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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Toy Store
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The shopkeepers who ran larger stores and knew Cassel’s face adored Aika, but they held their tongues when they saw him.
Those who didn’t know him simply doted on Aika.
Though they, too, would grow tense the moment they saw her name tag.
To his headache, she would insist on squeezing through the most crowded places, repeatedly shouting, “Excuse me! Coming through, please! Thank you!”
This may have been Aika’s first long outing, but it was also Cassel’s first time on such a chaotic one.
Then, Aika came to a sudden halt in front of a large shop.
It was a store that sold toys and dolls.
Once again, a sparkle ignited in her eyes, and she drifted toward the store as if mesmerized.
“J-Just looking, Uncle!”
Aika preemptively struck, fearing he would refuse.
Seeing her expression, Cassel was tempted to tease her again, but he stayed silent, figuring it would be more efficient to let her loose inside and kill some time.
Her legs were short, but her stamina was impressive; she had already dragged him through more than half the market.
Even when he told her to go with Zenda and that he would follow, she stubbornly clung to his hand and refused to let go.
Ceria had once said that children could disappear in an instant, so you always had to keep an eye on them.
If he let go for even a second, Aika would snatch his finger right back.
It didn't seem likely she would get lost.
He did own a larger toy store on the main thoroughfare, but he supposed it was fine to let her browse a smaller one for her first time.
But he’d bought her practically entire stores’ worth of toys since she was babbling, so why was she acting like she’d never seen one before?
*Did her mother never give her anything?*
It was too late to ask if she’d received all the toys he’d sent.
“Go on, look around.”
“Thank you, Uncle!”
The moment Cassel gave his permission, Aika abruptly let go of his finger and shot into the store like a bolt of lightning.
“Hello! May I look at the dolls?”
He could see her bowing deeply, her hands clasped together, as she greeted them in a booming voice.
“…Her manners are impeccable, at least.”
Cassel shook his head and followed her inside.
Aika’s resolve to “just look” did not last long.
After hesitating for a long time in front of a doll that looked just like her, she beckoned to him.
“Uncle, I want this one.”
Her voice lacked its usual energy, as if she remembered her earlier promise.
“I thought you were just looking.”
Instantly, a dark cloud passed over her face.
Cassel fought back a smile.
“I’ll be good, so can’t you buy it for me?”
“When have you ever been good?”
“I meant I’ll be good from now on! And you have lots of money, Uncle.”
“Your uncle’s broke. You can earn the money and buy it yourself.”
Cassel crossed his arms with a wry smile, refusing to give in easily.
It was about time for her to start racking that little brain of hers and stomping her feet.
“Th-that’s a lie! And I… I can’t work yet, can I? If you buy it for me, I’ll pay you back when I’m bigger!”
“Then you can buy it when you’re bigger.”
As he shrugged nonchalantly, Aika’s eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Then she raised her hands and began to count, folding her fingers one by one.
After folding all five fingers on one hand, she moved to the sixth on the other, then looked up again as if realizing it was hopeless.
“What if it’s gone by the time I’m big?”
“Then there’s nothing to be done.”
“But I can’t…”
“Then you can just have an identical one made.”
Aika’s eyes quivered again.
Now it was time for her ultimate weapon.
Her all-powerful special move: the old man.
“I want it now, Uncle. You have lots of money. Grandfather said I could tell you anything I want!”
“That’s news to me.”
At his words, the corners of Aika’s round eyes turned up sharply.
*Wow, Uncle. You’re so cheap.*
The words were written all over her face.
Her cheeks were puffed out in frustration, but she couldn’t even show she was pouting because there was something she wanted.
Zenda and Gerard inwardly chuckled as they watched her timidly fiddle with the very tip of the doll’s fur.
Of all the dolls to choose from, she had to pick the most ridiculous-looking one.
Out of all the dolls there.
It wasn’t a dog, a bear, or a cat, but its fur was white.
*Does she think it’s just like her because it’s also wearing a necklace?*
In any case, her taste was peculiar.
The shop owner, who had been worried about losing a sale, smiled brightly after Gerard secretly said something to them and politely pretended not to notice anything.
The only person in the store who remained oblivious was Aika.
* * *
He really didn’t buy it for me!
I left the store, feeling empty.
It was just a small doll! A really small doll!
Of course, I had hundreds of dolls at home, but I didn’t have one that looked exactly like that one.
I had already hugged each of my other dolls to sleep, so it was time for a new one.
It was perfect!
But Uncle said he was a penniless beggar and refused to buy me a single thing.
Liar.
I should have just asked to trade my necklace for it.
I shouldn’t have said I was just looking when we first went in.
I should have said I’d only pick one thing.
I should have been good yesterday.
No, if I hadn’t followed him to the banquet hall…
No, even before that…
My thoughts spiraled one after another until I finally gave up.
I tried pleading with Uncle again, but it was no use.
I knew instinctively.
He was absolutely not going to buy it for me this time.
Resigned, I gave up and headed for the flower shop.
But Gerard was nowhere to be seen.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him since we left the toy store.
“Where’s Gerard?”
“He’ll find his way here.”
“What if he gets lost?”
“Is he you?”
“He’ll be along shortly, My Lady.”
“Okay!”
Putting my disappointment behind me, I walked toward the flower shop.
Um… but which way was it from here?
I had only ever gone straight to the flower shop; this was the first time I was going there after looking around the market so much.
I figured we’d have to go back to the carriage rental to find our way.
But if we did that, I had a feeling Uncle would just hop into a carriage and leave.
I was sure of it.
I held Uncle’s hand tightly and tried to find a street that looked familiar.
After getting lost a few times, we finally found the flower shop I always went to.
“Uncle, it’s over there!”
I pointed to a flower shop in the distance with a small sign.
“Hurry up and buy what you need.”
Uncle said, nudging me forward.
“Aren’t you coming? Mom and I always bought flowers there. The lady is super nice and pretty.”
“I told you before. It’s a hassle, so go buy them quickly. Zenda, take the kid and get what you need.”
In the end, I held Zenda’s hand instead of my uncle’s and headed to the flower shop.
“I wanted to go with Uncle.”
“He must be tired. Let’s buy them quickly and go back.”
“Okay! I wanted to show Uncle this flower shop, but I guess it can’t be helped.”
Next time, I’ll have to come straight here without stopping anywhere else.
I held Zenda’s hand and went into the flower shop.
“Welcome—oh, Aika…? How…”
“Hello, miss!”
I greeted the pretty lady I hadn’t seen in a long time.
My mom had told me she met the shop owner because of a carriage accident.
On her way home late from work, the lady had stepped out of an alley and collided with Mom’s carriage.
Fortunately, she wasn’t seriously injured, but when Mom learned she had just arrived in the capital and had nowhere to stay, she provided her with treatment and a place to live.
They remained close friends after that. Mom set up this shop for her, and despite the lady’s reluctance, Mom insisted, and so she came to run this flower shop.
In truth, I had seen her less than ten times in total, but she always greeted me warmly whenever I came.
She would always give me a single stem of the prettiest flower that had bloomed that day.
Spotting me, the lady put down her flowers and pruning shears and came over.
She knelt in front of me and just stared for a long time.
“…Aika. Have you been well?”
She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
I think I knew why she had that expression.
Because she and Mom were close, too.
