I chuckled hollowly as I read the screen filled with text.
Duke Daela was impeccably formal. In hindsight, my casual message to him now felt embarrassingly informal.
Should I match his tone, or just push ahead in my own style?
After some thought, I decided to keep it light and tapped away at the typewriter.
“Yes, thank you for your kind words! We are also delighted to provide ‘TokTok’ to the Duke’s household 0”
“Have you checked the individual price of ‘TokTok’? Since you’re purchasing in bulk, there’s a discount of about 20%. Payment can be made in cash or by promissory note.”
“Would you like the invoice sent by mail, or shall we send it via ‘TokTok’?”
I sent this and wondered what his reply would be. I tapped my index finger on the desk as I waited.
Of course, I’ve never met Duke Daela. I don’t know his face or his voice. But I do know a few things about him.
First, the Duke was born into a family of magicians and inherited magical powers.
Second, he doesn’t venture to the capital, preferring to stay in his own domain. No one knows why, but I’ve heard that magicians generally avoid getting entangled in political strife.
Third, unusually for a magician, he also wields a sword. Some kind of… magic swordsman? I haven’t heard why he learned both swordsmanship and magic.
As I recalled information about the Duke, his reply arrived.
"Thank you for your prompt response.
I will pay in cash. Although I plan to visit the capital soon, I would like the products to arrive at my domain beforehand. If I make the payment directly to the merchant guild through the bank, can you dispatch the products promptly?
I would like to receive the aforementioned invoice both by mail and ‘TokTok’."
Oh, this time it’s less stiff. At least he didn’t repeat his introduction.
I quickly sent a reply.
“Yes, payment in cash, and invoices by both mail and ‘TokTok’! Noted.”
“Once payment is confirmed, we will dispatch ‘TokTok’. It will be well-packaged to prevent damage and sent to the address you provided on the order form. If there are any issues upon receipt, please contact us at any time!”
What followed was a repetition of business-like conversations. We coordinated the exact date for the payment and double-checked the address.
After wrapping up the general matters, I looked at the clock and realized 30 minutes had passed. Thanks to ‘TokTok’, work had become much easier. In the past, I would have had to visit the Duke’s household in person or exchanged letters over several weeks.
“Ugh!”
I stretched to relieve my stiff body and sent a closing greeting.
“Welcome to ‘TokTok’. We look forward to your continued support and will strive to repay the love you’ve shown Hexen Merchant Guild.”
“Thank you!”
Right on cue, there was a knock at the door.
Butler Halabeom entered with a plate in one hand. On the plate was… a sandwich so large it seemed difficult to eat even with my mouth wide open. He brought a fork and knife too, suggesting I should cut the sandwich like a steak.
I took the plate with a grimace, and Halabeom looked somewhat relieved.
“You must eat well, Miss.”
“Uh-huh…”
I’ll just eat a bit and leave the rest.
“You shouldn’t leave any.”
“…”
Do I, an adult, really need to be managed like this?
As I pondered seriously, another reply came from the Duke.
“Yes, thank you.”
Why is he sending another reply? Such a polite Duke. I was about to ignore it and cut the sandwich when Halabeom interjected.
“Send a reply, won’t you? He’s an important client.”
“He just said thank you. There’s no need to reply, right?”
“But you know the temperament of the nobility.”
Ugh, really.
It was annoying, but Halabeom was right.
The haughty nobles, when dealing with me, a ‘commoner-born countess’, often displayed strange pride. When conversing via ‘TokTok’, if I ended the conversation first, they took great offense. They felt ignored or something.
But really, we’ve finished our business, why another reply!
Yet, I am a slave to capital. Sigh. How many people do I have to feed in the merchant guild…
“Miss?”
“Ah, alright!”
I put away my woeful act and chewed on the freshly cut sandwich. The sound of the typewriter tapping was cheerful.
“Yes, Duke. I hope you have a pleasant day as well!”
Is that enough now?
I was getting hungry, so I decided to finish the sandwich when another ‘TokTok’ notification sounded. Text appeared on the screen.
“Yes, Count, have a good day as well.”
What? But I replied anyway. Ugh, if only I weren’t of common birth.
“Thank you ^^”
‘TokTok’! Another reply.
“Yes ^^”
…
What’s with this Duke?
But seeing him use the smiley face, it seems he’s getting used to ‘TokTok’. Amidst my bafflement, the smiley face caught my eye first.
Halabeom, who had glanced at my ‘TokTok’, also looked puzzled. I didn’t reply further and started to finish my sandwich. Halabeom seemed to think it was enough and didn’t urge me to reply.
But did Halabeom have lunch?
“Halabeom, I’m going to rest after lunch.”
“Yes, call me if you need anything.”
“Uh-huh.”
I answered briefly and sent Halabeom away. I wonder if he’s taking care of his meals at his age.
After eating the sandwich (I left some), I got up, stretched, walked around the office for a change of scenery, and even dozed off on the sofa for a bit, feeling sleepy after lunch.
You might think it’s too leisurely for a merchant guild owner, but in reality, others do the work. My job is to deal with the demanding nobility, consider the direction we should take, and take responsibility when things go wrong.
I suddenly felt that our merchant guild had established itself. Reliable employees, a main product that rakes in money, peaceful days…
Yes, let’s be thankful and work hard!
Feeling recharged, I sat back at my desk. I reviewed a few special orders and examined all the new designs proposed by the design team. They were drafts for a dog design subtly requested by the Emperor, but I wasn’t particularly fond of any.
I spun in my chair, looking at the hand-drawn drafts on paper, then stopped abruptly.
This won’t do. I need to contact the design team. The Emperor currently has a beagle, but he misses his deceased cocker spaniel more! So, this design should focus on cocker spaniels, not beagles!
As I pulled the chair closer to the desk.
“Huh?”
A chill ran down my spine. It was as if I had encountered a headless ghost. For a moment, I even felt someone pulling my hair.
I turned around quickly, but no one was there. I sighed with relief and tried to pull the chair closer to the desk again.
“Huh?”
Why won’t my legs move?
What’s going on? Are my legs numb? No, that’s not it. I can’t feel my legs at all. It’s as if they’ve turned to stone; I can’t exert any strength, and they don’t even hurt. There’s absolutely no sensation from the tips of my toes to my knees!
Clutching my wildly beating heart, I bent down to check my legs. As I rolled up the hem of my pants.
“Aaaaaah! Halabeom! Halabeoooom!”
My scream was so loud that Halabeom rushed in immediately. He looked panicked, as if a robber had entered.
“My legs have turned to stone!”