To minimize the amount of ultraviolet light entering the room, the curtains remained tightly drawn even in the evening.
And under the bright yellow light that mimicked sunlight, a petite, silver-haired young girl was hunched over a desk, a pencil in hand, drawing something on a sheet of paper.
"Ahem... Luna-sama, Chihaya-sama and Togawa-sama have arrived."
Seeing that her master seemed to be completely engrossed in the design in her hands, the head maid Yamabuki could only clear her throat twice to try and get her attention.
"If you would please put down your design for a moment and greet our guests—"
"I'm almost finished drawing."
Before the head maid could finish her sentence, the silver-haired girl interrupted.
"Tell them to wait for me on the sofa for a bit."
Her young, cold voice carried an unquestionable forcefulness.
And her eyes, focused on the paper in her hands, didn't even lift for a moment.
"Luna-sama..."
The head maid's expression turned troubled.
However, knowing her master as she did, since she had said so, she would likely not greet her guests obediently until she had finished the design in her hands.
"My sincerest apologies... Please, have a seat."
The head maid bowed deeply and apologetically to Tetsuya and Sakiko.
"I will prepare some high-quality black tea and snacks for you. Please wait just a moment."
"..."
From the moment she heard the girl's response, an expression of utter astonishment had been frozen on Sakiko's face.
The reason she was so surprised was not because of the girl's petite frame, nor her focus on the design, but because of her choice of words and tone—
(How can she be... so impolite?)
Although she had been somewhat prepared, hearing the girl's words firsthand still left Sakiko in a state of shock.
(Is she really from a prestigious family? Even the students at Haneoka are more polite than her!)
Putting aside the fact that they might become business partners, to treat guests she was meeting for the first time not only with a domineering and direct tone but without even the most basic welcome or greeting... could this person really be a young lady from a prestigious family?
For Sakiko, who had received an aristocratic education, the silver-haired girl's rudeness was simply unbelievable.
Tetsuya, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind at all. Not only that, but after a moment's hesitation, he suddenly asked the head maid:
"Excuse me... may I see the young lady Sakurakouji's design?"
"Eh... W-well..."
The head maid looked hesitant.
However, the silver-haired girl, hearing Tetsuya's request, suddenly spoke up:
"This design was drawn for you to see anyway. You just have to wait there obediently."
"..."
At this, Sakiko's brow furrowed deeply.
This was no longer a question of whether she was from a prestigious family or not; the girl's tone and attitude had escalated from impolite to outright disrespectful.
For Sakiko, who had always held Tetsuya in the highest regard, this attitude was completely unacceptable.
However, just as she was about to say something, Tetsuya gently touched her shoulder.
"..."
In contrast to the displeasure that was about to overflow from Sakiko's heart, Tetsuya simply smiled and shook his head. He then took out the "gift" he had prepared from the bag he had brought with him—
Rustle.
The sound of rustling paper made the silver-haired girl, bent over her drawing, pause for a moment. But she quickly resumed moving her pencil.
At the same time, the head maid, having just given instructions to the other servants at the door, returned to their side. When she saw what Tetsuya had placed on the coffee table, her gaze subconsciously fixated on it.
"Chihaya-sama, this... may I have a closer look?"
"Of course."
Tetsuya readily handed the design to the head maid.
"This was originally my 'gift' for the young lady Sakurakouji."
"..."
Hearing these words, the silver-haired girl's movements paused once more.
Meanwhile, the head maid, having taken the design, began to examine it carefully—
"...Is this a design you prepared for your new brand?"
"No, this was a summer proposal I prepared for [KaZoKu] at the end of last year. Unfortunately, for various reasons, I can't join the casual wear design team this year."
Tetsuya shook his head.
"So, what do you think of this design?"
"A bestseller."
The head maid gave the briefest, yet most valuable, assessment.
"I can see the makings of a bestseller all over this design. The silhouette, the theme, the production cost. It has the potential to become a seasonal hit."
"Thank you very much for your assessment."
Tetsuya smiled and took the design back from the head maid's hands.
"In that case, it seems I can really consider including it in the first line of products for my new brand."
"...I'm done."
Just then, the silver-haired girl suddenly put down her pencil.
She immediately picked up the newly completed design and came to stand before Tetsuya and the head maid.
"Grade it."
"Luna-sama..."
The head maid reminded her in a slightly reproachful tone.
"You still haven't greeted your guest—"
"He's here to ask us for money to do business, isn't he? In that case, there's no need for small talk."
The silver-haired girl sat down directly in front of Tetsuya, her eyes fixed on him.
"I'll give you the money. Now, grade my design."
"..."
Finally, with the girl seated, Tetsuya was able to see her face clearly.
Snow-white skin and beautiful hair, combined with her delicate, elf-like features, made her seem like a character who had stepped out of a fantasy story, giving her an unreal, ethereal beauty. And her crimson eyes, with their slightly cold and sharp gaze, added a cool, unapproachable air to this beauty, like a flower on a high peak.
"...Hey, what are you looking at?"
Seeing Tetsuya staring at her wordlessly, the silver-haired girl frowned in displeasure.
"Are you scared by my appearance?"
"...My apologies, that was rude of me."
Tetsuya immediately realized his gaffe and quickly bowed his head.
"Although such a compliment may be a form of mockery to you... I was truly stunned by your appearance, one born from hardship."
"...What?"
The silver-haired girl almost couldn't believe her ears.
"Are you sure you didn't use the wrong word? Stunned, not scared?"
"Eh? Why would I be scared?"
Tetsuya asked back, looking puzzled.
"Although you are still young, among all the women I have ever seen, you are without a doubt a truly outstanding beaut...y..."
As the head maid lightly covered her mouth in surprise and the silver-haired girl looked on as if she'd been turned to stone, Tetsuya scratched his head in confusion.
"Did I... say something wrong?"