Marie remained slumped on the floor, staring at the teleportation tool with eyes full of despair.
"Um... what would you estimate this is worth?"
"The value depends on the magic formula, but... oh, look, there is an instruction manual. I see... Yes, I see. Milady, I suspect this uses a formula very close to the latest model. It appears to be of a grade capable of effortless teleportation between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm."
"H-Hiee...!"
"At a conservative estimate, it must be worth several hundred Platinum Coins..."
"Awawawawa...! That’s more than our entire mansion is worth!"
Marie’s face drained of color as she trembled. To put it bluntly, this was a masterpiece of such high quality that she had never even seen its like before. Just hearing the projected price made her feel as though the blood were leaving her body.
"Th-Th-This is the return gift? No, no, no! A single Riple is only about 2R! The fruits I sent were worth six or seven Copper Coins at most... and the return for that is hundreds of Platinum Coins? It’s too expensive! I’m so terrified I don't know what to do! U-Um, you aren't exactly my personal attendant, but I have a request..."
"Please, rest easy. I shall guard both you and the teleportation tool until the Master returns. That being said, an item of this caliber is so incredibly valuable that I doubt anyone would even try to steal it. The risk involved is simply too high for any thief to contemplate..."
A teleportation tool worth more than the family estate... They couldn't just leave it sitting out, so Marie eventually stored it in her magic box. However, the sheer weight of possessing such a treasure filled her with endless dread. It wasn't that she feared a specific thief or an immediate break-in; the value itself was what made her skin crawl with anxiety.
"...Um, Milady. Is there a possibility that his Lordship... desires you? Perhaps he sent such a gift as a subtle way of expressing romantic interest?"
"Absolutely not. Kaito Miyama-sama isn't the sort of person who would try to buy a woman’s affection... but more importantly, I simply don't have that kind of value. I’m not being humble; I’m being objective. No one puts a price of several hundred Platinum Coins on the fourth daughter of a destitute Baron. Even if I were a girl of peerless beauty, it would be impossible. In fact, the family is already at a bit of a loss regarding what to do with me."
The Rich Baron House held very little influence. They lacked the power to secure prestigious positions or marriage prospects for all their children. While the house provided work for the eldest son, who was the heir, and the eldest daughter, who managed the farm—and perhaps the second son and daughter as assistants—the younger siblings were largely expected to fend for themselves.
Marie herself was studying accounting in hopes of earning a National Qualification. If she succeeded, she might find a spot in the farm's accounting department, but even that was a narrow and difficult path.
"If I can't earn that qualification, I'll likely end up as a clerk at some merchant company... essentially a commoner. I have almost no social connections, so a noble marriage is out of the question. We might be poor, but we aren't starving, so my father would never force me into a political marriage or a mistress contract for money. But even if he did, I’d be lucky to fetch one Platinum Coin. If someone paid two, it would be considered an astronomical sum. There is simply no comparison between my life and this teleportation tool."
"I see... In that case, would you like to try becoming a maid in the future?"
"Becoming a maid is even harder than passing the accounting exams! Besides, I can't use magic, so I’m disqualified from the start."
In this world, "Maid" was an elite profession requiring a high degree of knowledge, specialized skills, and combat ability. There was a vast chasm between a common servant and a proper maid. Only those who passed the grueling tests of the World Maid Association were permitted the title. Consequently, they commanded high salaries. Despite having many regular servants, the Rich Baron House could only afford to employ five actual maids.
"...If that is the case, then this truly is a return gift for the Riples. How... overwhelming."
"My stomach is killing me. He said he bought the materials and made it himself, but the magic crystal alone must be worth a fortune."
"A magic crystal of this size with purity over ninety percent... beyond the cost, it would be nearly impossible to buy one without a powerful connection to the industry. Shaping a crystal like this also requires master-class technique. To be honest, among all the distributors in the world, the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company is likely the only one capable of procuring something like this with such ease."
"Kaito Miyama-sama is lovers with Kuromueina-sama, after all. He must have deep ties to the Seditch Company... Um, just to be sure... I want to check... This... we can't just claim it as the Baron house’s property, right?"
"His Lordship gifted it to you personally, Milady. Attempting to transfer ownership to the house would likely be seen as a grave insult to him."
"Right... of course. My personal assets now officially exceed those of my older brother and sister combined. I... I really think I’m going to be sick."
Since Kaito had addressed the gift specifically to Marie, any attempt by others to claim it would be seen as a slight against his intent. Marie had no choice but to retain ownership—a fact her parents would surely reiterate. She understood the logic perfectly, but her stomach refused to accept the reality, twisting with a sharp, agonizing pain.
Serious-senpai: "Maids are the chosen elite... well, putting that aside, let's do the math. If we value Kaito's gift at 300 Platinum Coins and the Riples Marie sent at 6 Copper Coins... that is a 50,000-fold return. No wonder her stomach is screaming. And I suppose the Baron and his wife should be arriving any moment now?"