I'm Done Being Your Best Friend

The following day, I received the news I had been looking forward to.

“I have received a reply to the letter I sent last time.”

When Logan, whom I met at the teahouse today, put a letter on the table, all my attention shifted to it with excitement.

“We finally got a reply.”

In order to import thread made from alpaca fur, first of all, it was necessary to contact the producer in Brew, and Logan had finally received a correspondence from the other end in Brew.

“Shall we open it?”

I urged Logan with eagerness. Judging by the fact that the seal had not been broken, Logan must not have checked it yet. The content of the letter was still unknown to us.

Then, suddenly, I was struck by a feeling of uneasiness.

What if it’s a rejection? Looking at the flow of events before my return, six more years had to pass before the alpaca thread came into Beland Kingdom.

There was nothing more perfect than this to disrupt the business of County Moore, and I started to wonder about what to do if things didn’t work out as well as I had planned.

Fortunately, the situation I feared did not take place.

In the letter, written in Imperial, the common language of the continent, it was stated that they were grateful for our interest and wanted to meet for further discussion.

Seeing that, my face instantly brightened.

“That means we’re favourable!”

“I’m glad. It seems to be easier than I thought.”

“So are you paying them a visit on their side?”

“I suppose so. We need to agree on a schedule, when is it convenient for you?”

Logan asked me considerately. It was an unexpected question, so I pointed a finger at myself and asked back.

“I can go?”

“It is not my business alone. Lady Nelson and I are partners now. Oh but, if you feel reluctant, I will go alone.”

“No, I want to go.”

I answered quickly. Wasn’t it for business reasons? Logan had already called me his partner. I was strangely excited to think that my business was really starting.

“Then let’s go together. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be by your side, milady.”

Logan’s words made me feel much more relieved. With him, I felt safe and at ease. It was my first ever going on an overseas business trip, but it didn’t feel so scary, because Logan was there.

I was feeling elated when Logan asked me.

“Have lady Nelson ever been to another country?”

“No. This will be the first time I go.”

“Then, it would be nice to take this opportunity to step foot on the land of another country. It will also be our first trip together.”

Logan smiled happily as he said that.

“I’ve wished to go on a trip with the young lady someday, but it’s such good timing that this is how things work out.”

“You wanted to go on a trip with me?”

“Yes. Haven’t you stayed in the capital for too long?”

But to my best knowledge, the last time Logan went on a trip was late fall last year, and it was in our family’s estate.

It’s been a long time since I last went on a trip, if I went to Brew this time, I would be traveling while working.

“The two of us are just going on a trip for business, so it should be fine.”

For some reason, Logan seemed to put more emphasis on the ‘trip’ than on the business.

***

Did I get permission from my family at once after I returned to the marquis’ house? I didn’t even think it would be required in the first place.

When I said that I would go on a business trip with Logan, my brother was the first to protest.

“Going to another country alone with the duke?!”

“What do you mean ‘alone with the duke’? We are taking the servants with us though?”

“Aren’t you going with him anyway?”

“That’s because we’re partners, so of course we should go together.”

My father, who allowed me and Logan to do business, asked with a brooding look.

“Sienna, do you really have to go?”

“I have to go. I’ve told you, I’m his business partner.”

I answered firmly, but my father still looked displeased.

“Can’t duke Harrison go alone?”

“Of course he can, but I want to go with him. I also want to see how business discussions are conducted. I have to ‘learn’ that as well.”

“You are…more enthusiastic than I thought…”

My conservative father muttered with a puzzled look on his face. It seemed that he never thought that I would go on a business trip. Still, it wasn’t as bad as last time when he completely blocked out what I had to say.

It was a good thing so I made use of it and persuaded my parents, setting my brother aside.

“I don’t want to miss this opportunity. It’s my first business meeting, and it’s in another country. I might use this opportunity to broaden my knowledge.”

“I’m not concerned about you going abroad. Though duke Harrison is your partner, isn’t he still a man?”

The reason for the opposition was, in the end, because of gender. Because I was going somewhere with a man. No matter how many servants accompanied us, he seemed unable to readily accept it.

“This is a visit for business purpose. Regardless of gender, we are going together because we are partners.”

I softened my tone and spoke to my father again.

“Father, you said you would trust me and leave it to me. And I’m just trying to figure out on the business, but if you worry about me because I’m a woman, I can never grow as person.”

‘How do I deal with this now?’ That was exactly what was written on my father’s expression.

He did not like sending his daughter somewhere with a man, but my words about raising the family’s honour through business seemed to waver him.

Seeing my father’s complex face, I spoke again.

“Don’t think of me as a young daughter, but think of me as a child who strives for the family, please?”

“Will it be safe?”

My mother, who was by my father’s side, asked with a worried look on her face. In response, I nodded without an ounce of hesitation.

“Brew is a peaceful country. Besides, they don’t have bad relations with the Kingdom of Beland.”

After hearing my words, mother thought for a moment and then said to father.

“Why don’t you let Sienna go? I think it’ll be all right since duke Harrison goes with her.”

Mother also began to persuade father. When my brother pointed out that it was even more worrisome if it was just the two of us, my mother dismissed his words and told him to be quiet.

Even mother sided with me, so father eventually gave in. It seemed that he could not resist until the end. How fortunate was that?

That’s how my trip to Brew was decided.

***

I got my parents’ permission, but I couldn’t go to the Brew right away. We had to contact in advance to let them know when we were going to visit Brew.

From the time we received in the letter, we picked a suitable date, and Logan contacted Brew.

In the meantime, I attended another tea time…and met Daisy again. I had guessed that much, since the one who invited me was lady Beth…

Her seat was right across from me. Daisy, who came out dressed up today, smiled brightly at me.

“It’s been a while, Sienna.”

“It’s indeed been a while. How is the Count doing?”

“The usual. These days, we’ve been wondering how you’ve been lately.”

How I’ve been…I’ve been trying to steal your family’s future income.

I put on a fake smile like Daisy’s.

“I’m quite busy these days. I think someday I would have to visit the count and greet him like how I used to.”

“Busy? It must be quite a big deal if you’ve said that. Didn’t you always rest at the mansion if it weren’t for me?”

Daisy brought up the old days with innocent eyes.

She’s starting a fight over this again. Daisy smiled brightly as I furrowed my brows.

“I’ve become very busy these days too.”

“Lady Moore is learning to play the harp from Anton these days. You know Anton, right?”

Lady Thurman, who was next to Daisy, boastfully explained as if it were her own business.

And of course I knew of Anton. Wasn’t that one of the top three harp performers in Beland Kingdom? She was taking lessons from such a famous person? Heidi, who was next to me, also widened her eyes at the name ‘Anton’.

Daisy acted humble at the sight.

“It’s no big deal. I guess I was given a chance this time. I heard Anton is very picky about meeting one-on-one, but I got lucky.”

In the end, it was self-pride. It was so obvious that it seemed laughable to me. I nodded and pretended to respond to words.

“Well, it should be fine as long as you can fit your time with Anton’s. You’ve got a little more free time to spare, I assume? Still haven’t heard anything from Madame Hamilton and Madame Parker?”

At that, Daisy’s smile disappeared in an instant. Not only Madame Hamilton, but I even mentioned Madame Parker, who sent Daisy back from her ball.

Lady Thurman also kept her mouth shut, and looked at Daisy nervously while Daisy kept the corners of her mouth up with force.

“Well… She said she’d notify me next time, so won’t she invite me when the time comes?”

After that, Daisy stopped talking to me.

The only ones that were repulsed by Daisy I knew for sure were madame Hamilton and madame Parker, but in fact, there might be more people beside them. It would be perfect if we could completely isolate her altogether.

I soon abandoned the thoughts on Daisy and joined the other young ladies in their conversation.