"Allow me to introduce myself. I am from the Nidou family, your new neighbors."
Accompanied by Edgar, Elsa first went to pay her respects at the household of Count Woodruff Abelain von Elm, located to the right of her own home.
"How very polite of you. One moment, please."
The elderly man who appeared to be the steward received Elsa, stepped inside for a moment, and returned with a woman who seemed to be the lady of the house.
"My, thank you for coming all this way. You're from the Nidou family? I am Woodruff's wife, Jenna."
"I am Elsa Nidou. It is a pleasure to meet you. I brought this as a small token of our neighborly regard. Please, accept it."
Elsa gestured for Edgar to present the fruit basket she had him carry.
"Oh my, citran and... persica. How rare. Thank you so much."
Countess Jenna was a frank, friendly person; she put an arm around Elsa's shoulder and guided her inside. They were led to a drawing room with a bright, airy atmosphere.
"My husband is currently at the palace, leaving me quite bored. Do stay for a bit and keep me company."
"Y-Yes, of course."
Taking that as her cue, the countess leaned forward in her chair and began to chatter away.
"You're so lucky to have a Magi Craft Meister for an older brother! He must be able to make almost anything for you, right?"
"I heard from my husband that the Technology Expo was quite a lively affair."
"You're a quiet one, aren't you? Oh, I'm sorry, I've been doing all the talking, haven't I?"
"My husband is the Chief of the Technical Department at the Ministry of Magi Technology, you know. He might already be acquainted with your brother."
"If you ever have any trouble, please feel free to rely on me anytime."
"Oh, that reminds me, the wife next door..."
"At the recent party at the Count's estate..."
"About the skirts that are in fashion lately..."
For about an hour, Elsa was forced to keep the countess company, trapped in the wake of her non-stop chatter.
"...I'm exhausted."
Elsa was mentally drained, but she had no choice but to head to the next house to finish her introductions.
To her left stood the household of Viscount Volker Goldmann von Orc.
The Viscount was also away at work, so his wife, Viscountess Sharona Goldmann von Tanne, received her.
"My, my, what a lovely young lady. So your brother is the Magi Craft Meister? I hear he's held in high regard by Her Majesty; that's truly impressive."
She, too, seemed to have far too much free time during the day, and Elsa was once again subjected to nearly an hour of gossip.
"..."
"Elsa-sama, are you alright?"
Edgar, worried by Elsa's somewhat pale complexion, spoke up, but Elsa gave a short reply saying she was fine.
"This will be the last one."
Of the three houses facing them, the properties on either side of Viscount Jorgens Hekelat von Paddock's house were vacant. Once she greeted the Viscount's household, her social duties for the day would be complete.
To Elsa, who had never moved in high society, the conversational stamina of these ladies was a phenomenon to behold.
(I wonder how they can possibly talk that much...)
It almost made her think that chattering was a required skill for the nobility.
(But I...)
Elsa felt that Jin was someone who generally disliked noisiness.
(I'm fine just the way I am... right?)
No one could answer the question she kept hidden in her heart.
"My, how very kind. You're Lord Jin Nidou's younger sister, correct?"
Here, too, it was the Viscountess who received her. She introduced herself as Lexia Hekelat von Camelere.
"I am Elsa Nidou."
"Elsa-san, then. It's a pleasure to meet a neighbor. Oh, that's right—how old are you?"
"Y-Yes, I am seventeen."
"I see. A fine age. You're single, I assume?"
Looking at Elsa's left hand, the Viscountess spoke as if confirming a fact rather than asking a question.
"...Yes."
"Do you have someone special in your life?"
"N-No, not particularly."
At that answer, the Viscountess lunged in as if she had found exactly what she was looking for.
"Oh, really? You see, I have a nephew who's twenty-one. He's in the Royal Ritter Order—only a squire for now, but he's a good boy with a bright future. What do you think?"
Even being asked what she thought, Elsa had no idea how to respond.
"U-Um, I'm not... looking for that kind of thing yet."
Stammering, Elsa could only offer a gentle refusal.
"Is that so? He really is a wonderful boy. Ah, or perhaps there is already a man in your heart?"
"Eh..."
At the mention of a "man in her heart," Elsa's cheeks turned a faint shade of red.
"My, my, my, I see. Then it can't be helped. I'd love to hear his name, but it would be rude since we've only just met."
"..."
In this manner, Elsa somehow managed to finish her round of greetings to the neighbors.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Let's go over there!"
Hanna, who had gone out with Belle to see the sights of Loizart, was walking around with boundless energy.
"Hanna-sama, are you not tired?"
"Nope, I'm okay!"
After looking through the shopping district, Hanna arrived at a park.
"There aren't any flowers."
"That's true. Autumn is well underway, after all."
"Ah, but there are some nuts falling!"
There was a corner where many round, rolling brown nuts had fallen. Hanna crouched down and began to pick them up.
"Those are kastany nuts."
They came from a tree with large leaves shaped like a Tengu's fan. In autumn, the leaves turned a brilliant yellow.
"Can you eat them?"
"Let's see... I believe you have to grind them up and soak them in water first, or they don't taste very good."
Belle had never eaten them herself, but she had heard stories about them.
"Hmm."
Saying that, Hanna continued her gathering.
As she was looking down at the ground, focused entirely on the nuts, her head bumped into another.
"Kyah!"
"That hurts."
"A-Are you alright!?"
Belle, who hadn't expected her to bump into someone, rushed over in a panic.
The person she had bumped into was a girl about the same age as Hanna. She appeared to be a young lady of high standing, as an attendant was already rushing toward her.
The girl had slightly wavy blonde hair and blue eyes.
"I-I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too!"
Both girls were holding their heads as they sat on the ground; the kastany nuts they had gathered were scattered all around them.
"My lady, are you alright? And you, young miss, are you unhurt?"
"Hauro, yes, I am okay."
"Yeah, I'm okay too."
"I am called Shiide."
"I'm Hanna."
"Hanna-chan, it is a pleasure."
"Yeah, Shiide-chan, nice to meet you!"
Perhaps they felt some kind of instant connection, for the two girls became fast friends while still sitting on the ground.