Chapter 133: Family Bonds

Tomorrow is the “New Year’s Banquet” at the castle. Meaning today is New Year’s Eve. Over here, it’s apparently called “Sylvesta”.

That being said, there aren’t any specific events or traditions to do on New Year’s Eve in this world.

However, preparing a lavish meal and spending a relaxing time with family seems to be the customary practice.

Because of that, the kitchen in our house has been operating at full capacity since morning. Dishes from my store will be lined up, but there also seem to be standard dishes traditionally eaten at the end of the year. Something like osechi (traditional Japanese New Year food), maybe? Even though it’s the end of the year.

Osechi was originally food you prepared at the end of the year so you wouldn’t have to cook during the New Year’s holidays, after all.

As expected, I don’t have any lady’s education or lessons today, so it looks like I’ll be able to spend the day relaxing.

Or so I thought.

“Yes, this is good. Let’s adopt this one too. Could you add a little more glamour to the design on this one?”

“Glamour… Should I try adding lace to the sleeves and collar?”

“I think that’s good. Could you try it with that?”

I sorted out the designs that met Mother’s approval and jotted down points for revision on the ones that didn’t quite make the cut.

On the table, several sheets of dress illustrations I had designed were piled up.

These are design sketches for dresses to be released by the “Sakura Brand” established by Mother.

Somehow, before I knew it, I had been registered as the brand’s designer…

Well, in my previous life, I originally wanted to be a designer, so I don’t hate drawing pictures or designing… However, I wasn’t aiming to be a fashion designer; if anything, I was an advertising graphic designer.

Apparently, after seeing the dresses Estelle and I wore at the Autumn Cooling Party, there were quite a few inquiries from noble young ladies. I didn’t think those pseudo-gothic lolita clothes would have such a good reputation… The sense of style in another world is beyond me…

This time, I’m designing gothic-style dresses that even adults can wear.

The noble ladies of this world seem to prefer eye-catching, primary colors like red, blue, green, and purple, but the colors I specified are pale ones, like sherbet colors.

Since there are no other dresses with this kind of translucent feel, where the skirt forms a pale gradient, Mother ordered various variations.

To think I’d be stuck designing until New Year’s Eve…

“At the Spring Sun Party in spring, it’ll undoubtedly be overflowing with ‘Sakura Brand’ dresses.”

Hmm… I don’t know whether to be happy or embarrassed about that…

“Also, the underwear. We need to spread this as quickly as possible.”

“Is it really that urgent?”

“It is that urgent.”

All noble women in this world wear bloomers (drawers), but the noble women who have worn the underwear sold at my store are saying they can never go back to bloomers.

This goes for men too; apparently, His Majesty the Emperor is wearing boxer briefs, and Elliott favors children’s briefs. It’s a bit funny to imagine.

Fixing her eyes on this, Mother set out to develop fashionable underwear.

Using the underwear in my store as a reference, she’s apparently gathering all sorts of materials through the Ducal House’s unique channels and pushing forward toward commercialization.

I wondered what she would do for the elastic thread, but she says they can somehow substitute it with materials from magic beasts. Something about using valuable thread taken from a spider magic beast… Is that really okay…?

“This is a revolution! Eventually, we’ll export it not just within the Imperial Kingdom, but to other countries more and more, and it’s something that can definitely compete! And then the ‘Sakura Brand’ will sweep the world! Oh, how wonderful it is!”

Umm, I don’t know why, but it seems a fire has been lit under Mother. Mother really has a merchant’s spirit… Or rather, she seems to have an interest in improving the status of women.

If she had been born on Earth, she might have become a fiercely competent career woman or a female CEO.

Well, she’s basically like a female CEO even now. It’s called the “Sakura Brand,” but Mother is the one holding the actual power.

By the way, my dress for attending tomorrow’s “New Year’s Banquet” is already finished.

Mother’s is the newly completed sherbet-colored dress, but mine is a black and white gothic dress version 2.

It looks similar to the previous dress, but I made the bottom like a corset skirt, prioritizing ease of movement.

But then again, if I’m going to be eating all sorts of food at the castle, maybe a corset skirt was a mistake… I thought to myself.

Well, I assume almost all the food will be from my store anyway… I can eat it anytime, so I guess I’ll just endure it.

Aside from that, Mother is apparently also thinking about selling plushies. Isn’t she expanding her business a bit too much?

Ultimately, the “Sakura Brand” is a manufacturer that aims to recreate and sell the products from the stores I summon using only materials from this world.

Because this world has magic and materials from monsters that don’t exist on Earth, there are many things they can manage to recreate.

However, since there are things where the costs don’t match up or they simply can’t figure out the manufacturing method, they can’t make everything.

They can make a guitar, but an electric guitar is impossible. They could technically make something like a hair dryer as a magic tool, but it would apparently become ridiculously expensive. Things don’t always go your way.

His Majesty the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the others seem to be thinking about whether they can somehow make a car like the kitchen car, but unfortunately, the kitchen car can’t be dismantled.

I gave them a plastic model car from the model shop to see if it would serve as even a little reference, but it seems the mystery only deepened for them.

Eventually, if I become able to summon a car shop or a used car dealership, they can try studying that.

Wait, if I become able to summon one, buying it would be faster. Well, even if they buy one, without gasoline, it would stop running right away, though.

It’s meaningless unless I can summon a gas station too.

But a gas station is extremely dangerous, so…

“Madam, Lady Sakuraile. The meal is ready.”

At Ritsu’s words, Mother and I raised our heads simultaneously. It seems while we were discussing the brand’s sales strategy, it became time for dinner.

Clearing the documents on the table, Mother and I headed to the dining room together.

Kohaku-san, who had been sleeping on the sofa, also got up and trotted after us.

When we entered the dining room, a meal even more lavish than usual was lined up on the table. There were a few dishes I didn’t recognize. I wonder if these are lucky foods eaten on New Year’s Eve.

Father was already seated and was having wine poured by a servant. That’s the expensive wine sold at my store, isn’t it… Ugh, I resent this body that can’t drink.

When we took our seats, Father clasped both hands in front of his chest and closed his eyes as if in prayer. We similarly clasped our hands and closed our eyes.

“We thank the Nine Goddesses of Creation that our entire family was able to spend this past year safely. We pray that we may spend next year safely as well, and that our family may overcome any hardships together. We offer our year-end prayers to the Nine Goddesses.”

A period of silence lasted for about thirty seconds, and eventually, Father clapped his hands with a pan!.

“Now then, let’s eat! To be able to spend ‘Sylvesta’ together as a family like this…!”

Saying that, Father suddenly covered his eyes and lowered his head. Eh? He’s crying!?

Before I knew it, Mother, who was sitting next to him, was also covering her mouth, seemingly holding back sobs. Wh-What’s wrong, you two…!

“I’m sorry… For these past three years, it’s always been just the two of us for ‘Sylvesta’… So having you here with us this year, Sakura-chan, makes me so truly happy…!”

“Ah…”

I see. This day meant to be spent with family was a day that reminded the two of them of the daughter they had lost.

Their child, who should have been right there with them, was gone. They didn’t even know if she was alive or dead.

Conversely, if they had confirmation that she was dead, it would have taken time to recover, but they might have been able to process their feelings and move forward with their lives.

But there was a chance she was alive. As long as that possibility existed, they never gave up. That’s why I am here right now.

I grasped Mother’s tear-stained hand.

“Let’s spend next year’s ‘Sylvesta’ together too. And the year after that, and the next. We will be together forever. Because we are a family.”

“Sakura, chan…!”

I was hugged tightly by Mother. Before I knew it, Father had come behind us and embraced the two of us as well.

They were both crying, but my heart was filled to the brim with happiness. I’m truly glad I’m the daughter of these two.

『They are a good family.』

Kohaku-san, sitting on the chair next to me, muttered that.

“Kohaku-san is family too, you know.”

『…Is that so.』

Kohaku-san rubbed his face with his front paws, looking bashful.

That’s right. I must never let these kind parents, this precious family, feel sorrow ever again. I will absolutely crush every ruin route. For that purpose, whether it’s a ‘Gift’ or the [Holy Sword], I’ll use whatever I can.

I renewed my determination to do everything in my power to survive in this world.