Summer is in full swing, and the hot days are continuing.
Kemoncy seems delighted that shaved ice is selling like hotcakes on the beach. It’s cold, delicious and inexpensive, so it’s very popular. I guess it was a good idea to let customers add as much syrup as they want.
It’s simply to make up for the shortage of staff though.
At the beach house, the salary system was abolished, and the commission system was introduced. Hermine is also confident that she will be able to pay off their debt early. Since the money is controlled by Hermine, Kemoncy can’t spend it on gambling.
They’re so busy, so I’m helping out at the beach house today.
“Welcome! Would you like some shaved ice?”
“One Blue Gandalcia please.”
“Here, you can add the syrup yourself. It’s 300 crown coins.”
The most popular item this summer is Blue Gandalcia. I don’t know why, but it has a reputation for being delicious.
Hn?
I thought there’s a strange woman, but it turned out to be Claire.
She’s wearing a wig, sunglasses and a slightly more mature summer dress. Her back and chest are daringly open too. I don’t think it suit a child though……
She’s also wearing long gloves that cover her upper arms.
Perhaps she doesn’t want to get sunburned?
But in that case, she shouldn’t have come to the beach at all.
Or is that part of the disguise?
She must have sneaked out of the mansion again and came here to play.
“I’d like a Blue Gandalcia as well.”
“Why are you dressed like that, Claire?”
“No, I’m not Claire. I’m Miss Charmy Green.”
It may sound like a kind name, but she’s not kind at all. I mean, Claire offered a gold crown coin worth 100,000 to buy shaved ice that’s worth 300 crown coins. Only a naïve young lady would do such a thing.
“There’s no way we’d have a change for that gold coin! You can’t use that in a store like this.”
“Do something about it! Cedie is part of the nobility after all!”
“Where did the character design of Miss Charmy Green go? This is all so sloppy!”
“Shut up! That’s all I have so there’s nothing I can do about it!”
I motioned for Claire to put away her gold coin.
“It can’t be helped then. As your uncle, it will be my treat then. But you’d better go home after finishing it. I currently have a disagreement with Alexei-oniisan about the Magic Railway.”
“I don’t care. I do what I want. Please don’t drag me into your siblings’ fights. I’m already struggling myself. If Father finds out that I am hanging out with Cedie, he’ll be upset for sure.”
“So that is why you’re wearing such a strange disguise?”
“What do you mean strange disguise? This is the latest fashion!!”
“-Uh. That was rude of me then.”
I can’t keep up with Claire’s sense of style.
“Just hurry up and get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Get ready to play in the beach with me!”
Sigh…… Being selfish again.
“You can see it too, right? I’m busy. Isn’t that your maid, Rochelle-san? Why don’t you play with her?”
Rochelle-san was standing behind Claire, looking disregarded. It must have been hard for her to be bossed around by Claire.
“I don’t want to play with the maid!”
“You’re so selfish you know. Here’s the shaved ice. You put the syrup on it yourself. Here, have some too Rochelle-san.”
When I handed her the shaved ice, Rochelle-san looked embarrased.
“I-, I can’t take it..…”
“It’s so hot, don’t be shy about eating it. I’m sorry that my niece is always causing you trouble.”
“I’m not causing any trouble!”
“Okay, okay so be it. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to improve the mountain trails.”
The path to the summit has been completed, but we still need to cut down the overhanging branches and reinforce the areas that are likely to collapse.
The number of guests at the beach house is decreasing, so it’s time for me to go.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“It’s dangerous, so no. Claire, just stay here and eat your shaved ice.”
“You’re just Cedie, don’t talk like you’re so superior! Rochelle, I’m going to help Cedie. You stay here and rest.”
Claire shoved her portion of shaved ice onto Rochelle-san.
“Hey, why don’t you just go and check out the family ranch?”
“I’ve taken a quick look at it.”
“Have you seen Redas-san? He is a very nice guy. He’s very popular with children and mothers.”
“Hmph! I’m not interested in him.”
Redas-san can get close to any animal, but he’s no good with Claire huh. Even Silver got close to him too.
“To me, Cedie is better……”
“Really?”
“I’m not saying Cedie is cooler or anything like that! I’m just saying that you’re better!”
“Yes, yes, you don’t have to fret about it so much.”
When I was about to pack my things and go, Claire followed me.
“Are you really going to help me?”
“It’s not for Cedie’s sake, it’s to prove my competence.”
“Hmm……”
The other day, she helped me harvest apples too…….
“Claire, have you become more mellow since you turned thirteen?”
“Don’t talk like I’m a grandma!”
“I’m complimenting you. You used to be mean, but Claire is kind these days.”
“Oh! I……I’m going now. Follow me.”
Claire stood in front of me and walked slowly.
Children of noble families train in magic from a young age. It’s the same with Claire, so she can use magic too. Even among those of the same bloodline, the type of magic they can use varies from person to person. I’m good at fire magic, but Claire is good at wind magic. Alexei-oniisan is a user of earth magic and Paul-oniisan is a wind magic user like Claire.
“Wind Cutter!”
Claire used her signature wind magic to cut the branches that overhung the trail. Every time she uses magic, she strikes a weird pose, but she does her work carefully.
“How’s my wind cutter?”
“Claire is doing great!”
Char, who is also helping with the maintenance, claps with her small hands.
“Right? Why don’t you say something Cedie?”
“Thank you. You’re very helpful.”
“…………”
Uh-. What’s with her reaction again…….?
I complimented her obediently, but she glared at me.
Claire turned away and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her handkerchief.
“Whew…… it’s hot.”
She went into the shade of a tree and takes off her long gloves.
“Oh, you are wearing the ring I gave you as birthday present.”
The large Gandalcian pearl is glittering on Claire’s finger.
“T-this…… I’ve put it on specially to save face for Cedie! I usually keep it in the back of a drawer though.”
I knew it.
“Is the star guide broken? Does it work properly?”
“Yes, it works well. I use it every night and it’s pointing at Cygnus.”
“Every night?”
“I’m just using it because it’s kind of fun. I’ll get tired of it soon!”
She may be acting like this, but maybe she likes it too. If so, it was worth the gift.
After a break, we went back to the cottage.
An unexpected person was waiting for me in front of the cottage though.
It was Alexei-oniisan.
Maybe he came all the way here looking for Claire?
“Hey, Cedie. I’ve brought you a new compromise proposal on the Magic Railway. Let’s go over it together.”
Sigh…… He hadn’t given up on the compromise yet.
Alexei-oniisan, who was about to enter the cottage without permission, noticed Claire who’s frozen behind me.
Oh no, is he going to explode in anger?
I thought so, but Alexei-oniisan poked my side with his elbow.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
Brother, she’s your daughter!
Did he really not recognize her? To think that he wouldn’t recognize his own daughter in such a strange disguise…
He looked at Claire with a smirk, but suddenly he made a serious face and said something sensible.
“I can’t just ignore this though. If you’re serious about dating, make sure you choose someone based on their family background. Cedie is a member of the Dantes family after all.”
“No, did you really not recognize her? It’s Claire.”
“What!?”
Alexei-oniisan’s eyes widened. He walks up to Claire and rips off her wig and sunglasses.
“Claire, why are you here!?”
“I just came to visit Uncle Cedie.”
“Without my permission?”
“I’m already an adult! Don’t make such a fuss!”
“A thirteen-year-old doesn’t count as adult!”
Hey, hey, brother. You kicked me out of the mansion when I was 12 years old saying that I’m already a grown man!
Did those lines really come out of the same mouth? Well…… I’m his half-brother and she is her daughter, so I guess we are treated differently.
“We are going home now. Come on, Claire!”
“Hey, don’t drag me!”
Claire and Alexei-oniisan get into the carriage while swearing at each other.
Oh, they’ve both popped their heads out the window.
“I’ll come again!”
“I’ll be back!”
Looking at it this way, the two of them are very similar…..
But lately, I feel like Claire has become kinder than before.
I wonder if it’s because she has acquired common sense.
Anyway, it was a noisy day.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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