You're Crossing the Line
About four hours before Rosalyn Ropert showed her face at Hills, she was in the middle of a communication with her father, Arthur Ropert, head of House Ropert.
"You mean to meet Baron Slot Deblique while you're in Splas?"
"That's right."
"And why would you—don't tell me..."
"With you carrying on the way you do, the house has to move as well. What choice do I have?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll roast that Slot Deblique nice and tender, and as for the marriage talks between you and Blow..."
"Father, marriage talks? What are you suddenly saying!"
"Suddenly? You're already a fourth-year at the Academy! The moment you turn twenty, you're of an age to be betrothed!"
"..."
"And what, exactly, have you been doing with the work?"
At the patriarch's bark Rosalyn flinched. She drew her hands together before her and dropped her head, exactly as if he were standing there.
"Father, even so, Ropert Rose has been a success..."
"That is not what I am talking about! I sent you to the magic school in Caipol so you would take that side of things properly in hand!"
"Father, I have been writing the reports and sending them diligently."
"And that is precisely what I cannot understand! By your own reports, is there anyone who surpasses Blow?"
"Ah..."
"Yulia, Rachel, and even Skadi of House Hetaya! You write that every one of them is investing in Blow Deblique and working with him, so what in the world have you been doing? Sitting there twiddling your thumbs?"
"Father, I did receive a gift from Blow this time. We're partners, in our own way..."
"Don't say things that embarrass even you to speak!"
His voice climbed higher. Rosalyn flinched, worked her mouth without managing a word, and could only lower her eyes.
"They even say Duchamp, Bjorn, and Prince Randolph stopped by Hills. Have you so much as held a proper conversation with that Blow fellow? Strangely, none of that appeared in your reports."
"..."
"Your cousin tells me even Lady Lisleia has taken an interest in Blow. Don't tell me you truly haven't exchanged a single word?"
"Haah. My cousin doesn't even tell me anything."
"That is not the point! You've been to the man's restaurant, haven't you? When you go, you introduce yourself!"
"...I haven't be—"
"What? Don't tell me you haven't even set foot in his restaurant?"
"..."
"I bent over backward for your convenience at the gathering, and you still didn't go? And you wonder why I cannot keep entrusting the business to you! Every single time, you let your feelings run ahead of you!"
Just hearing that man's name was enough to make her want to die of shame. What was she supposed to do?
Rosalyn pouted, fists clenched, and took her father's words as if she were standing in the rain.
"One failure ought to have been enough. You won't even clean up after yourself? A rough look at the documents is all it takes to see the fellow is the genuine article."
"I want to. I do. But it's already too late—"
"Which is why you should have moved quickly! You might at least have shown your face coming and going and left an impression. The times may have changed, and people may court as they please, but keep this up and I will marry you to Greig. Mark my words!"
The instant she heard the name Greig, a chill shot through her. Rosalyn shot to her feet and pressed her hands together toward the magic circle.
"I-I'm sorry! I'll truly do my best!"
"How long do you mean to keep me waiting? Be as devoted as your siblings and your cousins, at the very least! I fought tooth and nail to send you to the magic school, so do the job properly!"
"Even so, I'm first in the class this term..."
"Enough. Do what you are meant to do! If you need anything, tell Elton and have him bill it."
"Yes."
"If you fail to bring back proper results, don't expect so much as a drop of broth from me!"
"Yes. I'll do my very best."
Arthur's sigh, and the magic circle went dark.
Rosalyn stood blankly for a long while after. Then she pouted and shifted her gaze toward her attendant, Elton.
"...Elton."
"Yes, my lady."
"I ought to go to Hills at least once, shouldn't I?"
"An excellent thought, my lady. Today happens to be a delivery day, so if you go today you may even share a perfectly natural conversation!"
"..."
"And is it not rather fortunate, in its way? You are quite... fond of Young Master Blow—"
"What are you saying!!!!!"
Rosalyn cried out, face blazing red, voice shaking.
Elton, who had been regarding her quietly, smiled a gentle smile.
"Not a thing. Shall I make ready at once, then?"
"Yes. I have to show Father I'm doing something."
After that she called to mind, one by one, the women who stood at Blow's side. A deep sigh escaped her, and she spoke just loudly enough that Elton might or might not hear.
"...Prepare something pretty for me to wear."
And so Rosalyn, come on the pretext of a delivery, had more or less slipped herself into the staff dinner.
She was not brazen enough to invite herself to another table, so she took a corner one with Elton.
Blow held out a menu and offered her a small smile.
Somehow even more embarrassed, Rosalyn whispered, barely loud enough to hear.
"You don't sell pizza, I see."
"Tomatoes are coming in soon. We'll probably start then."
"What's the best thing you have?"
"The pork ribs? Only our head chef is off today."
"I came all this way, and the chef is resting?"
She snapped it out sullenly, then flinched and stole a glance at his face.
Blow only looked at her as if she were nothing but charming, shrugged, and answered.
"Sorry. As you can see, it's a staff dinner today."
"It isn't something you need to apologize for."
"Today isn't the only day. Come another time and have some."
"If that would be all right..."
"Why wouldn't it? This timid streak doesn't suit you..."
"Who's timid!"
"Rosalyn. Speak softly if you like. I can hear every word."
Why did talking to this man always feel as if she were getting herself tangled?
Her face burning, Rosalyn pouted and pushed the menu back toward him.
"Then I'll have the pork ribs."
"Pork ribs, noted. If you want to join us later, just say so."
"If you're that concerned, you could eat where I can see you."
"Mm. That would be difficult. I have rather a lot to discuss with that table."
"Well, you are in business with Lady Yulia."
"Right. If we need more Ropert Rose, I'll let you know."
"Do that. Only..."
She had opened her mouth, and then the rest would not come. She only mumbled.
What she had wanted to say was that she hoped to try some other venture with him, something beyond the Ropert Rose she was already supplying. For some reason her lips stayed stuck shut.
Right. Today isn't the only day. I'll start with the potions, pick them up at Red Forest, and take it one step at a time...
Thinking so, Rosalyn looked away from him and tossed the words out as if they meant nothing.
"Never mind. It's fine."
"All right. I'll stop by once more later."
With that, Blow went.
She watched his back for a moment, then met Elton's eyes. He was looking at her more fondly than she had ever seen.
"Wh-what are you looking at!"
"Nothing at all, my lady."
"Young Master, I thought I heard a raised voice. Are you all right? If Rosalyn was rude..."
Yulia spoke with her brows drawn tight, as if she meant to march over and demand an accounting that very moment. Blow let out a short laugh and shook his head.
"Rosalyn is perfectly listenable, if you put a filter on her."
"What? What does that..."
"She shouts. You simply decide she isn't shouting."
"What kind of nonsense is that, Blow Deblique!"
"It's in the same vein as my giving real thought to the things you say, Skadi."
Skadi flinched at that, folded her arms, and murmured just loud enough to be heard.
"Where would you find anyone as transparent as I am."
"I don't know. I'm not sure that's entirely true."
"Oh, please."
"If you ask me, the most transparent one these days is Jane."
"...You're going to bring up that housework potion again, aren't you."
"Yeah."
Jane's mouth pressed into a flat line as she looked at him. Yulia, who had been listening in silence, narrowed her eyes and turned toward Jane.
"Jane, a housework potion?"
"Ah, Senior, this would be the first you've heard of it. So, what happened was..."
"Young Master!"
Jane tried to stop him in a rush.
Too late. The two lumps of words—housework, and potion—had thoroughly hooked Yulia's curiosity, and an explanation had to follow. Listening to the shortened account, Yulia went blank, looked at Jane, and swallowed dryly.
"You thought of something like that...?"
"I was just at a loss, so I only turned it over in my head. It's embarrassing."
"Ideas like that are often where no one expects a result to come from. I think it would be fine to mention it to Lady Lisleia as well. Don't you, Herbena?"
"Yes, well..."
Herbena added nothing more.
Even when she had first heard of it from Mnevoir, she had honestly thought she did not really understand. And if she were truthful, she wished that whatever Jane proposed—not this method alone—would never be put to use in Blow's experiments. The gap between herself and Jane was already one she could not cross. If the Spirit of Space, too, were solved by Jane's method...
The thought left her heavy-hearted, and for no good reason she clenched a fistful of her skirt.
Yulia, having sorted her thoughts, turned a bright smile on Jane.
"I'll mention it, for now. Though I'm sure Professor Mnevoir has already spoken of it."
"Ah, Senior, you really don't have to..."
"Not at all. Coincidences pile up like that, and sometimes a chemical reaction you never imagined comes of it! And Jane and I are in the same boat, after all."
"Senior..."
"If there's anything else you wish to consult me about, you are welcome to, anytime!"
Yulia even took Jane's hand, smiling as if the sun had come out.
Behind that smile, she was running the numbers hard.
If the gap with Jane is one I can't cross anyway, then the wiser thing is to become the person closest to her. No need to think myself into a corner. For now I'll sit right beside her and skim off what I can.
Herbena, and Yulia.
Jane, who had no way of knowing what either of them was thinking, answered with a bright smile.
"You're a great comfort. Thank you, Senior."
"Haha. I want to be close with you as well, Jane, so anytime. Anytime at all, just talk to me!"
While Jane and Yulia were joining forces like that, Blow, who had been watching the pair with satisfaction, spoke up.
"Oh, right, Senior. There was one thing I meant to tell you, and I forgot."
"Why does it feel as though there is so much you don't tell me, Young Master? I am on the verge of feeling rather slighted..."
Yulia looked at him with a sulky face. Oddly apologetic, he cleared his throat and went on.
"After the duel, the meeting with His Highness, and now this business with the Black Wings, my head has been a complete mess. I'm sorry."
"It's all right. So what is it?"
"Nothing else. We're trying to make a poster to promote Red Forest, and I would like to borrow Theo's talents."
"Ah, so you need Theo's artwork?"
"Yes. Only, the form I had in mind—"
And then Blow described for her the advertising posters he had seen in his days as Han Ji-hoo: famous actresses and idols with cosmetics in hand, smiling as if they were fatally dangerous. Those compositions.
Yulia, who had been listening quietly, smiled and spoke to him in a suggestive tone.
"Oh my, what a wonderful plan! The model, of course—"
"I thought Jane would be better, so I've already decided."
"What?"
"Her image seems to suit potions, after all."
Jane was drinking her beer as if embarrassed by the attention, and Yulia, who had not expected even this to pass to her, barely swallowed a sigh.
Jane is pretty, the potion shop is Jane's, and as he says, the image does seem to fit.
She had only just managed to hold back the grumbling when a name flickered through her mind: Yulia Amore, the cosmetics company she had agreed to build with him.
"Young Master! Then, when the cosmetics come out of the company, you absolutely must use me as the model!"
"If your image suits..."
"I will work to become a person whose image suits!"
Only then did the ease return to her, and Yulia smiled.
Blow's head, of course, was busy elsewhere: with the House Edfolk materials required to establish a cosmetics company, and with how the fee ought to be set if she were the model.
"If this poster strategy takes, we mean to keep advertising the goods we supply. Starting with these slacks."
"Lovely!"
Yulia smiled at her leisure. Even so, the name is Yulia Slacks from the very start. Surely he'll cast me as the model. I ought to add a little more to my running.
Skadi stroked her chin. The trousers themselves may carry Senior's name, but nobody wears clothes better than I do. Maybe I should try this thing called a diet, for the first time in a while.
Herbena was coolly deciding to yield what ought to be yielded. After Jane and Senior Yulia, it should still be me. No. I'll become an archmage and ask him to use me for something else. A Mana Bead, say.
And Rosalyn, eavesdropping on the sly, made up her mind as well. I'll look at the result, and if it's any good, I'll have to ask Blow. The model has to be me. That's the only way Father won't be able to take the Rose.
And so, four of them in all, eyes flashing sharp.
Jane, who found the whole of it nothing but a burden, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"Anyway, Young Master! I'll speak to Theo right away!"
"Then the most urgent things would be the tomato matter, and preparing the event for this Capall Academia."
"And! We also have to set a date to meet Saintess Marta, and decide when Ace Donut opens!"
"Right."
"Young Master, we also have to settle the personnel allocation that came up, and stabilize the potion subscription. And set up the second branch."
"..."
"Hey, Blow. You said you're going to the Imperial Capital in the winter. Shouldn't you be preparing for that, too?"
"..."
Everyone put in a word.
Blow closed his eyes, opened them again, clapped his hands with a sharp smack, and smiled.
"For now, let's meet tomorrow, set the priorities, and handle them one by one."
"You'll have to slice your time very fine, Blow Deblique!"
"Tell me about it."
"Is that why you bought a watch of your own?"
Skadi, whose eye had kept catching on it for some while, pointed sidelong. Herbena, interest stirred, looked to Blow's mouth as well.
"No? Senior Yulia gave me this."
At those words, Herbena's brows and Skadi's snapped tight together.
Yulia, smiling as if to show them, lifted her glass their way.