Do You Think so Too?
No way!
"They’re all talented and in high demand, aren’t they? Our family could accept all of them if we wanted to."
It seems the academy also respects the students’ wishes, so there’s no problem.
"Our trading company is still new, but we’ve only been selling popular new products, so expansion is expected. While helping out, they probably noticed that we’re short on people. And unlike joining an ordinary firm, there’s a high chance they’d be entrusted with big business deals early on."
When I looked at Father, he said:
"The other two originally wanted to become palace junior officers. But they knew how much their seniors struggled, so they hesitated. Our family’s new district construction—it’s a different kind of tourist district. They must’ve thought it was interesting, so they wished to join us. It’ll make things a little easier for both your grandfather and me."
I do feel bad, but it’s something necessary, so it can’t be helped.
If talented people come and lighten Father’s burden, then that’s a good thing.
I only mentioned it offhandedly, but I’m glad it was useful.
"By the way, Hardt, what did you want to discuss?"
"Right. It’s about the proposal for raising Cocottes. Since ice cream might eventually become a patent, there’s a possibility egg supply won’t keep up."
"You think so too?"
"Yes. Also, please contact House Northtrad and suggest increasing their dairy cows. Varshe’s milk will be entirely consumed by the hot spring town’s demand."
"Do you have a plan for poultry?"
"For now, I think the only option is to recruit experienced Cocotte breeders who might be interested in breeding. If we could get them to handle both raising and breeding Cocottes near the hot spring town, that would work."
"Both of these won’t make it in time unless we start now, huh…" Father sighed.
Sorry, Father, I just made your work heavier.
At dinner, Lady Caroline said:
"You’ve probably heard already, but those blockheaded sons of mine will be coming to Westland in two days. They’ll probably complain at us to come back and fulfill our duties. Sorry for the trouble."
"Grandmother, it’s alright. I’ve learned so much here. I’ll speak properly with Father and the others. If that doesn’t work then…"
"Miss Diana, don’t rush to make a conclusion. Just be sure to express your own feelings clearly," said Father.
"Thank you. I apologize for the trouble, and I ask for your support."
Two days later, Lord Kevin, the former lord of Southcourt, and the current lord, Lord Brian, arrived at our home.
I was excused from greeting them.
I’ll probably greet them at dinner.
Dinner was at Lady Caroline and Miss Diana’s request: our usual style.
Basically, it’s just casual daily conversation about what everyone’s been doing.
While listening, there’s laughter, advice, scolding, and so on.
Lord Kevin and Lord Brian seemed bewildered, but everyone else ignored them and kept eating and chatting as usual.
Of course, Miss Diana was there too, learning from Father how to read ledgers and what points to watch for—saying she realized she’d missed things and it was a good study for her. She talked about playing the location-guessing game with Luan and Lucia and winning two out of five, and about sparring with a female knight—she lost, but said she learned her weak points.
Watching her like that, Lord Brian and Lord Kevin looked astonished.
Miss Diana is so different from when she first came to our house—so lively now.
I bet they’ve never seen her like this before.
After dinner, we moved to the sitting room for tea, when Lady Caroline asked:
"So then, what did you two come here for?"
Lord Brian, glancing nervously at us, said:
"Mother, let’s talk privately, just family, not in front of the Westland people."
"Too late to put up appearances now. Everyone here already knows. You only came to say that with the winter social season starting, she should finally fulfill her duties as mistress of the house, didn’t you? Normally that would be your wife’s job, though."
"As I’ve explained many times, divorce is impossible. It was a marriage arranged by the former king’s command."
"Then why are you still supporting your wife’s family, who refuses to fulfill her duties? You’re working so hard that you don’t even have time for Diana. I just don’t understand."
"Caroline, it was the late king himself who asked me to give them support. I can’t just abandon it halfway…"
"And what good does it do to keep supporting people who haven’t recovered in over ten years? They think the support is only natural. They don’t appreciate us at all, and no matter how many times we tell you, you won’t listen—it’s you two who are in the wrong."
What do you think about this chapter?
