CICN 94

Chapter 94

Irene’s words—that there would be many surprises—soon proved to be true.

“Woooow! Look! Look at that!”

Ebi pointed at the enormous balloon floating above the endlessly lined rooftops.

“That’s called a hot-air balloon. They install a magic stone or a heating device underneath, and it rises into the sky.”

“It flies in the sky!”

“That’s what it was made for. Why? Do you want to try riding it?”

At those words, Ebi, who had been staring out the window with a shocked expression, whipped her head around.

“You can ride it?”

“Of course.”

“R-really?”

Her round green eyes grew even rounder. They sparkled brightly as they shifted back and forth between Irene and the balloon.

Irene thought to herself: How could anyone look into eyes like that and not let her ride? You’d have to be a devil, not a human.

“Of course. What’s so hard about riding a hot-air balloon?”

In truth, Irene herself had never ridden one either.

Well, I can just try it this time too.

Of course, not just anyone could ride one. To be exact, it cost quite a lot of money. Even Irene, who was normally indifferent to money, had been a little surprised when she first heard the price.

But that’s not a problem at all.

She had other worries.

As expected, Ebi’s shoulders, which had been gleaming with excitement at the thought of being able to ride, suddenly drooped.

She’s probably worrying about the money again.

Most likely, if Irene later suggested they go, Ebi would say that she thought it over and decided she didn’t really need to ride it after all.

So, Irene decided she would just have to pretend not to notice, then suddenly drag her along and get her on board so she couldn’t refuse.

Admiring her own perfect plan, Irene reached out and squished Ebi’s cheek.

It was soft like freshly baked bread, yet flushed like a pretty red apple—so irresistibly touchable that she wanted to pinch it every time.

Hehe, only I get to touch this.

She remembered how whenever she did this, Arsel and Ruska would stare enviously.

But how could they dare lay their hands on a lady’s face?

Ebi’s cheeks are mine alone!

Enjoying the little luxury of her roommate’s cheeks, Irene looked out the window with her.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Wow! Look! It’s a huge bakery!”

“The fountain’s big too!”

“That’s the marketplace!”

Ebi chattered nonstop, delightedly pointing at everything she saw.

The carriage ran on for a while longer, finally stopping in front of a large shop along a long stretch of high-end stores.

“Is this… Irene’s house?”

But it was far too much like a shop. In fact, it looked like the biggest and most glamorous one on the street.

“Of course not. This is Madame Crevel’s store. She started with just tailoring clothes, but now she carries hats, bags, accessories—everything.”

Ebi had heard of it before.

Other students had once spoken excitedly about it in the dining hall.

“My mom said if I get into the top 100, she’ll order me a dress for the Autumn Ball from Madame Crevel’s. But, come on, like that’s gonna happen.”

“Top 100? That’s generous. My parents want me to be in the top 50. Can you believe it? Just looking at books makes me want to puke.”

“But I really want to go there. Their dresses for the Autumn Ball are the most famous.”

“I don’t even need a dress. I’d be happy just to buy a hat from there.”

To Ebi, most of the gifted academy’s children seemed like the richest kids in the world. They could just ask for something and it would appear right away.

So for them to long so desperately to go to this shop…

It must be suuuper expensive.

She had thought she’d never in her life get to set foot in such a place.

She was curious, of course, but she figured that someone dressed in plain clothes like hers wouldn’t even be let inside.

After that, she kept hearing the shop’s name again and again.

One day, when she was chatting with Ruska, he mentioned it casually.

“Madame Crevel’s shop? Yeah, I know it. My parents get their clothes made there regularly. Me? Sometimes too, but those clothes are too fancy, so I don’t wear them much. Once, I wore one while sparring with my brothers, and my mom ran over screaming if I’d lost my mind, then smacked me on the back.”

If even the marquis’s son said such things…

That only convinced her more that it was a place she could never go. But her curiosity only deepened.

“Arsel gets most of his clothes there too. They suit him perfectly. When he showed up in a suit from there at last year’s Autumn Ball, everyone went crazy.”

Inevitably, the conversation shifted from Madame Crevel’s to Arsel himself. And, truthfully, that was even more fun to listen to.

Anyway, she had thought she’d never have any connection to such a place. And yet, here she was.

“U-um… Can I even go inside?”

“Hm? What are you talking about? Of course customers can enter a store.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Ebi glanced down at her clothes.

They were the nicest she owned—bought by the orphanage director with her own money on the day Ebi left for the gifted academy.

She knew they weren’t as fine as what others wore, but she had never felt ashamed of them.

Even now, she wasn’t embarrassed. If she were refused entry, she’d be fine with it. But Irene wouldn’t be, would she…?

Irene suddenly grabbed Ebi’s hand.

“Ebi, you brought that brooch Lucy gave you, right?”

“Mm-hm. It’s right here.”

Ebi pulled out the brooch she had carefully kept in her bag, afraid of losing it if she wore it.

Irene took it and pinned it to Ebi’s chest with a satisfied smile. Then she grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

“This is more than enough. With this, they’d let you in even if you weren’t wearing clothes at all.”

Irene gazed proudly at the brooch, even though it wasn’t hers.

When Ebi had first shown it to her, Irene had covered her mouth in shock.

That’s the <Natural Numbers of God> society’s brooch!

She had only ever seen drawings of it, never the real thing.

The <Natural Numbers of God> was a society of scholars and experts from many fields.

Normally, groups like that welcomed new members, but this one had remained unchanged in numbers for decades.

Among them were a former Minister of State, the empire’s greatest architect, and a trading house president rivaling even the Terins family.

No wonder people called it a gathering of the empire’s most successful figures.

Their only common thread was that they were academy graduates. Their ages varied widely, and people could only speculate they might have once belonged to the same student club.

And yet Ebi had somehow received their brooch.

Thanks to that, I found out the society was actually made up of Professor Malles’s disciples.

So she had gone to Professor Malles and complained: “Why didn’t you give me one?”

But he told her the current head, Lucy, had to give them personally, and if she wanted one, she’d have to go ask herself.

That fired up not only Irene, but even Ruska.

“Let’s go get one!”

“Yeah!”

“I’ll come too.”

Even Arsel, surprisingly, had joined in.

That was how valuable and prestigious the brooch was.

And my Ebi has one!

In her heart, Irene wanted to grab passersby and shout, Look at this! My roommate is amazing, isn’t she? Hohoho!

Of course, she restrained herself with all her might.

Otherwise, Ebi would bolt long before strangers did.

“Alright! Let’s go in!”

The two doormen at the entrance politely opened the grand doors for them.

Inside, a faint but luxurious fragrance greeted them.

A lobby adorned with glittering chandeliers, lavishly patterned walls, and ornate decorations immediately caught the eye.

As Ebi stood speechless at the dazzling splendor, so different from the austere imperial palace, an elegantly dressed woman approached.

“Madame Crevel!”

“Welcome, Lady Irene.”

At their greeting, Ebi’s eyes widened even further.

Madame Crevel? The owner? And… they know each other?

Seeing her confusion, Irene chuckled and explained:

“Madame Crevel is originally from the south, from a branch of the Terins family. Her talent was outstanding from a young age, so my father trusted her and invested heavily in her.”

“Yes, thanks to that, I am who I am today. I will always be grateful to the Terins family.”

Crevel smiled gently, then turned her gaze toward Ebi. Her eyes fell upon the brooch pinned to Ebi’s chest.

“Oh my.”

Her lips parted slightly in genuine surprise, her eyes widening.

Irene smirked knowingly.

See? I knew she’d be shocked.

A woman as sharp as Madame Crevel would instantly recognize what it was.

And indeed, recognizing it, Crevel turned anxiously to Irene.

“My lady, and this young lady is…?”

“She’s my roommate, Ebi! Isn’t she cute?”

Blushing slightly, Ebi bowed her head.

“Hello, my name is Ebi Elden.”

“Welcome, Miss Elden. I am truly honored to host such a distinguished guest today.”

Her greeting was far too formal for addressing a mere child.

But Crevel was already convinced—this girl would undoubtedly become one of her boutique’s most important clients.