It’s already been over a week since we entered the first month of autumn.

Up until now, I’d been casually going out to hunt or explore dungeons, doing work here and there, but I hadn’t really spent that much time on it.

However, recently I’ve been traveling all over the place for quite long stretches…

There was a phrase in my previous life—time flies like an arrow—I wonder if there’s something similar in this world?

Anyway, just like always, I was out running errands via the underground passage again today…

“Hmm-hmm-hmm… Huh?”

Just as I was returning from the errand and humming to myself while stepping into the entrance hall, I saw some servants carrying a large package.

Looks like they’re headed to… the south wing?

“Good work. What’s that for?”

Speeding up the 【Floating Orb】 to catch up with them, I asked what it was.

If it’s being moved from the main building, I assume it’s already been checked…

“Ah, Lady Sera. Thank you for your hard work. This is a gift for Lady Elena. Since she’s staying at the estate right now, it was sent here from her own mansion.”

“…Ah! Now that you mention it, she has been staying here all this time, hasn’t she?”

Elena’s birthday is on the 11th of the first month of autumn. Normally, she’d be busy around that time entertaining guests, but this year she’s been here the whole time and has turned them down.

I guess people still wanted to at least send her gifts.

“Yes. It seems it was already inspected on that end, but we went ahead and checked it here as well just in case. Since there were no issues, we’re planning to take it to the lounge on the first floor.”

She said this while facing the south wing.

It would be normal to place it there so Elena could open it, but that would mean gathering people again to carry it upstairs later.

Hmm…

“Ah, in that case, just take it to my room. I think that’d be easier for Elena too, right?”

“Are you sure?”

As far as the servants are concerned, my room is a place for changing clothes and storing things.

It’s spacious, and keeping everything together there isn’t strange.

At night, everyone can gather and look through the gifts together, and moving them to the 【Hideout】 will be less of a hassle.

Even I think it’s a pretty smart idea.

“Yep, yep. I’ll let Elena know myself.”

Saying that, I cast 【Prayer】 on everyone and made my way to the office.

◇

Now then, with today in the capital ending peacefully, we wrapped up the nightly report and gathered in my room to look over the gifts for Elena.

“…There’s a lot of clothes, huh?”

“Yes… It’s not like anything was custom-made in particular, but… They’re all designs I’ve never tailored before.”

We’d only just started opening the boxes that had been brought in, but for some reason, it was all clothes so far.

And rather than the usual classical garments for noble ladies, they were all stylish and looked easy to move in.

Of course, since they’re gifts for Elena, the quality is excellent.

I don’t even wonder anymore how they know Elena’s measurements.

That’s just how nobles operate—but still, why are there so many clothes?

Last year, I remember there were paintings, jewelry, and such too…

“…Maybe it’s because the princess and Lady Fiora had loungewear custom-made? It was a new design, so perhaps it was shared among the workshops. Word must’ve spread, and that led to people creating new designs as gifts for Elena and the madam.”

“Ah… That might be it.”

Everyone nodded at Teresa’s theory.

Well, they are celebratory gifts.

As long as nothing is wildly inappropriate, even something bold will at least be accepted, whether it’s used or not.

And with Seriana’s birthday just three days after Elena’s, the timing makes sense—it’s worth testing the waters.

Well… it’s not exactly the right atmosphere this year to hold a big party and gather everyone, but if she ends up wearing any of it somewhere, it’d definitely help get the workshop or artisan’s name out there.

I wonder if the fashion industry is emerging in Riana too…?

I’ve never been into fashion, so I didn’t bother to investigate clothing trends even in the royal capital, let alone elsewhere, but maybe I should have checked them out!

◇

The gift inspection continued after that, but it wasn’t all clothes—there were also art pieces, books, alcohol… All the usual stuff arrived properly too.

If that’s how it is for Elena, I guess Seriana will get similar gifts?

These two are too close in both schedule and relationship, so how people treat Elena gives a pretty good idea of how they’ll treat Seriana.

Seriana’s not really suited for surprises though.

Still, birthdays, huh…

“In the end, I didn’t get to go hunt any big game…”

When autumn comes around, big animals like bears come down from the mountains in preparation for hibernation… but it seems it would be hard to go after them now.

Even if I’d gotten one, tanning the hide and turning it into something would’ve taken too long anyway, so I wouldn’t have made it in time—but still, I didn’t prepare any present this year.

“You’re still thinking about that?”

Seriana and Elena don’t seem to care, but I had planned to get something ready.

I didn’t account for a whole war breaking out…

“You give me plenty of things all the time. 【Mira’s Blessing】 isn’t something even royalty receives casually. I’m always grateful.”

“Fnnn…”

A small grunt escaped me as I listened to Elena’s words.

I mean, I get what she’s saying, but that thing’s just attached, you know…?

It doesn’t really feel like a present.

Well… there’s nothing I can prepare now anyway, so maybe I’ll just go all out and give her a serious massage for the first time in a while!

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

Sera ・ Blessing ・【Hideout】+1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind’s Garment】

Blessed Items ・【Floating Orb】+1【Shadow Sword】+1【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】【Monkey’s Arm】・8 cards

Seriana ・【Area Identification】・【】・0 cards

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

Alec ・【Strong Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・10 cards