I Think You’d Get Along
It had really been a while since I last read in the greenhouse.
While I was sitting there, Miss Diana came right up to the sofa and said,
“May I speak with you?”
I hadn’t heard her footsteps at all.
“I also train to erase my presence. There are times when I have to go to bandit hideouts, after all. So guessing locations with Luan and Lucia is fun for me.”
Perhaps because I had glanced down at her feet, she guessed exactly what I was thinking and explained it herself.
Since we couldn’t very well sit right next to each other on the sofa, I led her to a table seat further in. Georges served us tea and withdrew far enough that we couldn’t hear him.
I went straight to the point and asked, “Is this about Brother Gerald?”
It would be against noble etiquette to be so direct, but I could treat Miss Diana as family here.
“No… Young Master Gerald said that if we could talk and come to understand each other, that would be enough…” she said, lowering her gaze shyly.
Wait—does that mean Brother Gerald already confessed? Since when!?
“In truth, seeing all your bold new proposals for the hot spring town’s development made me think a lot. It made me want to work hard just to come back here, or to provide a place where families could have fun together. But a hot spring town isn’t worth visiting if people can’t rest there. I heard you’ve already made arrangements for that.”
Miss Diana, the way you’re saying it makes it sound like I’m calculating and moving according to some grand plan… but honestly, all of this happened by pure chance.
By “arrangements,” do you mean the change so our employees can take a few days off?
I only pushed for that so I could take time off myself in the future!
Really, I just wanted an easier life, and since I’d been given the fruit from the hot spring tree, I thought it would be fun to make something from it—that’s all. I wanted to tell her this, but with her looking at me with those sparkling eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
“The ones actually making it happen are my grandfather and our capable staff. Not me.”
“No, even entrusting something to others is a difficult skill. You have to trust the person to handle it.”
“It’s quicker if you focus on the important points and leave the details to the people who know the field. For you, Miss Diana, that would mean deciding how much command authority to give and managing the finances.”
If you hand over finances, it’s easy for collusion with suppliers to happen, and for material costs to get inflated.
If you hand over all authority, the leader might fill the place with favorites and slow down operations.
But you can’t do everything yourself either, so finding the right balance is tricky.
“You should learn that part from my grandfather and father. I’m just an easygoing third son, after all.”
“I’ve been invited by the two of them from time to time to study under them. Coming here has made me feel the differences between our families keenly. I also now understand why your grandmother was so insistent on Westland. And I’ve realized I need to finally settle matters in my own house as well.”
“If that’s meant as praise, I’ll take it gladly. Our family lives in the Sea of Trees while protecting it. We’re always beside danger, where one moment of carelessness can lead to serious injury. Southcourt is the same, isn’t it? That’s why the warmth of family is important. Having a place you want to return to is the same as wanting to come home alive.”
“Yes. Lord Gerald also told me that Westland has many love matches, and that political marriages often end in early death. At first I wondered why, but spending time here like family has made me understand.”
“Miss Diana, please don’t share love stories with me. Hearing my brother’s romantic side is embarrassing as his younger brother. If you really want to talk about it, I can introduce you to Princess Rinaluna.”
Miss Diana waved her right hand side to side in a flustered denial.
“That’s not my intention at all. But why would you introduce me to Princess Rinaluna?”
“Because Princess Rinaluna is also someone who once talked to me about her love life. I think you two would get along well.”
She looked surprised at my words—well, of course she would. It’s strange to think of a princess telling me her romantic woes.
Yep, this is a great idea, if I do say so myself.
I’ll write to Princess Rinaluna right away. Then, during the winter social season, the two of them can talk alone.
They can bond over it then.
What do you think about this chapter?
