Uncle Alex slid a slip of paper across the desk. "How about something like this?"
A memo with candidate names for the Cooling Magic Tool and the Folding-Fan Magic Tool was written down and handed to me by Uncle Alex, and I looked it over.
"...For the Cooling Magic Tool, the candidates are Breeze, Cool Magia, Frost, and Selene," I read through the list, "For the Folding-Fan Magic Tool, the candidates are Vent, Felicia, Elegance, and Flora... Yeah, I think Cooling Magic Tool and Folding-Fan Magic Tool are fine."
"That's just the product category. Besides, if noblewomen are going to use it, they prefer flashy names."
...I'd rather have something as simple and easy to understand as possible. And men will use it too.
"My recommendation would be Selene for the Cooling Magic Tool, and Felicia for the Folding-Fan Magic Tool."
I stared back in silence, realizing that Uncle Alex almost gave them super flashy names-that was close!
I cut in quickly. "I'll go with Breeze and Vent!"
"Yeah? It's simple, but it's easy to understand as a product, so it's good."
While I was thinking about that, Uncle Alex wrote the names into the documents.
"Then we'll go ahead with Breeze for the Cooling Magic Tool and Vent for the Folding-Fan Magic Tool, okay?"
"Please do," I nodded.
"The summer social season is coming up soon, and people are starting to gather in the Royal capital, so I'll get to work on it at a fast pace. Of course we'll prioritize the pre-orders, but I think the first requests will come from high-ranking nobles."
"Yeah. It's the usual flow."
"I don't think Finn participates much in noble socializing, so it should be fine, but there are some people who demand to be prioritized first. Even though it's business, when you're dealing with nobles, you need to make adjustments."
"Every time it's impossible, so why do they keep saying it every time...?" I sighed.
"That's what negotiation is, I guess."
"Isn't that negotiation, like, really bad? I think it's inefficient."
"Well... yeah," Uncle Alex gave a faint, wry smirk.
But Uncle Alex supports this trading company while handling the troublesome adjustments with nobles.
Still in his early thirties, Uncle Alex built Lilien Trading Company up this big, and I really think that's amazing.
"Well, anyway, that's the flow, and at first we'll be gifting them to the royal family. Is that okay?"
"Yeah. If you do that, then Prince Wilfried won't send a complaint letter saying 'why doesn't my place have one.'"
"You two are as close as ever."
"...Huh?" I blinked.
"Huh?" Uncle Alex echoed.
Did I say something weird?
I've known Prince Wilfried since we were little, and even during the Academy days we talked about Magic Tools, and he sometimes sends me complaint letters. That's the kind of relationship we have.
"Anyway, we're done talking, right? I think I'll head home soon."
"Ah. Thanks for coming today. I wanted to decide the product names early and start advertising."
While talking about that, Uncle Alex walked me outside the store.
"Then next time, I'll come again when Grandpa visits."
"Ah, got it. Be careful going home."
Just as I was about to get into the Carriage--
"Oh, I came to buy materials!" I called out, turning around, "Uncle Alex! I'll do some shopping before I go home."
When I said that, Uncle Alex laughed and urged me to go back into the store.
I handed the Clerk a paper with the materials I needed written on it, and while I waited, I looked around the store.
Then I noticed there were a lot of people showing interest in the Cooling Magic Tool--Breeze.
Well, yeah... if it's this cool, there are probably a lot of people who'd be curious, and if you use it at home too, you should definitely be able to spend your time comfortably.
While I was thinking about that, the Clerk brought the materials.
I finished paying, and this time I really got into the Carriage.
It's only been a few hours since I woke up, but somehow I feel really tired.
Is it because I used my head more than usual to decide on product names?
When I get home, I'll take a break with some baked sweets and the tea Noah makes for me.
Trivia:
- The narrator's instinct to reject flashy names mirrors a deeper discomfort with noble society's obsession with appearance over function, hinting at his commoner-friendly values despite his birth.
- Uncle Alex's comment that noblewomen prefer flashy names while the narrator insists men will use the products too subtly reveals the narrator's awareness of a market Uncle Alex overlooks, showing unexpected business sense.
- The fact that Prince Wilfried sends complaint letters rather than formal correspondence suggests their friendship operates outside strict royal protocol, a rare dynamic that may become important in future court intrigue.
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Wilfried - Prince. Close childhood friend of the narrator. Sends complaint letters and discusses Magic Tools.
• Noah - Finn's personal attendant. Has been by Finn's side since childhood. Knows Finn well.