Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven: Young Ladies as Guides
“During the hunting festival, we of the Ehlertt family have responsibilities as hosts. We won’t be able to stay by your side the whole time, Ms. Karen, so while I’m away, I’d like you to keep these girls by your side as guides.”
The morning after arriving at the hunting festival grounds, Karen recognized the two young ladies who had been introduced to her when she was called to Alise’s tent.
“It’s Petra. Long time no see, Karen.”
The beautiful girl with purple twin-tails, Petra, turned her chin up haughtily.
She was the girl who had once fallen ill from poisoned face powder that Horst had likely circulated in the Ehlertt territory, and recovered thanks to Karen’s potion. Most likely, the black powder that stole magical power that Horst and his group possessed had been contained in that poisoned powder. Petra had been a victim, used as their test subject.
Beside her, a girl with blonde hair cut at shoulder length—unusual for a noble—Rosine, bowed with courteous gestures.
“I am Rosine of the Kalk baron family. We met at a tea party before, but this is our first time speaking properly, isn’t it? I hope we can get along well.”
The gentle-smiling Rosine was the person who had circulated the poisoned powder within the Earl Ehlertt faction. Karen remembered her as a rather calculating girl who, while apologizing to the faction members for distributing the poisoned powder, had secretly tried to use it herself. She, too, was one of the victims caught up in the scheme.
At Rosine’s attitude, Petra’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Hey! Drop the polite language and the act with a commoner, Lady Rosine! Karen, don’t be fooled. This woman is after the cosmetic potions you make!”
“Lady Petra, weren’t you the one saying you might find a good match by staying close to Ms. Karen? Please don’t lump me together with someone seeking profit—Ms. Karen, I simply respect you as a B-rank alchemist.”
“Then you don’t want the cosmetic potions you might get through Karen’s connections, Lady Rosine? Because I do!”
“I-I want them too, but—!”
“Ahem.”
The two had started arguing in Alise’s tent, of all places, right in front of Alise herself, but at Alise’s cough, they became as docile as scolded cats.
Alise sighed and said:
“…As you can see, they’re spirited children, but neither is a bad girl.”
“May I ask about the selection criteria?”
To Karen’s roundabout question of why these two of all people, Alise said:
“The main conditions were three. First, they have the ability to fight. Second, you can be at ease with them. Third, they have no interest in Julius.”
“I see, those are important. Especially the third one.”
Karen nodded emphatically.
Even if they were guides introduced by Alise, it would be unbearable if they made eyes at Julius, who would be by Karen’s side.
While Petra had initially made eyes at Julius, once she realized she wouldn’t be treated like a princess, she seemed to have developed an aversion to him. At least, last year, she had been somewhat afraid of Julius.
“Finding girls who met the third condition was quite difficult, so the selection was challenging.”
“Lady Rosine, do you also have no interest in Mr. Julius?”
“My preference is for gentlemen who earn money. I’m more drawn to wealthy commoners than young, handsome nobles.”
“I think Mr. Julius has money too, though…”
When a dungeon was conquered, reward money was given by the country and territory. The money from selling drop items obtained during dungeon conquest would also amount to a considerable sum.
Julius should be extraordinarily wealthy for a noble who hadn’t inherited a title, in addition to being young and handsome.
When Karen showed a hint of wariness, Rosine smiled.
“I’m more drawn to merchants than knights. That’s why I had been meeting various traders. In that process, I purchased suspicious cosmetics from a dubious merchant, which led to what happened last year.”
“So that’s what happened.”
Karen wondered why a noble lady would be drawn to a commoner merchant, but probing further risked leading to the question of why Julius was drawn to her.
Being drawn to someone happens! Karen nodded inwardly.
“Yes. That merchant was actually a foreigner, but in appearance, he looked just like someone from our kingdom. Moreover, he had a plump appearance as if displaying the wealth I prefer—”
Rosine put her hand to her cheek and sighed. If she preferred plump people, then Julius was certainly outside her preference range.
Karen felt greatly relieved.
Seeing Karen’s expression, Alise moved the conversation forward:
“Both of them owe you a debt of gratitude, Ms. Karen. They may not be as capable as experienced adventurer supporters, but these girls can fight too. In places where you can’t bring supporters, these two will protect you, Ms. Karen.”
“It’s a welcome offer for me, but are you two all right with this?”
For nobles, the hunting festival was essentially an enjoyable celebration. Having to guide a commoner of lower status on such a day would surely be disagreeable.
Rosine smiled and opened her mouth:
“As I mentioned earlier, to be able to accompany you, a B-rank alchemist, Ms. Karen, is such an honor—”
“Obviously, it’s for the cosmetic potions!”
Problem child Petra interrupted Rosine, who was trying to be polite. Rosine glared sharply at Petra.
“Lady Petra…! Could you refrain from that in front of the Countess?”
“Don’t you think I’m far more sincere than you approaching with hidden ulterior motives?”
The two arguing girls were, in the end, after Karen’s potions.
Alise looked at Karen with an exasperated expression.
“Ms. Karen, we can still search for other girls if you’d like, but what would you prefer?”
“I’d like to ask them to guide me.”
For Karen, these girls with clear objectives were far better than young ladies who approached with good manners while targeting Julius.
Karen turned to face the girls.
“As thanks for guiding me, I’ll prepare cosmetic potions and give them to you before returning to the capital, so please take care of me during the hunting festival, all right?”
“Yes! Your potions are terrifyingly scarce and rarely available! You should really do something about the supply!”
“It’s unreasonable to order a B-rank alchemist who can make irreplaceable adventurer potions to only make cosmetic potions! B-But, if it’s as a token of thanks, I will gratefully accept them…”
“Hmph, acting like a good girl.”
“You’re the one being too rude…!”
Petra, faithful to her desires, and Rosine, who couldn’t suppress her desires while trying to admonish Petra, were somehow similar.
It seemed they were at odds precisely because they were similar.
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