At the general store, Kaori-san had picked up several pieces of tabletop decor, while Olivia-san had purchased an interior ornament modeled after the Bell of Prayer.
After we stepped outside and rejoined hands to continue our walk, Kaori-san spoke up as if she had just recalled something.
"By the way, Kaito-kun, you didn't end up buying anything for yourself, did you?"
"Well, there were some great designs... but none of them felt like they quite fit the vibe of my room."
"Ah, I see. Aesthetic compatibility is important. Do you usually keep any tabletop decor in your room?"
"Let’s see... I have a desk where I usually write in my diary, and I keep a rose herbarium on display there."
I didn't fill it out every single day like I used to, but I still made entries whenever something memorable happened. I found it quite enjoyable to flip back through the pages once in a while and reminisce about the things I'd done.
Regardless, I had a dedicated desk for journaling and letters, and the herbarium I'd received from Rosmiel-san sat right on top of it.
"H-How chic... I guess popular guys really do pay attention to the style of their rooms, too."
"Oh, no, it was actually a gift... I received it from the Rose Princess, Rosmiel-san."
"...A-As usual, your connections are just on another level. Rosmiel-sama’s herbariums are masterpieces; they're the kind of thing only rarely put on display for special exhibitions at the Hero Festival."
"Wait, really?"
That was news to me. I knew her artistic sense was extraordinary—even to an amateur like me, that rose herbarium was clearly a stunning piece of work. I remembered Sieg-san raving about it when she visited my room.
"The Rose Princess, Rosmiel, is indeed quite famous in the art world," Olivia added. "The flower arrangements she produces are incredibly sought after. However, known as 'The Solitary Rose,' she almost never interacts with anyone outside the World King Faction. She does not sell her works or accept commissions. To the best of my knowledge, she only provides pieces for events involving World King Lilliwood Yggdrasil, such as the Hero Festival or the Harmonic Symphony."
"Exactly! Just like Olivia-sama said, her arrangements and herbariums are insanely popular, but since she never sells them... you basically can't get your hands on one unless she gives it to you personally. But Rosmiel-sama is so cool and quiet, and she absolutely refuses all personal requests. I read that in a magazine once."
"I see..."
I more or less understood the situation now. And as expected, it seemed that Rosmiel-san's public image remained that of a cool, solitary figure.
In reality, she was just incredibly shy and didn't accept requests from people she didn't know... I remembered her saying that her rose accessory cases were only supplied to a very few select shops as well.
"Well, it’s a truly beautiful piece, so I can see why it’s so popular."
"Actually, Kaito-kun, I bet your room is packed with incredible things that you haven't even realized are special. I kind of want to see it for myself, but part of me is terrified... Anyway, putting that aside for now, where should we head next?"
When Kaori-san changed the subject, Elis-san’s shop immediately sprang to mind. It was only a short walk from where we were, making it a perfect next stop.
"There’s a chocolate shop nearby run by a friend of mine. How about we stop there?"
"Oh, that sounds perfect! I love chocolate."
"A shop managed by one of your friends, Kaito-sama? I am quite intrigued."
With no objections from either of them, our next destination was set: Elis-san's chocolate shop. We adjusted our course and set off once again.
Serious-senpai: "...Went to punch the stomach before lunch"