On the night I heard the story about the Ruined King Keimeloyeum, I could hardly fall asleep.

Keimeloyeum. A murderer who killed all his brothers and ascended to the throne for the sole reason of stopping his own desire for exploration.

A tyrant who turned the entire country into a massive experimental ground and slaughtered people.

Also, a man who possessed chillingly outstanding magical talent and intellect.

Today I learned all about that cursed man, but I still had one unanswered question.

‘Why can I read that bastard’s book?’

Sek said that only those permitted by Keimeloyeum could read that book. But I wasn’t even in this world when Keimeloyeum was alive.

Suddenly, an uneasy thought occurred to me. Surely my sudden possession isn’t related to Keimeloyeum, is it?

“I’m so worried I can’t sleep…”

I dejectedly pulled the blanket over my head.

And immediately fell asleep.

“Time for a vigorous wake-up!”

The next morning, I energetically threw off the blanket and sprang up.

Despite my worries, I fell asleep quickly. Well, that’s fine. My head feels clear after sleeping well.

I shook out the blanket thoroughly and spread it out neatly. As I smoothed out the wrinkles in the blanket, my thoughts also sorted themselves out.

Right. Only fools worry needlessly. Since pondering won’t yield answers and will only make me depressed, let’s put aside the questions about the Ruined King’s book for now.

After tidying up the bedding and gathering my thoughts, I immediately started preparing for work.

“Time for a vigorous outfit selection!”

When I flung open the wardrobe, a few pieces of clothing popped out like jack-in-the-box dolls. They spilled out due to the overpacked state of the wardrobe.

On the day I became Aspeiran’s retainer, As entrusted my clothing to his dedicated tailor named Krista.

When I was first introduced to Krista, I thought it would be understandable if she was cold towards me.

After all, asking someone in the position of a royal family’s dedicated tailor to make clothes for a mere retainer must have been quite insulting to her pride, even if it was the monarch’s order.

But contrary to my worries, as soon as Krista saw me, she said she was so happy to meet me, gave me a fierce hug, and gladly made my clothes.

From what I heard, she had been itching to make women’s clothes for a while? Currently, Aspeiran is the only member of the royal family, after all.

Moreover, she said my body shape and appearance, different from the Roakin people, ignited her enthusiasm. Thanks to that, my wardrobe reached capacity in just a month and a half.

If I don’t want to wrestle with the wardrobe every morning, I should probably bring in another new one soon.

Unable to find an outfit that caught my eye, I was almost climbing into the wardrobe when a gray box sleeping in the farthest corner caught my attention.

“What’s this?”

A surprise gift that my past self hid for my future self?

After pushing aside some clothes to make a path, I pulled out the box. When I opened the lid, sure enough, there was a nostalgic item inside.

It’s the fur cloak I borrowed from Rumel on the day I first met Awesome.

“That’s right. I put this in here.”

On the day I went to apologize to Rumel with the irreparably damaged fur cloak, Rumel smiled kindly at my dejected self and said it was okay.

− It was a garment I couldn’t wear anyway because it had become too small.

Even so, the fact that I damaged a borrowed garment couldn’t be denied. So I vowed to buy him an identical new fur cloak as an apology…

I had completely forgotten about it, caught up in reality.

“I should thank Rumel and take this opportunity to gift him a new cloak.”

As it happens, I had some money. The precious 5000 arom salary I earned working hard for a month!

Since the castle provides lodging, clothing, and food, I had no particular use for it, so not a single coin had been spent. With this much, I should be able to buy a new fur cloak, right?

“Hmm…”

Since I’m not familiar with Roakin prices, I should ask an expert about this.

So that afternoon, during the Three Memmers’ nap time, I went to the ‘Artisans’ Street’ where all of Roakin’s craftsmen live.

Of course, my destination is the workshop of Krista, Belroy Castle’s top tailor who makes my clothes. There’s no one better than Krista to ask about clothes.

As soon as Krista touched Rumel’s cloak that I showed her, she let out an exclamation.

“Oh my, this is frost bison fur? And it’s the rare white color!”

“Is it good fur?”

“Of course! Frost bison fur is light yet soft and warm, so it’s considered the best among furs. Plus, it’s not easy to obtain. Frost bison are very fierce, you see.”

“Oh…”

I could almost hear the sound of the price skyrocketing through the ceiling.

As I trembled with anxiety, Krista, who was examining the cloak closely, asked.

“Did you receive it as a gift? No, it looks a bit old for that. Besides, it’s a little big for you, Shuria…”

“I borrowed it briefly. But I accidentally made it too dirty.”

“Oh dear, I see. This won’t come out even with washing.”

Krista rubbed the gray-stained hem of the cloak with her finger. I could only smile. As expected of an expert. She knows at a glance.

‘That’s right. I’ve already washed it several times, but it’s still in that state…’

The circumstances of how I made such an expensive cloak end up in this state are too embarrassing to mention. I quickly changed the subject.

“So I want to have a new cloak made with the same fur, but how much would it cost approximately?”

“Hmm, these days, to have a cloak made with frost bison fur…”

Krista pondered for a moment and then said.

“It would cost at least 5000 arom.”

“Eek.”

“That’s 5000 arom if you have it made in Belroy. It would be more expensive in other regions.”

But that amount means I’d have to spend my entire month’s salary to buy it…

At that moment, suddenly, an uneasy feeling came over me. Just in case, I’m asking but.

“Don’t tell me that price is for a cloak the same size as this one…?”

This cloak is slightly big for me, and too small for Rumel to wear.

So if 5000 arom is the price for a cloak this size, then one that fits Rumel would probably be more expensive.

Sadly, Krista nodded as if it were obvious.

“Yes. If you want a larger cloak made, the price will go up too. Who are you planning to gift it to? …Perhaps to His Lordship?”

Oh Krista, how could I possibly give a gift to His Lordship.

For As, who has been surrounded by only the best things since his ascension to the throne, anything bought with my judgment would probably be trash-level.

“No. I’m going to give it to Lord Rumel, the palace doctor of Chromel Palace.”

“Ah.”

Strangely, Krista seemed slightly disappointed.

She turned down the corners of her mouth, spread out the cloak, added a span or two to the measurements, and then pronounced her verdict.

“To have a cloak made to fit Lord Rumel, you should expect at least 7000 arom.”

Wow.

Clap! I smacked my forehead. I had a rough estimate, but as expected, it exceeded my budget.

I drooped my shoulders dejectedly, said goodbye to Krista, and left the building. My heart felt heavy.

‘I guess I can’t buy it this month.’

Not enough money. I’ll have to combine it with next month’s salary.

Can’t be helped. Then I’ll have a cloak made in the latest fashion design when the time comes, and buy gifts for Sir Canis, Kiara, and the knights too.

Feeling a bit more at ease, I started walking while whistling. Then I realized there was still one problem left.

“Come to think of it, where should I have the cloak made…?”

You can’t commission personal items in the Artisans’ Street. So to have Rumel’s cloak made, I’ll have to go somewhere else.

‘I wonder if there’s a shopping district outside Belroy Castle?’

Of course there would be. Then I could order there… But how do I get there?

Just as I was seriously pondering this while walking, I heard a group of girls laughing merrily in the distance, coming this way.

“Wow, Miss Shuria!”

One of the group waved at me. Looking closely, it was Mia, a kitchen maid I had become friendly with while visiting the Chromel Palace kitchen to make snacks for the Three Memmers.

Mia came running towards me, pitter-patter. Two other maids followed behind her.

They were also familiar faces. The young maids Lulu and Nina, whom I had saved from Awesome, and who had given me a snack bundle as thanks.

I ran to meet them and greeted them cheerfully.

“Mia! And Lulu and Nina, right? Good afternoon!”

“Hello…!”

“Yes, good afternoon!”

The children were all wearing casual clothes instead of work uniforms, and their faces were slightly flushed. It seems they all went out somewhere fun together.

I grinned and pointed at the baggage Mia was carrying.

“Looks like you’re coming back from an outing?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right! There was a market in the commercial district today, so we all went together.”

“That must have been fun!”

I clapped my hands and my eyes sparkled. Judging by the fact that they went as a group, this commercial district must be near the castle.

I should ask how to get there and how far it is while I’m at it.

“I’d like to go there sometime too. Is it far from here?”

“No, it’s quick if you take a dog sled.”

“A dog sled?”

“Come to think of it, you’ve never ridden one, have you, Miss Shuria? The royal palace lends out dog sleds so people can travel comfortably.”

According to Mia’s explanation, there are over 100 sled dogs raised at Belroy Castle for people’s transportation. So if you request in advance, you can use a dog sled.

“But you can’t ride alone, and you need to make a reservation for a group of at least 4 people.”

“Wow.”

A dog sled. I’ve never ridden one before.

‘That sounds so fun!’

This gives me another reason to visit the city. I smiled slyly.

Alright. Tomorrow is my regular meeting day with As, so I’ll get permission to go out then.

I was a master at persuading His Lordship, so I was completely confident.

The next day, in the conference room of Princhia Palace.

“So! We need to divert some of the Academy’s Magic Department graduates to our Beltraum Research Institute!”

Prom, who had left the research institute after a long time, pounded the table hard and pointed at his opponent. The person on the receiving end of that finger-pointing, the First Matapju Romi, shouted back just as loudly.

“My, why are you making such a fuss about arbitrarily diverting our precious talent? We’re already short-staffed these days! Besides, what can we do if the graduates don’t want to join the research institute?”

“And you! It’s not that the graduates sincerely want to join the magic tower, it’s because there’s a mandatory service period for the magic tower!”

“Oh please, even without the mandatory service, being a magician at the magic tower is one of the most preferred jobs among graduates. On the other hand, your research institute is avoided!”

“What did you say?!”

The Beltraum Research Institute Director and the First Matapju, who had been verbally sparring, now climbed onto the table and started pulling each other’s hair.

It was, quite literally, a mess.

Kiara, who had been quietly observing the scene, whispered to Aspeiran sitting at the head of the table.

“Your Lordship, no matter how angry you get, you mustn’t shave those two bald.”

“…I’ll try to endure.”

Aspeiran let out a deep sigh.

And so, today too, the furrows between His Lordship’s brows only deepened.