Lord Finn. It has been quite some time," Lady Celestia curtsied slightly.
"Lady Celestia, Lady Alicia. It's been a while. Thank you for always being good to Tiana," Big Brother Finn bowed politely.
"Not at all, thank you. Lady Tiana is always so delightful to us," Lady Celestia demurred politely.
"I am always delighted to spend time with her as well," Lady Alicia agreed brightly.
"Lord Finn. If you would care to, we are visiting a new cafe shortly. Would you care to join us?" Lady Celestia offered.
"Thank you for the invitation. But I have a meeting with the company president after this, so..," Big Brother Finn declined politely.
"Naturally. You are terribly busy, after all. Lord Finn, you are quite the talk of the town at present!" Lady Celestia nodded in understanding.
"...Me?" Big Brother Finn repeated blankly.
"Indeed. Word has spread that you created the Folding-Fan Magic Tool throughout the Academy," Lady Celestia elaborated.
"Well, that's how it is. I'm gonna hit the cafe with Lady Celestia and the others before heading home," I piped up.
"Ah, okay. Have fun," Big Brother Finn nodded.
"Finn. Wait for me in the president's office first. I'll head over as soon as I'm done," Uncle Alex instructed.
"Lord Finn. I'll show you the way," the Clerk gestured respectfully.
Led by the Clerk, Big Brother Finn disappeared into the back.
"Well then, now that the reservations are complete, shall we proceed to the cafe?" Lady Celestia turned to us.
I nodded at Lady Celestia's voice, and we left the Lilien Trading Company behind.
...I was going to pick out a fan too, but Big Brother Finn showing up made me completely forget.
Trivia:
- Tiana's internal observation that her brother practically lived in the Magic Tool Research Club room hints that his social isolation and obsessive work habits predate the story and may be a core part of his character arc.
- The childhood memory of Tiana crying that Celestia's sister was being taken from her reveals a long-standing pattern of Tiana feeling overshadowed or left behind by those she cares about, which quietly mirrors her current dynamic with Finn.
- Alex strategically installing the Cooling Magic Tool in the store before its official release shows he is not just a merchant but a savvy marketer who uses hands-on experience to generate demand, hinting at how the Lilien Trading Company became successful.
Translation Notes:
1 ↩ A folding fan enchanted with magical properties, a novel product that has not yet been widely distributed. The name combines the traditional Japanese folding fan (sensu) with the world's magic tool crafting system.
2 ↩ A magical device that lowers the surrounding temperature. In this world, cooling is a luxury, making this a highly desirable product. The term reflects the setting's convention of naming enchanted items by their function plus Magic Tool.
Notes:
• Tiana - Younger sister who returns from the academy. Complains about the cold Workshop and worries about their mother. Curious about her brother's inventions.
• Alicia - Daughter of the Marquis of Evaris and close friend of Tiana. Has an older brother. Warm and easygoing with a playful side. Young noblewoman and Academy classmate of Tiana. Eager and quick to act, suggests reserving magic tools right away and joins the cafe trip.
• Finn - Third son of a marquis family and a magical tool maker. Graduated from an academy and became a full magical tool maker after apprenticing. Currently staying at the family estate during summer. Working on a prototype magical tool that can cool the air, using a fan blower's magical circuit as a base. Has a tendency to forget meals when absorbed in work, though this has improved. Finds the dining room and hallways uncomfortably hot. Wears his shirt with two buttons undone at home. Knows Noah well since childhood. Third son of a marquis family living in the royal capital. Aspiring magical tool maker who retains memories of a past life. Currently working on creating a cooling magical device to deal with an unusually hot summer. Gets absorbed in work and loses track of time.
• Celestia - Daughter of the Duke of Rievert and close friend of Tiana. Has an older brother and older sister. Composed, polite, and elegant in bearing. Known to be a leader among the Academy girls. Young noblewoman and Academy classmate of Tiana. Tries the Folding-Fan Magic Tool and is amazed by it, then joins the after-school plan to reserve one.
• Alex - Owner of Lilien Trading Company. Called Uncle Alex by Finn. Experienced merchant with an eye for sellable goods and a close, familiar relationship with Finn's family. Practical about product development and eager to commercialize new magical tools.