I was surprised by their unexpected words.
"Even if it won't be huge publicity…"
"But we'll try…" When I didn't say anything, the children mumbled.
"No, no!" I hurriedly waved my hand and replied. People used to say that the items presented at the Petit Debutante reflected the child themselves.
"Besides, if the prince and princess showcase their items, it will be great publicity." I was overwhelmed by the unconditional trust the children showed.
"Really… can you leave that to me?" I asked again in a trembling voice, and all the children nodded.
"I'm a commoner who can't participate in the Petit Debutante, but I'll be cheering for you from behind!"
'Oh, Carat can't come.' I could read the frustration in Carat's serious tone. It was discriminatory that a commoner couldn't even participate in the debutante stage. However, in the empire, which was a caste-based society, such discrimination was as prevalent as breathing. Even in the imperial academy, which accepted students regardless of noble or commoner status, there was subtle discrimination.
I raised my hand and stroked Carat's fluffy hair. "I'll make something wonderful for you, Carat."
Carat bit his lip, and his eyes turned red. Axion glanced at Carat and spoke up vigorously. "Mel, trust us!"
The children shook their hands in front of me like apostles of justice. Axion, who had been squirming with excitement, said with a flush on his cheeks. I hugged the children who were willing to give up the highlights of the Petit Debutante stage for me and for my stationery store.
"Thank you for being the first to think of me."
"Yes, we always believe Mel will do well!" The children's sincerity sparkled in their clear eyes.
'I want to make something truly good for all three of them. What should I do?' A way to imprint our stationery store on both children and adults alike at the Petit Debutante. How to prevent the attack of huge capital.
'What is there?' I looked around the stationery store with a tense expression. So far, I had seen the things I had made one by one.
'Is there a good way?' I had to overcome the difficulties and find a way to promote the stationery store. However, no special ideas came to mind. Putting my head together with Dominic and my three children, I thought about exactly what kind of items I was going to make.
"What was the most popular thing last year?" The most important thing was to understand the previous year's success. However, the children's mouths fell open unintentionally. Even the saliva on Axion's lips dripped.
"Last year was amazing!"
"How was it?"
"Last year, all the elementary and secondary academy students gathered, so this year will be no different." Mirissa received Axion's words, her eyes folding into a half-moon, and whispered in a longing voice. "It was perfect back then."
It was strange to see the children's eyes flash unusually. "Why, did anything good happen?"
"Yes!"
"I think it was the Marquis de Xenia, Sister!"
How grand could it have been? I pretended not to be intimidated, picked up the drink from the table, and looked at Axion.
"Oh, he brought an apprentice alchemist!"
I pretended to be innocent and drank the slushie, and my throat squeaked as if I was coughing. It was only for a moment that Mirissa heard my nagging cough and looked worried. The children were looking at each other, their eyes sparkling as if they understood.
"Mel knows how great an alchemist he is?"
"Yes, it was amazing that he threw his gifts in the air!"
"I don't think there's anyone as great as that in this debutante."
"Well, he was a legend back then! And the Marquis de Xenia said it was very difficult for her to meet him!"
"It's a shame… I hope we can see him again this year!"
Seeing the children's eyes shine pricked my conscience. 'The alchemist is right here, boys.' Apparently, alchemy was a great ability. However, when I heard the compliments openly in front of my face, I felt embarrassed as a great alchemist.
"Looks like you're a great alchemist." Dominic, who knew all the facts, added his words.
"Well, I suppose so." I scratched my head and mumbled something else. However, the children seemed to think that I was depressed when they saw my attitude. They exchanged bewildered glances and spoke quickly.
"Mel, Mel! Don't worry too much, Mel's stuff is great enough!"
"Yes, Mel is like an alchemist to me!"
I couldn't help but smile and nod my head at their words. "If I could do alchemy properly, it would have been okay to appear as an alchemist." It was a pity. My alchemy skills weren't very good yet. In addition, there was already an alchemist who stood out in the previous year's debutante. It wasn't a good idea to overlap character traits with someone who had already stood out in the previous year.
'The important thing is to show my stationery store products in an impactful way.'
I was so nervous that I hugged Mirissa's shoulder, who was sitting right next to me, and then let go. "I need to think about what to develop. Can you give me an idea?"
"Ideas?"
"Yes!" I picked up my Kent paper and fountain pen and prepared to take notes. "Tell me anything you like. What's trending these days!"
The children, encouraged by my words, began to speak one by one.
"I like fluffy cotton blankets." Mirissa, who seemed to be going through a growth spurt these days, seemed to like a fluffy cotton quilt. I wrote on the notepad, "Cotton quilt."
"Cotton quilts? Isn't it hot? I want a sword. A really big one." Axion, who had been listening to Mirissa and Carat's words, lifted his chin and said, "I wish there was a cake made of ice. A good knight like me gets a little hot after sparring!"
Axion raised his chin, and everyone in the room burst into laughter. 'It's cute that you're already pretending to be a knight.'
"It would be so cool if there really was an ice cake!"
I wrote down the children's small talk and thought about what I would develop. 'Cotton quilts, ice cakes, and swords.' We didn't see anything in common, but it definitely gave us a hint about what to make.
I glanced at the window as it was about to get dark and decided to prepare to let the children go. "Thank you. Let's go home now."
I hugged them one by one and said goodbye to them for the last time. "Goodbye, kids!"
Soon, Mirissa and Axion left the door. But Carat stayed inside and carefully squeezed my hand.
"You know, Mel."
"Huh?"
"That's it… When the Petit Debutante is over, I want to introduce my friend."
A friend of Carat's… a new guest?
"Are you okay?" Carat's pale cheeks were red. He was very worried about being rejected.
I gently pinched his nose so that it wouldn't hurt. "Always welcome!"
"Then I'll come back soon!"
"Hmm, what kind of friend is he?"
"Well, I'll tell you that day." Carat, usually so bold, seemed strangely flustered.
'Our Carat, you really deserve your name.'
While I was curious about Carat's friend, all the children left the door. I moved toward the window and watched the children until the backs of their three small, round heads disappeared. When I was with my children, I felt so good.
'My cute regulars.' Job satisfaction was the best. I have to work hard for my kids today!