Published: August 15, 2025
A short story as a break before resuming the long serialization. It will continue for about five episodes.
This special side story stars Tunica!!
That day, the front of Granado Castle’s gate was a bit livelier than usual.
“Come one, come all! Behold rare foreign goods, luxurious items you won’t see just anywhere, all at bargain prices!”
A brisk hawker’s call. It was a traveling merchant.
In front of Granado Castle’s main gate, a middle-aged man was spreading out his goods, and the crowd was mostly women.
“Hey, don’t push! I can’t see!”
“I was the one who picked it up first!”
I happened to be passing by, heard the commotion, and rushed over.
Traveling merchants are rare here. Normally, suppliers who deal with the Granado Trading Company arrange appointments in advance, visit the main gate, go through registration, and then enter the castle. There’s no law against setting up stalls in front of a noble’s castle…but still.
Granado Castle was once the frontline fortress in war, the largest fortress in the Dilz Kingdom. And now it’s the headquarters of the kingdom’s top trading company, Granado Trading Company. To set up a street stall in such a place… well, it’s quite a bold act, to say the least.
Half cautious, half curious, I trotted closer. Gatekeeper Thomas looked up sharply. He seemed pushed aside by the maids crowding around the goods, and was pressed against the wall, wearing a troubled expression.
“Oh, Lady Marie, please help me!”
“What’s wrong? If it’s a business negotiation, they should enter the castle and wait for Lord Cyrus to return, right?”
“No, that won’t work. Registered vendors with prior approval have no problem, but traveling merchants who show up unannounced are told to leave at the gate. Especially since these goods are said to be imported from foreign lands…”
Hearing that, I understood immediately. Unregistered vendors aren’t trusted. Or rather, if they had followed proper procedures, it would be fine, but by skipping them, it suggests something shady. For example, false product descriptions or strange pricing.
“Anyway, today both master and Wolfgang are out, and Lady Mio is off somewhere, so I’m telling them to come back another day…”
Thomas muttered this complaint, but then the maids’ voices cut in:
“Wow, this is so cute! How much is it?”
“Hey, do you have this scarf in blue? If not, light blue is fine.”
“I’ll buy three at once, so give me a discount!”
The merchant smiled broadly and proceeded with negotiations with his eager customers.
“Don’t push, don’t push, one at a time. There’s plenty in stock.”
Then the merchant looked up and noticed me. I, Marie Shadelan, am tall. My head was sticking out above the human wall formed by the maids, so I caught the merchant’s eyes perfectly.
“Ah, hey there, tall young lady! I have a wonderful dress that’s perfect for a beauty like you!”
Saying that, the man pulled out a magnificent dress from a splendid leather-covered trunk.
“Wow… such a beautiful color…”
I couldn’t help but whisper. It was truly lovely. The abundant frills and drapes were wonderful, but above all, the fabric’s color was a vivid green that awakened the eyes.
Seeing my reaction, the merchant grinned.
“Isn’t it? Isn’t it? It shines like the finest emerald.”
“Yes, really… it reminds me of tomato leaves in midsummer.”
That analogy didn’t seem to resonate much with the merchant, but my admiration was obvious. Apparently, this item was priced much higher than the others. Judging by how he displayed the dress before me, he must have seen my interest.
“This is dyed with a special dye not found in Dilz. You’ve never seen such a vivid green, right? If you miss today, you won’t find it anywhere else.”
Indeed, that might be true. This dress was undoubtedly a wonderful product. The problem was… in my mind, “wonderful” and “want” didn’t connect.
Since coming to Granado Castle, I haven’t lacked money. Lord Cyrus told me to buy whatever I want, and I also have my own funds. But I just don’t feel the urge to buy.