What is their motive?
"Are you saying you want me to accompany you to the spice stall? Did something happen?"
When I pressed him, Shin scratched his head with a troubled look.
"Well… the Head Chef told me to go to the stall where Ojou… uh, where Ojousama bought spices... ma’am. And then, when I tried to buy some spices, the shopkeeper told me to bring you along."
"Eh?"
Why??
If Shin’s the one buying spices, why do they need me?
I don’t see any connection there at all.
"Why would I be brought up when you’re buying spices? Did you mention me as a reference?"
"I wouldn’t say anything like that. I mean, no, I didn’t, ma’am."
When Shin flinched and corrected himself, I turned around to see Miria smiling with her head tilted, asking, "Is there something the matter?"
It seemed Miria had been keeping an eye on him.
"Miria, let’s let Shin speak without interruption for now so we can move forward with this. So Shin, why were they asking for me?"
"Well… the Head Chef said we were running low on ingredients for making chocolate, so he wanted me to go buy more spices. And since I was told to check for any remaining stock at that stall, I went to the place you mentioned."
Huh… So they’re already sourcing cacao?
Even if we're testing its effects, surely we don’t need that much of it.
"Then the shopkeeper said, 'We’ve got stock and can sell it to you, but you need to bring along the young lady who’s buying large amounts of spices. You should know who I’m talking about, right?'"
"Huh? Even so, in this vast royal capital, there must be one or two young ladies purchasing large quantities of spices or aphrodisiac ingredients…"
"No, there’s none!"
"I don’t think there are…"
"Probably not."
"Maybe only Cristea?"
"What?!"
No one was on my side!
Well, sure, even if spices are often sold as medicinal herbs, noble ladies don’t usually buy them in bulk! I knew that!
"But why would they want me brought along?"
"I dunno. When I asked what they needed with you, they just kept insisting, 'Bring her here, or we’re not selling.' No other explanation."
"Hmm…"
What’s the objective here?
If it’s like, "You leaked our secret product source! How are you going to make up for it, huh?!"… that would be terrifying. Yikes!
"So, um, do I really have to go…?"
"If possible, I’d really appreciate it. Apparently, the master contacted the Alchemist Guild, but was told that getting that amount—or even acquiring any—is extremely difficult. The Head Chef thinks if we could purchase regularly from that store, a dedicated contract between Mayor Company and the Ellisfeed Duchy would be beneficial."
Wait, was it really that rare?
They handed it over so casually as an extra, I didn’t realize it was something so precious!
If even the Head Chef, who probably knows all the best food suppliers, is saying that, it must be really hard to secure.
"… Alright. Miria, would you mind preparing something easy to move around in for a trip into town?"
"Cristea-sama, what if there’s a hidden trap? It may be dangerous, so I’m against going to that stall!"
Though Miria tried to stop me, I reassured her with a smile, "It will be alright."
"After all, I have a reliable escort and maid with me. Right?"
When I grinned and said that, Kurogane and Mashiro responded with confident smiles, "Of course," and "Leave it to us!" They’re dependable, indeed.
Afterward—
"I’ll protect Cristea!"
"No, that’s my duty."
"No, it’s me."
"It’s me."
… They would have kept going endlessly if I hadn’t stepped in to end it.
Miria, watching them with a slightly troubled smile, said, "…Please don’t wander off alone or get separated, Cristea-sama. You always tend to rush headlong into things in situations like this."
"It’s fine; we’re just visiting that stall, all together."
Oh, Miria, you’re such a worrier.
"It’s you we are talking about, that’s why I’m worried."
"Ugh!"
"Yeah, I get that. Like when you ate octopus and passed out, or bought loads of miso and soy sauce, or cooked and ate horse feed that is lars, or went missing in the Adventurers’ Guild, and so on."
"Urgh…"
… I have no excuses. Yes, I’ve caused my share of problems, haven’t I?
There are even mishaps they don’t know about… though I’m not about to tell them.
After promising not to do anything reckless, I changed into the simple dress Miria had prepared for walking around the town. I boarded one of our family’s more modest carriages (not the newest model!), and since Shin had already informed the driver of our destination, we set off smoothly.
Hm? The ride isn’t bumpy… could it be? Does this carriage, which looks more basic than usual, actually have the latest suspension…?
… Well, a comfortable ride is a good thing.
I have more important matters to focus on right now.
"So, I wonder what their real motive is… Was it a mistake to reveal my supply source to others?"
"Nah, I don’t think so. At first, they did look at me suspiciously, wondering how I knew, but then they seemed to remember you and said with a smirk, 'You can’t buy unless you bring her.'"
Ehh… That’s also unpleasant in its own way.
Could it be they want to confirm who received the cacao—the aphrodisiac ingredient? No, that’s unlikely.
Are they scouting out new markets?
… Probably not.
Still mulling things over, our carriage headed toward the merchant district where the stall was located.
What do you think about this chapter?
