"Shh..."
The last child to enter wore a hood, covering more than half of their face with a small mask. I could barely see their features. I tilted my head.
'Why is this child coming in so suspiciously?'
Dominic spoke softly. "Cute girl."
A harmless child, according to Dominic, the human reader. Therefore, a valuable customer! I smiled brightly at the child and waved my hand. "Welcome!"
The child walked towards me at a steady pace. Then, from a pocket in their hood, they took out a small red apple and a light green sprout, holding them out.
"Th-the flower language of apple blossoms is 'apology'..."
Do you mean to apologize? What is this about?
As soon as I reached out and accepted the offering, the hooded head ducked down. The child kept their head bowed the entire time. I felt a pang of sympathy for their small, trembling shoulders. I didn't know what was going on, but I wanted to comfort them, so I handed them a piece of dalgona.
"Here, have some candy, a gift."
The child raised their head and stared at me. But I could only see their eyes, so I still couldn't tell who it was.
'Why does this feel so familiar?'
The girl sniffled and cried. "You, you... You looked me in the eye."
The child's fingertips trembled delicately as they received the candy I held out.
"What?"
"Uh, how could he be so nice?"
'Why is your voice so familiar?' I tilted my head. It was a small voice with a rhythm that lingered in my ears. 'I think I've heard it somewhere.'
"You would have known who it was when you saw my eyes, but you treated me like this..."
I don't know. I really don't know. In the first place, Meldenique wasn't someone who could remember human faces well. 'I don't know who it is. Are you close to me?' I pursed my lips, about to ask their name. However, I missed the moment to ask because of the tears that welled up in the child's eyes.
I'm sure they know each other. It's a voice that remains in Meldenique's memory. 'Why can't I remember? It's strange, but fascinating.'
However, if I left the child alone, they were about to burst into tears. I said something gentle to them. "Well, it's okay. All children should be loved and nurtured."
"..."
"You didn't do anything wrong, so don't cry." I didn't know who they were, so I could speak frankly.
"D-do you accept my apology?"
"Yes, of course." I smiled harmlessly at the child, then shot a glance at Dominic, who was observing the scene with a detached expression from the other side. Dominic subtly shook his head.
'Isn't this a child who adores you?'
'...?'
I don't think so.
The child carefully took off their mask. Their face was flushed, and their eyes were watery. They looked like they had been crying a lot. The crying girl spoke to me in a trembling voice.
"It's me, Mirissa."
'Mirissa. Mirissa...' The familiar name wandered through my mind for a moment. 'Wait. Princess Mirissa Hessmann? Isn't she Lennox's sister?'
Oh my God, it was Princess Mirissa Hessmann. Seeing that I had opened my eyes wide, the girl bit her lip and continued clearly, "My brother's atrocities..."
Mirissa was rumored to be a frail child princess who barely attended the academy. As Lennox's official fiancée, I didn't see her face often.
"...I came to apologize on behalf of him for the affair. I didn't expect you to be such a good person."
Did she find out that bastard Sumann was cheating, her ten-year-old brother? Why do cheating people keep getting caught? If you're going to hide it, hide it until the end. Embarrassed, I just pursed my lips.
"You don't have to apologize." I could see the pain in her eyes.
"I saw it all from the outside. You are a gentle person who likes children, and you can't trust rumors." The child looked unusually fragile, but her eyes were full of strength.
Without any time for me to say anything, the child put her mask back on and ran away.
Dominic, who had been looking at me from a distance with a dazed expression, muttered seriously, "She's completely different from Duke Hessmann."
"Yes," I retorted. She seemed to be a lovely and kind girl, but it was a pity she was part of the Hessmann Duchy. But now that I'd received an apology, I thought our relationship was over. Sometimes, when she stopped by the stationery store, I would have to give her plenty of bonuses. I decided to think about it and move on.
While Meldenique was running her stationery store and slowly gathering her first customers to spread word of mouth, a gardening party was being held at the Duke of Babaloa's residence, overseen by the Duke of Babaloa himself. It was a splendid launch party, announcing the new business venture between the Duke of Hessmann and the Duke of Babaloa.
In front of a huge garden, a magnificent tree-shaped magic stone, personally brought in by Duke Hessmann, stood at the center. Three or five tables were arranged around the magic stone. The main topic of discussion among the high-ranking nobles gathered at the party was undoubtedly the enormous magic stone. Everyone had never seen a magic stone of such a large size.
"Such a huge magic stone for a gardening party where you're just eating brunch."
"Where does Prince Hessmann get all those things?"
"He said he was trying to contact the Holy Kingdom as well as the Demon Kingdom."
"Oh my God, the kingdoms where there are different races?"
"That's amazing!"
"Then you will awaken all the legendary heroes."
"Oh my God..."
Duke Hessmann swelled with pride as he heard himself being exalted. 'It's going smoothly.'
Of course, there was something wrong with what they said. 'Except for the part where I came into contact with the Demon Kingdom.' Contact with the Demon Kingdom was often unsuccessful. It was because they were extremely reluctant to outsiders. However, in a place like the Demon Kingdom, there were powerful magic stones he had never imagined. It was a bonus that there were different races with outstanding abilities. If he succeeded in interacting with the Demon Kingdom for the first time, the name of the Hessmann family would be further enhanced in the Empire.
However, the reality was different. 'There is no magic sword now, let alone a magic kingdom.' He brushed his cheek with an uncomfortable expression. He had collected many "Hero Swords" so far. But what was the true power level of the beings sealed in what he thought were hero swords? All he had was a frightened goblet. There was nothing that could truly empower him.
'...We need a real hero. Someone who can shine for me and spread my fame.' He kept looking for the legendary hero, Dominic. There was once a rumor that whoever possessed the powerful hero Dominic would gain the world.
'When I have achieved everything, I will be the most perfect person in the world.' He would raise his name even more than now and revive the Hessmann family on a continental scale. If things went well, there was a possibility that he would usurp the empire in the next generation.
"The Emperor's throne, I truly desire it." His goal was to become the most powerful being beyond humans... The Emperor's throne would be a fitting position for him.
He straightened his back and looked around with a sharp gaze. Now his strength was growing, and it was all a matter of time. Duke Hessmann began to walk through the perfect party where everyone was praising him.
But at that moment, a young nobleman poured cold water on his thoughts, without realizing it.
"Isn't the Lord of the Tower more amazing?"