Ⅰ
Arthur nodded.
"Of course!"
As he spoke, Arthur opened the brass lock on the black wooden box.
Inside was a long-stemmed bent pipe.
The bowl was briar, while the extended stem was black metal.
Of course, that was not the important part. What mattered was the line of tiny lettering engraved on the extended stem, framed by a pattern of waves.
Or, more precisely, a name-
Malinda.
Seeing the name, Arthur raised his hand and gently stroked it, feeling the marks.
Unlike the elegance of a name written in ornate script.
The engraved marks were sharper.
Just like Malinda herself.
"Did you engrave this?"
Arthur looked up and asked.
Malinda, who had been watching Arthur stroke the pipe's long stem, nodded without hesitation.
"What do you think?"
Then the lady pressed him for his opinion.
"I like it very much."
As he spoke, Arthur took the little pouch of tobacco he had stored earlier out of the [Athos Box].
The moment he opened the pouch, a faint sweetness wafted out: mint mixed with apple, along with the scent of honey-Malinda had given it to Arthur earlier.
When Malinda saw it, the smile on her lips deepened.
"Since you're a beginner, just put two grams in."
With those words, the lady rose.
"We'll reach Dordot Harbor tomorrow. I need to make some preparations.
Both the Marquis and that lady require my full attention."
Having said that, the lady did not linger and left at once.
Passing through the smoke and returning to South Los, Malinda wore an even brighter smile than before.
She had seen Pendragon leave.
She had also seen the figures of a cat and a dog when the fireworks rose on the opposite bank.
So she was happy.
"You...
You really are a rascal!"
Malinda murmured softly.