Companions
(These were made by Lady Maryne…? I can’t believe it.)
Maryne was still just an eight-year-old child, and yet she had made these sweets.
The shock was so great that Rhinos fell silent for a moment.
“D-did you truly make these sweets yourself, Lady Maryne?”
He asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“I find that rather difficult to believe…”
“Then I shall show you myself!”
Maryne started walking and headed out into the hallway.
“Come along, Rhinos.”
“Y-yes.”
Rhinos hurried after her.
Their destination was the mansion kitchen.
Maryne quickly laid out the ingredients.
Almonds. Eggs. Sugar grass. And strawberries.
Then she began cooking.
Using Production Magic, she turned the almonds into powder…
Lightly whipped the egg whites into foam…
Transformed the sugar grass into granulated sugar…
And in no time at all, macarons identical to the ones before were lined up on a plate.
“U-using Production Magic like this!?”
Rhinos was at a loss for words.
(The Flamsteed family is a prestigious house of magic. Lady Maryne has inherited the blood of her parents, both first-rate magicians. And yet… for her talent to bloom in this way…!?)
Though the Flamsteed family was a renowned magical house, their specialty lay in military and national defense.
Cooking and crafting were not their fields.
In fact, when it became clear that Maryne’s aptitude lay in [Production Magic], even her father had been at a loss over how to raise her.
And yet, the current Maryne was undeniably mastering Production Magic.
It felt as though he was witnessing a talent in full bloom.
“Rhinos.”
Maryne looked straight up at him.
“I wish to conduct business using this Production Magic of mine. The first venture will be selling these macarons.”
She paused for a beat, then continued.
“I believe this business will surely succeed. However, running it alone would be difficult. That is why I wished to ask for your assistance. Would you be willing to help me with my business?”
Rhinos remained silent for a while.
The feeling he had earlier, that he needed to stop her, was gone.
In its place was something else…
A vision of the future.
(This child’s talent… may very well be something the world will recognize.)
And supporting that talent…
That, he believed, was the duty of a personal butler.
“I understand, Lady Maryne.”
Rhinos looked at her with a resolute expression.
“Though my abilities are limited, I, Rhinos, will devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you.”
“Thank you! I look forward to working with you!”
“Yes.”
Maryne smiled.
And so, Rhinos became a part of Maryne’s business.
What do you think about this chapter?
