The date with Olivia-san and Kaori-san is next month, but since I heard about the place we’ll be going, I decided to do a little research with some magazines.

It seems to be quite a famous trading city, and I was able to find plenty of travel magazines and books listing recommended spots.

Well, it looks like the basic date plan has already been decided, so I don’t think I’ll need to choose our destinations. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to have some ideas on hand in case we have some spare time.

Well, in any case, since I got the time, I figured I could research at a relaxed pace. While reading a magazine, I came across an article that caught my eye.

It mentioned a high-end chocolate shop in the shopping district we plan to visit, which is entirely membership-only. I recognized the logo of that chocolate shop———– It was the same one on the box of chocolates that Jutia-san brought to the Harmonic Symphony’s afterparty.

Those chocolates were delicious. Jutia-san said that the ones I brought paired better with tea, but the chocolates she brought had a refined texture and smooth taste that I really liked.

Plus, the chocolates Jutia-san brought were chosen specifically to go well with tea, so I’m curious about the rest of their selection.

It’s just, according to the magazine, it’s strictly membership-only and you can only join if referred by an existing member…… Unn? Then, does that mean I could go if Jutia-san introduces me?

……Just in case, I suppose I’ll try asking via hummingbird? If she introduces me, I could drop by with Olivia-san and Kaori-san when we go, which would be nice.

Yggfresis, Demon Realm, in Lillywood’s castle. Jutia received a hummingbird and tilted her head in wonder. Camellia, who happened to be with her, noticed and asked her.

[Jutia-san, is something the matter?]

[Ahh, no, I just got a hummingbird from Kaito, but it’s just, it’s so strange, it’s so strange, why would he be asking me this?]

[Unn? What do you mean?]

[Kaito sent a hummingbird asking me to introduce him to Dia Royal Chocolate Shop since he’s interested in them. Well, of course, since it’s Kaito asking, I’ll gladly help in any way I can…… but still, but still, does he really need to ask me this?]

Jutia is very fond of Kaito and felt she owed him a lot, including over tea leaves and what not, so she usually agreed to his requests without a second thought.

But this time, she couldn’t understand why he’d go out of his way to ask her specifically.

[Dia Royal Chocolate Shop? You’re talking about that luxury chocolate shop that’s gained a lot of attention in recent years, right……? Arehh? But Kaito-san…… Isn’t he “friends with the owner”?]

[That’s right, that’s right. Dia Royal Chocolate Shop was founded by Hamilton Marquisdom’s Eris Dia Hamilton, so he didn’t have to go ask me for introductions, it would be quicker if he asked her instead……]

[Maybe he simply didn’t know she runs it? Kaito-san doesn’t really seem particularly interested in the nobles’ business ventures……]

[Ahh, I see now, I see now. Indeed, if he didn’t know about it, then it wouldn’t be strange for him to ask me.]

Yes, the reason Jutia was puzzled was that she knew Eris, who had recently been introduced by Kaito as his friend, was the owner of that shop, and she thought it would be much simpler for him to ask Eris directly.

However, just as Camellia said, it was possible he simply didn’t know. Nodding in agreement with Camellia’s words, Jutia sent a response via hummingbird to let him know she would help.

After sending Jutia-san a request for an introduction to the chocolate shop via hummingbird, I soon received her pleasant agreement to my request.

Thereupon, Alice, for some reason, suddenly appeared, smirking as she spoke.

[Jutia-san must have been quite puzzled huh. I mean, she suddenly got quite the strange request……]

[Eh? Why?]

[Well, that shop belongs to Eris-san, that one you got to know not long ago. If you’d asked her directly, this would have been solved in one go.]

[……You…… Why didn’t you tell me that sooner……]

S- So that’s how it is…… It would certainly be no wonder for Jutia-san, who I just introduced Eris-san to as my friend, to be puzzled by my request.

Alice, of course, fully understood the situation and just kept quiet for her own amusement until I got a reply…… Quite the contrast to the kind-hearted Jutia-san, who didn’t question it and graciously accepted my request.

……That said, unn. Looking at the magazine again, it does say it’s “operated by the Hamilton Marquisdom”. I only glanced at it, recognized the logo, and didn’t bother to check further, so I guess I can’t really complain————- It’s mostly my fault for not reading carefully.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [After getting beaten up so much, you’re coming for more stomach blows? Leave that lady alone already……]

? ? ? : [No, well, since it turned out that Jutia-san is introducing him to the shop, the chances of Eris-san being caught up here…… are probably limited to when something like “coincidentally stopping by for a store inspection” happens.]

Serious-senpai : [That’s a huge flag right there……]