In dealing with a highly insular group, personal connections were crucial.
Grandma Marshall was a half-blood, born of both dwarf and human lineage.
She was also the doctor the dwarves sought when they needed medical attention.
The dwarves couldn’t simply ignore a letter delivered by Grandma Marshall as they had before. Because of this, they responded to Count Travel’s letter.
‘One gold coin—sounds like a fair deal to me~’
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our refusal to trade with you is not merely due to lost trust.
We have noticed a decline in the quality of minerals provided by the Travel family.
We will give you one last chance.
If you bring us the most flawless gemstone, we will consider resuming our trade.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Hah.”
Grandfather let out a scoff of disbelief.
“So, you’re giving me the iron mine?”
“As if. Just because we got a reply doesn’t mean they’re ready to trade.”
I was hoping I could squeeze a firm answer out of him, but he wasn’t going to make it easy.
Still, no matter how much Grandfather tried to hide it, I could tell he was pleased.
“Unbelievable.”
He kept exclaiming under his breath while ruffling my hair, as if praising me.
“You accomplished in a week what Lassek couldn’t do in decades? Incredible.”
“I heard Count Travel isn’t one to give out compliments easily.”
“You have to do the bare minimum for me to be stingy with praise. This is beyond that.”
I never expected Grandfather to be this pleased.
For the first time in my life, I felt truly recognized for my abilities. That alone lifted my spirits.
“So all we need to do is bring them the most flawless gemstone?”
“That’s easier said than done. Do you understand why?”
“Because the criteria are set by the dwarves? Since there’s no clear standard, even if we bring them what we believe to be the perfect gem, they could just reject it. They might even deny it out of pure spite.”
“Berry.”
“Huh? Y-Yes, sir!”
It was the first time Grandfather had called me by my name.
Startled, I straightened my posture immediately.
Grandfather pointed to the desk across from the sofa with his pinky finger, the one bearing his signet ring.
“If I take off this ring and place it on that desk, you will sit there in my place.”
“……….”
Ah. Just when I had finally managed to climb onto the sofa on my own, a new challenge appeared.
I stared at the large chair beyond the desk with an unenthusiastic gaze.
“You’re being offered the position of head of the Travel family, yet why do you look so dissatisfied?”
“Because you’re just making fun of me for struggling to sit in a chair. I’m not falling for it anymore.”
It was obvious he wanted to watch me struggle to climb into the chair, just like before.
“You little rascal. What do you take your old grandfather for? If you really sit there… well, it would be pretty funny.”
See?!
I could hear Grandfather’s amused chuckle loud and clear. Truly, in the Travel family, there wasn’t a single person I could trust.
“Make sure to have the interim agent and Jackjack sign a confidentiality agreement too….”
“Fine, fine. I understand.”
Grandfather tapped a finger on the letter from the dwarves.
It was on the part that mentioned ‘the most flawless gemstone.’
“Then you handle this as well. Tell your interim agent what gemstone you need.”
“Can it be an expensive one? As expensive as I want?”
“Yes. But you’ll need to submit a list and receipts. Don’t get any funny ideas.”
“Come on, I’m not going to embezzle anything.”
At my response, Grandfather ruffled my hair lightly.
“If you succeed, I won’t just give you an iron mine. I’ll let you have whatever mine you want—even a diamond mine, if you like.”
***
The Next Day
That morning, my dad was getting ready to go out.
“Dad, where are you going?”
“To Hispoth Town. The tailor’s shop.”
“I want to go too!”
Theon and Jeffrey were at the training grounds. Ever since Theon started teaching Jeffrey how to use a sword, they had been practicing every morning without fail.
“Alright.”
With my dad’s permission, I quickly asked Sherry to help me get ready.
“…Sherry, are you feeling sick? You look exhausted.”
“Ah, no, I’m fine.”
“She’s hungover.”
Anne interjected from the side.
Even as she buttoned up the last of my outfit, Sherry swayed slightly before stumbling outside to get some fresh air.
Once I was ready, my dad and I took a carriage to Trang Tailors.
“Wow. This is amazing.”
“…There are a lot of people.”
As soon as we opened the door, we were met with a bustling crowd filling the lobby.
When we stepped inside, every eye in the shop turned toward us.
“It’s really him…! And his daughter is here too…!”
“I never thought I’d live to see Master Reytan in person.”
“Go on, greet him! Quickly!”
Whisper, whisper.
From a distance, hushed conversations could be heard. My dad’s hand, which was holding mine, twitched slightly.
He was probably debating whether to turn around and leave.
“M-Master Reytan…!”
At that moment, the shop owner hurriedly emerged from the crowd, adjusting his attire as he approached my dad.
“Welcome! And Miss Berry is here as well. You’re here to take measurements, correct?”
“Another time. It looks too busy today. Let’s go, Berry.”
“Oh, no! We have already prepared a private room in anticipation of Master Reytan’s visit!”
The shop owner quickly grabbed my dad’s arm.
But my dad disliked crowded places.
“We’ll come back another day.”
His decision to leave was firm. Seeing this, the shop owner’s eyes welled up with tears.
“If you leave now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I specifically stocked up on the finest fabrics to perfectly complement Master Reytan’s magnificent upper body—materials that will emphasize those broad, ocean-like shoulders—”
“…Enough.”
Just as the shop owner was about to launch into an over-the-top monologue, my dad cut him off.
In the end, we moved to the VIP room at Trang Tailors, where my dad’s measurements were taken, and the fitting for his previously ordered outfit began.
I sat on a child-sized sofa, watching the process.
‘Wow… my dad is really handsome~’
Scritch. Scritch.
I suddenly heard a strange sound and turned my head.
The head designer was sketching in a drawing book, all while watching me intently.
“Huh?”
“Ah! Miss, please—just keep looking at Master Reytan the way you were before…!”
Faced with this passionate request, I obediently turned my gaze back to my dad.
Our eyes met, and he gave me a subtle smile.
The furious scribbling sounds suddenly stopped, and the head designer walked toward me.
“Phew, I apologize, Miss. But looking at your chubby little cheeks filled me with endless inspiration. You’re just… just so adorable…! Oh dear, did I say that out loud?”
The designer’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
Now that I thought about it, I remembered how enthusiastic he was about detailing buttons as well.
‘Should I ask him…?’
Even though he was a fashion designer, he had probably seen many gemstones. He might have extensive knowledge about them.
“Designer, is there such a thing as a perfect gemstone?”
“A perfect gemstone?”
The head designer’s expression turned serious as he thought for a moment. Then, after careful consideration, he spoke.
“Perhaps… the highest grade of pearls?”
“Pearls?”
“As far as I know, they are the only gemstones that don’t require any cutting or processing. Something that is born perfect must be the most perfect of all.”
“Ohhh.”
That was actually a pretty good answer.
The head designer left to check on my dad’s fitting, and the shop owner approached me.
This was my chance.
In truth, the real reason I had come to Trang Tailors today was to meet with the shop owner!
“Shop owner, shop owner.”
Lowering my voice, I called out to him. He leaned in discreetly, lowering his head so I could whisper in his ear.
My dad was too preoccupied discussing sleeve designs to notice.
Covering my mouth with my hand, I asked.
“Have you ever considered opening more tailor shops with my dad? There were so many customers here today.”
“Opening more…? Ah, you mean expanding…! We would love to, but Master Reytan has already declined the idea.”
“Then why not contact the head of the Blue Trading Company? They might be able to help.”
“I’ve heard of them. They’re known to be quite resourceful. But would they really assist us? I was under the impression they were difficult to approach.”
“Shop owner.”
I deliberately whispered even softer, making it feel like I was revealing a big secret.
“This is confidential, but actually, Mr. Victor is close friends with my dad.”
“…The two of them…?”
“So you should ask Mr. Victor. There’s nothing to lose by trying, right?”
“W-Well, if that’s the case…”
Gulp.
The shop owner swallowed nervously, his eyes now filled with determination.
Before my dad could turn and notice us scheming, the shop owner and I quickly finished our little conspiracy and returned to our places.
Heh.
‘Mr. Victor is really good at this kind of thing!’
Trang Tailors was on the rise.
Surely, Mr. Victor would see this as an opportunity to add to my dad’s achievements.
He would definitely try to persuade my dad!
Feeling pleased, I happily swung my feet.
Then, I recalled the conversation from earlier.
‘The most flawless gemstone… is a pearl?’
