Published: August 3, 2025
I am Frieda, an eight-year-old apprentice at the Merchant Guild.
As I was changing before bed, I noticed that the color of the mana stones on my bracelet had shifted slightly. The bracelet is lined with small black mana stones, but one of them had become translucent.
“Oh my, it’s that time already.”
As a self-eater contracted to a noble, I was given a magic tool by my contract master to receive the overflowing mana. The change in the mana stone’s color was a sign that the mana had accumulated quite a bit. I need to go see Lord Henrik, my contract master.
“Grandfather, please request a meeting with Lord Henrik. The color of the mana stones has changed.”
I asked my grandfather the next morning. Permission is required to enter the Noble District, and since I’m a minor, I have to go with him.
“It’s already that time, huh.”
“Yes. Would it be alright to bring quatre-quarts as a gift this time as well?”
“They seem to like it, so that should be fine.”
“Then, this time I’ll make it with rumtopf mixed in.”
The winter’s new quatre-quarts was made by finely chopping the rumtopf that Myne taught me to make and mixing it into the batter. We had many failed attempts trying to find the perfect amount of rumtopf to blend in, but thanks to Ilse’s efforts, it turned out very delicious. This quatre-quarts has a strong scent of alcohol and is popular among noble gentlemen.
However, since rumtopf itself was a prototype, we couldn’t make many quatre-quarts. Ilse is determined to produce more rumtopf this summer.
“I’m hoping for some new products soon…”
Saying that, Grandfather glanced meaningfully toward the kitchen. Both Ilse, who was probably there, and I were eager for new products.
“Since Myne can’t be found…”
Because Benno goes to great lengths to hide Myne’s existence, it’s very difficult to find her. The documents submitted to the guild all come through the Gilberta Trading Company. Even the money transactions and the annual income and expenditure reports submitted in spring are handled via Benno.
Though Myne is a member of the Merchant Guild, she surprisingly rarely shows her face there as the workshop master.
Yet, her workshop’s sales are among the highest in town. Plant paper, picture books, and various toys made and sold as winter crafts.
The products from Myne Workshop may seem few in number, but each is expensive and highly profitable. Also, many of the new products handled by Gilberta Trading Company were probably rights bought from Myne.
“Gilberta Trading Company keeps releasing new products one after another… including items unrelated to clothing.”
Rinshan, hair ornaments, and new types of hangers aren’t too far from the core clothing business, but plant paper, picture books, toys, and writing boards have nothing to do with clothing shops.
“But Myne’s involvement is not limited to products, right?”
“Yes.”
Among the contracts brought to the Merchant Guild bearing Myne’s name are agreements with the Ink Association, large orders as a patron of the Blacksmith Workshop, large orders to the woodworking workshop, and joint investment in a dining establishment Benno plans to open — all involving large sums of money.
“She said she joined the temple as a shrine maiden apprentice, but what exactly is Myne doing? It looks like she’s handling much more lucrative deals than ordinary merchants.”
Even though the contract for the quatre-quarts has ended, Myne hasn’t shown her face or contacted us at all. Are we to keep the monopoly on the quatre-quarts? Since there's been no contact, we intend to hold the monopoly for now.
About ten days after the mana stones began changing color, permission to meet Lord Henrik was granted. On the appointed day, after hearing the bell number five, I went to the Noble District with Grandfather.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Grandfather. Mother, I’m off.”
I rode in the carriage, sitting beside Grandfather as the door slammed shut behind us. The carriage jolted and shook, and my bracelet swayed on my wrist, asserting its presence.