Chapter 487 ‘Grand Market’ Final Day (Part IV)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hiroya’s POV)
(I’m glad all 3 of them are happy.)
After our Grand Market date, when I gifted Aluda, Eluda, and Meluda a ‘pinky ring,’ all 3 were so overjoyed they could cry.
* * *
”Well… I’m glad you’re happy, but… it’s a bit confusing to see you all cry.”
”””Sniff… but…”””
All 3 of them sniffled together.
”From Hiro… a ring…”
”I’m just so happy…”
”This… means ‘Meluda belongs to Hiro,’ right…”
”N-no, it’s not something to ‘bind’ Meluda, okay?”
I hurriedly replied, looking into their teary eyes as they wiped away their tears.
It’s not a collar.
”Ah… that might be nice too♡”
”A collar, huh♡”
”Hiro’s pet♡”
Since their joking mood started to go off track, I quickly hopped into Aluda’s carriage.
* * *
When we returned to the Clan house, Ms. Hanna and Ms. Carla welcomed us back.
”Welcome back! …Are you okay after going out?”
Ms. Hanna looked up at me with concern.
No, I have plenty of time scheduled, you know?
”I-I see…!”
Ms. Hanna’s expression brightened suddenly.
”You must have a lot of things, right? I’ll get the carriage ready.”
”I-I’ll guide you!”
”Sure. Ms. Carla, let’s go together.”
I headed towards the stable to get the carriage.
* * *
”It’s at the edge of the village, right?”
”Yes. There’s a collection point for dwarf merchants there.”
”Oh, but before that…”
As I tried to take the reins towards the village edge, Ms. Hanna, who was seated next to me, pulled my arm.
Ms. Carla, sitting next to the driver’s platform, tried to take the reins towards the outskirts of the village, and Ms. Hanna, sitting next to My, pulled her arm.
”Well, since we have gathered ingredients from all over… I want to look around a bit…”
”I see. Then let’s leave the carriage for now…”
I directed the carriage towards the guild’s stables.
* * *
(Carla’s POV)
”Oh, over there! Mr. Hiroya, I want to buy those vegetables!”
Ms. Hanna pointed at the stall with various vegetables while pulling Mr. Hiroya’s arm.
Her excited smile looked so joyful and adorable.
Mr. Hiroya, drawn by her arm, walked over with her.
I followed along.
──While clinging to Mr. Hiroya’s left arm.
(With the person I like… holding arms…♡)
Back when I was a girl, perhaps, but I had long given up on such sweet actions.
”Look, Ms. Carla. There are many kinds of fruits too.”
As I gazed at Mr. Hiroya’s profile, it turned towards me…
”? What’s wrong?”
”Um… no, I just love fruits!”
Embarrassed by my likely melting expression while looking at Mr. Hiroya, I shifted my gaze to the fruit he pointed out.
(Ah… that small green fruit…)
When I was little, it was a trade item brought by an elven merchant to my father’s shop.
(I remember buying it all for that little elf village in distress…)
My father, though a merchant, was easily swayed by emotions.
Because of that, he never became a big businessman.
That fruit was too sour to eat as it was, but my mother made ‘fruit wine’ by soaking it in alcohol with sugar, which my father liked very much.
I was allowed to drink the diluted version with extra sugar added, and it was delicious.
’This is light enough for kids to drink. Mix it with water, okay?’
I was so happy when I received the bottle she made for me, and she even taught me how to make it.
I once made it for Alberich after we got married, but…
(He didn’t even drink it…)
Remembering my sad married life, I shook my head lightly.
”Mr. Hiroya, um… I want that green fruit.”
”It looks like sudachi…”
”Su…?”
”Ah, no… there was a similar fruit in my previous life.”
”Ah… it’s mini citrus, right?”
Ms. Hanna, who was choosing vegetables and talking with the shopkeeper, told me the name of the fruit.
”This is citrus?”
”Hmm, actually, I think it’s a different type of citrus, but it’s called that because it looks similar. You can squeeze it on grilled fish or float sliced pieces in water…”
Ms. Hanna answered my question.
”It seems like it’s used like sudachi and lime.”
”Oh, you know it well! That fruit is called ‘sudachi’ in the East.”
Maybe Mr. Hiroya’s voice was heard, and the shopkeeper told us that.
”If you soak it in shōchū──distilled liquor made from rice, you can make a delicious drink.”
Mr. Hiroya’s casual words made me very happy… I felt tears welling up.
”M-Ms. Carla!?”
”Ah… s-sorry! It’s not that I’m sad… My mother used to make fruit wine in the same way…”
I hurriedly wiped my tears and conveyed that to the bewildered Mr. Hiroya.
”I learned the method too… I was so happy that Mr. Hiroya knew about it.”
”Shōchū, huh… When we go pick up the rice, should we ask about it there? I think we can probably buy it from a dwarf merchant.”
Ms. Hanna cheerfully suggested that.
”Sounds good! If we dilute it with water, I can probably drink it… Shall we try making ‘sudachi sake’?”
”Oh! Customer, are you also buying sudachi?”
Mr. Hiroya agreed, and the shopkeeper asked happily.
”Yes! Please give me everything!”
Ms. Hanna replied energetically.
”Everything…?”
”Half is for the adults in the clan, and the other half will be soaked for Mr. Hiroya, Ms. Kazumi, and the kids. This is just the right amount.”
”We need to buy a lot of sugar too.”
Mr. Hiroya, surprised, received a cheerful reply from Ms. Hanna and me.
”So, please deliver it together with the vegetables we bought earlier to the mansion.”
”Thank you very much!”
Ms. Hanna paid, and the shopkeeper responded in a loud voice.
”They do deliveries too. That’s helpful… but…”
Mr. Hiroya glanced between me and Ms. Hanna.
”…Couldn’t you get rice delivered as well?”
”Ah…”
Mr. Hiroya’s eyes slowly began to narrow.
”Uh…”
”Well…”
Both Ms. Hanna and I, wanting to shop with Mr. Hiroya, instinctively lowered our gazes.
The merchant who arranged the rice had also assured delivery, of course.
I felt guilty and gradually released my grip on Mr. Hiroya’s arm…
”Well, it’s okay. I can ‘date’ Ms. Hanna and Ms. Carla like this.”
Mr. Hiroya smiled as he said this.
Encouraged by that wonderful smile, I wrapped my arm around his again… and squeezed tightly.
(I… love you so much♡)
Clinging to his arm, I leaned my cheek against it.
”Mr. Hiroya…♡”
Ms. Hanna also seemed happy as she clung to Mr. Hiroya’s arm.
”Well then, shall we continue shopping? Look, let’s go see something other than food!”
”Yes♡”
We started walking down the street again, leaning against Mr. Hiroya.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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