Ch#94
Airin's words that there would be many surprising things soon became reality.
“Wow! That! That!”
Ibi pointed to the huge balloons floating idly over the endlessly lined building roofs.
“That's a hot air balloon. They install a mana stone or heat device at the bottom to make it float up.”
“It flies in the sky!”
“That's the point of making it. Why? Want to ride one?”
At those words, Ibi whipped her head around from the window, her surprised face still fixed outside.
“Can we ride that?”
“Of course.”
“R-really?”
Her already round green eyes grew even wider.
Her gaze alternated between the hot air balloon and Airin, sparkling with excitement.
Airin thought, Anyone who sees those eyes and doesn't let her ride it isn't human—they're a demon spawn.
“Of course. What's so hard about riding a hot air balloon once?”
Even as she said it, Airin herself had never ridden one.
‘This is my chance to try it too.’
Of course, not just anyone could ride one. More precisely, it was extremely expensive. Even Airin, indifferent to money, had been a bit shocked at the first ride price.
‘But that's no issue at all.’
Airin had a different worry.
As expected, Ibi's shoulders, sparkling with anticipation that they could ride it, suddenly slumped.
‘She must be worrying about money again.’
She'd probably back out later, saying she didn't need to ride it after all.
So Airin would have to pretend not to notice and suddenly drag her there to ride it, making refusal impossible.
Admiring her own perfect plan, Airin pinched Ibi's drooping cheeks.
They were as fluffy as freshly baked bread, turning prettily red like an apple, making her want to touch them every time.
‘Hehe, only I can touch them.’
She recalled how Arcel and Ruska always stared enviously whenever she did this.
But how dare they touch a lady's body without permission?
‘Ibi's cheeks are mine!’
Airin fondled Ibi's cheeks, which only she could enjoy, while looking out the window together.
“Huh? What's that?”
“Wow! Look over there! A super huge bakery!”
“The fountain's big too!”
“That's the market!”
Ibi chattered nonstop, happily taking in everything.
The carriage ran for a good while before stopping in front of a shop on the long stretch of luxury shopping street.
“Is this…… Airin's house?”
It looked too much like a shop for that. And it was the largest and most splendid one on this street.
“No way. This is Madam Crevel's shop. It started as a dress shop making just clothes, but now it handles hats, bags, accessories—everything.”
Ibi had heard of it.
Other students had excitedly talked about it at the cafeteria.
“Mom said if I rank in the top 100 overall, she'll take me to Madam Crevel's for an Autumn Ball dress……”
“Top 100 is generous. Mine said top 50. As if. Just looking at books makes me want to puke.”
“But I really want to go there. Their Autumn Ball outfits are the most famous.”
“I don't even hope for clothes. I'd love just a hat.”
To Ibi, most Yeongjae Academy kids seemed like the richest people in the world. They got anything they wanted right away.
For even such students to desperately wish to go there.
‘It must be insanely expensive.’
So she thought she'd never go there in her lifetime.
She was curious, but figured they wouldn't let in a kid in ordinary clothes like hers.
After that, Ibi heard the name several more times.
Then while talking with Ruska, he acted like he knew it.
“Madam Crevel's shop? I know it too. My father and mother get their clothes tailored there regularly. Me? I get them occasionally too, but their clothes are too cool, so I don't wear them much. I sparred with my brothers in one once, and Mom came running yelling if I was insane and hit my back.”
For even Ruska, the marquis's son, to say that.
It made her think even more it was a place she could never go, but her curiosity grew.
“Arcel probably gets most of his clothes there too? They suit him perfectly. Last year's Autumn Ball, when he came in a suit from there, it was chaos.”
Before she knew it, the talk had shifted from Crevel's shop to Arcel.
Of course, hearing about Arcel was more fun anyway.
Anyway, she'd thought it a place she'd have no ties to in her lifetime, yet here she was.
“Um…… c-can we go in?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Of course customers can enter a shop.”
“That's true, but……”
Ibi looked down at her clothes.
They were the best she owned. The ones the Director had bought with personal funds when she left the Orphanage after passing Yeongjae Academy.
She knew they weren't as good as others', but she'd never felt ashamed of them.
Even now. She was fine if they didn't let her in. But Airin wouldn't be……
Airin took Ibi's hand.
“Ibi, you brought that brooch from Lucy, right?”
“Yeah. Here it is.”
Worried she'd lose it if she wore it everywhere, Ibi pulled the brooch from her bag.
Airin took it and immediately pinned it to Ibi's clothes.
Then she smiled, grabbed Ibi's hand, and led her in.
“This should be enough. They'd let you in even naked with this.”
Airin proudly gazed at the brooch that wasn't even hers.
When Ibi had shown it to her, Airin had covered her mouth.
‘That's the <God's Natural Numbers> group brooch!’
She'd only seen pictures of what it looked like; it was Airin's first time seeing one in person too.
<God's Natural Numbers> was a gathering with scholars and experts from many fields.
Most groups recruited new members, but this one had stayed the same size for decades.
Among them were former prime ministers, the empire's top architect, and heads of merchant guilds rivaling the Terins family.
No wonder it was called the gathering of the empire's elite.
Their only commonality was graduating from the academy; ages varied, so people just speculated they were from some academy club.
For Ibi to receive their brooch.
‘That's how I learned it's a group of Professor Males's disciples.’
So she went to Professor Males and asked, ‘Why didn't you give me one?’ He said the current leader Lucy gives them personally, and to go get it if she wanted.
At that, not only Airin but Ruska burned with determination.
“Let's go get them!”
“Yes!”
“I'll go with you.”
Even Arcel joined in, unusually.
The brooch held value and honor anyone would covet.
‘My Ibi got one of those!’
She wanted to grab passersby and shout, ‘Look, my roommate is this amazing! Hohoho!’
Of course, she desperately suppressed the urge.
Otherwise, Ibi would run away first, not the passersby.
“Alright! Let's go in!”
The two doormen politely held open the grand doors.
Passing them, a slightly heavy yet luxurious scent wafted in.
The lobby, adorned with splendid chandeliers, along with ornate walls and decorations, captivated the eyes of all who entered.
As Ibi stood speechless at the dazzling splendor different from the elegant imperial palace, an elegantly dressed woman approached from inside.
“Madam Crevel!”
“You've arrived, Miss Airin.”
At their greeting, Ibi's round eyes grew even larger.
Madam Crevel? The owner here? And they knew each other?
As Ibi's eyes shook alternating between them, Airin laughed and explained.
“Madam Crevel is originally from the south, a collateral of the Terins family. Her talent stood out from childhood, so Father invested heavily in her, trusting her.”
“Yes, that's how I am where I am today. The Terins family has my eternal gratitude.”
Crevel smiled brightly, then looked at Ibi. Her gaze fell on the brooch pinned to Ibi's clothes.
“My goodness.”
Truly surprised, she covered her mouth slightly and widened her eyes.
As expected, Airin shrugged her shoulders.
‘See? I knew she'd be shocked.’
She figured sharp-eyed Madam Crevel would recognize it at once.
As Airin thought, Crevel, recognizing the brooch, didn't know what to do and urged her.
“Miss, who is this?”
“My roommate Ibi! Cute, right?”
At Airin's explanation, Ibi blushed slightly and greeted her.
“Hello, I'm Ibi Alden.”
“Welcome, Miss Ibi Alden. I'm honored to host such a distinguished guest today.”
It was an unbelievably polite greeting for addressing a child.
Bowing her head, Crevel was certain.
This child would surely become a very important customer of her shop.
