Chapter 52
Everything was like that. What was good, what was hard, what was terrible—they all inevitably faded and paled before time.
Once the memories grew old like antiques, she would be able to face them calmly, thinking, Oh, that happened.
She pushed her thoughts of Froy beneath the surface. Focusing on her work made it not so difficult.
Today, she organized the backlogged ledgers well into the evening. The tasks she had put off for days, claiming she lacked motivation, had piled up like a mountain.
With work stacked this high, how dare she sit there lost in other thoughts?
Get a grip. Who do you think you are, longing for someone like that? Does longing make it come true? Know your place. She whipped herself into shape, skipping dinner and immersing herself in work.
Before she knew it, dusk had fallen outside.
The lengthening shadow from the window reached Hermie’s fingertips. When the reddening twilight made the writing hard to see, Hermie lifted her head.
“Should I get into a relationship or something?”
Looking at the red world outside, she felt unbearably lonely. She wondered if meeting a man might dispel this gloomy mood.
“I’d need to find someone who meets my standards…”
Hermie shook her head as if the thought was absurd. Being so deeply hung up on Froy, there was no way another man could catch her eye.
She could only pray her sky-high standards would come to their senses and crash down to earth soon.
She stretched her stiff body awake and busily packed her things. The apple pie that had been sitting on her desk all day, now dry and crumbly, went into the trash bin.
Just as she finished her preparations to leave and was about to exit the guild, there was a knock at the door.
“Accountant Hermie, are you off work?”
“Not yet. What is it?”
Hearing movement inside, the employee cautiously opened the door. Peeking only their head in, they asked with a startled face. They looked so flustered that Hermie wondered if something major had happened.
“A-Accountant.”
“What is it? Why are you like this?”
“A n-noble has come.”
“What?”
“They suddenly showed up saying they want to do business with us. But the Guild Master isn’t here right now, so… Wh-what should we do?”
Now she understood why they were so panicked.
The Pumpkin Flower Guild primarily dealt with merchants, mages, mercenary bands, and the like, rather than nobles. Only places a bit larger and with connections could manage transactions with nobles.
And now a noble had deigned to visit such a guild. Why would a noble come to our guild?
Hermie found it puzzling, but it was also improper to keep a noble waiting.
She headed briskly toward the reception room, checking if the inexperienced employee had made any mistakes.
“Got it. When did they arrive? You showed them to the reception room, right? Were you polite? No mistakes?”
“Yes, yes! We showed them right to the reception room and served tea! It hasn’t even been five minutes!”
“Then go fetch the Guild Master immediately. I’ll keep them company in the meantime.”
“Yes!”
The employee immediately turned and sprinted out of the building. In her haste to send the employee, Hermie had an oh no moment.
‘I didn’t ask who it is!’
But it was too late to catch the employee who had left. She was familiar with the crests of most noble families, so she decided she’d have to meet them first to find out.
Arriving at the reception room, Hermie took a steadying breath and knocked politely. A brief reply came from inside.
“Yes.”
Taking it as a signal to enter, Hermie opened the door and immediately bowed.
“Hello. I am Hermie, an accountant of the Pumpkin Flower Guild. I greet you in place of the Guild Master, who is currently away.”
The noble could have been displeased by the Guild Master’s absence. Hermie was doing her utmost not to provoke the noble’s temper.
She slowly raised her head to see the face of the noble who had visited the guild.
“……”
“……”
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