Chapter 34
We finished paying for the books. In the end, we had bought quite a lot.
The bookstore offered home delivery if you bought more than a certain number, so Owen went off to arrange the address.
That left me and Arne alone, looking around the store with our eyes.
The bookstore wasn’t restricted to nobles only, but since books were expensive, only the wealthy could usually afford them. The staff were generally polite and provided good service.
Arne pointed to something.
“Mom, what’s that?”
“Where?”
He was pointing to a display stand near the counter, in a spot visible from the entrance.
At first glance, the items looked like magazines, but they were slightly different. On the colorful covers were titles such as:
- Latest Lookbook of Avaliante Atelier
- Foresta Atelier’s Recommended Dresses
- Tempo a Maggio: This Year’s Lookbook
Avaliante, Foresta, Tempo a Maggio—
these were the most popular dress ateliers in the capital.
It had been a long time since I’d seen these names.
“Those are catalogs made by fashion houses. A catalog is a booklet that shows new dresses or accessories, so customers can see them and order.”
Most noblewomen didn’t need catalogs. They could just visit the atelier directly or have catalogs delivered to their houses.
But once a season passed, customers no longer wanted them. For the ateliers, that meant the expensive books went to waste. So they sold them to bookstores like this.
Even old-season catalogs were still extremely expensive—yet they always sold out. Some people waited eagerly every season for them.
Fans were surprisingly diverse: young noble girls choosing debut dresses, boys and girls dreaming of becoming designers, and even wealthy commoners fascinated by noble fashion.
Because of that, ateliers sent new catalogs to bookstores as publicity, and competition to get them was fierce.
“Are you interested, Arne? Want to buy one?”
Arne waved his hands quickly.
“No! I was just curious because I saw another kid buying one.”
Who?
Looking around, I soon spotted her. At the counter beside me stood a young girl. She had chosen one of the cheapest catalogs—already two seasons out of date.
She wore an old, altered dress, clearly an adult’s dress resized to fit her. Her face was flustered as she fumbled in her wallet.
“W-wait a moment… I brought the exact amount…”
“Exact amount? You’re short 10 derion.”
The large clerk’s rude tone was neither polite nor respectful. It was insulting enough to make me frown.
(“Derion” was the unit for silver coins. 10 derion wasn’t small, but it wasn’t enough to justify humiliating a customer. Especially not when you knew how desperately children longed for these catalogs.)
“I-I’m sorry, please wait just a bit…”
“If you can’t pay, then get out. And don’t dirty the books by touching them.”
I was fuming. Then, I spotted something gleaming silver on the floor near the girl’s feet.
Perfect.
I strode over confidently. The clerk blinked in surprise.
“Uh… milady?”
Oh, so now he spoke politely to me? Because I looked like a noble with money?
I ignored him, bent down, and picked up the object. Straightening, I held it out.
“I just picked this up.”
In my palm lay a silver coin worth 10 derion.
“This belongs to our young lady, doesn’t it?”
The clerk looked completely thrown.
The girl’s face lit up. She almost jumped in relief.
“Yes, yes! It must have fallen!”
“Good. Then I’ll give it to the clerk, alright?”
“Yes, please!”
The clerk awkwardly stretched out both hands.
“Th-thank you, milady.”
But I didn’t give it to him yet.
“Wait.”
“…Pardon?”
I pulled my hand back. He froze, looking up at me nervously.
“Isn’t this store dedicated to the great god Kennith, god of knowledge? Did Kennith ever decree that only the rich and highborn are worthy to pursue truth?”
Of course, he couldn’t answer yes.
“Tell me—was it right to treat this girl the way you just did?”
I hadn’t raised my voice, but he understood perfectly.
“…No, milady…” he muttered like a mosquito.
Others nearby—seven or eight people—turned to watch. Still, the clerk didn’t apologize.
I clicked my tongue softly.
“So one silver coin is enough to disgrace the name of a god? At least your frugality is admirable.”
The people nearby chuckled.
At that moment, another employee—dressed differently, likely a manager—approached.
The humiliated clerk’s face turned red as he snatched the coin from me and shoved the catalog toward the girl. But the manager intervened before he could.
Standing firmly at his side, the older manager twisted the man’s arm back slightly. The clerk’s grimace showed my guess was right.
The manager bowed to the little girl.
“I sincerely apologize for the rudeness you experienced, young lady. If you visit again, we will serve you with the utmost care.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely come again!” she chirped.
“Thank you. And we won’t forget the kindness shown by this lady either.”
That was how the largest bookstore of the Empire, bearing Kennith’s name, ought to behave.
The situation was quickly settled. The girl hugged her catalog, smiling brightly.
“I’m glad it worked out.”
“Yes, I’m so happy!”
She beckoned me closer, and when I leaned down, she whispered:
“Thank you. I’ll never forget this favor.”
“Forget it. I only picked up a coin, that’s all.”
She grinned instead of answering.
I opened my other palm and showed her a small silver hairpin.
“Is this yours too?”
Her eyes widened.
“Oh! Yes! I had it in my pocket!”
It was a cute ribbon-shaped hairpin. I pinned it gently into her hair.
“Good thing we found it.”
“Yes! My mom gave it to me—it would’ve been awful if I lost it. Thank you!”
“No problem. Does your home nearby? Do you still have money for the carriage fare?”
She waved her hands.
“It’s fine! I live close. I can walk.”
That was a relief.
“Thank you so much. I hope we meet again someday!”
She said it again and again before leaving the store, waving energetically.
I waved back, watching her until she disappeared. Warm feelings filled my chest.
…I really was different from my past life. And I liked this version of me much better.
Before, I might have recognized the unfairness of the clerk’s actions, but I wouldn’t have had the courage to step in. Especially at twenty-one, when I still clung desperately to the marquis’s affection.
I was still smiling faintly when I turned—only to see Arne, arms crossed, watching me. Oh no.
I walked back calmly. Arne tugged at my cloak with a pout.
“Mom, why did you tell that girl you found the coin? You actually pulled it from your pocket. The only thing you picked up was the hairpin.”
Sharp-eyed child.
I ruffled his hair and answered lightly:
“That’s how it works, Arne. Helping someone also means making them feel happy. That’s real help.”
(It also flattened the clerk’s pride nicely.)
“I don’t get it.”
“You don’t need to yet, Arne.”
He pouted more. For once, he looked his age instead of being so mature. It made me laugh.
At that moment, Owen returned. He looked between us.
“Did something happen?”
“Of course not,” I said smoothly.
Arne kept quiet too. Owen narrowed his eyes at me but said nothing.
I slipped my purse back into my bag—now missing one silver coin.
“What are you doing? Owen, let’s go.”
“…Alright.”
He offered his arm, and I accepted his escort naturally.
Later, when I checked, my purse had the same amount of money as before. Someone had replaced the missing coin.
And much later still, I learned the truth—Owen had seen everything. He had watched me help that girl from start to finish.
