The Rich Know No Moderation

Translated by: ME

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

Magnolia was chewing away with great focus. It was a taste test.
Every snack and appetizer at the debutante party had been prepared under Magnolia’s direct supervision.

Alongside traditional hors d'oeuvres and roast chicken long enjoyed in Azenda and Ascald, there were canapés and pinchos vibrantly decorated with ham, salmon, herbs, cheese, olives, and her now-famous pickled paprikas.

Glass-encased cocktail salads featured a striking contrast between fresh greens and the orange of shrimp. Cobb salads were arranged in glasses to show off a meticulous layering of colors and shapes.

There were seafood fritters to be enjoyed with various dipping sauces, and terrines revealing lovely, colorful layers. Bite-sized meat pies sat ready, alongside crispy baked potato and cheese morsels molded into small, toasted shapes.

Sandwiches were packed with diverse fillings. Crackers served as a base for sliced boiled eggs, topped further with decoratively cut ham, cheese, caviar, and colorful vegetables.

The soup, served piping hot by the attending waiters, was the familiar broth Magnolia favored, rich with flavor extracted from bones.

Her specialty cheesecake had been cut into small squares, each finished with a swirl of fresh cream and topped with a delicate flower confection.

Rich custard cream was adorned with fruit that shimmered like gemstones. Fruit compotes were cut into bite-sized pieces and served individually on elegant ceramic spoons.

There was fruit punch, with decoratively carved fruit floating in cider. Waiters constantly circulated with trays of colorful cocktails and various liquors, ensuring everything remained perfectly chilled.

Magnolia made her rounds, confirming each item with a satisfied hum. They seemed to be quite a hit, and she felt a sense of relief seeing the food disappear at a steady pace.

She had been asked about the decorations for the venue as well, but since the palace was already quite splendid, she hadn't felt the need for significant changes beyond arranging the kind of brilliant flowers befitting a debutante's celebration.

***

「My Lady.」

Upon being called, she turned to find Hugo, the commander of the Western Garrison, and his aide-de-camp, Ethan, standing there in their knight uniforms.

「Sir Ducas and Sir Berlioz!」

The Western Garrison was perhaps the unit she was most closely involved with in the entire Knighthood, but it had been a while since she had seen the two of them. As expected, they both wore expressions that said, *Oh?*

「…So you’ve become able to say 'Berlioz' properly?」 Ethan noted, his voice and face filled with genuine admiration. Magnolia puffed out her cheeks.

「…I was always saying it properly in my own head.」

「It is a difficult name to pronounce, after all. Though I must say, 'Sir Be-yu-lio-zu' was quite adorable in its own way,」 Hugo said, his amber eyes narrowing as he took in the growth of the girl before him.

Children grow so fast. He remembered how she looked when they first met. Over the past two years, Magnolia had grown significantly.

「…Thank you very much for taking the time to come, despite how busy you must be.」

The Northern Garrison was responsible for the palace’s security, but the commanders of each garrison had gathered to mark the debut of the Knight Commander's granddaughter.

「We came for that, of course, but we have also brought a rather rare guest to see you.」

「A guest?」

Magnolia tilted her head slightly at Hugo’s words. He must have brought someone who hadn't been on the official invitation list. Since debutante parties were primarily a noble custom, most attendees were aristocrats. Every noble in Azenda should have received an invite, so she wondered if it was a commoner or perhaps a noble from the Ascald Kingdom.

Following the two out into the garden after a signal to the knights guarding the hall, she found a boy dressed in familiar commoner's clothing.

「Ernest?!」

Magnolia let out a loud exclamation at the sight of the unexpected visitor. She almost said "Your Highness" and had to swallow the words in a panic.

「It has been a long time, Lady Gilmore.」

Nearly two years had passed since their last meeting. Now seventeen, he had grown considerably taller, and his face had leaned out, giving him a more intrepid look. However, his friendly smile and the golden eyes that matched his hair remained unchanged. He knelt down to meet her gaze, smiling warmly.

「You’ve grown quite a bit.」

「You too, Ernest…-san?」

Based on the fake status he was using, it would have been fine to address him without a title, but knowing his true identity was the Third Prince of Ignis, she hesitated. She tacked on the "-san" at the last second, feeling a bit awkward.

Ernest blinked his golden eyes for a moment as if noticing her internal struggle, then chuckled and shook his head.

「Please, just Ernest. I happened to stop by this country for the first time in a while, but almost as soon as I arrived, I received urgent orders to return… I had something I wanted to give you, so I imposed upon the Commander to bring me here.」

「Oh. Thank you so much for coming all this way despite your busy schedule.」

「I heard it was your birthday, so the timing was perfect.」

With that, he held out a small, elegantly carved box. Magnolia froze.

(………… What is this? A massive gemstone isn't going to pop out of here, right…?)

Between Servas, Claude (who was usually frugal but had his moments) and Wisteria back at the estate, her family's sense of money was completely skewed. Wealthy people often had a different perspective and thought nothing of handing over items that would leave Magnolia speechless.

In a way, she was terrified of what might be inside. Seeing her hesitate and remain on guard, Ernest chuckled and took her hand, placing the box in her palm.

「It’s alright. Nothing outrageous is going to jump out at you. Consider it a token of my gratitude for our dealings with the sauerkraut.」

Magnolia shook her head hurriedly.

「I’m the one who should be thanking you! Thank you so much for spreading it to so many countries. And thank you for the drawings and records regarding the symptoms.」

While the Champery Trading Company certainly profited from it, the rapid spread of the treatment would never have happened without the mobility and trust the company had built over many years of international travel. Because they provided information and promotion alongside the product, people who bought from them often returned to purchase more whenever they docked at Cruise.

Furthermore, Magnolia had been so focused on the treatments that she had completely forgotten to keep records. The documents Ernest provided had been immensely helpful, both in establishing the business and in explaining the process to doctors.

「… Though, the news about the experiment did make my heart skip a beat.」

Ernest lowered his brow apologetically as he looked at her.

「My apologies. Determining the cause of Sailing Sickness was an urgent matter for my country, so we needed to confirm it as quickly as possible. Thanks to the dietary therapy you taught us, we were able to verify it without any danger. As a result, many lives have been saved. Thank you.」

As a nation with extensive maritime interests, they certainly couldn't afford to be leisurely about it.

「I’m just glad the records were useful」 Magnolia added, feeling relieved.

She looked at the small box as if Ernest were telling her to open it. With a touch of caution, she slowly lifted the lid, and something white and fluffy sprang out.

「Cotton?!」

The material, which had been packed tightly inside, bounced lightly as it escaped the box. Ernest let out a small laugh at the success of his little prank.

「Yes. I heard from Paul that you were looking for it, so I came to present it to you. I’ve sent the rest of the shipment to your estate. I certainly hope we can do business starting next year.」

He gave a playful wink. At his charming display, Magnolia offered a small laugh and a nod.

「Most certainly. And… if your schedule allows, would you care to join the party? My grandfather and uncle would like to greet you, and I’d love to talk for a while longer…」

As Magnolia gestured toward the hall, Ernest spoke with a slight, apologetic frown.

「It pains me to decline such a kind invitation, but perhaps another time… I must set sail before the day is out. My apologies.」

Magnolia shook her head. 「No, I’m the one who should apologize for holding you up when you're so busy. Please, have a safe journey home.」

「Thank you. I’ve kept the star of the show for too long. It’s getting cold, so please, head back inside.」

After nodding to Magnolia, he signaled to Hugo to lead her back into the palace. As she turned back to look at Ernest, who remained standing there to see her off, he raised his voice with a smile as if he’d just remembered something.

「Happy Birthday, Lady Gilmore!」

(Compared to those questionable guests at the party, he's such a gentleman! A fine young man!!)

She was thinking how a real prince truly was on another level—but those thoughts only lasted until she returned to the manor.

It was several hours later that she let out a scream of pure shock upon seeing a room filled with a mountain of cotton that looked like it could fill several carriages.

*****

The little gremlin has grown up into slightly bigger gremlin.

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