The Arachrene family’s carriage entered the capital in less than a single day.
It was only possible because they had used a transit gate.
Ordinarily, receiving approval to use a transit gate took at least half a day, but for the Arachrene family, a single name was enough to bypass every formality without question.
“Wooaah.”
Riersha arrived in the capital with her mouth hanging open in wonder.
“It’s so pretty.”
“Riersha, it would be best if you sat back a little.”
“……Mm-kay.”
Riersha, who had been leaning halfway out the window to take everything in, settled herself obediently back into her seat.
As the famously lavish Arachrene carriage rolled into view, passersby halted in their tracks and turned to stare.
Among the empire’s citizens, the name “Arachrene” carried an influence that could not be ignored.
Reverence.
It was often said that if you removed the Arachrene family from the history of the Declair Empire, there would be nothing left — and that alone made such reverence entirely warranted.
“Risideon, are you heading straight to the imperial palace?”
“Hmm?”
Riersha, who had been absorbed in watching the world outside the window, whipped her head around.
Straight to the imperial palace?
Risideon shook his head.
“No. I’ve already sent word that I would arrive at the palace the morning of the ceremony.”
“I see.”
Risideon shifted uncomfortably under the intense, unwavering gaze boring into his side. When his eyes met Riersha’s, he quickly changed the subject.
“Is the capital really so fascinating to you, Riersha?”
“Yeah. There are so many people. And the buildings are incredibly pretty.”
“The closer we get to the imperial palace, the more magnificent it becomes. That area is where the nobility lives — if you get the chance, it would be worth taking a look around.”
As the residential district of the nobility, it also boasted an exceptionally high standard of public order.
“Then I can buy presents for my brothers there.”
“That works. …But did you bring any money?”
Risideon asked.
In that instant, Riersha felt the world drop out from under her.
Money?
Money, meaning…
“She doesn’t have any.”
Pernoa supplied the answer.
In truth, it would have been stranger for a child who had only just turned four to be carrying money around. Everything she needed had always been provided by the family, so it was only natural.
“No money, then.”
Risideon murmured, visibly thrown.
“Oh, Father…”
Riersha’s face crumpled into a pitiable pout.
“Well. There go the presents, I suppose.”
Pernoa gave a short, amused laugh. Riersha looked between the two of them with desperate, pleading eyes.
“Make one more piece of jewelry — nicer than what you made for the Duke — and I’ll give you whatever allowance you need.”
“Pardon?”
“Make something better than what you gave the Duke. Do that, and I’ll give you enough spending money.”
Pernoa spoke as though he had been waiting for exactly this moment.
He never missed an opportunity.
⁂
“Welcome, welcome to Esha’s Toy Shop!”
“Hewwo.”
Esha, the shop owner who had stepped forward to greet the adorable little customer, froze in place.
The two men following the child through the door looked anything but ordinary.
Those are people from the Arachrene family.
Any citizen of the empire would have recognized them at a glance.
Silver hair. Red eyes.
The Arachrene ducal family — rulers of the empire’s western territories.
If her instincts were correct, then the man who had accompanied this child was almost certainly…
Pernoa Arachrene. The young Duke.
Good heavens. The young Duke of Arachrene is here — in the capital — in my shop!
And not just any shop. Her shop. This extraordinary guest had chosen her establishment.
Or rather — this little lucky charm of a girl had!
“Riersha, choose whatever you like.”
“…It looks expensive.”
“You’re worrying about completely the wrong things.”
When the child hesitated at the sight of the costly merchandise on display, Pernoa let out a soft, amused laugh.
After more than a decade running her shop from the same spot, Esha’s gut screamed at her.
Jackpot.
And not just any jackpot.
An absolute goldmine.
Esha’s eyes gleamed as she turned to the little customer with her brightest smile.
“Now then, what does our dear little lady like?”
“I came to buy pwesents for my brothers.”
The child appeared to think hard for a moment, then cast a helpless, searching look upward.
“Hmm. How old are your brothers?”
“Seven and ten. But I don’t know what they like.”
So that was why the child was worrying herself so much.
Esha, who had spent the past while dealing only with snobbish young noble lordlings, felt her soul being cleansed on the spot.
“Don’t worry. If you pick a gift while thinking of the other person, they’ll be happy with it. I promise.”
“…Even if it’s not something they like?”
“Absolutely.”
Esha answered warmly.
The anxiety that had clouded the child’s face melted away into a radiant smile.
“If my family gave me a present like that, I think I’d be so happy I could fly.”
For a moment, Esha stopped breathing.
The little Arachrene lady, cheeks flushing pink as she spoke, was absolutely precious.
At the same moment, the two men who had entered with the child began making a rather conspicuous show of looking around the shop.
The catch of the century.
Esha felt her heart swell magnificently.
As the child began carefully selecting her gifts, the young Duke of Arachrene approached.
“Send everything in this shop to the Arachrene family home.”
“But of course.”
Esha rubbed her hands together with barely contained delight.
After the guests departed, Esha immediately flipped the sign on the door to CLOSED.
“Hey? What’s going on, Esha? You’re closing already?”
“Mm-hm. I just had the customer of a lifetime walk in and out.”
Before long, word spread quietly but swiftly: the young Duke of Arachrene had placed an order for everything in a certain toy shop.
⁂
Riersha gazed down at the neatly wrapped presents with quiet satisfaction swelling in her chest.
Pernoa looked at her and smiled.
What Riersha had chosen were magical devices that projected theatrical performances.
Each one, she had been told, contained a different story.
Apparently they were enormously popular among the young noble boys of the capital.
“It’s the story of a hero who slays a dragon, rescues a princess, and returns triumphantly to his kingdom.”
Before long, the carriage rolled into one of the capital’s wealthy districts.
“Are we not heading to the Arachrene villa?”
Risideon looked out the window and asked.
The route they were taking was not toward the villa the family usually stayed in when visiting the capital.
“We received an invitation.”
“An invitation…?”
Risideon asked, puzzled.
Pernoa’s expression was one of profound reluctance.
He recalled the letter he had received not long ago.
So you’re attending the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration this time around, are you?
How is it possible that you’ve been ignoring every single one of my messages, only for me to hear your news through rumor?
If you turn down my invitation, I will personally come to your villa and shout your name at the top of my lungs until someone opens the door.
And everything you asked me to take care of — I’ll undo all of it.
The contents were rather outrageous, but Pernoa knew the sender was entirely capable of following through on every last threat, which was precisely why refusing had not been an option.
“So we’re going to your father’s friend’s estate?”
“That is not what this is.”
Pernoa’s expression twisted with distaste.
This person was someone in whom any sense of aristocratic duty was utterly and completely absent.
“Is it Daddy’s fwend?”
Riersha asked curiously.
“I heard the two of them competed for first and second in the Academy,” Risideon offered.
“The Academy?”
“During the reign of the previous emperor, the relationship between the imperial family and House Arachrene wasn’t a bad one.”
Risideon’s explanation caught Riersha’s interest. The idea that Pernoa had once attended the Academy struck her as oddly remarkable.
So there was a time when they were on good terms with the imperial family.
The previous emperor had understood just how vital the Arachrene family was to the empire. Even in peacetime, the name “Arachrene” alone was enough to keep the surrounding nations in check.
Then why does the current emperor feel threatened by House Arachrene?
Had something happened between them?
The fact that the current heirs of House Arachrene were not being sent to the Academy made it plain that the rift had grown catastrophic.
The children of noble families built their connections at the Academy from a young age. It was where they naturally came together and formed the bonds that would define their social lives.
Those who were denied that experience often found themselves isolated within high society.
And that was precisely the point — the imperial family had used that exclusion to prevent House Arachrene from gaining any foothold in the capital.
Riersha glanced quietly at Risideon.
Risideon must have had such a hard time at the imperial palace — not knowing a single soul there.
Without having attended the Academy, Risideon would have had no ties to anyone at court.
A small, heavy weight settled in Riersha’s chest.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage came to a stop before a grand manor.
Intricately carved gates rose high against the sky. Beyond them, a garden was visible at a glance — breathtakingly beautiful.
A faint, sweet fragrance seemed to drift through the air.
Whoever owned this estate clearly possessed an exceptionally refined sense of beauty.
“We’ve arrived, my lord.”
The coachman announced their arrival and gently opened the carriage door.
Riersha’s eyes sparkled.
It was a beauty entirely unlike the Arachrene castle, which had been built to inspire awe through grandeur. This was something different altogether.
“Ah — it’s been a while, Pernoa.”
Someone stepped forward to greet Pernoa with easy familiarity.
It was a voice — smooth and melodious, lovely to the ear.
