Chapter 121: Invitation from the Canon Viscount House

“Now, let’s practice pronunciation. ‘Nandeyanen’.”

“Nandeyanen…”

No, seriously. Nandeyanen (What the heck).

Currently, I’m learning a foreign language from my tutor, Old Stram, but no matter how I listen to it, it’s Kansai dialect.

To me, it just sounds like a fake Kansai dialect, a mishmash of various dialects like Kyoto or Osaka.

It’s the language of the distant Joruri Kingdom, which also trades with the Symphonia Imperial Kingdom, but… Nine Goddesses, you didn’t just make this up randomly, did you…?

I do feel like one of the helper characters in the game spoke in Kansai dialect. Was that person also from the Joruri Kingdom?

Ugh, it makes me feel so weird… Why does the textbook say ‘Mokkarimakka?’ (Making any money?) and ‘Bochibochidenna’ (So-so)…? Will I ever use that? I don’t think they even use that on Earth…?

Well, apparently royalty needs to be able to use multiple languages to some extent, so having one that’s easy to learn is helpful, though.

The royal family of the Symphonia Imperial Kingdom is small, which is why Father hasn’t become a commoner. If anything happens to His Majesty the Emperor or Elliott, he has the right to become the next Emperor.

Since I, his daughter, also hold the right of succession to the throne, learning these foreign languages is apparently mandatory.

Before enrolling in the “Academy,” I need to learn all sorts of things as a noble.

Normally, I should have learned some of these things between birth and now. However, I have no memories before the age of three, and since I lived in the slums from age three, I completely lack that knowledge.

Well, it’s doubtful whether I would have remembered such important common sense at age three anyway. Still, because I have memories of my previous life and the slums, I apparently seem like a very strange child from the nobles’ perspective.

Therefore, language, history, etiquette, arts, martial arts, music, socializing, horseback riding, dance, etc., etc…. there’s just so much to learn.

Because I possess an adult’s mind to some extent, I understand the necessity well, and it’s subtly painful that I can memorize things relatively quickly.

Well, in my case, since I’m studying with Estelle, I did have a bit of rivalry, thinking, “I won’t lose!”

Perhaps because she’s the heroine, she’s really a fast learner… Protagonist plot armor is so unfair…

When winter arrives, opportunities to go outside decrease, and we end up playing or studying indoors more often. Sometimes we host tea parties or are invited to them.

After repeating this several times, I made some relatively good friends, and I got used to the tea parties themselves.

It’s been over half a year since I came to the Ducal House. Have I managed to put on the skin of a noble young lady enough to pass?

“Come to think of it, the down jackets we started selling for nobles seem to be popular.”

“Yes, it was the right decision to make ones for children too.”

I had such a conversation with Mother while drinking afternoon tea. Recently, when going to or hosting tea parties, I’ve seen noble ladies wearing down jackets here and there. Of course, not the khaki, middle-aged-man style ones I initially made, but the fashionable and stylish ones designed by Mother for ladies.

Originally, Mother and I wore them to tea parties and acted as walking billboards, but the number of people copying us has increased.

The warm and light down jackets had a good reputation and were immediately accepted by the nobles. The Philharmonie Ducal House is raking it in.

Similarly, Estelle’s Euphonium Baron House was making down jackets for commoners, but they didn’t sell that well at first.

However, once they started becoming popular among nobles, they reportedly began selling rapidly, starting with wealthy merchants, then focusing on young people wanting to be fashionable.

“They’ll probably be copied by next year, though.”

Mother spoke with a wry smile.

Basically, it’s a world without trademark rights, but there are still things like brand logos and symbol marks indicating “This product is sold by this noble house.”

If someone uses those exactly as they are to sell counterfeits, they’ll be caught, but making and selling their own original down jackets isn’t illegal. The point is, as long as they can be distinguished, it’s fine.

Down jackets themselves don’t have that much of a secret to them, making them easy to copy. Merchants who plagiarize will definitely appear. There will be differences in quality, but it’s the consumers who choose.

“Even so… when did you make such a brand logo?”

“Ufufu, isn’t it nice? It’s the Sakura Brand, you know?”

I stared at the logo resembling a cherry blossom drawn on the down jacket with an indescribable look in my eyes.

Regarding the fact that my brand was created before I even knew it. No, well, it’s fine, but?

From what I hear, this logo is also used for that wild grass skin lotion, nail polish, and chocolate using cacao from the Minuet Queendom.

Without my knowing, this logo was used for all products handled by the Ducal House, establishing something called the Sakura Brand.

Moreover, it was registered with the Merchant Guild as “Sakura Company,” and I was the president.

A six-year-old as a company president is weird, right… Also, “Sakura Company” sounds kind of fake. I think I’m the only one who feels that way, though.

“It’s a company to commercialize and sell what Sakura-chan comes up with, so it’s fine. We’ll handle the selling, so Sakura-chan just needs to think of things that will sell.”

“You say that so casually…”

Thinking of things that will sell is quite a tall order, I think. Actually, both the cosmetics and chocolates seem to be selling, though.

As for what I can do, it would probably be something like… making and selling items sold in the stores I summon with [Store Summoning] using materials available in this world.

If tomato cultivation goes well, we could sell hot dogs too. If we negotiate with Tifa’s place and get spices cheaply, we might even be able to make curry.

It’s all food… Well, that’s the easiest thing to make…

What else… Reversi, Shogi, or toy-related things? Mini-sized versions are sold at the convenience store, and when I had Father and His Majesty the Emperor try them, they were surprisingly well-received.

There are chess-like games in this world too, so they’re probably easy to get familiar with.

“If we try to produce and sell new things, the amount of work increases, and we need more manpower. Doing such things is also one of a noble’s duties, you know?”

“I see. So we can create new jobs for people.”

Business has that aspect too, huh. By me selling something, someone’s job is generated, and they can earn money. I didn’t have that perspective.

It’s true that if we try to sell something like Reversi, we need woodworkers; if we try to make Philadelphia fleabane skin lotion, we need people to harvest it.

If I didn’t try to sell them, those jobs wouldn’t have existed for those people.

Old Stram said, “If the people do not prosper, the territory does not prosper, and the country does not prosper.”

So we have to run the economy starting from the lives of the people living there.

If that’s the case, I’ll try to do as much as I can. Thinking of things that will sell might be difficult, but I can think of things that sold back on Earth.

However, it’s winter now… I wonder if we’ll start taking action after spring comes…?

While I was absentmindedly thinking about such things, there was a knock on the door.

Following Mother’s “Come in,” the head maid of the Royal Capital’s Ducal House peeked in.

“Madam, an invitation to a party has arrived.”

“My, from where?”

Mother received the invitation and checked the sender’s name.

“Oh, how rare. It’s from the Canon Viscount House.”

“The Canon Viscount House?”

“They are a noble house with many members making a name for themselves in academia and the arts. The Canon Viscount House is a distant relative of Old Stram.”

Oh, Old Stram’s. I wonder if it’s that kind of bloodline. Old Stram was also a former teacher at the “Academy.”

“That house is, how should I say, entirely devoted to academia and the arts. They rarely host parties and the like, so I thought it was unusual.”

“They don’t place much importance on socializing, do they?”

“Right. Getting weirdly involved in politics can sometimes hinder learning. Besides, just like the Stram House, many people from the Canon House serve as teachers at the ‘Academy.’ In that sense too, becoming particularly close with a certain house is, well.”

Ah, so it would look like teachers from the “Academy,” which boasts fairness, are colluding with a specific noble house.

Something like, “Teacher, please improve my child’s test scores with this…” and accepting bribes? No way.

I think it’s overthinking, but they probably hate being suspected of it. It’s not fun having your motives questioned when you’ve done nothing wrong.

“It seems it came through the connection with Old Stram after all.”

“Are you going?”

“I don’t have any particular errands, so perhaps I shall go. I think Cloud-sama is fine too. As for Sakura-chan…”

“I’ll be house-sittiiing.”

“I suppose so.”

Mother giggled. Basically, it’s up to the parents whether or not to bring children to these kinds of parties.

That is, of course, if the parents can bear the risk of the child making some kind of blunder.

Children of upper-class nobles are taken along by their parents quite often. The idea seems to be to get them used to high society now, before their debutante.

It’s troublesome, so I’ll pass. I refuse to become a mere ornament blankly watching at an adults’ party venue. It’s not like the food is especially delicious either.

However, the Canon Viscount House, huh…? Something feels stuck in my mind…?

Teachers at the “Academy”……

“Ah!?”

“Wh-What’s wrong!? Sakura-chan?”

“N-No, nothing! Umm, Mother, about that party, can I actually tag along too!?”

“S-Sure… Why are you breathing so heavily?”

I remembered! The Canon Viscount House is that Canon House!

Jeremy Canon.

One of the capture targets in “Starlight Symphony,” just like Elliott.

And also my number one “Oshi” (favorite) from my previous life.

Jeremy is a teacher at the “Academy” and also Estelle’s homeroom teacher. The school teacher, older guy slot.

A gentleman, kind, with a mature capacity for tolerance that hides a slight melancholy… it’s irresistible!

He completely shot through my heart when I was a middle schooler back then. I never thought my heart would be stolen by a man in his thirties. Well, the target was a game character, though.

But, the real Jeremy-sensei exists in this world. My real “Oshi.”

As if I could bear not meeting him!

If I recall correctly, he was thirty-two when he appeared in the game? Then he’s twenty-two now. He should already be a teacher at the “Academy.”

At this time of year, it’s highly likely he’s returned to his family home for winter vacation. In other words, there’s a high chance I can meet him!

“Uoooh, my tension is rising—-!”

“Sakura-chan? I don’t really understand, but anyway, get down from the chair. It’s bad manners.”

A scolding flew from Mother at me, who was standing on the chair, thrusting both fists up and howling. I’m sorry, I lost my composure a bit.