Naturally, there was a vast chasm between Elis Dia Hamilton and Marie Rich, even if they both shared the title of noble daughter. While their innate cleverness played a role, the true disparity lay in their positions and the authority they commanded.
As the heir of a Marquis House, Elis had been subjected to a rigorous education since childhood. She was a veteran of the social circle and various other formal arenas, possessing the power and discretion befitting her rank.
If Elis were to fall into the same predicament Marie currently faced, her stomach would undoubtedly ache, but she would still be capable of making numerous decisions on her own. She had the agency to determine an initial course of action or formulate a strategy.
Marie, in contrast, was the fourth daughter of a poor Baron House. Though she had received the baseline education required to avoid embarrassing her family in polite society, she was not the heir and occupied a position where she would likely never have a hand in the house’s business. She possessed absolutely no authority to dictate family policy.
"It’s impossible! Impossible, impossible, impossible! This is completely beyond me! I cannot judge this on my own! U-Um, please contact my father, my mother, and my older brother and sister immediately! Tell them they must return at once! If you tell them this case is related to Miyama Kaito-sama, they’ll understand!"
Without her parents, her brother the heir, or at the very least her eldest sister—who held some measure of authority within the family—Marie was powerless to act. She could not respond to the Lord Trading Company, the Death King Faction, or the summons to the Temple of Fertility.
To make matters worse, her parents had been summoned to the capital by Marquis Hamilton along with the parents of the other tea party guests. Her older brother was currently attending a party at another noble’s estate, and her older sister had traveled to a neighboring city for orchard trade negotiations.
Marie was desperate for a consultation, yet she found herself entirely alone. As a sharp, stabbing pain began to twist in her gut, she frantically ordered a maid to establish contact with the rest of the family.
"For now... until someone gets back... let’s check the return gift. If there’s a letter from Miyama Kaito-sama, it might explain why all this is happening."
"Is this truly the influence of that gentleman, my lady?"
"I can’t imagine it being anything else. If he weren't involved, there would be no reason for someone like me to be singled out by name..."
It wasn't just the house itself being targeted; all three major entities had specifically named Marie alongside Baron Rich. The odds of such a phenomenon occurring were zero unless Kaito was the catalyst.
Clutching her protesting stomach, Marie followed her maid out of the room to inspect the gift.
Meanwhile, at the main residence of the Hamilton Marquis House in the Arclesia Empire Capital, a meeting was underway. Gathered in a conference room were the head of the house, Marquis Hamilton; his heir, Elis; and the parents of the young ladies who had attended Elis’s recent tea party, including Count Sharon and Baron Rich.
They intended to discuss precautions and protocols for future interactions with Kaito. However, just as the proceedings were about to commence, a maid entered the room.
"Pardon the intrusion. Lord and Lady Baron Rich, an emergency communication via Hummingbird has arrived for your attendant. Lady Marie Rich requests your immediate return, stating: 'A case related to Miyama Kaito-sama has occurred which I cannot judge alone. Please come home at once.'"
"An emergency contact? N-No, but... we have this meeting..."
Baron Rich wore a bewildered expression, his words trailing off into a hesitant mumble. Among the gathered nobility, the Baron and his wife held the lowest rank. Given that they were here at the express summons of Marquis Hamilton, the idea of walking out on the meeting to go home should have been social suicide.
Yet, contrary to the Baron’s fears, Marquis Hamilton spoke with a grave, solemn weight in his voice.
"You must return at once. Any delay could result in an irremediable catastrophe. I shall arrange for a teleportation magic practitioner immediately. Use them to return home with haste."
"What? Your Excellency Marquis Hamilton?"
The Baron was stunned. Not only was he being granted leave to depart, but he was being given the extreme luxury of a teleportation mage. While he stood in shock, Elis—who appeared to have already anticipated the need—received several small vials from a maid and offered them to the couple.
"Lord and Lady Baron, please take these."
"What are they?"
"This is a highly effective stomach medicine I received word of from Her Excellency Duchess Lilia Albert of the Kingdom of Sinfonia. I am certain you will find it necessary. I have included enough for Lady Marie as well. Please follow the usage and dosage instructions carefully."
"Yes... of course... wait, what?"
The bizarre sight of receiving stomach medicine as a parting gift unsettled the other nobles in the room, but both Marquis Hamilton and Elis were so deathly serious that no one dared to crack a joke or interject.
"Bring several bottles from the wine cellar for the Baron and his wife as well... Baron Rich."
"Yes, Your Excellency! What is it?"
"To drown oneself in drink is a foolish endeavor. However, there are times when one encounters a reality so harsh that the heart cannot endure without looking away for a time. Do not use this for mere escapism, but as a tool to organize your feelings so that you may face the future once more."
"U-Um... Your Excellency, Elis-sama... why are you looking at us like that? What... what exactly is waiting for us at home?"
Despite the unnerving hospitality, the Marquis and his daughter remained grim. Their eyes and expressions were filled with a profound, soul-deep pity for Baron Rich, which served only to skyrocket the couple's anxiety.
"Please... stay strong."
"We shall reschedule today’s discussion for a later date. I wish you the best of luck."
As the Baron looked into their eyes—eyes that looked as if they were seeing off a man headed for the gallows—cold sweat poured down his spine. He didn't know why, but when the announcement came that the teleportation magic was ready, it sounded to his ears like the tolling of a death knell.
Serious-senpai: "I mean, considering the stomach-crushing trauma Elis and the Marquis have survived up until now, this is a perfectly rational reaction for them. But for Baron Rich, who hasn't been properly initiated into the world of stomach pain yet, this must look like a scene from a nightmare..."