Summer and Ojou-sama

That day, Summer was picking and selling medicinal herbs, wild Meishin.

Lately, medicinal herbs hadn't been selling well.

They were a precious source of pocket money for the orphans, but recently many low-priced medicinal herbs had spread through the market, and the role of wild herbs had dropped off sharply.

So they didn't sell like before. That said, Meishin had a faint sweetness, unlike the terribly bitter new herb, so there was still a tiny path for it to sell.

"Haa, not selling…"

The new herb was apparently the result of an industry led by the lord, and because of that influence, donations to the orphanage had increased and their daily side dishes had gained one more item.

So they weren't going hungry.

Thanks to the inexpensive medicinal herb, the stockpile of potions for serious injuries had increased as well.

So there was less fear about injuries.

However, the money that she could freely use for herself had effectively gone down.

… Though she might be saving the amount she'd have spent on snacks to stave off hunger, so perhaps it balanced out.

"Johnny! Please stop the carriage!"

As Summer sighed, a lovely voice called out and a fancy carriage drew to a halt.

Then, a dazzlingly beautiful young lady jumped out of the carriage.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho! You there! My, how shabby you look, desu wa!"

"Y-you, m-my lady of the nobility…"

"Are you selling those flowers? Do they even sell? For how much? My, my, such wilted, lifeless flowers! Even if someone received these, they wouldn't be happy, would they? Who would buy them, I wonder?"

"Uu…"

Shabby — couldn't deny it. In front of this beautiful young lady, Summer thought anyone would look that way. Even the flowers were bound to droop.

Summer was at a loss for words before that beauty.

To be blunt, the young lady was so cute that Summer fell in love at first sight.

"So. Would this be enough to buy everything in that basket?"

"Eh?"

The young lady produced a single silver coin.

Naturally, it was more than enough to buy the entire contents of the basket and leave change.

Receiving that grace from the heavens, Summer accepted it with trembling hands, awed.

"Th-thank y—"

"Listen well. How you sell things matters. First is your appearance! You look like you have good raw material, but dressed that dirty, even things that could sell won't sell!"

"Ah, um."

Just as she tried to offer thanks, she was suddenly praised — and then the advice came flying.

Good raw material. She had good raw material! From a young lady with such overwhelming raw material herself!

Summer savored that compliment inside her head.

"Hm? Oh my, taking a closer look, these are wild medicinal herbs, aren't they? I remember seeing them in the encyclopedia."

"Ah, yes. A medicinal herb called Meishin."

That the young lady knew about wild herbs! Summer answered, moved just a little.

"But lately they haven't been able to sell at all… It's the same for everyone at the orphanage…"

"…"

At that, the young lady smiled with a hint of sadness.

What a benevolent expression. Summer couldn't help but be captivated. No, she'd been captivated the whole time.

"… Would you like a job? Right now I'm looking for someone who could become my retainer. It would be from my pocket money, but I can promise a fair income—"

"I'll do it!!"

Summer answered on spinal reflex.

A retainer! To become this young lady's retainer!? She would! She could serve such a beautiful lady and even be paid for it!? From her pocket money!? A personal relationship!?

That's reward × reward × reward — reward cubed!

Summer felt like her future dream had always been to serve a beautiful young lady like this.

Whatever her past, from this point on, that was decided.

Afterward, Summer would be trained rigorously as a retainer.

For Summer, who could barely write her letters properly, it was a rather tough education — but under the gentle gaze that felt like Ojou-sama's love, she roused herself.

With Ojou-sama so busy and yet taking this much care, there was no way she could fail! And so Summer splendidly overcame it.