Kaito and Eris sit at the seats prepared in the café area. The maid who accompanied Eris has a separate seat arranged for her.

Regarding the maid who serves as Eris’ bodyguard, she consistently maintains a stance of not joining in on her master Eris’ conversations. Therefore, Kaito had requested Canalis to prepare a different seat for her, showing consideration for their situation.

And that can be considered the correct response. Her situation is unlike that of Lunamaria, whose master, Lilia, desires a casual friendship and has allowed her to join conversations almost on equal terms when Lilia isn’t acting as the Head of the Albert Duchy.

She is a maid serving a marquisdom and cannot participate in the conversation between Eris and Kaito due to her position. Of course, she would respond if Kaito spoke to her, but those responses would be limited to necessary, formal replies. As a matter of course, it would be impossible for her to sit at the same table as Kaito and Eris unless Kaito, who holds the strongest authority, forced it. Thus, having a separate seat prepared is very helpful for the maid.

[……I see, it’s truly wonderful, isn’t it? Not only are conversations shielded from being overheard, but there’s also something resembling a Recognition Inhibition Barrier that prevents anyone from knowing who is seated at the surrounding tables. Those of high status might utilize this, and it’s a thoughtful consideration to avoid unnecessary disturbances.]

[That’s exactly the idea of the shop’s manager. In fact, once I found myself in a position to use it, I also found it quite convenient.]

[Indeed, many of those who visit Nifty probably know Kaito-sama, so Recognition Inhibition might be essential.]

After sitting down and finishing their orders, Kaito and Eris engage in small talk…… Though Eris had been quite flustered until recently, sitting at a seat installed with Recognition Inhibition, where their conversation won’t be leaked out, allowed her to regain some composure.

She had grown somewhat accustomed to conversing with Kaito, and it seemed they could enjoy their conversation and sweets without any issues…… but if those who had suffered from Kaito’s stomachaches were to hear this, they would probably just say she’s “too naive”.

And of course, as if it were a given…… Eris’ fleeting hopes were shattered into pieces.

[Ah, Eris-san. While we have the chance, please take this…… I forced you to accompany me today, and startled you with the encounter with the Seven Princesses, so I wanted to apologize.]

[Ah, no, that is…… Rather than that, I consider it extremely beneficial to have had the opportunity to interact with Kaito-sama and to meet the Seven Princesses as well. An apology is unnecessary…… but if you’ve already prepared something, I suppose it would be rude to refuse. I appreciate Kaito-sama’s thoughtfulness…… What is this?]

Eris tilted her head slightly as she received the card and a small booklet that Kaito presented, her expression a bit apologetic as she thanked him.

[That is, well, it’s a privilege for a service we plan to start at Nifty. Errr, to put it simply, it’s a service where you can have your family crest placed on the porcelain items listed in that booklet. It’s a chance to use a service that will start eventually, and you can place your crest on any of the porcelain items in that booklet. Ah, of course, it’s fine if you want to use a different mark instead of your family crest, and inscribing text is fine as well.]

[Hyuu……]

Hearing Kaito’s words delivered with a smile, Eris had to suppress a scream that nearly escaped her lips.

(W- W- W- What in the world are you handing me, Kaito-samaaaa!? Nobles place great importance on appearances! Nifty’s porcelain is incredibly famous, and being able to have a family crest on it would indeed be wonderful but…… Even though it’s a service that will start eventually, if our Hamilton Marquisdom already possesses it, it would look like we have special connections with Nifty, and if used with malicious intent, he do realize we could even boast about being close with Kaito-sama and exploit his influence, right!!!? No, I wouldn’t do that though!!! He should be a bit more vigilant…… vigilant…… Ahh, no, I see now…… Even if someone tries to misuse it, Phantasmal King-sama would just erase them.)

The casually offered gift was an extraordinary item, and Eris’ mind was now in a state of panic.

Well, just as Eris had thought, if she were to misuse that privilege to exploit Kaito, Alice…… or in the worst-case scenario, Eden would take action to eliminate the threat, so there was no real concern about it being misused.

(……But still…… When handing over something so incredible, I wish he would come with an attitude that matches the significance of the item. No, really, my heart can’t handle this…… Not like I can tell him off about this though!)

If Lilia had been present at that moment, she would have placed her hand on Eris’ shoulder, a warm, understanding expression on her face.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [You did it, Eris-chan! You’ll gain some prestige! ……You alright there? Your stomach didn’t get a hole in your stomach, did you?]