“Heave-ho…” I mustered my strength and lifted the lid.

After placing the lid to the side and peering inside, I found something wrapped in thick fabric.

It’s not something fragile, so why is it packed so securely…?

“Take it out quickly and show me.”

“Whoa!?”

At some point, Seriana, who had been sitting at the desk writing a letter, had suddenly appeared right next to me.

I had discussed the cushion’s design with her when I placed the order, but it seems she was quite eager to see the finished product.

Alright, let’s take it out then.

It looked like each cushion was individually wrapped.

Inside the box, there were two large bundles of fabric, each big enough to require both arms to carry.

“Here we go… Now that I actually see it finished… it’s quite large. And heavy, too.”

I pulled one out, but as soon as I held it, I realized just how big and weighty it was.

It seemed about the size of my upper body.

Additionally, it was wrapped in thick and sturdy fabric, layered two or three times over.

No wonder it’s so heavy.

Nevertheless, as I unwrapped the layers of fabric, a white lump emerged.

It was facing the back, but this must be the white cat.

“Oh… This turned out pretty well.”

Flipping it over, I saw a rather goofy-looking face, completely lacking the sharpness typical of feline features.

It was based on the illustration I had provided at the time of ordering, but the craftsmanship was even better than I had expected.

This exceeded my expectations!

I unwrapped the other one and pulled it out.

This one was the black cat.

The white cat had a rounded design, while the black cat had sharper features.

Both were made in a generously large size, with a diameter exceeding 60 centimeters and a thickness of over 10 centimeters.

If I were to place them somewhere… maybe on a two-seater sofa?

I lined them up on the sofa and compared them—the contrast between the black and white was quite nice.

“You really like this kind of design, don’t you?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Seriana, who previously didn’t quite understand these kinds of designs, had seemingly grown used to them and no longer showed any aversion.

I had placed the order on impulse without thinking about where to put them, but leaving these cushions here might not be a bad idea.

“Oh?”

As I gathered up the fabric wrapping to tidy up, a single slip of paper fluttered to the ground, as if it had been stuck in between.

Picking it up and reading it, I found that it contained some detailed instructions…

“It’s about the materials and maintenance… It’s surprisingly detailed. Even more than the bedding I use.”

“You’re right.”

I nodded in agreement with Seriana, who was peering over my shoulder.

Seriana’s bedding was switched out between spring, summer, and winter, and its usual maintenance only involved airing it out or having the servants give it a light beating.

During the off-season, she entrusted it to craftsmen for upkeep, but even then, they only did minor inspections and repairs, like fixing frayed threads.

As for this cushion, it wasn’t just filled with feathers or cotton—it had a resilient resin core, similar to rubber.

Around that core, cotton-filled pouches were strung together like beads.

I guess the idea was to improve cushioning and reduce strain on the body.

The cushion’s exterior was made of high-quality fabric, so its maintenance was the same as a regular cushion.

However, the inside had to be taken apart and cleaned individually.

That’s a rather unique structure.

Because of that, neither I nor the mansion’s servants could handle its maintenance, so it would have to be sent to the workshop once every six months.

Apparently, the workshop covered the cost, so it was free, but…

“Once every six months, they now have a reason to visit the estate… Clever.”

Yeah… that’s exactly it.

By having an excuse to regularly visit the lord’s mansion, they gained an opportunity to build connections.

It wouldn’t necessarily guarantee more orders, but it provided a point of contact, so the possibility wasn’t zero.

Just being associated with the lord’s estate could attract more customers.

They were quite the savvy businesspeople—unlike a certain workshop master I knew.

“This is well-made… Alright. I’ll allow these to stay in this room.”

Saying that, Seriana sat down on the black cat.

Even though it had a core inside, it was hard to imagine, but judging from her reaction, it seemed comfortable to sit on.

In that case, I’ll give it a try too.

“…Huh?”

I shifted my weight around and pressed on it with my hand, but… it didn’t feel much different from the sofa.

Is this how it’s supposed to be?

“You’re just too light.”

Seriana, still seated, must have noticed my puzzlement.

I see…

So, because of my weight, the cushion’s design didn’t have much of an effect on me.

Well, in any case… it’s not bad.

I’m satisfied.

Maybe I’ll order a different design next time.

Something like a snake, a bear… or maybe even a wolf!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sera・【Hideout】+1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind Garment】・【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】【Red Sword】・19 cards

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・34 cards

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

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