Chapter 24
“Thank you for caring. From now on, it’s something I’ll handle myself.”
The surge of betrayal and fear lasted only for a moment.
I had to thank him for coming to ask about such important news.
Suppressing my emotions as much as possible, I forced a smile for my guest.
“You can’t do anything about someone who’s already fled… and anyway, this magic—or rather, this dark spell—didn’t succeed, did it?”
“Yes, it seems this underpowered mage didn’t have enough mana to perform the spell.”
“That’s a relief, at least. Even if they run away, they can’t just cast the spell at will. Being afflicted by a curse is already difficult enough.”
I answered lightly in my own way.
But Jake’s expression wasn’t bright.
He asked me sincerely, concerned.
“Miss Daphne, may I investigate this matter a bit further?”
“Jake?”
“Yes. This person is deeply connected to me as well. The ‘Radipal’ I mentioned earlier is like a nemesis to me.”
Then I could allow it without hesitation.
After all, I already had a headache dealing with the Edin and Leodid family affairs. Managing this on top of that would be too much.
“Thank you for allowing me. This person seems extremely troublesome, so I thought it would be best to resolve things before they can cause you serious harm. And…”
“Yes, go on.”
“There’s one more thing I’d like to request. It seems this shop needs someone to protect you, my lady.”
“I was already thinking about that. Since we’re hiring a new employee anyway…”
“Isn’t recruiting applicants and conducting interviews exhausting? Bring Berry here instead.”
“…Did you also find out that she came here for an interview?”
“Yes, it couldn’t be helped if I was to investigate Jenna’s background. As you know, Berry is fully capable of protecting you. Also…”
“You want to take her from the magic shop, right?”
I vaguely understood his intention.
It had only been two days since I met Jake, but even from yesterday’s conversation with Edin, I could guess one thing: he genuinely cares for Jane.
“Yes, she seems to be looking for a decent job occasionally… She looks young, and apart from working at a magic shop, she doesn’t have much experience, so it’s probably hard for her to find work.”
“Even though she graduated from the Magic Academy? Of course, I think this place treats employees well, but aren’t there shops that need mages?”
“Yes, in the past, they preferred Magic Academy graduates, but nowadays they shy away because they might have to pay higher wages. Even if she’s fine with it herself.”
A society where it’s hard to get a job even with talent… it was truly heartbreaking.
I wanted to ask Berry to come here myself, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak, fearing it would seem too selfish.
“Do you think Berry will come willingly? She’s had a rejection experience before, after all.”
“Berry doesn’t care about that. She’ll probably be happy to work if you ask her.”
He seemed completely confident Berry would come immediately. He even promised to relay the message himself.
‘I guess I’ll just have to trust him.’
He went outside to meet Berry, while I anxiously prepared to welcome the customers.
Lunch hour passed.
Ding-dong
The shop’s bell rang.
“Uh… Miss Daphne.”
“Oh my, Berry!”
As promised by Jake, Berry was there. She hesitantly approached me.
“I came after hearing what Jake said. If I heard wrong, I’ll leave right away!”
“No, I want to hire you, Berry. Will you forgive me for not recognizing you before?”
Berry smiled brightly and nodded.
“That time, I couldn’t attend the interview. I’m glad you found me even now.”
She then clenched her fists and spoke passionately about her ambitions.
“I’ll work hard to help you, Miss Daphne! And I’ll be an excellent employee.”
“…But Berry, I have something to tell you.”
I might have to close the shop temporarily in six months.
I cautiously spoke.
“Nothing’s decided yet, but I plan to take a long break in about six months…”
“That’s fine!”
“Really?”
“…By then, a way will work itself out. I’m just glad to leave a workplace I didn’t want to be stuck in.”
She accepted the situation more peacefully than I expected.
Then she rolled up her sleeves and asked me to teach her the work immediately.
“First, I need to meet Olivia, the person in charge when I’m not here. Should we go greet her now?”
“Yes!”
She blinked and pointed to the wedding dresses scattered in the corner.
“Shall I move them?”
“…Can you move them to the workshop?”
“Yes!”
She gladly used a movement spell to slide the heavy dresses into the workshop, saving Olivia and me the effort of carrying them.
‘She’s talented!’
My anxiety from what Jake had told me in the morning dissipated.
I wasn’t obsessed with work… I just became someone who’s happy as long as there’s a competent employee.
“Shall we go see Olivia now?”
Berry said energetically. It was time to teach her the tasks.
Berry worked surprisingly well.
Moreover, she got along perfectly with Olivia.
While teaching her, my thoughts occasionally drifted to the dark spell.
But Olivia’s hearty laughter, pleased with Berry’s diligence, quickly pulled me out of that train of thought.
When I returned home exhausted, Emma rushed out.
“Miss! Are you late from working again?”
Well, I might as well make an excuse.
I nodded weakly, wishing to wash up and sleep soundly today.
“Miss, there’s a letter from Mrs. Salvia.”
“I think I know what it’s about even without reading it.”
“Could it be… you’re going on a matchmaking meeting too?”
I nodded helplessly.
Sadly, it seemed so.
If only it weren’t Edin, I could be enjoying my glamorous solo-plus-holiday life.
I went up the stairs weakly toward my room. Without even the energy to cut the envelope neatly, I tore it open with force.
When tired, even elegance disappears.
Leaning on a chair, I read the letter.
⌜To Miss Daphne,
The time has come for you to meet Kyung-i, and it can no longer be postponed.
I’m pleased to be able to match the empire’s cleverest lady with a pure knight before I retire.⌟
A clever lady and a pure knight?
Usually, it’s the lady who’s called “pure.”
I guess I hold some old-fashioned prejudice.
It seemed like a subtle jab at me, but I decided to ignore it.
⌜I know you’re busy, Miss Daphne, so I will choose the place and time.
Please reply with the dates that work for you.
Always sincerely, Miss Daphne.
I’m truly delighted.⌟
I, however, was not delighted.
With trembling hands, I wrote my reply.
Next week… weekend… roughly then.
As I wrote, I remembered that I had to make Edin’s shirt as well.
Ugh. Why me?
A garment for someone I’m uncomfortable with—I didn’t want to.
I whined to Emma.
“Ah… life is so hard.”
“Pardon? Miss, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. There’s just so much work. So many tasks, so many incidents. I’m really having it harder than when I was fifteen.”
I barely stood, holding onto the table, and headed to the bathroom.
“Send the letter… for me.”
“Yes! Don’t worry.”
“Sorry, but I’ll need you to make sure I don’t fall asleep in the bathtub today. I’m going to wash up now.”
I pressed my forehead to the wall, waiting for Emma to fill the tub.
If I dislike the idea of the matchmaking location… making clothes for Edin was just painful enough to make me want to run away in the middle of the night.
It made me even angrier that the shirt design popped into my head so easily.
‘I’ll just make it roughly. Even if I make it, I can bet a gold it won’t be worn.’
Standing before the silk, I chuckled at my own thoughts of refusal.
“I don’t care. I’ll quit everything.”
It was truly the desperate declaration of someone who couldn’t quit anything at all.
The next day, a mysterious package was delivered to the dress shop.
The sender was Richewarden.
In other words, a gift from Edin.
