The travel destination was so rural that there was truly nothing there.
There weren’t any proper hotels, and not even restaurants.
There were inns, but they were far from suitable for the three main travelers.
There were things like bedbugs and rats… unbearable things for a noble girl to see.
“Still, isn’t it better than sleeping outside under the sky?”
“Absolutely not.”
To Seiana, who cautiously brought up the topic, Halo responded firmly.
As a knight, he had no issue sleeping on cold, hard ground, but his little sister was a different matter.
His little sister, made of things like whipped cream, jelly—soft and fluffy things—probably didn’t even know that the beds in rural inns were made of straw.
He judged that if she found out the truth about such inns, she might faint on the spot.
“Right. Let’s just sleep outside.”
Raymund and Aries felt the same.
Though they were also raised delicately, they had learned to live outdoors after becoming Ability Users and could manage in outdated facilities to a certain extent.
But Seiana was not like them.
Seiana felt a bit sour, thinking they were treating her as too fragile, but she held back after seeing the worried looks on their faces.
They had no idea that the one in this child’s body was someone who used to work as a merchant and frequently camped outdoors, so there was nothing she could say.
Fortunately, there were a few mid-sized towns along the way—not big cities, but still better than nothing—so they didn’t have to camp out completely.
About four days after the journey began, Seiana finally arrived at her desired destination.
“There really is nothing to see.”
As Aries observed, there was truly nothing.
The only things visible were the dirty-colored sea and the crumbling, worn-down houses clustered together.
It was the very definition of a backwater village.
At least the previous village had an inn for outsiders; this one didn’t even have that, as if no one ever visited.
“How did Seiana even know about this place?”
And why did she come here?
Aries and Raymund were curious.
As soon as she arrived, Seiana ran off and spoke with someone who appeared to be the village chief.
Though they were a distance away, thanks to their excellent hearing, the two were able to catch the conversation.
“That? Why buy it?”
“Because I need it.”
“Heh heh… It’s just over there, so if you need it, just go dig it up yourself, eh?”
“I’m not just looking for it temporarily. I want to keep buying it.”
“Whoa there, must be rolling in money, huh?”
Despite the old man’s strange dialect, Seiana seemed to understand him just fine.
“Did she come here to buy pearls?”
When the tide was out, they had seen some pearls, so it seemed plausible. Seiana did like pearls, after all.
“Seiana!”
“Why are you eating that?!”
Chomp.
She had shoved some seaweed into her mouth.
The three rushed over and tried to take it from her, but Seiana just kept chewing, ignoring their protests.
“Noooo!”
Halo sobbed.
How could something like this happen right in front of him?
He could have forced her mouth open with his strength, but worried he might break his delicate sister’s jaw, he couldn’t act.
Raymund and Aries were also pale and frozen in panic.
Gulp.
Seiana swallowed the seaweed and smiled.
“That tastes awful.”
“Seiana?”
“Are you okay…?”
“Yeah. It tastes bad, but… do you guys want to try it? It’s good for your health.”
Seiana held out the remaining seaweed.
But how did she know it was healthy if she just saw it for the first time today?
And even if it was good for you, its monstrous appearance made them not want to eat it.
Halo would even eat mud if his sister asked him, but his instincts screamed no this time.
If even he hesitated…
Just as Seiana was about to withdraw her hand, realizing raw probably wouldn’t work, Raymund suddenly grabbed the seaweed and shoved it into his mouth.
“Ugh…”
As soon as he bit down, the membrane of the seaweed burst and the juice inside leaked out.
Raymund’s face twisted.
Just like Seiana said, it had no real flavor, but the fishy, salty smell unique to sea creatures made it all the more disgusting.
When Raymund didn’t spit it out, everyone was shocked.
Even Seiana, who had offered it, didn’t expect him to actually eat it.
“Tastes bad…”
Raymund muttered in a slurred voice, his face still twisted.
Even after swallowing, the lingering taste and slimy texture stayed in his mouth.
Aries was amazed watching him.
She had thought she was blindly devoted too, but compared to Raymund, she was nothing.
Halo was also impressed.
To someone from the Empire, seaweed was nothing more than a weed from the ocean.
For a royal prince raised in luxury to eat sea plants just because Seiana asked—it was almost absurd.
‘That’s impressive.’
Though he had been uncomfortable with Raymund constantly paying attention to Seiana, right now, he felt a little fondness toward him.
***
They bought the seaweed.
Rather than taking it raw and risking it rotting during the trip, they decided to bring only the dried kind prepared by the seaside villagers.
‘I’ll make herbal pills with this when we get home.’
Since it had no taste, drying it and mixing it with honey and oil would eliminate the sliminess and make it edible.
As she mentally listed the tasks ahead, Ray asked,
“Wouldn’t it be better to hire people? If you want a continuous supply.”
“I don’t have the funds for that. I just paid a small advance and asked them to have the required amount ready by the next time I come.”
She had used up all her available spending money—but it was just pocket change anyway.
It wasn’t enough to fund a business or hire anyone.
To receive investment from the household, they would hire pharmacists to make medicine or cosmetics, set up stores to sell goods, and purchase warehouses to store seaweed.
For now, there was no choice but to proceed step by step according to the plan.
At that, Raymond called the attendant who had followed him and said something, then around evening, he casually handed me a few sheets of paper.
“What is this… huh?”
I wondered what it was—it was a contract.
One of them was even a deed to a house.
“I’ve hired a few villagers. The house is empty but will be remodeled into a warehouse to store seaweed. The hired people will not only harvest but also manage the seaweed.”
“But why give this to me?”
“Because Seiana wanted to have it.”
Ray spoke with a voice devoid of any personal interest.
It was a flat tone, as if he simply bought it because I wanted it.
For a moment, I felt embarrassed thinking he might be trying to get involved in my business.
“But…?”
“I don’t really know why that seaweed is so good. But Seiana knows well. So it’s no use if I have it. I just want to give it to you… but if it feels like a burden, just think of it as an investment.”
“An investment?”
“Yes. I’m investing in Seiana.”
Ray smiled faintly.
Even though he showed no vision, he trusted me enough to hand over the money so easily.
That feeling was strange.
Like when even my older brother rejected eating seaweed earlier.
‘Something’s fluttering inside.’
It felt like something was about to burst out of my chest.
Is there anyone else who trusts me like this?
Unable to say anything moved by the emotion, suddenly Ari puffed up.
“That’s unfair! I want to invest too!”
“Uh, no room left.”
“I want to invest too! I’ll put in twice as much as him! I’ll be Seiana’s major shareholder!”
“But the first investor will always be me.”
“Eeeek!”
They started bickering loudly again.
Seeing their usual behavior, I finally calmed down and smiled quietly, while my older brother beside me expressed admiration.
“Amazing. I could buy it if our Lavi wanted, but… I probably couldn’t trust so unconditionally like that.”
If I begged my brother because I lacked money, he would have just told me to take it all and pushed his wallet.
But if I said I’d keep receiving seaweed, he would hesitate.
Because it was basically paying money for seaweed that’s like ocean trash.
“If it’s the prince, maybe he would… you.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“No, nothing. Still, I can’t help but oppose it.”
My brother tried to say something but stopped.
He just smiled at me apologetically.
“Seiana! Return that investment! I’ll give you 24 times as much!”
“Absolutely not, right?”
As the two argued, the investment amount quickly multiplied to 24 times.
I do need money, but not that much.
When I politely declined for now, Ari pouted and made me promise to use her next time, which made me burst out laughing.