Seriana and the others celebrated their child’s birthday in a quiet gathering with only close family and friends.

Although only a year old, they were the Duke’s eldest son and daughter, along with their potential right-hand candidate.

There was certainly value in traveling from afar to attend, considering their future significance, but since it was already winter, Liesel had declined any visiting guests.

Well, traveling in winter is dangerous.

No one would feel good if they heard that someone lost their life while coming to celebrate their child’s birthday.

It seems that this policy will remain in place moving forward.

Instead, they plan to celebrate properly at the next year’s commemorative festival.

Now that I think about it, they had also done an introduction at this year’s commemorative festival when everyone gathered.

Living without much inconvenience, it’s easy to forget, but this territory is not just on the edge of the kingdom—it’s the easternmost point of the continent’s inhabited human region.

While there are waterways for travel by ship, access is still limited to only a few, and visiting requires a certain level of determination.

Well, I’ll leave those matters to Liesel and the surrounding lords.

Now then, the snake-themed gifts I prepared as presents were well received without any of the concerns I had feared.

Not only did they hold onto them while sleeping, but even when awake, they would grab and drag them around—seems like all three of them liked them quite a bit.

It’s always nice when people are happy to use what you give them.

It’s nice… but seeing people use them, even if they’re children, kind of makes me want one for myself.

◇

A few days after the children’s birthday, I visited a certain shop located just off the central plaza.

This store mainly deals in bedding, catering to nobles and the wealthy—a high-end establishment.

In front of the store, despite the cold, a man around fifty years old, wearing a vest over his shirt, was standing and waiting for me.

Though the owner is someone else, this man is the on-site manager responsible for running the store.

I had informed him in advance that I would be coming today, but only mentioned it would be around midday…

Has he been waiting in that outfit all this time?

Sure, greeting customers in a bulky, layered outfit wouldn’t look great, but still… that’s some dedication.

“Good afternoon!”

“Sera-sama, I have been expecting you.”

With a crisp bow, he showed no signs of discomfort from the cold and led me inside the store.

The moment you step inside, the store opens into a spacious reception area for business discussions.

The first floor serves as the negotiation space, while the second and third floors are the workshop.

Well, since they primarily deal with light items like futons, pillows, and sheets, it makes sense.

If they handled heavier items like beds, shelves, or even weapons, they would require a larger building that combines both a workshop and a warehouse.

That would mean the store would have to be located further from the city center.

That’s why the craftsmen’s district is situated on the outskirts of town.

Each has its own advantages, so it’s not a matter of which is better.

Setting aside my thoughts on workshops, I looked around the store.

Several men, dressed like butlers or wealthy merchants, were engaged in business discussions.

The last time I visited, it was around the same time of day, but there weren’t this many customers.

Seems like business is thriving.

“Please, have a seat over here.”

I was guided to an especially luxurious seat.

A special seat, huh?

Last time was the same, but I’m here for my own business, not on behalf of Seriana or Liesel…

I understand the store’s perspective, but it feels a little excessive.

I doubt they’d ever be designated as an official supplier to the lord.

Well, the customers in the store were watching me as I was being led here, so maybe it serves as some kind of advertising.

“So then, what would you like to order today?”

As soon as I took my seat, we moved straight to business without any small talk, unlike the other tables.

I guess he remembered that I was in a hurry last time.

That saves me some trouble—good.

More importantly, is he really going to handle the negotiations himself, despite being an important figure here?

Is this some kind of special assignment…?

I feel like I shouldn’t be making personal orders with someone in such a high position, but maybe this makes it easier for my requests to go through.

Yeah… I’ll just take advantage of it.

“This time, I’d like to order some cushions. Like these.”

I rummaged through my pouch, pulled out a sheet of paper, and spread it out on the table.

He took it and started reading.

I had carefully written the order details, so there shouldn’t be anything unclear, but…

“Is this… a cat?”

“Yeah, yeah. A black cat and a white cat.”

…Ah, I see. He couldn’t recognize my drawing.

My order was for illustrated cat-face cushions.

They were the size of seat cushions, one black and one white.

The snake cushions I ordered last time were great, but I wanted something different, so I designed these myself.

“I see… Understood. What material would you like?”

“I’ll be sitting on them, so not too firm. Other than that, I’ll leave it up to you.”

In this world, stylized designs like these aren’t common, so he seemed confused at first, but after my explanation, he understood and proceeded with the order.

Well, even though it’s a custom order, it’s just a cushion.

As long as it’s comfortable to sit on, that’s good enough, so I decided to leave most of the details to the shop.

Since it’s not a particularly large item, it won’t take too long to complete, and they’ll deliver it to the estate once it’s finished.

A custom order, leaving everything to the craftsman, and having it delivered upon completion…

That’s a bit luxurious, isn’t it?

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sera・【Hideout】+1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind Cloak】・【Floating Orb】+1【Shadow Sword】【Scarlet Bee Needle】【Fairy’s Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Serpent’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】・21 cards

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・31 cards

Elena・【】・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】・4 cards

Alec・【Strong Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・9 cards