Though shaken to her core by Kaito’s presence, the young lady struggled to maintain a façade of calm while her thoughts raced at a breakneck pace.
(C-C-Calm down. Remember your strict upbringing as a lady... r-r-r-remain calm... I must organize my thoughts quickly. It is forbidden for the nobility to carelessly approach Miyama Kaito-sama. However, that is only because he dislikes the entanglements of high society; technically, the prohibition is meant to stop people from seeking connections with him for their own personal gain.)
The royal families of every nation had strictly forbidden any attempts to invite Kaito to tea parties or evening galas. They knew there would be no end to the requests if they allowed even one, and more importantly, Kaito himself had no interest in such things.
Attempting to use Kaito for political leverage was even more dangerous. Anyone foolish enough to try would likely be erased from existence by the Phantasm King.
(Since I have merely stumbled upon Miyama Kaito-sama’s stall by chance, this encounter should be safe. However, I must not introduce myself. We are currently nothing more than a customer and a clerk; a formal introduction would be unnatural. Besides, from what I’ve heard of his personality, he surely wouldn’t want a scene to break out if word got around that he was personally tending a shop.)
As the daughter of a Marquis House belonging to the Reformist Faction, her faction generally viewed Kaito with high regard. Unlike the conservative nobles, she hadn’t been subjected to Eden’s terrifying threats.
She personally respected Kaito for the monumental changes he was bringing to the Arclesia Empire and the rest of the world. In fact, her feelings bordered on genuine admiration.
(My maid is not a noble. While she might know his name, she likely hasn’t seen a portrait of him. As long as I don’t say his name aloud, there’s no risk of her catching on. If I play this right, it should be fine... In f-f-fact, considering I have the chance to buy something from his own stall, I am incredibly lucky!)
The young lady kept her face carefully blank, but such effort was wasted on Kaito and his Sympathy Magic. Her panic and internal chaos were broadcast to him loud and clear.
However, Kaito could only sense her emotions, not read her mind. He misinterpreted her confusion, assuming she was just baffled by the bizarre collection of goods on Amel’s side of the table.
"I also have some ceramics and accessories over here, if those items aren't to your taste."
"Oh, is that so? Then, please allow me to take a look."
"Yes, please take your time."
Addressed by Kaito, the young lady—whose field of vision had narrowed slightly due to tension—shifted her gaze from the items in front of Amel to the display in front of Kaito.
(Buying something is fine, but how much? I want to buy everything at his stall, but that would be a nuisance. If the other nobles found out later, those talentless hacks who do nothing but drag others down would use it as an excuse to criticize me. I should stick to one or two items.)
As she sifted through her options, her gaze fell upon a set of teacups nestled in an elegant wooden box.
"...These are beautiful teacups. Were they crafted by a renowned artisan? I don't believe I've seen this mark before."
"Oh, those were made at my home. I put that mark on them so I could keep track of them. We don't usually sell these, so I wouldn't expect you to recognize them."
"!? I-I-I-Is that so..."
At Kaito's explanation, delivered with a gentle smile, the young lady could not hide her shock.
(T-T-T-Teacups from Miyama Kaito-sama’s own household?! These aren't just items; they’re artifacts! Just owning these could elevate my family’s entire standing... Even ignoring that, the craftsmanship is divine. It looks like a set of four. This is the perfect choice—multiple items in a single purchase... Now, do I have enough money?)
Even to the eyes of the young lady, who was well-versed in fine ceramics, these teacups were so refined they were clearly masterpieces. It seemed impossible that they were being sold at a simple festival stall.
She assumed they would be astronomically expensive and quickly tallied her current funds.
(I have two Platinum Coins, five Gold Coins, and five Silver Coins in my Magic Box, plus some change for the festival. Is it enough? I could send for more... No, a messenger would alert the other nobles. If my current funds aren't enough... it will be heartbreaking, but I’ll have to settle for something else.)
Having organized her thoughts, the young lady faced Kaito with a tense expression. Feeling her throat go dry with anxiety over whether her budget would suffice, she asked her question.
"...Excuse me, how much is this teacup set?"
"One set of four is 1000R."
"I see, 1000R... Wait. I-I beg your pardon, but did I hear you correctly? Not 10,000R, but 1,000R?"
"Yes. It's 1000R."
"..................I see."
The young lady was stunned. To put it bluntly, the quality was staggering. Even without Kaito's name attached, they were easily worth 10,000R. They were more beautiful than anything found in the luxury boutiques that supplied the Imperial Palace.
With his brand included, she expected the price to be ten times that... maybe fifty. And yet, he had said 1,000R. Her cheeks twitched at the absurdity of it all. As the familiar ache of stomach pain returned, she managed to tell Kaito, "I... I’ll take them."
???: "She’s a promising candidate for the Stomach Pain Warrior club. Since she didn't introduce herself to Kaito-san, she’s still just a nameless mob, but if she shows up again, she might actually get a name."
Serious-senpai: "Though that name would probably just be a death sentence for her stomach... Still, from Kaito’s point of view, she’s a customer who praised and bought the teacups made by his precious Nebula. She must have made a decent impression... I suppose it's not entirely out of the question for her to return?"