***

[Mylar Red Beetroot Food Shop, Flying Off the Shelves After Opening… A Sign of Great Success?]

In the imperial palace garden, Parmes was reading the morning newspaper.

The paper featured an article about the Mylar Red Beetroot Food Shop receiving tremendous attention from both nobles and commoners.

The Mylar Shop was reportedly providing luxurious desserts to nobles through Madam Alens’s salon, while also beginning full-scale operations for commoners.

They were also renting or purchasing fields in various regions to grow red beetroot, apparently planning to expand the business.

The article offered a positive outlook, stating that since red beetroot was such an economical crop, it could help with the potential upcoming famine.

‘Well done, Arinel.’

A faint smile formed on Parmes’s lips as he read the article.

Though it was somewhat bitter to think she would be incredibly busy due to the business’s success, still, Arinel had perfectly succeeded even with the red beetroot business.

‘He would be pleased if he knew.’

Parmes scanned the lower portion of the newspaper article with his red eyes.

Suddenly, the end of his eyebrow twitched.

The remaining half of the article contained the journalist’s negative perspective on whether it was right for Arinel Mylar, the Elemental Palace Lord, to gain personal profit as the owner of Mylar Food Shop.

And an added opinion suggesting that she should just run the beetroot food shop and return the positions of Elemental Palace Lord and Elementalist Association to the existing elementalists.

So half was fact, and half was the journalist’s personal opinion.

“This journalist…”

Parmes folded the newspaper and looked at his servant.

Though the servant’s knees nearly buckled upon meeting those red eyes filled with cold killing intent, he managed to maintain his composure and bowed.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Kidnap him… and shave off all his hair.”

“Yes… pardon?”

“I want him to learn a lesson about thinking before writing articles, while being grateful that it was just his hair that was cut off and not his head.”

Actually, Parmes wanted to cut off his head, but in case the soft-hearted Arinel found out, she might be horrified… so this was his compromise.

The position of Crown Princess, the role of Grand Elementalist inherited from Heisen, and even the red beetroot business she wanted to do – all of it belonged to Arinel.

Parmes would not let anyone take away anything that belonged to Arinel.

“I will carry out your orders, Your Majesty.”

The servant responded respectfully.

“I will also give the newspaper company a stern warning about proper editing.”

“You understand well.”

The servant received the crumpled newspaper from the Emperor. Come to think of it, he had seen the journalist’s surname before in an article about promoting the achievements of the Elementalist Association. He had criticized elementalists who didn’t join the association or pay membership fees.

Most likely, he was someone connected to the Elementalist Association from before Arinel Mylar took it over.

Whoever wrote the article, they had clearly picked the wrong fight.

As the servant left with the newspaper to carry out the Emperor’s orders, another servant entered and reported to Parmes.

“Your Majesty, Duke Siegfried is expected to return to the imperial palace.”

“Siegfried?”

“Yes, he says he has completed the geological survey.”

It should be about time for the geological survey to be finished.

But there were other orders about building food warehouses in various locations, so why is he coming straight to the palace?

“He should have other work to do.”

As Parmes’s eyes darkened, the servant continued.

“Well… he says he has something urgent to report. The capable officials of the Economic Academy have begun work on the food warehouse construction, and it seems he will return to that after his report.”

“If that’s the case.”

Parmes wrapped his long fingers around the teacup handle and took a sip.

In front of his table, a white butterfly had lightly perched.

***

“Ah… hello.”

“Here’s your number ticket.”

As the sun was setting, a pair of siblings who looked slightly younger than me came in holding hands and presented their number ticket.

Today was a day when we only served customers with number tickets.

Even so, most of the items that had filled the display shelves in the morning were already sold out due to the crowds.

“Welcome, customer number 2192! That’s the number of my favorite legal clause!”

“Come this way! We still have sweet red beetroot rice cakes. Plus, you’ll get a special star candy made by the Alchemy Tower as a bonus.”

Aunt Annie and Uncle Burnel – that is, Anes the Justice Tower Master and Baron the Alchemy Tower Master – had been working for two consecutive days but still maintained their energy.

So much so that Adam would flinch whenever he made eye contact with them.

“Yes, we’ll take that and that.”

“Mom told us to buy that.”

“Ah, customers with excellent taste indeed. Now then, come forth.”

As Baron the Alchemy Tower Master stretched out his hand, sparks magically flew from it with a crackle.

The children’s eyes sparkled at the sight.

“Woooow…”

“Amazing!”

“Oh, this is nothing. Heh, just remember this – Mylar Shop with perfect performance, and the name of Baron Rockwell, its eternal employee.”

Watching the delighted children, I was suddenly startled.

And as soon as the children left, I approached Baron with a smile and said.

“It’s good to entertain the customers, but you shouldn’t lie. Eternal employee… Alchemy Tower Master.”

Now that the opening event was over, they would need to return to their positions.

Thanks to the capable Rockwell siblings’ skills and showmanship, Mylar Shop seemed to have had a perfect start.

Meanwhile, as soon as I finished speaking, Justice Tower Master Anes Rockwell agreed with a smirk.

“Right. This is clearly an act of deception.”

Baron immediately protested indignantly.

“Deception? Arinel, I’ve already made up my mind.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m leaving that stuffy Alchemy Tower full of medicine smells. The sweet-smelling Mylar Shop is my real workplace now.”

“…Pardon?”

Seeing my dumbfounded expression, Baron continued.

“I’m satisfied working without pay, so don’t worry, but think about it rationally. Look how many customers I satisfied today. Continuous performance will help Mylar Shop prosper even more.”

I asked, trying to reorganize what I’d just heard with a bewildered face.

“So… you’re saying you’re going to quit being the Alchemy Tower Master to work at my tiny shop?”

“I’ve found my new calling. This is where I belong.”

It’s like a Minister of Science and Technology suddenly deciding to switch careers to become a convenience store worker after finding their true calling.

I waved my hands in protest.

“Alchemy Tower Master, this is too much! I’m already very satisfied with your two days of help!”

“But I’m not satisfied, Arinel. I’ve already grown too attached to this shop… So, please let me continue helping.”

Baron’s eyes flickered desperately as he suddenly clasped his hands together and approached me.

For a moment, I was tempted by his offer to become a permanent unpaid employee, but I managed to come to my senses.

I couldn’t cause national losses just to benefit my shop.

“Still, that won’t do. You need to think about the Empire and the alchemy community!”

“Arinel…”

Baron was on the verge of tears at my cold rejection.

“I agree with Arinel. The position of Alchemy Tower Master was bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor himself. Do you think you can abandon it so easily? Tsk tsk, there are several legal violations in what you just said.”

Anes gladly helped restrain her overenthusiastic twin.

Yes, that’s right, well done!

“To properly vacate a position without violating the law, one must thoroughly follow proper procedures and appoint a deputy. Like how I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time.”

My expression, which had been ready to break into applause, suddenly froze.

W-wait a minute, a deputy?

Anes looked down at her unprepared twin brother with crossed arms and said.

“To become a clerk at Arinel’s shop, I’ve already assembled capable legal officers to act as my deputies at the Justice Tower. The paperwork is perfect, and all that’s left is His Majesty’s approval.”

Boom-

A vision of lightning flashed behind Anes.

With trembling eyes, I said.

“Um… Aunt… this is just a temporary sales position. There’s no need to appoint deputies for the Justice Tower Master position…”

It was impossible not to be flustered when someone equivalent to the Minister of Justice had gone through complicated procedures just to work at my cozy little shop.

“Right. Unlike me, Anes, you’re not the talent Mylar Shop needs.”

“The one not needed at Mylar Shop would be the Alchemy Tower small fry.”

“Just a heavy law book carrier.”

“Frog in a flask.”

The two glared at each other fiercely, competing for the sales position at Mylar Shop.

This isn’t something to fight over!

While I was staring at them in disbelief, the door chimed.

“Welcome, customer!”

“We’ll repay your patronage with a performance!”

The two of them turned toward the door, shouting their welcome messages as if competing.

And then they froze at the sight of who appeared at the door.