"Wow...!"
Seeing the vast variety of goods packed tightly into the shop, Primeria flashed an innocent smile befitting her age. Super kawai-yusu.
I'd love for her to direct that smile toward me if possible, but that's a pipe dream, isn't it? The second she noticed my gaze, her smile underwent a Paradise Lost. I feel like I've been slammed into the pavement.
But I haven't been taking Heliotrope's verbal abuse for three years for nothing. My mental resistance is already at its level cap. A blow like this is merely a light, fatal wound!
"Primeria, could you wait for me by doing some shopping until I finish my work? If there's anything you want, feel free to buy whatever you like," I said.
"Eh, but while you're working..." Primeria asked.
"Heliotrope, Laps."
""Leave it to us,"" the maids replied.
For a daughter so modest she was fully prepared to decline, a forced shopping trip orchestrated by two maids was the solution. Three women gathered—please, enjoy yourselves and make a noisy scene.
"Wents, sorry for the wait. Shall we begin the meeting?" I asked.
"No. Please, this way," Wents replied.
Leaving Primeria behind as she flustered between the two maids, I entered the reception room at the back of the store with Wents and sat down across from him.
...Yeah. Even though I brought three beautiful girls and young ladies with me, for some reason, I'm now alone in a room with a cool-type guy. If certain circles saw this, it would be a seriously yabai look. Please stop calling this 'shota-dom' or 'super-darling,' seriously.
"Now then, regarding the books scheduled for delivery to the orphanage..." Wents said.
"Yes," I replied.
Sorry for thinking about stupid things. Since Wents is in serious work mode, I'll switch into work mode too.
Well then, I wonder if the others are enjoying their shopping?
* * *
SIDE: Primeria
Kraut-sama went into the back of the shop with Wents-san. On both sides of me stood two beautiful maids. For some reason, my arms were being gripped firmly.
"Now then. Since it is our Master's command, we must ensure that Primeria-sama enjoys her shopping trip," Heliotrope said.
"Indeed. If it is a command from the next Duke¹, we who serve the Weltheim² family have no choice but to obey," Laps added.
Despite their words, their voices sounded cheerful. I was pulled along, somewhat forcefully, to the front of the shelves where the products were lined up.
As expected of a merchant guild³ patronized by Kraut-sama, the shelves were packed with many items I had never seen before.
Oh, this was decorated in my room—it's more expensive than I thought!?
"Did something catch your eye?" Heliotrope asked.
"Ah, no, well... this was decorated in my room, but it was a much higher-priced item than I realized," Primeria replied.
"Ah, I see. Please do not worry, it all comes from Master's private funds," Heliotrope said.
"Ehh..." Primeria muttered.
Even if you tell me not to worry, it's impossible...
After that, I walked around the store while talking with the two of them. There were a few things that caught my interest, but as someone who has never had the experience of buying whatever I wanted, I couldn't bring myself to make a decision.
Eventually, the two people other than me began discussing what I should buy.
"Thinking about the future, it would be best to have several dresses tailored," Heliotrope said.
"That's true. It seems Master is also considering participating in social circles soon," Laps replied.
"D-Dresses!? Social circles!?" Primeria asked.
Shocking words kept popping out one after another. I've already received such well-tailored clothes, and now dresses too? Moreover, I'm to wear them and appear in society?
For someone like me who has lived a frugal life until now, my head can't keep up!
"Ha-hawawa..." Primeria muttered.
"Oops. My apologies, Primeria-sama. We may have pushed a bit too fast," Heliotrope said.
My head felt like it was spinning and I was about to stumble, but Heliotrope-san supported me. I wish she could share some of that composure with me.
"Thank you, Heliotrope-sama. I should have been the one supporting her," Laps said.
"At the moment, I am also the one entrusted with Primeria-sama's care. ...Hehe, she is quite a lovely person, unlike my master," Heliotrope muttered.
"Chuckle, isn't that a bit pitiful for Kraut-sama? Though certainly, you must have suffered the most, Heliotrope-sama," Laps replied.
"Eh...?" Primeria asked.
Suffered? Or was made to suffer? By whom?
As question marks floated in my head, Heliotrope-san looked at me and gave a small, soft laugh, perhaps because it was showing on my face.
"Primeria-sama, you still seem to be nervous around Master. Therefore, if I may be so bold, I would like to offer a bit of advice," Heliotrope said.
"P-Please, by all means," Primeria replied.
I still can't even have a proper conversation, let alone look him in the eye. Advice from Kraut-sama's personal maid is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
"That person is no prince," Heliotrope said.
"Eh?" Primeria asked.
For a moment, I couldn't understand what she was saying and was taken aback. After all, Kraut-sama is such a wonderful person, just like a prince from a story...
"I can understand the feeling that he is like a storybook prince. ...If only you didn't know the old Master (whisper). However, you could say his true essence is the exact opposite," Heliotrope said.
"Is... that so...?" Primeria asked.
I felt like she whispered something in the middle, but her voice was too quiet for me to hear at all. More importantly, the content of what she said was so shocking I didn't have the leeway to worry about it.
"He is simply a man of grit, someone who struggles with honest stupidity to seize the results he desires. ...A mere sparkling prince couldn't even compare to his footsteps. You must have felt it too, Primeria-sama, in that hand," Heliotrope said.
When she said that, I remembered him holding my hand when we first met.
Until then, I had never even touched the hand of the opposite sex, so I didn't know. But I think Kraut-sama's palm was rugged and very hard.
Finally, Heliotrope-san placed her right index finger in front of her mouth and wore a mischievous expression.
"I've told you many things, but this is a secret from him. It seems a certain someone wants to always show his cool side to you, Primeria-sama," Heliotrope said.
"......"
Seeing the playful gesture of a cool, adult woman, I found myself captivated by her charm.
Summary:
Kraut takes Primeria and his maids to a merchant guild for a shopping trip while he handles business. He leaves Primeria in the care of Heliotrope and Laps, who plan to buy her expensive clothes and dresses. Primeria feels overwhelmed by the luxury but finds comfort in a conversation with Heliotrope. Heliotrope reveals that Kraut is not a perfect 'prince' but a hard-working man of grit. The chapter ends with Primeria seeing a new, playful side of Heliotrope.
Character Insight:
Heliotrope shows significant character depth here; she isn't just a 'cool beauty' maid but someone who deeply understands Kraut's flaws and efforts. Her decision to bridge the gap between Primeria and Kraut by revealing his 'unglamorous' hard-working nature shows her loyalty and her desire for the siblings to truly connect. Primeria's growth is seen in her transition from being intimidated by the high-class environment to finding curiosity and admiration for the people around her.
Behind the Scene:
The term 'Paradise Lost' used by Kraut is a typical example of his inner otaku-leaning monologue, contrasting with his outward noble persona. The author uses the 'three women make a scene' proverb to emphasize the lively, chaotic energy of the shopping trip compared to Kraut's serious business meeting.
T/L:
1 ↩ Duke: A high-ranking noble title, in this context referring to Kraut's future status.
2 ↩ Weltheim: The name of the protagonist's noble house.
3 ↩ Merchant Guild: An organization of merchants that controls trade and commerce in the region.
Notes:
• Primeria - A main heroine of 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'. Currently the illegitimate child of a Viscount family with high magical power and beauty. Tprotagonist's new stepsister, an eleven-year-old girl described as incredibly beautiful and fragile. She has shoulder-length, soft pink hair and porcelain-white skin.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.
• Laps - A petite maid serving the Duke's house and an alumna of the orphanage Kraut is sponsoring. She has a cute, protective charm with short brown bob hair.
• Wents - A tall young man in his late twenties with neatly set hair and thin-framed glasses. He is the representative of the Wents Merchant Guild and is highly competent in information gathering.
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family (Now 14 years old). He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Handsome and now he is slender.