Chapter 117: Point Benefit

“Umm, [Point Card].”

Trying to mentally call it immediately after waking up, Pon, a point card made of cardboard appeared in my hand. Uumu, it wasn’t a dream after all. Kohaku-san’s stamp is pressed on the first square marked with a star. The next star mark is the tenth square. Means I can get at least one for now, right? What can I get? Since they said completely random, it really is a gacha… Well, something received from Gods, so anything must be grateful but… That day, I opened five stores for Luca, Tifa, Risha, and Eltiria-chan who wanted to buy souvenirs. Patisserie ‘La Vie en Rose’, Kitchen Car ‘Little Wing’, Liquor Shop ‘TAKEDA’, Candy Store ‘Jumonji’, and Onigiri Shop ‘Musubimaru’, five stores. Overdid it wanting stamps… Luca and others all brought time-stopping storage boxes, but even those storage boxes have limits. Therefore, they seem to be spending quite some time carefully selecting what to buy. Watching that sideways, alone outside the store, I was grinning at the pressed stamp. Alright, second stamp. Eight more stamps until next benefit. Anyway, I want the first benefit which is already filled but… How do I receive the benefit…?

“Umm, benefit please…?”

Holding the point card between hands, try praying to Nine Goddesses. Then, a ball of light popped out from the point card, Pon, fell down taking a certain shape. This is…

“…Cat ears?”

Eh? What does this mean? Somehow a cat ear headband fell down!? Is this the benefit!? Picking up the cherry blossom colored cat ear headband, tried putting it on my head for now. Just a plain cat ear headband without any special features but… Ehh… is the benefit cosplay goods? Does it mean I lost the gacha…?

“…Nn?”

Eh? This is… In my ears, I can hear everyone’s voices inside the store. Various voices heard noisily—wai wai gaya gaya, but concentrating can narrow down to one person’s voice. Is this cat ear headband a magic tool!? Amazing. A magic tool capable of hearing distant sounds. This is useful… useful, maybe? Perfect item for eavesdropping but. Honestly difficult to find usage for me… If anything, lending it to someone of Ritsu‘s subordinates, the Nanane Clan, might utilize it for information gathering, but can’t just casually hand over something received from God… Though Goddesses probably won’t mind…

“Lady Sakuraile, were you here… guh, gufuu!?”

Turning to Estelle who called from behind, suddenly she held her chest and staggered. What happened!?

“What destructive power…! To think beastified Lady Sakuraile is this lovely…! What is that wonderful item!?” “Eh, umm, something like a bonus from new store?”

Can’t say received from Nine Goddesses, so I glossed over it like that.

“I see! An item bringing out cuteness like a plushie! Ah, Bianca-san, Ritsu-san! Come here!” “What is it, Estelle. Panicking so much… guh, gumuu!?” “What’s wrong, both of you… fuwaa!?”

Called by Estelle, Bianca and Ritsu who came also hold their chests and stagger similarly. So, what is it!?

“What cuteness…! Th-This is dangerous…!” “Was dangerous…! Almost went to father’s place…!” “Right! Right!”

Don’t know why but the three are excited. Don’t leave me out~. Eventually Mother and Yulia-sensei also came, and while frolicking, stared at me wearing cat ear headband from various angles, both muttering ‘This will sell’. Eh? Intend to sell?

“There were plushie kits at plushie shop, and headbands at fashion center, right? Diverting those, can make similar things.” “While at it, shall we make tails hookable on waist belts too. Think it will become cuter.” “Good idea! First let’s make prototypes in le Philharmonie and Euphonium territories and try selling!”

Don’t know why, but new product project started. Commercially shrewd… Mother was originally a Margrave’s daughter, so thinking is flexible and has ability to act. Reliable type if company boss. Uumu, didn’t expect such development. Well, understood what [Point Card] is like so fine. Eight more stamps, forty summons until next. Uumu, well, without forcing summons, let’s look forward to points accumulating.

◇ ◇ ◇

Autumn Cooling Party ending means social season starts from now. In winter when people tend to stay indoors, parties seem to be held almost daily at each house. Of course, if parties overlap, invited guests also disperse, so schedules are adjusted beforehand not to overlap within same faction etc. According to Father, sometimes intentionally overlap dates with hostile factions to check which side neutral nobles lean to. Attending reveals the leaning, so nobles wanting to remain neutral seem to have hard time thinking of reasons to decline. Truly, truuuuly reluctantly, apparently I also have to hold a party, or rather a tea party. Super troublesome… Well, according to Mother, just calling children of families wanting to be friendly with, enjoying chatting and eating delicious things is enough, so reluctantly accepted. At this Autumn Cooling Party, at least understood children I ‘don’t get along with’. Even children of same faction houses, if proper party maybe, but for underage tea party inviting friends, not inviting them is no problem. However, want to decline for a while. Actually invitations from several houses already arrived, but muddying the waters with replies like ‘Busy for a while so can’t participate. Invite again in winter’. Tifa, Luca, Risha, Eltiria-chan and other state guests still staying visit our house frequently, so being busy isn’t a lie.

“No well, it’s fine. Fine but. Aren’t you guys coming almost every day? Don’t need to attend other parties?”

Leaking a sigh looking at Luca, Tifa, Risha, Estelle, Eltiria-chan, and Elliott, Jean, Leon gathered at the usual Patisserie ‘La Vie en Rose’. Only children here. No, royal guards and my guards like Tanya-san are here though. By the way Bianca and Ritsu too. Risha‘s guard knight also changed from that unmotivated negligent knight to a female knight trusted by Imperial Princess Leticia. Since then, Second Imperial Prince faction bunch swept away from Risha‘s surroundings, seemingly living very comfortably. Good, good.

“Even if royalty, inviting underage children to house parties is strange story. If tea party among children, don’t mind attending, but regarding children I get along with in this country, only Sakuraile and Estelle exist.” “Don’t remember inviting though.” “Kakaka. Just came to play at friend’s house. Then everyone was here. Just that.”

Pure sophistry no matter how you think, but well, not strange. Actually doesn’t seem arranged together. Or rather, feel they come for my shop.

“However, Highness Elliott and Highness Risha engaged, huh. Unexpected, surprised. But, seem to suit each other.” “Nn. Congratulation on engagement again.” “Congratulations!” “Truly congratulations!” “Th-Thank you very much.”

Risha bows head—pekori—shyly at congratulatory words from Tifa, Luca, Eltiria-chan, and Estelle. Felt Estelle’s words had unusual heat though…

“But after this, undoubtedly trouble will occur in Empire. With Imperial Princess Leticia possessing you siding with First Imperial Prince, the Crown Prince… Empire won’t have leeway to meddle with my country Minuet either.”

Tifa‘s place also had tense relationship with Empire. If that eases, must be big welcome. Just as there are pro-Kingdom nobles in Empire, there are pro-Queendom nobles too. Broadly speaking, pro-diplomacy faction. Those nobles might take neutral stance, but won’t side with Second Imperial Prince faction. Remaining is whether Imperial Princess Leticia can bring in nobles friendly to Queendom. Risha already became good friends with Tifa and Luca, became most important person for Empire being friend with me, [Princess of the Holy Sword] and Kingdom Crown Prince’s fiancée, and Tifa and Luca, Princesses of Queendom and Kingdom. From Second Imperial Prince and Emperor’s view, feel like Rook and Bishop taken in Shogi? ‘Spilt water doesn’t return to tray’. Serves them right a little. Second Imperial Prince who tried to discard Risha, want him thoroughly beaten and crushed. While at it, if his brother, Ore-sama Prince’s personality is corrected, nothing more to say. Since he’s technically a senior once entering ‘Academy’…

“Glad I came. Already looking forward to Spring Sun Party half year later.” “Un. Looking forward to what new shop next.” “No, doesn’t mean definitely increasing though…”

Tifa and Luca expecting irresponsibly, but seems won’t increase unless clearing in-game events. Clearing event = getting close to capture targets, so not a very good thing… I directed gaze at the three idiots… no, Elliott, Jean, Leon capture target trio making noise at the table over there. Elliott and others’ events still remain too. But, most are difficult unless at ‘Academy’… Can increase paka paka once enrolled maybe… Ten years old to enroll, so four more years. Want to survive safely until then somehow. Worrying about future, I put the lemon cake in front of me into mouth. Soour…