— Ai's Room, Days Later.

"Dorothea?"

. . .

"Dorothea?" ...Can her bats not hear me? I guess I have no choice.

Ai opens the window and takes a breath.

"DOROTHEA!"

The shout startles the birds nearby, causing them to fly out of the trees. The gardener reacts with surprise, mixed with a hint of fear. Soon, footsteps flood the area outside Ai's room and the door is swung open.

"Mistress! Are you alright?" Three servants, who came running, say in unison.

"I got scared by a bee..." Ai starts to tear up.

"Miss!" One of the servants steps forward to embrace the young girl.

"Where is it now?"

"It's gone... I'm sorry."

"It's alright, everyone..."

"Mhm... I'll let you know if it comes back... Thank you for coming."

"Would you like us to bring you something to eat?"

"I'm fine, thank you..."

"I understand... In that case, we'll leave. Let us know if it reappears. Alright?"

"Well..."

After that, the servants leave the room, closing the door behind them. Seconds later, a bat swoops down from a perch and transforms into Dorothea.

"Mistress, what happened?"

"How are things going?"

"We're protecting the village, and the abundance of resources has improved... We could say we're better off than ever. Still, I'll inform you if anything interesting happens."

Stolen novel; please report.

"I see... I'm glad to hear that."

"On another note, I need you to take a letter and some small boxes to our shop in the center. Can you do that?" Ai places her hand on the small boxes.

"I understand... I'll bring a part of my network that's nearby."

"Thank you, Dorothea... The shop is on the corner of Adel Street, across from a dressmaker's."

"You don't have to thank me, Mistress... I'm here to serve you."

— Aristocrat Heaven Shop, City Center, Minutes Later.

The shop had been completely renovated. The windows had gone from four to two wider ones, the pits and cracks had been fixed, and the new white paint with golden details gave the place a quality vibe that extended throughout the block. Clara would be sitting at an empty counter.

"Ahhhh, I'm tired..." The renovations are finally finished, though there's nothing to sell... There's so much foot traffic, and people keep coming in to ask what's being sold here...

A bat opens the shop door and holds it open.

"Ehhh!? Leave that!"

Soon, several bats carrying multiple boxes enter the shop. They place them on the counter alongside the letter. Then, they leave the shop, closing the door behind them.

Ehhh? What just happened?

Clara looks at the letter.

What's all this?

She takes the letter, opens it, and starts to read.

"Dear Clara,

I hope this letter finds you well, and that things are progressing positively at the shop. I am pleased to inform you that I have sent our first base product, sugar."

The first product is... sugar!? I thought it would be pastries or something... I've rarely had a chance to taste it in my life.

"I suggest you sell it for 15 gold coins per jar. You may not have many customers at first, but don't worry about that. I recommend keeping one of the jars open and putting a bit on a spoon so customers can taste it.

Furthermore, it would be wise to put up a sign outside announcing that you sell half a kilo of sugar for 15 gold coins. If there's unexpected high demand, don't hesitate to raise the price to manage it."

Clara opens one of the boxes, finding a jar covered in what looks like a sheet to protect the glass container.

Half a kilo for 15 coins? And it's so white... There are probably people who would pay more than double that for one of these...

Clara decides to open one and, pinching some between her fingers, brings it to her mouth. She reacts vigorously.

What is this!? It's two, no... three times sweeter than the sugar I've tried before! This is invaluable...

"I ask that you reserve a minimum batch for the next week and that you go to the bank every morning to deposit the earnings. It is crucial that you keep a detailed record of all transactions.

I wish you the best of luck in your new venture, Clara. I am confident you will do an excellent job.

Lastly, I want to remind you of the importance of having every noble customer taste the sugar after inquiring about its price. This could be a decisive factor in its acceptance in society.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Ai"

Clara closes the letter and begins to unpack the jars while reflecting.

Who is this girl?