Chapter 81: Rashiyu Trading Company
“Oh? Is that you, Lord Shu and Lady Rio?”
The voice that called out belonged to a familiar female merchant. After feeling somewhat uncomfortable yesterday, I had left Mimina Trading Company rather quickly. Now, as the sun began to set, we decided to head back to our inn. The next day, we made our way to Rashiyu Trading Company.
“Um, if I remember correctly, it’s Fleur, right…?”
Rio hesitantly confirmed, and it seemed she was indeed correct.
“I’m so glad you remembered me,” Fleur replied, her smile brightening the room.
Now that I thought about it, she was the merchant from Trade City Zain who had purchased monsters from us, offering the highest price among all the merchants.
“Why are you back in the commercial nation?” I asked, curious.
Perhaps sensing that my question could lead to a lengthy explanation, Fleur guided us to a sofa in the store. Rashiyu Trading Company had an air of tradition, with its long-standing building. Yet, it also featured modern display shelves, showcasing a blend of the old and the new.
“Actually, I was called back by the headquarters for support,” Fleur explained.
“Support?” I echoed.
“Yes. We received reports that other trading companies were encroaching on our business territory.”
“Is that so?” I replied, somewhat impressed. It seemed Fleur was quite the capable merchant.
“Therefore, I would greatly appreciate your patronage of Rashiyu Trading Company. Oh, if you have any monsters you’ve hunted, we would be happy to buy them from you again. And if you have any product ideas, I assure you, we won’t treat you poorly.”
Fleur’s charming smile was somewhat overwhelming. It was clear she was quite serious about her business dealings. Well, I wished her the best of luck.
“Ahaha, then I’ll be sure to ask for your help if anything comes up,” I said.
“Of course! If you need anything, I can introduce you to various options. Is there anything you need right now?”
“Oh, in that case…”
I glanced back at Rio, who was furrowing her brow in thought.
I had been considering having our wedding ceremony in this city. It had been lingering in the air for far too long, and I was feeling restless about it. More importantly—
＝＝＝＝＝
Name: Yuzuki Rio
＝＝＝＝＝
The name I saw when appraising Rio was Yuzuki Rio. I had heard that the full names of nobles change when they acquire a family name, so perhaps she would become Mizumoto Rio. That sounded nice. Mizumoto Rio.
“Could you recommend a clothing store?” I asked.
“Certainly! What kind of clothing store are you looking for?” Fleur inquired.
“A high-end shop, please. I’d like to order a dress for Rio.”
“Huh?”
“Wow!”
Fleur gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, while Rio stood there, stunned.
“M-my dress…?” Rio stammered, still trying to process what I had just said.
I maintained a calm facade, though my face felt warm—surely just my imagination.
“Well, now that we’ve escaped that wretched kingdom, I thought it would be nice to have a proper wedding ceremony with you here, Rio.”
In this world, life was cheap. If I kept postponing things out of embarrassment, it could become too late. I had learned that lesson all too well in that kingdom.
“Shuu…!”
Tears welled up in Rio’s eyes as she gazed at me, overwhelmed with emotion.
“That sounds wonderful! I will introduce you to the best clothing store in this city!”
“Ahaha, thank you very much!”
“Shall we head to the clothing store right after this?”
“Oh, yes. I’d like to take a look at the items here first before we go.”
“Understood. I will prepare a letter of introduction, so please feel free to browse the store.”
“Thank you!”
With that, Fleur stood up and headed to the back of the store to prepare the introduction letter.
“Alright, let’s take a look around until Fleur finishes writing the letter,” I suggested.
“Okay… ehehe,” Rio replied, shyly fidgeting.
We wandered around the store for a while, picking up some daily necessities before receiving the introduction letter. Then, we made our way to the clothing store.
When I had tried to order wedding attire in the Arclight Kingdom, I had been interrupted by the guards. This time, however, we arrived at the clothing store without any interference. It was truly wonderful.
Upon showing the introduction letter, we began selecting a dress for Rio.
“Hey, Shuu, you should get your measurements taken too so we can order together,” she said.
“Me too?”
“Of course!”
We spent the day choosing Rio’s dress and my formal attire. While colored dresses were the trend in this world, it seemed Rio had a longing for a traditional wedding dress, opting for a pure white gown.
“How do I look?”
Rio asked, wearing a ready-made dress.
What could I say? I always thought she was cute, but now…
“Um, you look really beautiful,” I managed to reply, doing my best to express my feelings.