LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 214 - The Divine Cat Mii-chan Wants to Enjoy Cherry Blossom Viewing!
214 The Divine Cat Mii-chan Wants to Enjoy Cherry Blossom Viewing!
We are now inside the carriage heading home. In the front seat sit the Mukata siblings, holding a cherry blossom branch stuck into a bottle of mineral water.
I had asked Mistoretisia-san, somewhat forcefully, to give it to us as a keepsake, telling her it was a tree from our homeland. Thanks to Mii-chan’s mineral water, it seems lively and fresh.
Retty-san, sitting next to me, remains silent throughout.
“You can cry if you want, you know?”
“My tears have long dried…”
With those words of bravado, I gently pull Retty-san closer. She rests her head on my shoulder, but it seems she has no intention of showing any tears. She’s a strong person…
I know it’s a bit cheesy, but perhaps I’m also craving human warmth. It feels as if there’s a hole in my heart.
Mii-chan, exhausted from the sadness, is curled up and asleep on my lap.
When I think about it, this is the first time I’ve experienced the death of someone close. Back in my previous world, both my parents and grandparents were so healthy it seemed like they would never die. I’ve never even attended a funeral. Everyone around me was the picture of health.
When we returned home, Lucas-san and Katia-san were there waiting for us. Retty-san went straight to her room, while the Mukata siblings and I drank tea prepared by Katia-san before falling asleep.
Morning came without me getting much sleep. After having breakfast with Perro and the others, we headed to Ben-jiisan’s place, carrying the cherry blossom branch.
“Should I graft this?”
“Can you do it?”
“It’s a flower I’ve never seen before. It might be best to prepare several rootstocks.”
Leave it to the expert! I want to cultivate and bloom the cherry blossoms that Ayane-san left behind in this world too. That’s why I came to ask Ben-jiisan, the specialist. He immediately went to a gardening acquaintance of his, acquired the rootstocks, and created seven grafted seedlings.
We planted them in a sunny spot along the stone pavement leading from the gate to the mansion. I gave them Mii-chan’s mineral water to help them grow strong. I don’t know how effective it’ll be, but since it’s divine water, it can’t hurt, right? I hope we can do some cherry blossom viewing someday.
“Mii~”
Back inside the house, I find myself lacking the energy to do anything. I sit by the window, stroking Mii-chan absentmindedly as I gaze outside. Lu-kun and Lal-kun are energetically running around outside. Now they’re running towards the entrance—maybe someone’s here?
Lucas-san came over with a letter. It’s from Schwarz-san. It says that preparations for opening Wheeler’s Tool Shop are complete and asks me to find time to discuss the antiques. I suppose I’ll go.
Though it’s quite a distance from here to Schwarz-san’s shop, I walk leisurely with Mii-chan in my arms. Lu-kun and Lal-kun are tagging along, looking as if they’re wondering where we’re going.
Upon arriving at Schwarz-san’s shop, which hasn’t opened yet, I enter through the door. A young man and woman cleaning inside stop and stare at me in surprise. They must be Schwarz-san’s nieces and nephews.
“Is Schwarz-san here?”
“And who might you be?”
Schwarz-san pokes his head out from the back and, noticing me, calls out.
“Ah, it’s Mii-sama and Nero-san. And Lu-san too. It seems you’ve brought new companions. Welcome!”
“Mii~”
“Grr”
“Kyuu”
“I came after receiving your letter.”
Schwarz-san moves us to another area and prepares tea, introducing his niece and nephew. They both look about fifteen years old. Marco-san still has a boyish charm and seems kind, while Fiorina-san, though she has freckles, seems like a cheerful and cute girl.
After greetings, they return to cleaning the store.
“When do you plan to open the shop?”
“Perhaps in four or five days.”
“It seems ready to open anytime now, though.”
Lu-kun and Lal-kun are happily lapping up the milk Schwarz-san prepared at my feet, while Mii-chan is getting pampered on his lap.
“We’re still low on stock. I’ve made arrangements, but we’ll likely open with limited inventory.”
“I see, so that’s why my antiques could help.”
“Yes. The items you showed me before would certainly pique the interest of collectors. I would be most grateful if you could supply Wheeler’s Tool Shop with them.”
Schwarz-san bows his head, despite being younger than me.
“Please raise your head. I intended to ask for your help from the start. In fact, there’s no one else I could trust with this.”
“Mii~”
“I am honored…”
I begin laying out the antiques. Lu-kun and Lal-kun are in the way, though. It’s not safe for them to be around fragile items.
“Marco, Fiorina. Take a break and go for a walk with Lu-san and Lal-san.”
“Grr”
“Kyuu”
The two nephews’ faces light up with joy—they’ve been itching to cuddle the fluffy duo for a while.
With them gone, I can bring out the more delicate porcelain antiques.
“These are simply magnificent…”
“Mii~”
Schwarz-san looks more astonished than delighted. He examines each piece carefully, jotting down items and what appears to be their prices. Even though I’ve taken out quite a few items, they’re only about one-fifth of what I have in Mii-chan’s bag. I thought I had sold a lot to the Queen, but it seems I still have plenty. I’m impressed by my own collecting skills.
“Mii~”