Every Time I Make a Suggestion
“Oh my, what delicious fresh cream. It’s not heavy at all—light and easy to eat. I’ve had ice cream a few times before, but this is the richest and tastiest yet,” Mother said.
Just as she said, the fresh cream in the roll cake really was delicious.
I finished it in no time. The ice cream, probably made with Varshe’s cream as well, was also excellent.
When I asked Henry, who was standing at the edge of the dining hall, if the head chef had said anything, he told me the chef had asked for the same desserts to be served to the staff too.
He also explained that today’s shortfall of hot spring eggs was covered by asking Meyer and the others who had brought the milk cans, and recreating them in our own hot spring. The temperature should have been lower, so how exactly did they make them?
Our head chef and the rest of the kitchen staff are unbelievably passionate about new dishes.
Well, I suppose they’re also motivated by wanting to eat them themselves…
“If eggs and Varshe’s milk can be prepared, then that’s fine. Just tell the head chef not to overdo it.”
“Thank you very much. On behalf of all the staff, we’re grateful,” Henry said, and the maids who were also standing by in the dining hall smiled happily and bowed together with him.
“Ice cream also needs eggs, doesn’t it? Then the hot spring town will need to secure a supply of eggs too.”
“Father, that’s right. Just like with Varshe, it seems we’ll need to secure Cocottes as well. Gerald, Hardt will help you hunt Cocottes from now on.”
I’d thought I could take it easy until we went to the World Tree, but apparently not.
“Father, Varshe’s milk can be collected daily from now on. We have time before selling it in the hot spring town, but what should we do with the milk in the meantime?” Gerald asked.
“Let’s see… We’ll need to work with the head chef to figure out how many ice creams can be made from a day’s milking. For now, it can be used elsewhere.”
“Father, Mr. Bale said he wanted to make cheese. How about asking him to make some on a limited-time basis?”
“Alright, I’ll discuss it with the head chef and decide.”
Two days later, Carlo brought two glass paintings, so the whole family gathered to see them and we moved to the sunlit salon.
One was of the Earth God and the Sage God—1.5 meters tall by 1 meter wide. That’s big, but if it’s to be displayed in a church, I guess it’s still small. Also, the glass and copper framing were thick, and the faces hadn’t been inserted yet.
“For glass pieces to be displayed in a church, the width increases, so the copper plates must also be thick for support. Also, drawing faces in glass paintings is difficult, and I’m still experimenting,” Carlo explained.
It’s true—when I asked Maria to make copper tape, I probably chose the kind used for picture frames. Maybe it would have been better to start with flowers or plants.
I might have jumped in at too high a level right away. Sorry for being so sloppy about it.
When we held the glass painting up to the salon window so the sunlight shone through, the colored glass glowed beautifully.
“Oh, this is quite a creation. So you plan to make one for all the gods? Indeed, this could become one of the major tourist attractions.”
“Even if they aren’t ready by the church’s completion, we could replace the plain glass with these once they are finished.”
“That’s true. If possible, I’d like the central panel of the Creation God and the Harvest God ready by the church’s completion.”
“I think making the central part even bigger than this and adding plants and more detail would make it even more impressive.”
“Hardt, that’s all well and good, but it’s Carlo who will be making them. We have to hear his opinion too,” Father chided.
“Sorry, Carlo, I jumped ahead. I just think the main piece in the center should be large for greater impact. I can’t say how big, though.”
Carlo’s face looked slightly strained.
“The Earth God and Sage God are sized to match the church windows in the domain’s capital. But for the central part, we’d need to test with an actual wooden frame to see what size would be best.”
If we measure at the church, it would mean showing them the glass painting, so I’d rather avoid that until the last moment.
“Grandfather, what size were you envisioning for the church?”
“I was thinking of something like the church in Eminira.”
I suggested that if we had the blueprints, we could build a mockup with earthen walls to measure. He said he’d be able to get them, since we’d need to discuss it with the church anyway.
Once they’re obtained, I was told, “Hardt, you’ll help with the measuring too.”
Every time I make a suggestion, my workload increases.
I was about to say, “I just want to take it easy”, but everyone was looking my way, so all I could manage was, “Yes.”
What do you think about this chapter?
