Surprised by the unexpected words, my eyes widened.
“Though it might not be huge publicity…”
“We’ll still try, us…”
When I said nothing, the children spoke hesitantly.
“No, it’s not like that.”
I quickly waved my hands in dismissal.
People often said that the item showcased by a petit debutante reflects the status of that child.
‘Plus, if it’s presented by a prince and a princess, it would indeed get huge publicity.’
I felt somewhat breathless with the children’s unconditional trust.
“Really… Can you really entrust me with this?”
As I asked with a trembling voice, all the children nodded.
“I might be a commoner who can’t participate in the petit debutant, but I’ll support you from behind!”
‘Ah, Carat can’t come.’
I sensed the sadness in Carat’s serious tone.
It’s discrimination that commoners can’t even get on the debutante stage.
However, such discrimination was rampant in the imperial society with a class system, where even the Imperial Academy, that accepts students regardless of their status, had subtle discriminations.
I raised my hand and gently stroked Carat’s soft hair.
“I’ll make something special just for you, Carat.”
Carat bit his lip hard and his eyes reddened.
Seeing Carat like that, Axion spoke up energetically.
“Mel, just trust us!”
Children stood in front of me like apostles of justice, clapping and raising their hands.
Axion, who had been twisting his body, said with blushing cheeks.
I hugged each child who willingly gave up the highlight of the petit debutante stage for me and my stationery shop.
“Thank you for thinking of me first.”
“Yeah, we always believe Mel will do well!”
The innocence sparkled in the children’s crystal clear eyes.
‘I really want to make something good for all three of them. How can I do that?’
A way to make our stationery shop stand out to both children and adults at the petit debutante, a way to fend off the assault of massive capital.
‘What could there be?’
I looked around the interior of the stationery shop with a tense face.
The items I had created one by one caught my eye.
‘Isn’t there a good way?’
I had to find a way to promote the stationery shop and overcome the obstacles.
But no matter how much I thought, there wasn’t a special way.
Dominic and I, together with the three children, delved into what kind of item we could create.
“What was the most popular thing last year?”
The most important thing was, of course, past questions.
But unintentionally, the children’s mouths gaped open.
Even Axion was so shocked that saliva nearly dropped from his mouth.
“Last year was really amazing!”
“What happened?”
“Last year, all the elementary and middle school academy students gathered, just like this year.”
After receiving Axion’s words, Mirisa whispered in a voice filled with longing, her eyes narrowing into crescents.
“It was truly perfect then.”
It was strange how the children’s eyes sparkled unusually brightly.
“Why, was there something good?”
“Yes!”
“I think it must have been Lady Zhenia, the daughter of the Duke, sister!”
“What great thing did she bring?”
I picked up a drink from the table, pretending not to be intimidated.
“She actually brought an apprentice alchemist!”
While I was nonchalantly eating a slushie, I started coughing as if I had choked.
Mirisa’s worried face upon hearing my cough was only momentary.
The children looked at each other and shone their understanding eyes brightly.
“You know how amazing an alchemist can be?”
“Yes, that person was scattering silver dust into the air, it was really magical!”
“I guess no one as impressive will show up at this year’s debutante ball.”
“Well, back then, it was legendary! Moreover, Lady Zhenia said it was incredibly difficult to invite him!”
“It’s a shame… It would be nice to see him again this year!”
Seeing the children’s eyes shine, I felt a prick of conscience.
‘That alchemist is here, kids.’
It seems like alchemy truly is an impressive ability.
But, when I’m openly praised to my face, I, the great alchemist, somehow feel embarrassed.
“Alchemy must be quite something.”
Dominic, who knew all the facts, slyly joined in the conversation.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
I absent-mindedly scratched my head and pretended to be unaware.
But it seemed the children thought my demeanor indicated I was disheartened. They exchanged awkward glances with each other and then quickly spoke up.
“Me, Mel! Don’t worry too much. Mel’s stuff is pretty amazing too!”
“Right, to me, Mel is like an alchemist!”
I couldn’t help but smile and nod in response to the children’s words.
‘If only I could properly perform alchemy, it would have been nice to debut as an alchemist.’
It’s a pity. My alchemy skills are still not outstanding.
Moreover, an alchemist who made a name for themselves at last year’s debutante ball already exists.
Having a character that overlaps with someone who stood out last year is not a good idea.
‘The important thing is to present the items in my stationery shop in an impactful way.’
Nervously, I hugged Mirisa, who was seated right next to me, then let go.
“I need to think about what to develop. Can you give me any ideas?”
“Ideas?”
“Yes!”
I prepared to take notes with the kent paper and fountain pen I was holding.
“Tell me anything you like. Even what’s trendy these days!”
Encouraged by my words, the children began to speak up one by one.
“I like soft, fluffy cotton blankets.”
It seems that Mirisa, who appears to be going through a growth spurt recently, likes soft, fluffy cotton blankets.
I wrote down on the memo, ‘cotton blanket.’
“Cotton blanket? Isn’t that hot? I want a sword. A really huge one.”
As Axion listened to Mirisa and Carat, he raised his chin and said, “I’m like a cake made of ice. A cool knight like me gets a bit hot after a duel!”
As Axion raised his chin, everyone there burst into laughter.
‘Already pretending to be a knight, how cute.’
“It would be really cool if there really was an ice cake!”
I meticulously noted down even the children’s chatter, thinking about what to develop.
‘Quilt, ice cake, sword.’
There didn’t seem to be any commonality, but it definitely served as a hint for what to make.
I glanced towards the window that was beginning to darken, deciding to prepare to send the children home.
“Thank you. It’s time to go home.”
After giving each child a tight hug, I offered one last greeting.
“Take care, kids!”
Soon, Mirisa and Axion left through the door. But Carat stayed behind and carefully squeezed me tight.
“Hey, Mel.”
“Yes?”
“After the Petit Debutante ends… I really want to introduce you to my friend.”
Carat’s friend… a new guest?
“Is that okay?”
Carat’s cheeks flushed red, seeming very worried about being rejected.
I gently pinched the child’s nose without hurting them and said, “You’re always welcome!”
“I’ll come back soon then!”
“Okay, who is the friend?”
“I’ll tell you that day.”
Carat’s cheeks, usually so haughty, were unusually red.
“Our Carat really lives up to his name.”
While I wondered about Carat’s social life, all the children had left through the door.
I moved towards the window to watch the children. I watched until three small, round heads disappeared from view.
Being with the children always made me feel this good.
“My cute regular customers.”
Job satisfaction was at its highest. I have to work hard today for our kids!
