Blue Land, a fortified city in the southern reaches of the Kingdom of Egerea.
Ruled by Duke Blue, this was the first city Jin had ever visited of his own volition. It was here that he met a red-haired girl named Beena. Becoming her acquaintance, Jin—himself a magi craftman—had spent time assisting her with her business on the outskirts of the city.
Ultimately, Jin had fended off Earl Guarana’s harassment and taken his leave—a departure with quite some history behind it.
Later, having revisited the city with Reinhard’s group, Jin had traveled to Asunt, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Egerea, alongside Count Kuzuma and Beena. There, they had attended the Golem Party.
It was during that event that Count Kuzuma had proposed to Beena, and she had accepted.
"Wrong! You must not pinch the hem of your skirt so high."
"Yeees."
"Your response should be a crisp 'yes'!"
"...Yes."
Beena was currently in the midst of intensive etiquette training.
In the Kingdom of Egerea, it was customary for influential local nobles to participate in national politics. Typically, they traveled to the royal capital for three months out of the year to fulfill their duties.
Count Kuzuma had been scheduled to be in the royal capital from April through the end of June this year. However, due to the nation-scale turmoil in April, the capital had not been functioning properly. Consequently, his effective term had been reduced to the two months of May and June.
Incidentally, Earl Guarana had yet to achieve the track record required to participate in national politics.
"Wrong! When drinking Te-e, you must hold the So with your left hand."
"...Yes."
"Oh, honestly! You do not grab the cup; you pinch the handle!"
"...Yes."
The woman instructing Beena with such sharp words was the Chief Maid, Maroom. In her late thirties, she was a long-time veteran who had served House Kuzuma since Louis—the current Count Kuzuma—was a small child.
Contrary to her usual composed demeanor, her instruction of Beena was fierce.
"You must not set the cup down with such a clatter!"
"...Yes."
Beena endured the grueling lessons in silence.
"...Ugh, I'm exhausted..."
That night, she returned to her room and collapsed onto her bed.
"Big sister, are you okay?"
A worried voice called out from the next room. it was her younger brother, Raldo.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired. You two must be exhausted as well, right?"
"We're doing okay."
Ever since the popcorn maker had been sold to Earl Guarana, the commoners had clamored for its return. Under Count Kuzuma’s sponsorship, Beena had manufactured more of the devices.
Beena’s younger siblings, Nana and Raldo, were the ones now selling the popcorn.
"We sold out again today."
Because they publicly declared that Count Kuzuma was backing them, the two of them were able to manage despite their age.
In truth, making the popcorn was simple as long as they had the machine; all that remained was the actual selling and the management of the earnings. Since the sales table and the machines were too heavy for the two children to carry alone, a rotating staff of maids, butlers, and private soldiers from the Count’s household accompanied them every day.
Thanks to this protection, they encountered no trouble and earned a steady profit daily.
Technically, the daily sales were less than the wages of the staff accompanying them, but as this was a service provided by Count Kuzuma to his citizens, it wasn't an issue. Furthermore, the Count, who was utterly smitten with Beena, had assigned the guards out of a desperate fear that something might happen to her young siblings.
"It’s only been five days, but we’ve already got some regulars. Every day is fun."
"I see. That’s good then."
Selling popcorn was something she had once started with Jin. It was a nostalgic memory—how so many customers had been drawn in by that addictive flavor, and how they had also purchased the lighters and water warmers she was selling at the time.
"...To think only about four months have passed since then."
It was also a fond memory how, about a month after that, she had been invited by Jin when they reunited to visit Kunlun Island, his home and base of operations.
"I wonder what Jin is doing right now."
"Wrong! Your steps must be lighter. Your soles should hardly leave the floor at all, or you'll end up treading on your partner's feet."
"Yes."
"Yes, like that. Now, mind your gaze. Do not look at your feet; keep your eyes on your partner's chest."
"Yes."
Today was dance practice. Beena’s athletic reflexes were sharp enough that she grasped this much more quickly than she did etiquette. They practiced for about an hour.
"Clean more quietly! You're kicking up dust!"
Once dance practice ended, the next lesson was housekeeping.
"Do not think that being a noblewoman is an excuse to be unable to clean. To be incapable would only tarnish your husband's reputation."
Maroom insisted that if no butlers or maids were present, a wife had to be able to care for her husband’s every need. Therefore, a lady of the house had to be able to perform all domestic chores at a high level.
Being somewhat naturally impatient, Beena found the cleaning lessons the most difficult of all.
"Now, flip it there!...Ah, no, you mustn't be so forceful....Look, the shape is ruined."
Once the cleaning instruction was over, it was time for cooking. Currently, Beena was struggling with a plain omelet—a dish with surprising depth. Any failed attempts ended up being eaten by the servants (provided they were at least edible).
Woken up at six in the morning and trained until eight at night, the young Beena was worn to the bone.
She was permitted to bathe at the end of the day, but even that was turned into a lesson.
"In the bath, you may find yourself accompanied by other noble ladies. You must properly conceal yourself with a towel, and when pouring water, you must be mindful of your surroundings so as not to splash others."
"Yes..."
"You must not frolic in the tub. Take care not to splash when entering or leaving."
"Yes..."
Beena felt that the bath, which was supposed to soothe her fatigue, only left her more drained.
"Ugh, I'm so tired..."
Beena began to suspect that she would eventually be given instructions on how to sleep as well.
That suspicion soon became a reality.
"Listen well. In the bedroom, you must never fall asleep before your husband. Only after your husband has retired to the bed should you ask for his leave and lie down beside him."
"..."
Having even her sleep habits dictated, Beena was on the verge of snapping.
However, she managed to endure it and returned to her room. There, on her table, sat a letter from the Count. Count Kuzuma sent a letter like this from the royal capital to Beena once a week.
"To my beloved Beena,
I hope you are doing well. My days are currently consumed by the review of the kingdom's annual budget. Due to the recent Golem Party Incident and the Unifilar Incident, our internal affairs are in a dire state."
The letter began with an update on his daily life and went on to describe various events in the royal capital.
"I imagine you are also having a difficult time mastering etiquette and your other lessons every day, but I will return in July, so please wait for me. I, too, am managing my heavy workload each day while looking forward to the day I can see you again. Until then, take care of your health.
From the royal capital, Asunt, with love, Louis Waltz Kuzuma."
"...Phew."
In a small box by Beena's pillow was a bundle of these letters. When times were tough, or when she was sad or fed up, she would reread them to find her strength. But above all, reading a freshly arrived letter made her the happiest.
"...I'll do my best again tomorrow."
Telling herself that, Beena finally drifted off to sleep.