“Lady Alens, welcome!”

I called out cheerfully at the familiar face.

It was none other than Lady Alens. Her magnificent red dress was adorned with countless peacock feathers at its hem.

It made her look like a red peacock.

“Arinel, congratulations on your opening. Ho ho ho!”

Lady Alens bent down, placed her hand on my head, and gently stroked it.

The maid, following her quickly approached and handed me a large bouquet.

Receiving flowers always brought joy.

While I was absorbed in admiring the bouquet, the lady smiled brightly at me just like she did in Galnem, then approached the siblings standing behind me with an elegant and dignified expression.

“Ho ho ho, though business seems to be over, the shop floor is still quite heated.”

With each step she took, her shoes made crystalline sounds like percussion instruments.

“……”

“……”

The Rockwell siblings, who had been fighting like cats and dogs, immediately shut their mouths at her appearance.

“Aunt Annie and Uncle Burnel came to help. You know them, right? We all lived together in Galnem village!”

I tried to facilitate a reunion between Lady Alens and our former neighbors from Galnem, but had to stop when I saw their expressions.

What’s with those looks? As if they’ve encountered a formidable opponent?

“Understand, Arinel. To appear proudly would be… like a shrimp getting caught between fighting whales.”

I suddenly remembered their laments about having to keep quiet during the three ministers’ disputes.

C-Could it be that these two are afraid of Lady Alens?

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

And then came Lady Alens’s clicking tongue. She had never made such a sound toward me.

“I was worried, but it seems you’re living up to those worries exactly, Alchemy Tower Master.”

“…Urk.”

Lady Alens reached out as if to grab Uncle Baron’s collar.

“My Lady?!”

Just as I was about to intervene in shock, I hesitated, surprised by her swift, dazzling hand movements.

She had instantly tied his slightly disheveled shirt strings into a perfect ribbon.

And she did it with just the plump fingers of one hand.

I stared blankly at this incredible display of skill.

“Disheveled attire leads to disheveled service. That’s what I always tell my salon staff.”

After fixing the Alchemy Tower Master’s shirt, Lady Alens turned toward the Justice Tower Master.

“Even when Madam Rockwell entrusted your etiquette education to me in the past, I explained this until it should have been nailed into your ears!”

The Justice Tower Master quickly pulled out her law book to defend herself, but she couldn’t escape Lady Alens’s sharp eye.

“At first I thought it was an umbrella skirt, but it turned out to be a slit skirt. I’ve seen this design at the shop.”

“Ugh……”

Lady Alens’s index finger pointed toward the Justice Tower Master’s skirt hem.

“I advised you countless times in Galnem to fix that habit of spreading your knees when reading your law book, but it seems you still haven’t corrected it, Justice Tower Master.”

Ta-ta-ta, under Lady Alens’s rapid-fire scolding, Anes staggered.

It seemed the relationship between the siblings and the lady was that of a fearsome teacher and her students.

Having received the second blow, Justice Tower Master Anes Rockwell took a step back.

The two of them slightly turned their shoulders and lowered their posture.

Like shrimps going quiet at the appearance of a whale.

Even though both were Tower Masters, they seemed no match for the tongue and presence of Lady Alens, the Palace Minister.

“While the two Tower Masters’ performance at Mylar Shop was certainly impressive, well, I’m not certain I wouldn’t have turned you away had you applied to one of my salons. Ho ho ho!”

“Urk……”

“Ugh……”

“So, it would be best to abandon any thoughts of claiming Mylar Shop and hovering around Arinel, little Tower Masters.”

Lady Alens crossed her arms and looked at the two siblings. Her presence was as imposing as a tiger before two puppies.

“B-But… the Alchemy Tower…”

Baron spoke with trembling fists, frustrated at his defeat.

“I won’t give up like this. Grr!”

“The Justice Tower won’t forget today’s defeat either! I’ll persevere and definitely secure that permanent position for myself!”

“That position is mine, Anes.”

The two spoke while grinding their teeth, seemingly unwilling to give up.

Even though their dreams were currently thwarted by Lady Alens’s overwhelming presence.

No, wait, should such high-ranking officials even be fighting over a position at a small shop?

***

“I’ll come back stronger, Arinel.”

“Yes. Wait for us.”

Having tasted defeat but showing their determination not to give up, they trudged out of the shop.

I let out a sigh of relief, glad that I hadn’t become a scoundrel who stole talents from the alchemy and law communities. Then I turned to look at Lady Alens.

The lady adjusted the atmosphere of the sales floor by making slight changes to the interior decorations and accessories.

Then, with a satisfied expression, she crossed her arms and muttered to herself.

“Perfect. This is certainly worthy of being a salon run by the flower of high society.”

She spoke with great satisfaction about the bouquet I had received from her, which was now decorating one corner of the store.

“Well done, Arinel. With that there, those two won’t dare cause such a commotion again.”

Then she addressed me.

“By the way, Arinel, actually, besides congratulating you on your opening, I came here today because I have news to deliver.”

“News?”

Lady Alens nodded and came closer to me.

“Duke Siegfried discovered something extraordinary during his geological survey and brought it to the Imperial Palace. So today, I plan to escort you to the palace.”

“…Pardon? Today?”

Several of Lady Alens’s maids entered through the open door.

“All of you, take Arinel to the salon and dress her in the most beautiful dress. The cloud-colored dress made of Ganil silk would be suitable today. And for the hairstyle…”

Lady Alens examined me seriously from head to toe as she spoke.

“Today, it would be better to braid the hair thinly and wrap it in a tiara style while leaving it loose.”

Everything started being prepared at once.

When she laughs ‘ho ho ho,’ she seems like a simple-minded lady, but seeing her give endless commands at times like this, the difference in her demeanor was striking.

I could understand why she was the Palace Minister…

“The shoes should be formal blue ones. While clothes befitting a Spirit Palace Lord would be appropriate, today you’re appearing more as a geological survey contributor than a Spirit Palace Lord, so a style that shows noble dignity would be better. Let’s see…”

After thinking for about three seconds, Lady Alens clapped her hands.

“Let’s go with the bracelet set with gold topaz. The hair ornaments should match.”

I don’t understand any of this, but I better just stay still.

The maids gestured to guide me according to Lady Alens’s clear instructions.

“But Lady, what do you mean by the Duke discovering something during his geological survey?”

“Well… It’s something that could be of great help to the Empire.”

Lady Alens winked at me.

“You’ll be surprised when you see it.”

***

I arrived at the Imperial Palace accompanied by Lady Alens.

The main hall of the palace was already filled with an incredible number of noble gentlemen and ladies.

If they hadn’t hastily made way upon seeing Lady Alens, it would have been difficult for a little one like me to push through the crowd.

“My Lady.”

Everyone’s attention turned to me, and shortly after, Briton stepped forward in front of everyone, displaying his sparkling presence.

With his glass-blue eyes, Briton gave a friendly smile and nodded slightly to Lady Alens as well.

As Lady Alens stepped back with a satisfied expression, Briton naturally extended his hand.

“I shall escort you from here.”

I nodded with a bewildered expression and placed my hand on Briton’s.

Then I asked in a small voice.

“What’s going on, Your Highness? What exactly was discovered that could help the Empire…?”

“My, Lady Alens’s security is impressive. I thought she might not be able to resist telling such a cute lady if asked.”

Briton wore an amused expression, seeming to chuckle quietly.

And like Lady Alens, he didn’t give me any precise information.

“Regarding your contribution, it would be better for you to see it yourself. I shouldn’t spoil the reveal ahead of the announcement.”

“How mean.”

I puffed my cheeks as I walked forward with Briton.

A moment later, I found myself stopping in front of a man standing before the throne and the prince.

“…Uncle Amrus?”

Sunlight poured through the large, majestic glass window behind the throne. Emperor Parmes, with his silver hair bathed in that light, sat on the throne.

And at the end of the blue carpet that stretched all the way to the entrance, near the throne, stood Duke Siegfried.