Naturally, online bookings didn't exist in this world. To make a restaurant reservation, I had to go there in person.
I could have asked Eta or Theta to handle it for me, but I wanted to scout the place and confirm the details myself, so I went in person.
"They told me they had private rooms when I made the booking, so I made sure to reserve one. I hope that's okay?" I asked.
"Yes... I’m glad I’ll be able to spend some quiet time with you, Kaito-sama... I’m very grateful..." Illness-san replied.
I had originally asked for a standard table, but the staff suggested a private room. Since this was a special occasion, I took them up on the offer. It meant we wouldn't have to worry as much about etiquette, and like Illness-san said, it was better to enjoy our meal in private.
We eventually arrived at the restaurant I’d researched and a server led us to our room. It was far more opulent than I’d imagined. It was so spacious and elegant that for a moment, I worried I’d stumbled into a high-end establishment with a strict dress code.
"...Wow, this room is more incredible than I imagined," I remarked.
"It is, isn't it? It’s likely intended for high-ranking nobles. In the language of your world, Kaito-sama... I believe it would be called... a VIP room?"
"Right, a VIP room. Now that I think about it, when I booked the course meal, they asked about my budget limit and I told them I didn't have one. Maybe they assumed I was a nobleman."
"Or perhaps... since this place is popular with the nobility... they already know who you are, Kaito-sama?"
During the reservation process, the staff explained that they could tailor the wine selection to my budget, so I’d told them there was no limit. I wanted to drink something nice, and I certainly had the money for it.
I left most of my finances in Anima's capable hands, but I still had a massive stash of platinum coins in my Magic Box. If I didn't make a conscious effort to spend them, they accumulated faster than I could use them. I rarely needed platinum for my daily life or hobbies. Usually, I only used them when treating Alice during one of her binges or buying something rare from her. Lately, it felt like she was the only person I spent them on.
"I knew the nobles had heard of me," I said, "but I didn't think the shopkeepers would know me as well."
"Establishments like this are often funded or owned by nobles, so word spreads quickly. Even my lady owns several shops in the High-end Shop Area."
"Heh, Lilia-san owns shops? I’m curious about those."
We sat across from each other, and the waiter handed us the lacquered menus. As I watched him prepare our aperitifs out of the corner of my eye, I continued chatting with Illness-san. I knew Lilia-san managed businesses other than the Wyvern Service, but we’d never really discussed it, so I didn't know what kind of shops she actually owned.
A soundproofing barrier surrounded the table in this VIP room, ensuring the staff couldn't overhear us. Since they always announced themselves with an "Excuse me" before entering the barrier's range, it was clearly designed for the private conversations of the elite.
"My lady has two shops nearby," Illness-san explained. "One specializes in tabletop interior decor."
"Interior decor? That's unexpected. Though her mansion does have some very expensive-looking pieces. I suppose she has an eye for that sort of thing?"
"She has unique connections with companies that handle models and such. I believe that's how she sources her inventory."
"Ah, that makes sense."
I remembered her buying all those expensive dragon models. She must have used the connections she made then to start the decor shop.
"The other is a jewelry store," Illness-san continued. "She only opened it about a year ago, but it seems to be doing quite well."
"A jewelry store? Oh, could that be because she received those Blue Diamonds and Ice Crystals from Isis-san?"
"Yes, that is part of it. She's made many new connections lately, allowing her to secure a stable supply of high-quality gems. That's why she decided to branch out."
"I see..."
As expected of a Duke, Lilia-san really was involved in many different ventures. But a jewelry store sounded like a good idea. If Sieg-san agreed, they could even sell Sera’s instinctual "Midnight Diamonds." That would be incredibly profitable.
Serious-senpai: "To be honest, her network only grew that much because of Kaito. It’s no wonder she’s branching out. I think Lunamaria mentioned a jewelry store years ago—feels like a long-term foreshadowing finally paying off."