My current earnings from online auctions weren't bad. In fact, they were quite good.

A while back, some lace sold for a decent amount, and I'd managed to save a little. Handwoven fabrics like bedsheets sold steadily, and small miscellaneous items were also popular. Occasionally, some items went unsold, but if I ran them for a few weeks, they generally got bought.

Still, it was just pocket money from net auctions. Even though monthly earnings exceeded 200,000 yen, that was about it. Considering my overwhelming advantage in another world, it was actually quite small-scale.

In retrospect, I'm cautious—or maybe timid. But then again, going all-in recklessly could have led to disaster.

For now, I'd stick to this level of online auction business until I started a proper net shop.

* * *

I left the shop in the hands of Etowa and Diana and went shopping.

Not in Erishe, but back in Japan. Since Ion was moving into the mansion, I needed to get some extra supplies.

After all, the client was a girl—a real princess. Not a pretend princess, not some "circle queen" from an otaku club. A genuine, authentic princess.

...What am I even saying?

"First, a bed."

Currently, Ion was sharing a bed with Diana and Marina.

Even though it was a king-sized bed, that was three women. I hadn't (sadly) peeked to see the sleeping arrangements, but it had to be cramped. I could easily imagine Diana sprawling out like a starfish without a care in the world, while poor Marina probably ended up on the floor. Getting a new bed was an emergency.

When you think of a princess's bed, you imagine a canopy and silk curtains. I didn't have the budget for that, so I settled for a standard, affordable folding bed—similar to the one Aurica used.

Aurica's was actually a hand-me-down from my sister, but it was plenty functional. Once things settled down, I could swap it for one of those high-end, other-world-made beds like the ones Diana and Marina used.

After picking up the bed at a furniture store, I headed to NITORI to grab a mattress, a comforter, and a pillow. I also picked up a mattress and bedding set for Shamash-san.

While other-world bedding has its charms with natural materials, modern Japanese products designed with the full power of chemical engineering are far superior in terms of sheer practicality. I ended up grabbing various other sundries too; things are so cheap at NITORI that I always overbuy.

"Next... clothes... or rather, underwear."

I headed to UNIQLO, the reliable choice for any fashion emergency. I didn't need a huge wardrobe, just the essentials.

First, the underwear. The quality of undergarments in Japan is leagues ahead of the other world, and they're incredibly cheap to boot. People think it's a high hurdle for a man to buy women's underwear, but once you get used to it, it's nothing. Shopping is shopping. As long as you pay, it's fine.

Sizes were measured by Marina. Similar to Diana's, just a little bigger—room for growth.

UNIQLO's stuff is simple and not particularly "cute," but that's fine. I don't really have an underwear fetish anyway. I'm sure even a princess will appreciate the quality... probably. I don't actually know much about the nuances of women's lingerie.

Aside from that, I picked up socks, pajamas, loungewear, and a few random T-shirts. I made sure to dig through the clearance racks for extra savings. I ended up spending over 30,000 yen, but I'd write it off as a necessary business expense.

I also had some clothes I'd bought for Diana before; Ion should fit into them, so she could have those as well. Marina's clothes might be a bit too big.

* * *

After finishing the shopping for Ion, I headed to my usual fabric wholesaler. I used this place to stock up on inventory for the Erishe market and to check the textures of fabrics that I couldn't judge through a screen. It was a large store with reasonable prices, so I was a frequent flyer.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw "SALE" banners fluttering in the wind. Inside, the walls were plastered with "End-of-Year Clearance" flyers. It looked like everyone's favorite time of year had arrived.

"Jackpot. I only meant to browse, but this is a chance to bulk buy!"

My tiny car was already packed with Ion's furniture, but I could still squeeze in plenty of fabric. I immediately scoured the sale items. Glittering red tags. The beautiful words "50% OFF" tugging at my heartstrings.

Usually, sale items are unpopular patterns, dead stock, or things they over-ordered. But that doesn't matter. A sale is a sacred event! I dove in, choosing fabrics with mindless enthusiasm.

Currently, the main fabric I sell in the other world is plain fabrics.

Just regular cotton cloth—but they sell steadily. That's because in Erishe, where only hand-spun and handwoven cloth exists, I'm the only one offering machine-spun and machine-woven fabric.

The material itself is the same cotton. By emphasizing the difference in manufacturing method as a "secret technique," I've managed to establish myself as "the shop that sells thin, beautifully dyed cloth" without raising suspicion.

Most fabric buyers in that market are local aunties anyway. That demographic helped me fly under the radar and make a steady profit.

That's been my core business model so far, but with the knight order and everything, it was about time to expand. I was ready to try new products.

Lately, most of my otherworld fabric orders have been done online. The basic rule of business is "buy low, sell high," and online wholesalers are incredibly cheap—roughly 150 yen per meter. Selling that at ten times the price makes for a very stable profit.

However, even in this age of abundance, the variety of fabric you can get for 150 yen is limited. I can only get that price because I buy in bulk. Occasionally, I see sales for 100 yen per meter, but you usually can't choose the type or pattern. I buy them when I see them, but they aren't "core" products because I can't guarantee a restock if a customer likes them. Usually, I just sell those as one-offs to my regulars.

But this sale was different:

• Tartan check patterns.

• Prints with weird cat characters.

• Thin navy polyester.

• Black felt.

• Bright red corduroy.

• 30 balls of yarn.

• Three rolls of ribbon.

• Embroidery and sewing thread.

I decided to buy a variety of things on impulse.

Everything was 50% to 70% off. Quite a discount rate.

As I loaded the haul, it struck me: even in Japan, fabric can be expensive. That 100-yen-per-meter price is a total anomaly. Usually, fabric is sold by the 10cm unit. The absolute cheapest is maybe 10 yen per 10cm.

What about general fabric? Usually, it ranges from 50 to 100 yen per 10cm. That's 500 to 1,000 yen per meter. That feels like a realistic price for decent material. Anything above that enters "high-end" territory. 200 yen per 10cm (2,000 yen per meter) is already quite fancy. Selling that in the other world is a gamble; at my usual markup, it would be 20,000 yen per meter. That's luxury territory. But for someone wealthy or obsessed with fashion, that's not an impossible price.

Take cashmere, for example. It's rare, high-quality goat wool. In Japan, it goes for about 40,000 yen per meter. If I sold that at ten times the price in Erishe, it would be 400,000 yen. A literal treasure. Making a coat would require about four meters, meaning the fabric alone would cost 1.6 million yen. Truly, clothing for the nobility.

I didn't plan on selling 400,000-yen fabric just yet. But the fact remained that high-end cloth exists. If it exists here, there's definitely a demand for it there. I just needed the courage to handle luxury goods.

That said, I didn't want a repeat of the "Velvet Incident." If I'm going to sell luxury cloth, I should consult Rebecca-san first. I'll prepare a few samples and let her pick the safest bets.

Speaking of velvet, what happened to that chubby merchant? He was supposed to be Diana's support staff, but I hadn't seen him since he declared he was going to the lakeside town for a vacation. I'm not exactly missing him, but I wonder what happened to his job.

Hetty-san went back to the Imperial Capital to scout her family home, so maybe I'll find out when she returns. Or maybe "vacation" in that world just means staying at a resort for a really long time.

Anyway.

I'm going to sell this new batch of fabric at an appropriately higher price. Actually, it might be time to graduate from a street stall and rent a proper shop. I still haven't found many reliable employees, but since I'm running a Knight Order, I want a base of operations.

Now that I think about it, this might be the perfect time to open a store. Thanks to the battle at Lucraella, I have a mountain of mana crystals. There isn't much demand for them in Erishe, so they won't sell for a fortune, but they're still worth a decent amount. That should be enough capital to rent a space.

The merchandise isn't an issue. My "Mirror Advantage" is absolute, and I want to sell the items Oyakata and I co-create. The only problem is the lack of staff, but I should be able to hire more female knights as the Corps grows. If not, I can always take on more apprentices.

All that's left is my own resolve. I've made enough acquaintances in Erishe by now. Renting a small shop should be easy... I hope.

* * *

I returned home while mentally drafting plans for the new shop. After hauling the cargo into the mansion, I set to work on the bed. It was a brand-new bed with a fresh mattress.

I adjusted the height so it sat flush with the one Diana and the others were already using. Since their original bed was roughly king-sized and I was attaching a single to the side, the result was massive.

If we squeezed, five people could probably fit. It was a bit too luxurious. Actually, it was "luxurious" to the point where it wouldn't be a problem if I slept there, too. The bedroom itself is the largest room in the mansion.

Initially, I'd considered putting Ion's bed in Aurica's room so the two maids could share, but Aurica's room is tiny. Two beds would have turned the floor into a literal sea of mattresses, so that was a no-go.

I assembled some cheap storage cubes I bought at NITORI and stuffed them with the clothes I'd picked out for Ion. That should do for now.

I opened my Vocation Board to check my Guidance.

『Acquire a Home of Your Own 0/1』.

Apparently, this mission clears once I stay the night in this mansion.

I haven't been hurting for Spirit Stones, so I've been ignoring it, but I recalled something about a "Clan Perk" that unlocks a once-a-day teleport back to the "Home" from anywhere.

I kind of want to try that teleportation. Though honestly, it sounds a little scary.

So yeah—tonight, I'll stay over.

...Of course, I'm sleeping on the living room sofa.

Just because the bed got bigger doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to dive in with three girls! Don't underestimate the resolve of a Virgin-Emperor!

* * *

I headed out to the yard and found Ion just finishing up in the stables.

"Ion, good work. Getting used to things?"

"Good evening, Ayase-san. I was a bit confused at first, but I'm enjoying the work now. Aurica-san, Diana-san, and Marina-san are all such kind people."

Ion, a literal former princess, probably hadn't cleaned a stable in her life, yet here she was, sweat glistening on the back of her neck, working hard.

I'm a bit of a worrywart, so even as I give her work, I'm secretly panicking about whether it's actually okay to treat her like this. Aurica is likely the same type, so keeping Ion's royal background a secret was definitely the right move.

Currently, only Ion, Orika, and I were at the house; Diana and Marina were still at the shop.

"I'm glad to hear it. Are you done for now? I have something I want you to see."

Ion nodded and followed me to the bedroom, where I showed her the bed and the clothes I'd bought.

"Here are some loungewear and... well, undergarments. Also, the bed was getting cramped with three people, so I added a section. You can talk with the other two to decide the sleeping order."

"All of this... for me?"

Ion unfolded the pajamas, looking genuinely surprised.

It wasn't a "How dare you give me such cheap rags!" look. For a former princess, she was remarkably humble.

"Well, we're living together now. I've got to provide the essentials. You are a live-in maid, after all."

"To receive such high-quality items... thank you for your kindness."

"Go ahead and check them. I think they'll be fine, but let me know about the size."

"The size..."

She murmured, picking up a bra. She glanced at my face as if on reflex, then her face turned bright red.

Ah, right... Having a guy know your exact measurements—that's probably pretty embarrassing.

"U-Um, this is the same kind Diana-san and Marina-san wear, right?"

"Yeah. Do you know how to put it on?"

(Heh heh, is this your first bra? Allow me to teach you. You see, you have to scoop the flesh from the sides like this...)

"Marina-san taught me earlier."

"Ah, right. Of course."

Well, of course.

Jokes aside, her wardrobe should be mostly set. If she needs more, I don't have to go to Japan; I can just buy second-hand stuff in Erishe. She's usually in her (second-hand) maid uniform anyway, so she doesn't need a huge variety.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched Ion carefully fold and put away the clothes. With her translucent skin and vibrant light-blue hair—currently tied in a side ponytail—she looked like the perfect "protagonist" beauty who had just moved into my house.

"Ayase-san, how have things been with Shamash lately?"

She asked conversationally as she folded.

"Nothing special. We've had a few drinks together, but that's about it."

Shamash-san is technically my slave, and she has a very "sultry" vibe. I won't lie and say I don't have certain desires, but we aren't at that stage yet. Wait, was that what Ion was asking?

"Shamash is lonelier than she looks, so please look after her. I think... she's waiting for you to invite her. She's beautiful, but she has very little self-confidence."

Unexpected. So that was the intent. Invite her, huh?

"Well, we'll see how things go..." I gave a vague answer.

I mean, I haven't done anything with anyone yet. I can't exactly say, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it in one night!"

To be honest, it's not just Shamash-san. There are Diana and Marina, too. If I'm being blunt, there have been countless chances to take things to that level with them. Our relationship is different now than it was at the start; we've bonded, and I think the feelings are there.

The reason it hasn't happened is partly because I'm a coward. The other part is that I genuinely enjoy our current dynamic. I believe that if we keep nurturing this, the time will come naturally.

It's the same with Rebecca-san.

That night in Lucraella, she gave me the "okay" sign. If Diana hadn't interrupted, we probably would have gone all the way. But just because it didn't happen doesn't change the fact that the feelings are mutual.

So, the time will eventually come with Shamash, too. I don't need to rush it with just her. When the feelings and the situation align, things will happen. They should. I think. Probably. Maybe?

Fine, it's an excuse! I'm just a total wuss! Don't underestimate the resolve of a Virgin-Emperor!

* * *

That night, at dinner.

"Tonight, due to that guidance matter, I'm staying at the mansion, but I'll sleep on the sofa, so please don't mind me and sleep well."

As soon as I said that, everyone immediately reacted.

"What?! Danna-sama, please at least take my bed! I'll sleep on the sofa!"

Aurica insisted.

Sleeping in Aurica's bed, huh? Not bad, but the sofa is fine.

"No, I am the newcomer, so I should be the one on the sofa. Please use the bed, Ayase-san."

Ion offered.

Ion's bed... but that's basically sleeping with Diana and Marina.

"There is no need for a sofa, de-arimasu. The space next to Marina is vacant. The bed is large. I saw earlier that it has become even larger. There is no problem. Marina shall become the body-pillow, de-arimasu!"

Sleeping next to Marina... tempting, but the mental exhaustion would be immense.

"Then let's do this: Marina sleeps on the sofa, Ion's bed moves to Aurica's room, and Goshujin-sama sleeps in that bed with just me. It is a good idea, nodesu!"

Diana declared.

Do you guys want to share a bed with me that badly? I'm still a guy, you know!

"Must be nice... I want to join too..."

Shamash-san whispered.

Join what, exactly!?

"Alright, I've heard everyone's opinions! As a compromise, I'm sleeping on the sofa alone!"

I mean, that was the only option from the start. If I were the type who could say, "Fine, I'll take you all on at once!" I wouldn't be in this mess.

Besides, the sofa is huge and actually quite comfortable.

In the end, my word was law. Diana sulked until bedtime, but eventually, everyone retired to the room.

However, I still had work to do. I hopped through the mirror to Japan, turned on my PC, and checked my auctions. I packed the sold items and wrote out the shipping labels so I could drop them at the post office first thing in the morning.

* * *

After browsing some forums for a bit, I took a bath, grabbed a blanket, and stepped back through the mirror.

It was just before midnight. Everyone usually goes to sleep around 9:00 p.m., so they should have been deep in dreamland by now. I crept up the stairs and into the living room.

The room was bathed in moonlight. With two moons in this world, the nights are surprisingly bright.

"Huh...?"

Someone was sitting on the sofa.

A silhouette cast in an eerie glow by the moonlight filtering through the window. A woman with shoulder-length purple hair noticed me and turned around.

"Marina...?"

"...Aruji-dono. Marina was waiting, de-arimasu. I thought you might not come back."

She gave a soft, gentle smile. Standing there in her pajamas, Marina was waiting for me alone.

This was going to be a long night...