The carriage came to a stop below the apartment building, and Lorne picked up Fors.
"So this ingredient was actually something Miss Audrey asked you to order..."
Looking at Fors, who was already neatly dressed and looked slightly apologetic, Lorne rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"That's right. The customer who spent so generously at the underground gathering was actually... Miss Audrey."
Fors lowered her head sheepishly, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt. She had not deliberately tried to hide anything from Lorne, but this involved the Tarot Club. Things were rather complicated, and being caught in the middle put her in an awkward position.
Lorne did not say much about it. He simply smiled, unconcerned.
Although he had once told Miss Audrey that she could come to him if she needed anything, they were not particularly close, after all. That remark had mostly been a courtesy.
Never mind. Letting Fors earn a little on the difference is fine. It's not as though the Hall Family is short on money... Lorne thought.
Afterward, the three of them set off together. Just like last time, they would meet Audrey in secret in the VIP reception room of an upscale department store.
During the brief carriage ride, the three of them started chatting.
"So you're having trouble working the soda advertisement naturally into your novel's plot?" Lorne asked Fors.
"Yes..."
"After all, the novel I'm working on is almost finished. If I force soda into it and change the plot now, it'll feel very awkward..." Fors felt a little embarrassed. She had readily agreed in front of Lorne back then, only to end up with writer's block now...
"It's fine. I'm not in a hurry..." Lorne waved a hand. "You can work the advertisement into your next novel..."
"B-but..." Fors's eyes