Chapter 44
"I look forward to your next visit, Marquis."
Pastel received farewells at the airship dock.
"Great! I'll look forward to visiting again too!"
Pastel, who had spent a week having actual tea parties and chatting happily with Melissa, gladly accepted.
"Anytime."
Countess Camelot smiled warmly with a subtle feeling.
Somehow feels like just politeness rather than actually welcoming?
No way.
She served delicious apple pie at every tea party. Must be my imagination~
Pastel linked arms with Melissa who was carrying luggage.
"My close friend Melissa, you're looking forward to my next visit too, right?!"
"We're not that close, but yes. It was fun, Craft. As mother said, you're welcome anytime."
When Melissa readily agreed, the corners of the Countess's mouth trembled. Though she said nothing, she looked worriedly at Melissa.
Oing.
Is that the gaze of a mother worried her well-raised daughter will learn bad things from becoming close friends with a weird kid?
No way~
Because I'm not weird at all.
Pink pink Pastel doesn't do bad things. No way I'd be a bad influence even if Melissa gets along with me.
After receiving farewells, she boarded the airship. They began returning toward Sky Island. Though they'd need several airship transfers, it would be an uneventful journey.
"Craft, I think I misunderstood you."
Melissa was slightly shy.
"Someone who can't even follow tea party etiquette properly couldn't possibly plot cunning schemes or have wicked intentions."
After spending a week having tea parties together, Melissa seemed to have corrected her wrong perceptions and judgments.
"I'm sorry, I was prejudiced about your beautiful appearance. I'll admit it. You have a pure heart just like your appearance."
The misunderstanding is completely resolved!
Oh yeah.
Pastel was happy but then paused.
But isn't this saying she thought I was cunning with different inside and outside pretending to act foolish, but after watching for a few days she's relieved because I'm actually just foolish?
Oiing?
Thunder went boom.
Pastel, shocked!
Shooock!
Even though I did my best following etiquette with demon's help, seems I didn't meet a real noble lady's standards!
Uwaa.
I'll become known as foolish Pastel at this rate.
Give back the honor of top written exam scorer Pastel.
Melissa was shy.
"Craft, can I call you by name from now on?"
"Of course! Just don't call me foolish Pastel!"
"Foolish... Pastel?"
Melissa tilted her head.
Pastel's mouth fell open.
Huk.
"D-did you just call me foolish Pastel?!"
"What?"
Uwaa.
I really became foolish Pastel!
Foolish Pastel who can be trusted to never do cunning and wicked things because she's too innocent...!
All the previous modifiers are right but foolish is clearly wrong...!
Uwaa.
Thud.
She arrived at Sky Island Academy in despair.
#
Pastel wandered the school grounds trembling with anxiety.
Students who had returned to the dormitory early as vacation was ending greeted her. She greeted them warily and continued walking.
"Demon, demon. Can't you hear it? The rumors slandering smart Pastel!"
Foolish Pastel, they say.
Tremble tremble.
『I don't hear anything at all.』
Huk.
"You can't hear it?!"
Pastel was surprised alone then rapidly felt relieved.
"I'll believe demon's words!"
Oh yeah.
She headed to the student council room la la la.
Before dealing with various matters related to the secret fund checks dug up from the apple farm, she planned to first check on the new dormitory situation. The new dormitory was public work after all.
When she opened the door, a girl looking at documents with a quill pen in her mouth turned around. Black hair and pointed demon race ears.
"Ah, Ellie! You're back at school early!"
"There's a lot of scheduled work."
Ellie took out a stack of documents as if the timing was good.
"More importantly, there's a suspicious approval document?"
It was an approval document related to establishing the Craft Trading Company- no, the Student Council Trading Company.
Large letters caught her eye.
Pastel Love Craft - 100% ownership
No student council shares in a student council trading company.
Uwaat?!
The vice president cum general affairs head cum planning head cum public relations head cum volunteer service head cum student guidance head who hastily processed the establishment of a trading company to slurp up student council funds with 100% personal ownership during vacation was shocked.
Uwaat.
Pastel's dark corruption exposed to the world!
Handcuffs go clink clink.
Prison bars go clang.
Please consider it survival corruption~!
Ellie tapped the documents.
"Embezzling public funds?"
Public fund embezzlement.
Pastel flailed her arms in panic.
"No way! No way!"
Panic panic.
"I just created a business agreement with professional workers and enhanced private cooperation to smoothly promote student council work!"
Flail flail.
A subtle gaze came.
Huk.
My perfectly crafted persuasion didn't work!
Foolish Pastel who can't even persuade one staff member...!
Pastel grabbed her cheeks and let out a groan as if her soul was leaving.
Huaa~
Dark future becoming reality~
Call me prison life Pastel from now on~
Ellie shook her head and roughly set down the documents. Then as if it didn't matter, she went to her seat to continue work. Her attitude was like she expected this from a Craft.
"The new dormitory construction is proceeding smoothly though there are delays from the original schedule due to finding the basement."
Oing.
No questioning?
Pastel subtly checked the mood then smoothly went to her seat. Then after checking the mood again and seeing there really was no questioning, her expression brightened.
Don't know why but good result anyway!
She raised both arms high.
Life is too easy Pastel...!
Oh yeah.
No prison life in my future~
Natural result!
Nod nod.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes! I'm listening! Both ears wide open!"
She spread her palms beside her head.
Wide open wide open.
Ellie looked at her subtly.
"The new dormitory is being completed well but the schedule is still delayed. Checking showed some first years arriving early will temporarily lack rooms."
"Then rent temporary lodging. We have lodgings contracted with the academy. There should be enough if we use the extra capacity."
"Yes, that's the plan. But Dustin hasn't returned yet so we're short-handed to handle various tasks on time. Pastel, you need to do practical work during the remaining vacation too."
Ing?
Ellie brought a stack of documents and organized schedule details. It was enough work to fill the remaining vacation period.
Pastel's eyes went round.
Me, in danger of working?
What about my sacred mission to participate in Craft Trading Company's first smuggling?!
Her breathing gradually quickened.
I-I don't wanna work~!
Pastel trembled.
"P-P-Pastel has packed schedule~"
Schedule packed tight tight.
Want to work but regrettably can't.
Ellie silently moved and brought the suspicious approval document. Then her finger pointed at clear criminal evidence.
Pastel Love Craft - 100% ownership
Ellie's finger pointed at the dormitory construction work again.
Silent pressure toward a superior who plays around.
Uwaa.
Wicked blackmail coming for an innocent child!
Ellie, blackmail is bad...!
Just let me play~!
#
Pastel leaned limply on her chair.
Huah.
Looks like I'll only do practical work during what little vacation is left.
The head of Grace Trading Company at the front seat examined the secret fund checks with satisfaction.
"It's a sufficient amount. More than enough funds to mark Craft Trading Company's first smuggling."
"About that smuggling..."
Pastel completely slumped in her chair.
"I'm too busy with student council work to go. I'll just give you demon realm entry permits for urgent transport of dormitory construction materials. You can go to Blue Wave and contact the Preston Organization."
"Oh my."
The head of Grace Trading Company covered her mouth with her fan.
"Come to think of it, isn't the student council busy soon with the sky whales coming to Sky Island?"
Sky whales?
Pastel tilted her head.
"What sky whales?"
"Hmm? Isn't it? Sky whales visit Sky Island around this time every year. Though not as much as trading companies, isn't the academy busy too with student safety?"
I don't know. I did come without fully reading the work documents since I was shocked by the packed workload, but I should ask Ellie when I return.
"I'll need to check the details but there probably is something about sky whales."
"I see."
The head of Grace Trading Company thought while fluttering her fan.
"Then you need to send a proxy in Your Excellency's place. The trading company's first trade is superstitiously important, so it's problematic if the owner is completely absent. It could make mercenary hiring and funding difficult for years due to seeming unlucky."
Proxy?
"It can't be just anyone?"
"No it can't. You need to send someone fitting Your Excellency's dignity to some degree."
Someone to command the first smuggling in place of Pastel?
An idea flashed.
Professor Horace!
"I have someone in mind right away! Don't worry and prepare for the first trade!"
Pastel made bold claims and left the trading company. Then she went straight to find Professor Horace.
"Senior!"
Professor Horace walking through campus turned around.
"Oho! Junior! What brings you here?"
"Are we only allowed to meet when there's business?! Though I did come looking for you because of business this time!"
Hehe.
Professor Horace hit his chest.
"Tell me anything! My junior's troubles are my troubles!"
"Junior feels reassured!"
Pastel's eyes shone.
"Senior, could you possibly do one delivery in junior's place!"
"Oho! Delivery! Hmm hmm! I can do it! I'll go even if I have to skip classes! What's the schedule?"
Reliable!
Pastel told him the schedule.
But Professor Horace who heard the schedule sighed.
"Ah, that date is a bit difficult."
"What?!"
"I have to be on duty because of the sky whales. Can't skip it for student safety."
Huk.
Not reliable!
Pastel froze in shock.
Professor Horace subtly checked Pastel's reaction then changed his words.
"Of course if junior wants, I could try to make time somehow, but I can't promise."
Pastel's head drooped.
"It's okay... Nothing can be done if it's for student safety."
"Thank you for understanding. I'll definitely help next time!"
"Yes~"
The trusted Professor Horace left.
Pastel trembled.
Uwaa.
In danger of failing after making bold claims!
Liar Pastel...!
Tremble tremble tremble.
『No need to be too disappointed. That professor wasn't fitting for a Craft's dignity as proxy anyway. Even considering you're a student, his weight is lacking.』
Demon, don't calmly state cold reality!
Uwaa.
Pastel collapsed with a thud.
A proxy fitting the Marquis Craft's dignity?
No matter how I think about it, the answer isn't sending someone else with fitting dignity but sending a family retainer to maintain appearances, but there are no surviving retainers.
Despair.
Despaaair.
Footsteps were heard.
"Craft, no, Pastel?"
Melissa approached.
"Is something troubling you?"
Pastel looked at her friend tearfully.
"Very very troubled~!"
"Oh dear."
Melissa elegantly bent down to help Pastel up.
"If something's troubling you, you can tell me anything. I'll help with all my might as apology for misunderstanding your innocence."
Uwee?
Melissa Camelot.
Successor to the Southern Commander.
Though not yet family head, considering she's a fellow student and friend, wouldn't she fit the dignity requirements as proxy?
Pastel asked innocently with a moist voice.
"You'll really help?"
"Of course."
"It's nothing much~ Just need someone to do the benevolent task of delivering necessary items to desperate people in my place. Just once during the remaining vacation."
Melissa smiled brightly.
"You're doing good deeds. I really misunderstood you. I'll gladly do such good deeds in your place."
"Melissa!"
Pastel hugged Melissa tight. Melissa flinched but didn't particularly reject the hug.
You really are my close friend!
Shortly after, Pastel brought her close friend Melissa to the dock where trade preparations were complete.
Melissa tilted her head.
"The delivery is trade?"
"Yes!"
Processed magic stones for smuggling were packed full in several airships.
The head of Grace Trading Company approached.
"Is this the person who will proxy the first trade?"
"That's right!"
Pastel handed Melissa over to the trading company. Melissa boarded the airship properly.
"I'll be going."
"I'll wait!"
Champagne for the first trade popped and the airships departed.
"Have a good trip, Melissa!"
Pastel saw off her departing friend.
Wave wave.
Melissa who still didn't properly understand the situation leaned on the airship railing and smiled brightly while waving back.
It was a good atmosphere.
The smuggling ships disappeared beyond the sky. Carrying a noble lady who didn't properly know what she was going to do.
Thanks Melissa!
You really are my close friend!
I'll ask you next time too!
Oh yeah.